Chapter 10:

The Book of Nod is a collection of ancient texts, often in dispute if they existed at all. Like a Bible the Book of Nod was believed to be the true accounting of Cain's life and the creation of the race that was then known as Cainite. Many figures of myth and legend are said to either have written or are written of in the book; notables would be Cain, his children, Lilith as well as the prophesies of what will be the end of the world as all mortal kind know it. The Camarilla bans the book, carefully persecutes anyone who openly claims to believe in it and its disputed prophesies. Any pieces or similar writings are destroyed or secretly hidden away where they can do no more harm.

The two Kindred stood outside Daniel Jackson's apartment. Using Daniel's keys Carter opened the door and got Dr. Jackson's unconscious body inside. "Take him to the bedroom and strip him." Liam ordered.

Sam was suddenly carrying all of Daniel's weight which didn't feel that bad. Vampire strength. Obeying she carried him to the bedroom and put him on the bed. "Um, so what now," She asked herself. She suspected Daniel didn't go to bed in his cloths so she had to undress him…Starting with his boots she thought how she never would have imagined doing this, not in the 10 years she was with SG-1.

While Sam was busy with Dr. Jackson, Sage, was looking out the windows and checking the lamps and outlets for listening devices. Finding nothing he went to the kitchen and started making it look like someone had eaten there recently. He put plates in the sink and ran the water. Took a frozen prepackaged meal out the freezer, defrosted it and then dumped it down the disposal throwing the box away. When he was done Sam was just coming out.

"He's in bed," the Ventrue reported.

"Good," Liam said. Looking around the room a bit uneasy. "Lets get out of here."

They closed the door to the apartment but then Sam didn't know how to lock it from the outside since they left Daniel's keys on the table inside. Liam placed his finger against the lock and a click was heard. She looked at him surprised but he told her to get going.

Outside and back in her car Sam let out a breath she had been holding since they went in…"Thank you, Liam." She said again. This had been her mess and if the older vampire hadn't been there she wasn't sure she could have fixed it. Once again she realized that she not only owed Liam but that she needed to stop holding back and got on with learning her new abilities.

"Don't thank me yet." Liam said.

"What do you mean?" Sam got worried again.

"Just be prepared incase we really aren't the only ones that know Dr. Jackson was suspicious of you."

Sam looked out the windows suddenly paranoid there was someone watching them. "Did you see anything?"

"No, but I wouldn't have. Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence."

Sam turned back to Liam. "And if we were being spied on? What will happen?"

"Depends on who was doing the spying." Liam said. "Start the car, we are wasting time. I don't want to be anywhere near here when the sun comes up."

Sam started the engine and they pulled away. Liam had driven Daniel's car which was now in the parking lot behind them. "What do you mean 'depends'? Who else but the Prince would be spying on us?"

"The Primogen, other vampires that are curious about you, Sabbat infiltrators, Kuei-Jin, the list can go on and on." Sage answered. Looking out the window he added, "Too many for you to worry about at this time."

That got Carter very, very uncomfortable, not that she was in a state of ease to begin with. With all that had happened she chose to focus on what seemed more functionally important than personal, "I get why the Prince is putting more effort here in the city but if the SGC is the target than I need more help than what I have."

"As I said, a coterie is being assigned to watch the mountain. Its being led by one of the Prince's best men."

"What's a coterie?" Sam asked. There were a lot of terms she still wasn't used to hearing and often their meanings were more symbolic than literal.

"A group bound by a common purpose," Liam said. "The team I mentioned. When a group of kindred gets together to do a task we call it a coterie."

"Okay, so these guys are Ventrue?"

"No, Doc is on the team and the other is a Tremere that calls himself, Simon Lakatos."

Sam digested that. "What's going to happen?"

Liam turned in the seat and stared at Carter. "Colonel, why does this trouble you so much?"

"Excuse me? An army of monsters are coming to attack the SGC which I'm supposed to defend but no one is telling me anything and I can't ask for help or warn anyone who is going to be put in danger. Jeez why would I be troubled."

