Author's Note:
I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to post this next chapter. I hope there are still some readers out there, interested in this story! RL issues, the holidays, the freezing cold (even for Michigan) and the fact that my Muse took off for warmer parts, all add up to this delay. But here it is Finally and I hope you enjoy it! I don't want to jinx anything by saying this, but I am well through writing chapter 40, the final chapter. Plus, I have been asked to write an epilogue after that, looking at the future of our heroes. Hope to post all of that very soon.
Thanks for your patience and enjoy the story! ~jane
Stargazers/Stargaters Part 39
Two days after Isabel reported her dream-walk conversation with Ska'ra, Jacob Carter came through the Earth Stargate and was greeted by his old friend, George Hammond.
"Jacob, good to see you."
"You too, George." Jacob replied, shaking his friend's hand heartily.
"Thanks for coming to the SGC for a change. Everything's been so Antar-based lately, I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a different venue for this meeting. After all a large portion of this mission will be carried out by SGC personnel..."
"Sounds fair, George. Am I the last to arrive?" Jacob asked.
"Yes, but only by fifteen minutes. Everyone's up in the briefing room; come on." General Hammond let the way up the stairs.
There was quite a group gathered in the briefing room when the two older men arrived. The SGC members all stood as their CO came in, but Hammond quickly motioned them to sit down again. Besides SG1 and Sha're Jackson, Major Paul Davis from the Pentagon was there as well. Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans, Tess Harding and Dr. Ebron were the Antarian representatives.
"Let's get down to business." Hammond ordered after everyone was seated. "Jacob, what does the Tok'ra Council have to say about the mission proposed by Princess Isabel and Ska'ra of Abydos?"
"They are cautiously optimistic." Jacob said and then allowed Selmak to take over.
"We have Tok'ra operatives in position within eight of the queens' fortresses and they will send all the Intel they can within the next day or two."
"What about the other four queens? Can they get us any Intel on them?" Jack asked.
"Now that we have their locations we are trying to insert someone into each of those strongholds, but moving so quickly is very hazardous." Selmak reminded them in her deep, serious voice.
"We want Intel, not dead bodies." Hammond agreed. "Major Davis, you have a report from the Pentagon?"
"Yes sir, General." Paul Davis replied, opening up a file folder. "Of course the Joint Chiefs are excited about the possibility of our eliminating the future threat these Goa'uld queens represent, but they also...uh...respectfully remind the General that capturing one or more of these creatures alive could be of great scientific value...the information we might be able to glean from them..."
"Need I remind the General how dangerous one of those queens; Hathor, was to this base? Within a matter of hours she had almost all of our personnel here under her drug-induced influence for Pete's sake!" Jack exclaimed, rubbing his abdomen subconsciously.
"No, I remember with perfect clarity how dangerous that...um...lady was to this base, Colonel." General Hammond replied, wincing slightly at this own memories of the Goa'uld queen, Hathor.
"So we use fully female personnel to interrogate them." Major Davis suggested. He had not been at the SGC during the Hathor incident, but he had read all of the reports.
"That might work, but the queens may also have the mind-control drug Seth used...and it worked on both sexes." Jacob reminded them. "And even though we know how to neutralize the drug, we can't afford to underestimate these Goa'uld."
"Besides, the queens' value isn't in what technology we could get out of them; it's their value to the other Goa'uld which is most important." Daniel spoke up out of the blue.
"What do you mean, Daniel?" Michael asked. "I thought the whole idea was to simply kill these queens and presto...no more future Goa'uld."
"They will have to be...um...eliminated eventually, but in the meantime, I'm with Jack; the queens are too dangerous to try and interrogate...or...or...torture information out of...and besides, if the System Lords find out we have them...that will only make them attack Earth...enmasse."
"Then what are you proposing we do with them, Dr. Jackson?" Major Davis asked.
"We stick them somewhere safe, but Not on Earth...and then make it look as if they've been abducted by rival Goa'uld. We've been trying to think of different catalysts to get the snakes fighting amongst themselves...what better way to light their fuse than to make them all think that their bitter rivals have stolen the queen they are allied with?"
"They will just order their Jaffa to fight one another, DanielJackson." Teal'c remarked.
"We'll need to escalate our plans to draw the Jaffa away from their masters. We need a way to prove to them that the Goa'uld they serve are Not gods...but only parasites." Daniel replied.
"That's going to take time, Daniel, Teal'c and it sounds as if we need to move against the queens ASAP; before Apophis makes his move." Jack argued.
"Um, I was just wondering..." Daniel said after a moment of thought. "Have any of you tried mind-warping the Jaffa into believing that their Goa'uld masters are ordering them out of their service...dismissing them...or even telling the Jaffa that they Are just slimy parasites?"
There was silence as everyone glanced in shock back and forth around the group.
"We've been showing scenes to the Jaffa of their master's acting stupidly, insanely...un-god like...but we never thought of actually having the Goa'uld "tell" the Jaffa the truth. That is an excellent suggestion, Dr. Jackson! We will implement it as soon as we can." Tess exclaimed excitedly.
"You must phrase your mind-warp most carefully, Lady Tess." Teal'c replied gravely. "Jaffa know very well that the Goa'uld are slimy, snake-like creatures, as you say. It would be best to concentrate on having their masters order them to stand down from fighting and to leave their service."
