Chapter Text
As the images from the MALP had indicated, the ruins of a group of buildings lay not too far from the Stargate. Said group of buildings stretched out before them for at least two kilometers before abruptly ending before a line of trees—flora that looked like the same type of trees they always seemed to encounter while off-planet.
I wonder why that is, mused Sam. Probably the Goa’uld’s doing, or possibly the Ancients. Speaking of the Ancients, the ruins that sprawled before them looked ancient, if not made by Ancients. They came to a stop before the wall nearest to the Stargate, the one with the Furling writing on it.
“Okay, Daniel,” Jack said. “Do your magic.”
Daniel turned to look at the older man with an expression of confusion. “Jack, surely you can’t be serious.”
“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”
“Sir, I really don’t think this is the time or place to be quoting Airplane.”
“Indeed.”
“Teal’c’s right,” Daniel stated in a consternated tone “this writing is at least a few centuries removed from what we saw on Heliopolis.” He paused before continuing “We didn’t even get that good of a look at the literal writing on the wall when we were there!”
“Aw, c’mon. You figured out how to translate things just fine on Abydos!”
“That was different; I had a local who knew the pronunciation!” Daniel exclaimed indignantly, heart aching at the mention of Shar’re. It had been over a year since her death and the loss was still relatively fresh.
He took a calming breath to steady himself before speaking again. “Look, we’d need to find the Furlings before translating anything. If we’re lucky they’re going to be on the other side of those trees.” At this, Daniel used his head to gesture to the woods before him.
It was at that moment that Teal’c tilted his head inquisitively “What is that, Daniel Jackson?” He asked, using his staff to point at the bottom right of the wall.
Daniel frowned and then noticed what Teal’c was talking about. Near the ground and obscured by a plant that looked suspiciously similar to ivy, Ancient writing could be partially seen. Daniel squatted on the ground to pull the “ivy” away and get a better look at it, before reading aloud.
“I think it says “Experimental Biology Changing Agent Design and Planning Building Number 42’.” Daniel said, his voice trailing off in horror as the full weight of what he’d just read settled in; his right hand (which had been running over the letters as he’d read them) recoiled from the stone wall as though he’d been burned by it.
The silence stretched out before SG-1 for what felt like an eternity. It had appeared that they’d stumbled onto a site that, if not actively involved in the creation of biological experiments, certainly played a role in their development. Regardless, this didn’t seem like the kind of place they should stick around, even if the experiments were thousands to millions of years removed.
Jack let out a low whistle—almost as if to say “I can’t believe this”—before re-shouldering his gun and clicking his tongue. He stared at the tree line before he spoke to the team.
“Oh-kay. Over the ruins and through the woods to the Furlings we go, then.”
—888—
Claudia had the distinct feeling when she woke up this morning that today was going to be an interesting one.
It has started out with the usual routine: the servants dressed her, she ate breakfast with her family, then followed a string of meetings with the other ThunderCats about any number of matters. She was in the middle of a discussion with Byakko about what to do concerning a mild famine in the western continent when one of the guards ran into the room from the right, looking out of breath and haunted.
He came from the direction of the Secret Tunnel, Claudia thought, before dismissing it. The Secret Tunnel just happened to be in the same direction the guard came from.
Claudia immediately recognized the cat before as Furansis, one of her husband’s oldest childhood friends and one of his subordinates.
And Thundera’s lookout, she realized with slight horror. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss the thought that he’d come from the Secret Tunnel.
“Your Majesty, I have terrible news,” Furansis panted. Had her worst fears been confirmed?
“What is it, Furansis?” Claudia demanded not unkindly, her vivid green eyes narrowing slightly.
“I saw it. I was on look out duty and four beings came through the Yieldez-Kappuh. Your highness, potential hostiles came through the Stargate.”