Aberrant: Stargate Universe - [AU] Path of Vengeance [Mature]

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two weeks, five days, eight hours AWOL

Olivia was quickly able to confirm that Torlak had been hosting that most terrifying of all creatures – politicians. No warrior was so fast to smile, nor did their eyes measure someone while that bland curve of lips didn’t shift. Olivia could almost see their eager delight; what must it have been like for those Jaffa inclined toward power games and not power attacks? Their time had come, and they were prepared to take pleasure in every second of it.

However, they were amateurs compared to her experience. And she wasn’t experienced, but these Jaffa were getting their very first taste of self-governance. Compared to them, Olivia was a professional politician.

She didn’t enjoy that thought, though. She felt awkward using her advanced knowledge against a people that had never received adequate schooling. She was already uncomfortable from the heavy, unfamiliar gold around her left wrist. What they had called a bracelet was more like a cuff, and it had to be largely gold, by weight. It also had the weight of history to it. She was wearing a priceless family heirloom as a giant lie on her arm. How’d I get myself into this?

Oh, yeah, by being a woman of loose moral character who also couldn’t pull herself together enough to realize that she’s a specialist and therefore super-fertile. Ass-tard.

Jorham nudged her forward when Torlak waved at them; while she went to join the compact Jaffa at the long table that had been set up at the front of the room, he sidled around the edge of the room. When Olivia glanced back at him, he was murmuring to Daniah, who was standing near a wall. She looked at him wide-eyed, then glanced around the room until she saw Olivia. She looked surprised, and maybe a little angry. Olivia sighed; she hadn’t had a chance to consider Daniah’s reaction.

“Matsu, welcome,” Torlak said as she joined them. “These are the representatives sent by the communities of Hajur.” He quickly introduced her to the men who stared at her with almost no warmth. She didn’t expect them to embrace her with open arms, but a smile might have been nice.

“Greetings,” she said, bowing her head to show her respect.

“Why is there a human here?” Baldoc asked, ignoring her to question Torlak.

Torlak opened his mouth, but it was Jorham’s voice that rang through the room. “Be careful how you malign her,” he growled, limping down the steps on his cane to glare at Baldoc. “I will take offense.” He hobbled around to stand next to Olivia, so close that she could feel his body heat. Resisting the urge to pull away at this invasion of her personal space, she crossed her arms. Unfortunately, she bashed herself in a sore breast with the thick cuff. Grimacing, she cradled her breasts with her arms, realizing a moment after that it must have looked like she was flaunting the bracelet.

The glinting drew eyes, and after they’d fallen to the bracelet, they bounced up to Jorham. Olivia didn’t like the anger that flared in some eyes, but the trepidation in others was darkly satisfying. “Jorham, I meant no offense, but I heard your wife was dead,” Baldoc said, his eyes narrowing, “and that Torlak was harboring a human – a talented one, but a human nonetheless.”

“I did lose my first wife in the attack on our village,” Jorham snarled. “Are you saying I cannot have another?”

“I… no, I just…” Baldoc stammered, clearly flustered.

“Congratulations on your new bride, then,” another man said, bowing slightly. Olivia had noted that he had crafty eyes – the ones that seem to pay too much attention to other people. His name, she recalled, was Saetran, and he was from one of the larger cities on Hajur. He was going to be trouble, she sensed, if only because he was better at these games. “Matsu, was it? Greetings to you, wife of Jorham.”

Even as Olivia bowed her head in polite acknowledgment, as she’d seen others do, she felt the webs of deception begin to tighten around her.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two weeks, five days, twenty-two hours AWOL

Olivia walked slowly up the hallway, trying not to limp openly. Sore feet were not a reason to limp. Jorham moved with his unsteady gait next to her; he had reason to limp. “Are you hungry?” he asked suddenly, glancing down at her.

“No,” Olivia said, giving him a grateful but tense smile. “Just tired. I was able to sneak enough food between my trips out of council to keep full.”

He nodded, then suddenly caught her arm. “Here,” he said, “this is your room.” He paused and added softly, “Our room.”

Olivia gave him a smile that was as awkward as the one he’d given her. “Good to know,” she said, then winced as she realized she sounded like a moron. He opened the door and entered, holding it for her and shutting after she was inside. “This is nice,” she said, nodding, before she realized it was one room, and there was one bed. “Hmm, I guess I’m on the floor.”

“No,” he said, sounding angry. Olivia looked at him in surprise as he added, “You are taken by the snakes if you think I’m going to let a pregnant woman sleep on a stone floor.”

“I’m barely pregnant,” Olivia said, frowning, “and I-”

“You are going to be sensible,” Jorham said, looming over her. Seeing her face set into stubborn lines, he looked at her sternly and said, “Matsu, I said you are mine to protect. Why do you think that I offered to watch you? You will need help in the coming days. You saved my sister and my nephew. I will save you and your child. And you’ll sleep in the bed, even if I have to tie you to it.” He smiled a little. “Even if it wouldn’t work forever.”

“Or at all,” Olivia said, finally letting her irritation fade as she reminded herself he was helping her. “Fine, but only if we get another couch or something for you to sleep on.”

He looked at her, a touch troubled. “You are very forward for a woman.”

“Where I come from, it’s not ‘forward’ for a woman to act like that – or, if she’s called that, most assume that the man is a…” She paused, not sure what to use that he’d understand; slang was such a detriment to inter-planetary conversation. “Snake,” she finally said, resorting to the newest Free Jaffa insult. “And if you try to treat me as if I’m inferior because I don’t have a penis, I’ll have to leave.” Well, she’d probably have to leave. She wouldn’t want her child raised here, first, especially if she had a daughter. The thought was still blowing her mind: her, a mother. And she wasn’t sure she could stay here long; not if she could find somewhere else to be.

“Your customs are strange,” Jorham said. His eyes studied her for a long moment. “I will get a couch; I had planned to do so anyway.”

“If it’s any consolation, I find your customs strange,” Olivia said, giving him a little smile.

To her surprise, the dour man smiled in return. “Yes, I think they would be.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Three weeks, three hours AWOL

“This wasn’t an easy decision to reach,” General Landry said. Something in his voice brought Vinny’s head up from the report he’d been staring at, as if reading it again would change it. As the big Specialist looked sharply at his commanding officer, the general dropped his news. “I’m cutting back the search for Dr. Jenings-Izumi.”

At least he wasn’t the only one who immediately tensed, and about three other people beside himself barked some variant of, “Sir, permission to speak.”

“I understand, gentlemen,” Landry said, not letting anyone else speak. “I know that many of you were friends with her,” he added, pointedly not looking at Vinny at that point. “But I can’t keep the Specialist teams out like I have. We have other missions, other obligations. I’m assigning SG-13 to continue the hunt for her, full-time. You will all have new assignments in the morning, so get some rest. Dismissed.”

They all left save Vinny, and Landry sighed to himself as he stood and faced him. “Yes, Captain? You have something to say?”

“Permission for SG-22 to be assigned permanently to looking for Dr. Jenings-Izumi. SG-13 won’t be able to bring her in if they find her. Only a specialist team can, and 22 could talk her in, if we find her,” Vinny said and it was clear he believed that. As if to support his request, his words and bearing were picture-perfect. The only thing off was the intense expression in his eyes, as he stared intently at Landry.

If he could change the General’s mind through sheer force of will, Landry would have caved in that moment. But Landry shook his head. “Captain, I understand your position – I do,” he added at the look and red that crept over Vinny’s face. “But I think that at this point, it’s clear that the only way we’re going to find her is to get lucky, or for her to come home herself. Her trail is very cold. I’m keeping the feelers out. But O’Neill and I have both done what we can, and I have done it longer than I should. The IOA is demanding results, but they also are demanding that I get other things done. So you and the other Specialists are getting a new mission tomorrow. Dismissed.”

Vinny saluted, a rock-hard movement that displayed his irritation yet wasn’t disrespectful enough for Landry to call him on. “Yessir!” he said and spun on his heel, nearly marching out.

When he was out of sight of the general, Vinny’s entire bearing changed. Stomping through the hallways, he took no pleasure in the non-specialists and airmen who practically threw themselves out of his path. He went straight to Steve’s room, and tapped on the door. When his teammate answered, he said, “Get Gumby. My room, five minutes.”

He went and found Kyria in the pool, after getting no answer in her room. “My room, five minutes,” he ordered. After she nodded and started to get out of the pool, Vinny went back to his room. Aradia and Steve were already there and he let them in.

“What’s up, boss?” the auburn-haired shape-shifter asked.

“Wait for KT,” he said, taking a seat, leaving them to sort out how they sat on the bed.

When the telepath arrived, Vinny took a deep breath and pulled the unlit cigar from his lips. Everyone got solemn fast, knowing that if Vinny was putting his oral fixation aside, it was serious. “Landry’s pulling back the number of teams lookin’ for Olivia.”

“How many?” Kyria asked immediately.

“One, SG-13,” Vinny answered.

Aradia frowned. “That’s… that’s not a specialist team, is it?”

“Nope,” Vinny confirmed. “Have new orders tomorrow.” He leaned forward, his eyes intense as he added, “But that doesn’t mean we have to stop lookin’.” As Steve frowned, he quickly said, “Every time we clear the snakes offa planet and the goat-fuckin’ peasants are bowin’ and scrappin’ and askin’ what can they do for us, we’ll tell them to fuckin’ call us if they see this woman. We’ll do our jobs, and then a little extra. Understood?”

As his team answered his question with affirmatives, Vinny grinned. 22 really was the best fuckin’ team in the SGC.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Three weeks, one day, three hours AWOL

SG-9, one of SGC’s diplomatic teams, stepped out onto the soil of PX-9943, glancing around. Major Tony Ungvari paused a moment, looked at the lush vegetation and the burned-out hulk of the Al’kesh. “Captain St. Johne,” he said, pronouncing the name properly: ‘sin-jhin’, “check the snake-ship, see what’s what.” Greg nodded with that crisp British precision and trotted over.

“So where are the incubators?” Sergeant Brad Millstone said, immediately lighting his cigar.

“Stow that talk, Sergeant,” Ungvari grunted, wishing that the young man had picked anyone other than Wright to emulate. Of course, for all he knew St. Johne was emulating Caine, only Ungvari couldn’t tell because Caine was a real soldier. Wright, on the other hand, was a brute in just enough pretty wrapping to squeak by – which just went to show that there was something wrong with that specialist, the one who went AWOL. “We’re here to talk to the newly freed Jaffa of… what is the name of this place, Mr. Clark?”

Kent Clark, the xeno-cultural expert with cruel parents, looked up from his video camera. “Hajur, Major,” he answered before returning to what he was doing.

St. Johne trotted back. “It crashed, sirrah, shot down by other Al’kesh,” he reported in that thick accent of his, “and it looks like someone guttahed it, sir.”

“Thank you Captain,” Ungvari said, nodding. He liked a tight ship and a great deal of formality, which was why Millstone drove him nuts. “Mr. Clark, what do we do?”

“We should wait, sir,” Clark said, then glanced up. “Fortunately, we don’t have to wait long.”

A Tel’tak slowed overhead and nimbly turned before sitting down in front of them. A tall, gaunt man limped out of through the hatch. Ungvari’s immediate impression was that of a man still recovering from a bad leg injury, but another moment’s assessment made him decide he’d still not want to wrestle with the man. The cords on his arm stood out like cables as he walked to them. “Greetings, I am Jorham, second-hand to Torlak. If you will come with me?”

“Yes, of course. I’m Major Ungvari, this is Captain St. Johne, Sergeant Millstone and Mr. Clark. Thank you for your hospitality,” Ungvari said, nodding as they walked back and boarded the ship.

Another Jaffa was flying the ship, so Jorham stood with them easily, both of his hands on the cane. “I trust you had no issues with your travel through the Chappa’ai?”

“No, smooth as can be,” Ungvari said, giving Clark a casual yet meaningful glance. It meant, ‘talk up the natives, do your job’.

“Jorham, may I ask a personal question?” Clark asked. When the Jaffa nodded, Clark said, “I see that you have an interesting bracelet; it seems to have some cultural reference. May I ask what it is?”

The man’s hard face went harder still, and Ungvari was sure that Clark had just committed some faux paus. “My people wear them to show they have a spouse.”

“Oh, I see,” Clark said, smiling a little. “We use rings – Captain, would you mind?” St. Johne extended his left hand, and Jorham gave it a polite examination. “In your culture, are your women allowed to interact with foreigners? If so, I would be delighted to meet your wife.”

Tensely, Ungvari waited for their host to take offense. He’d heard that the Jaffa were funny about honor and family, and really funny about the two together. But their host didn’t react. “Yes, they may,” Jorham said, nodding, his expression unreadable. “But you will not meet Matsu; she is taken ill. She is with child, her first, and is feeling the effects of such.”

“Congratulations on your pending child,” Ungvari said, figuring that was safe to say. Huh, so they do get ill, just with morning sickness, not illness. Who knew?

“The first is the worst,” St. Johne said crisply.

“This is not my first,” Jorham stated stiffly. “My first three, as well as my first wife, were killed earlier this year. Matsu was… an unexpected life change.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Ungvari said softly. “And congratulations on finding happiness again.”

“Perhaps she’ll be well enough to meet before we leave,” Clark said with a diplomatic smile.

“Perhaps,” Jorham said, nodding. “But for now, you will just have to make do with Torlak’s wife, my sister.”

“I’m sure we’ll be more than satisfied,” Clark replied.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Three weeks, three days, three hours AWOL

“Matsu, why do you avoid the Taur’i?”

Matsu glanced up at Jorham, her face filling with both surprise and dread. The wooling brushes in her hands fell dormant on her lap as she bit her lip. “What do you mean, Jorham?”

He was silent for a moment, wondering if she was ever going to trust him, the one who had placed his mark of devotion on her wrist as a lie. Did she understand what it had meant to him, to have it move from his beloved wife’s arm to this stranger’s so quickly? With startling speed, he snatched a chair from the wall and put it in front of hers. His hands gently, but firmly, took the wooling brushes out of her hands. Setting them on the floor, he stared at her and said, “No tricks. Tell me.”

“I can’t,” Matsu said. “Torlak wouldn’t want me to.”

Jorham stared at her. “Because you hide from them,” he said. At her expression, he smiled grimly. “I know my sister’s husband. He was the one who made a point to mention the Taur’i to you, and then you were too sick to meet them. This despite you making a point to be at my brother’s side constantly, to help guide him.”

“I can’t confirm that,” Matsu murmured, her eyes dropping.

“You don’t have to, and you don’t have to worry,” Jorham said, rubbing his shaved head and sighing. “I have said I would protect you, from all enemies, from all threats. That includes the Taur’i.” He sighed again, not sure she understood how intent he was. “I must go back, then and watch them, to be sure that they don’t hear of you.”

Someone knocked on the door. Matsu stiffened, then stood and walked into the attached dressing room, shutting it behind her. It was better to be safe than sorry, in case one of the Taur’i was there. But it was one of the Jaffa, with a message from Torlac. “You are needed,” the Free Jaffa said.

Jorham nodded. “I’ll be right there,” he told the man, then walked to the dressing room and said through the door, “Torlak needs me, Matsu.”

“Alright,” she murmured, opening the door and smiling at him. “Let me…” She glanced at the waiting Jaffa and lowered her voice. “Let me know when the Taur’i leave, please, ok?”

He nodded. “Yes, of course.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him. As always, he noted that she was a beautiful woman, but it didn’t touch him deep inside. In his heart, there was only one woman, and she was dead. Still, he returned the smile before leaving the room; Matsu liked smiles, and because it made her feel better, he would smile, even if he didn’t feel it.

Walking down to the ground level made his half-healed leg twinge with pain, and he leaned heavily on the walking stick. He kept his face impassive, though, hiding the constant ache from any casual glances. In the main room below, he noted that the Taur’i were wearing all their gear again. He nodded to them, but didn’t feel the need to be too friendly when they hunted the woman under his care. Torlac saw him coming and approached him, meeting him half-way. “They’re leaving,” Torlac said softly as Jorham bent his head down to hear the shorter man’s short words. “See them back to the chappa’ai, Brother.”

Jorham nodded once and put on a smile as he walked toward them. “Greetings,” he said, nodding his head in respect – for he did respect them as allies, even as he knew that personally, they were probably enemies. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, we are,” Ungvari said, nodding.