"You know, I've never understood that, T. Why do Jaffa believe that a bunch of slimy snakes are gods? Especially since they have to carry immature Goa'uld in their pouches; nurture and protect them." Jack asked.
"It is what we are taught all of our lives, O'Neill. The Goa'uld control whole planets on which the entire population are Jaffa, sworn to their service. As it was on my home world of Chulak, so it is elsewhere. Parents are expected to present their offspring to their god and allow them to be implanted with their first primpta, an immature Goa'uld. Once the children grow up, even if they do not believe a Goa'uld is a god, it is too late for them to get rid of their symbiote; their systems are dependent on having one and if they lose it, they will die a most painful death and bring dishonor to their family."
"I imagine finding a Jaffa who could think for himself by the age of maturity would be almost impossible to find." Daniel said nodding. "Your family, your teachers, your entire world is based on following and serving that Goa'uld. And you're honored and promoted, or dishonored and punished by how well you serve that false-god."
"Indeed, you are correct, DanielJackson." Teal'c replied.
"So we implant the idea that a Jaffa's master is ordering them to stand down from fighting for him." Tess clarified. "And send them to the nearest planet where our physicians are set up to remove the immature Goa'uld and restart their immune systems."
"Can it possibly be that easy?" Dr. Ebron asked.
"If it works, this plan will be much easier than anything else we've come up with." Michael said thoughtfully.
"But even so, it will be an enormous feat, to contact the millions of Jaffa out there and break through a lifetime of brainwashing." Isabel said.
"Especially in the short period of time we have before we need to move against the Goa'uld queens." Jack added.
"Then if there are no more questions, let's get to work, people; you have a go." General Hammond said and everyone stood to leave.
~*~ Several weeks later ~*~
Liz rushed into hers and Max's bedroom to quickly change her clothes. She had been Earth-side for two long and lonely days, working in her lab at the SGC and had only just returned to Antar with thirty minutes to spare before her meeting with Valaria, her soon-to-be mother-in-law, was scheduled. As she wiggled out of the comfortable black T-shirt and green fatigue-pants she had been wearing under her lab coat, Max opened the door to their adjoining bathroom and leaned against the jamb to enjoy the unexpected but highly enjoyable view. Liz gave a tiny squeak of surprise as she finished pulling the shirt over her head and saw him standing there before her. Max's grin widened but he remained where he was, running his eyes up and down her petite figure.
"I didn't know you were home, Max. I didn't even sense that you were in the bathroom." Liz told him as she returned his hot gazed while tossing her T-shirt aside. "Happy to see me?" She asked in her soft, slightly husky voice which Max loved to hear.
"Ohhh yeah, I'm always happy to see you, Love, but especially after these last long and lonely two days...and nights." Max replied. "And I think you were in a hurry when you came running into the room, maybe that's why you didn't sense me."
"In a hurry?" Liz asked distractedly as she fantasized about what Max looked like under those clothes he was wearing.
"Yes, it sounded as though you were in a hurry..." Max repeated and it was as if a bucket of ice-water had been splashed all over Liz.
"Your mother! I have another meeting with your mother. What time is it? Oh man, I'm going to be late! Where's my...there it is." Liz muttered to herself as she pulled a peach-colored dress off of its hanger and quickly pulled it on over her head. I'm sorry we can't spend some time together this afternoon, Max, but your mother..." Liz rushed over to where he stood, tip-toed up to kiss him and then made as if to rush out the bedroom door, except that Max took firm hold of her shoulders.
"You know Liz...I think you're beautiful no matter what you wear, but I don't think that Valaria will believe for a minute that your peach dress was designed to be worn over those olive-green pants." Max somehow said all of this with a straight face but then broke out into another grin as he let Liz go and she looked down at herself.
"Oh man!" Liz exclaimed as she whirled away from Max, drew up the hem of her dress and then yanked off the pants...giving her fiancé a lovely if quick view of her silk-covered bottom...before the dress hem fell back down over her legs and Liz scrambled back to her closet to find some shoes.
"I guess the pre-wedding nerves are finally starting to take effect...it's just that there is so much going on right now...what with capturing the Goa'uld queens and freeing all those Jaffa and the word should come any day now to begin phase three...and these last meetings-classes with your mother about how to be a proper queen and it's only ten days until Our Wedding...Liz threw up her hands into the air and then just plopped herself down onto the floor; her skirt flowing out around her like petals on a flower.
"Liz!" Max strode forward to kneel down beside her. "Honey, it'll be okay; everything's going pretty smoothly so far...How about this...I have a meeting with SG-1 and the others in just a little while, but I figure that it'll be over just about the same time your meeting with Valaria will conclude. I'll ask the others to clear out for a while...we'll come back here, I'll draw you a nice hot bubble-bath and then grill some steaks while you soak for a while. We'll just have a nice, quiet evening together and then you can get a good, long rest tonight, replenish your energies...how does that sound?" Max asked as he gently stroked his hands through her silky brown hair.
"That sounds...marvelous!" Liz sighed as she leaned back against her soul-mate for a few moments and then moved to stand up with his help. "Thank you Max." Liz glanced up into his love-filled amber eyes, gently ran her fingertips down the side of his jaw and then tip-toes up to sweetly kiss him on his lips. "You take such good care of me..." She sighed as they hugged for a moment, but then drew away reluctantly. "I'd...better...get going..." She said, slowly turning away from him.
