SG1 & SG2: Nothing Like a MRE

Posted on Mon Jul 6th, 2026 @ 12:36pm by Colonel Jonathon Raynor & Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers & Scarlett Hayes Dr. & Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan & Commander Aaron Wander & Pilot Officer Aisling Quinn & Major (майо́р) Lyudmila "Mila" Sorokova

Mission: Echoes of the Fallen (Joint Mission SG-1 & SG-2)
Location: Ra's Pyramid - Abydos
5895 words - 11.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Raynor sat on a low supply crate near the crackling campfire, elbows resting on his knees as he stared into the flames. The slight evening breeze carried the dry desert chill across the camp, tugging at the edges of the thermal blanket draped over his shoulders while the sun dipped low, painting the pyramid’s massive stone face in deep oranges and purples. Teams 1 and 2 were scattered around the fire; some eating, some talking quietly, a few tending weapons or gear. His eyes flicked occasionally toward the pyramid, where two Russian officers posted near the Stargate, their silhouettes sharp against the fading light as they maintained watch over the dialing device.

He took a slow breath, the weight of the day still sitting heavy in his chest. Jason sat among them now, wrapped in a blanket and working on an MRE with careful movements. Raynor watched the man closely, chewing on a piece of his own rations without much appetite. The story still didn’t sit right with him. Too convenient. Too mythic. He kept one hand near his sidearm out of habit, scanning the darkening perimeter before his gaze returned to the fire and the faces of his people.

“We will Keep the watch rotations tight tonight,” he said to Wander, voice low but carrying. “I don’t like how quiet it is out here and quite frankly, this guy's story just doesn't set well.”

Aaron popped the spoon full of Hungarian goulash into his mouth and nodded while chewing. "I agree. We'll keep an eye on him and make sure Command is aware and ready if we decide to take him back." Aaron swallowed and glanced across the fire to where Jason sat studying a small piece of breed before tearing off a bit and eating it. "He's not Jaffa. No stomach pouch."

Scarlett was sitting by the campfire, simply enjoying the heat it was putting out. Her notes were tucked away safe for now, she had a lot of studying to do but not tonight. She was curious about Jason, but she wasn’t sure just how true his story was. Her mother had always taught her to be cautious, to look at things from every angle. Right now she was hoping they wouldn’t end up with any unwelcome company.

After getting some food himself, Raynor sat down next to the fire and looked over at Scarlett. "How are you doing, Doctor?"

Scarlett smiled as she looked across at Raynor. “Okay I guess, enjoying the camp fire. It’s certainly been an interesting turn of events. I have plenty of notes to decipher that’s for sure. Our guest has me intrigued.”

"Intrigued?" the colonel raised an eye brow as he looked at her for a moment before looking over to at Jason pondering what other information they were going to learn. "Not the first thing that comes to mind when I look at him." With that he took the pack of heated up chili mac from his MRE and scooped out a bite with his spoon.

Scarlett shrugged her shoulders. “I’m intrigued from an archaeologists point of view, he’s living history.”

Aisling sat a little back from the fire, close enough to steal some warmth but not so close that she felt part of the conversation around Jason. Her first off-world mission had already given her more than enough to chew on without trying to weigh in on mythology, prisoners, Goa’uld grudges and whatever else the universe had decided to throw at them.

Instead, she focused on the meal in her hands.

She prodded at the ration with her spoon, stared at it for a long second, then took a cautious bite. Her face did something small and involuntary.

“Sweet suffering Jaysus,” she muttered under her breath, low enough not to carry far. “I’d kill for Mam’s stew right now.”

She forced down another mouthful, because hungry was hungry and pride did not fill a stomach. Still, she gave the little pouch a look of personal betrayal before tucking her knees in closer beneath her jacket and letting her eyes drift toward the dark shape of the pyramid. “First planet outside Earth,” she murmured, quieter still, “and the food’s trying to finish what the Goa’uld started.”

"At least you didn't get one of those dadgum vomlet MREs," Chambers shuddered as he took another bite from his chicken chunks, he wasn't right next to her but he was enjoy the fire and was close enough he could hear her. "If you're really smart you'll hang on to the desserts and use them to trade back at Mcmurdo. A pack of M&Ms will be worth their weight in gold. Now if they had some critters out here, like snakes, I could make fire roasted snake. Good eatin'."

