THE ALLIANCE - PART 2

By Eliza Hayes

"It's SG-3." Silar confirmed the incoming code. At General O'Neill's nod of approval, he opened the Iris and Captain Morris came through the gate.

"What happened, Captain?" O'Neill headed toward Morris. "Where's the rest of your team."

"They're assisting the people of P8R-139" Morris stated. "They're at war with the Goa'uld. So far they're holding their own but Khivar, the leader of Antar wants to meet with you."

"Debriefing in a half hour." O'Neill snapped.

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Daniel, Teal'c and Carter watched the impressive sight of Nem rising from the sea. He walked majestically towards looking like a combination creature from the black lagoon and a king in his robes.

"Nem." Daniel greeted.

"Daniel Jackson." Nem answered. "What fate Sha'uri?"

Daniel's face fell. "Dead."

"May your sorrows lighten in time." Nem placed his hand on Daniel's shoulder.

"Thank you." Daniel felt Sha'uri's death like a hammer. He feared this would happen considering what happened to Nem's mate.

Carter gave them a moment feeling like a voyeur before getting to the heart of the matter. "Nem, our current leadership would like to open a dialogue with your people."

"Perhaps in time." After a short pause, Nem continued. "You have barely thrown off the your bondage to the Goa'uld. And that fate is still in your potential future."

"We have won many battles." Teal'c replied. "And destroyed a great many of the System Lords' forces."

"A good start." Nem nodded with approval. "Omoroca would be pleased with your efforts. Perhaps when you recovered from your subjugation, we will consider it."

Carter wondered briefly how many thousands of years Nem would consider as sufficient time to heal the hurt of Goa'uld's enslavement. None in the SGC thought this mission would be a success. And knowing the time span of Nem's race, she doubted that she would see any sort of dialog opening between their races in her lifetime.

"We understand." Daniel stated handing Nem a communicator. "Please accept this gift. When you feel we are ready you may contact us with this device. All you need to do is open the gate and press this button."

"Thank you." Nem graciously accepted the gift. He wondered at the duration of the device. It looked like it wouldn't last a century.

Static interrupted the moment. "Colonel Carter."

"Sergeant Silar." Carter clicked her radio. "Is everything okay."

"General O'Neill needs you back here right now."

"Okay. ETA in 15 minutes." Carter responded.

Daniel turned to apologize to Nem but saw him dive into the waves and disappear. Carter and Teal'c kept Daniel between them as they headed back remembering the time they saw him die here.

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General O'Neill, the SG-1 team and Captain Morris stood in their dress uniforms waiting for their guests to enter the conference room. Moments later three humanoid figures, one woman and two men arrived with SG-3.

"I thought you said they weren't human." O'Neill stared pointedly at Morris.

"They aren't ... they weren't." Morris stammered a little unnerved.

"Later." O'Neill said turning toward the party. "Welcome to Earth."

"I'm Khivar, the leader of Antar." Khivar claimed waving his hand toward a stunning woman, who was almost a twin of Isabelle, and a sturdy young man. "This is my wife Sidonay and my advisor Larik."

"I'm General O'Neill, leader of the Stargate Project." O'Neill waved Morris and SG-1. "You know Captain Morris. And this is Colonel Carter, our scientific advisor."

"Nice to meet you." Carter held out her hand. A few moments later she retrieved it unshaken looking a little embarrassed.

"This is Dr. Jackson." O'Neill still had his first contact face on but on the inside he was angry at Carter's treatment. "He's our expert on different cultures. And this is Teal'c."

"He's Jaffa." Larik observed the marking on Teal'c's forehead.

"I no longer serve false gods." Teal'c stated. Larik nodded while Khivar and Sidonay looked disinterested.

Although Teal'c said it an hundred times over the last eight years, he spoke in serious dignified tones that never failed to impress O'Neill. O'Neill knew that Teal'c would make a better General then him. It was a damn shame that the U.S. government would never let an alien head the SGC. Besides it's a moot point, Teal'c never officially joined the military.

"Please sit down." O'Neill gestured to Antarians toward the chairs.

"We were surprised when humans came through the Gods' door." Khivar informed. "We didn't think you would leave your solar system for at least another hundred years."

"So you've been here before." Daniel slipped in. "Is that why you look like us?"

"We find that it's comforting to 'younger' species, if we look like them." Sidonay said.

"It seems like you're technologically more advanced." O'Neill decided to forgo the diplomacy. He was aggravated by Sidonay's tone. "What do you want?"

"Many years ago, our galaxy was ruled by a tyrant." Khivar started. "In time, we fought a Great War and regained our independence."

"I see." O'Neill wondered where this Antar history lesson was going.