"I'll walk you out." Max replied, not letting go of the small hand he had taken hold of as they walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
~*~
The meetings, or classes between Liz and Antar's Queen Mother had started out months ago as formal instruction on all of the minutia involved in becoming and being a queen, but they had relaxed a bit into more enjoyable afternoons drinking tarva, a tea-like beverage and sharing stories about Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess' childhoods, on Antar as well as on Earth. But before the story telling there were always quick reviews on all that Liz had learned; Antarian customs, laws, language, interplanetary treaties and trading agreements...and then they would cover the wedding arrangements or Valaria would continue drinking tarva while Liz endured yet another dress fitting. But as the weeks had sped by, the instructions and reviews grew shorter, more easy and the time for chatting back and forth grew longer. And while Liz knew that Valaria would never come close to feeling like a mother to her, they were becoming rather good friends towards one another.
~*~
After Max left Liz to walk the last few yards to Valaria's home on her own, he tried to block the romantic plans he had made for the two of them, for that night, out of his mind; the meeting that day was an important one and he would need all of his concentration on the agenda; phase three of their plan.
There would be a large number of people at this meeting and so it was to be held in the largest conference room the training center, which had been completed some weeks before, had to offer. Isabelle, Tess and their best dream-walkers and mind-warpers, SG-1, Sha're Jackson, Jacob Carter and several other Tok'ra and finally, Janet Fraser and her Antarian counterpart, Ebron were all to attend. As everyone took a seat; the key personnel around the large table and the rest in raised seats right behind the others, Max thought back over the last several weeks since they had been given the go-ahead by the U.S. President to begin this operation.
Every dream-walker and mind-warper they had, had been working themselves around the clock and into exhaustion, to contact as many Jaffa as possible and convince them turn away from their Goa'uld masters. They had used several different techniques, whichever worked best on each individual Jaffa; giving them repeated nightmares, showing the atrocities carried out on orders from a Goa'uld, as they tried to meditate in kel-no-ream...give them visions of their masters acting stupidly, becoming uncertain in their decisions, acting most un-god-like...and where they could, the Antarian tormentors forced the Goa'uld to act foolishly, clown-like in front of their most loyal Jaffa...But the best technique by far was to show the Goa'uld ordering each Jaffa to leave their service, as they meditated or dreamed. For the snakes to admit what pathetic and evil parasites they really were. Millions of Jaffa, especially those on board ships without a Goa'uld among them, abandoned their duties, their way of life...their gods and flocked to the nearest planet in droves, where Antarian medical teams were waiting for them.
Once their primta had been removed and destroyed and their immune systems were working again, the Jaffa were counseled and reconditioned by SGC personnel until they could all see the errors in their way of life. Al but a few Jaffa vowed to return to their home planets, to spread the word, send their friends and families to the Antarians and Tau'ri for help and set out to destroy the temples and tanks filled with immature Goa'uld in them. Only the most fervent of the Jaffa; those who had secretly held doubts about the godhood of the Goa'uld before all of this happened, volunteered to return to their Goa'uld masters...and kill them. System Lords and minor Goa'uld were falling from power all over the galaxy, but there were still many more powerful and well-guarded snakes out there and they would not be destroyed so easily, especially after word of what was happening to other Goa'uld, reached them.
Among these well-protected Goa'uld were the eight queens...and Apophis. Four of the twelve-known queen Goa'uld had amazingly already been destroyed by their own Jaffa slaves. But now it was time to capture the last eight and set the most important part of their plan into action.
After the key participants each gave brief reports to bring everyone up to speed, Jacob carter motioned to Max that he wished to speak.
"I've had word from our Tok'ra operatives hidden within Apophis' court that he is finally ready to move against the Goa'uld queens. We've been lucky that his preparations have taken this long, so that we could reach as many Jaffa as we have...and that four of the twelve queens have already been killed by their own slaves, but our time is quickly running out. If we are going to attempt to capture the queens, we must move now!"
"Calm down Jacob, we've only been waiting for word from you." Jack told his friend; half-teasing, half-serious, before continuing. "Okay, teams two through eight need to be gathered together and meet in the Stargate Chamber. The success of Operation Queen Bee hangs on all of our teams attacking at the same time, so that there's no chance for any warning to be leaked before we can all strike."
"I'm contacting everyone now." Tess spoke up.
Sg-1 was team one, of course and the other teams were made up of Stargate personnel and Antarians; some of which were not attending that meeting.
As everyone rose from their seats and began to leave, Max smiled to himself as he noticed Jack and Sam's hands clasp together and Daniel tighten his hold around Sha're's slim shoulders. He bet he already knew what each couple was quietly discussing amongst themselves as they left the conference room. Jack and Sam, ever the well-trained warriors, were going over their plans for capturing the Goa'uld queen, Basset; Apophis' ally and Max knew that Daniel was busy trying to convince his beloved wife that she could not come with SG-1 on their mission. Indeed, Sha're was only waiting until they had reached their room in the Royal Manor, listening to all of her husband's arguments about why she could not go, before stopping his words with a gently finger placed against his lips.
"Dan'yel, I understand everything that you are telling me, but do you not understand that I have all of those same worries too...about you? My love for you is what made it possible for me to fight my demon and Apophis all those years. My love for you is what helps me to make a new life for us on these two strange planets, instead of on Abydos. And it is my love for you which makes me dread the thought of losing you now that we are finally back together...especially if I must only stay behind and wait for your return.