Mila Sorokova positioned herself slightly apart from the group around the fire with a cigarette dangling at the corner of her mouth. It was also convenient in this moment that she was downwind as well - one tried to be considerate about such things. Mila pressed her mouth closed, inhaled deeply and then exhaled without using her hands as they were currently holding her AK 'casually' out in front of her. The Russian woman had heard Raynor's carrying words and was in agreement - she didn't trust the quiet, either.

She watched beyond the crew with detached amusement, the firelight glinting off her cold, sharp eyes. “Snakes or M&Ms,” Mila contributed in a low, even tone, “I do not know of these M&Ms you speak of...but I have had lizard. Is snake as good or better than lizard?" Her voice lifted slightly at the end, almost sounding hopeful.

"That depends on the lizard. Gator is bland, but it's less stringy and fewer bones which is nice. In Florida though, they call Iguana tree chickens. Can't say I've had that but most lizards taste like chicken. They need plenty of seasoning and you can make em taste like whatever you want," Zeke thought about it for a moment but half shrugged. "Although I'd kill for some good ol' Texas brisket."

Jason looked up at the fire as he silently chewed. The fire seemed to flicker and reflect in his eyes as he stared off deeply. He chewed slowly and methodically. Even though he'd been offered more, he'd settled for some plain bread and water. After a long moment of silence he spoke. "You all speak the same language, but varied. Are you all from different islands? I'm not familiar with Florida or Texas."

Marisa had her food seated next to her, she had taken a few bites of her ravioli MRE listening to the chatter, observing the interaction between the two teams.

Her eyes drifted over towards Mila, Marisa still couldn't believe that she had run into the lady after that madcap dash to recover the stolen truck, so many years ago.

Taking a sip of the hot chocolate she had managed to heat up, Marisa looked over towards Jason, thinking. Did she want to really answer his question?

Marisa decided, that she would "We're not on islands, though some states might as well be." her voice having the soft southern accent from her hometown, an amused look in her eyes.

“I’m originally from England” Scarlett offered. “My adoptive parents are American, I’ve lived in America since I was a kid.”

Mila snorted. No doubt their answers only made their long-napped 'guest' all the most confused. "If this is 'real-deal' Jason - His time was what, 1300 BC? None of our lands even had names at that time." Mila would look directly across the fire to Jason as she remembered her country and region's ancient history. She had to think really hard.

"My people's lands now occupy Sarmatia and Scythia, if that helps." (The region spanning modern Southern Russia and Ukraine, said to be home to the mythical Amazon warriors (Sarmatia) - during Jason's time. - thank you Google!) "And this Florida...Texas...England...America they speak of? All barbarian lands." She laughed in amusement at that particular truth.

"Wait till you taste this barbarian's Texas barbecue. Y'all might have called em something else that far back, they were part of what we call the new world. North and South America now, two continents that were cut off from the rest of the world until Europeans figured out where they were had built ships capable of making the trip," Zeke tried to explain.

Aaron was about to make a comment when he thought he heard the sound of the wind across the stones in the next room. He paused chewing and listened intently as he realized it was stone moving against stone. His eyes widened has he locked stares with Raynor as the distinct sound of the first chevron locking into place echoed into the room.

"Incoming!" He shouted as he shoveled one more fork full into his mouth and grabbed his rifle from next to him. "Ready up people!"

Lt. Colonel Raynor's head snapped up at Aaron's shout, the familiar sound of chevrons locking sending adrenaline surging through him. In one fluid motion, he rose from the crate he had been sitting on, sat the food off to the side and raising his P90 from his other side. He racked the charging handle with a sharp metallic click.

"You heard the man, weapons hot! Defensive positions. Move!" he barked, voice cutting through the camp like a whip. "Secure the perimeter and form up on the gate room approach! Eyes sharp!"

Raynor moved quickly toward the next chamber just outside the Stargate room, P90 raised and ready, his boots crunching over sand as he took cover near the entrance. He signaled the Russians to hold position while scanning the shadows ahead.

Marisa was up from her seated position, she lost her MRE in her hasty movement. The contents landed upon the sand, the liquid soaking in. Her weapon in hand, she made her way towards the gate taking position.