“This way to the Tel’tak,” Jorham said, leading them out of the room. The four men followed him, but the one named Clark hurried to fall into step next to him. “I’m sorry we’re leaving without meeting your wife,” he said, his tone polite but not nosy.

Jorham nodded. “Her first child sits in her uneasily,” he replied noncommittally.

“Yeah, the first is the worst,” Ungvari said, nodding. “It’ll get better, and then worse.”

“Yes,” Jorham agreed, even as he wondered if Jaffa and Taur’i bore children and gave birth the same way. He loaded them into the ship and made small talk. He thought he was clear when Clark pulled out a two-dimensional image and showed it to him. Matsu’s unmarked face smiled at him from the picture. She looked far happier than he had ever seen her.

“Have you seen this woman? Her name is Olivia – she might be posing as a scholar or linguist,” Clark asked.

Jorham stared at it for a ten-count, pretending to study it, then said, “No.” It clawed at him to lie. It clawed at his heart and honor, but he did it. He’d sworn to protect her, and he had no choice.

“If you see her, let us know,” Clark said earnestly. “She’s a murderer and dangerous. You shouldn’t approach her. Just contact us through Bri’tak, and let us handle her.”

Jorham nodded. “She doesn’t appear dangerous.”

“Yeah, that’s what the last guy she got her hands on thought,” the man with the smoking tube in his mouth, the one whose name he couldn’t remember, replied. “She’s stronger than she looks, and will protect herself if cornered.”

“I will warn the others,” Jorham said. “Do you have another image of her?”

“I showed it around,” Clark said and this time, Jorham thought he heard something there, a hint of suspicion. “I thought one or two of your people might have seen her, but none owned up to it.”

“We have no reason to hide a human,” Jorham said flatly. “We do not house strangers.”

“Right, well, she’s a charmer,” Clark said. “Be careful. She did a number on one of our men.”

“Aw, he was just using her for sex,” the cigar-man said.

As Jorham reminded himself to not react, their leader snapped, “Millstone, shut up. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” He glanced at Jorhan. “Sorry about that; you shouldn’t have to hear him shooting off his mouth. I’ll have a word with him.”

Jorham just nodded, but a concern was growing in his heart. Too many people knew that Matsu had come to them as a human, and the word would spread to more, so long as there was someone there, asking questions. He was going to have to do something about that, even if he wasn’t sure what, yet.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Three weeks, three days, seven hours AWOL

Two-hour briefings were always tough. In particular, Ungvari had to keep referring to his notes, making sure he got all the details right. The long negotiation had covered a lot of ground. For his part, Clark was glad he’d kept a separate series of notes, as it allowed him to support his CO as he waded through the talks.

Clark had another dilemma. There had been some suspicious reactions to his picture of Olivia, and there was one person who had been conspicuously absent. In fact, there had been a couple of Jaffa who had been surprised that she hadn’t been there. But, and this was a big ‘but’ – accusing the leadership of Hajur of harboring Olivia, with no proof beyond his suspicions, could be a diplomatic disaster. He wasn’t even sure it was prudent to mention to anyone, for fear that Wright would get wind of it and go crazy. The man was seriously unbalanced.

“Mr. Clark? Hey, Kent!” The pencil bouncing off his forehead brought him back to the meeting when his name failed to catch his ear. He glared at Millstone, only slightly mollified when Ungvari tore into the sergeant. Everyone waited for the brief chewing out to end before Clark said, “Sir, you were asking?”

“Did you have anything to add?” General Landry asked.

Clark swallowed, then made the decision which changed everything. He said, “No sir. I don’t.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

The door slammed open, rebounding against the far wall. Olivia sat up in fear, the blanket pooling over her stomach and legs. Vinny stood in the doorway, scowling.

She was naked, and without thought, she pulled the blanket up again. Vinny’s face went red, and he stormed across the room. His big hand grabbed the sheet and ripped it away from her. His dark eyes fell on her verdant body, her swollen belly and his face went even redder. “See you fuckin’ pined,” he grunted. “Betcha fuckin’ waited an hour or two.” He threw the blanket at her, his gesture so harsh she flinched from him. “Cover up. Fuckin’ takin’ you home.”

“No, Vinny, please… they’ll take my baby,” she begged, pulling the blanket over her body.

“Don’t give a shit,” he said, his voice full of bile. He lit his cigar and snarled, “Move your ass, Doctor.”

Tears rose in her eyes as she whispered, “Don’t you want your baby to be raised by its mother?”

Vinny froze, staring at her. “Bullshit,” he finally ground out, his voice sounding like it was coming from the bottom of a pit.

“No, it’s not,” she said, rising and standing in front him, the blanket wrapped around her tightly. “I’m a Specialist; the birth control I was taking that week we were together was as effective as a breath mint at preventing pregnancy.”

He stared at her and the anger drained away, becoming wonder. “Us? A baby?” When she nodded, smiling, he put a hand on her belly. Olivia felt it kick, and so did Vinny; he jumped and grinned. “Did he just move?”

“He or she did,” Olivia confirmed, putting her hand over his.

He looked almost giddy as he bent down, kissing her. “Ours,” he murmured, his hands pulling at the blanket again, but with gentleness this time. As the cloth pooled around her feet, he pressed her naked body to his clothed one. This inequality didn’t last long; only a few moments later, they lay naked on the bed together. His hands explored her form, as she delighted in the taste of his skin. Then he sank his body into hers, and she cried out with the sheer joy of it-

And woke up alone, her body throbbing.

One month, six hours AWOL

She lay there a moment, feeling horny and lonely. She missed Vinny right now like an ache in her gut – or more accurately, somewhere lower. And this wasn’t the first time; she’d been having these dreams, or nightmares, or whatever, since the SG team had left. Olivia groaned and pulled the second pillow over her head, wanting sex more than she’d ever wanted anything else. Then she remembered what day it was, and the flush of lust faded, replaced by sorrow.

It was going to be hard to get out of bed today. Olivia stared at the wall for a while, a deep depression settling over her. She’d known today would be hard, when she’d counted the days and realized it was almost here. She closed her eyes and imagined what have normally happened today: Dad and Wakiki would have been watching television when she got up, discussing the various floats and balloons in the parade. Mom would have been in the kitchen, making sushi and a small turkey. Later, at dinner, they would have told each other what they were thankful for; someone always started with ‘family’. She wondered if Vinny would have been there this time, meeting her family finally.

She’d heard that the holidays were the hardest times to grieve, and that first holidays were the worst by far.

“Matsu?” Jorham’s voice was soft as he stood over her bed. She’d been so deep in her own depression she hadn’t heard him arrive. “Are you feeling sick?”

“Yeah,” she murmured, then added, “Heartsick. Today’s a special day on my planet, and… I’d be celebrating with my family right now.”

He sat down on the bed, looking at her with his dark, Northern African eyes. “You should get up,” he said, his voice kind. “Lying here will only make it worse. Work will distract you.”

Olivia sighed. “You’re right,” she admitted. “Tell Torlak I’ll be down soon.” He smiled and nodded, leaving her to get ready. She lay there for another moment after he was gone. Her last concession to her grief was a whispered, “Happy Thanksgiving, Olivia,” and then she got up and worked on distracting herself.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, sixteen hours AWOL

Vinny was trying to get drunk again. Those watching him from the safety of another table thought he was drinking because he was alone, but the holiday had fuck-all to do with his mood. In truth, his mood was black because she’d been gone a month. No leads. No word. No hope. If he weren’t such a stubborn bastard, he’d already have given up. But he needed to find her or find her body for closure. He couldn’t let it go like this.

“Hey, mister, want some company?” The female voice was warm, slurred and sultry. Vinny looked up to see that the body matched the voice; the face was a bit leather y, but that wouldn’t matter in the dark. There was nothing wrong with her body; she was rocking a low-cut blouse and short skirt. She was clearly trolling.

Vinny should have been more than eager for a drunk woman in revealing clothing to join him, but all this bitch did was remind him that his preferred pussy was off-world with no sign of her return. “No,” he growled, draining his drink and signaling to the bartender for more. When the man pretended to not see him, Vinny helped himself. His tolerance scared the piss out of most bartenders, so he was getting used to this.

As he poured, he considered that he probably should stop pissing away his money on alcohol that didn’t work. He also should probably stop obsessing about a woman who had torn out his heart. Least she didn’t break my neck, too, he thought, then realized the woman was still there. “Fuckin’ deaf?” he asked.

“No, I just think you’re really lonely and need some company.” She laid a hand on his shoulder, and Vinny had to remind himself not to start shit that civvies didn’t need to see.

“Not interested in your fuckin’ company,” he growled. “Get lost, bitch.”

“You’re not even going to give me a chance?” she asked, her fingers massaging his shoulder insistently.

He stood up and brushed her hand away. “No,” he grunted, preparing to move to another bar when suspicion stopped him. “Why you tryin’ so fuckin’ hard?” Her eyes flicked across the room and he followed her gaze. As she cursed softly, three men tried to dive under their table. He didn’t know their names, but he knew their faces. He’d seen them on the base.

It wasn’t hard to guess what was going on. Vinny grabbed her arm and dragged her across the room. “Who’s fuckin’ idea was this?” he asked. The three airmen all looked sheepish, until Vinny roared, “Who!” Then they looked scared, as did half the bar. They were rapidly becoming the center of attention, but no one was sure they wanted to get involved, even just to break it up.

One little shit trying to look like he wasn’t pissin’ his pants said, “Mine, but it’s his cousin.”

As the airman he’d pointed to went beet red and tried to sink into his chair, Vinny growled, “Whorin’ out your cousin? You a fuckin’ redneck-hick southerner? Your pussy-shit brain decide I wanted a piece of your inbred family’s ass?” Vinny pushed the woman into his lap; he automatically caught her and kept her off the floor, but it looked bad, especially given Vinny’s comments. “Don’t want a low-rent hooker.”

“I’m not inbred,” she snapped, coming back to her feet. “And I’m not a hooker, asshole! I’m a patriot.” Vinny laughed, which just made her mad. “I agreed to pick up a soldier who was having a rough time and give him a good night, but you deserve everything that you’re getting!” Turning, she marched out; one enterprising and hopeful man slipped out after her, his intentions clear.

“We were trying to help you,” the dumb kid said, drawing Vinny’s gaze back to the table.

“Fuckin’ think I can’t get laid?” he asked, his voice a dangerous rumble. He leaned forward and rested his hands on the table.

“No man, I thought you might fuckin’ appreciate someone doing you a solid,” the young punk said, getting up and mirroring Vinny. The specialist was already tired of the attitude being thrown at him, missing the source of that mockery. “Get that bitch off your mind.”

It took Vinny a second to equate ‘that bitch’ with Olivia. In another second, his stance changed from a passive potential for violence to hardcore ass-kicking. The punk had unwisely chosen to allow the table to remain between them, and Vinny used that. He shoved it into the kid, and then the kid into the wall. Bottles skittered violently and crashed to the floor. The little fucker’s voice rose an octave as his balls were caught under the edge of the table. And Vinny didn’t stop there. As fast as an ill-tempered mongoose, he caught the edge of the table and flipped it up, trapping the kid – and smacking him in the face with the flat of the table.

Movement on either side earned his two companions a snarled, “On your asses.” They were smarter than their friend and both men sank back into their chairs. The little shit he’d caught was struggling futilely, and Vinny leaned until the fucker’s movements stopped and his breathing became labored. Satisfied that he’d put the hurt on satisfactorily, he slid the table down so he could stare the little shit in the eyes. “Don’t fuckin’ talk about my woman that way,” Vinny growled, “or I’ll feed you your fuckin’ balls.”

The guy wasn’t that bright. “Think that whore is waiting for you? She’s out there fuckin’ her way across the galaxy-”

It took four men to drag him off, and even then they were straining. The table had saved the airman from getting destroyed, but he was still pretty badly hurt. Vinny didn’t have a scratch, beyond his bloodied knuckles. The police weren’t called, but the General was informed, and Vinny spent the rest of the holiday in the brig, cooling his heels.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, seventeen hours AWOL

Olivia stood on the top wall of the castle, though she still found it hard to think of it like that. The phrase ‘I live in a castle’ didn’t fit in her vocabulary very well. Sighing, she put her arms on the thick stone wall and leaned against them, staring into the dark. The stars were blazing beauties overhead, but their lack of familiar positions made them distressing to look at.

The dark-skinned specialist was so homesick. Or perhaps peoplesick; she missed Vinny, thanks to those stupid dreams, but thoughts of him brought aches for other people missing in her life: Daniel, Damian, Declan, Kyria. The silent litany of missing friends marched through her mind, and she wondered if they were thinking of her. She sighed and turned her head, resting her cheek on her arm.

“Matsu, have you come to see our stars?” Daniah’s voice jolted her out of her reverie, and Olivia straightened as her pregnant friend joined her. On the verge of her third trimester, the tall Jaffa still carried herself well.

“No, I just…” Couldn’t stand to be around people who aren’t my human friends. “I just needed some time alone.”

“Ah.” She was silent, standing quietly next to Olivia. “Jorham told me that this was a special day for you. He implied that perhaps I could cheer you up, since he’d been unsuccessful.”

Olivia smiled. In her misery, it was easy to forget that she had friends here now. “I don’t mean to sulk. I just wanted to clear my head and think a bit.”

“You were brooding,” Daniah said, her voice kind despite the accusation. Olivia shrugged and smiled in silent acknowledgement. After a moment, Daniah said, “If possible, we could celebrate your days with you.”

Olivia blinked at her. “What do you mean? You want to celebrate Thanksgiving?”

“We are your family,” Daniah said. Even as Olivia started to shake her head, Daniah added, “We could do something small for you.”

“I’m not really your family,” Olivia said, even as she fingered the thick bracelet Jorham had put on her wrist.

Daniah rolled her eyes, a bad habit she had learned from Olivia. “Matsu, you have saved my family so many times, I can’t begin to count. You are tied to us, again and again. You saved me, my husband and my brother’s life, and now you save Jorham’s life again. When he would give up and let the grief eat him, you have offered something else for him to think about, another thing to worry about rather than his own loneliness. Caring for you has given him life again.”

Olivia felt the heat staining her cheeks. “I’m… that’s pretty heavy. I mean, that’s something I didn’t think about.”

“I understand.” Daniah dropped her gaze from the stars. “Come, sister. Let’s go inside, and make our husbands fret over us.”

“I’ll watch you make Torlak hop through hoops,” Olivia laughed. “I think I’ll be happy to get off my feet again.” Smiling at her with bemused affection, Daniah looped her arm around Olivia’s, and they walked together into the castle.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, one day, three hours AWOL

Vinny sat in the cell, hands clenched tight as he contemplated his fate. He wasn’t worried. He was a specialist. Like the incident at Kikki Nass, he was going to get a slap on the wrist. If he was really unlucky, they’d make him a major.

At 0900 sharp, the door opened and General Landry walked in. He looked furious, but Vinny wasn’t daunted. “Captain Wright,” Landry said, trying to look tough, “are you aware how much trouble you’re in?”

Despite the fact that he knew he was getting out of this easy, Vinny opted for a bit of prudence. “Yes, sir,” he said simply, letting the general read whatever he wanted into that.

“You’ve short-handed an SG team and put a fellow soldier in the infirmary. You caused a fight in a civilian establishment. And over what? Some words. I expect more out of my captains.”

Vinny again decided to remain calm, though the general was wrong. They weren’t just words. They were slurs on his girl, an attack as sure as a fist. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re confined to base for a month. Your salary will be docked until you’ve paid for the damages and the costs of the care of Millstone. And you’ve officially used any sympathy I had for your situation.” Landry stared hard at him for a long moment. Vinny met his eyes, and knew that there was a challenge there. He couldn’t help it. “Shape up, Wright, or you’ll be the first specialist assigned to Afghanistan.” Without waiting for a response, Landry stomped out of the brig.

The MP silently opened the cell, offering him the bag with his things they’d taken from him last night. Vinny took it and dug out a cigar, muttering, “Afghanistan, my ass.” With a sneer at the threat of reassignment, he put the unlit stogie in his mouth. Head high, shoulders relaxed, he swaggered out of the brig.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, three days, seventeen hours AWOL

It took Ba’al just under a month to mount a response. That was about what they had expected; Nalk’s craft wasn’t very fast, and then the System Lord would have to shift troops around to be sure he wasn’t leaving an exploitable opening. The conflict between Ba’al and Yu was still in full swing, which gave the people of Hajur some breathing room. But not enough.

