DESCENT INTO DARKNESS PART 1
BY: STACY L.
As they exited the Stargate Jack O’Neill glanced around noticing that the planet didn’t look like it had much to offer. P2Z-0X0 looked as if it were mainly jungle terrain, a rainforest that stretched for endless miles on all sides. The one odd thing he did notice was that there were really no sounds other than the howling of the wind through the trees and the soft trickling of what must be a nearby brook. He turned to watch as the other three members of his team exited behind him. They too stopped abruptly and glanced around. Daniel was the first to speak his comment making him grin from ear to ear, “Well looks like some sort of…jungle,” oh yeah Daniel was getting more and more like him each day.
Turning to his young teammate he dryly commented, “Don’t forget the trees, Daniel. Lots and lots of trees…”
“Isn’t that what jungles are, Jack?”
Daniel quirked his eyebrows up offering him a mischievous grin, which made him in turn shake his head before asking, “How come every planet we visit has so many damned trees…aren’t there any desert planets? How about snow, a snow planet…?”
Major Carter, his 2IC, quickly piped in, “I much rather prefer the trees, Colonel…much more interesting species to find and samples to collect.”
“Oh yes let’s not forget those precious samples…”
Carter tossed him an irritated glance before turning to study the planet. As the four of them began to survey the surrounding area they noticed that there didn’t seem to be any indication of human habitation, or any indigenous life for that matter. Daniel was first to comment, “You know what’s really strange about this place. Where is the wildlife? I mean our jungles are flourishing with wildlife, yet I don’t even hear a bird chirping or an animal…” suddenly jerking his head to the left he softly questioned, “Uh, what was that?”
Jack lifted his gaze to that of his friend’s looking completely relaxed as he asked, “What was what, Daniel?”
Daniel cocked his head to the left thinking maybe his imagination had made him believe that he had just heard a growl but found that he still needed to inquire, “Didn’t you hear that Jack? Teal’c…?”
“I did not hear anything, Daniel Jackson.”
“Sam?”
“No I didn’t hear anything either.”
“Oh maybe I’m just hearing things then.”
Jack approached and patted him on the shoulder smiling as he said, “Yeah just hearing things… Come on let’s move out.”
All four of them started to head into the woods with Jack in the lead and Daniel in the rear. Halfway towards the forest edge Daniel paused again as he swore he heard another sound. His curiosity won out in the end as he turned in the direction of the peculiar noise, heading away from his team. He continued in the general direction of the sound not paying much attention to anything else, especially not to the fact that his team was no longer in sight and that he had passed the Stargate. He kept walking pausing only when he heard gurgling…a stream perhaps? He decided to investigate further, but as he cleared a small copse of trees he drew to a halt staring in both fascination and horror at the stream before him. It was a stream he was certain but not like any stream he had ever seen before, for this stream wasn’t normal. The water was RED, a deep blood red and he found himself feeling suddenly queasy. He turned to head back towards the direction his team went prepared to tell them about his discovery and jumping in surprise as Sam’s voice suddenly filled the air, “Daniel what are you doing?”
“Sam? Sam look…look at the stream. It’s…”
Sam approached him feeling relieved that she had caught up
to him and drew to a halt when she saw what held his full attention: a small
stream and not just any stream, no, this stream was different: it was crimson.
She tensed as she remembered a passage from the Bible about the plagues that
had found
He finished her sentence adding one of his own as he darted his eyes nervously about them feeling as if they were no longer alone, as if they were being watched by someone…or something, “Go…yes I agree. We really should go…NOW.”
She jerked her gaze to his face noticing that he too was suddenly tense. Obviously Daniel was also feeling edgy by the sight of a bloody stream. She nodded her head relieved that she wasn’t the only one feeling rather freaked out by such a bizarre occurrence.
As she turned to head back towards the rest of her team she jumped shouting in surprise when she realized that they were no longer alone. She raised her gun in preparation to fire wincing when she was suddenly grabbed and drawn against a strong body. She jerked her gaze towards Daniel who already held his gun at the ready, finger poised on the trigger, automatically ordering, “Release her!”
As the man holding her chuckled refusing to yield his hold she noticed Daniel’s finger tightening but before he was able to fire the weapon a woman dropped heavily onto his back causing the gun to fire harmlessly into the air. She watched as he struggled with the woman now attacking him noting that he nearly succeeded in tossing her off, but she proved to be much stronger than him. Within moments she had him pinned to the ground, disarming him before drawing him to his feet and wrapping her arms around him succeeding in pinning them uselessly to his sides.
