40,999 [SG-1 / 40K]
Posted: 2007-04-04 07:26am
I don't normally get very involved in the fanfiction scene, but I've had a few ideas recently that I needed to get down on figurative paper. I thought I might as well post it here.
Note that I'm a relatively casual Stargate fan, so if I get matters of continuity or otherwise wrong, please let me know.
Also note that the setting for the SG-1 portion of this is late season 2, after "1969" but before "Out of Mind," so that's why Carter's a captain and so on. The 40K portion is, as one might guess from the title (continuing in the grand tradition of SG-1 episodes named for years), set in 999.M41.
Comments and criticism are of course welcome (as is letting me know if I'm a total hack and should never write anything ever again).
__________________
40,999
Chapter One
"Trees. Always trees."
Colonel Jack O'Neill surveyed his surroundings from beneath the shade of what resembled an average fir, looking over the rolling hills that extended as far as the eye could see in all directions. More fir trees covered the landscape, creating the image of a pristine, verdant forest, untouched by signs of civilization. He turned as the sound of booted feet announced the arrival of the rest of his team.
"We did not find anything of consequence, Colonel O'Neill." The imposing figure of Teal'c rose up alongside the military man, having navigated the steep climb out of the valley below.
"Well, figures. Doesn't look like anything's here, let's head back to the gate and go home."
Captain Carter was quick to protest. "Sir, let me get a few more soil samples first. I'd like to-"
"What is it with you and soil samples? It's dirt." O'Neill wanted to get the mission over with, but trying to dissuade Samantha Carter from satisfying her scientific curiousity was usually an exercise in futility. Cutting off any further protests, he reluctantly acquiesced. "Fine, go get more dirt, then we're leaving." Scientists.
Carter looked like she was about to debate the value of collecting soil, but evidently thought better of it and set off with Teal'c in search of a suitable spot. When the pair was out of earshot, the middle-aged colonel turned incredulously to the younger man next to him. "Dirt."
Doctor Daniel Jackson merely shrugged helplessly at the team's commander, changing the subject as he looked down at the valley below their position. "Well, near as I can tell the Goa'uld haven't been here in quite awhile, if they were even here at all. There's certainly no signs of any human life."
"Yeah, I gathered that. Let's just get off..." The colonel trailed off, trying to recall the computer-assigned designation for this particular planet.
Jackson chimed in helpfully. "Ah, P3X-749."
"I knew that," was the mildly indignant reply.
Before long, Carter returned with Teal'c in tow, no doubt toting newfound soil samples. "Ok, I got what I needed sir."
"Glad you got your dirt, Captain. All right, let's move out," ordered O'Neill, maneuvering the team back down the rocky slope into the valley housing the stargate they came through. About halfway down the slope, an actinic flash suddenly lit up the terrain, followed promptly by the rumble of distant thunder. The colonel looked up and saw ominous clouds darkening the previously azure sky, eliciting a profound "Huh," from the man.
"It would seem a thunderstorm is approaching, Colonel O'Neill," came the typically blunt observation of the dark-skinned Jaffa.
A confused look crossed Jackson's face as he watched the dark clouds gather. "Uh... wasn't it perfectly sunny just five minutes ago?"
"That was indeed the case, Daniel Jackson," confirmed Teal'c, "We should make haste to the chaapa'ai."
O'Neill nodded his agreement. "Yeah, I'd rather not get soaked if we can help it. Unless you want rain samples too, Captain?"
The junior officer frowned. "I think I'll manage, sir."
Jack smiled caustically. "Good! Shall we?" Indicating the distant stargate, he began to lead his team down into the valley at a slightly increased pace. Before long the familiar rune-covered ring was in front of them, alone save for a short pedestal with similar markings. "Carter, dial us home," the colonel swiftly ordered, looking up at the approaching storm. Further bright flashes of lightning and increasingly loud crashes of thunder announced it was nearly upon them. Samantha hurried over toward the pedestal, pressing a select handful of the runes in order before palming the red orb set in the middle of the collection of markings. The matching ring ahead of them began to spin in time with Carter's input, culminating in a blue-white flash that left a shimmering, watery field filling the ring's interior.
By now the storm was on top of the four explorers, rain beginning to fall on them in a veritable deluge. The Air Force captain punched in a series of digits on the remote strapped to her arm and nodded to her superior. Grumbling about the rain, O'Neill ushered everyone toward the activated stargate, as one by one they slipped into the glimmering field with an aquatic slurp. Glancing back out at the stormy valley for a brief moment, he swiftly followed his team into the gate, only to miss the massive bolt of electricity arcing down from the heavens to strike the active stargate. Energy visibly coursed through the naquadah ring, causing the bluish field to fluctuate for a moment before vanishing entirely.
The stargate was static once more, sitting silently under the clear, azure sky above.
* * *
Captain Carter emerged on the other side, expecting to see the sterile interior of Cheyenne Mountain. Instead she was greeted with a desolate wasteland, the reddish hue of the sky giving the barren ground an unhealthy, alien coloration. The shimmering ring behind her wetly regurgitated her fellow SG-1 members in order, all four sharing a look of confusion as they took in their unknown surroundings.