"Although, we've killed our oppressor and his family. The old king's allies took their DNA and came to Earth." Khivar continued.

"What!" O'Neill barked. "Where are these allies?"

"Most of them died when their ship crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico." Larik said.

"Roswell." All the humans said in disbelief.

"Those traitors made several abominations created with the Royal Four's DNA and human DNA." Khivar curled his lips in disgust.

O'Neill sat back for once shocked into to silence. To discover not only was the story of aliens crashing in Roswell real but there was alien hybrids running around.

"How did they do that?" Carter asked. All this would have fascinated Janet, Carter thought sadly, wishing she was here with them now.

"That isn't important." Khivar replied, not wanting to admit he didn't know. "What's important is the hybrids are dangerous."

"Your concern for us is touching." O'Neill stated. Carter and Daniel winced at the statement. "But as I asked before, what do you want from us."

"We want you to catch the hybrids." Khivar lowered his voice.

"You have space flight and you've been here before." Daniel had poised his pen above his notebook. "Why haven't you come and got them yourself."

"They're extremely powerful." Larik stated. "Together the Royal Four are almost invincible."

"Forgive my bluntness but I doubt your concern for our welfare is motivating this desire to catch these hybrids." O'Neill leaned back in his chair.

Khivar was a bit surprised by the lack of concern shown by these humans about potential aliens in their midst. Most humans he had met were extremely xenophobic and paranoid. He didn't take into account that these humans were roaming the galaxy meeting up with aliens, good and bad, on a daily basis.

"We have a weapon but only one of the royal line can use it." Khivar finally answered. "It can potentially destroy all the Goa'uld."

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"So what do you think?" O'Neill asked as they watched the Antarians disappear into the event horizon.

"They haven't told us the whole story." Daniel stated.

"You think." O'Neill snapped back. He was both exasperated and amused by Daniel's persistent stating of the obvious.

"What about the weapon?" Carter asked. "Do you really think only the hybrids can work it?"

"The Ancients built weapons only they or their descendants could use." Daniel mused. "It is conceivable that the Royal Four could be the only ones capable of using the weapon."

"Without that precaution, it could be used against them." Teal'c stated.

"Not something you want an enemy to use against you." O'Neill thinking out loud. For some reason, beyond the disrespect Khivar shown to Carter, he didn't trust the Antarians. "A weapon that can destroy the Goa'uld must be extremely powerful.

"Interesting that Sidonay looks just like Vilandra." Daniel changed the subject. He pulled out the pictures and glanced at the attractive teenagers. The young woman was absolutely stunning.

"I'll say." Carter took one of the photos from Daniel. "Vilandra and Khivar had history. Poor Sidonay definitely not the first choice in mates."

TWO MONTHS LATER

Hasten, Nebraska

"Hello, anyone here." Maria entered the campsite with Michael. She kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief. Maria was glad to be off work after putting in over ten hours at the Colossal Supermarket. Her feet throbbed with every beat of her heart.

"Hi guys." Isabel walked to the edge of the tiny fire. "I made some tomato soup. Want any?"

"Sure." Maria went and sat down at a small picnic table at the edge of the campsite.

Michael nodded collapsing on the bench, exhausted. He had spent the day stocking the shelves at Colossal. He was relieved the day was done. The night crept into the woods making trees cast shadows that looked like claws grabbing at the night. A low booming noise broke the stillness.

"Rain." Maria glanced upward at the stars glimmering between the open spaces of the trees.

"Doesn't feel like thunder." Michael said.

"Here, before it starts." Isabel placed two bowls of soup, spoons and tabasco sauce on the table. She turned up the oil-fed lantern.

Maria watched Isabel eat daintily for a few minutes before asking. "How's Jack?"

"How should I know?" Isabel paused for a brief moment her spoon held half way to her mouth.

"What planet are you from?" Maria teased. She personally saw Isabel make three phone calls to Jack. "You call him or he calls you at least once a week since we left Virginia."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Isabel started eating again. She was good at hiding her reaction but, after a two years of riding with her, Maria knew her.

"That little cell phone," Maria laughed. "The one Jack gave us in Virginia."

Before Isabel could respond, she and the others heard the van speeding toward them. Making its characteristic knocking noise when it went more than 75 miles an hour. A moment later, it appeared with Kyle at the wheel. Kyle rolled down the window and poked his head out.

"Get in!" Kyle said. One look at Kyle's face Maria put her shoes back on as Michael got into the van without any questions. She and Isabel climbed in on either side of the van.

"What's wrong?" Maria grabbed hold of the seat in front of her to get a better look at Kyle.

"The train jumped its track at the station." Kyle pushed the gas pedal down to the floor. "I've never seen anything like it. It's horrible!"