Sam struggled against her own assailant, who merely snickered before saying, “Resistance is futile, pretty one, for we are much stronger than you. If you continue to struggle the other shall suffer.”
Tensing she demanded, “What do you want?”
“It is not often we have visitors, pretty one.”
The woman holding Daniel leaned in and blew her breath across Daniel’s right ear. Sam watched as Daniel shuddered in response before the woman softly purred, “Especially visitors of such rare beauty. You will both be great assets to our tribe.”
“Tribe?” Daniel’s voice filled the air sounding more curious than fearful.
The one holding Daniel continued to speak gruffly in his ear, “Yes, tribe…”
Daniel glanced at Sam before jerking his gaze upward as another man dropped down between them. He then cast her a puzzled, confused look prompting her to shrug her shoulders in response. They both knew that normal people didn’t just…drop out of the sky, but these three seemed to do just that, which gave them both the sense that these…people weren’t ordinary humans.
The newest arrival approached Sam running his hand gently across her cheek. She focused intently on Daniel determined not to look at the man now touching her and could see Daniel fighting harder against the one restraining him. The man spoke in a husky voice as he addressed Daniel without turning to focus on him, “She is very beautiful. I see why you struggle even now in Malea’s hold, but I fear you underestimate your opponent, for Malea is as deadly as she is beautiful.”
As if in answer to the man’s comment Daniel heard the woman holding him hiss as she drew her head back. He saw Sam’s eyes widen in fear as the woman pressed a hand to his forehead gently tilting his head to the left and exposing the side of his neck. He tensed preparing to jerk from the hold, but could only scream as in the next instant he felt pain like no other as what felt like needles pierced the vulnerable skin above his jugular. He could feel his stomach churning sickeningly as he heard her slurping as if to drink him dry and attempted to break free of her hold. As the man holding Sam raised his head and likewise cocked it to expose the left side of her neck Daniel felt chills climbing his spine, watching as those lips drew back into a snarl, revealing sharp canine teeth that glinted deadly in the light. Oh God, oh shit…vampires. FUCK!
He continued to struggle against the woman shuddering as she continued to feast on his blood. He could feel his body growing colder and his head becoming fuzzier, as exhaustion swept over him. He cursed again fighting against her hold determined to stop the man, that creature, whatever the hell it was from biting Sam. As his vision began to cloud over and his ears started to ring he knew that he’d soon pass out and knew that if he did then Sam would become very vulnerable. He yanked against the hold as the man’s teeth scratched at Sam’s neck. He saw the man, the thing, sneering at him toying with Sam as if it were deliberately trying to torment him. He felt helpless and desperate hoping praying that he could get to Sam on time. When the creature raised its head prepared to descend on Sam’s throat and ravage her he heard gunfire and through slitted eyelids heard the creature screaming, saw him toss Sam away and attempt to flee. He could feel his own legs collapsing beneath him and knew that he was losing consciousness. In the next instant darkness and silence fell over him like a veil pitching him into unconsciousness.
As the woman holding Daniel suddenly bit him in the neck Sam felt her heart stopping and felt light headed as her mind tried to tell her what she didn’t want to accept as real. She could only stare in horror as the woman, who wasn’t a woman at all but some creature, sunk her teeth deep into his neck and started sucking. She felt her stomach flip-flop as she realized that the woman was drinking his blood. Oh God, oh God that could only mean one thing: the woman was a vampire. Shit! As the man holding her trapped within his embrace likewise tilted her head she tensed sensing that she was about to also be bitten. As his teeth grazed her skin puncturing it she winced and closed her eyes snapping them open determined to keep an eye on Daniel even when she was treated to the same abuse he was now receiving. She swallowed hard when the man holding her raised his head. She knew that he planned to bite her and tried to mentally prepare for the pain still refusing to break eye contact with Daniel. As his eyelids started drooping closed she felt very afraid. She was so focused on Daniel that she could only scream when the one holding her suddenly howled with pain before shoving her violently to the ground. She no sooner hit the ground then jerked her gaze up to Daniel seeing the woman likewise toss him away before she took off into the sky. As Daniel collapsed to the ground unmoving Sam screamed his name and crawled over to him completely oblivious to the gunfire around them, or the fact that the Colonel and Teal’c had managed to come to their rescue so soon. She was focused only on the still form of her friend lying pale and bleeding from his neck less than three feet from her.
