It's only just beginning: chapter 16
Title: It's only just beginning
Author: Betty (sarah_jones on lj)
Fandoms: Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Primeval, JAG, Doctor Who/Torchwood, Animorphs & Angel
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters or fandoms. I wish I did… *g* I don’t make any money with this! I’m just writing the story for fun and hope someone else will enjoy it, too.
Summary: The story starts after the Stargate Atlantis season finale. There will be new enemies and new adventures, as well as new characters from other fandoms. Old enemies and older characters will return as well.
Sorry for the looong delay. I got a little stuck on this chapter. :-( But now I finally finished it and hope you will all like it.
I have a beta reader for this fic now. *Yay* Thanks a lot to pagan_sun for betaing this fanfic as well. :-) You rock!
chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8, chapter 9, chapter 10, chapter 11, chapter 12, chapter 13, chapter 14, chapter 15, timeline
chapter 16:
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Day 9 - Atlantis:
General Jack O’Neill watched as SG-2 got ready. They hadn’t heard back from SG-1 as scheduled and no one answered when they dialled the planet and tried to contact SG-1. Sam had volunteered SG-2 to go check on them. Their mission had been rather short anyway. Jack, however, didn’t really want to send them alone. SG-1 had a tendency to get themselves into big trouble. He knew that better than anyone. If they didn’t respond they probably were in big trouble. Two teams would be better than just one.
“Carter, I’m going to send another team with you,” he said.
Sam nodded. She didn’t need to ask why. He was concerned that SG-1 got themselves into a mess again. It wasn’t like SG-1 didn’t usually manage to get themselves out of it as well, but they didn’t have to take that risk, did they? One day their luck would run out and they’d lose one or all of them. Sam dreaded that day. She remembered well how it was to lose Daniel when he ascended and they all thought he was dead.
“So, who’s coming along?”
“I don’t know,” Jack answered and started to look around. “Let’s see who’s ready to leave.” All other missions could be postponed. SG-5 was just coming in to the gate room, ready to go. Jack sighed. Of course it was SG-5.
“Mac, come here for a sec,” he said and waved her over. He’d rather not have her on a dangerous mission already. But any mission could be dangerous and this way she’d have SG-1 & 2 with her as well. Maybe that wasn’t so bad after all.
“What is it?” Mac asked as she joined Jack and Colonel Carter.
“We haven’t heard from SG-1. SG-2 is going to look for them. I’d like your team to join them. Your mission can wait.”
Mac nodded. She wasn’t sure if Jack just wanted her to join another team’s mission because he wanted to keep her safe or if this was just a coincidence. But no matter what she wouldn’t say anything right now.
“We’re ready,” she said with a short nod.
Sam smiled as she saw Teal’c coming towards them. He was on SG-5 now. It would be nice to go off-world with him again.
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Day 9 - SG-2 & SG-5:
As soon as Sam arrived on the planet she tried to contact SG-1, but still didn’t get an answer. Then she turned around and saw Mac coming through the gate.
“It’s really something, isn’t it?” Sam asked looking at Mac. It was the first time the woman had stepped through the gate.
Mac turned to face the Colonel. “You could say that. It’s definitely unlike anything I’ve ever done and nothing I thought I’d ever do.” She grinned and then looked around. She was on an alien planet!
“What kind of genius put the gate this close to a cliff?” Rodney MacKay muttered while looking down to the ocean. He gulped and quickly stepped away. Then he went over to Teyla. At least she was with him on this rescue mission. He really hadn’t been thrilled when he found out that he had been placed on a team with Cadman, Teal’c and a team leader who hadn’t been on another planet before. The General probably put him on this team because he really didn’t like him at all. On the other hand Teal’c did remind him of Ronon a little and they were equally good fighters. At least he would be useful if they had to fight their way out of some kind of mess. He wasn’t so sure about the usefulness of the rest of his temporary team.
“I’m glad you’re here, too,” he said silently, looking at Teyla.
