Chapter Twenty-One

 The SGC was overrun with the enemy but that didn’t stop Jack, Daniel and the twins from doing everything they could while they waited for help to arrive. Surely Calla would send the valkyrie soon or Thor would come back with his ship and start blasting them away from above. Perhaps even Ares would come to their rescue. Yet, everywhere they looked their eyes were met with the gruesome sight of massacred military personnel. These people never stood a chance, the Xerinium weapons were stronger than those powered by naquda, they left huge gaping holes in cement, concrete, flesh and bone, nothing was safe or sacred. Soldiers weak and wounded from battle or sickness were murdered in their infirmary beds, the bodies of medical personnel including that of Dr. Lam the pretty but often pious associate of Dr. Adams lay scattered over their patients or bleeding on the floor.

Creeping through air ducts, ventilation shafts and rarely used corridors the small troop made it from the ventilation opening atop the mountain all the way down to the 13^th sub-floor of the SGC.

“What do you have in mind?”

“We have to shut down the Stargate.” Jack said. “Just five floors to go.”

“Any suggestions, Uncle Jack?” Nick asked as he pulled his sweaty hair away from his face and tied it back in a haphazard pony tail.

“You two have kept up well so far I’m proud a ya.” Jack said as he caught his breath. “By the way, did I say I thank you for these?” He held up the two P-90’s with a grin. “You’re very handy.”

“We aim to please.” Colleen said looking at the guns they had also provided Daniel and the full clips with which to reload. “What about it?”

“If I tell you where the C-4 is, can you get it?”

The twins looked at each over and mulled it over between themselves. “Give it a shot.” Nick said finally. “We know dis base pretty gud.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” Jack said then looked at Daniel. “You got that tablet? In case Ares does show up with this machine?”

“Yeah, I got it.” Daniel replied patting his belt and showing Jack where he was carrying the 4 x 6 piece of black stone. “Right here.”

“Umpa will come,” Colleen told them hoisting her bow to a more comfortable spot on her shoulder. “I know he will.”

“Me too.” Nick agreed.

“Then we’ll be ready to deal with Aphrodite but first we gotta shut down the Gate, the C-4 is….”

Calla and Duncan appeared in Daniel Jackson’s office. The good doctor’s entire staff lay in bloody little heaps at their desks, slumped over each other or on the floor as they were killed trying to escape. No was safe from Eros and Aphrodite. “Stan,” she whimpered holding her hand to her mouth Calla’s empty stomach gave a great heave and she turned her and coughed while her stomach wretched and found not even bile to toss out.

Duncan reached out to catch her by the arm before Calla fell to her knees. “I’m sorry, Ollie. This is hard I know, some of these people are your friends, aren’t they?”

“I know them, yes.” She agreed and stood up again grateful that Daniel was not among the corpses surrounding her. “We have to find them and your mother.”

Duncan didn’t want to be selfish but he really needed to know. “Can you tell if she’s alive?”

Calla settled in Daniel’s chair for a moment. Her legs were too weak to keep holding her up and her Husband was close to her here. He spent so much time in this chair that sitting here was almost like sitting on his lap hand having his arms wrap around her. Head spinning and her body breathless Calla reached out with a weary mind searching not for those she held so dear but for Duncan MacLeod’s estranged mother. Somewhere deep inside Calla found the energy to smile. “She’s alive, Duncan. All of them they hid in a safe place, they’re waiting for us for you.”

“Where?”

That was hard to say. Calla heard them chatting and faery and pixie folk were very chatty! It was one of their down falls of so she thought and the decibel level was hard to deal with. It was dark and cold and small. “Where?” She whispered and realized they didn’t know where they were and considered themselves lucky to have found the little hiding place. “There must be something around you? You must be able to see something.” Calla coaxed Fiona. “Please anything you can tell me.”

In the very dim light Fiona’s almond eyes grew larger. “Wait, there is something,” she muttered. “Something.”

One of the faeries in their small pack went to where Fiona’s gaze landed. “This way out.” He said. “There’s a lever.”

“Pull it.” Fiona demanded.

The man pulled the red metal lever and a hatch in the floor opened providing them with a long set of step leading down into the base. “It’s some type of escape shaft.” Fiona told Calla.

“Use it,” she returned. “Contact me when you know where you are or can discern some numbers or something. In the meantime you must tell the dragons to attack. The Valkryie have begun their attack and the Einherjar are with them. The air strike is within our grasp.”

“All right,” Fiona readily agreed. Thousands of miles away the City of Spires became visible to the naked human eye for a few moments while six dozen fire-breathing dragons exited and took flight in the night sky. On the ground and in the air they went to work with much prejudice and much haste. They burnt troops by the hundreds on the ground and spite fire at the ships in the air turning them to ash while the marauding valkeryie rode in to putting an end to anything left behind. “My son?”

Calla looked up at Duncan and her smile widened. “Can you see him through my eyes? He’s well, Fiona, don’t fear. Look.”

For just an instant Queen Fiona looked out through Calla’s eyes to gaze upon the warmly handsome face of her son. “I love you, Duncan.” She whispered. “I just want you to know that.”