Liam didn't react to the short rant. Calmly he sat back in his seat. "You had to protect Atlantis when you made your deal with the wraith. You were alone a single base against a seemingly endless army of life suckers. That and with all you've seen and done with SG-1 I'm a little surprised. Seems like this is not so different."

"It is!" Sam insisted. "I had the whole SGC and US Military backing me up. I wasn't just the only one working the problems. There were lots of others too."

"And there are lots of others working this as well." Liam said. "Only now you aren't among friends. Is that it?" Contempt came through in his voice. "Are you so weak that you need 'friends' to work along side you? You can't fight for your life and the lives of everyone else if your buddy Teal'c isn't there to 'have your back'?"

The car was silent for several minutes. "Samantha," Liam started speaking the disgust gone from his voice. "This is what it is. Its been this way for thousands of years. The only thing that has changed is now you know about it. Now, you can protect yourself. So do it. If you live or die or if anyone in the SGC lives or dies it really honest to god does not matter. The sun will come up the next day."

"So what you're saying is just try my best and it really doesn't matter. I can't believe that."

"Believe it or don't, it is what it is. If the Sabbat takes the Stargate and I can only assume, use it to get off world, then we will deal with it."

"Just deal with it? Not considering all the people out in the galaxy they will kill if they get off earth. This isn't just about us."

"Us is the only thing we have control over." Liam said. "Deal with the situation as it is and place yourself in the best position to come out to your advantage. Otherwise you can save yourself a lot of pain and stay home."

Sam didn't have an answer to that. It sounded true. All they could do; all they could ever do was work the problem from their end. But to be so cold about it…she couldn't be like that.

"But I wouldn't stay home if I was you." Liam added. "Because after it was all done chances were that those that did fight would be really upset."

The drive after that was a very quiet one. Liam didn't tell Sam about the Black Hand. She was overwhelmed enough and informing her a small army of assassins was coming wouldn't help.

Sam was tired all day. Deep within the SGC she was safe from the sun but being up all night and having to be here and alert all day was getting to be too much. Liam had advised she drink more blood, that that would help her cope with lack of sleep but it wasn't like she was experienced enough to do that so she relied on the blood she had managed to get from Dr. Lam's stock. It would be noticed if too much went missing but a few bags could be overlooked as a clerical error.

Col. Carter was in her office when 1LT Hailey stopped by. "Ma'am," the 1LT asked to enter.

Sam looked up from her work and waived her in. "Hailey, you're team is back early."

"Yes, Ma'am. Dr. Adam's said there were no historical cultural references so the Col. called it." She looked around. "May I turn up the light, Ma'am? It's a bit dark."

"Oh, yah sure. Please be comfortable. Welcome back." Carter said. Hailey had been a cadet when Sam had met her. She had been brilliant but troubled and on the verge of being kicked out of the Air Force when Sam tried to intervene and actually got Hailey permission to come off world in the hopes of keeping her to one day join the SGC.

Some people liked to say that Hailey would be the 'next' Samantha Carter. Sam had never really paid attention to that but since her change she couldn't help but wonder about it from time to time. If she had 'died' for real than would Hailey have been able to step up to that kind of pressure. Not that Sam was vain but she was called a national treasure more than once.

"I was wondering if you were free to discuss some career points with me, Ma'am. I was offered a chance to join the research project on P3X498. The moon's gravity anomalies would be neat to work on but I'm not sure I want to leave a SG team that long. I could treat you to lunch."

Surprised by the offer Sam grimaced inside. Lately her ability to eat solid foods seem to be limited to weak shakes. She could still drink other liquids than blood but solid foods were to make her feel ill. She had nearly choked back up a cracker in front of Cassandra two weeks before. So now she really had just stopped eating…which had been disturbingly easy when she didn't have to look at others eat.

"Thanks but I am on a diet." Sam said which was the excuse she used with Cassandra. "But please, have a seat."