Teyla looked at her former team member and placed a hand on his arm. She knew how he felt. She hadn’t been happy when she heard that her team would be split up. But it was only temporary and she knew it was best for all the new people.
“I am sure your team would have been fine on its own, too,” she said in a reassuring voice.
Rodney frowned. “I’m not the one on Colonel Carter’s team.”
Teyla chuckled slightly and looked over to the Colonel.
“I’m picking up energy readings from this direction. That’s where SG-1 would have gone,” Sam called.
“Great. There’s nothing but trees and hills that way. Maybe we should get a jumper. No, we definitely should get a jumper,” Rodney stated, not sounding happy at all.
“And where will you land in those woods?” Cadman asked.
Rodney glanced at her, feeling a little uncertain. He wasn’t the best pilot and as far as he knew he was the only one with the ancient gene on this mission.
“That’s settled then. Let’s move out,” Sam announced.
Rodney shot Cadman an annoyed look, then followed Teyla.
Mac glanced at the grumpy scientist that was on her team.
“Yes, he’s always like that. But he’s really good at what he does,” Sam told Mac as she fell into step beside the other woman. She had the feeling that that was exactly why Jack put Rodney on Mac’s team. He wanted to make sure she was as safe as possible. The way Jack cared about this woman made Sam really curious about her. She definitely wanted to get to know her better.
Cadman returned Rodney’s glare. Then she followed the others. Lt Anders fell into step beside her. Jonas and Teal’c were the last ones to follow.
Almost two hours had passed when Sam saw a Goa’uld village in the distance. She gave a sign for silence and glared at Rodney, who was still complaining about his feet.
“It’s Goa’uld,” Teal’c said silently, while hiding behind a bush.
Mac knelt down behind another bush and peered through her binoculars. She could see the village and several people. They had signs on their forehead, like Teal’c. Putting her binoculars away Mac tried to remember everything she had learned about Jaffa and Goa’uld in the last couple of days. Then she glanced at Colonel Carter, waiting for orders.
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Day 9 - SG-1:
“I’m sorry,” Cam said silently as he looked at Sheila. It was her first mission with them and he already managed to get her into trouble.
Sheila shifted slightly and looked through the bars of her cell to Cam who was in the cell next to her.
“We should have gone back for reinforcements, like you said.”
“But they’ll send someone anyway, won’t they?” Sheila asked. It was what her people would do.
“Of course they will,” Daniel said from his cell.
“But in the meantime I’m going to work on getting us out of here,” Vala added while kneeling in front of her cell door. Then she pulled a clip out of her hair and tried to open the door.
A few seconds later three Jaffa arrived, weapons in hand, and opened Vala’s cell door.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” Vala objected raising her hands. But the Jaffa didn’t seem to care about what she said. Instead they gestured for her to come with them.
“Where are you taking her?” Daniel wanted to know. But he didn’t get an answer.
Vala could hear her team members calling after them as the Jaffa led her out of the cell area. Then she glanced at the Jaffa. They were tall and there were three of them, but maybe she could take them down anyway? Would she get a better chance later?
“Move faster,” one of the Jaffa told her waving his zat gun.
Maybe she should rethink the whole taking them down plan. If she was shot with a zat gun again so soon she probably would be dead.
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As Vala was lead into a large room some time later she was frowning. She had gotten new clothes and some women had ‘taken care’ of her hair and make up. As if she needed any help with that. If she wanted to dress up she knew how to do it. But in her current situation she was in no mood for anything like that.
“Nice,” a voice suddenly said and Vala turned around, putting her hands on her hips. She was about to make a snippy remark when her eyes fell on the guy coming towards her. Her eyes widened and she stared at him in shock as memories from her past came rushing at her.
“You’re even prettier than I remembered.”
“Solan,” Vala whispered silently.
“You’ll make a great bride. And no, it’s not Solan,” the man said, his voice changing. Then his eyes flashed as he started to laugh.
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Day 9 - SG-2 & SG-5:
“Rodney, open that door,” Sam said while standing guard. Of course she could have opened the door herself, but she preferred to keep an eye out in case they were spotted by Jaffa.