"Dan'yel, Apophis sent my demon to Basset's fortress twice; I know my way around it. And I can still use the Goa'uld hand-device as well as the pistols you and Sam have taught me how to shoot. Please my husband, let me come with you so that I may...what is the word? Exorcise the memory of my demon from me forever."
"And maybe get some revenge on Apophis at the same time?" Daniel asked in an understanding tone.
"YES!" Sha're cried out adamantly. "I want to hurt him like he hurt me...as he has hurt you..."
"I don't know what Jack'll say about you coming along, Sweetheart." Daniel warned as his determination began to soften.
"Tell him that I can...as he says...watch your back." Sha're replied hopefully.
"Okay, okay..." Daniel agreed as he gathered her into his arms. "I'll ask Jack, but you must promise...promise me that you'll be careful...that you won't take any chances..."
"I will, if you will, my husband." Sha're replied smiling.
"You know me so well...I love that about you. Sha're I love you so much." Daniel murmured desperately before locking his lips onto hers for one, long, passionate kiss before finally pulling away and leaving her to go and find Jack.
Nearly one hour later, the eight teams, the Royal Four and Jacob Carter all met up in the Stargate Chamber and the first address was already being entered into the alien device. The teams would be sent through to their assigned destinations in order of which one had the most distance to travel from Stargate to Goa'uld stronghold, so that hopefully, the eight teams would reach their goals at the same time. The Tok'ra had managed to insert one of their operatives into each court and received valuable Intel from each of them on the eight remaining queens; their strengths, their weaknesses. Also, the Tok'ra had developed an isotope which when injected, would make each team invisible to advanced Goa'uld security sensors, which several of the queens used to protect their citadels from sneak-attacks. And finally, on this mission all of the teams were carrying staff-weapons and/or zats, with only hand-guns for emergency back-up.
Finally it was time for SG-1 to step through, but first they threw a Goa'uld sound-grenade into the worm-hole, to knock out any Jaffa who might be guarding the Gate on the other side. So when the five of them stepped through on the other side, Jaffa, wearing cat-head shaped helmets were lying unconscious all around the chamber.
"Yes...it's great to be able to use Goa'uld weapons against the snakes themselves." Jack muttered just loud enough for his team to hear him as he inventoried the room.
"They will not remain unconscious for long, O'Neill." Teal'c reminded his commander and friend.
"Yeah, let's get to work and then get out of here." Jack replied.
Not wishing to call attention to themselves, the five team members moved to drag the Jaffa across the floor until they were all leaning up against the wall of the chamber, their staff-weapons still loosely held within their hands. The hope was that the Jaffa...or their superiors, would jump to the conclusion that that Goa'uld soldiers had all fallen asleep at their posts, rather than that they had been attacked by an invading party coming through the Stargate; especially when that band of invaders would prove to be invisible to the security sensors.
"Okay, let's go and find our queen bee." Jack ordered and the rest of them followed him out of the chamber.
The best case scenario would be for them to find the Goa'uld queen, Basset, knock her out and escape; carrying her with them back through the Stargate. And the icing on the cake would be for them to leave behind evidence that the System Lord, Ba'al was the one to have kidnapped her.
"Basset spends much of her time in her throne-room." Sha're whispered. "This way." She said and the others followed her and Teal'c as they led the way.
They had made several turns down the seemingly unending hallways of the palace when the five teammates heard the telltale thump, thump, thump of oncoming guards and Jack signaled them to slip down a side hallway and press against the walls.
'Man, it's a good thing that the Jaffa have never figured out how much of a give-away their loud marching is; it's easy to slip around them.' Sam thought to herself.
The Jaffa passed by and Jack took another glance around the corner, using his tiny periscope, just to make sure that no one else was coming down the hall and then signaled for the group to move forward. They made two more turns and then Teal'c signaled that they had reached Basset's throne-room. At that they flattened themselves on each side of the doorway, Jack counted down from three and then they threw the doors open and swept into the room, glancing quickly around for the Goa'uld queen or her Jaffa. But the room was empty and they walked towards each other, still wary to quickly discuss where to search next.
"She may be in her private chambers." Sha're suggested. They are through that door." She pointed to the right.
"I believe there are extensive gardens on the palace grounds, are there not? She may be out in them." Teal'c suggested as well, pointing to the archway on the left.
"Okay, I'd rather not split up if we don't have to. Let's try searching the private quarters first." Jack ordered.
They all had turned towards the right hand archway when two Jaffa suddenly appeared in the doorway. Shock delayed any action by the guards for the split-second it took for SG-1 to dive out of the center of the room where the Jaffa brought their staff weapons to bare and then fired. Coming out of forward rolls, Jack, Sam and Teal'c fired back while Daniel instinctively tried to protect Sha're with his own body. But the effort was unneeded as Sam and Jack's zat-nick-a-tels found their marks and the guards fell to the ground, dead.
"No help for it." Daniel murmured to himself. He was more of a "stun-and-run" kind of guy and even though he had killed before, he never set out deliberately to kill the enemy. But this time he knew that none of them could leave anyone who had seen them in the palace, alive. No one must know that the Tau'ri and not Ba'al, had attacked and kidnapped Basset.
More Jaffa could be heard on their way towards a third doorway, directly across from the dais and SG-1 ran for it; Sha're, Daniel and Sam, to the right; Jack and Teal'c, to the left and it was several moments before each group realized that their teammates were not with them.