Once to Daniel’s side she carefully turned him over onto his
back checking for a pulse trying not to touch the two nasty puncture wounds on
the side of his neck. She could feel his heart thrumming rapidly under her
fingers and closed her eyes in relief. She pressed a calming hand to the side
of his face jerking her gaze up when Colonel O’Neill suddenly lowered to her
left. She glanced at Teal’c as the
Trying to fight back her surmounting panic Sam started speaking, “His heart beat’s rapid and he’s unconscious.”
“We have to get him back to the Stargate. Carter, what happened?”
“He was bitten, Colonel.”
“What?”
As Sam gently pressed a finger to one of the nasty puncture marks on his neck she continued, “Bitten by… I, I think they were…vampires, Jack.”
Jack jerked his gaze upwards shocked by the odd usage of his name on Carter’s lips. He then turned his focus back on Daniel noticing the two distinct puncture marks on the side of his neck, his pale complexion and the cold sweat beads now dotting his forehead. He carefully pulled Daniel against him holding him as he examined his friend more closely.
As sounds echoed to them from the forest edge Jack aimed his gun in that direction still holding an arm around his now unconscious friend using his body to keep Daniel somewhat shielded and upright. He glanced briefly at Teal’c who had his staff weapon aimed at the ready and was relieved to know that at least one of them had two free hands.
They watched on edge as an elderly man exited the woods before them and approached slowly, his arms held up in a surrendering gesture. Not trusting him Jack kept his gun trained on him, tensing as he noticed the man focusing intently on Daniel. Without thought he automatically tightened his hold on the still unconscious linguist determined to defend him to the death if necessary.
The elderly man drew closer seemingly oblivious to the weapons presently aimed at him. He stopped before them maitaining his intense gaze on Daniel softly informing, “He is changing now.”
Jack flinched in response demanding, “What? Who the hell are you?”
The elderly man still focused on Daniel not answering Jack’s questions but only continuing, “Soon he will be no more.”
Sam interrupted next an extra edge of nervousness in her voice as she questioned, “What? What are you…?”
“Soon he will become like them…dead but alive. He has been cursed. He is changing even now.”
As if in response to the elderly man’s comments Daniel suddenly jerked awake grabbing desperately for Jack, finding his jacket and latching onto the material as if his very life depended on it before muttering hoarsely, “Hurts…it hurts Jack… Pain…painful…hurts.”
Jack could hear the pain in Daniel’s voice and wanted more than anything to comfort and console him but refused to take his eyes off the elderly gentleman choosing instead to use his voice to extend comfort as he said, “You’re safe Daniel. You’re safe now. We’re taking you home. We’re going back to the Stargate.”
Daniel tensed feeling his insides twisting and turning as if a demon were released inside and were thrashing about sending sharp claws into every vital organ. He knew, sensed that he was changing, changing into one of those creatures of nightmares and if he were if he were…then he could never go back home again. He felt his heart ache at the realization but knew there was no other choice now. He would have to stay here because there was no way this could be undone. He was already changing. Hell, his hearing was now more acute and his sense of smell was also sharpening. He was changing and there was no way to undo the changes that were now occurring within. Though it scared the hell out of him he knew he had to tell Jack to leave him here so he shook his head no before saying, “You have to…have to leave me here, Jack. Have to…you can’t take me with you. Not now, not ever…not as long… You have to leave me, Jack.”
“No Daniel that’s not an option. We’re taking you home and letting Doc Fraiser take a look at you. No more arguments. We’re taking you home.”
“No, no, no, no…Jack you don’t understand. I’m changing. I can feel myself, changing…changing into one of those creatures. No Jack…I, you can’t take me back. I don’t want to hurt anybody. You have to leave me here.”
“Hell no!”
Daniel shook his head no again tensing as his hearing continued to grow more acute and he heard voices whispering in his mind. He knew that the voices were the others, those other creatures out there in the darkness. He shuddered as one voice drowned out all the others; that one voice promised to return for him and to bring him home. That one voice promised to give him eternal happiness saying that he was hers for she had marked him. That one voice made him shiver harder. Jack couldn’t take him home. He had to stay here because if he didn’t, if he didn’t…God, he could hurt so many. He shook his head determined to convince Jack that leaving him here was the right thing to do, the only thing to do.