They were ready for him, but there was still that moment of stark fear when the Al’kesh in orbit signaled that ships were approaching. But there was a plan, and everyone leapt into action. The castle was likely to be a desired target, so the warriors gathered there, prepared to forestall the onslaught. Ba’al was unlikely to destroy it, so he’d center his assault there. The mothers and children were being boarded onto a waiting Tel’tak to be shuttled to the StarGate. At Jorham’s insistence, Olivia went with them. When she tried to point out her usefulness, Jorham and Daniah had both taken her head off verbally.

So instead of helping the warriors by preparing to use her gifts, she was busy helping children and mothers board the Tel’tak. “Matsu!” Jorham’s voice brought her around, and she looked up at him, her gaze hopeful. Maybe he’d reconsidered and decided to let her stay. He took her arm and pulled her to one side. “Matsu, if Torlak and I die, I ask that you look after Daniah.”

“Well, of course, Jorham,” Olivia said, frowning. “That didn’t need to be said. I’ll look after her if… but that won’t happen.” She smiled up at him and patted his arm. “You and Torlak will be fine, and you can come back and watch her yourself.”

He nodded, looking a little more relieved. “It is best to be sure,” he replied, releasing her arm. To her surprise, he pulled her to his chest, giving her a hug. After a second, he stepped back and walked away.

“Were it not for that touching moment,” Daniah said, stepping out of the door of the Tel’tak, “I would have told him to watch himself.” She smiled at the shorter human as she approached her. Her belly was beyond noticeable; it preceded her into rooms now and her natural Jaffa grace had finally been overwhelmed by the demands of carrying a child.

“What?” Olivia asked self-consciously when Daniah didn’t stop smiling at her.

“That was quite precious,” Daniah teased, her face lighting up with a sly grin.

Olivia rolled her eyes. “We have more important things to do than tease each other. Is everyone here?”

Daniah became serious as well. “No, we have one more family, one that lived away from the castle. They are coming, and should be here soon.”

Olivia looked at the blue sky and frowned. “Let’s hope they beat the Goa’uld.”

Daniah joined her in her silent consideration. “Indeed,” she murmured, looking worried.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, three days, nineteen hours AWOL

Someone was shrieking her name, shouting though a wall or thick barrier. Olivia’s eyes opened slowly, consciousness returning with annoying sluggishness. She tried to speak, but nothing was coming out of her mouth. She struggled to remember, and all she recalled was the fire.

Hands grabbed her and she batted at them. They were insistent, pulling at her, and the screaming person sounded closer. They were ordering someone to get up, and it took her a moment to realize they were barking commands at her. The blur over her became Daniah, stridently demanding she get up. Finally, one phrase worked through every other distraction: “Ba’al’s Jaffa are coming!”

Groaning, she rolled to her belly, then to her hands and knees. Daniah pulled her upward, and Olivia let her help, wincing as everything hurt. She managed to focus enough to realize that the woman next to her was injured, too. “You’re hurt,” she said, and it came out as a croak.

“Not like you,” Daniah rejoined. “Come on, move.”

The memory of the mention of Jaffa got her moving. “What… what happened?”

“They shot the Chappi’ai. It’s gone,” Daniah said, “and we’re on the wrong side.”

“What… what side?” Olivia repeated weakly.

“The Hajur side,” Daniah said. “I can only pray that the others made it.”

A vague memory of forms disappearing through the gate came back to Olivia, and then a sizzle of fire and a searing blast of light. “Dear god… they shot the gate while it was active?” she gasped, her eyes widened as she pieced the bits together into something that made sense.

“If it makes you feel better, I believe that they were aiming at us, and missed, since I pulled you down to the ground,” Daniah added drily. A branch slapped her in the face, and Olivia realized they were in the woods that surrounded the StarGate. As she tried to get her orientation, Daniah said somberly, “I hope that everyone got through before the gate exploded.”

Olivia’s mind brought forth the file regarding a similar incident with Teal’c. She didn’t say anything; they were on the wrong side of the gate to help. “You know, since we’re stuck here, we should probably help them. The men,” she added casually to Daniah.

The other woman paused only a moment. “Yes,” she finally said. “I agree. But we must be careful. Come.” Without hesitation, the Jaffa woman turned them and began to pick another path through the woods.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, three days, nineteen hours AWOL

Millstone had gotten one victory in over Vinny. The little fucker’s words shouldn’t, but they haunted him, teasing and taunting him like Olivia had done on her more frisky nights.

“She’s out there fuckin’ her way across the galaxy.”

At night, when he was trying to get his hour in, or in quiet moments when he wasn’t distracted, he pictured it. Olivia selling herself to faceless strangers for safety and food. Olivia giving herself away to faceless men for fun. Olivia lying back with that soft, satisfied expression on her face, the one that he loved, the one that meant he’d done well. Olivia laughing. Olivia moving over a man. Olivia being fucked and loving it.

His work profited from his jealousy. He threw himself into it, doing anything that would distract him for a few moments from the insane movies in his head. It was all supposition, and he knew it. There was no reason to think that she was doing any of this.

But still they persisted. A less stubborn man would have sought a counselor, or tried to talk through it with a buddy. But Vinny wasn’t the best at articulating what he was feeling without using the medium of a fist, and this was all so asinine anyway. They were mere fantasies, the product of his deranged, obsessed brain. There was nothing to talk about; he just needed to fuckin’ man up and let it go.

In front of him, the StarGate lit with blue light and filled with ‘water’ sending ripples of light across the faces of his team. “God speed,” General Landry said from behind and above them, sending them off on their mission. As usual, if the general was around to see a team leave, he gave that farewell. Vinny turned back and nodded, then waved toward the gate. “Let’s roll.”

The explosion ripped through the StarGate, knocking SG-22 backwards and taking out the wormhole. Aradia shifted instinctively into a large cat and came up on her feet, her fur bristling. Steve, Kyria and Vinny were knocked ass over teakettle and tossed back to the floor in front of the ramp. Over the ringing in his ears, Vinny heard General Landry shouting for a report. Rolling to his feet, he bounded up the stairs to Command, just in time to hear Walter bark, “There was some kind of power surge through the whole gate system! Some kind of explosion!”

“Is it still working?” Landry asked tensely.

“I’m checking that now, sir.” Vinny fought not to grind his teeth as he waited for the diagnostic to conclude. The relief in Walter’s voice gave him the answer he was waiting for before Walter even spoke. “Yes, sir, gate diagnostics are just fine. We’ll have to get one of the eg- er, scientists up here to double-check, but I think that the gates are designed to bleed energy off that way.”

“Can we tell where it originated?” Landry asked.

“I think so,” Walter said, bending his head to the task of tracing the surge. After running the data through a few computer tools, he said, “I think it’s PX-1884.”

“Why is that familiar?” Landry asked. “Wait, that’s the one of free Jaffa.” He was silent a moment, then said to Walter. “Recall the Daedelus. In the meantime, contact our allies in the area, see if one of them can render immediate aid.” He spotted Vinny and said, “Give us an hour to make some calls, then report back for your mission.”

Inwardly, Vinny cursed. What the hell was he supposed to do for an hour? The mission had promised to be a great distraction; now he had nothing to do. Outwardly, he repositioned his cigar and said, “Yes, sir.” Turning to his team – who had followed him into the room and were back by the stairs – he said, “You heard the general. Stand down, report back in an hour.” He waited until they were gone before turning to Landry. “General, permission to speak?”

“What is it, Captain?” Landry asked, turning to face him, his expression stony. Landry appeared to still be mad about the bar fight.

“Gonna volunteer 22 to be the ones to go help our Jaffa allies, General.” Vinny kept his tone respectful; he knew how to play the game.

“Why?” Landry asked.

“Think it’d be a good opportunity for my team, sir,” Vinny replied. And it would; it would also be a nice distraction, good for a while if they ended up helping the Jaffa secure another gate.

“I’ll consider it,” Landry said, turning away from him. “Dismissed.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, four days, two hours AWOL

“Any ideas?” Olivia whispered, peering over the edge of the hill again. The situation was the same; a prolonged battle was under way. The Jaffa outside the castle were clearly trying not to just blow up the castle, but take it by force of arms. The Jaffa inside were holding, but it was a matter of time. While it seemed to currently be a stalemate, Olivia knew how poorly sieges tended to go for the besieged.

“Yes, but we need a ship,” Daniah said.

“Oh, yeah, that’s simple. We’ll take that one over there,” Olivia hissed sarcastically. “I’m sure they left the keys in it.”

“Keys? I have never heard of an Al’kesh requiring keys to enter,” Daniah responded, frowning quizzically.

“Nevermind. I need to teach you guys sarcasm,” Olivia sighed. “Look, what do you need the ship for? What’s the plan?” Daniah laid it out. It didn’t take long, and Olivia shook her head at the end. “ ’Stealing an Al’kesh, flying up to the mothership and killing the leader, especially if it is Ba’al’ is not a plan, it’s a wish. We need something more solid.”

“Do you have an idea?” Daniah replied, and Olivia sighed as she noted that the Jaffa had no trouble expressing irritation.

Olivia stared down the hill for a moment. “I do, actually,” she said. She quickly laid out her plan for the Jaffa.

“Matsu, I will confess I do not like this,” Daniah replied, hunkering down lower as an enemy Jaffa turned their direction for a moment.

“I know,” Olivia said, praying that her alien friend would still see the benefit of the plan. “Now come on, we need to get going.” Carefully, the women scurried away, Olivia aiding Daniah down the slope.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, four days, fifteen hours AWOL

“There,” Olivia muttered, finishing the last of the rerouting and pushing the crystal drawer closed. She glanced toward the cockpit of the Tel’tak. “Try it now.”

Tearing apart an Al’kesh had been beneficial in more than one way; as the Jaffa placed her hands on the control orb, the ship filled with a low thrum. “Excellent,” Olivia said, scurrying forward and leaning over Daniah’s chair. “Now, is the cloak working, too?”

The Jaffa was silent, working the controls; then she smiled and nodded. “Yes, it is. Or at least the controls say it is working.”

“There you go – always thinking positive,” Olivia said, taking her seat and grabbing the armrests. She had little faith that this old junker would perform as needed, even though there was every indication that it should. They had pulled too many parts from other ships in Hajur’s ship graveyard for Olivia’s comfort. Still it wouldn’t stop her from trying. Even Daniah’s slight pessimism couldn’t stop her. “Let’s run a diagnostic.” She waited as Daniah ran the systems through a check, including an atmosphere test to see if it could maintain a positive pressure inside the ship.

“Everything seems to be ready,” Daniah said.

“Then let’s do it.” Olivia looked over at the other woman when they didn’t move, surprised to see indecision on her face. “What?”

“I cannot believe this is the correct course,” the other woman said softly. Her eyes were tormented as she matched gazes with Olivia. “Nothing about it feels right.”

Olivia stood and put a hand on her shoulder. “Daniah. We are two. Our best bet is to get to the Jaffa Council and beg for aid.”

“Running and begging. What will Torlak think of me?” Daniah’s eyes squeezed tightly shut as she spoke.

“Your husband will thank you for saving your son’s life,” Olivia said firmly. “And he’ll thank you for saving his life when you return with the cavalry. I know it’s not the ‘Jaffa Way’. But Daniah, the ‘Jaffa Way’ is something that was forced on you by the goa’uld. Your people have never had a chance to be themselves, to choose who to be. This is the start. Choose who you will be – smart or dead.”

“If only there were some way to remain and fight,” Daniah whispered.

Olivia sighed as a thought occurred to her. “You won’t go?”

“I cannot,” Daniah said, her expression tortured. “You say it is not the Jaffa Way, yet I chose to embrace that way.”

“Then I’ll ring onto the ship as we pass, and you’ll go fight with the Council while I go fight the enemy.” Olivia hated this idea, but she needed Daniah to fly the ship. Olivia didn’t have the piloting skill that Daniah had, and wouldn't get far. And she knew that while the warriors in the castle could hold out a while, they couldn’t hold forever. They needed help. And as far as she knew, Daniah and she were the only help available. That wasn’t enough, and only a Jaffa would consider for a second that it was.

“You would… do all that?” Daniah asked. “Can you do all that?”

“Between the two of us? Yeah. And I can’t fly the ship,” Olivia said, moving back to her chair and trying not to display her blatant relief. “So… skedaddle – I’ll do what I can from above to help our men below, if you’ll do what you can to help our men. Do we have a deal?”

“I am still running,” Daniah said, and Olivia bit back the urge to strangle her.

“But I’m not. Also, you’re not running. You’re getting backup for us. Trust me, running would mean just going to the planet we just missed gating to and hiding there. There is a difference.” Olivia silently begged her friend to accept this explanation.

Finally, Daniah nodded and shifted her hands. “So be it,” she said, and the thrum from below became a roar. “Were I not with child, I would be in the castle right now, fighting with Torlak.”

Thanks to your son, you have a chance to live, Olivia didn’t say, though she really, really wanted to. Instead, she just said, “Well, then you’ll have to rib him constantly as he grows about how his impending birth kept you from glorious combat.”

“True,” Daniah laughed.

Olivia was already thinking ahead to the next step. As the Tel’tak lifted from the ground, already invisible to the sensors, Olivia stood, asking, “Where did you put that Staff Weapon you found?”

“In the back. Why?”

“Because they’ll have the ring room guarded, and I need a big-ass doorbell.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, four days, fifteen hours AWOL

The rings activated with a howl, causing the two bored Jaffa on guard duty to snap into alertness. They leveled their Staff Weapons at the forming smear of light within in the floating blue rings, ready to blast whoever was coming through into oblivion.

The strangest thing happened; there was a woman. She was crouching on the floor; when she saw them, she extended the middle finger of her hand at them, smiling. “Suck it, boys,” she said in the goa’uld tongue, just as she dropped into the floor.

The Jaffa felt their jaws drop. “Did you-?” one started.

“Did I see a woman pass through the floor? Yes,” the other said. “Call the Prime.” Frowning, he bent to pick up the Staff Weapon she’d left behind. The second he touched it, he dropped it with a gasp. It was hot.

He didn’t really have time to consider the implications of that before the Staff Weapon overloaded and exploded.

Olivia winced as the reverberations from the loud explosion roared through the supply room she was in. But nothing fell on her, and she waited until the vibrations and rumbles stopped. She moved to the nearest supply container and began to go through it.

It took an hour of searching, but she found what she needed. A couple of power supply sources for her zat, some food and water – and the key component: the goa’uld hand computer. She keyed in, using trial and error to figure out how they worked. Then she pulled up a map, selected a safe room to hide in, and left the raided supply room behind.

As she worked through the ship, she considered her ultimate goal – how did you blow up a ship this big without getting yourself killed?

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, six days, three hours AWOL

Olivia woke up suddenly, going from sleep to alert instantly. It took her a moment to realize that she’d heard boots outside her room. She stiffened, prepared to get the hell out of there, but they moved on after a few minutes. The specialist relaxed, then checked the hand computer. She’d gotten four hours of sleep.

“Good enough,” she muttered and stood up, stretching to work the stiffness out of her body. It had taken a day and a half, but she knew what she was going to do to affect the ship. She’d done a dry run of the procedure before lying down for a nap. She moved to the door and listened carefully for a time before determining that it was safe. Then she opened the door and slipped out into the open.

As she walked carefully through the ship, she considered the odds of getting away. There were three options: the first was the least likely to succeed. She wasn’t sure she could get to a Death Glider before they were all taken by fleeing Jaffa, and then she wasn’t sure she could fly it. While she was a firm believer in her ability to learn things on the fly – pun intended – this seemed a little beyond what one could pick up in the heat of the moment. Her next option was to ring down to the planet. That would be good; it would put her in the palace, and she could help with the siege. But she wasn’t sure that the rings would work long enough for her to evacuate. Her final option was the StarGate. But that would mean leaving the Jaffa behind – and Olivia found herself reluctant to do that. She’d become fond of them, had started to build a home with them. Olivia had lost too much to just let go of one more thing so easily.