Scarlett moved to take cover where she could document just who, or what, was coming through the gate. She seriously hoped they weren’t about to encounter the Goa’uld.

Aisling moved because everyone else moved.

For one horrible second her body wanted to stay by the fire, spoon still in hand, brain lagging half a pace behind the sound of the chevron locking in the next room. Then training kicked her hard enough to get her boots under her. The ration pouch hit the sand beside her, forgotten, as she grabbed her rifle and scrambled into cover near one of the stone supports between the camp and the gate room.

Her hands knew where to go. Safety. Grip. Stock into shoulder. Sightline down the approach. All the drills were there, neat and sharp in her head, but none of them had included the way her heart would batter against her ribs when the target might be something that shot back. Or worse, something from the stories that made soldiers go quiet when they thought no one was listening.

“Comms still up,” she said into the net, and was privately relieved her voice came out steadier than she felt.

She tucked herself tighter behind the stone, cheek close to the rifle stock, eyes fixed toward the glow beginning to build in the other chamber. Her mouth had gone dry. The joke about MREs was gone now, burned off in an instant. This could be her first real firefight. Her first time aiming at something living and maybe having to pull the trigger.

“Don’t freeze,” she muttered under her breath, so softly it was only for herself. “Just don’t freeze.”

Wander rushed over to the far side of the gate room and took cover behind a pillar. Four Chevrons. Then five. He glanced across the room at the rest of the teams as they took their positions. The chances of a long dormant gate being dialed twice within as many days was highly unlikely. Hopefully it was SGC just calling in early for a sit rep. He knew otherwise though as he clicked the safety off.

Major Sorokova was already on the move as the gate began to spin and the chevrons began engaging with ominous thunks. The cigarette vanished from the corner of her mouth--as if by magic--and her AK came up immediately, stock planted firmly into her shoulder. Whatever amusement had been lingering around the fire was gone now, replaced by the cold focus that had kept her alive through places far worse than an Egyptian ruin on an alien world.

She crossed the chamber quickly, taking position on the right side of the gate room where a partially collapsed stone column offered both cover and a clear field of fire toward the Stargate. The sixth chevron locked with a thunderous metallic clunk.

Mila narrowed her eyes. Her finger settled alongside the trigger guard. The Russian major swept her gaze briefly across the room: Raynor, Aaron, Marisa, the young Irish lieutenant tucked behind cover. Everyone appeared steady enough. Nervous perhaps, but holding. Her eyes lingered on Jason for only a moment.

“Jason!” Scarlett quickly scrambled from her position over to where Jason was, unlike everyone else he was still out in the open. “Jason you have to move, take cover like everyone else quickly!”

Jason looked at Scarlett and then the rest of his rescuers preparing for an armed encounter. He was suddenly aware of his own unarmed predicament. With hardly a word he moved to a fallen pillar near where Scarlett had been and knelt down behind the cover. "Are you always expecting a fight? Is there something I can use as a weapon?"

The seventh chevron locked in and the event horizon erupted into the room with a great woosh and swirl of blue energy before stabilizing into the reflective water-like pool. The ripples shone and lit the dim room with an eerie blue glow. It was strangely calming.

The calm lasted for only a second through as a dozen armored warriors came through with staves leveled and firing. Arcs of energy shot across the room indiscriminately and scorched stone wherever they hit.

Aaron Wander gritted his teeth and came out of his cover long enough to get a glance at them and fire off a few rounds. The armoured heads were those of a golden bull with ivory white highlights.

"Anyone recognize these guys?" Wander called through the comms. He moved to get a better angle to fire from as now they knew where he was and the stone pillar shook with repeated energy blasts.

A few moments later another half dozen bull headed warriors came through followed closely behind by a different warrior. This one had the armour in the form of an Eagle. The Eagle was primarily gold as well, but with ornate royal purple highlights and garments visible beneath the armour.

Scarlett was keeping well back beside Jason, hearing Wander’s question she moved to get a better look. “According to my research they look very similar the Horus Guards, but I don’t think they are.”

Mila did not answer Wander immediately. The moment the first staff blast cracked against stone, she leaned out from behind the broken column and fired. Her AK barked three sharp times. The lead warrior had barely cleared the event horizon when the first round struck the narrow gap beneath his bull-headed helm. He staggered backward into the warrior behind him, golden armor ringing against stone as both crashed to the floor.