"Max?" Isabel felt her heart beating double-time. Max worked at the station loading and unloading shipments.

"Liz can't find him." Kyle responded. He remembered a time when he would be happy to know his rival was missing. But now, his stomach was knotted and he felt like he was going to throw up at any moment. "She asked me to get you to help search."

They drove the rest of the way in silence each fearing that Max was dying. They knew from experience that they could tell if Max were dead. The van was stopped several blocks away from the station by a roadblock. Kyle turned around as directed and parked at the one of the nearby stores' last parking places. They got out and ran the rest of the way.

What met their eyes was grotesque nightmare of broken people and metal. The station was crushed by the front of the train. The rest of the train looked like some huge child had pushed the train over.

"By the time I got here, Liz had already searched inside the station." Kyle rubbed his stomach, his face pale. "He wasn't there."

"She shouldn't have gone in there." Maria looked at the station. The southwest wall was precariously supporting most of the stone building. She was amazed it was still standing.

"Isabel, you and Kyle go down one side of the train." Michael squeezed Isabel's shoulder. "Maria and I will search the other side."

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Jack wondered for the hundredth time how he ended up here. He told the original Colonel O'Neill that he wanted to do something that the original would never do---repeat high school. He must have been crazed. He never thought he would be in a small classroom after normal school hours talking about their next science project.

Dr. Trent led the discussion on next year's project. Jack hoped it was another flying machine. Anything else would be boring as far as he was concerned.

"Jack, I understand you know Dr. Samantha Carter?" Trent asked. "The astrophysicist."

"Yes." Jack responded after a brief hesitation. He wasn't use to thinking of Major ... Colonel Carter as a scientist.

"Do you think she will let us use her radio telescope?" Dr. Trent looked hopefully at Jack.

Jack's lips quirked upwards. Sam did think of the telescope as her baby. "I don't know." Although, the telescope was housed outside the security boundaries of Cheyenne Mountain and the SGC's cover, it still contained some sensitive information. "I'll ask."

"That'll be perfect for the project." Denise beamed. Everybody but Jack and Nigel nodded enthusiastically.

"I still think we should choose another project." Nigel frowned into his laptop.

Jack was getting ready to ask what the project was considering no one thought to inform him, when he felt something on the edge of his mind. He stood up and walked to the classroom's window. He had an urge to call Isabel. It was so strong his hand groped for his cell. Jack heard the murmur of the geeks in the background.

"What if we discovered that aliens were actually trying to contact us?" Dennis asked. "Think how much they can teach us."

"That will definitely earn us an award, if not the Nobel Peace Prize." Denise stated. "I can't wait to design the program. I'm sure I can increase the range of the signal."

"They probably want to take over the planet like the GUA." Nigel responded. "If it wasn't for..."

"The GUA aren't real." Dr. Trent interrupted.

"Jack." Mark noticed Jack rubbing his forehead as he peered out of the classroom window. "What do you think?"

"Jack!" Dr. Trent's voice raised to almost a yell. Jack jumped glancing back at his classmates and teacher. Jack looked as if he was in pain. Instantly, his face shifted back to normal.

"Jack, what do you think of aliens taking over the world?" Mark asked with a huge grin.

"Excuse me." Jack wondered when he entered the Twilight Zone.

"We treat this planet like our personal dumping ground." Denise stated. "Maybe it should go to someone that respects it."

Something in Jack snapped, the SGC saved the world several times from the Goa'uld and the replicators to have this young girl to even consider handing their world over. Jack walked up to where Denise was sitting and grabbed her laptop. He appeared formidable standing there with the computer in his left hand. "I want this."

"Its mine." Denise cried trying to snatch it back from Jack. Jack shoved her back in her seat with his right hand. His left held the laptop above his head. The rest of the people sat stunned and intimidated.

"This is your second one this year." Jack growled. "You don't deserve it."

"Give it back, Jack." Dr. Trent snapped. She stood up, ready to take the laptop from Jack.

"Amazing you would fight for your laptop but not your world." Jack relaxed back to normal putting the laptop back on Denise's desk. Or at least as normal as he could with a pounding headache and an irrational fear that something happened to Isabel and the rest of the Roswell group.

"Bastard." Denise snarled checking her computer out.

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It was a nightmare world. The train wreckage scattered along the tracks intermingled with people dead or dying. Isabel and Kyle cautiously walked along the path not wanting to step on the people lying haphazardly on the ground. The worst of it was the overwhelming coppery smell. It amazed Kyle that he smelled the blood even over the smoldering train.

The small emergency crew was overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the damage. Isabel and Kyle were handed bandages by the rescue teams.

