Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG1 or any of its characters.

Chapter 10

Jack resisted the urge to stand up and kill the man but knowing now wasn't the time he resisted. He'd kill him later though. If it hadn't been obvious before, it was obvious now, Tempson and Emani had got their psychotic nature from their father. How dare he tell them he was going to kill one of them and make them decide who it would be. Jack was about to stand up and declare it should be him when Valeran spoke again.

"Dr Fraiser" Daniel's breath caught in his throat and Janet suddenly looked almost as pale as she had done when she'd been ill.

"Stand up, step forward"

Janet hesitantly did as she was told and to her credit showed very little of the fear they all knew she was feeling.

"I see you're feeling much better, obviously you received the cure for the chemical you were apparently exposed to. I won't bother asking who you got it from" Valeran said with a menacing smile "The cure was obviously stolen and given to you and since your friends seem incapable of deciding who shall die, perhaps I should just choose for them"

Daniel stood up and Jack already knew what he was going to say so he beet him to it "We choose me" Jack said and Sam's head shot up but he didn't look at her.

"It is too late now Colonel, I choose you Dr Frasier" Valeran said as he pointed his weapon at her.

"No!" Daniel shouted and made a move toward Janet only to be have several weapons pointed at him.

"Daniel don't" Janet said calmly, she hadn't even flinched when Valeran chose her and pointed his weapon at her.

"It seems your friends care about you a great deal Doctor and make no mistake I am going to kill you but not yet. On your knees" Valeran ordered and when Janet didn't move one of his men walked up behind her and kicked the back of her legs forcing her to her knees. "I lost my son and my daughter, your death alone will not make up for that. So before I kill you we must choose one of your friends to die with you. The rest will be forced to watch those they care about die and then I will decide whether to kill them when I feel they have suffered or let them live and continue to suffer from their loss. So Doctor, you choose who will die with you"

"I can't" Janet said

"If you do not choose I will kill them all"

Janet fought back her tears and succeeded in not showing the effect this was having on her. How could she choose which of her friends would die and which would have to live with her choice. It was then that a thought hit her, he wouldn't kill them all, he wanted them to suffer as he was suffering. If they were all dead there would be no one left to do that. This was just his way of torturing them more.

"I won't choose" she declared and prayed that she was right.

"Very well, I was never going to kill them all anyway, that would ruin my plans"

"You won't get away with this" Jack stated angrily.

"With all these hostages, I'll get away with whatever I want. Now then Colonel, since you were so kind as to offer yourself up for death, I think I may accept your offer. Step forward"

Jack felt Sam's gaze and turned to look at her where she still sat on the floor next to Teal'c. His eyes caught with hers for a moment and sent her a silent message before he turned and stepped forward, moving up next to Janet he joined her on his knees. He looked at her and sent her the same silent message he had sent Sam and hoped they both understood.

"Now you die" Valeran said as he aimed his weapon at them.

TBC