IBNIS & HARLAND

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Harlan was absorbed with packing his personal items.

Although Colonel O'Neill* had given the green light to begin moving the fixtures and fittings which would form the basis of the living quarters on their new Home-World, over two weeks ago, Harlan had yet to send more than one small container through the StarGate.

His inability to make light of the job was rooted in the fact that to Harlan everything had to be just right. Now that he was allowed to move all of the Altairian remnants, he would see to it that the prioritisation Hubald and Wallace had attached to particular items would be observed.

He packed and then immediately unpacked to make certain that the order he had packed in was the correct order in which he wanted the goods to be unpacked on the new Home-World. It was all immensely irritating, but as Daniel* pointed out, it did serve to keep Harlan off their backs and out of the way whilst they got on with the moving prep.

The goods were being Gated to the new Home-World and temporarily placed in one of the underground mines near to the Home-World StarGate. It was dry, large and suitable as an interim camp. And yes, thank you, much much better than good old nine eight niner, pure gold.

Colonel O'Neill* and Teal'c* were at the Beta Site secret base and Doctor Jackson* and Major Carter* were on the new Home-World.

Left alone to continue his packing charade, Harlan heard a loud noise down on the ground floor, in the StarGate quadrant, which was immediately below his private quarters. What was that? ..It couldn't be. How could it be? It had been more than thirteen hundred years since he'd heard that remarkable sound.

He ran excitedly to the StarGate area. It was, and after all this time. 'Five Ring' visitors.

Major Carter's* new bike and the big tin flue it was propped up against had been vaporised. Sixteen men in two groups of eight were standing near to the StarGate. They had used the all but forgotten Transport Rings.

Fifteen staff weapons were aimed at Harlan as he cheerfully approached the travellers with open arms.

"Ooh, you must not be afraid. I will not harm you. Good people of the Tok'ra, I welcome you to my home. It has been many many centuries since you visited Altair."

"I am Ibnis. I am your lord and master. The Tok'ra are soon to be eliminated by my forces."

"I am Harlan, but have no master. I have my friends. They are coming soon."

"I am your lord and master. This world and everything in it now belongs to me. Show me what you have."

Ibnis pointed at two of his men. "Chaapa'ai, Bradio! Guard it!"

"Ha'shak, where are the robots? The four robots who defeated Lord Cronus. I will deliver them into the hands of the System Lords."

"Oh my.. ..Colonel O'Neill*, Colonel O'Neill* you must return. You must return immediately."

"To whom do you address yourself? There is no one to hear your cries. "Gehdens Khree! Jankin!" Ibnis spoke a mixture of ancient Goa'uld and Gehdiene, the language of his slaves. His guards dispersed, double quick time, in all directions, systematically searching the plant level by level.

There was little to find. Despite the fact that an aerial survey had not yet been carried out, Carter* and Daniel* had been working on the Colonel*, trying to impress on him the sensibility of effecting the move.

"..So when you've finished the final recon we'll be ready to call it home. Sure, provided there are no surprises in store. Sam* is certain there won't be Jack*. She has a really good feeling about this world."

"..Daniel has a really good feeling about this Sir. Maybe it would be best to start moving our equipment. It couldn't hurt."

"Only if we have to move it all back again Carter*."

"Sir that's not going to happen."

"You seem very sure of yourself Carter*."

"Yes Sir, that's because I know we're all going to be very happy living there." She could have the most delightful smile.

The Colonel* gave in. The thought of not having to shift any of Harlan's things to the Beta Site had clinched it, plus the fact that like Daniel* and Carter* and Teal'c* he to had a good feeling about the new Home-World. Green light, go for move!

They began the move. Returning each afternoon to the plant for debrief, dinner and later, sleep. The Colonel's* conditions. He wasn't prepared to give up any of the things that made them human.

"You are the one who crated those four technological soldiers. You will make for me an army of them. Create me a fighting force that has no limits. I will be known across the universe. Worlds will tremble in fear at the mention of my name."

Harlan was fascinated by the intermittent hypnotic like glow of this strange uninvited guest's eyes. He wondered if it was not some peculiar side effect of his visitor's obvious mental derangement.

"I will march upon my foes. My soldiers will feed like locus on the weakness of my enemies. I will go forth from galaxy to galaxy. Nothing will stand in my way. The System Lords will have no choice but to call me into their number."

"Ke'I! Kneel before my lord and master. You will not address yourself to him. Speak through me. I am Lord Ibnis' high servant khdthen. You will do exactly as my master commands."

"Kegalo! Rhe'u!" Ibnis kicked passed his first prime.

"Please you must understand. You are not listening to me. It is impossible to do as you ask. You are too late, the machinery is all finished. This is why you are not already unconscious."

This strange madman mustn't realise we're moving. Harlan thought aloud. "This is my home, that I am soon to be leaving. Ooh my friends have found a wonderful new Home-World. As yet I have not seen it but Major Carter* and Doctor Jackson* tell me it is full of many beautiful sights. We will be very happy together there, I am sure, yes." Harlan was starting to babble, talking aloud nervously.

"Ha'taaka. I will not permit you to interfere with my raise to power. You will give me my army. And we will march forth across the galaxies. I will become as strong as any System Lord. I will become a System Lord!"

Even Harlan was unable to salvage a vestige of sanity from this king of selfdom, this strange demented invader, with glowing eyes, claiming to be his lord and master. He was becoming very frightened. Harlan looked as if he was getting ready to dart off.

"Aray Khree!" Ibnis extended his ribbon clad arm. Harlan began to shriek and sway and buckle until.. ..Ibnis was sent flying. Wack! Straight back against one of the defunct coolant tower turbines.

Feedback loop! The naquadah in Harlan's chest must somehow have enhanced the opposing kinetic force so that the recoil of the ribbon's liquid naquadah induced energy focus tossed Ibnis up in the air like a puppet doll, landing him hurt and bruised against a filthy smoked stained engine.

Like a little squirrel Harlan thrust himself off all fours and scurried away, darting between machinery and masonry. He was gone.

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© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006