"Mommy." A young girl whimpered half her face covered in blood. Her arms raised towards Isabel.

"I'll keep looking for Max." Kyle said as Isabel knelt down taking the little girl's hand in hers.

A little while later later, Kyle bent over to check on an older Indian woman lying on the ground. He noticed her arm was bleeding. Kyle wrapped the bandage tight around the wound and wrapped another strip of cloth tightly around her upper arm to prevent her from bleeding out. He almost couldn't bear to see her struggle to get away from him.

A couple of emergency people rushed up and loaded the woman onto the stretcher.

Kyle stood up to start his search again. "I'm Jason. And this is Carl. Are you injured?" Jason pointed to his blood soak shirt.

"No, it's not mine." Kyle looked down at his shirt. He wondered if he could afford to burn it.

"I guess the angel missed this one." Carl's mouth twisted in a grim smile.

"Not much of an angel." Jason said in a bitter tone. He has been at the job for only an hour but he seen more death today than he has for the past month. And it wasn't pretty. Jason saw a discarded leg crushed beyond repair, people with metal shoved through their bodies and the worst was one unfortunate soul that the only thing keeping her alive was the pressure of the railroad car on her. The most that had ever happened in Hasten was bar fights and occasional accidental deaths. A disaster like this was beyond anything in the town's history.

"The angel?" Kyle repeated. Kyle hoped the angel wasn't Max but knowing in his heart it was.

"A boy came and started healing people. Or so I'm told." Carl carried the woman back to the ambulance with Jason's assistance.

"Where's the boy now?" Kyle asked trying not to appear too interested. Jason rushed to the back of the ambulance.

"In a coma at Western Hospital." Carl started the ambulance. He waved at Kyle as he drove off.

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"General O'Neill!" Sergeant Silar rushed into the office as General O'Neill sat at his desk talking quietly on the phone. "Sorry sir."

"Okay, Washington. In three weeks with the Reeto Central Alliance." O'Neill scribbled a note on a pad in front of him.

Silar was shaking with excitement of his news. Waiting impatiently for General O'Neill to end his call.

"I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. President." O'Neill said. "Say hello to the wife and kids."

O'Neill hung up and glared at Silar. "Is there a problem with my door?"

"Sir?" Silar responded in confusion.

"Would knocking damage it?" O'Neill asked in a cutting tone.

"No sir." Silar blushed in embarrassment.

"Well, what is it?" O'Neill demanded.

"We found one of them. Zan, Max Evans." Silar answered. "They're right across the border in a small town called Hasten, Nebraska."

"Call SG-1." O'Neill picked up the phone to call the helicopter. They could be almost anywhere in Nebraska in under an hour.

"Already done. They have three helicopters ready." Silar stated. He hoped his promptness would cut through General O'Neill's exasperation.

"Very good. Dismissed." O'Neill tore off the message from the President. Silar turned toward the door. "And Sergeant, next time, knock!"

"Yes sir." Silar went back to his station with a sigh of relief.

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Max was beside Liz. Tubes sprouted from his body. She tried to wake him up several times during the past hour with no luck. She reached for the phone on the nightstand.

"Isabel." She knew the Air Force was coming to get him at any moment.

"Liz, where are you?" Isabel asked. "Max is at the hospital."

"It's too late." Liz heard feet marching toward the hospital room. "The Air Force is here."

"What?" Isabel cried. "We're almost there."

"Leave! You can't do anything." Liz said as the doorknob turned. "They're here."

"Liz!" Isabel yelled as Liz hung up the phone.

The door flung open and several men and women came through pointing guns. Liz stood in front of Max's bed trying to protect him.

"Come here, miss." A black woman in uniform barked as she pointed the weapon at Liz.

Liz shook her head.

The guns clicked ominously. Liz maintained her stance. She wasn't going to allow the soldiers to hurt Max if she could help it.

"For crying out loud." An older man in uniform stood at the door. "Stand down!"

The soldiers jerked back in surprise. Liz looked at the older man. She had a strange feeling that she knew him from someplace.

"I'm General Jack O'Neill." O'Neill stated with a soothing tone. He was a little put out that the team went in like Rambo. There were enough injuries already and if Roswell aliens were as powerful as Khivar stated they could potentially cause more destruction if threaten. "Who are you?"

"I'm Liz Evans, Max's wife." Liz started in surprise. So this is what the original Jack looked like. She was kind of surprised he was so old. Jack seemed nearer their age not her parents'. "Why are you here?"

"We're concerned about aliens running around the US without a green card." O'Neill stated. "Especially ones that can blow up Air Force installations."

