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 Runaway To Hell

She didn't know what made her look to her left at that precise moment, but she thanked the Powers That Be for the heads up. Casually she stepped behind a vendor's stall, pretending to be interested in the wares. She watched the dark face of her friend get swallowed up by the crowd. If he was here then so were the others.

Heart thumping, she scanned the sea of people looking for three other familiar faces amongst the strangers. She couldn't spot them directly, but then she didn't need to. The four auras that only shone so blindingly bright when they were together were easy to pick out from the duller, average spiritual lights.

Shit. Of all the planets in all the galaxies they had to wander onto this one, now? How had they tracked her? Or had they? Could this just be the mother of all Murphy's Law coincidences?

Her eyes were drawn to one of the blue lights, one that she knew and loved the most. Craned her neck to catch just a glimpse of him despite the risk of being spotted. Her heart ached to make her presence known, to race up to him and throw her arms around him and beg him to take her home. Her mind jerked back the step her foot had taken to do just that, screaming that it wasn't safe. She couldn't go back, the consequences would be more than she could live with. Her third eye pulled her in yet another direction, telling her that if she didn't move now someone would die. She had to do what she'd come to do and only then could she get off this planet, hopefully before they became aware of her.

It took monumental effort to focus on her task rather than on SG-1 who were making their way across the square. She didn't know what she would do if her vision led her directly to cross their path. Thankfully she didn't have to find out. She was being guided to the far right. She waited a few precious seconds, seconds that she didn't really have to spare. Waited until the blue auras were what she hoped was a safe distance away, before moving into the crowd, her eyes searching for the man from her vision. She gripped a zat' in her left hand since firing it didn't take pinpoint accuracy. In her right she slid the dagger from its sheath at her waist. Didn't know if one or both would be needed. She supposed it would depend on how the situation stood when she arrived at her goal. Made sure that both weapons were concealed by the folds of the robe she wore.

Through the throng of people she caught a glimpse of black curly hair, ahead and to the left. The man twisted his head a little to speak to the child he carried on his hip, his face creased into a smile. With her target found and confirmed she began assessing the people around him, judging the risk. Two obvious bodyguards flanked the man and his family. She widened her perimeter. Spotted three more dressed casually, designed to blend in to the crowd. One walked a few feet ahead of his boss, the other two an equal distance behind.

Pulling her cloak further over her face, she picked up her pace, instinct warning her that the time was drawing near. She had intended to try to approach the man directly, but the unexpected appearance of the others had forced her to hold back, eating up what 'explanation' time she had. Now all she could do was wait and hope she'd be quick enough to intervene without getting herself killed by the security detail. If she could just get a bit closer...

Just ahead, a vendor shifting his cart blocked her direct path. She heard the wheel axle snap and the cart fell, spilling its wares.

Dammit! Too late.

The crash of the pots and pans hitting the cobbles made everyone, the man and bodyguards included, turn. The bodyguards were distracted for just the briefest of seconds, but it was all the assassin needed and he took advantage of it.

She saw a nondescript traveler ahead of the black haired man flick open his coat and point a pulse rifle directly at him. Without thought she pelted forward. Using the fallen cart for leverage, she launched into the air. She raised her zat', her jump adding enough height for her to direct her blast over the target's head to the assassin. "Get down!"

The sound of two weapons discharging rang out. The energy zap of her zat' hit the assassin a split second after his pulse weapon fired.

Time seemed to slow down. She saw herself descend and crash into the black-haired man and child, her body replacing the target the pulse blast was aimed at. Helpless to stop it, she watched the orange pulse streak towards her and felt the sharp searing pain in her side as it hit her.

She automatically rolled off the people beneath her, clutching her side. Screams of terror and shock echoed in her ears, but amidst the din she clearly heard a single word yelled above the rest.

"Annika!"

Hands of the bodyguards were clawing at her, trying to restrain her, but that shocked cry in an all too familiar voice made her panic. She gathered her will and shoved hard against the hands grabbing her. The guards were tossed backwards into the crowd. Almost blinded by the sharp pain caused from using her telekinesis, she clutched at her head with one hand. Her other wrapped around her waist protecting her bleeding wound, she bolted into the crowd.

She had to get away, couldn't let SG-1 catch her! She had no sense of direction, she just ran, ducking up and down alleys. Her only thought was to put as much distance between the square and herself as possible. Ran until stars started flickering in front of her eyes and she was forced to stop or fall flat on her face.

She staggered into yet another alley, hiding beneath a rickety staircase. Chest heaving, she tried to suck in much needed breaths as quietly as she could. Gingerly she looked down to see her hand was a mass of red, blood seeping through her fingers. How deep was the wound? She fished her one spare shirt from the pocket of her pants and pressed it firmly against the gash. She couldn't stay here. She had to make it to the 'gate, and once she was through then she could tend to her wound. Biting back a groan of pain she pushed off the wall, only to have to lean back against it as her head spun and vision blurred. No, no, no! I can't pass out now!

Steeling herself she tried again and managed to stand somewhat stably. She was just convincing her mind that it was possible to put one foot in front of the other when a shadow of a body fell across the alley.

"Haven't you led us on a merry chase?" The voice was bitterly amused.

Annika staggered back, even though she knew she was only trapping herself.

"Please, I can't go back," she pleaded. "Don't take me back."

He approached with steely determination. "I can't let you go."

She couldn't even muster up another plea as her vision clouded over into unconsciousness.

He managed to catch her before she crumpled to the ground. Hefting her up into his arms he strode out of the alley heading towards his team.

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