Mango woke up to her cell phone buzzing. Sitting up groggily she looked around room of the abandoned house. Through holes in the walls she saw light coming through still. Digging the phone out she hit the green button to answer. "I don't know who you are but its in the middle of the day. What the Fuck?"

"Good morning Mrs. Harper," a woman said undeterred. "So sorry to wake you. We are behind here at Ventrue Tower. It has come to our attention that you have not reported to any Brujah clan houses or are in contact with your Clan Primogen."

"Yeah, I'm Brujah, we have authority issues remember." Mango growled. Her head was pounding. I'm too tired, she realized. Calm down or I might say something stupid…wait did she say Ventrue tower?

"I understand, Mrs. Harper. I am to inform you that you have been asked to join Prince Hadrian for breakfast as soon as you are available. Should we send a car to your place of residence."

"Uh…" Mango was shocked. "Sure."

"Good, expect the car outside your haven when the sun sets." The woman was about to hang up.

"Wait, how do you know where my haven is?"

"Mrs. Harper, the Prince makes such things a priority. Sleep well."

Mango put the phone down. She fell back onto the old mattress resting on the floor. She was sleeping in a crack den. It was a run down house in the middle of no where but all the stoners left this room alone and she had been able to add locks to it. It was the cheapest place she could afford and most vamps didn't like stoners so it was relatively secure.

'The Prince wants to have breakfast." Mango didn't fall back to sleep.

Liam dozed in a chair. In front of him were three computers and monitors all showing different things. One played security footage, the other the status of various police tracking networks and the third his own haven's security monitors. A chirp woke him up and he saw that the computer with the police info was showing a pop-up.

"Highway parole car found run off the road. Officers missing." he read aloud.

One of six cell phones on another table recharging buzzed. With one shove he rolled chair over to table and picked it up. It was unmarked. Liam flipped it open. "Liam Sage…yes I just read the warning…Understood…I'll get my nosferatu connection on it…Good luck to all of us. The Colonel? I'll worry about mine you worry about him." The voice on the other end hung up. Liam did the same then put the phone between his palms and crushed it.

Getting out of his chair he got on his knees. "God, please, for what we must do guide us…or please stop us."

Liam got back into his chair and rolled back to the computers. Opening a email he sent a message to ratman666 .

James,

Two bodies have been found on the highway. They haven't been identified yet. Put the word out that they are two Highway patrolmen and that the Sabbat's advance party is traveling by day.

Sage

Liam sent the email and leaned back in his chair. Advance party by day would put them on site by nightfall. Main force would be about a day behind, maybe two. Two was more likely if they were mostly young vampires and feeding as they go. Leaning back in the chair he closed his eyes. Get some more sleep. He was going to need it.

He wasn't worried about telling the Prince. James would tell his bosses and then they would tell the Prince's people. James would get the credit and the kid was good enough that he would wipe out any trace of Liam's email. One thing that can always be depended on is self interest.

Dr. Lam was at her desk looking for…something. "What is it?" She asked herself. "I know I left something undone but what is it?"

"Dr. Lam?" One of the technicians knocked on her door. "I have the latest Blood tests back."

"Oh, thanks," She said sitting back in her chair. Something was bugging her but she couldn't remember what it was for the life of her.

"Oh and this was in with the rest of the samples." The man pointed to a folder that was on top. "Not sure what it was but we went ahead and analyzed it. You got to remember to put a itemizing code on stuff like that because the lab almost threw it out thinking it was just dirt."

"Dirt?" Caroline Lam opened the folder. "Powdered substance containing large percentage of iron, silver and sulfur. Minor traces of proteins." As if remembering a dream she recalled the brownish powder residue on the floor.

"Doctor Lam?" The man asked. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Caroline said. "Yes thank you." The man turned leaving her with the test results.

"What proteins contain iron, silver and sulfur?" This was what she had been looking for. She knew it.

