Sam was flying to the last known coordinates of the Prometheus. She hoped if she found them they wouldn't shoot her down before she had a chance to contact them. She didn't even know if Daniel would even be on board to translate her message. She thought she had to take the chance if it meant warning them of the oncoming invasion and saving Vala and the rest of the alliance teams.
"Notify Gen O'Neill and Col Mitchell, said the Captain. There's a ship hailing us in Gou'ald. It keeps repeating the same message over and over. See if you can notify Dr. Jackson also. Maybe he can translate what the ship is signaling."
"Jack, Mitchell, Teal'c and Daniel all arrived in the command center at the same time. Teal'c they picked up on the way since Daniel informed him that it was a Goau'ld ship. Daniel wondered why a Goau'ld ship would even exist out in this part of the galaxy, let alone trying to contact them. A large part of the ships had been dismantled or kept at Area 51 after all their technology had been studied and dismantled.
"Captain, what's the status of the Goau'ld ship? Asked Jack.
"It's keeping a safe distance from our ships. It keeps signaling the same message and we don't know if it's friendly or hostile." Stated the Capt.
"Daniel can you translate the message they're sending? Said Mitchell.
"Let me check. Let's see it states, uh, wait, it's SAM! It's Sam Jack."
"How do you know? Said Jack.
"Sam and I were working on a pet project back at SGC and she's the only one who knew what it was. No mistake, its Sam and maybe Vala too. Here; let me signal her that it's ok to dock."
"Hold it Dr. Jackson. I can't afford to have her board and not know if she and Vala have been contaminated or not. They could be under hostile control and know everything Col Carter knows. Said the Captain.
"The commander is right Daniel, said Jack. "If it is Sam and Vala, they may have been contaminated, and under the parasites control. Some of the people that returned had to be quarantined first."
"I suggest we beam them to a cell directly and then have both examined, otherwise they're under suspicion like everyone else."
"Captain there's an urgent transmission from a Mr. Whitted for Gen O'Neill.
"That idi- uh, that's fine I'll take it in the conference room. Said Jack. Mitchell, you Daniel and Teal'c go meet Sam and possibly Vala and make sure there is no contamination." Jack was thinking that Sam had survived, but if she was contaminated things may be complicated.
Whitted didn't like to be kept in the dark especially knowing that Gen O'Neill didn't like to share information with the likes of NID. Whitted had petitioned the President to be closer to the mission to supervise if anything went wrong. The President contacted Gen Landry and he reluctantly agreed. However the mission was still under Gen O'Neill's command no matter how Whitted argued that he was incompetent.
"Gen O'Neill, I'm on my way to the Prometheus. Gen Landry has been ordered by the President to authorize my supervision on board. I'm sure he will be contacting you soon. I hope you understand I want your full cooperation." Said Whitted.
Jack cringed at Whitted being on board. He had enough problems to deal with, now Whitted just added to his headache.
"I understand that the President would want us to work together Whitted, so you'll have my full cooperation as long as you stay out of my way." Said Jack.
"So that we understand one another Gen O'Neill. I know I can't replace you, but I can take charge if necessary; and if I deem necessary for the completion of this mission I will and I have full authority from the President." Said Whitted.
"If you're finished Whitted. I have work to do and people to see, said Jack. So if that's all, then we have a mission to complete."
Sam was in a holding cell by herself and the infirmary personnel had been notified to meet Col Mitchell, Daniel and Teal'c at the cell. When they reached the cell Sam's friends were elated to see her, but they were disappointed not to see Vala too. The infirmary Doctor had scanned Sam thoroughly and cleared Sam for contamination and released her again for duty.
"Sam, said Mitchell where have you been? Where's Vala? Are you hurt, you need anything?"
"Col Mitchell, I believe Col Carter is trying to answer your questions. Said Teal'c.
Sam smiled at her friends concern for her and Vala, but she hated to tell them what happened, especially Daniel. Suddenly Jack appeared through the doorway and professionally welcomed Sam back.
"Col Carter where so glad your safe. I'm sure you have a small debriefing for us." Said Jack.
Thank God, Sam you're alright. We need to talk when this is all over. I promise.
"Yes Sir, thank you sir." Sam hesitated to gather her thoughts. She wanted them to know everything. "Vala was captured. She's being held as host by the Goau'ld host Quetesh and her mate is Ra."
"WHAT? back up; What did you say?" Said Mitchell and Daniel at the same time. Jack could see how Sam was subtly upset about Vala being captured.
"Ra and Quetesh are back and Vala is being used as an incubator for their larvae. I had to infiltrate their slaves and find out the Goua'ld actually still exist. I don't know how Sir, but I've seen it with my own eyes. It's like the re incarnation of our worst enemy and he's planning an attack with a Goau'ld Armada too, Sir." Said Sam.
Sam could see that all of them had questions and Daniel had sat down abruptly after hearing Vala had been captured and host to Quetesh once again.
"But how Sam? Asked Daniel. Quetesh was killed Vala said, when the symbiote was removed and Ra, how could that be, he was destroyed. We seen this over years ago."
Teal'c's face had been the most stone face of all. Hearing the that the ultimate System Lord was still alive may mean enslavement for the Jaffa people and he did not want history to repeat itself. Jack was taking all this information in. To him Whitted jeopardized his people's lives and he believed now why Whitted was on his way to join the Prometheus. Jack had contacted his Washington D.C. contacts and he was told in no uncertain terms trust Whitted. That's all his contacts could say without compromising their positions and careers.
"Daniel, didn't you say that there may have been twins of the Goau'ld host? Said Jack. "Could they have somehow cloned themselves in case the originals were destroyed like the Replicators?"
"That's one theory, I don't know, said Daniel. All the information we have is what Sam's said happened to Vala. Unless we go down there on the planet, we won't know."
"I- we have to save Vala General. Sh- she wanted me to kill her General. She would have rather died then be held as host again." Sam paused remembering Vala's pleas for death than live being controlled.
"I made a promise guys. We don't leave anyone behind and I saw what they did to Vala in the incubation room. They plan on using her as their Queen to incubate those little monsters and make rise of new system lords to Ra. I saw her face…….the shear horror of being taken over again…………I had to make a decision to get help to save Vala and leave her behind. I swear to all of you; I'm not leaving Vala behind to that fate."
All of them could see that Sam was disappointed with herself for leaving Vala. Sam and Vala had become close girl friends and for Sam to leave Vala must have been the hardest thing to do as a friend and team member. Jack saw the turmoil in Sam's eyes and it hurt him to see Sam so distressed. They were all family and Jack protected his family without question.
Jack walked over and put both his hands on Sam's shoulders. "We are going to get Vala back no matter what. All of us know the risk we take and that one of us are all of us may never come back. But I – we promise you Sam. No matter what happens, we are going to rescue Vala."