"Max would never..." Liz stopped deciding that it was better not to say anything further. Somehow she wanted to trust him like she trusted Jack but Jack had history with Max and the others. General O'Neill didn't.

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The van parked at a truck stop ten minutes from the hospital. Kyle and Isabel were sitting up front with Maria and Michael in the seats behind them.

"We should go to the hospital and break Liz and Max out." Michael demanded glaring at Isabel.

"Are you an idiot?" Isabel yelled at him, the stress of the situation was getting to her. "They could kill Max and Liz before we can get to them."

"We can't stay here." Maria said. "They'll block off all the roads."

"I can go in." Kyle tugged on his bloody shirt to emphasize. "I'll be one more train wreck survivor. I'll check to see where they're taking Max and Liz."

"It's dangerous, Kyle." Isabel turned toward Kyle. It was hard to believe that this was the same person that caused Max to be beaten up.

"I know." Kyle left the van and stood peering in the side window. "I'll meet up with you at Denton. Call my father, he may have some contacts that could help."

"I'll come with you." Maria opened the door.

"No!" Michael grabbed Maria's arm. "I won't allow it!"

"Michael, you're not my boss." Maria lifted her chin. Everybody in the car knew this meant an argument of epic proportions.

"Someone in the hospital might recognize you, Maria." Isabel restrained herself from knocking their two heads together. "Especially if you went to the hospital with Kyle." She held out her hand to Kyle. "Be careful! We'll meet at your father's new place, tomorrow."

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"Max and Liz Evans are being flown to the mountain as we speak." Carter stood in the middle of Max's old hospital room.

"Good! Are all the roads blocked?" O'Neill asked.

"No, most of sheriff and State police are working the train wreck." Carter answered. "It will take another 30 minutes for the our forces to block off the back roads."

"Damn!" O'Neill looked out the window seeing the hospital personnel and other multitude of injured being rushed in like the tide. "Bring more men to assist with the train wreck."

"Yes sir." Carter headed out the door.

"Make sure they keep and eye out for the rest of the 'Royal Four'." O'Neill said. He still looked out the windows. He seen so many battlefields but somehow this was worst though he couldn't say how.

"Yes sir." Carter closed the door behind her.

O'Neill debated whether he should stay or go back to Cheyenne Mountain. Before he could decide on a course of action he heard a commotion outside the door. O'Neill stepped out of the room.

"You're not allowed here." One of his men pointed a gun at the young man with his head wrapped in a bloody bandage.

"What's going on here, Bryant?" O'Neill questioned.

"General O'Neill, he was trying to enter the room." Bryant straightened up automatically.

"I'm looking for my wife." Kyle's voice quavered. His heart was pounding in his chest. He noticed the General's eyes looked like Jack's. "No one knows where's she is. Her name's Heather, Heather Gleick. She's 5'5'' dark hair and eyes."

"I'm sorry, son." O'Neill patted Kyle on the shoulder. "Have you checked down at the front desk?"

"I ... okay. I'll try again." Kyle started crying. He was a little surprised at the tears. He hardly knew Miss September. "Thank you." Kyle walked slowly towards the front lobby. He felt the eyes boring into his back. It was a dangerous maneuver but it paid off.

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Jack's two-bedroom apartment with a huge fireplace was an illusion of home. Bookshelves filled to overflowing with books, hand-made pottery and a framed poster of the Smallville Torch paper hung over the fireplace. Except for the picture of Isabel and him and the small picture of the SG-1 team in the early days, Jack had nothing personal in the apartment.

The three people that broke in could care less about the ambience of Jack's apartment. All they concentrated on was finding Jack. They searched room by room until they reached the main bedroom.

"He's not here!" Isabel whispered to Michael and Sheriff Valenti.

"Isabel." The overhead light came on flooding the bedroom with a bright light blinding the three people until their eyes adjusted.

Sheriff Valenti noticed a young boy with light brown hair and dark eyes standing at the entrance of the bedroom. When he realized how they all walked on by him without knowing it, he realized how dangerous the boy was.

Just as suddenly as the light being flicked on, Jack found himself slammed into the right wall of his bedroom.

"Where's Max?" Isabel cried banging Jack against the opposite wall.

"I don't know." Jack said after catching his breath.

"Why did you call us seventeen times over the last two days?" Michael growled barely restraining himself from using his powers.

"Don't know, felt something was wrong." Jack blushed. He was uncomfortable discussing something that he couldn't nail down. And the low-grade headache and the feeling something was wrong the past couple of days definitely fell into that category.

"You led Max and Liz into a trap." Valenti stated.

"What!" Jack asked. "What happened?"

"General O'Neill came and took Max and Liz from the hospital." Isabel's voice went up a few decibels.