"Wait, Sam." Daniel hissed. "Where are Jack and Teal'c?"
"They must have run through the archway on the other side of the room." Sam replied and after a moment of thought, Daniel spoke up.
"Am I correct in remembering from our briefing that the throne-room splits this palace in half and that the only way to get to the other side, where Jack and Teal'c are, is by going back through that chamber?"
"Yes, that is correct, Dan'yel." Sha're answered.
"Well, I don't recommend that we go back there now." Sam stated. "I think we should check out Basset's personal quarters and then try to hook up with the Colonel and Teal'c later."
"Sounds like a plan, Sha're?" Daniel said and then looked at his wife.
"Yes, this way." Sha're replied and then began leading the way.
The three of them slipped through the halls without meeting up with any more guards, their position still masked to Goa'uld technology by the isotope in their systems and soon found Basset's private chambers.
"Empty." Sam said after they had carefully checked out the luxurious suite.
"Anywhere else we should check on this side of the palace, Sha're?" Daniel asked.
"No, the communications center is on the other side of the palace." Sha're answered. "I think we should try to slip back towards the throne room and find Colonel Jack and Teal'c."
"Sounds good, let's go." Sam ordered.
The three of them had only traveled back through the hallways a short ways when they heard Jaffa approaching and ducked into a nearby room, but peaked through a crack in the mostly closed door.
"Ohhh man, it's Apophis!" Sam hissed out.
"My tormentor?" Sha're spat, raising her right hand on which she wore a Goa'uld hand-device.
"No Sha're!" Daniel cried out, hearing the dozen of Jaffa stomping their way past along with their master. "There are too many of them for us to take out. Let's complete our mission and let the System Lords do our dirty work for us."
"They won't, he will get away again." Sha're spat out desperately.
"I know that there is that chance that he might get away in the end, but this operation is the best chance we have to eliminate most, if not all of the Goa'uld; we have to stick with that plan." Sam reminded her friend sympathetically.
"And if Apophis does get away, we'll keep after him until he's dead." Daniel promised.
Sha're thought hard for a few moments; emotions easily read on her face, but then nodded and lowered her hand.
"Good, come on, let's go find Jack so we can tell him what we've seen.
~*~
On the other side of the palace, Jack and Teal'c also made the decision to continue with the mission; try to find Basset on their side and then meet up with the others. They did not want to break radio-silence unless they needed to, just in case.
"Let's check out those gardens, T." Jack suggested and the former Jaffa nodded in agreement.
A short while later, after several twists and turns, the two men stepped out into the gardens and looked around.
"Nice gardens...shame there's a snake somewhere out here though." Jack observed.
"Indeed, O'Neill. Teal'c agreed gravely.
"Let's check it out." Jack said stepping forward.
As they moved through the garden, the two men could occasionally see through the plantings to a central area with a fountain.
"I think someone's sitting by the fountain, T." Jack murmured to his partner. "Why don't you circle around and I'll go this way."
Teal'c nodded and they moved forward silently. Several minutes later, both men had moved up until they could clearly see that there was indeed a woman sitting by the fountain in an ornate wicker chair.
'Man, she looks like Cat-Woman in Technicolor!' Jack thought to himself and tried to suppress a grin.
The woman had short golden hair in soft spikes around her head and she wore a headband with gold cat ears attached which poked out through her hair. She wore a skin-tight cat-suit but it was made of a brightly colored silk in blue, green and gold stripes...And apparently the costume included a tail, because the woman was playing with what looked like a thick, fuzzy, golden rope.
Jack saw Teal'c across the way and nodded. The two men stepped out from their hiding places to confront her, their weapons pointed at her.
"Basset, I presume?" Jack asked sarcastically.
"What insolence is this?" The woman, Basset replied haughtily and stood up.
The fuzzy golden rope was indeed a tail and as she passed her hand over her face, a golden mask appeared. It was that of a cat face, including slitted holes for her flashing green eyes, a cat's nose and snout and even whiskers.
"Oh please, Halloween's months away, who dresses like that on a daily basis?" Jack drawled, irreverent as ever.
"More insolence...you shall soon learn to show respect for your god!" Basset cried out and lifted her hand device to shoot, but Jack and Teal'c dove out of her field of fire and came up ready to shoot. As planned, as Teal'c shot ineffectually at Basset's personal shield with his staff-weapon, Jack aimed a specially designed air-pistol, which delivered a tranquilizer-dart into the Goa'uld queen's back.
As they had learned with Heru-ur and Osiris, a low velocity, low power projectile, such as a thrown knife or an air-dart, could easily pass through a Goa'uld personal shield while a high velocity bullet or the charge from a staff-weapon could not.
The tranq took effect in seconds; Basset barely aware of being hit by the dart as Teal'c continued to fire at her and she fell to her knees and then face down on the ground, unconscious.
"Splash, one pussy cat." Jack pumped his fist in victory before Teal'c picked up the woman and slung her over his massive shoulders.
"Let me cuff her wrists and ankles, just to be safe and then I'll plant the evidence that we brought with us to implicate Ba'al in her abduction and then we'll be on our way to find the others and get the hell out of Dodge."
"Very well, O'Neill." Teal'c replied ever calm.
Jack finished his work and the two men and their captive returned to the palace to find their teammates. Jack even risked one call on the radio.
"Carter, come in."