"Dr. Lam. Caroline…" Lam's head snapped up from the file.

"Col. Carter. I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in." Lam closed the folder.

"That's alright. You looked pretty absorbed by your work." The bond Col. Said waiving it off. "I needed to look at your quarterly requests. After what happened I know we have to be in need of more supplies."

"Oh yah, sure. I had them…here." Lam produced two pages with charts and numbers. "How are you feeling by the way."

Col. Carter looked up. "Fine. Maybe a bit tired."

"You look it. I could get you a booster."

Before Lam got out of her chair, Carter shook her head. "No thanks. I'm fine really. Besides you have other stuff to do." The XO backed away and left the office suddenly. Caroline frowned watching her go.

"That woman needs some help." Caroline said. She should bring it up with her father at their next section briefing.

Sam was going down the hall when there was a "psss". She stopped and saw a cleaning supply cosset door ajare. A gray long fingered hand poked out and gave a come hither motion. "James," Sam asked coming to the door. Opening it she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

"Col. Carter," The now familiar Nosferatu stood up straighter. "I have been asssssigned to asssssist you in preparing the SSSGC."

Not too surprised by the choice Sam nodded. James was becoming a regular Kindred visitor down here like Sage used to be. The Prince wants you to be ready to lock down the mountain at a moment's notice. The Sabbat are going to be at the city limitsss tonight."

"That soon?" Sam said. Damn, she had been thinking she could get Cassandra to come in. No, better she just call her and make sure she stayed home. Best bet. If what she was told was true. The fighting would be in the urban areas no family communities. Stay indoors was the best defense. But it didn't do much for her to think of it. "I have to go and get things ready."

"Don't worry about the excuse. I have arranged that the bio filters will detect a dangerous agent when the time is right. Automatic shut down and activation of life support. Leave it all to me."

"That's great. But If I can I need to make sure as many nonessential personnel as possible get out of here. It will be better that way."

"You're show, Colonel." the grey creature said.

"SAM?" A voice was outside the door. Carter hit the lights just as the door opened and Vala let the light in. "Sam, you do know you're in a closet right?"

Carter spared a look behind her and didn't see James or any hint of him. Looking back at Vala she shrugged. "Just needed a second." It was a weak excuse.

Vala's eyebrow raised. "Okay. Daniel wanted to know if you had dinner plans."

"Uh, yah." She held up papers in her hand. "Work. Never ending."

Vala nodded. "You know, you need to take a break. You look burned out. I don't anyone would blame you after everything that's happened."

"That's okay, Vala," Carter said stepping out of the closet. Vala didn't notice but Carter did that the door didn't swing closed right away. She wasn't sure but there might have been the sound of something scraping too. "Maybe in a month or two. You think Walter has it bad. Try being an XO."

When the sun went down the Kindred of Colorado Springs came out in force. Prince Hadrian watched from his office window picturing how all the pieces were moving. The Militia was put out front. Human Law enforcement was watching the highways. They made up the first line. The next was in the outer urban areas of the city. Subtle manipulations made sure that police and other emergency responders would not be active. Teams of Kindred were waiting in sortie groups ready to meet the tide of the assault. After them was the Sherriff and a small Army of ghouls and Kindred loyal to the Haven's in the city's hart. It was horribly beautiful. The weak died first, then the questionably loyal and then the loyalists who would fight harder than everyone because this was their city. A horrible but necessary strategy battle tested for centuries. "Now we wait."

Liam Sage stood on a roof looking towards the South East. Mango was checking her shot-gun for the umpteenth time. Also on the roof were another former Militia Brujah, a Ventrue, Malkavian and Nosferatu. The Malkavian dressed and smelled like a homeless person and the Nosferatu may have been a woman but that wasn't provable given its gnarled limps, twisted face with the elongated forehead and boney torso.

Mango and the other Brujah were dressed in heavy leather jackets and pants. If they had been human they would have died of heat exhaustion but since they didn't breath or sweat it wasn't an issue. The other two didn't wear much of anything except rags.