"Max is a healer." Jack was reminded forcibly of being Ba'al's prisoner.

"There was a train accident." Valenti answered. "While the group was helping people, your people came and took Max and Liz."

"You betrayed us." Isabel threw him against the other wall.

"No! If I betrayed you then, one, all of you would be captured." Jack snapped getting tired of being tossed around like a rag doll. "Two, it certainly wouldn't be in a hospital where there is a risk of higher casualties. And three, I could have done it at any time since Virginia. Why pick a risky time when obviously we missed two-thirds of the group?"

"How could..." Michael began.

"The phone. I could trace your movements every time you called me." Jack stated. His face hard, the Colonel came out of hiding behind the boy. "It probably would be after the train accident was cleaned up when you all were exhausted mentally and physically. My team and I would have followed you to your hotel or campsite, wait a few hours for you to settle down for the night and catch you all unaware."

Jack slipped down the wall when Isabel released him from her mental grip. Jack put his hand on his dresser to steady himself.

"What are you doing?" Michael shouted. "Jack betrayed us."

"He's right." Valenti stepped in front of Michael. "If he planned this, catching you afterwards would have been the way to do it."

"Liz could have told us." Michael began but he fell silent. He realized with Max in a coma there was a good chance that Liz would be too worried and worn out to get her normal flashes of the future.

"What happened?" Jack walked over towards Isabel.

"How did the General O'Neill know about us?" Michael rubbed his tired eyes.

"I don't know. I didn't tell Jack anything." Jack turned to Isabel. "Max saved my life. I wouldn't betray him or you unless you became a threat to this world."

"Can you help us?" Isabel asked.

"Let's go into the other room." Jack led Isabel out the room. "Let me fix you some tea or coffee. I even have coffee ice cream. And you can give me a run down on what happened."

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O'Neill and SG-1 stood in the observation room while the doctors monitored Liz and Max in the hospital room below.

"We have to contact Khivar." Carter observed Liz tenderly holding Max's hand.

"Do we?" O'Neill responded.

"They are at war with the Goa'uld." Carter answered. "We have the person that can control the weapon."

"And it's a direct order from General Hammond." Daniel said.

"You're a find one to talk orders. Look at him. He's in a coma!" O'Neill gestured towards the unmoving figure lying on the bed. The white bedding made Max look even worst than he was if that was possible. "What do you think he can do!"

"The Antarians might be able to assist him." Teal'c pointed out.

"I doubt Khivar has Zan's best interest at heart." O'Neill and SG-1 stepped into the other room. "How is he?"

"No change." The doctor straightened up. "His brain waves are flat. It's possible he's brain dead."

Liz made a slight noise.

O'Neill and the SG-1 team glared at the spectacularly unsympathetic doctor. It was during these times that Janet was sorely missed. O'Neill turned to Liz his gaze softening. "Liz, isn't it?"

"Why don't you let us go." Liz said. "We haven't done anything wrong."

"Your husband is in a coma." Carter said in a gentle voice. "He is better off here. We have the best med..."

"He better off with his family." Liz interrupted. "You don't understand him. You don't understand us."

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, curious about the certainty in Liz's voice. "Has this happened before?"

"We're stronger together." Liz glared at them. "You'll find that out."

Teal'c's eyebrows raised at that statement.

"You're tired. Doctor, get another bed in here." O'Neill gestured to doctor and SG-1 to leave the room. "You haven't slept in over two days. Try to get some rest."

In that moment Liz, saw Jack in General O'Neill. Liz nodded trusting the General for now. Really she had no choice at the moment. But she knew that would change. The others were coming.

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Jack sat in the cafeteria surrounded by SG-1. He wished he never came back. He missed the SG-1 team more now in the midst of them than when he was alone at home.

"Congratulations on your award." Carter laughed at Jack, rubbing it in. "That one of NASA's highest awards for young scientists."

Jack scowled at Carter. "It's not funny!"

"Jack O'Neill, scientist." Daniel chimed in. "Who would have thought that underneath that military uniform beats the heart of a scientist."

"For crying out loud!" Jack said beneath his breath. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His foot kicked over his backpack. "I knew I shouldn't have accepted the award."

O'Neill stepped up to the table with his lunch. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to talk to you and Sam." Jack bent over to right his backpack as O'Neill set his lunch down.

"Well?" O'Neill asked.

"Dr. Trent wanted me to ask if we can use your radio telescope for our next science project." Jack popped a piece of cake in his mouth.

"Interesting." Daniel gave a quick grin. "Think anybody will answer?"

"Yeah, I hate telling them it's a waste of time." Jack said. "Most aren't worth talking to. Well, GENERAL O'Neill will you allow the baby geeks access?"