The problem with selecting the rings, the only way to remain with her adopted family, was that if she got to the rings, and they didn’t work, she probably wouldn’t have time to make it to the StarGate to get out. So was she going to follow her heart and take a big chance, or mitigate the losses to her physical self and take the safe bet? The StarGate would have its own power supply and was a lot more durable. Olivia knew that she’d regret not trying the rings, but she also knew that she had to answer to more than her own needs and desires. Her hand pressed to her belly for a moment, but she knew what she had to do. With a heavy heart, she dedicated herself to going to the Gate.

The main crystal room of the Ha’tek was very impressive. Banks and banks of crystals were contained in the room, closed away in little sliding drawers. Olivia looked at them, retraced her steps in her mind, and took a deep breath. She paused to listen, to make sure she was really alone. And then she started.

Moving as fast as she could, she began to pull out drawers. Alarms would be going off somewhere; she knew that much. She had roughly three minutes before someone came to check. She’d timed it yesterday by leaving a drawer open an inch and hiding to watch who and how fast the drawer was investigated. Today was a little different; when she had several drawers open, she used the short iron bar in her hand and began to smash the crystals. Part of her knew that she was destroying knowledge, but she didn’t stop. She had made her choice.

She heard them coming, even over the shattering crystals. Olivia pulled out the zat and popped it open. When the slaves responding to the call appeared in the doorway, she fired at them. She hit the first one and the rest pulled back. She was running out of time, but she took the time to smash more crystals.

Olivia knew she was out of time when the Jaffa showed up. She could only pray she’d done enough damage to cripple the ship, or at lease render it useless. Turning, she called on Gwyn’s gift and darted for the wall. Unfortunately, she mistimed her dash, and ran face first into the wall. She connected solidly and flopped to the floor, adding insult to injury when she bruised her ass and back as well as her face. Not that she could feel how much they hurt with the agony of a smashed face.

The Jaffa surrounded her as she recovered her wits, lying on the floor. Half a dozen active staff weapons hummed at her and Olivia groaned. “Lie still!” a Jaffa shouted. Olivia nodded; her face hurt too much to do anything else, and she felt a warm mask of blood on her face. She wasn’t sure what was bleeding, but she was definitely hurting.

“Get her up and take her to Ba’al,” the same Jaffa ordered.

That took Olivia’s attention off of her face. Her dark eyes widened; as two Jaffa bent down to grab her, she let herself fall through the floor. As she passed from view, she caught the very humorous expressions on the soldiers’ faces. She wondered what they’d make of that.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, six days, four hours AWOL

Gravity cut out for a moment as she scurried into the Gate Room, leaving her floating before dropping her to the ground. Stumbling, she slammed her hand down on the door latch, then zatted the controls for good measure. Olivia wasn’t sure it was going to work, but she did it anyway. Gasping for air that was already starting to thicken with lethal carbon dioxide, Olivia punched in the coordinates for her sanctuary.

The door inched open a bit, and a Staff Weapon blast missed her by inches. Olivia flinched but didn’t stop pressing the keys until she had all seven; as she pressed the red activation bulb, she twisted and pointed her zat at the sliver of open doorway. She saw part of a face and fired. The face disappeared, which was good enough for Olivia regardless of whether she’d actually hit it or not.

The event horizon of the wormhole settled into place, and Olivia backed up the stairs, zatting anything that stuck its nose in the gap in the door. She could hear someone screaming in Goa’uld on the other side, demanding that the door be opened, now! The Jaffa became bold, pressing to the door regardless of the zat blasts coming for them. As she felt that first tickle of energy that signaled the wormhole, someone got lucky.

Olivia had had been struck by a Staff Weapon blast once before but she’d been drawing on Gwyn’s echo and the memory was a distant one. This time, she was surprised at how much and instantly it hurt. Her leg blossomed into what seemed like an instant fire, burning with the torture that her more zealot friends assured her was awaiting her in Hell. That didn’t last long; shock quickly dulled the pain and her mind, giving her a reprieve from the anguish at the cost of reason. She numbly tried to complete her next action as time seemed to slow; she’d been stepping backwards to cross the edge of the StarGate. Her leg buckled as she tried to put weight on it and she fell into the wormhole instead.

Enough of her crossed the event horizon that the rest of her was pulled through, and Olivia found herself on the desolate, red ruins of Velona. Weeping, she clawed herself out of the StarGate and rolled down the stairs, struggling for the DHD. She dragged her body over to it, then pulled herself up and touched the bulb to disconnect the wormhole. Relief at making it turned into despair when she saw a Jaffa leap out ahead of the closing doorway. He didn’t see her immediately, which is all that saved her. As he was spotting her and bringing his Staff Weapon to bear, she was shooting him with the zat. He collapsed, and Olivia only hesitated a second before triggering the zat again. He twitched wildly for a moment, then it was over.

Olivia sagged against the control device for a second, panting. After a moment, she felt so tired she let her grip on the device go, and she slid to the ground, focusing on just breathing. That helped, to just lie still and wheeze, but it presented another problem; she could feel consciousness begin to slip away.

“Damn it,” she said and sat up, surprised at the effort it took. Was she already too far gone to get help? She struggled on, ignoring the question. Olivia was not going to die here.

Thoughts of dying looked more real when she finally saw her leg. She gasped at the raw, open, burn on her thigh, the pain redoubling when she saw how bad it looked. “Oh, fuck,” she groaned, knowing instantly that she needed medical care. Her backpack with medical gear was here, but it was well back in the ruins; she’d never make it. She paused, trying not to think about SGC’s med bay, or the sweet, sweet drugs they would have. Where was another doctor?

Ramkin. He’d given her his gate address; she hoped he’d been serious about his willingness to help her with medical care. Groaning with the effort, she pulled herself up enough to punch in the address and hit the red button. Then, as the wormhole was opening, she began to crawl toward the stairs. She tried to move quickly but not hurt herself more; she had thirty-eight minutes to get through.

She was gritting her teeth together as she surmounted the stairs and breached the top. Her head spun with the pain as it threatened to overwhelm her, and she was half-blind as she inched her way over the threshold on shaking arms and leg, dragging the other behind. The cool sensation of the wormhole was a blessed relief.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, six days, four and a half hours AWOL

Olivia fell out of the vortex, her arms giving out before she was across. It was a strange sensation, to be half in and half out. She lay there, knowing that she should probably move, but it didn’t seem urgent until she realized that her baby was still in the event horizon. She started to struggle over when her arms were grabbed.

“No!” she cried instinctively, thrashing helplessly for a moment as she failed to remember the availability of Gwyn’s echo.

“Stop that!” a voice barked. “We’re trying to help!”

Blearily, she glanced around as she was dragged out of the wormhole. Two men in dark blue uniforms carrying long Billy clubs were hauling her forward; they set her down when she was clear and turned her over. As one shut down the wormhole, the other bent over her and asked, “What happened?”

“Attack… Jaffa… my leg…” she whimpered, watching the world go gray. Due to the abundance of stone buildings that fenced in the courtyard the StarGate rested in, the world was already pretty gray, so only part of that was due to her fading consciousness. With a gasp, she added, “Ramkin… Dr. Ramkin… said he’d help me…”

The man bending over her nodded to the other, then turned back to her. Someone pressed something to her leg and Olivia screamed; she couldn’t help it. She looked down her body to see another man in a uniform pressing a bandage to her wound. “Shh,” the first man said, his hands gentle. “I’m sorry, I know it hurts. What is your name?”

‘Olivia’ was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it and hissed, “Matsu.”

“Ms. Matsu, I’m Constable Wendel,” the man told her, “and I’ll stay with you until the doctors come.” Olivia nodded, half-dazed by the agony in her leg. Whatever they had put to it, it was cold, so cold it seemed to burn. “I’m sorry, but I must ask – do you serve Ba’al?”

“Oh, fuck no,” she groaned, shaking her head. Wendel relaxed and his posture went from defensive to protective. “I’m free… free Jaffa. My hu- husband is Jorham of Hajur.” She grabbed his arm. “Have you heard anything about them?”

Why she thought this man would know anything was probably delirium imposed by her wounds. Wendel shook his head, frowning. “No, Miss,” he added verbally. “I’ll be sure to ask around.”

“So we meet again.” Ramkin’s voice cut through their conversation. He knelt next to her in a strange white garment, a button-down shirt with a high collar and short sleeves. It was, she realized after a moment, very Victorian. “I thought I told you to cut down on the heroics.”

“I tried,” Olivia whispered, looking at him. Relief flooded her eyes when he pulled out the Goa’uld healing device and activated it over her.

“Well, you’re still pregnant, and the fetus seems fine,” he told her, making Wendel’s eyes widen and his posture become even more protective.

“Good,” Olivia whispered, letting her eyes drift shut. She hadn’t had time to think about damage to the baby, and hadn’t wanted to consider it in those seconds that it had forced its way into her thoughts.

“You, on the other hand, are a mess,” he informed her gruffly. “Let me stabilize her and then we can move her to the hospital.” Wendel nodded as the humming from the hand-healer changed.

“Why not just heal me?” Olivia asked, not relishing the thought of only being partially healed. Her leg didn’t burn anymore but still hurt, though not enough to hide the throbbing ache in her face anymore.

“Because these things have a finite power source. Long, but finite,” Ramkin explained. “So I’ve started saving this for emergencies. Your leg will heal fine from here on out.”

“Right,” Olivia sighed, slumping back as he ran the device over her head.

“You’ve broken your nose and have a concussion, along with random bruising,” Ramkin sighed. “What on earth did you do?”

“Ran into a wall,” Olivia said softly.

“Here, roll to the side,” Ramkin said as two men dressed like him knelt on the other side of her, laying a wood and cloth stretcher between them. Ramkin helped her roll toward him, and the men positioned the stretcher under her. She was rolled back, and then lifted into the air. The two men carrying her started to hurry, while Ramkin fell into a brisk walk next to her. “You’re in good hands now… what was the name again?”

“Matsu,” Olivia said, smiling at the doctor.

“You’re safe on Rigalla, Miss Matsu,” he told her, smiling briskly. “Just relax and heal.”

Olivia wasn’t sure about that, but she let herself believe him for now.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, eight days, twelve hours AWOL

Jorham leaned against the wall and tried to think about anything other than his hollow gut or his exhaustion. The sunlight was harsh on his face, but the heat helped him to focus. Water they had in plenty; the source of their well was deep underground and the attacking forces hadn’t found a way to poison the water. He was sure they were trying.

“And to think,” Torlak said wearily next to him, “we counted it a blessing that Ba’al wouldn’t just raze the castle.”

Jorham laughed weakly, reminding himself that his sister and wif- sister and Matsu were safe. It helped to think of them away and safe on another world. If he’d had a god to believe in, he would be praying for them, as he still worried. But if their enemies had their bodies, they would be displaying them break their morale. The fact that they hadn’t let Jorham take comfort in their presumed safety.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about Matsu. When Torlak had told him how she’d rescued them, he’d known that his people needed her to help them. He’d agreed to call her his wife to keep her around; it had been wise and expedient. Even the burden of raising another man’s child was minimal in comparison to the gifts she used on behalf of the Jaffa. But he was fond of her, and her presence was more than expedience now. It was a pleasure.

He’d never meant to love another woman after his wife’s death. He was sure that he didn’t love Matsu. He was just as sure that he could love her, easily.

“They come again,” Torlak said, his voice weary yet full of iron resolve. “Come, brother. We stand and die in defense of our home.”

“Yes,” the Jaffa said rising to his feet. “And we’ll make the snakes choke on our corpses.” The two men shared a fierce grin before turning to meet the next onslaught of raiders and Death Gliders.

It was as it had been for days; the enemies seemed endless. The rushing Jaffa pressed the walls incessantly, while the Death Gliders buzzed overhead, raining fiery death. It was glorious battle, yet after five days, Jorham was numb to it. They’d been on rations to preserve food, and that hadn’t helped the hole inside of him. He was tired of fighting, tired of war. He wanted peace.

On they fought, using reserves that they didn’t have any more. It finally seemed as if Ba’al might win, when Jorham looked around and saw more injured than whole warriors, and more dying than injured. His spirit flagged for a moment, but the Jaffa refused to let go. He hefted his weapon and prepared to die.

The gray craft dropped out of the sky, moving like the Death Gliders. They intercepted the golden Death Gliders, turning the Jaffa-piloted ships into golden blooms of light. A high-pitched whine brought Jorham around, his Staff Weapon pointed at a white smear of light, but he dropped it when he saw Bra'tak surrounded by Taur'i uniforms. Bra'tak stepped forward, nodding to the Jaffa.

Torlak limped forward, bowing his head to Bra'tak. "Master Bra'tak, we welcome a warrior of your prowess."

"Your wife was not to be denied," Bra'tak said with a knowing smile. Jaffa women could be just as vigilant as their men; the joke was that they usually didn't have to us any weapon but their tongue.

"Daniah?" Torlak asked, surprised. Jorham walked forward, standing eagerly next to Torlak, waiting for Bra'tak to mention Matsu. Matsu would have not left Daniah's side for something this important.

"Yes, she arrived at Panua," he said, referencing the closest free Jaffa planet, "with quite a story. The nearest ships responded, including some of our Taur'i allies. It's a good thing they came; the rings aren't working."

"We had to disable it," Torlak grunted, his surprise at his wife's heroics faded as he returned to the battle mindset. "Ba'al minions were using them, trying to gain access to us."

"You disabled it? When? Daniah said that another woman, Matsu, had ringed over to the ship to disable it. The Ha'tak that is over the planet is no longer functional," Bra'tak told them, "so Matsu must have succeeded in disabling it. Did she manage to ring down before life support failed?"

Jorham's heart turned inside out. "She... was on the Ha'tak?" His voice was raw, rasping in his throat as it struggled past the lump in it. It had been his idea to disable the rings. Torlak put a hand on his shoulder as Jorham snapped, "What did they think they were they doing? They were supposed to flee through the gate!"

"The Jaffa destroyed the Chappa'ai before Matsu and Daniah could gain entrance," Bra'tak informed them gravely.

"We can check on the others that made it through, if you can provide us with a destination," the Taur'i said, stepping forward.

"Torlak, this is Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds of SG-3. Colonel Reyolds, this is Torlak, leader here," Bra'tak introduced the men.

Torlak nodded and scrawled the gate address; while he did that, Jorham caught Bra'tak's eye. "Master Bra'tak, there is no word of Matsu?" He knew it was foolish to ask again, and even more foolish to have hope in his voice as he did so. “She was with child,” he added, his mouth running on after his brain stopped.

Bra'tak tried to look optimistic, but Jorham saw the raw sympathy in his eyes. "We will search and find her," he swore, gripping Jorham's arm.

"Jorham, I am sorry to ask this of you," Torlak interrupted, gripping his brother-in-law's other arm. "Can you show Colonel Reynolds's engineer to the damaged section of wall?"

Jorham took several deep breaths before nodding. "Yes," he said, afraid to say more. He had to stop thinking about her, worrying about her. She had survived so much, how could a mere Ha'tak kill her? The image of her dead body floating on the skeleton of the Ha'tak plagued him, and he had to stop, putting a hand on the wall.

"You hurt?" Jorham looked up at the unfamiliar, gruff voice. The man in front of him was as tall as Jorham, but wider in the shoulders. An odd brown tube hung out of his mouth. The dark-haired man started at him with a hard face, but the faces of the three standing loosely behind him were softer. The other man was thinner, but also tall, while the women were of more average height and weight. As Jorham wondered what they fed men on Taur'i, Bra'tak said, "This is Captain Wright, and his team, Specialists Courier, McConnell and Donnighal. He is the engineer."

Jorham straightened, nodding. "I can take you," he said, his voice tight.

Capt. Wright turned to his team. "Stay here, assist with the defense." The three nodded and moved over to talk to Bra’tak. Jorham didn’t know why they were here; they clearly weren’t warriors of any measure. But Capt. Wright was a warrior despite being judged to be some sort of mason.

Jorham led Capt. Wright out to the half-collapsed wall; the warriors guarding it watched them with interested, tired eyes. On the third day, the Jaffa had undermined the wall. They must have known about its weakness, the fissure that ran under it, because they had exploited it. The wall had a ‘V’ in it now, a breach that had nearly cost them the castle. Only the lives of defending Jaffa had prevented them from being overrun.

