Cello Suite No. 1

Cello Suite No. 1

Her feet were pounding into the ground in sync with her pounding heart. Kahlen's legs ached. She had been running for the better part of two hours; her lungs were on fire; her sides ached; and her thigh kept spasming painfully. As she ran she tried to suck in as much air as she could through her nose and letting it out harshly through her mouth, applying the trick that seemed to work for her when she was running before.

She didn't know where she was, but she was able to recognize danger when she saw it. Big, snarling, vicious, danger. Her legs cried desperately for rest but she knew that if she did stop, at least, while that thing was still behind her, should wouldn't be lasting long out here.

Where ever she was.

~

“Tell me you have something.” his voice was heavy and laden with the slight plea to please tell him he doesn't have to add another name to the MIA list. Dr. Daniel Jackson nodded and hurriedly turned on the slide show – giving Cameron Sam, Teal'c, Vala and General Landry a view of some Ancient text.

“We've been able to translate a good portion of what Kahlen was able to get pictures of and I think I might know what happened.”

“Does it say what those spider things are?” Cameron piped up immediately. Vala gave a small shudder that was barely noticeable.

“I think it might have. See, this text,” he waved to the picture, “describes a 'power' that can move things far beyond what their 'ring of the gods' can do. Now, obviously, the 'ring of the gods,' is the gate, but what's most concerning is that this text seems to describe that the people of their culture who had this... thing used on them, they were criminals or people of great evil.”

“What're you saying, Daniel?” Cameron's tone was sharp.

“I'm saying that those weren't real creatures – like, living and breathing creatures. They were machines. Meant to transport people father than the reach of their gate. And unless they have an added power supply or unit, the gates withing the Milky Way Galaxy, can only reach other Milky Way Galaxy gates.”

Daniel paused for a brief moment, letting the news sink in and sure enough Cameron was on his feet almost instantly telling General Landry that he wanted to take SG-1 back to the planet; Daniel would be able to get more of the text documented and translated and they might be able to bring back one of the dead... machines.

~

“Sir, I don't know what to tell you. The only thing that's remotely linked to a machine and not something that's living, is the black liquid that they bleed – well, leaked, really. It's consistent with some type of oil or fuel, but everything else – the things hair, fangs, everything – seems to be completely organic.” Sam leaned against the table, looking at another piece of the things leg.

General Landry had given them the go ahead for them to return to the planet. Vala had squeaked upon seeing the bodies of the spider-like things and had insisted that she help Daniel take pictures of the Ancient text from the other side of the nearly fallen temple as Daniel continued where Kahlen had left off.

They had arrived back an hour ago – Teal'c and Cameron carrying one of the things back while Sam was looking at her hand held energy reading detector, looking for something in the least bit related to technology to help explain things. Vala and Daniel trailed along after them, Vala looking positively bored but completely happy to not have to touch what Teal'c and Cameron were carrying.

“Are you sure?” his voice was weary and his body was tired but he wouldn't allow himself to rest, knowing that she was still out there and not home.

“I'm positive. Maybe Daniel has had some more luck with the translations, because I can't tell you how these would be considered machines.” Sam smiled apologetically and Cameron sighed, nodded.

“Alright. Thanks, Sam.” he wandered out of her lab and down towards Daniel's, hoping for some good news.

~

“Ah!” Kahlen tripped over thick root of a tree, having been forced to enter into the woods to try to out run what ever it was chasing her. She could hear the sound of snapping twigs behind her and she knew that if she didn't move now, then she would become tonight's dinner. She pushed herself up hurriedly, her legs screaming their protest as her muscles nearly gave out from too much use.

She struggled hastily to climb up the thick tree she had tripped over and managed to reach the upper branches that were as thick as her thighs before she had to stop and grip the tree tightly. Her legs had finally had enough of the running and the pressure to use more power; they simply gave up. Her calves, thighs and inner thighs were spasming painfully with Charley horses; her hands scrambled to ease the abused muscles as her panting breath was harsh, even to her own ears.

She could hear the creature moving around in the forest beneath her, but it appeared to be unable to climb trees; she let herself relax just the tiniest bit with that information. She sagged against the bark of the tree, grateful for some other sensation to occupy her mind with as he fingers continued to try to sooth her aching muscles.

The urge to cry bubbled up spontaneously and she had to fight to crush it at once, not allowing herself to fall into the mindset of hopelessness.

She had to stay positive. If not for herself, then for the sole fact that she promised herself that she wouldn't give up without seeing her brother again. He was supposed to come back on the next Daedalus run to stay on earth for a few weeks off. She was supposed to spend that time with her brother, catching up and having fun.

She would not settle for losing her wits about her now.

~

“Mitchell, I suggest you make a video report to be sent to Atlantis immediately. Colonel Sheppard has a right to know about his sister. We'll send it on the next data burst. It should get there in a few days.”

Cameron stiffly walked from the General's office and down to Daniel's lab. His team had relocated themselves there, trying to help Daniel in whatever way they could. He currently had them searching for a sequence of Ancient symbols that might help point him in the right direction.

“Sam, I need you to tape me. I'm supposed to create a video for Colonel Sheppard and tell him what's happened. It needs to be now so that we can send it with the next data burst to Atlantis.” Sam nodded and passed her pictures of the text off to Vala who had gotten bored and started to doodle on the edges of her pictures.

“Keep looking, I'll be right back.” Daniel nodded and Vala sighed dramatically. Teal'c took Sam's pictures from Vala and started to look through them himself, causing Vala to give him a wide smile.

Cameron and Sam walked back to Sam's lab. She picked up her camera and turned it on, pointing it at Cameron.

“Ready when you are.” He took a deep breath and nodded, straightening his back and ignoring the spikes of pain he felt run down his spine. He began talking when he saw the red light turn on.

“Colonel Sheppard, it is my regret to inform you that on a very routine mission two days prior, there was an accident concerning you sister...” he continued on, hating the way his words sounded like a 'Dear John' letter – no pun intended – even to his own ears.