"Sure." O'Neill looked at Jack thoughtfully. O'Neill knew himself pretty well and Jack wasn't telling him everything. "Want to see my new office?"

"Sure." Jack said in an enthusiastic tone.

"We'll catch up." O'Neill said.

The rest of the team moved their heads between the two O'Neills like they were watching a tennis match. They knew neither O'Neill was the least bit interested in catching up. O'Neill was too weirded out by the whole teenage clone with his memories. And Jack still coveted the original's life.

"Can I go see Janet's..." Jack started, feeling guilty using Janet's death in this way. He knew with Max being in a coma, Liz and Max would be in one of the hospital rooms. "I want to say goodbye."

O'Neill observed Jack picking up the small light Janet insisted on flashing in his eyes during what he referred to as the 'Groundhog Day' mission.

Jack set down his backpack to play with the light. His smile was bittersweet. "Still have nightmares about this light. Like golfing with Teal'c though."

"Can't believe I got him to try it." O'Neill commented. In some ways it was unnerving how in tune they were even after two years.

"Ever tempted to use the Ancient's machine and go back. You know ... after Janet's death." Jack asked.

"You know the answer to that!" O'Neill bit out.

"Yeah, I know." Jack answered, placing the light back on the shelf. "She was the best of us."

"Sorry you weren't here." O'Neill moved to the door.

"No you're not." Jack laughed, following him to the hallway. "Shouldn't lie to yourself."

"You're not me." O'Neill felt exposed a common experience with a duplicate.

"It's only been two years, we don't change that fast." Jack walked into the observation room. "Remember when Janet found the cure to the Goa'uld virus even during a psychotic episode. Whoa ... recruiting a bit young, aren't you?"

"That's classified." O'Neill shoved Jack lightly through the door, angry at Jack's ability to get to him.

"Hey!" Jack cried out. "Jeez, I'm coming! I don't remember being such a bas..."

"As much as I loved strolling down memory lane, why are you here?" O'Neill interrupted Jack.

"It's about Virginia, I haven't told you everything." Jack started. He was going to say more when the alarm started sounding.

"Unscheduled Off World Activation." Both O'Neills took off down the hall toward the Stargate.

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"Lieutenant Torkel take Jack to Conference Room 7." O'Neill said to a gawky young man with a face that seemed to explode with freckles.

"Yes sir." Torkel squeaked thrilled at the honor of General O'Neill speaking to him.

"Spoilsport." Jack said at the same time.

"It's from Antar ." Silar said when Jack and Torkel left the room.

"Open the iris." O'Neill commanded. It was one of the many times in his career that O'Neill felt he shouldn't obey orders from a commanding officer.

Khivar came through the Stargate with soldiers. Larik was on the left of him and Sidonay on his right.

"We've heard you captured Zan." Khivar stated with barely contained glee.

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"I left my backpack in the infirmary."

"General O'Neill wants you at Conference Room 7." Torkel stated like it came from the mouth of God. His hand rested on the gun.

"Listen if you think I'm going to wait for heaven knows how long in that tiny room without my gameboy." Jack shook his head in disgust. "I'm sure his generalship will forgive a slight detour to pick up my BACKPACK before going to the conference room."

"Alright but don't touch anything else." Torkel said in a serious tone that slipped to the other side of pompous.

Jack was about to comment but thought better of it. After all, he got what he wanted, a chance to see Liz and Max again. Jack hoped to better look at Max so he could tell Isabel and the others how he was doing. He also wanted to talk to O'Neill about Liz and Max.

"It's in there." Jack opened the door. As Jack picked up his backpack, he heard Liz's scream.

Lieutenant Torkel pulled his gun and rushed out the door. Jack wasn't far behind him.

"Lieutenant Torkel stand down!" O'Neill commanded.

"What the hell!" Jack's jaw dropped, in disbelief, when he saw Isabel in between a couple of strangers. He almost called her name but realized immediately there was none of that connection between them.

"No!" Liz said struggling with two soldiers as several men rolled Max out of the room. She turned to Jack getting ready to ask for his help when Khivar interrupted before she began.

"We're going to take his wife." Khivar nodded to Sedoney. Sedoney grabbed Liz's arm.

"Not going to happen." General O'Neill did a nod of his own. The soldiers shifted the gun toward Khivar and the rest of the Antarians. "She is one of ours."

"O'Neill, you can't let Khivar take Max." Jack stepped forward. "He's special, a healer."

"We'll speak of this later." O'Neill bit out each word trying to cover his surprise that his clone knew Max and Liz. "Lieutenant, take Jack to the brig."