"This is not the SGC," Teal'c pointed out. The others did not immediately respond, engrossed in trying to identify what had happened. Carter and O'Neill brought up their MP5 submachine guns instinctively, covering different approaches to their position while Jackson looked around in confused awe. The tall Jaffa simply stood impassively, looking unperturbed at the unexpected destination, but with staff weapon held ready nonetheless.
Sam Carter suddenly rushed forward and shouted, "Colonel! Over here!"
O'Neill looked over toward the woman, who was now crouching near the dial-home device, her MP5 slung behind her back. Moving toward the captain, he quickly discovered what the fuss was all about. A bloodied, ragged body was slumped against the pedestal and a quick examination of the surroundings yielded another similar form collapsed in a heap nearby.
Carter looked up from the bloody mess. "He's dead, sir. At least I think he's a he." Frowning to herself, she quickly added, "Can't have been dead for very long. Whatever did this is probably still around."
The man had definitely been killed. Neat gashes perforated the corpse, as if it had been sliced with dozens of swords in quick succession. More curiously, strange tubes extended from various points on the body, several of which had been severed. There also seemed to be armor of some kind covering a majority of the remains, though it had evidently done little good.
Grimacing at the grisly sight, Colonel O'Neill looked up and surveyed the surroundings once more. They seemed to be in some sort of large pit, its steep edges and scaffolding suggesting it was artificial. Outside of the pit barren dunes rose on two sides, creating a shallow valley. There didn't seem to be any sign of who had slain the two fallen men, however. "So where the hell are we?"
Jackson knew an archaeological dig when he saw one. "It's a dig site. They were digging up the stargate, just like we did back on Earth."
"Who's 'they'?" inquired the colonel. "And I still want to know where we are."
"Well, uh... whoever." The archaeologist gestured lamely toward the corpses.
"Colonel, we have a problem!" Carter's voice rang out, causing O'Neill's head to snap back around, alert for any sign of danger. Thankfully there still didn't appear to be anything hostile in sight. "Sir, it's the DHD. It's completely shot. Look." The brainy captain indicated the blood-stained pedestal. Many of the slain man's tubes appeared to be interfaced with the ancient device somehow, but that wasn't the worst of it. Sam had uncovered extensive damage to the pedestal's innards, most of it resembling the same fine cuts that had killed the unfortunate person slumped nearby.
"That's a problem," stated the older officer dryly. "Can we dial manually?"
Captain Carter shrugged uncertainly. "We'd need to get power to the gate somehow, sir." She looked around at the wasteland around them. "But all I see is-"
O'Neill finished for her. "Dirt."
Note that I'm a relatively casual Stargate fan, so if I get matters of continuity or otherwise wrong, please let me know.
Also note that the setting for the SG-1 portion of this is late season 2, after "1969" but before "Out of Mind," so that's why Carter's a captain and so on. The 40K portion is, as one might guess from the title (continuing in the grand tradition of SG-1 episodes named for years), set in 999.M41.
Comments and criticism are of course welcome (as is letting me know if I'm a total hack and should never write anything ever again).
__________________
40,999
Chapter One
"Trees. Always trees."
Colonel Jack O'Neill surveyed his surroundings from beneath the shade of what resembled an average fir, looking over the rolling hills that extended as far as the eye could see in all directions. More fir trees covered the landscape, creating the image of a pristine, verdant forest, untouched by signs of civilization. He turned as the sound of booted feet announced the arrival of the rest of his team.
"We did not find anything of consequence, Colonel O'Neill." The imposing figure of Teal'c rose up alongside the military man, having navigated the steep climb out of the valley below.
"Well, figures. Doesn't look like anything's here, let's head back to the gate and go home."
Captain Carter was quick to protest. "Sir, let me get a few more soil samples first. I'd like to-"
"What is it with you and soil samples? It's dirt." O'Neill wanted to get the mission over with, but trying to dissuade Samantha Carter from satisfying her scientific curiousity was usually an exercise in futility. Cutting off any further protests, he reluctantly acquiesced. "Fine, go get more dirt, then we're leaving." Scientists.
Carter looked like she was about to debate the value of collecting soil, but evidently thought better of it and set off with Teal'c in search of a suitable spot. When the pair was out of earshot, the middle-aged colonel turned incredulously to the younger man next to him. "Dirt."
Doctor Daniel Jackson merely shrugged helplessly at the team's commander, changing the subject as he looked down at the valley below their position. "Well, near as I can tell the Goa'uld haven't been here in quite awhile, if they were even here at all. There's certainly no signs of any human life."
"Yeah, I gathered that. Let's just get off..." The colonel trailed off, trying to recall the computer-assigned designation for this particular planet.
Jackson chimed in helpfully. "Ah, P3X-749."
"I knew that," was the mildly indignant reply.
Before long, Carter returned with Teal'c in tow, no doubt toting newfound soil samples. "Ok, I got what I needed sir."