To share among them there were 12 and 20 gage shot-guns, 44m pistols, knives, and 3 hand grenades not counting their personal weapons of choice. They also had rifles but they looked cheap to Liam. Mango had in addition to her standard 12 gage a M16A2 rifle with bayonet at the end. She hadn't been trained to shoot like a marksman but up close and personal she would be good enough.

Only Liam and the Ventrue were 'properly' armed and armored. The Ventrue, Vincent, or V2 as the Malkavian was calling him had on a old but well maintained French breast-plate along with steel greaves and heavy leather gloves. He also was wearing heavy leather under the breastplate and another leather coat over all of it. He had a European short sword, a M4 rifle as well as a sawed off shot gun.

Liam was more creative. Chain male had been sown in-between the cloth of his shirt and the lining of his baggy pants. He wore the Turtle-Skin Tactical vest he once lent to Samantha. On his legs under his pants he had soccer shin guards but the plastic had been replaced with steal. His right hand had only a steel forearm guard that ran up to his elbow and his left was a old medieval gauntlet with two pyramid spikes come out between the knuckles. Over all of it he had a large black duster that was 2 sizes too big for him but covered the Bastard Sword slung over his back, a short Ninjito on his left hip, a utility belt with small knives and other tools and weapons, 50m hand gun on his right hip and the AK47 hanging tucked under one arm. Over all Liam Sage felt far better prepared than anyone else on the roof.

"Mango," Liam said getting the girl's attention. "You okay?"

"Stuck on a roof with you." Mango said by way of answer.

"Just keep calm and stay close. You'll be fine. If for some reason something happens to me, just hide."

Mango stood up at that. "I can take care of myself. I've done just fine so far."

Not looking at her Liam nodded. "Right and you did just fine because you did what I told you. So don't stop now."

When she didn't go back to her weapon Liam turned to her. "You know why I chose you, Rachel?" He used her real name. "You were smarter than the rest. The rest of the Militia is going to get themselves killed but you have a chance. Don't die here. One city, isn't worth it. When we're done here. When we can get you out, go somewhere. See California, join the Anarchs, go fight the Sabbat in Europe. Do something more than live from day to day. Fine a reason to live."

"I've been to Europe." Mango commented.

"As a little girl on a family trip. Go as a Kindred and learn from the masters of intrigue. They make us American's look like retards."

"Why are you always here?" She asked all of a sudden. "You picked me and then you betrayed us and you know I hate you. I tried to kill you and you just don't stop. You made me work with Sam and…" She was making herself upset. Holding back the Frenzy all on her own she glared at him. "What is so great about me?"

Liam didn't smile. Didn't even look her in the eye. He went back to looking south. After a while Mango gave up and went back to her weapon though there was nothing else for her to do.

Somewhere there was the sound of a gun being fired way off in the distance. "Its starting," The Nosferatu said.

"Yes, yes, yes…starting, blood, blood in the streets. Just like the fall of the city…blood, blood, more blood. V2 do you see it?" The Malkavian was rambling. Vincent ignored him.

"Time to go people," Liam said. "Mango follow on the roofs and give us a heads up. It won't be long now." The group of fighters went downstairs and took to the streets.

Notes:

Well here is an update. The next chapter should close it up. If you didn't notice this isn't my best work. It has been too long sitting idle. I think I started this in 2010 if you can believe it. My writing style changed, my ideas changed…a lot of things have changed. It is still a story I want to do but I can see that it won't be my best. There is so much rich character driven development that I wanted to put in.

When it all ends I'll do a note page about all the changes that planning that went into it. I think some of my fellow VTM fans will enjoy that. The largest problem has been to keep this a Stargate related story when so many of the characters are vampires. There are a lot of things I would change knowing what I know now and with what I created.

So for my readers, stay with me. The ending is going to be neat. Not my best written but it will be neat and worthy of the source material.

I will finish this story and my others. Don't worry.