"One less!" Mila proclaimed - adrenaline singing in her veins. More staff weapon fire answered her position. Blue-white bolts slammed into the ruined column, showering her with dust and fragments. She ducked back behind cover, waited half a heartbeat, then shifted two meters to her left before leaning out again with another controlled burst.

A second warrior spun sideways as rounds punched through his shoulder and neck. He collapsed hard, staff weapon clattering across the floor.

"Not Horus Guards," Mila finally replied over comms, voice calm despite the chaos. "Armor is wrong. Different heraldry." Her sharp eyes fixed on the eagle-armored figure advancing behind the warriors. "But that golden-bird one looks important."

A staff blast scorched the stone inches above her head. Mila ignored it. This was usual 'Tuesday Bullshittery.' She squeezed off another burst toward the figure. The rounds forced him to retreat behind two of his guards, who immediately stepped in front of him. That reaction told her everything she needed to know.

"Oh yes," she said coldly. "Definitely important!" She called out.

Jason looked around quickly and peered over the pillar he had been using as protection. His eyes widened instantly. He knew that armor and he knew those colors. He quickly looked down at his body and clenched his fists, regretting that Scarlett had not given him a weapon.

Wander let loose a burst in between bolts of energy and got one along the arms, causing him to drop his staff weapon and move back toward the gate. Just as the Canadian was about to celebrate, another squad came through the gate and began firing in their direction.

"There's too many!" He called through the comms. "We have to leave the pyramid and regroup!"

Jason heard his words and from across the chamber, locked eyes with Commander Wander. He shook his head and then with an agility that seemed impossible for his frail form, he leapt over the pillar and came out running toward the warrior soldiers.

Holding his position behind one of the pillars, Raynor watched Jason vault from cover and sprint directly toward the line of enemy warriors.

"What the hell is he doing?" he barked, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Then everything changed.

The staff weapon fire stopped completely. The bull headed warrior who had been advancing through the Stargate lowered their weapons and, one after another, dropped to a knee. Mechanical hisses echoed through the chamber as sections of their helmets folded back, revealing human faces beneath. Each bore the same mark on their forehead: two lightning bolts forming a sharp V.

Raynor's eyes narrowed.

An eagle armored warrior draped in royal purple stepped forward from the ranks, carrying himself with unmistakable authority. For a brief moment, Raynor thought they had found Zeus. Then the warrior stopped several paces from Jason and bowed his head. The warrior near Jason followed suit while the outer group of warrior kept their weapons aimed at the SG teams.

The chamber fell silent.

Jason halted and slowly turned toward the teams. His eyes ignited with brilliant white light, causing several members of SG 1 and SG 2 to instinctively raise their weapons.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Raynor muttered.

The frail prisoner they had rescued was gone. In his place stood something ancient and powerful.

The eagle armored warrior dropped to one knee.

"My Lord Zeus," he said.

The title rippled through the room as the warrior repeated it in unison.

"Zeus," Raynor shook his head as he looked over at Commander Wander. "Next time we 'help' somebody, can we not wake up a fake god bent on galactic domination?"

“Zeus” Scarlett stood open mouthed in shock, before shaking it off.



Mila had to agree with Raynor - this was obviously a joke with a punchline that was currently pending. The smile that broke out on her face wasn't forced at all. "Нам пиздец..."

“Zeus?” Scarlett looked towards Jason, they’d spent time with a god, albeit a fake one, and hadn’t realized it.

Marisa had barely dodged out of the way of the weapon fire, having fired off several shots. silently cursing the way things had just twisted into. Zues that son of a... he was... something else.

The warrior deactivated his helmet, revealing the same lightning bolt tattoo, though his was forged in gold rather than ink.

"My Lord," he said with a deep bow. "We have maintained all that is yours in your stead."

Zeus regarded him silently before giving a small nod. "Rise, Ganymede." His voice now sounded deeper and almost in a thunderous tone.

The First Prime rose as another warrior approached carrying a staff unlike any of the other staff weapons. Nearly seven feet tall, its shaft curved in a graceful elongated S, with strange metallic conduits pulsing beneath the surface in orangish-yellow light almost like flames.