Capt. Wright stared at the wall, then knelt to study it from a lower angle. He poked around the wall, peered into the fissure which had been opened. Standing, he pulled out a small device and flicked the end of it, making a flame. Jorham hid his surprise at this unusual device, watching at Capt. Wright used it to set the stuffed tube in his mouth on fire. He appeared to inhale the smoke created, which Jorham admitted smelled nice. “Can you do something?” the Jaffa asked when he’d had too much of watching the man blow smoke out of his mouth.

“Course,” the Taur’i replied, eyeing him. “Just need some tools from the ship.”

“And you’ll have all the manpower you need, Capt. Wright,” Jorham vowed.

The man grimaced. “Fuckin’ call me Vinny,” he growled, scowling at the wall, missing Jorham’s sudden stare.

Vinny. The word that Matsu sometimes murmured in her sleep. No, a name, Jorham realized. This man’s name.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, eight days, thirteen hours AWOL

Olivia woke up slowly, swimming up out of sleep. The sunlight pooled over her bed, making her legs and stomach uncomfortably warm. She stretched and inhaled, then relaxed. Smiling a little, she sat up and eased back the blanket, then moved the bandage over her leg carefully. Pressing her lips together, she assessed how much it had healed already. In the two days she’d been here, she’d already seen much improvement in her leg, mostly due to her specialist metabolism.

She’d been given a single room in an old-fashioned hospital; there were several empty beds in the room, and Olivia wondered if she was displacing any other injured. She made a note to talk to Dr. Ramkin about it when he came around again. She saw him at least once a day; he was a diligent doctor.

But when the door opened, it wasn’t Dr. Ramkin. Olivia tensed when she didn’t recognize him. She put her hand up to her collar, as if she would hide exposed skin from view, but the robe she’d been given buttoned to her chin. It was a defensive measure, instinctive. “Who are you?” she asked, proud that her voice didn’t quiver.

“I’m Dr. Holstein,” the short, older man said. “I’m the Director here at the hospital. I wanted to meet you personally and assess you myself.” As he spoke, he stepped forward and picked up the sheaf of papers that Dr. Ramkin took notes on. He began to look through them, but Olivia interrupted.

“Why?” she asked curiously, unsure of why she merited such attention.

“I’ve never met a Jaffa before that wasn’t trying to kill me,” Holstein said, his voice abnormally cheerful for that statement. “Also, there’s a queue of visitors who’d like to see you.”

“Me? Really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, many would like to see you, and talk to you of life as a Jaffa,” Holstein said, glancing up at her. He gave her a bland smile and asked, “Do you feel up to visitors?”

Olivia shifted on her bed. “Perhaps. Could I sit up, with some pillows?” In truth, she was very bored, and talking with someone who wasn’t interested in poking or prodding her sounded wonderful.

“I’ll send around a nurse and prepare you for company,” Holstein said, putting the papers back in the basket attached to the bed. “If you get too tired, tell them, Miss. Matsu.”

She nodded, smiling. “Oh, no worries,” she assured him. “I’ll speak up.”

In short order, a small group of people stood in her room. Olivia noted the quality of their clothes as well as their bearing and inferred that she had guests that this world considered distinguished. “Hello,” she said, smiling. “Sorry that I don’t get up to greet you properly.”

“My, you are very well-spoken,” the elderly lady said, in tones that Olivia had heard in the deep South. They were only used by certain people to express surprise that people with dark skin could speak in complete sentences.

“Yes,” Olivia said, “though I’m considered dumb by Jaffa standards.” She watched their faces and tried not to laugh as they struggled to process her lie.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

One month, two weeks, nine days, thirteen hours AWOL

When they came, Vinny dropped his trowel and picked up his P-90. He leaned forward against the concrete he’d been smoothing into place and fired at the Jaffa swarming up the slight incline. As the wet concrete sank into his clothing, he focused on putting rounds into the enemy. After a few seconds of fighting, his guide dropped next to him, shooting away with one of those fuckin’ staff weapons. Pieces of shit.

He wasn’t sure if they had guessed what he was doing, but they’d attacked the breached wall again. It made sense, but they had to know it was heavily fortified by the defenders. They had to know it was a losing fight; these Jaffa were stuck on the ground, without air support or a Ha’tek to flee to. At this point, they were desperately trying to take the castle before Ba’al could get more troops to come back them up, the better to please their god. They didn’t know that with the Prometheus and the Free Jaffa Ha’taks that were in orbit, Ba’al probably wasn’t coming for them, and that the defenders were going to win. Their sacrifice was in vain.

Vinny was more than happy to take their lives for them if they were so insistent on giving them up. If he’d had time, he’d personally take a sharpie to each and every forehead out there, and leave derogatory messages for Ba’al to find. As it was, he had to satisfy himself with riddling each incubator with enough holes to kill them dead.

Suddenly, he realized that there was a group of them up to something near the base of the wall of rubble. Yesterday, he and the Jaffa had moved enough of the rubble away – while under heavy fire – that the enemy couldn’t just race up it and throw themselves at the defenders. Now, a group of them was doing something to it, and he doubted it would be something he’d like.

“Kemosabe,” he grunted, grabbing the Jaffa whose name he’d forgotten within moments of hearing it, “what are they doing?”

The lanky incubator boldly stuck his head over the edge. Vinny gave him credit for having balls, if not brains, though given the accuracy of the Staff Weapons, it was more of a calculated risk than a sure one. The Jaffa bared his teeth as his eyes widened, and he said, “Bomb.” Before Vinny could react, the sonovabitch had scrambled over the edge and dropped into the midst of them.

“Fuck!” Vinny said, but he couldn’t do anything up here. As two more Jaffa dropped over the edge, he joined them, throwing himself on top of an enemy Jaffa and putting a burst of rounds into his head as he knelt on his chest. For a second, all was blood and chaos; then the ‘friendly’ Jaffa had cleared enough of the so-called hostile Jaffa back that he could see what they’d done.

“Fuckin’ cunt-sniffing motherfucker,” he snarled as he crouched next to the homemade bomb. It was an ugly thing, but it would still go off like a professionally made bomb. The thing that really made him curse was the sliver of silver-blue metal in the heart of the thing. He could just see it in the nest of wires, but that was all he needed to see to know that they’d wrapped their bomb around weapons-grade naquadah. They’d probably found some from the StarGate they’d shredded.

Fuck.

Thinking fast, he called up to the Prometheus. “Heimdall,” he shouted over the roar of combat, “there’s a bomb about point-three meters by point-five meters at my feet. Beam it into space.”

“Give me a moment, Captain Wright.” The Asgard’s calm voice was as annoying as the librarian who demanded silence in her hallowed halls.

“Faster!” he shouted. “Fucker could go at any moment.”

“I am working as fast as I can, Captain Wright, and human expletives will not help,” Heimdall said primly. As the last echoes of her voice faded, the bomb faded in a burst of white light. Vinny would have sagged with relief had he not now been at the base of a wall, with no way up the wall.

“Into the fuckin’ fire,” he grumbled as he tried to flatten himself behind a rock that wouldn’t hide a rabbit and started firing again. The lanky Jaffa was firing away as well, fighting with a fierce determination despite having a shitty weapon. He was defending a home, probably a family, but the enemy was fighting for its life and honor of its god.

For what seemed like hours, Vinny fought on, shoulder to shoulder with the friendly Jaffa who had swarmed over the wall. He felt like cheering when the F-302’s roared by overhead, picking off the enemy Jaffa and breaking up the combined mass of them that had been swarming the walls. As the sounds of weapon fire died away, Vinny paused and lit up his cigar. “Good thing your staffs shoot for shit,” he told his lanky guide, a nasty grin on his face.

He wasn’t necessarily meaning to antagonize him, but he was Vinny, and antagonizing was second-nature to him. He saw the flash of anger in the Jaffa’s eyes, but there was a smug smirk on the man’s face as he replied, “Be warned – we may someday surprise you with our accuracy.”

Turning, the Jaffa marched away, trailed by his men, all giving Vinny the same dark look. The others seemed hateful out of loyalty, which Vinny got, but he wondered when he’d pissed in that Jaffa’s Wheaties.

“Good news,” Colonel Pendergast said over the communicators, making Vinny almost jump – he restrained the unmanly urge in time. “Current scans estimate that there are less than three thousand enemy Jaffa left on the planet.”

“Almost got the fuckers gone,” Vinny noted.

“Even better news. Once you have the wall done, 22 gets to go home and start looking for a gate to replace the one lost.”

“Fuckin’-A,” Vinny said, grinning. “’Scuse me, Colonel, I got a wall to build.” Anything to get away from pissy incubators.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two months, seven hours AWOL

“You seem depressed,” Dr. Ramkin noted. “Do you need more vitamins or nutrients?”

Olivia glanced at one of the few people she trusted on this planet. Over the last week and a half, Dr. Ramkin had been one of the few people to treat her like a person rather than a savage novelty. These people were not what Olivia would call enlightened; they seemed to feel that Jaffa were noble savages, and all her attempts to wipe away that stereotype were met with opposition. He seemed to have the same stereotype, but he also knew that she wasn’t Jaffa, and so he didn’t treat her that way. But he’d been as good as his word; as far as she knew, no one else knew the truth. She debated if she should tell him, but his loyalty to her swayed her. “Today, back home – it’s a major holiday,” she said softly.

“Oh?” he asked, stepping back to hook his hip on one of the other bed frames and looked at her with interest. “Tell me about it.”

“It’s called Christmas,” Olivia said, smiling wistfully. “My family cooked food and we traded gifts. It was about love and charity – giving to the poor. We’d pick a charity every year, and usually volunteered for it.” She felt tears sting her eyes as she wondered how her friends at the SGC were passing the holiday. She couldn’t even begin to guess.

“And you wish you could celebrate with the people you left behind,” Ramkin deduced, nodding. She’d told him her story, at least some of it. He knew enough to not say ‘family you left behind’.

“Yeah, and that I could see them,” Olivia said. Both of them knew that was impossible, but Ramkin surprised her.

“Why don’t you make gifts and send them to your friends through the StarGate?” he asked, tilting his head, making the light shine over his dark hair.

Olivia blinked at him. “I could? I mean, I know your government controls the StarGate, but would they let me make a trip to an intermediate world?”

“I’ll ask them, but you’ve made quite the impression in your time here,” Ramkin said, nodding. “I’m sure that they’ll let you, and I’ll pull a few strings if necessary.”

He’d made other comments like this, and Olivia’s brow rose. “Dr. Ramkin, what kind of doctor are you?”

He smiled at her, as if he were gracing her with the answer. “I’m the Royal Physician.”

Olivia blinked. “Wait, how did Bra’tak know you?”

“He saved our Crown Prince’s life once,” Ramkin said. “The Crown pays its debts, and the Free Jaffa have a rather large note, as far as their Majesties are concerned.” His gray eyes were twinkling as he asked, “Would you like to meet the Royal family?”

“Uh… maybe… later?” she said uncertainly. As he nodded, still amused as she said with more confidence, “Can you get me gate access today?”

“Yes,” he said, “I just need to speak to a few people. You’re free to leave Miss. Matsu, whenever you want; there’s no reason you can’t use the gate and return freely.”

“I know,” she said, her eyes warm with gratitude, “and I’m thankful for that, and for your healing. You have done so much for me.” Her face fell as she saw the flaw in her plan. “I don’t have any gifts though. Could I have a paper and pen, so that I can at least write some letters to my friends?”

“Of course,” Ramkin said, standing. “I’ll send in some paper and will return soon.”

He was as good as his word, and more; when he returned, he had an extra surprise for her: gifts to wrap and give as well. It was Christmas in truth, now.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two months, sixteen hours AWOL – Christmas Day

“Unscheduled wormhole activation!” Walter cried as the chevrons began to spin. He slapped a palm down on the iris activation button, covering the mouth of the wormhole with a metallic shriek.

“What do you have?” General Landry asked, emerging from the stairs. He looked like he’d been asleep, probably at his desk; there was an impression of a paperclip visible on his cheek.

“Unscheduled activation – and we’re getting a signal.” Walter’s head snapped around and he stared up at Landry. “It’s Dr. Jenings-Izumi’s authorization code.”

Landry paused, the order to open the iris dying as he considered the implications. Before he could say anything, Walter added, “There’s a short message – it says, “The old Alpha site.”

“We know she’s used that before,” Landry said. The wormhole died, its blue glow fading. “Assemble a team, I want all the Specialists in case it’s a trap. If anyone’s on leave, get them back now. ”

“All… of them?” Walter asked, surprised.

“Yep, every last one of them. If someone’s trying to screw us over, they’re going to get an unpleasant surprise,” Landry growled. And he was sure they could collectively handle Dr. Jenings-Izumi if she was going to turn herself in. He hoped that was the case. It would be a nice Christmas present to get the IOA off his back about her.

Twenty minutes later, the three teams were assembled, along with SG-3 as backup. “We just got a message from what we believe is the old Alpha Site – the sender used Dr. Jenings-Izumi’s authorization code. Your orders are to go through ready for a trap, and to detain and return Dr. Jenings-Izumi without incident if she’s attempting to turn herself in.” He saw he had their attentions with that statement; the wormhole began to form as if punctuating his words. “God speed and good luck.”

Vinny barreled his way to the front, Aradia and Kyria pushing forward with him. There was some jostling as 21 also shoved to the front, all of them eager for the prize. Only Yseult Sierra, the new member of 21, hung back, looking uncertain, while Steve just looked unwilling to push forward like that. 23 choose to hang back, Major Hawke letting the other two teams try to be first through the gate. There had never been an SG team so eager as most of 21 and 22 were at that moment.

Vinny was fucking glad that he’d been recalled to Earth to help find an appropriate StarGate to replace the one destroyed on Hajur. He was going to get his hands on Olivia first, and make fucking sure her ass got home. He was only sorry that it took so long to get everyone rounded up. Landry had refused to send less than all the teams. Vinny didn’t care if that was prudent; he’d volunteered to go alone, if necessary. Landry had refused that, too.

The vortex settled and Vinny shot up the ramp, his team and 21 hot on his heels. The Beast caught up to him, and they crossed the vortex together, P-90’s at the ready. Vinny blinked against the bright sunlight; it was full summer at the Alpha site.

There was no Olivia, and Vinny bit back an ugly curse. He swept to the right as the Beast swept left, but there was nothing there either. At that, Vinny let loose with a soft string of profanities, as the rest of the Specialists stepped through. “I take it she’s not here?” Kyria asked her boss softly.

“She’s been here,” Cam said, looking at a package that was placed well-back from the wormhole, but close enough to be noticeable. “It looks like it has some presents… and letters for everyone.”

“What?” Vinny snarled, stomping over. Sure enough, the wooden box held little bundles of stuff, tried up with red and green bows. “What the fuck!”

“Here,” Cam said, handing him an envelope.

Vinny snatched it from the ass-tard and ripped it open, hoping that it would tell him where to find her. He was more than a little disappointed by the content.

Quote:

Vinny,

This is the hardest letter that I’ve written today. Of all that I left behind, leaving you was the hardest. I knew you wouldn’t come with me, and that you’d stop me. I didn’t want to be stopped.

Just so you know, I’m safe, and with friends, people I can trust. They’re taking care of me, so please don’t worry about me. I can’t say more than that – I know that IOA and SGC will pour over these for hints and clues to my location.

I know you’re not interested in platitudes about how much you mean to me, so I’ll spare you. That leaves me with little to say, save the following. You have given me a gift that keeps me going, day after long day. I want to tell you about it someday, but I can’t knowing that SGC would lock me away and take what little I have left, including the gift.

Someday, I hope you’ll understand.

Love,

Ol Livy

“What a fucking load of bullshit!” Vinny snarled, crumpling up the letter in one hand. But he didn’t throw it away. He stuffed it in his pocket. IOA could have it when they pried it out of his cold, dead hand.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two months, one day, thirteen hours AWOL

“I’m sure that you all have deduced why we’re here,” Kyria said, looking around the room. The specialists looked out of place in the back room of this restaurant, but the SGC had seemed to accept the excuse that they were going to have a late Christmas party together. Gwyn had already found and disabled one bug in the room that Kyria had found when she’d scanned the minds outside in the white, government van. “At the former Alpha Site, we all agreed to hide Olivia’s letters from the SGC and the IOA. Now, we should decide what to do with them.” They’d turned over the gifts, so that the SGC wouldn’t wonder why they’d been summoned to the Alpha Site.