"Carter here sir."
"What's your situation?" Jack asked.
"We're fine, but we haven't been able to complete our objective." Sam replied.
"Don't worry, we have." Jack told her. "Can you make it to the Stargate?"
"Affirmative, Colonel, but be aware that Apophis and at least two dozen of his Jaffa are on the premises." Sam warned.
Jack held in the curses he would have liked to spit out at that moment.
"Acknowledged." Was all he said.
SG-1 met up with each other on Jack and Teal'c's side of the throne-room and were silently congratulating themselves on another successful mission when all of sudden they heard the thump, thump, thump of Jaffa marching and then a squad of Basset's guards came around a corner. The leader was First Prime to his Goa'uld mistress and seeing SG-1 he straightened his shoulders and pointed his staff-weapon directly at Jack.
"Hah, we have you surrounded and it will be my great honor to take you to my god, Basset." He postured boldly, unnoticing of the body slung over Teal'c's shoulder.
Jack looked around him and saw that actually they were not surrounded at all.
"I think you've miscalculated a few things Mylo...we aren't surrounded..." Jack began, but was interrupted.
"My name is Flod'on and you will show respect." The Jaffa barked, becoming angry at Jack's sarcastic tone.
"You have a kitty-cat stamped on your forehead and you're expecting respect? Not!" Jack replied before leveling his zat-nick-a-tel and firing.
The rest of his team instinctively fired their weapons at the same time, Sha're catching a few of the Jaffa with her hand-device as well, until all of the guards were dead.
"Let's get out of here." Sam urged, heading down the hallway towards the Gate chamber.
"Why does Colonel Jack mock the demons like that? It only angers them more." Sha're asked Daniel as they ran down the hallway.
"It throws them off, distracts them so that we can shoot first." Daniel explained.
"And it's fun." Jack called back over his shoulder as he ducked inside the Gateroom...and was brought up short by the sight of Apophis and his snake-headed Jaffa. "Ahh damn!" Jack muttered as the rest of his team came in behind him.
But he did not recon on Sha're's reaction to seeing the warriors who served her former captor and tormentor.
"Jaffa kree...and...DIE!" Sha're cried out, activating the personal shield on Amonet's old hand-device, which encircled all five of them and then lifted the weapon to fire at the Jaffa, trying to hit the Goa'uld they protected.
Realizing that they could shoot their zats through the protective shield while it protected them from outside blasts, SG-1 began firing as well.
"We can't let Apophis escape! Don't let him get anywhere near the door or the ring-transport." Jack reminded his teammates. "Daniel, do you think you think that you and Sha're can reach the DHD?"
"Yes, but what about the rest of you? If we go for the dial-home-device, you won't be protected by Sha're's shield anymore." Daniel asked.
"There's no other choice...go." Jack ordered and Daniel nodded reluctantly.
Sha're reformed her shield around herself and Daniel and then they began making their way quickly towards the DHD; firing at the Jaffa who were already in the process of dialing out. A few of the other Jaffa continued to fire at them, but most of the guards were attempting to protect their master and help inch his way towards the ring-platform.
"Teal'c, cover the doorway, Carter with me." Jack yelled before he dove into a quick summersault.
He came up firing several yards away from his last position, with Sam coming out of her roll just behind him; both of them taking refuge behind a storage container and shooting from either side of the crate.
"Colonel, Apophis is making towards the ring-platform, we've gotta stop him!" Sam yelled before she made another leap and a roll towards the transporter with Jack hot on her heals.
"Back off you snake!" Jack yelled. "Carter, cover me." He muttered to his 2IC as he quickly drew out his dart-pistol and tried to load it.
Teal'c and Sam were firing as quickly as they could, but one Jaffa managed to get one good shot off towards Jack...and hit his target.
"AhhhOWwww!" Jack yelled but just managed to complete loading the dart-gun and fired it at Apophis.
The dart broke through the protective shield, but missed the Goa'uld by an inch...
...Meanwhile, Daniel and Sha're had made their way to the DHD, dialed up Earth and the vortex managed to disintegrate two Jaffa who were standing too close to the Gate. But Daniel did not send the IDC. Instead he called the SGC through his radio.
"General, this is Daniel Jackson, I'm going to keep a radio signal flowing through the Stargate to keep the worm-hole open as long as possible, but you must keep the iris closed until I tell you to open it. We're fighting with Apophis and a bunch of his Jaffa, but we can't let them escape. Please stand by and be ready to open the iris on a moment's notice."
On the other end of the worm-hold, General Hammond tried to think clearly through his shock.
"Dr. Jackson, we could send through some back-up support." Hammond suggested as he listened to the sound of staff blasts and the screams of...he hoped...the enemy Jaffa.
"No time to redial, General...oh man, I gotta go..." Daniel yelled through the noise of the battle and that was the last word that General Hammond and the rest of the SGC staff heard for several anxious minutes.
"Sha're, stay here and make sure that no one shuts down this worm-hole, I have to help Jack." Daniel told her too softly to be heard through the radio's microphone.
Daniel had seen Jack try to shoot Apophis with his dart-pistol and miss. But with Apophis facing away from him, Daniel decided that he had the best chance of hitting his most hated enemy if he acted right away. Not wanting to try and throw his knife at Apophis from inside of Sha're's shield, Daniel stepped away from its protection, unsheathed his knife...and threw it as hard as he could.