Ganymede accepted it reverently before turning and presented it with both hands to Zeus.

"Your staff, Lord Zeus."

The moment Zeus grasped it, energy raced along its length. For the first time since revealing himself, he smiled.

Then he turned toward the Stargate.

Raynor immediately felt the situation slipping out of their hands.

"Everybody stand by," Raynor called out to his teams.

Zeus slammed the base of the staff into the stone floor. The impact echoed like thunder as a pulse of blue white energy surged outward. The Stargate shut down instantly, the event horizon collapsing without anyone touching the DHD.

Every member of the expedition stared.

For several seconds, the gate remained dark and silent.

Then the inner ring began rotating on its own.

Raynor felt a knot form in his stomach.

"No DHD input," he said quietly over the comms. "That's not possible."

One chevron locked, then another, and another. The Stargate was dialing itself.

As the symbols continued to engage under Zeus's control, Raynor kept his P90 trained forward, mainly watching the System Lord and his First Prime. Whatever happened next, one thing had become painfully clear.

They had never rescued a prisoner... they had just released one.

Major Mila Sorokova's eyes narrowed to slits. The moment the Stargate began rotating under its own power, every instinct she possessed screamed that they had crossed from bad situation into like legendary disaster...far beyond a usual 'Tuesday.' Her AK remained leveled, sights shifting between Zeus, the self-dialing gate, and the warriors now occupying nearly half the chamber. The fact that none of them appeared interested in shooting anymore somehow made the situation worse. Slowly, carefully, Mila rose a little higher behind her cover.

"Colonel," her Russian accent somehow becoming even thicker telegraphing her level of increasing annoyance, "I would like official record to show that I never trusted this mystery man."

A chevron slammed into place. CLUNK.

"Say the word, Colonel. If Comrade Zeus turns hostile, I will be happy to conduct immediate and aggressive cranial remodeling."

Raynor was in agreement at first, until he looked over and confirmed the Russian soldiers had reached cover. Despite the volume of staff weapon fire, not a single shot had actually hit any of his people. Either the Jaffa were the worst marksmen he had ever seen, or something else was going on.

"Don't fire unless fired upon," he ordered, raising a hand to keep anyone from squeezing off another burst.

He risked a glance around the pillar just as the firing ceased altogether.

"Hey Zeus?" he called toward the self proclaimed god. "Just so we're clear, digging you out of a few thousand years of solitary confinement usually earns a thank you card. Maybe a fruit basket if you're feeling generous."

Scarlett had never been one for beating about the bush whether it was the influence of the few memories of a Tok'ra she carried or not who knew.

"Lord Zeus..." she said, looking toward the man they had once called Jason. "We freed you from captivity. Does that not allow us a favour?"

Zeus slowly turned, the alien staff resting comfortably in one hand as though it had never left his possession. The faint smirk spreading across his face suggested he was enjoying the reactions far more than he should have.

Another chevron locked into place behind him.

CLUNK.

His eyes briefly flashed gold before settling on Major Sorokova.

"Your honesty is refreshing, Major," Zeus said with amusement. "Most humans conceal their intentions behind smiles and diplomacy. You simply announce your desire to shoot me in the head. There is a certain elegance in that."

His gaze shifted toward Raynor.

"As for gratitude..." He raised an eyebrow. "You assume I was helpless."

The smirk deepened.

"I survived imprisonment while kingdoms rose, flourished, and vanished into dust. Entire civilizations were born and forgotten during my captivity. You did not save me, Colonel. You merely shortened a very long wait."

He turned his attention back to Scarlett.

"Yet your point is not without merit."

For the first time, some of the humor left his voice.

"You offered shelter before certainty. Food before interrogation. Mercy before understanding. Those are admirable qualities."

A brief pause.

"They are also qualities predators have exploited throughout human history."

Another chevron engaged.

CLUNK.

"A favor?" Zeus echoed thoughtfully. "Had this been another age, I would have rewarded such service with gold, titles, cities, perhaps even a kingdom or two. Humans have always been remarkably easy to impress."

His eyes swept across the room.

"Today, however, I suspect information is worth more to you than treasure."

"You wish to know why I was imprisoned. You wish to know who possessed the power and influence necessary to entomb me beneath Ra's domain."