Aradia looked down at her letter again. Olivia had remembered her, and it had touched her heart, even if she hadn’t been sure it would reach her. Olivia had put her name and the circus’ name on it, but that was no surety it would reach her, ever. Still, her sister had tried.

Quote:

Ari,

I’m sorry I didn’t hunt you down and tell you this in person. I can’t, for reasons I can’t explain. But I wanted to tell you as much as I can, in this letter.

Mom and Dad and Wakiki are gone. They were killed in their house by a mugger, though the police don’t know who or why. I know why, it was because of me.

I broke up with Bill for the second time because he abandoned me to be raped by a man named Hatchins. I hid this for years, until he showed up where I worked. But this time, I had good friends, strong friends, not like Bill. Hatchins told me that he’d arranged for my parents and brother to be killed, to show that I wasn’t untouchable. So I killed him. And now I’m on the run from the law.

I hope you understand. Right now, I’m safe and with friends who are caring for me. Know that I would have found a way to find you and tell you in person, if it had been possible. I feel bad that’ll you learn all this bad news from a letter, but it’s my only option.

I hope you like the bit of embroidery I found, if the people who find this send it to you. The birds in flight made me think of you, performing high in the air, flying and free.

I miss you, sister, more than you’ll ever know. I’ve been so scared sometimes, and having you here by my side would be wonderful. Some things don’t work out right, so I’ll do what I can. And right now, all that I can do is tell you what has happened.

I hope you’re happy and healthy, wherever you are (which I know is with Markie, at the circus). Don’t let your mom get to you – she’s not worth the emotional energy of getting pissed at her.

Please… don’t think too poorly of me. I did what I thought I had to do.

Your sister,

Livy

“We should evaluate them for clues,” Cam said, “so we know what where to look for her.”

“And then what?” Kyria asked, looking around the room.

There was a short, surprised silence. “We fuckin’ bring her home, that’s what,” Vinny snarled, pushing off the wall he’d been leaning against.

“To a prison?” Kyria asked.

“All she did was kill the fucker who killed her folks,” Aradia said, lending her support to the sides that were rapidly being drawn.

“She shouldn’t have fuckin’ run,” Vinny snapped. “Now she’s out there, all alone-” The arrival of the food cut him off, and there was a short, awkward silence as it bounty was spread before them.

“Look,” Damien said as he calmly spooned out some food, “I don’t think that’s what Kyria meant, exactly.” His tone was conciliatory as he continued, “She knows what has to be done.”

Aradia was surprised when Kyria nodded and said, “I was more concerned that someone might be too rambunctious and hurt her.” That hadn’t sounded like what Aradia had heard.

“Any of you harm her, and I’ll fucking split you open like a fish,” Vinny growled, ignoring the food.

“Another reason to be sure of the plan,” Kyria pointed out.

Aradia opened her mouth to protest when she ‘heard’ Kyria in her head. *Play along with me. Vinny’s set against anything other than bringing her back, and if we push it, he’ll tell the brass.* So Aradia said, “I don’t want to see her hurt either.” Silently, she asked, Why?

*He has his reasons. His intentions are good, I just happened to disagree with his decision, so we’ll need to be careful working on how to help her around him.*

“I don’t think anyone wants to see her hurt,” Declan said, frowning through his Raybans. “I’m not even sure why this conversation was necessary.”

“We’ve never talked about this, as specialists,” Kyria stated as she cut her steak with aplomb. “And I thought we should. All other concerns aside, she is one of us. We know she touched Gwyn last, and she still seems to be able to access some or all of his density abilities. We should talk strategy for catching her. Gwyn should be a great help for that.”

As the Welsh specialist began to detail what he could do, Kyria sent to Aradia, *Midnight tonight, my room. Those of us that don’t want to see her locked up for the rest of her life will be there, to discuss our real plans.*

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Two months, one day, eighteen hours AWOL

Aradia wasn’t sure who would be at the meeting, so she was prepared to be surprised. What really surprised her was the projector screen and projector set up, along with soda and bowls of popcorn, and cushions and seating on the ground for everyone there. “Welcome to movie night,” Kyria chirped, catching her by the hand and pulling her into the room. “I picked Thelma and Louise,” the alien specialist added with a wicked grin.

“I haven’t seen that in a while,” Aradia said, trying to seem upbeat rather than scared. She was committing treason, she was pretty sure, but she’d do it for Livy. And if she had to go AWOL off-world, she would for her sister.

Kyria’s voice whispered into her head. *I’ll have to be the radio for everyone tonight. It’s the only truly secure way to communicate, and ‘watching’ a movie will give us an excuse to be sitting around together doing nothing. Just try not to jump when I talk to you, ok?*

Are they really watching us? Aradia thought nervously.

*Possibly, and after Vinny’s reaction earlier, I’m taking no chances,* Kyria said, her ‘voice’ more somber than her demeanor as she set up the camera.

Aradia nodded as she looked around the room at the people there. Declan was hidden behind his Raybans, as usual, and she wasn’t surprised to see him. He cared about Livy a great deal, it was rumored, and they had served on the same team. What did surprise her was Yseult and Cam’s presence – the blond woman smiled at her uncertainly while the colonel nodded, grinning tensely. Aradia gave Yseult and Cam the same smile Yseult had given her and took a seat on the floor close to the female specialists. There were just five of them – how could it be enough to help Livy against all the other specialists?

“Everyone ready?” Kyria asked, turning off the lights. As everyone gave their verbal assent, the movie flickered to life, and the planning began in earnest.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Four months, two weeks, one day, three hours AWOL

“About fucking time,” Vinny said around his cigar as his team stared up at the StarGate. It was perfect – an uninhabited world, no resources or Ancient ruins lying around. It had taken only a few hours to assess the planet from orbit, but another week to scout the planet on foot – or on wing, in Aradia’s case. His shape-shifter looked winded and exhausted; she’d been pushing herself hard, and he’d heard her tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep.

“It looks like a winner, for sure,” KT said with a smile, flipping her red hair back. Once, her beauty had mesmerized him. Now, his eyes only saw one’s beauty.

Stow the sentimental bullshit. He restrained the urge to touch the pocket that held a flattened, once-crumpled letter and a silver bangle from a woman’s shirt. Instead, he said, “Steve, dial home.”

Pretty-boy nodded and got to work. As the sound of dialing chevrons filled the air, Vinny stepped over to Gumby and said, “Gotta talk.”

She looked at him, startled and a little scared. Vinny wondered what the hell he’d done to provoke that reaction – could it be his threat during that retarded conversation about Olivia? “About?” she asked sullenly.

“Fuckin’ ain’t sleeping. Wanna know why,” he said, looking at her with a stern, unwavering gaze. If her performance became impaired, it was his ass.

She looked down and back up; he saw Kyria pretending not to listen to their conversation. “I’m worried about Livy,” she told him.

Vinny had been expecting this. He’d seen her reading the letter over and over when they weren’t in the public areas of base. He’d been doing that too when he was alone, hoping that she’d hidden some clue, an obfuscated, ‘come find me here, Vin.’ Instead, all he did was wear creases in the paper.

Bu that wasn’t the problem of the moment. He took another drag on his cigar, rolling various thoughts in his head. Finally, he said, “Letters were good. Let us know she’s ok.”

“That was months ago!” Aradia protested. “We haven’t heard anything since. She could be hurt or dead-”

“She’s a survivor,” Vinny said firmly. And he believed that; she’d gone through a hell of a lot and come out on the other side. “Just need to get her home.” Aradia looked down and nodded, but he wondered if he’d seen a flicker of guilt. “She’ll be safe in the SGC.”

Aradia nodded again, still looking down. “I just worry.”

Vinny sighed, wondering why women had to do talk endlessly about shit over and over. He’d just assured her – how many times was he going to have to do this? Thankfully, the wormhole burst into life and he just nodded and dropped the topic. He’d had his talk with her, that should take care of it. He’d keep an eye on her and see if there were other issues. “Asses in gear,” he grunted, finishing his cigar and putting it out against a nearby rock. “Let’s go home.”

He’d figure it’d take about two weeks to get this moved over to Hajur; then he’d never have to deal with those pissy Jaffa again. He’d miss the distraction of this mission; it’d occupied a lot of his time. There was always something else, though, to take his mind off his missing girl, at least for a while.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, twelve hours AWOL

Olivia sighed as she sank into a chair, grateful that she could put her feet on the edge of a nearby planter. The cool night hair twisted her hair around her face; without product and in this wet environment, her hair was a frizzy mess. She pressed her hands around the swell of her stomach, glad to be off her feet, if only for a few moments. There weren’t many chairs at the party.

“Are you well? You can leave, no one will take offense,” Dr. Ramkin said, emerging onto the balcony. He smiled wryly. “Most of them are expecting you to collapse any moment, so you have your excuse.”

Olivia grimaced. “I’m pregnant, not stricken with consumption,” she stated, running her hands over her growing baby. The dress she was wearing was a simple robe-like garment based loosely on what she’d been wearing when she’d arrived. There were only a few prudish alterations, such as a higher neckline and full sleeves that engulfed her hands. “I’m not going to break without duress.” I’ve been here a couple of months, and now I’m starting to sound like them.

“I’m well aware,” he said. He paused to draw on his pipe and sip wine from the glass in his other hand. “You’re making a solid impression.”

“Good or bad?” Olivia asked, though she didn’t really care.

“Most pregnant woman have the decency to remain out of the public arena when they start to show,” Dr. Ramkin remarked.

“Right,” Olivia said, snorting. “But us savages don’t know any better.”

Dr. Ramkin shrugged. “No one wants to offend the Free Jaffa.”

“And you’re delightful to gossip about,” another voice said, cutting into the conversation. Olivia and Ramkin both twisted to see Reynauld, the Crown Prince. He still bore the wicked scar and related deformation on his neck and cheek from the Jaffa attack that had nearly killed him, but he was alive, and Olivia could see no bitterness over the marring of his face. Ramkin popped into a bow and Olivia started to lever herself to her feet to do the same. She might be a guest, but she was going to be a polite one. “No, no… please, don’t bother, Miss Matsu,” he ordered and she sank back into the chair. “Your attempt is noted and appreciated, but you look like you need that chair.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said, nodding. She was tired from hauling her baby around for the couple of hours she’d been at the party. She didn’t have to come, but she felt like she was representing the free Jaffa. Then there was the all-consuming boredom; they had restricted the books she could read, so she was mostly stuck with pulp fiction and gossip pages. They seemed to feel they owed the Jaffa, but they didn’t seem to trust them much.

“I came out here seeking you,” Reynauld told her, pulling out his own pipe and stuffing the bowl. “We dialed through to Hajur.”

He said it with such calm that Olivia was startled into silence, having to double-check to be sure that she’d heard right. “I… I can go back to Hajur?” she asked, not sure she quite believed it. They must have located another gate!

“As soon as you wish,” Reynauld said with a warm smile, clearly pleased with her reaction.

Olivia hauled herself to her feet, her pains forgotten. “As soon as I can,” she said, grinning widely.

Dr. Ramkin took her arm. “Slow and steady, my dear,” he urged. “Let’s make our proper goodbyes, and then we’ll see you home.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, putting her head on the older man’s shoulder.

“Anytime,” he replied and led her back into the party.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, fourteen hours AWOL

The gathered Jaffa cheered wildly as the MALP rolled through the StarGate, coming to a stop after maneuvering to the right. Vinny was right behind it – once he’d verified its safe arrival, same as on the trip home to SGC. His arrival indicated that the StarGate was working properly, and that he’d successfully completed his mission. The deep sense of satisfaction couldn’t even be ruined by the lanky, ungrateful sonovabitch watching him from the side.

“Someone’s already knocking,” Aradia murmured, stepping up to his side as he reached the bottom of the stairs. “While you were gone, someone dialed in.”

“Who?” Vinny asked, scanning the crowd for a face that hadn’t been there when he’d left.

She shrugged. “No one came through.”

“Hmm,” Vinny grunted, frowning. There was no way to tell where it had come from, so he shook it off and said, “Get the gear and let’s haul ass home.” It’d be nice to walk home through the StarGate instead of taking another week-long trip on the Prometheus. Just a couple of hours to collect the tools they used, and then they could be out of this back-world hell-pit.

The next activation of the wormhole, just an hour later, would probably be the women and children returning from the planet they had fled to and Vinny didn’t pay much attention at first. The SG team was well away from the StarGate, up a hill with the heavy construction gear, so the woman who emerged was an indistinct form. The Jaffa who had hung around to see them off moved to greet her, so she clearly belonged here. She was pregnant, but what caught Vinny’s attention was that the wormhole closed after her. There should have been more women and some kids, but it wasn’t his problem.

He turned back to loading the FRED with the specialized equipment, but there was a tingle of unease trailing down his spine. He chomped harder on his cigar, glancing around to be sure his team was doing their jobs. They were focusing on properly putting the equipment away, a point that Vinny insisted on. He glanced back down the hill to see the lanky fucker running to the woman. She waved at him, and even from here he could see her smiling. The incubator picked her up and spun her around in his arms, and Vinny watched with hungry jealousy.

And something else. There was a gut instinct yammering through him, and his hands pulled out his binoculars without really thinking about it. He looked through them, not sure what he expected to see. Olivia’s smiling face jumped into focus, just before that lanky cock-sucker kissed her.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, fifteen hours AWOL

Olivia burst through into the familiar light of Hajur. She grinned as the Jaffa near the gate did a double-take on seeing her, then turned and shouted for Jorham. Her heart lifted at her friend’s name, and she began to scan the Jaffa near the gate for him. She saw him as he saw her, and the look on his face made her falter. It was intense, and a little frightening.

But there wasn’t time for that; he dashed at her and caught her in his arms, spinning her. “Stop it,” she laughed breathlessly, grinning at the warm welcome. “You’ll break me!”

“Never,” the tall Jaffa growled in her ear, then set her down. His hands cupped her face and he kissed her, startling her.

“Jorham,” she whispered as he released her, “what are you-”

“You have to go,” he hissed, holding her close, brushing his hand over her cheek. “The Taur’i are here.” His face eased into a bit of a smile as he softly added, “But it was good to see you.” He turned toward the dial home device, pulling her with him-

Something slammed into him, shouting with a familiar voice, “Motherfucking shit-fuck, get your fuckin’ hands off her!”

“Vinny!” Olivia shouted as they fell in a complicated tangle, caught between trying to break them up and fear of getting hurt in the attempt.

“Matsu! Run!” Jorham shouted distinctly before the rest of what he was said was muffled under three hundred pounds of enraged Vinny. The other Jaffa stood there for a moment before lunging forward and burying Vinny and Jorham in a dogpile.

“Grab Olivia!” she heard Vinny shout as she turned toward the dial home device. If I leave, they’ll just follow, but they’ll leave the Jaffa alone! Her fingers moved rapidly, punching in the numbers.

She spun toward the gate as it opened – and jerked to a stop as she found herself facing Aradia, in the last steps of her shift from an eagle. “Ar-r-r-i?!” Olivia gasped, then threw her arms around her friend without thought. “What? How?”

“Livy, thank god I found you!” Aradia said, returning the hug fervently. “I’ve been so worried.” She looked down and smirked. “I see you found trouble, nine months worth.”

“But how?” Olivia asked, wondering if that was all she could say.

“I’m with the SGC,” her sister said. Behind them, Vinny bellowed in rage as someone screamed in pain. Aradia grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the open wormhole. “Come on, let’s get Kyria and go.”

“No!” Olivia said, stopping her forward movement. As Aradia looked back at her, Olivia said, “No, I can’t let you become a fugitive.”

“You’re not letting me do anything,” Aradia told her firmly, her grip tight. “I’m choosing this.”

Olivia hugged her again, pulling her close. “Oh god,” she whispered, “you have no idea how wonderful it is to hear you say that. I’ve been so alone.”

“No more,” Aradia murmured to her. “You were never alone, and you won’t have to feel that way anymore.” She drew back, smiling at Olivia.

“I know,” Olivia said, and pulled the trigger on the Zat. As Aradia collapsed, Olivia caught her and lowered her to the ground. “Ari, I need you to stay and convince them to let me keep my baby,” she said, not sure Aradia could hear her. “I need you to make it so that I can come home,” she pleaded, then turned and raced up the stairs.