"Glad you got your dirt, Captain. All right, let's move out," ordered O'Neill, maneuvering the team back down the rocky slope into the valley housing the stargate they came through. About halfway down the slope, an actinic flash suddenly lit up the terrain, followed promptly by the rumble of distant thunder. The colonel looked up and saw ominous clouds darkening the previously azure sky, eliciting a profound "Huh," from the man.
"It would seem a thunderstorm is approaching, Colonel O'Neill," came the typically blunt observation of the dark-skinned Jaffa.
A confused look crossed Jackson's face as he watched the dark clouds gather. "Uh... wasn't it perfectly sunny just five minutes ago?"
"That was indeed the case, Daniel Jackson," confirmed Teal'c, "We should make haste to the chaapa'ai."
O'Neill nodded his agreement. "Yeah, I'd rather not get soaked if we can help it. Unless you want rain samples too, Captain?"
The junior officer frowned. "I think I'll manage, sir."
Jack smiled caustically. "Good! Shall we?" Indicating the distant stargate, he began to lead his team down into the valley at a slightly increased pace. Before long the familiar rune-covered ring was in front of them, alone save for a short pedestal with similar markings. "Carter, dial us home," the colonel swiftly ordered, looking up at the approaching storm. Further bright flashes of lightning and increasingly loud crashes of thunder announced it was nearly upon them. Samantha hurried over toward the pedestal, pressing a select handful of the runes in order before palming the red orb set in the middle of the collection of markings. The matching ring ahead of them began to spin in time with Carter's input, culminating in a blue-white flash that left a shimmering, watery field filling the ring's interior.
By now the storm was on top of the four explorers, rain beginning to fall on them in a veritable deluge. The Air Force captain punched in a series of digits on the remote strapped to her arm and nodded to her superior. Grumbling about the rain, O'Neill ushered everyone toward the activated stargate, as one by one they slipped into the glimmering field with an aquatic slurp. Glancing back out at the stormy valley for a brief moment, he swiftly followed his team into the gate, only to miss the massive bolt of electricity arcing down from the heavens to strike the active stargate. Energy visibly coursed through the naquadah ring, causing the bluish field to fluctuate for a moment before vanishing entirely.
The stargate was static once more, sitting silently under the clear, azure sky above.
* * *
Captain Carter emerged on the other side, expecting to see the sterile interior of Cheyenne Mountain. Instead she was greeted with a desolate wasteland, the reddish hue of the sky giving the barren ground an unhealthy, alien coloration. The shimmering ring behind her wetly regurgitated her fellow SG-1 members in order, all four sharing a look of confusion as they took in their unknown surroundings.
"This is not the SGC," Teal'c pointed out. The others did not immediately respond, engrossed in trying to identify what had happened. Carter and O'Neill brought up their MP5 submachine guns instinctively, covering different approaches to their position while Jackson looked around in confused awe. The tall Jaffa simply stood impassively, looking unperturbed at the unexpected destination, but with staff weapon held ready nonetheless.
Sam Carter suddenly rushed forward and shouted, "Colonel! Over here!"
O'Neill looked over toward the woman, who was now crouching near the dial-home device, her MP5 slung behind her back. Moving toward the captain, he quickly discovered what the fuss was all about. A bloodied, ragged body was slumped against the pedestal and a quick examination of the surroundings yielded another similar form collapsed in a heap nearby.
Carter looked up from the bloody mess. "He's dead, sir. At least I think he's a he." Frowning to herself, she quickly added, "Can't have been dead for very long. Whatever did this is probably still around."
The man had definitely been killed. Neat gashes perforated the corpse, as if it had been sliced with dozens of swords in quick succession. More curiously, strange tubes extended from various points on the body, several of which had been severed. There also seemed to be armor of some kind covering a majority of the remains, though it had evidently done little good.
Grimacing at the grisly sight, Colonel O'Neill looked up and surveyed the surroundings once more. They seemed to be in some sort of large pit, its steep edges and scaffolding suggesting it was artificial. Outside of the pit barren dunes rose on two sides, creating a shallow valley. There didn't seem to be any sign of who had slain the two fallen men, however. "So where the hell are we?"
Jackson knew an archaeological dig when he saw one. "It's a dig site. They were digging up the stargate, just like we did back on Earth."
"Who's 'they'?" inquired the colonel. "And I still want to know where we are."
"Well, uh... whoever." The archaeologist gestured lamely toward the corpses.
"Colonel, we have a problem!" Carter's voice rang out, causing O'Neill's head to snap back around, alert for any sign of danger. Thankfully there still didn't appear to be anything hostile in sight. "Sir, it's the DHD. It's completely shot. Look." The brainy captain indicated the blood-stained pedestal. Many of the slain man's tubes appeared to be interfaced with the ancient device somehow, but that wasn't the worst of it. Sam had uncovered extensive damage to the pedestal's innards, most of it resembling the same fine cuts that had killed the unfortunate person slumped nearby.
"That's a problem," stated the older officer dryly. "Can we dial manually?"
Captain Carter shrugged uncertainly. "We'd need to get power to the gate somehow, sir." She looked around at the wasteland around them. "But all I see is-"
O'Neill finished for her. "Dirt."