"Let this work..." He prayed.
The knife flew through the air and found its target; the back of Apophis' neck. And while it was too small to decapitate the host, the blade made quick work of cutting off the symbiote's head, where it had flattened itself and wound its way around the host's spinal column. But unfortunately, Daniel was paying so much attention to the knife's arc across the room, that he did not notice the Jaffa who had been following his actions and who now leveled his staff-weapon and fired. Sha're had been distracted by two other Jaffa and only saw the flash of the staff-weapon as it hit her husband square in the chest.
"DAN'YEL!" She screamed and ran over to him.
Daniel was at best, unconscious and at worst, dead and Sha're did not take the time to find out which before she turned and focused all of her anguish and hatred on the half-dozen Jaffa who still remained standing. She was joined from the other side of the room by Sam, who was also standing protectively over the unconscious form of Jack and although sporting a wounded shoulder, was shooting with mad deliberation...Teal'c was also firing with great purpose, having witnessed his two comrades' fall. And it only took a few seconds more until the rest of the Jaffa had joined their fellows in death.
"Oh man...oh my God..." Sam prayed as she frantically gazed around to make sure that all of the Goa'uld were truly dead. "Teal'c, you okay? Check them all out, would you? Make sure that they're all really dead, especially Apophis. Sha're, you okay?"
"I am well, MajorCarter." Teal'c said before going to check on the Jaffa.
"I...I'm alright, Sam, but, but...Dan'yel...my Dan'yel..." Sha're broke off and slumped to the floor to check out her husband. Then she cried out in Abydonian and Teal'c ran over to her. "Dan'yel, no...stay with me..."
Sam knelt down by Jack and checked him out as well. She was having a hard time concentrating, between Sha're's cries and her own anxiety for her friend...and for Jack. He had been hit in the abdomen, but still had a faint pulse.
"Hang in there Colonel...please..."
She looked over to where Daniel lay.
"Sha're, is Daniel alive?" Sam asked, fearing the worst.
"DanielJackson is alive, but just barely, MajorCarter." Teal'c answered for the weeping woman.
"I think...we'd better dial up Antar instead of going through to Earth. Will you do that, Teal'c?" Sam asked.
"Of course, I think that might be wise, MajorCarter." Teal'c replied and rose up out of his crouch to do so. "General Hammond, this is Teal'c. ColonelO'Neill and DanielJackson are badly wounded. I must close down this worm-hole and open up a new one to Antar. I believe that MaxEvans is their only hope now." Teal'c quickly explained, speaking through his own wrist-radio before shutting down the Stargate and then dialing up another set of co-ordinates.
A moment later, the Stargate burst forth and then settled down to ripple within its circular frame.
"Antarian Security Force, this is Teal'c of the Tau'ri, ColonelJackO'Neill and DoctorDanielJackson are badly injured and in need of immediate medical care."
"Teal'c, this is Michael Guerin; we're sending for Max right now. Can you bring them through to us by yourselves or do you want to wait for us to come to you?"
Teal'c looked over to where Sam was applying what first-aid she could to Jack's wound.
"I don't think they'll make the trip through the freezing cold of the worm-hole, Teal'c." Sam replied, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"We require medical help to come through to our location." Teal'c replied.
"Okay, Teal'c; Max is coming up the hill right now. Shut down the worm-hole and we'll redial from this end. What's your address?" Michael asked and Teal'c told him before shutting down the Stargate yet again.
Just a few miraculously-short moments later, Max, Dr. Ebron, Michael and several other Antarians came through the gate. Max took a quick look around before sending Dr. Ebron over to where Daniel lay and then quick-walked over to where Sam was leaning over Jack. Michael and several of his men spoke to Teal'c and then double-checked all of the Jaffa and Apophis' body.
"Sam, I need you to move back so that I can help Jack." Max said firmly, but gently and Sam immediately did as she was told.
Similarly to Dr. Ebron across the room, Max began to run his hands over Jack's body, but just barely touched it as he diagnosed his patient's condition and searched for a way to make a connection with the Air Force colonel, since he could not look into Jack's eyes. But then there it was, the door Max needed to enter Jack's sub-conscious. He slipped in and as he worked to heal the barely living body, Max was assailed by memories from Jack's past. Aboard Apophis' ship two years ago, Jack had walked out of the room, he, Sam, Teal'c and Bray'tac had all been in; searching for Daniel only to find the fourth member of his team slumped against a door-frame with a huge blast wound in the middle of his chest. He listened as Daniel pleaded with him to leave him behind, that Daniel would watch their backs...that he, Daniel was as good as dead. It had been heart-wrenching to walk away from Daniel that day and Jack felt that same awful pain again today as he regained consciousness briefly, just in time to watch it happen all over again. Jack felt such pride as Daniel managed to knife Apophis in the back, but then the emotional grief overcame him as he watched Daniel slump to the ground after being hit in the chest by a staff-blast.
On the other side to the room, Dr. Ebron was seeing almost the same memories as Max was, except from Daniel's perspective. The incident from a couple of years ago, on Apophis' ship during which Daniel had nearly died after being blasted in almost the same place as he had been today. Ebron saw Jack's expression through Daniel's eyes as the Colonel realized that his friend had sustained a mortal wound...and that he would have to leave him behind...as Daniel promised to use his last few moments of life to watch their backs. Then he saw the excruciating, inch by inch journey that Daniel had made, crawling across the floor to the sarcophagus and somehow dragged himself up and into the alien healing device...