At the vortex, she looked back. Steve and Kyria were wrestling together, and Aradia was pulling her first jerky movements together. Vinny was hidden beneath a pile of Jaffa, buying her freedom with their pain and blood. With a sob, she turned and ran awkwardly through the Gate, half-blind and struggling to keep her balance.

The wormhole closed behind her, a harsh note of finality and loss.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, sixteen hours AWOL

“What the fuck?!” Vinny roared. He stomped back and forth in the conference room, his team and General Landry watching him storm and rage. He’d been in a foul mood since the Jaffa of Hajur had shoved him through the wormhole back to SGC. It had taken six of them to achieve the expulsion, and he’d badly hurt several of them doing so, which helped his disposition a little. But any cheer that may have brought him was gone as soon as he recalled how fuckin’ close he’d been to Olivia.

He could have touched her.

He rounded on Kyria and Steve. “What were you fuckin’ ass-tards doing while Olivia was strolling away?”

“I tried to zat her,” Steve said calmly. “Kyria stopped me.”

Vinny turned a murderous glare at her, but the smaller woman didn’t back down from him. She shot him her own evil glare as she said, “She’s pregnant. No one ever said anything about what a blast from a zat would do to a fetus.”

“What?!” Landry barked, looking shocked.

“Yes,” Kyria said coolly. “She’s in her second trimester, at least.”

“I still can’t believe she zatted me.” Aradia had said little since her return; she was staring at the ceiling.

“Alright, enough,” Landry barked, slapping the table and standing. “Start at the beginning and tell me exactly what happened.” As the story unfolded, he slowly sank back into his chair, growing pale. Looking at Vinny, he asked, “Do you have any idea the diplomatic nightmare this will cause?”

“Diplomatic nightmare?” Vinny snapped, pressing his knuckles into the table. “We seriously give a fuck what they feel? They fuckin’ lied to our fucking faces!”

“Diplomacy isn’t about ‘feelings’, Captain,” Landry said, his voice rising, his face as red as Vinny’s. “Sit down or you can sit in the brig for a while!”

Vinny stared at him for a long moment, then dropped into a seat. “Yes, sir,” he said, his voice as cold as ice. Everyone in the room knew that he was complying only because he couldn’t look for Olivia from a cell.

Landry paused, took a deep breath and gathered himself. “I’ll contact Bra’tak and let him know what’s happened. We will figure out what we’re going to do about Hajur. Your orders are to avoid the Free Jaffa until this cools off. None of you are to contact them or look for Dr. Jenings-Izumi among them. Is that clear?”

The assent from the table was lukewarm, at best. But Landry took it; it was all he was going to get.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, sixteen hours AWOL

After her sixth jump, Olivia dared to go to Velona. It held her remaining stockpile of supplies. It wasn’t much, mostly the gear from the SGC that wasn’t really hers anyway. But she’d have a place to stop and think, somewhere safe enough to make plans.

She found and recovered her gear, then set up in a nearby building. After her last five months of fugitive life, always surrounded by people, Velona’s dead ruins were painfully empty. Olivia pulled her sleeping bag up against the wall, then sat on it, crossing her legs awkwardly in front of her. Her head flopped back against the stone wall as she listened to her own breath, her solitary heartbeat.

Her mind roamed back to the events of the day, and Olivia felt her face twist in pain. Was Jorham alright? Was Vinny? What about all the other Jaffa? Who had been hurt for her today? She didn’t even ask if anyone had died – she wasn’t sure she could handle knowing that someone had been killed over her. She had killed, and more than once now, but it was different to know that someone had died just to cover her escape.

And Vinny… he’d been so angry. Sorrow filled her like a bitter wine, and she began to weep, great heaving sobs of anguish. She’d been so happy to go home and see Daniah and Jorham and even Torlak, and instead, it had all gone to hell. And Daniah might have even had her baby by now – Olivia pressed her face into her hands as she dealt with the loss of another home. She was so lonely, and she wished that she’d let Ari come with her.

But she’d learned something today. She couldn’t run forever. Sooner or later, they’d catch up with her, and she’d have to deal with them. Aradia might be her ace in the hole; might able to convince them to give her this one concession. She wouldn’t lose her baby; the rest was unimportant.

Sniffling, she brought her mind back to her immediate problem. She had few supplies, no food, no water and she was pregnant with a ramped metabolism. Ramkin and his people might take her back, but she couldn’t depend on them to hide her. She needed someplace where they wouldn’t think to look for her.

They’d be looking for her among the Jaffa now, so there was no safety there. She knew that Ramkin’s people owed the Jaffa, enough to turn her over to them, so that wasn’t an option.

With a flash, it came to her. There was one place in the entire universe they wouldn’t be looking for her, because no one wanted to go there. There was a certain amount of danger involved, but Olivia thought she could make it work out. Swallowing hard, she stood and repacked her bag, then hid it again. She might need it later, though she wouldn’t be able to use some of the clothes.

Walking back to the StarGate gave her time to rehearse what she’d say to him when she got there. Her hands were sweating as she dialed the gate address. The vortex settled into the round portal she’d become intimately familiar with, and Olivia stepped through.

The room was dimly lit and stank of oil, but Olivia didn’t try to leave the vicinity of the gate. Before long, she heard footsteps; she turned to face the sound as Teal’c burst into the room, a Staff Weapon aimed at her. “Hi,” she said, attempting to smile without fear, even as the weapon was trained on her. “You don’t know me,” she said, “but I know your original. I was hoping to talk to Harlan… about living here.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, three days, seventeen hours AWOL

“Let me get this straight,” O’Neill said, crossing his arms and scowling at her. “You’re telling us that you’re some kind of half-Ascended being who murdered a member of the SGC – no, no ma’am… please, let me finish – then went AWOL-”

“She is a civilian,” Daniel pointed out. “She doesn’t exactly go AWOL.”

“Close enough,” Olivia said softly. She’d told them the whole truth this time – no more lying to her protectors. They had to know what they were getting into.

“Who went AWOL,” O’Neill said sharply, pausing a beat to make sure that no one was going to interrupt him again, “and has been hanging out with the Jaffa and fighting Ba’al, while being five months pregnant.”

“I stopped fighting Ba’al at two months,” Olivia said, aware that she was quibbling but feeling the urge to be clear. “And the man was in the Air Force, but he never should have been part of the SGC.”

“You’re missing the important part: murder,” O’Neill said sharply.

“Yes, I know,” Olivia said, lifting her chin. “I admit that, but he had raped me, he and three of his friends, and then he had my parents and brother killed to make a point to me. Would you have tolerated that without comment or reaction?”

“I would have had him arrested,” O’Neill said.

“You understand our position, don’t you?” Carter asked, her expression somewhere between sympathetic and set in stone. “You’re a member of SGC who’s gone AWOL. We can’t harbor you. We should turn you over.”

“Let’s have a vote,” Daniel said suddenly. O’Neill glared at him, but the archeologist shrugged and looked to Harlan. The synthetic had been quiet; he seemed unnerved by Olivia’s presence.

“Comtraya? Oh, yes,” Harlan said, blinking rapidly. “That was how we agreed to handle things, wasn’t it?”

“Alright, all in favor of letting Olivia stay?” Daniel proposed, putting his hand up.

For a moment, his was the only one up; then Harlan raised his. O’Neill rolled his eyes and said, “You’d let Anubis stay here if he asked nice, wouldn’t you? All against?” He and Carter raised their hands, then realized they were alone. “Teal’c? You gonna participate in our elective process?”

“I have a question,” Teal’c said, his dark eyes on Olivia. “You are Taur’i – why did you not follow the Taur’i way and have him arrested?”

Olivia looked down at her hands. She didn’t want to tell the truth, because she knew it wouldn’t get her what she wanted. But she’d told herself no more lies, and so she spoke from the heart. “Because every time I thought of my mother, father and brother dead, I couldn’t stand the thought that he got to live. I had to make his last moments as horrific as theirs must have been.” She looked up at the pseudo-Jaffa, her dark eyes filling with tears as she confessed, “Even being in jail wouldn’t have been enough. Not after what he’d done. Not after what he’d taken from me.”

“Then I vote that you stay,” Teal’c said.

O’Neill groaned. “This is that Jaffa revenge thing again, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Teal’c said easily, smiling at his friend. “It is a revenge thing. I can respect that.”

“Well,” Carter said, standing. “Welcome to Altair. I’ve got work.” She hustled out, followed by an arguing O’Neill and Teal’c.

“I hope you like it here,” Daniel said, standing. “I have a cartouche to translate.”

“Need some help?” Olivia asked, eager to be useful.

“Yes, actually, that would be nice,” he said, smiling at her.

They left the room, leaving Harlan alone. “Comtraya!” There was no reply to his shout and the android sighed. “I’ll… go do repairs, I guess,” he said, and went wondering into his maze of mechanical pathways.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, two days, seventeen hours AWOL

General Landry stared at Bra’tak with the first hints of dismay and anger. “Can we count on the Free Jaffa to extradite her or not?” he asked testily.

Bra’tak glanced at Teal’c before leveling his eyes on Landry. “The Council has given its support, but that doesn’t mean that the individual planets will.”

“Can you please explain that?” Landry barked, frustrated.

“I have spoken with many leaders of freed planets,” Teal’c said, smoothly interjecting. “Many of them have questioned being allies with a people who can censure a Hak’tar for avenging herself and her family.”

“Hak’tar? I don’t think I know that word,” Landry said.

Bra’tak’s voice was careful as he said, “Advanced human, General Landry. They feature in our legends, mostly powerful beings who overthrew false gods. It is considered good luck to have one as a friend. The planet of Hajur is very upset that their friend is gone.”

“I know that Dr. Jenings-Izumi is very talented and no doubt very useful to them,” Landry replied, “but that doesn’t change the fact that they harbored a criminal from us. They lied to our faces.”

“Yes, they hid her,” Bra’tak admitted. “But you were asking about the woman who had saved many lives, who was married to one of their heroes. And only one Jaffa among them knew who she was for sure – their leader, Torlak.”

Every eye in the room swiveled to the third Jaffa in the room, the stout man in the chair. Landry had been introduced to the man when he came into the room and had known who he was. But he hadn’t known that he’d known about Olivia. “We gave the people of Hajur a great deal of aid,” Landry said, “and you repaid us by lying to us.”

“I did,” Torlak said, his voice even. “I did what was right, what you would not do. But no one else knew the truth of what she was until your Captain Wright nearly killed my brother-in-law.” He smiled like a shark. “Beyond losing his wife, Jorham is not upset with Captain Wright. It is not every man who can say he survived a fight with a Hak’tar.” The smile faded somewhat. “However, he still wants his wife returned.”

Landry swallowed a grimace. “That’s not possible,” he said stiffly. “Dr. Jenings-Izumi will be remanded to our custody if we catch her. And if you catch her, we’re requesting that you extradite her to us.”

“She will not be,” Torlak said, his voice even. “Matsu is ours by marriage now.”

Landry said, “That’s fine, I understand that you have your own beliefs and culture.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the conference table. “But we don’t let something like who you’re married to influence our system of justice. Dr. Jenings-Izumi is a murderer, a crime we regard very gravely. She will be returned to us, even if you don’t want to do so. See, on Earth, we have a style of negotiation known as hard ball. You’re about to learn all about it.” As the Jaffa narrowed his eyes at him, Landry smiled broadly and said, “Dr. Jenings-Izumi will be returned to us, or we’ll take back that gate. I assure you that Captain Wright will be delighted to rip the gate out by hand.”

“That will severely damage Hajur’s ability to work with the rest of the Free Jaffa,” Bra’tak said stiffly, frowning at Landry.

“They’ll have to decide what’s important to them,” Landry replied. “I’m actually inclined to pull the gate right now. You have ships, you’ll be fine. But that should make your life interesting, shouldn’t it?” He stood, pushing himself out of the chair. “I’ll give you some time to think about it, but don’t take too long. Captain Wright gets back from leave in three days, and I’ll need to give him something to do.”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, three days, four hours AWOL

“This doesn’t change anything,” Aradia said, getting really fuckin’ tired of repeating herself. She stared angrily at the people strolling by them in the mall. Those that noticed veered away from the small group, unnerved by the angry young woman and the big, rough-looking man who just felt wrong.

“I think it does,” Yseult said softly, her accented voice firm. She kept her voice low, her blond hair flowing around her features as she glanced around, keeping an eye on the crowd from behind her sunglasses. “She wants to come home, if certain provisions are met. It sounds sensible.”

“She’s afraid and tired of running,” Kyria said, and no one questioned her. She’d only gotten to read Olivia’s mind for a few seconds, but she’d understood the woman’s position intimately in that short time. “Yseult, she is afraid. I think Aradia feels she’d make a different choice if she were thinking clearly.”

“Fuck that,” Aradia said sharply. “I’m not letting my sister come back to a jail cell, baby or not. First, she wouldn’t want to raise her kid there. And she’d know that if she’d stop being scared and fucking think!”

“We can’t make her do anything,” Kyria said, her tone soothing. “But she doesn’t think that she has other options, not in the long run. All I want to do is find and present other options. Maybe the Asgard can help us; they seem reasonable.”

“So is the plan to talk to the Asgard?” Declan said after a moment, tightening his arm around Kyria. The red-head snuggled against him, smiling brightly.

“That’s a plan,” Kyria said, her voice happy from Declan’s touch. “We should have multiple.”

“Including the possibility that she can be pardoned,” Cam added. He always tried to walk the line between Olivia in prison and completely defying the SGC.

“There’s the Tokrays,” Aradia mused. “They’d take her, wouldn’t they? They’ll all fuckin’ good guys, ain’t they?”

Kyria shook her head. “From what I’ve learned, they’d be likely to demand a high price to grant asylum to Olivia. They’d love to have someone with our talents as a host.” She considered a moment, then shrugged. “It’s an option. The real question is, how do we get in touch with them without the SGC finding out?”

Silence met her question, as the specialists looked at her, unsure how to achieve that. “Well, I think our first challenge is clear,” Kyria said in an amused tone. The enormity of the task didn’t seem to faze her. “Let’s work on that first, shall we?”

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, three days, four hours AWOL

“Who is it?” Landry asked, leaning over Walter’s chair and peering at the iris covering the active wormhole.

“Getting a signal – the Free Jaffa of Hajur,” Walter reported.

“Wonderful,” Landry growled, straightening. “Send them up to the conference room. Bra’tak still around?”

“No sir, he went back this morning, before you got here,” Walter told him, palming the iris open.

“Right, then call Teal’c, I want him there, too,” Landry said. Teal’c had assured him that he’d be around until this mess was over, one way or another. Landry was glad for the advisor.

“Sir, I’m getting another message,” Walter said, frowning. The now-familiar form of Torlak filled the gateway, flanked by a limping lanky form and a well-muscled, handsome young Jaffa. “It’s from a Saetran.”

“Do we know him?” Landry asked.

“No, but he’s saying that he wishes to speak to you privately,” Walter told him, looking up at him.

Landry turned to the marines. “Take the Jaffa up the back way, don’t let them near this control room.” As they nodded and moved to obey, Landry told Walter, “Put him on.” When Walter nodded, Landry said, “This is General Landry, Saetran. Please go ahead.”

“General Landry, it is an honor to speak to the leader of the Taur’i.” There was no visual, only audio. Landry wished he could see who he was speaking to; he liked looking a man in the eye when he dealt with him, especially a man who sounded like a snake-oil salesman.

“Well, I’m not the leader, but I am the ranking official here,” Landry said, reminding himself to keep it simple. “What can I do for you?”

“I sympathize with your position, and I’d like to warn you that Torlak will never give you what you want,” Saetran said. “In fact, he’s come to threaten you.”

“Threaten?” Landry felt himself tense.

“Not physically, even he isn’t that foolhardy. But he is going to try to blackmail you with information that he has,” Saetran said. “But I have a proposition for you, one that will allow you to deny his tie to the woman, even to the other Jaffa.”

“What’s the price?” Landry asked, sure there would be one.

“I ask merely that you forgive the rest of the people of Hajur, and don’t hold Torlak’s crimes against us,” Saetran replied. “Most of us value your friendship more.”

“Good to know,” Landry said. “Thank you for the help. What’s your idea?”

Five minutes later, Landry joined the Jaffa in the conference room. “Torlak, good to see you again,” Landry said with all the politeness he didn’t feel. “I don’t think that I’ve met your companions before.”