Once the door to the main building was open Sam signalled the others who were hiding behind a smaller building nearby. Then they all went into the main building and headed towards the stairs that would lead them to the prison area, if the Jaffa they had captured told the truth.
Taking down two guards they then entered the cell area.
“Sam,” Daniel called, as he saw her.
“What took you so long?” Cam asked with a smirk.
“Not all of us are fast walkers, Colonel Mitchell,” Teal’c simply stated before opening his door with the keys he took from one of the guards.
Rodney glared at the Jaffa and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Told you we should have taken a jumper.”
As soon as Daniel was out of his cell he went over to Sam. “They took Vala.”
“Where?”
“That way,” Sheila said pointing down another corridor.
Sam sighed. She had really hoped to get in and out as silently as possible. But now it looked like they would have to search the building.
“Alright, let’s go,” she decided and handed a gun to Cam.
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It didn’t take long until they ran into a group of Jaffa. They managed to overwhelm them, but the noise alarmed others.
As they shot their way free Mac got the feeling that Jack might not have sent her team on this mission because he wanted her to be safe with other teams. It looked like it really had been a good idea to send more than one rescue team.
“You get into this kind of trouble a lot?” she asked.
Daniel turned and glanced at her. Then he shrugged. “Pretty much all the time.”
Cam glared at Daniel. “He’s exaggerating.”
“Am I?” Daniel asked as they hurried along a corridor.
Cam looked at him and then frowned. “Maybe not.”
Mac had to chuckle at that. Then more shots were fired and she quickly ducked. She had wanted more excitement than a lawyer got. She definitely had that now.
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Vala was trying to get the Goa’uld to understand that she would never ever be his bride when they suddenly heard shots.
“Told you, I’m not going to stay long enough to be anyone’s bride.”
The Goa’uld glared at her, then turned to his guards. “Find out what is going on and bring the intruders to justice!”
“You really shouldn’t have pissed off the Tau’ri,” Vala stated with a smug smirk.
The Goa’uld turned to face her.
“The Tau’ri?” he asked, fear showing in his eyes. “But you’re not one of them.”
“I’m still with them,” Vala answered. She definitely enjoyed seeing how this Goa’uld reacted to the news that the people who destroyed the System Lords were in this building. Then the guy pulled a gun and pointed it at her.
“You’re coming with me.”
“I don’t think so,” another voice called as the big doors to the room swung open.
Daniel, Vala thought as she turned around and grinned at him. Then she saw his p-90 pointing at the Goa’uld.
“Nooo,” she called and rushed towards him. “Don’t kill him.”
Daniel glanced at Vala surprised. Then the Goa’uld shot at him and Daniel had to duck.
The next second Teal’c entered the room and shot the Goa’uld with a zat gun.
“What the hell was that about?” Daniel asked with a frown. “The guy almost shot me.”
“Sorry,” Vala answered. “You’re still alive though.”
Daniel glared at her as he got up. “So?”
Vala sighed. He wasn’t going to let it go. “I used to date him.”
“You what?”
“The host I mean. We have to get that Goa’uld out of him!”
“All clear out there,” Cam called as he entered the room. Then he looked at Vala. “Nice outfit.”
Vala glared at him.
“We ready to go?” Sam called form the door.
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Day 9 - Atlantis gate room:
Rose was in the gate room looking at the Stargate. She was kind of curious how it worked. The Doctor probably could tell her all about it. But he still hadn’t shown up. Martha said that he’d come, but Rose was still a little worried. What if he really didn’t want her to travel with him anymore? He’d tell her though, wouldn’t he? He wouldn’t just stay away. A hello was the least she deserved, right? They had been through so much together after all. He’d come. The question was just when. Sure, the Doctor was able to travel through time with the TARDIS and could theoretically travel to any point in time. But if he accidentally went to the wrong time he might not be able to go back as he’d change something in the timelines. That could end badly. She had seen it for herself, when she changed her own timeline by saving her fathers life. So, if the Doctor accidentally went to the wrong time now she would just have to wait. It could be days, months or even years. She sighed. She was finally back and didn’t want to wait another second, but there was nothing she could do.