The smirk returned.

"And I assure you, the answer is considerably more interesting than your Russian major's repeated offers of cranial remodeling."

The final chevron locked and the Stargate erupted outward before settling into its shimmering blue surface.

Several of the kneeling warriors lowered their heads.

Zeus turned and pointed the staff toward the active gate. His warriors immediately rose and formed around him.

"And if fate has retained even a trace of its old sense of humor, the architect of my imprisonment may be about to step through that gate."

The chamber grew noticeably quieter.

"What Ra?" Raynor asked, lowering his weapon slightly. "That one's been dead for years. Him and a bunch of his buddies are currently either spread across the open space orbiting our planet, or they fell out of orbit, burning up in entry. Either way..."

For the first time since revealing himself, Zeus froze. Slowly, he turned back. The confidence remained, but now there was something else in his eyes. Surprise.

"Ra..." Zeus repeated quietly. The staff tightened in his grip. "You killed Ra?"

Marisa clutched her weapon, ready to snipe if she needed, this wasn't going to well.

"Yeah, he's dead." He shrugged casually despite having a loaded P90 pointed in Zeus' general direction. "Turns out declaring yourself a god loses some of its magic when somebody goes up against a higher powered people."

The colonel tilted his head slightly. "Ra. Apophis. Cronus. Sokar. Ba'al. We crossed some names off the Goa'uld family tree in one fall swoop."

"The colonel is being modest, Zeus!" Mila called - her next words not only meant as a way to continue to boast humanity's ferocity, but also to speak to the brain-snake's ego.

"He brought with him the very killer of Ra...and she currently has you in her sights, 'My Lord.'" Mila added, her tone of voice colored in genuine amusement far at odds to their current situation. It was supreme gallows humor.

"I received, 'Order of Lenin,' Proud moment--tra-lya-lya. Premier Putin pinned my gold star and shook my hand personally. So, you may find it beneficial to concede to the Colonel's request..." It was moments like these that made life worth living!

Raynor glanced toward Major Sorokova at the edge of the room, the corner of his mouth twitching despite the situation. It was hard to tell whether she was genuinely offended, vindicated, or simply enjoying the fact that her suspicions had been proven correct.

Then he looked back at the self proclaimed god standing before them.

"Jason, Zeus, whatever name is on the business card these days," Raynor said dryly. "You know, most people just send a thank you card after being rescued."

Zeus's expression hardened for a moment before he raised his voice. "Silence!"

The word echoed through the chamber, carrying an authority that made even some of the kneeling Jaffa lower their heads further.

Then, just as quickly, a faint smirk returned to his face. "You have done me a far greater service than you yet understand. For that reason alone, I will permit you to live. But do not mistake my restraint for friendship, nor my gratitude for weakness. Today, you have earned a measure of my favor."

The staff shifted lightly in his hand as he regarded Raynor.

"Should our paths cross again, I may not feel nearly so generous."

Raynor snorted. "Good to know. We'll mark today's date as the day we survived the kindness of a Goa'uld."

Zeus paused, his eyes glowing like twin suns as he considered Raynor's words. For a moment, genuine surprise crossed his features before it vanished beneath familiar arrogance.

"Then the galaxy has been busy while I slept." He turned sharply, his warriors stood and collapsed upon him. "Come. There is much to accomplish. With Ra and the others removed from their throwns, opportunities now exist that have not existed for millennia. Many people that need taken care of."

At this, Rayner cocked his head as he tried to understand this. From all that they had learned, the Goa'uld were never the type to be concerned about their people. This one's words didn't make since. Before they could really do anything, they watched as warriors of Zeus and their God went through the gate. It Didn't take long before they were gone and the gate deactivated.

"What the hell just happened?" John asked as everyone lowered their weapons and came out from their area of cover.

“I’d say we just got very, very, lucky.” Scarlett offered as she looked towards Raynor. “I didn’t feel it, the presence of the Goa’uld inside him. I read those with naqueda in their blood might sense it, but I guess I don’t have a big enough concentration in my blood.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Nevertheless we survived an encounter I think we should celebrate that fact.”

Major Sorokova watched the final shimmer of the Stargate vanish. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she lowered her AK. For a moment she simply stared at the now-dark ring. Then she exhaled sharply through her nose.