“This is Jorham, Matsu’s husband and Holhow, one of my Jaffa,” Torlak said. He was way too confident, and Landry decided that Saetran hadn’t been lying; Torlak thought he had something to turn the advantage to him.

“Ah, I’ve heard much about you, sir,” Landry said, nodding to Jorham. Mostly about Captain Wright handing you your ass. The Jaffa politely returned his nod, his face empty of emotion. “I assume you have a decision for me?”

“In a way,” Torlak said, tilting his head. “I have come to tell you that we’ll consider that taking of the gate or the imprisonment of Matsu as a goad to take action.”

“And what action is that?” Landry asked.

“I have sent men, men I trust, to various worlds through the Chappa’ai,” Torlak told him. “Unless I stop them, they will tell anyone who will listen about your army of Hak’tar.”

Landry felt his face freeze into a mask. “I don’t have an army of advanced humans,” he said, since a dozen or so personnel wasn’t really an army.

“You have at least two, and Matsu was a third,” Torlak said, “and that will be enough to assume more. It doesn’t matter how many you have, if more than two or three. Others will believe you have more, because that will be a good excuse to hate and fear you. Or your allies, who will question what else you have not told them.” He smiled. “The only way I can keep my men silent is if I can keep my Chappa’ai, and the only way I will is if Matsu is remanded to our custody if you catch her.”

There was little more to be said, at least to the Jaffa. After they’d left, Landry called Walter into his office and said, “Call Wright back from leave early. We’re going with Saetran’s plan.”

“Sir, is that a good idea?” Walter asked nervously.

“I’ll let Wright decide that. It’s his ass,” Landry said. Walter didn’t look at all comforted by that statement, but he did as instructed.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, three days, ten hours AWOL

Vinny was in a foul mood, which wasn’t unusual these days. People avoided him on principle now, assuming that he wasn’t in a disposition to be fucked with rather than assessing his status. And enforced leave, particularly leave forced on him because he needed to ‘cool off’, left him even angrier than before. But for whatever reason, he’d been reprieved and allowed back early. All he’d done was sit around his apartment, brood, and drink enough alcohol to fill a dolphin tank, anyway. He was glad to be back, and eager to find Olivia.

Next time, she wasn’t getting away from him. Vinny knew he’d fucked up and allowed himself to be distracted by the cocksucker. He should have grabbed her, hauled her through the gate, and then gone back to fuck up that shit-tard. Fucker didn’t get to knock up his girl and get away with it.

He stepped smartly into Landry’s office and popped off a perfect salute. “Sir, wanted to see me?” he asked, his voice a touch more respectful than usual. No point in pissing off the boss right away.

“Sit down,” Landry said, pointing to a chair. “We’ve had a situation come up, and you are in the unique position to help.” He quickly laid out the facts for the Captain about the gate and the Jaffa’s demands. Vinny felt his temper rise at the fuckin’ audacity of those shits, but he kept his mouth shut.

“Glad to help,” he said sincerely. “Whatcha got in mind?”

“Another Jaffa named Saetran has told us about a custom of theirs, one by which men can settle disputes,” Landry said. “If you could beat this Jorham in a fair fight, he’d lose his claim to Dr. Jenings-Izumi, in the eyes of his people. We don’t need that assurance, but it could help sway the Jaffa of Hajur to turn her over regardless of what their leader thinks. Now, this is dangerous, so it’s volunteer only-”

“Done,” Vinny said. “Fuckin’ wanna pulverize this punk.”

“This will probably be to the death,” Landry said, his face serious. “That will be Jorham’s decision, since you will be challenging him.”

Vinny looked like someone had dropped a late Christmas gift in his lap. “Even better,” he growled, clenching his fists. He’d dreamed of this moment, never imagining that it’d be sanctioned by the SGC; this would be a poor substitute to finding Liv herself, but he’d fuckin’ take it.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, four days, three hours AWOL

Olivia followed Teal’c and Harlan, her dark eyes roaming the dank halls. It was gloomier than she’d read in the reports, lacking any brightness and color. She couldn’t imagine raising a child here, which was why she was following Teal’c and Harlan on their rounds. She needed to learn more about this place, and about the pe- sorta-people here. At the least, it needed some better lighting and some paint, maybe a throw rug or two. Something.

Granted, she’d known that this place was held together by the galactic equivalent of baling wire and duct tape, so she shouldn’t be too surprised.

Harlan was explaining to her how the various machines they passed by worked; Olivia was a bit surprised that she comprehended at least some of it. What she didn’t understand, Harlan could explain well enough for her to follow. Gwyn’s long discussions at meals had finally sunk into her head, thankfully. However, understanding what was happening was not helping her feel good about being here.

They were living in a giant eggshell, which just wasn’t acceptable to Olivia. Something had to be done about it, and the place was filthy. Worry bubbled in her gut as she rested her hands on her rounded stomach. She needed to clean an area enough for the baby to play in without catching six dire diseases.

Suddenly, Olivia stopped and pressed her hand to her belly. “Oh, my god,” she whispered, feeling tears rise in her eyes.

Teal’c stopped and turned. “Are you well, Olivia?” he asked in his resonant voice.

“The baby… it just moved,” Olivia said, her voice shaking with emotion. She’d known that she was pregnant and carrying a child, but it had been rather academic, something she knew. But now she felt it.

“It is a wonderful moment,” Teal’c said quietly, his expression soft with memory.

Harlan looked uncertain again. He did that sometimes, when he looked at her. Olivia understood; for millennia, he’d been the only source of creative power. Now, she was here and creating life, a type of being he couldn’t create. Attempting to reach out to him, she asked, “Would you like to feel?”

Slowly, he nodded, and she held out her hand. When he extended his, she took it and gently pressed it to herself. “I don’t feel anything,” he said after a moment.

“Just give it a moment,” Olivia murmured; as if to back her statement, she felt that little movement again.

Harlan gasped and pulled his hand back, then pressed it into place again. “Comtraya!… she kicked again!” he said, smiling widely.

“Or he,” Olivia said, feeling the need to be gender equal. “At least I know there’s only one.” A particularly strong kick made her flinch. “Ok, you can stop,” she said to the baby, which only elicited a rapid flurry of movements. “Show off,” she muttered.

“An active baby is a good sign,” Teal’c said.

“You’re not the one he or she is kicking,” Olivia said, but she was smiling. How could she not? This was her baby. But that only solidified her determination to make this a safe, happy place for a child.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, five days, ten hours AWOL

He’d been advised to make this a surprise, so Vinny had gone to a neighboring planet and gotten picked up by some of Saetran’s goons in a Tel’tak. And that’s what one of the Jaffa was; he was actually taller than Vinny and just as wide, though still shorter than Omar. There were elephants smaller than Omar, so that wasn’t a good comparison. It let Vinny know that Saetran was exactly the kind of political fuck that Vinny thought him to be. The only positive thing about that damned incubator was that he was useful, for the moment.

The other Jaffa was smaller and was clearly another kind of politician. He was also useful, in that he taught Vinny the steps of the thankfully simple process he had to follow. Vinny could give two shits about their customs, but following their fuckin’ barbaric ways would make getting Olivia back easier, and destroying that fucker that had claimed her would make him feel better.

“Are you ready?” the Jaffa asked, his voice soft.

“Betchyer ass,” Vinny growled, rolling his shoulders. The door opened and he stepped out into the sun, aware that they were the center of attention. The castle was just in front of him, and Vinny found himself studying the breach he’d sealed, noting with professional pride that it held still.

The lanky fucker’s form caught his eye immediately, and Vinny locked gazes with him. There was no question at he knew what was going on; he began to walk toward Vinny, his steps easy and graceful. He’d healed since the last beat-down Vinny had given him. A tall woman carrying a baby followed him, and for a moment Vinny thought he might have two wives. Then the fucker said, “Daniah, stay back.”

“You are not my husband,” she said, implying that only her husband could stop her. Instead she darted in front of the fucker and hissed, “Go away. Matsu was happy with us.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Vinny said flatly, scowling at her. The baby fussed and she quieted it, giving him the chance to add, “Liv belongs with me.” He’d truly meant to say, ‘with the SGC’ but that wasn’t what came out, and he had to admit it was true anyway. Olivia was his woman.

“Daniah, this is none of your business,” the fucker snapped.

He was again ignored. “You made her sad and hurt her,” Daniah pressed, making Vinny wish he didn’t have personal issues with hitting women, especially ones holding babies. “She ran from you.”

Vinny looked over her head and told the fucker, “You’ve claimed something that is mine. Fuckin’ want it back.” Those weren’t quite the words, but from the looks on the incubators’ faces, it was enough.

“Then you’ll die trying to obtain it,” the fucker said.

Vinny laughed, a derisive snort of mirth. “Big talk, incubator. Put your fuckin’ fists where your mouth is.”

In a short time, they’d taken him into the castle, right into the big courtyard he’d risked his life to defend just a few months ago. Had he known then what these shits were all about, he would have blown the wall to rubble and let the other Jaffa in to play. It was the least of what the sullen faced ass-suckers deserved.

A Jaffa built like a brick shithouse stalked forward, scowling at Vinny. The specialist recognized him as the leader of these snake-possessed hicks. He grabbed the lanky fucker by the arm and pulled him away; they had a short conversation before returning to the center of the courtyard. “You have come to challenge?” the lead shit-head asked, dark eyes narrowed at him.

“Olivia’s mine, and that fuck violated her,” Vinny said, pointing at the lanky fuck. The fact that it had been a willing violation drove him crazy and made it hard to not launch himself at the shit right now. He knew that Olivia had sold herself for safety, and this fuck had taken advantage of her desperation.

“Matsu is my wife, bound by your hand, Torlak,” the lanky fucker countered.

“Then the only resolution is to determine who has claim. You have your bodies as your only weapons; any blade or ranged weapon will make the other man the winner,” the leader said, glaring at Vinny. “The off-worlder has brought the challenge, and Jorham determines the nature of that challenge.”

“Only one man will be able to speak to her, look at her, or touch her soft skin again,” the fucker said, his voice soft and dangerous. “Only one.”

“Then no one interferes until it is done,” Torlak stated, stepping back.

While Vinny was waiting for the bell to ring or a signal to start, Jorham slammed into him, knocking him on his back. He immediately felt the Jaffa going for a grapple, trying to immobilize him before he could start. He also realized that the Jaffa was good, really good.

He wasn’t concerned. He’d known it would be like this; the fucker was considered one of their fuckin’ heroes, and the Jaffa didn’t give out medals to anyone who could throw a punch. With a dexterous twist that was surprising from a muscular man, Vinny rotated his upper body. That made it easy to grab the Jaffa’s head and jerk him around his body, breaking the start of his hold. It put the fucker’s face in the dirt, a bonus for Vinny.

He was feeling pretty good until the shit somehow got an elbow up, smashing it into his nose. The pain was instant and unyielding, and in that moment of shock, the fucker tossed him off. Vinny came to his feet, and was just in time to get his arms up to block a kicked aimed at his head. The Jaffa spun back, dropping his leg and snapping around without slowing. Vinny scrambled to get his block up again, but the Jaffa rammed a fist into his chest.

Vinny gasped and cut back a curse; the fucker was strong. The blow had been hard enough to crack ribs, which he felt knitting as he took it on the offensive. The trick had worked with Major Hawke, so Vinny lunged forward, stomping his boot on the other man’s foot. He used his forward momentum to slam his fist into the Jaffa’s chest and his knee into his gut. The Jaffa tottered and fell; because Vinny was standing on his foot, it twisted the leg painfully before he jerked his foot free.

The Jaffa was favoring his leg as he started to rise. Vinny pushed his advantage, kicking him in the ribs hard enough to throw him onto his side. But he rolled and twisted, and was on his feet again before Vinny could give him two like that. The Jaffa had changed his stance slightly but Vinny didn’t worry about it until his next attack was deflected, throwing him past the Jaffa. Vinny curled into a ball and came up on his feet faster than he should have been able to accomplish, making the Jaffa murmur in appreciation. That’s right, fuckers, this is how you do it.

The fucker threw something at him; too late, Vinny realized it was dirt, and he was blinded as it hit him in the eyes. Roaring in rage, Vinny struggled to stop the blows he couldn’t see coming, with limited effect. By the time he’d blinked his eyes clear, he had been hammered viciously dozens of times. Panting, with most of his muscles aching, he tried gain the upper hand.

A solid blow to the fucker’s sternum made him grin in fierce delight, but that grin was gone with the kick to his face. Vinny kept his feet, but the tale-tell taste of blood and the three teeth he’d lost let him know it’d been bad. He spat out the teeth, not worried. They’d grow back, just as soon as he put this fucker down.

He couldn’t lose. Olivia was his girl.

Even when the Jaffa began to brutally break him down, just carefully, calculatingly striking him in vital joints, Vinny didn’t think he’d lose. He couldn’t lose. It wouldn’t happen.

So when he found himself nearly out of juice, he didn’t worry. He wasn’t going to lose; he just wasn’t sure how he was going to win. Then Jorham danced to the side and kicked him low, and Vinny’s knee bent sideways. With a choked cry of pain, he went down, hands grabbing the hurt limb. Almost immediately, he pushed past the pain, to see the Jaffa coming close for a strike. Vinny lashed out and bought himself a bit of ground, for a second. But the fucker came right back, grinning as he saw his victory before him.

Then Vinny punched him in the gut. That’s what it appeared to be, to the watching Jaffa. But Vinny had one of his mortars in his hand, and he’d aimed it right for the fucker’s snake-sack. When he drew back and hunched over, protecting his head and ears, he didn’t have the mortar in his hand anymore. To the audience, Vinny punched him, and Jorham exploded into meat and blood.

When the smoke and red mist cleared, Vinny was standing, his leg crooked but functional. He was covered in bits of meat and bone, blood dripping from his hair and clothes. The Jaffa stared at him in shocked horror, too startled to even attempt to dodge the pieces of their hero raining out of the sky. Vinny gave them a moment, digging out a cigar and lighting it. “Olivia is mine,” he said, “and any one of you asstards who keeps her from me will end up like this fucker.”

Turning, he limped out of the castle, heading toward the StarGate. Behind him, he heard a woman scream, a pained, enraged noise, but he ignored it. Now, with this distraction behind him, he could focus on finding Olivia. The universe wasn’t that big, and she’d learn that soon enough.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Five months, one week, five days, eleven hours AWOL

“Dear god,” Walter breathed, too shocked move for a second. Vinny stopped on the top of the ramp and looked up at him, enjoying the horror in his face a little.

“Mind callin’ a decom team?” he asked, holding his arms out so that the gate technician could see that almost every inch of the specialist was covered in gore. He looked higher and saw Landry staring down at him from the conference room. He was sorry that he missed the general’s reaction; he already had his poker face on. “Mission accomplished, General,” he reported.

“I see that. Get cleaned up and get up to my office for a debriefing,” Landry ordered, turning away from the grisly scene before him.

Vinny smirked, wondering if he was going to get any more threats about being reassigned to Afghanistan. “What the hell happened to you?” one of the guards stationed in the room asked, fear in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” Vinny said casually. “This is all the other guy.”

“Ok,” the man tried again. “What happened to him?”

Vinny wished he could light a cigar; this was the perfect moment to pause to dramatically light his cigar before making his next statement. He had to settle for saying, “Fucker tried to claim what was mine.”

The sergeant’s eyebrows jumped, and Vinny saw him swallow. He knew that the rumors about Olivia had been flying around, and that people already knew that she’d taken up with the Jaffa. Hopefully, this would stop those rumors and the whispers he heard when people didn’t see him around. The decontamination team burst into the room, stopping when they saw the task ahead of them. They only paused a moment, having seen much, much worse things on Specialists in their time at the SGC. “Do we need to call medical, too?” one asked as the other queried, “What are we dealing with?”

“Don’t need Fraiser,” Vinny flat-out said to the first; by the time she got there, he’d be done healing anyway. He’d stopped to take a breather outside the StarGate so that he could finish patching himself up; he wasn’t limping back through the gate when he didn’t have to. Plus, he’d needed to finish his cigar. Glancing at the second, he told him, “Just bits of Jaffa and snake. Just don’t want to track this through the base.”

“Right,” the man said; the woman behind him paled at Vinny’s words. “Let’s get the shop vac and get what we can of the pieces and blood, and then I’ll take your shoes and outer layer of garments.”