He moaned softly twisting in Jack’s arms as a sharp pang filled his stomach. He tossed his head lightly against Jack’s chest feeling a sudden hunger beginning in the pit of his stomach. Oh God, he was hungry. He was starving and he knew that human food would no longer sustain him. He knew it even as he could smell the metallically scent of warm blood so near. Blood, what he needed was blood. He needed to drink blood. Oh God, oh hell no! No he would not do that. NO! He groaned again as the unsatiated hunger continued to stalk him, swallowing hard and licking his lips as he focused on Jack’s throat. He could see the living, pulsing blood pumping through the man’s veins, and needed to feed. He winced as his tongue scraped against two sharp teeth in the front and knew he was definitely turning into a vampire. Shit! NO! He inhaled deeply and leaned upwards tensing as Jack lowered his head unconsciously bringing that vein full of living blood closer to his lips. He continued to reach up feeling an overwhelming urge to sink his teeth into that luscious skin and drink to his heart’s delight but quickly jerked his head away as he realized where his thoughts were straying. Horrified by the realization of what he had almost done he sharply ordered, “Kill me. Kill me Jack. Kill me now.”
“What? NO! Are you crazy? NO.”
“Yes…yes. God, Jack you don’t know. Don’t understand…I… God, I want to…and it makes me sick. Jack, you have to kill me.”
“No, absolutely not. NO!”
The elderly man’s voice interrupted, “It would be a gift. As terrible as that may sound to your ears it would be a gift to him. He knows what he has now become and he knows what he must do to survive. He is changing. Soon he will no longer be your friend but one of the creatures that hunts at night, preys on the innocent and kills to survive. It would be a gift to kill him now. It is the only thing you can do for him, for it is too late…he is rapidly changing.”
“No. NO! That is not an option. I won’t kill him! NO! There has to be another way.”
“I fear that there is no other way.”
“There has to be! I won’t kill him! I won’t do that to him! NO!”
The elderly healer watched the older man now rocking the younger one. He could see that there was much love in his heart for the one in his arms and that the younger one had much love for him…love, trust, concern… He already knew what would happen. The man would turn and grow hungry. Once he could no longer resist his hunger he’d feast and once he feasted he would never be able to return to himself again unless… There was only one way that he knew of, one thing that might possibly heal the young man and free him of the demonic evil that was even now trying to consume him and turn him into one of the undead. Should he speak of such a thing to these strangers? He was afraid to speak with them, had watched them upon their arrival and had watched the young man and woman wandering off heading towards the stream of blood that would be their undoing. He should have stopped them then, but he had been afraid and now…now he was too late, for these visitors were now being destroyed by the evil that was released on the planet hundreds of thousands of years ago. The vampires were a plague, a curse, on the planet and all who lived here. That is why his people no longer lived above ground. That is why his people made their homes beneath the surface where no vampire could prey upon them. Very few wandered out of the city any more for fear that they would become victims of the creatures that now ruled the surface of the planet.
He shook his head as he watched the young man again beg his friend to kill him, to leave him behind and forget about him. He could see that none of his friends were willing to sacrifice him to such a fate. He had to help these visitors. He thought no longer about what he was doing choosing instead to explain what they could still do to prevent their friend’s downfall, “There is one thing you may be able to do. Though the journey is filled with much danger and…”
“Journey? What are you talking about?”
“On the far side of this planet there is rumored to be stones capable of healing any ailment. If you were to retrieve one of these stones you could help your friend. It is the only other thing that you can do.”
“Tell us about these stones,” interrupted Sam.
The elderly healer nodded before saying, “I will tell you all you need to know, but first we must get off of the surface, for it is far too dangerous for us to remain. They will come back if we do not soon leave. They are hungry for blood and will return to retrieve the newest member of their tribe.”
Sam shuddered knowing that the newest member they’d return for was Daniel. They’d be coming back for Daniel. SHIT! She looked at the Colonel waiting for him to make a decision.
Jack was hesitant but as Daniel gripped him tighter and again pleaded to be killed or left behind Jack knew he had no other choice, so he scooped the stubborn archaeologist up in his arms and turned to face the elderly man offering, “Show us the way…”
The elderly man nodded before saying, “You may call me Mehtar. Come the city is this way.”
Jack nodded and followed Mehtar looking at the man in question when, after walking for several miles, they came to a river that was clean and clear.
Mehtar said, “The blood river marks the territory of the vampire. You were unfortunate to arrive on their territory. They will not cross the river until dark, for they fear what lies beyond. Come. Follow me.”
Again they followed shocked when the man started to climb a steep hill along the edge of a magnificent waterfall. Jack shook his head certain that the man would soon fall over. He looked far too old and far too fragile to make the climb to the top of the falls. He continued to watch in awe as the man traversed the terrain, which he and his other two teammates seemed to be having difficulty climbing, with little effort.
As they continued their ascent Jack noticed that his team were growing weary and called a halt halfway up the side of the falls saying that Mehtar should take a break. The elderly man turned to him smiling as he said, “I may look old to your eyes, but I have little difficulty traversing this wall. We must reach the top before nightfall.”