"There is nothing to celebrate." She answered, slinging her rifle across her chest and gesturing toward the now-dark Stargate. "Ancient super-powered Goa'uld emerges from impossible prison. Possesses army of loyal fanatics. Demonstrates ability to control Stargate with magic staff. Announces intention to reshape galaxy."

She spread her hands towards Scarlett and Raynor. "And we let him leave." Mila shook her head. "I had perfect shot, too."

Raynor lowered his P90 and shook his head. "Major, save some glory for the rest of us. If you keep dropping gods every time we leave Earth, you're going to ruin my reputation."

This whole thing was now a mess. "Can't wait to tell the general this cluster..."

Marisa let out a relieved breath at the fact that Zeus and his people had left. "I am quite certain that Sorokova would have dropped him rather easily. Maybe next time be careful of an unknown button being pushed?"

Aaron didn't speak. Didn't even move for a long period. Just silence as staring as everything unfolded around him.

He didn't even really address the others as he put away his rifle and walked quietly over to the stargate. He stared at the empty stone circle and took in a deep breath of air. The smell of ozone, gunpowder, and sand mixed and burned in his lungs before he let the breath out slowly once more.

Finally he spoke, albeit quietly. "Better to know where the blade is coming from I guess."

Aisling stayed behind cover for a few seconds longer than she needed to.

Her rifle was still up, though not properly aimed now, and her finger had long since moved clear of the trigger. The chamber had gone too quiet after the gate shut down. No staff blasts. No shouting. No thunder from the impossible staff that had just made the Stargate obey without so much as a hand on the DHD.

She swallowed, then lowered the rifle a little, only realising then how tight her shoulder had gone.

“Right,” she said under her breath, voice thin enough that it was mostly for herself. “So that’s Zeus. Grand.”

It wasn’t funny, not really. The joke landed nowhere and died quietly in the dust.

She looked toward the empty ring, then back toward the corridor where the sarcophagus waited below. Her stomach twisted. She could still feel the tiny movement of the symbol under her fingers, the click, the hiss, the moment everything had started running away from them. She knew better than to say it aloud in the middle of the room, but the thought sat there anyway.

I opened it.

Aisling drew in a slow breath and forced herself to move, stepping out from cover with less steadiness than she would have liked. Her eyes went to Wander for a moment after his quiet comment, then to the Stargate.

“That staff,” she said, careful not to push too hard into a conversation well above her pay grade. “It didn’t just shut the gate down. It dialled it. No DHD input, no visible interface, nothing from our side.”

She glanced at the empty stone ring, unease sitting plainly now beneath the technical thought. “Whatever he’s carrying, it can talk to the gate directly. Or bully it into listening. I don’t know which is worse.”

Only then did she look back toward the others, the colour still not fully returned to her face.

“And for what it’s worth…” Her voice dropped a little. “I’m sorry. About the sarcophagus. I know I didn’t mean to trigger it, but that doesn’t change that I did.”

She tightened her grip on the rifle strap, more to keep her hand still than anything else.

“I’ll help pull every scrap of data we can from the MALP logs and comms record. There has to be something in there. Energy spike, signal trace, anything from that staff when it took the gate. If he’s out there now, I’d rather not be meeting him blind the next time.”

Aaron shook his head. "Don't get into the what if's or should haves. What's done is done. He had me fooled as well."

Shock was what Marisa felt, just the fact that a... Go'auld ended up being their midst? She was quite happy they had survived but, what if they came across another one? She shook her head, taking a look towards Aisling and then Aaron. The man snookered them all.

"I don't know about you but I'm ready to go home and get a drink." she said with a slight smile.

---

Jonathon Raynor, Lt. Colonel
SG-1 Leader, SGC

&

Major Lyudmila Sorokova
SG-1 Member, SGC

&

Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers
SG-1 Member, SGC

&

Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan
SG-1 Member, SGC

&

Commander Aaron Wander
SG-2 Leader, SGC

&

Major Amy Ludd
Off World Diplomatic Liaison

&

Dr Scarlett Hayes
Chief Archaeologist
SG-2 Member, SGC

&

Pilot Officer Aisling Quinn
SG-2 Member, SGC