Rose was pulled out of her thoughts when Mickey showed up next to her with a frown on his face.
“That just had to happen,” he muttered.
Rose turned to him, pushing away her thoughts about the Doctor. “What?”
“Sergeant Thompson is sick. He’s the fourth member of our team. We might not get to go off world now,” Mickey said, looking really unhappy.
“I’m sorry,” Rose said. She could imagine that it was frustrating to be stuck. She kind of felt the same way herself. She wanted to go out there and explore the universe again as well.
“Is there no one else who could go with you if you have to be four?”
“Apparently not. Everyone is part of a team already or on some other kind of duty. But Jack is trying to figure something out with the General.”
Rose smirked slightly. “Jack can be pretty persuasive.”
Mickey laughed. “I sure hope he is this time.”
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“This is my final word. Your team isn’t going anywhere without a fourth team member,” General O’Neill told Captain Harkness as they entered the gate room. He knew that teams didn’t necessarily had to have four members. SG-1 had gone on missions with just Sam, Daniel and Teal’c for about a year. But the members of SG-6 were new to the Stargate program. Apparently they had all been on different planets already, but they weren’t part of an SG team then and Jack still didn’t really know them. He wouldn’t let them go off-world with only three team members. He didn’t feel confident enough in them.
Jack Harkness sighed. He was itching to go out there and explore another world again. He also wanted to do something useful, which he couldn’t do in Atlantis right now. His eyes then fell on Mickey who glanced at him, not looking too happy either. He was standing next to Rose. A smile appeared on Jack's face when he looked at her. Then he turned back to the General.
“I know the perfect fourth member for my team,” he stated with a grin.
The General raised an eyebrow at that. “You do?” he asked suspiciously. He had a feeling that he wasn’t going to like this.
Jack Harkness still grinned and gestured at Rose.
O’Neill followed his gaze and frowned. He knew the woman even less than the rest of the team, as he hadn’t actually talked to her himself. Sam had done that. As far as he knew she just wanted to stay until she found a friend or something.
“She’s not part of the Stargate program.”
“I wasn’t either a few days ago.”
“She’s an untrained civilian.”
“She worked for Torchwood in an alternate reality.”
Jack O’Neill frowned at that. He so didn’t like alternate realities.
“She probably has been on more planets than I have. And she saved the whole planet. I’m pretty sure she can handle herself.”
Jack O’Neill sighed. He didn’t know what to say to that. The guy had a point. The whole planet apparently could have been destroyed if that woman hadn’t… well, done whatever it was that she did. He couldn’t actually argue that she would be a liability to the team. She might actually be able to keep them safer than Sergeant Thompson ever could.
“Fine, if she agrees to join you, you have a go,” he finally said. He didn’t really feel happy about it, but he never felt happy about sending anyone off-world. He’d prefer to go along so he could try and keep his people safe. But he was stuck in Atlantis. And they needed to search as many planets as they could as soon as possible. They needed more ZPM’s. They had only one left, which might not last long if they were attacked by their new enemy.
Apart from that Jack didn’t really have time to talk about this any longer. He needed to meet Sheppard and talk to Captain Berenson.
Jack Harkness grinned and rushed over to Mickey and Rose, putting an arm around Rose’s shoulder.
“You just became a temporary team member of SG-6,” he declared and winked at her.
Rose stared at him unbelievingly. “Did I miss signing up for this somehow?” she asked, but then smirked. Going out there with Jack, Mickey and Martha did sound like a nice idea. But what if the Doctor came to Atlantis while she was gone? And what if he didn’t? Waiting here on her own so wouldn’t be fun.
Jack knew he had her when she smirked. “Come on, you want to go out there. And it’ll be fun exploring an alien planet together again, won’t it?”