“And we will, we will just…Daniel’s awake.”
Mehtar’s smile broadened as he noticed the man before him breathing heavily. As he gazed at the other two he knew that they were all in need of a break and felt a bit guilty for not warning them of the climb. He didn’t give it much thought having traversed the wall all through childhood and adulthood. He shook his head before nodding and allowing the three visitors to take a break watching as the older man carefully lowered to the ground still holding the younger one in his arms. The younger one appeared to be in pain and was now shivering. Mehtar knew the source of those shivers: hunger. The man was resisting his hunger trying desperately not to feed from the live food sources right at his disposal: his friends and he. He shook his head amazed at how the older man seemed to dote on the younger one helping him to drink water and speaking softly to him: words of encouragement, words of reassurance… Their voices climbed when the younger one again suggested he be left behind and again the other refused to even consider that as an option. When the young one sighed loudly before settling deeper in the older one’s embrace Mehtar approached smiling softly noticing that he now seemed to be drifting asleep. Gazing at the older of the two Mehtar spoke softly, “He trusts you very much.”
“What?”
“The young one…he trusts you very much.”
“Young one? Oh you mean Daniel…yes he does.”
“He has asked you to leave him behind several times. Why do you refuse to do as he says?”
“Because that’s not an option. I won’t leave him behind!”
“And if you have no other choice? What then? Will you destroy him as he has asked of you?”
Jack remained silent gazing at the now sleeping face of his friend as he replied, “I could no more kill him than myself. I love him too much to destroy him. We all love him too much to let him die here. None of us are leaving him behind.”
Mehtar gazed at the
Jack nodded before telling the other two that they were moving out. As he gazed ahead of them he noticed that the climb was only going to grow steeper. He glanced at the beautiful waterfall shaking his head in amazement that the elderly man could traverse the wall without even gasping for breath. He watched the man continue on then he and the rest of his team followed closely behind.
At the top Jack was ready to sink to his feet. Daniel was
feeling way heavier than he had previously and Teal’c was now offering to carry
the still sleeping scientist. Jack nodded his agreement and smiled in relief as
he carefully eased Daniel from his now aching, throbbing arms into the strong,
capable arms of his
Mehtar led them into a thick copse of trees where the falls roared less than five feet from them. He turned saying, “Come this way. The entrance is hidden amongst these trees…the path begins here…the entrance is behind the falls.”
“Behind the falls?”
“Yes…come.”
Jack watched amazed when Mehtar seemed to vanish before them. He then picked up pursuit also stepping into the thick copse of trees, which concealed the path extremely well. If they hadn’t been led here he would have never guessed a path was even there.
As they followed a winding path he looked around realizing that they were in a cave of some sort lined in rock on either side. He was now certain that the copse of trees covered the cave entrance. As they continued to walk the winding path that seemed to be descending beneath his feet he could hear the thundering of the waterfalls also growing louder. When they turned another sharp corner he halted seeing a thick curtain of rapidly flowing water before him. He tried to look but couldn’t see anything through the running water that sounded deafening to his ears. As he turned to focus on Teal’c he noticed that Daniel was now awake and staring wide eyed at the waterfalls before them. He heard Daniel asking softly, “Teal’c, where are we?”
“Mehtar is taking us to his village.”
“Mehtar?”
“The elderly healer who approached us in the woods.”
“Oh…and why are we…? Are we by waterfalls?”
Jack approached grinning stupidly as he gently patted Daniel on the cheek glad to see him awake and more alert then he’d been when they took a break earlier. He then said, “Oh not by waterfalls Daniel BEHIND them…behind them Daniel.”
“Behind?”
He chuckled as he saw the puzzled expression on Daniel’s face and gently chided, “Yes behind them…see.”
He pointed to his left and Daniel followed his hand trying to focus on the curtain of white that was flowing and billowing before them. As he focused harder his eyes widened further as he questioned, “That’s the…”
“Waterfalls Daniel…yes.”
“Oh…”
“Get some sleep. We’re almost there.”
“Sleep…right.”
He watched Daniel again prop his head to Teal’c’s
chest and smiled warmly at him before turning to head after Sam and Mehtar
hearing Teal’c picking up his pace as well and hearing Daniel’s soft voice chatting
amiably. He felt a bit relieved to hear that voice knowing that Daniel
presently wasn’t thinking about what he was becoming and wasn’t thinking about
asking or persuading his best friend to destroy him. Thank God.
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