“Mother?” He wasn’t sure. She looked like Callestah but she didn’t sound like Callestah and she wasn’t looking at him the way Callestah normally did. Either way it didn’t matter the words were still true. “I love you too.” Duncan picked up her limp hand and brought it to his lips. “We’ll be together soon.”

Now Fiona was gone and her folk were off on their quest to find their way down the escape shaft. “Yes you will.” Calla assured him. “I’m so tired, Stan.” She said and gave a weary sigh. “We have to find Daniel.” Her eyes looked at him with an uncomprehending stare and Duncan sank to his knees next to her taking in the sight of her pale skin and her hair which was now far more gray than auburn.

Duncan closed the bathrobe tightly around her. “Listen to me, Ollie, we do have to find Daniel and the others. We can’t stay here. Do you’ve any idea where he is? Is he close?”

“Not far. They’re going for the Stargate.” She whispered while those distant eyes glazed over.

“Where is it?”

“A—Ay—A--teen.”

“Eighteen? Come on, Ollie.” Duncan dragged Calla back to her feet. “We have to get moving.”

“Coming, Stan.” Calla chimed and once again tried to smile. With what was left of her weakening mind Calla reached out for her Husband.

“This is almost too easy,” Aphrodite complained while Eros cut the last of her hair away from her face.

“Don’t complain and don’t jinx us,” he groused in return. “Like shooting fish in a barrel.” He cooed in her ear. “You look just like her.”

“These rags! They’re so drab!”

“Unbecoming to be certain.” He sympathized. “But if I know you, Mother, you won’t be wearing them long.” Eros kissed her lips hard and deep.

“With any luck you’re right.” She cooed in response. “Ares is on his way back he’s discovered the obelisk missing. We must be quick, Callestah is here, she is weak but I hear her calling for Daniel.”

“I know but I’m blocking her, he won’t hear. We’ll do this quickly and then I’ll go for her.”

Two floors down from Daniel Jackson’s office Duncan MacLeod and Calla ran into a band of bloodthirsty marauders. “Get behind me!” He shouted at her.

Although she didn’t have much magick left Calla wasn’t about to let Duncan fend off the band of seven or more on his own. Not finding the strength to conjure a good offensive she was able to find enough power to put up a shield around Duncan MacLeod. The beams of light shot by the Xerinium powered weapons were absorbed by it without harming him.

Duncan drew Excalibur from its sheath. The fine metal began to glow with a white light which grew brighter and brighter as he wielded the legendary sword in Calla’s defense blinding the enemy and all those who gazed upon it with evil in their hearts.

Standing back watching protecting Calla was struck by how like Ares Duncan MacLeod was and how neither of them would ever admit to any such thing. Yet there he was, drenched in sweat, jaw set tight, eyes narrow, moving with all the speed and grace of a ballet dancer, slaying those around him who would seek to do harm. As she stood there watching and protecting him her knees gave out and Calla collapsed to the floor struggling to keep her shield up.

In the midst of the fray from no where appeared a troop of faery folk with Queen Fiona in the lead. Duncan MacLeod already laid waste to five of the creatures who’d cornered them in this corridor and the new arrivals wasted no time in batting clean up.

The battle won, his heart racing and his body bathed in sweat Duncan didn’t hesitate to grab hold of his diminutive mother. “I thought I’d lost you.” He cried as he held her close. “I’m sorry, Mother. I’m…..”

“Shhh,” Fiona said with tears in her eyes. So long she waited for a reunion to come, prayed for it, wish for it and even tried to will it into existence. “I love you, Duncan.” Tears in her eyes and joy in her heart Fiona kissed his cheek. “Callestah?”

“She’s right….Ollie!” Duncan let go of his Mother and went to her side. “Ollie, can you hear me?!” Calla didn’t respond to him. “Oh, come on, Ollie, wake up!” He patted her cheeks in an attempt to raise her.

“Where is her Sa’Tan?” Fiona asked pushing the hair away from Calla’s face.

“Her Husband, Mother, you met him. Ollie doesn’t have a Sa’Tan any more.” Still he jostled her in his arms. “Wake up, Calla.”

“Stan?”

“Aye, it’s me.” He said eagerly. “Isn’t there something you can do for her?” Duncan asked his Mother.

“No, she needs rest.”

“I know but not exactly tranquil around here now is it?” Duncan shot.

“I’m all right, Stan.” She said dreamily as her eyes fluttered open. “Just needed a little cat nap that’s all.” Her eyes lolled in his Mother’s direction. “Been a long time.” She whispered. With a tremendous amount of effort Calla forced herself to her feet and felt a harsh twinge of pain in her abdomen. “Daniel?”

“We’re getting there.” Duncan told her. “I’ll carry you.”

“I ‘ate ta breaks up the loverly reunion,” Angus, one of Fiona’s most trusted advisors said, “but we gotta get ta the surface, Fi.”

“Aye.” She agreed.

“That way,” Calla pointed off down the hall, “follow the red pipe to the stairwell then follow the yellow pipe to the exit.”

“Take care, child.” Fiona said running her hand along Calla’s gray head. “Gods willing we’ll see each other soon.”

End of Chapter Twenty-One
The Cradle Will Fall
Continue to
Chapter Twenty-Two

This story and all stories in the Cradle Will Fall series are copyrighted to Lisa Beth Darling these stories may not be transferred outside of this URL in any fashion.