Rose grinned at the thought. “Alright, consider me part of your team, for now.”
Mickey grinned widely. “Great!” Then he hugged Rose.
Martha came towards them. “What’s going on?” she asked when she saw Jack, Mickey and Rose looking happy. She had just heard that her mission might be cancelled.
“We got a new team member,” Mickey informed her happily and gestured at Rose.
“For now anyway,” Jack added. He’d love to have Rose on his team permanently, but he knew she’d be gone as soon as the Doctor arrived.
“Someone has to make sure you’ll all get back safe after all,” Rose stated and laughed.
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Day 9 - Atlantis - a conference room:
Rachel sat behind a table in one of the smaller conference rooms, but somehow it felt more like an interrogation room they showed in criminal series on TV. She had been waiting here for a while now. Colonel Sheppard probably told the General what he found out about her.
Sighing Rachel wondered if it would be better for her to morph something very small and get the hell out of here. But she really didn’t want to do that. For the first time since she got to this reality she had started to like her life again. She wasn’t willing to give that up. Sure, this could end badly. These people could decide to lock her up or worse start to study or even dissect her. But there were aliens living in Atlantis. It wasn’t like the Stargate program simply hated everyone that was different or saw them as test subjects. She did have a chance to make them trust and accept her, didn’t she? Stephen and Jason definitely did seem like they still cared about her. And besides, she could still try to escape later.
The door then opened and General O’Neill, Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Carson Beckett entered. They all sat down at the table and looked at her. Rachel sat up straight and waited.
Jack looked at the pretty blonde marine. He had seen her before, but not actually up close. She really didn’t look like a soldier, much less a captain. But that wasn’t why they were here. The young woman might not be who she claimed to be or even a woman at all. According to her team members she had changed into animals! As if his life wasn’t crazy enough already. Now one of the new recruits was able to change into animals or was impersonated by something that could shape-shift. He really didn’t like that thought.
“So?” Jack finally asked. He wanted to hear her story first, then ask specific questions.
Rachel looked at the General a bit surprised. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, maybe some accusations or questions. But he didn’t add anything.
“First I want you to know that I am still the same person you hired a few days ago and that I am on your side,” Rachel said. It was important to her that they believed that, but she also knew that she would have to tell them her whole story first.
“There are a few things about me that I haven’t told you or anyone else for that matter.” She never ever spoke to anyone about her life. Who would have believed her anyway? This actually was the first time that she felt like she wouldn’t end up in a psychiatric clinic when telling her story. But where should she start?
“I am not from this world. I grew up in an alternate reality.”
Jack groaned when he heard that. Next to him Sheppard seemed to do the same. Obviously neither of them was fond of alternate realities.
Rachel noticed that the General and Colonel didn’t seem to like hearing that. But they didn’t say anything, neither did Dr. Beckett.
“Where I come from earth was being invaded by a race called Yeerks. They are similar to the Goa’uld and silently tried to take over the planet and turn humanity into hosts.”
Jack frowned. That sounded bad. Hopefully those Yeerks didn’t exist in this reality. Defeating the Goa’uld had been hard enough. They definitely didn’t need more snakes. They would have to learn as much as possible about this new threat. Well, that was if the story was true, which he wasn’t convinced of yet.
“Another alien race called Andalites tried to help, but lost a space battle against the Yeerks in earths orbit. Their dying leader made it to earth. My friends and I saw him land. The Yeerks came after him, but before they caught and killed him he gave us the power to morph so we could defend our planet. From that day on we could acquire every animal we touch and then morph into them.”
“So every human in your reality can change into animals?” Dr. Beckett asked.
Rachel turned to face him. “No, there were just five of us. A few days later we met another Andalite who helped us fight the Yeerks. That was it for a long time. Then we managed to get the technology that gave us the morphing ability and turned a few more humans into Animorphs.”
“Animorphs?” the General asked.
“That’s what we called ourselves.”
“So, basically there were a handful of you first and later a few more who fought against an entire alien race?” Colonel Sheppard asked.
