I'm truly toucheed by all your reviews ;)
I'm sorry for the delay but I've been busy at work. As I'm pretty tired, I sincerely apologize now for the mistakes in the following chapter. I'll read it again tomorrow with fresh eyes.
Chapter 38 - Plan A or Plan B?
The members at the table held their breath , for fear of breaking the magic between the two senior officers.
Sam would have blushed to have been caught detailing her CO, but she stared into his eyes . However, as Jack hadn't found trace of challenge in her eyes - because looking a General that way might be very serious - he didn't look away . The silent exchange was really intense, a whole range of feelings went through their linked eyes .
Time seemed suspended, as if it had paused . This privacy bubble was smashed to pieces when the alarm sounded.
"Non scheduled off-world activation ! "
SG1 instinctively looked towards the door , while Janet gathered her papers. Neither Jack nor Sam seemed aware of have being observed by their friends.
Jack went down in the control room , followed by Sam. The other stayed in the briefing room .
"It was ..." Daniel began .
"Strange" Charles said .
"Predictable " Teal'c said .
" Intense" Janet added and all exchanged glances.
"I could almost see her make love to him" Daniel admitted , as the exchange was intimate , almost erotic.
Jacob Carter walked through the wormhole and hugged Sam as soon as he had the opportunity . He went to the briefing room to join Jack, who had anticipated the movement.
"Guys, I don't know if you're aware of the sword of Damocles that is above your heads" Jacob said, once seated .
Everyone winced .
"If you want to talk about infectious diseases and biological attacks we suffer , then yes" Jack said, without smiling.
Jacob looked surprised but nodded slightly . Selmak spoke.
"I managed to convince the Tok'ra High Council to inform you that the threat is real and serious. Ba'al really wants to find a way to destroy you . "
"What a kindness , remember to thank them for us! " Daniel pointed out .
Selmak turned his head towards him before answering : "Do not fool yourself , Dr. Jackson. The High Council also sees its interest. If Ba'al exterminate humans - Tau'ri or not - we will encounter some - let's say, technical issues. "
Everyone raised an eyebrow , except Sam, who clarified : "Less humans , means fewer hosts. But it don't make sense, Ba'al also needs humans. "
"That's where the shoe pinches, Colonel Carter. Ba'al conducts research to vaccinate more submissive populations, to keep hosts and almost inexhaustible sources of slaves."
Sam frowned as a thought crossed her mind.
"Are you familiar with P3X-367 ? " Sam asked.
Jack quickly bowed his head to the left and then put it back before answering "I don't think so. "
"Which territory? " Daniel asked .
"Formerly Nirrti . "
"Nirrti ! As the Goa'uld from Hanka ? "
"Yes. In my world, we have hunted her since she had left Cassandra as the unique survivor of the genocide on her planet. Then, she infiltrated the SGC to try to analyze some experiences on Cassie. Later, we found her on P3X-367 - with Jonas Quinn. She was running some DNA tests on the local population. "
This memory didn't seem familiar to her teammates - except Charles, who already knew the story .
"And you think Nirrti may have helped Ba'al ? " Daniel asked , pushing his glasses further up his nose.
"Helped or he was inspired by her work . "
"Colonel Carter, do you know the addresses ? " Selmak asked .
"I think I will never forget ! "
Charles knew why but her answer remained obscure to others, yet no one dared to ask questions. Jack made a mental note to talk to her .
"Wait , before going on Goa'uld hunt , I would like us to stay calm. We should provide a plan. "
"The General's right, once we would have activated the door , we will lose our surprise if Ba'al is indeed installed in Nirrti's former lab" Sam explained.
"But we don't know if that's the case" Jacob said.
"It's true , we don't know. But if that's the case, I prefer he wouldn't have the chance to protect the site" Jack said.
The group took some time to draw up a plan, with the help of Sam's knowledge. She had downloaded her detailed report - with pictures and maps - and showed it on the overhead projector. She hadn't shown every detail, preventing Jack to read it completely - and to understand the sentence she had made earlier .