Jack reached out to comfort Liz. The stress caused Liz to lose control her power at the same time pulling Jack's power to her like an iron rod drawing electricity. Jack sagged against Max's bed. A light came from Jack and Liz striking everybody. They all dropped like a bunch of rag dolls.

"You killed them." Jack growled pushing himself up. He stepped unsteadily towards Carter and Teal'c.

"We need to save Max." Liz paled at the thought. She looked away from the bodies to Jack who glared at her. She shoved the bed rolling over Torkel's hand. Torkel moved his hand after the wheel rolled over it.

Jack felt Carter's neck. To his relief, he felt a strong pulse. He pulled back as he saw the people on the floor moving sluggishly. The adrenaline kicked in steadying him.

"Please Jack, help us. Max healed you." Liz begged. "You could have died."

Jack hesitated, looking at the unconscious bodies. He knew Max, Michael and Isabel had incredible power. What he realized in that brief instant of time when Liz touched him that the Roswell aliens can change normal human beings. Maybe even give human evolution a shove. What a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands!

Jack flinched as Liz reached out to touch him. Liz jerked back her hand. Jack studied Liz's face then nodded suddenly. Jack pulled General O'Neill's ID and walked over to one of the terminals in the room. He waved the ID over the scanner of a piece of equipment. It lit up. Jack then typed a few numbers and symbols into the system.

"Lockdown in fifteen minutes, Wildfire Directive." The intercom blasted the information throughout the base.

The sirens started wailing. Jack went back to Max and unplugged him. Jack lifted him in a fireman's hold. "Come on."

Liz breathed a sigh of relief as she followed Jack down the corridors stopping when he stopped moving when he moved. He came to a side door and opened it up. He used the ID again typing in another code. "Really O'Neill you should try to think of another password." He said to himself. Liz looked up and saw a ladder leading toward the surface. "We need to climb up ten stories in ten minutes. Or we will be locked in with them."

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"What happened?" General O'Neill walked into the conference room. After a lot of grief, he finally persuaded the Antarians that it would be best that they go back through the Stargate. "How did Liz knock us out?"

"That isn't the question." Carter stated replaying the security tape. Teal'c, Daniel and O'Neill watched tape. O'Neill leaned forward as a bright light appeared from Liz and Jack. "Look again." The screen showed Jack sagging forward just before the light appeared.

"She didn't do it alone." Daniel responded. "Jack helped."

"Not willingly, Danieljackson." Teal'c noticed a look of horror on the young boy's face as he bent over the still form of Colonel Carter.

"Why did he help her then?" Carter confused and a bit hurt that Jack would side against the SGC. "He betrayed us. She couldn't have escaped without him."

"No, Jack would never betray us." Daniel frowned thoughtfully. "He knew Liz and Max and more than that what Max could do. Another thing, Liz and Jack are human and look at the power they have. Maybe the hybrids can influenced human development."

"I don't think that's possible." Carter stated.

"Then how do you explain what she did?" O'Neill asked. "By the way, exactly what did she do?"

"The doctors could only say that all of us went into a REM sleep pattern." Carter answered still a little hurt by Jack's choice.

"Similar to what the ancient woman did in Antarctica." Teal'c said in a neutral tone.

"Yes." O'Neill reflected back to the little field trip to Antarctica. Pulling his mind away from the virulent plague he and Carter caught. "Okay. So far the NID and the Air Force are going to be on the look out for them. Until they find them, we must wait."

"For what?" Carter looked at General O'Neill. Almost everybody they met except the Asgards continually underestimated General O'Neill's intelligence. After the first time she never made that mistake again.

"For Jack to contact us." O'Neill answered. "He is trying to form an alliance with ... what did Khivar call them ... the Royal Four."

"That makes sense." Daniel remembered Jack's hesitation on the security tape. And knowing O'Neill the way he did, that is exactly what Jack was doing.

"An alliance with beings that powerful will be a help with our war against the Goa'uld." Teal'c said. The rest of SG-1 nodded. They all hoped Jack would be able to contact them soon.

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Kyle climbed into the back seat next to Jack while his father took the wheel. Everybody was quiet Liz and Isabel sat on either side of Max awake but with their eyes closed. Max's head lay on Liz's shoulder. Michael and Maria fell asleep finally, curled up together.

Everybody wanted to form the circle but couldn't risk it under the circumstances. The Air Force was looking for them they had to drive a bit further before they could risk it.

Kyle glanced over at Jack. He caught Jack's reflection on the window of the van. He wore that exact expression when he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he would never have a normal life. Jack caught his eye and turned to him and nodded. Kyle nodded back and turned his head back to the road. Kyle didn't know what the future would hold beyond the fact that they would heal Max and continue on their journey with one more person along for the ride.

THE END