Rachel nodded. “Basically, yes.” She sighed, remembering how hopeless it had seemed most of the time and how hard it had been. But they did it. They won. Or at least that was what Rachel liked to believe. They were so close and Jake’s plan must have worked. Her sacrifice couldn’t have been for nothing.
“It wasn’t easy. A lot of people died, including me. Or I would have died if I hadn’t been sent here by the Ellimist. The Ellimist is a very powerful being, similar to an ascended being I guess. He tried to help us whenever he could, but it wasn’t easy for him, as there were rules…”
Jack snorted. “Definitely sounds like an ascended ancient.” What was it with all those powerful beings and their rules? What good was all that power if you couldn’t use it for good?
Rachel glanced at the General. She had the feeling that he understood what she meant. It made her feel better. She really had the feeling that things were going rather well. Maybe they actually believed her.
“Anyway, he broke those rules, or bended them. He couldn’t save me back home. But he could save me by sending me here. No one would find out that I was still alive if I went to an alternate reality.”
Rachel then told them more about herself, her life in both realities, the battles of the Animorphs, the Yeerks and the Andalites. They all listened closely and asked questions. No one told her that she was crazy or a liar. Rachel knew that that didn’t mean they believed her, but it was a good start. They listened and didn’t judge her right away. When they were finished General O’Neill ordered Dr. Beckett to do some tests. Rachel wasn’t thrilled about that, but knew that they had to try and find out if she really was human and her story could be confirmed. Besides that Dr. Beckett was a nice guy. He had done her examinations when she first applied for the Stargate program as well. And now he seemed to be really excited to find out if there was any evidence of her abilities in her DNA. Rachel knew he would find it. The Yeerks found it eventually and figured out who they were. Hopefully this would be enough evidence for General O’Neill and everyone else to trust her.
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After Berenson and Beckett had left Jack told Becker, Hart and Sam to join him and Sheppard. They had recorded the whole conversation while Becker and Hart watched it live from another room. Once SG-1, 2 and 5 were back Sam had joined them.
“So, what do you think?” Jack asked as they all sat together.
“It sounds completely nuts, but I believe her,” John said. Maybe it was because her story was too weird to be made up, or because he had seen the look on her face when she talked about her past. He wasn’t sure, but he felt like Captain Rachel Berenson had told them the truth.
“Me too,” Becker and Hart said at the same time.
Jack glanced at them. Sheppard had told him that the two of them were pretty close to Berenson already, which was why he hadn’t wanted them in the room when they talked to her. Some people might think they were biased. On the other hand they might just be close to her because she was trustworthy. And liking someone didn’t make you stupid. Jack preferred to believe that their judgement was not solely based on personal liking.
“It sounded like she believed what she was saying; and besides, she did save us back on that planet,” Becker added. Then he glanced at Stephen. The guy would probably be dead if it wasn’t for Rachel.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t for her,” Stephen said. He really had felt like his life was over. There was nothing they could have done against so many people. If that elephant - Rachel - hadn’t shown up… He didn’t even want to think about it.
Sheppard shrugged. “They are right.”
“I haven’t seen the whole conversation,” Sam said. “But I don’t think anyone would come up with a story like that if they were lying.”
Jack nodded. Unless Berenson had a very vivid imagination she had to be telling the truth, and in that case he really felt sympathetic with her. Fighting off the Goa’uld was hard enough with a lot of soldiers. Berenson and her friends were all alone; and they were just kids. They hadn’t volunteered for that life either. He really didn’t want to make her life any harder.
“Alright, we wait for Beckett’s results and keep an eye on her until then. If the results back her story up she’ll return to active duty. She’s a fighter, and we definitely need those.”
“Her special talents might come in handy, too,” Sheppard added.
Jack glanced at him and smirked. Special talents was one hell of a way to describe that morphing stuff.
“Let’s keep this to ourselves for now,” he then said. “I don’t want to hear any opinions on this matter from the IOA or anyone else before I make up my own mind.”
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