"Oh man...to have to witness your friends...and family...being put into such danger; so badly wounded, time and time again...How do these people do it?' Dr. Ebron wondered as he finished healing Daniel's wound and shook his head in wonder.
"What's wrong, doctor? Will my Dan'yel be okay? Dr. Ebron...?" Sha're asked in panic, seeing the doctor shake his head, it seemed, sadly.
"Hmmm? Oh, Mrs. Jackson...yes, Dr. Jackson should be fine; I was able to heal his wounds." Dr. Ebron was sweating; breathing hard and looked exhausted. "It is a good thing that you called us for help though, instead of taking him back to Earth. With all due respect to Janet Fraser's medical expertise and her incredible determination to keep her patients alive...I don't think that your husband would have survived if he had been placed under her care this time; his wounds were just too extensive."
"But he will...live...this time?" Sha're asked again, still worried.
"Dr. Jackson will need a blood transfusion; he lost a lot of blood...and he will need quite a bit of rest and TLC, but he should make a complete recovery."
"But, Doctor, what is this TLC?" Sha're asked, still frightened.
"It is something that I'm sure you have in abundance...tender, loving, care." Ebron explained, smiling.
"Oh, yes, yes I can give my Dan'yel lots and lots of that!" Sha're exclaimed happily.
"Good, I'm happy to hear that my patient will be in good hands." Dr. Ebron assured her wearily. "Let's see how my Lord King is doing with the Colonel." Ebron said as he motioned two of the other Antarians over, to keep an eye on Daniel.
Max was just coming out of his trance when Sha're and Dr. Ebron walked over to them.
"How is Colonel O'Neill sir?" Ebron asked.
"He will be okay." Max said, taking Sam's hands in his own and looking straight into her eyes. "I'm glad that I was called to help him, he was very seriously wounded. He will need a blood transfusion, but should heal completely. Dr. Ebron, how is your patient?" Max asked.
"He should be fine, sir...after he also received a blood transfusion and has had quite a bit of rest." Dr. Ebron reported.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now let's get our patients ready to transport to Antar. Dr. Ebron, do you concur?" Max checked with the Antarian physician.
"Yes, sir." Ebron answered.
Everyone worked together to place the two patients on gurneys, cover them up with warm blankets and gather up all of the gear which SG-1 had brought with them, including a still unconscious Basset; they still did not want to leave any evidence of their having been there, behind. But it was not until the Stargate was dialing up Antar that Max noticed the blood on Sam's arm.
"Sam, why didn't you tell us that you had been wounded?" Max asked rather angry at himself that he had not noticed Sam's wound before this.
"It's nothing much, it can wait until we get to Antar." Sam replied. "I didn't want to worry anyone when Jack and Daniel were so badly injured."
"Well let's see it now; I don't want you going through the worm-hole with an unprotected, much less an unhealed wound, Major." Max said authoritatively before helping Sam to roll her sleeve up. "Mmm, well it certainly isn't 'nothing' as you diagnosed, 'Dr. Carter', but it should be easily healed...Look into my eyes, Sam."
Sam looked into Max's amber eyes and the connection was made. As he healed her arm, Max saw the battle from Sam's point of view. Just as Jack had fought to protect Sam, protect the rest of his team , complete the mission and kill Apophis and every Jaffa in sight with extreme prejudice...so had Sam fought as well...with the fierceness of a woman in love.
'Well, well, well, now isn't that interesting?' Max thought to himself with satisfaction as he came out of his trance and checked out how well he had healed Sam's arm; he was truly exhausted now.
"How does it feel, Sam?" Max asked.
"It feels great, Max; just like the first time you healed me. Thanks a lot." Sam replied happily.
"Good...and now you and my other patients are safe to step through the worm-hole." Max said motioning for the two gurneys to be picked up and carried through the Stargate with the rest of them following behind.
When the group came through on the other side, Dr. Janet Fraser was there waiting for them.
"How are Daniel and the Colonel?" She demanded, running over to where the two patients had been set down for the moment.
"They sustained very serious injuries, but we were able to heal them almost totally; they should recover completely." Dr. Ebron reported to his colleague...and lady-love. "Also, Major Carter was wounded in the arm, but I believe that King Zan completely healed that before we left the planet."
"I'll check her out. What do you mean by 'healed almost totally'?" Janet asked.
"They will need blood transfusions, Doctor." Ebron said, trying to remain professional while dealing with this woman he was falling in love with. "It should be safe to transport them back to Earth now, if you wish, or you could bring a supply of blood and administer it here."
"Do you truly believe that blood is all that they will need to recover?" Janet asked, trusting this man she was also falling in love with. "They won't require any further surgery?"
"They shouldn't, Janet. Why don't you let us take them to our health facility, you can order a supply of blood and then follow us down and examine them there." Ebron suggested and Janet nodded.
"Let me contact the General, order one of my staff to bring the blood and then I'll follow you down." Janet said.
"I'll see you soon then." Ebron said softly, gently.
"I'll get there as soon as I can." Janet agreed, blushing just a little.
When Janet stepped back through the Stargate, she found General Hammond waiting for her at the foot of the ramp and three of her most experienced medics suited up and ready to go, just as she had left them, thirty minutes before.
"Doctor, how are Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson?" George Hammond fought to keep the fear he had for the health and safety of his most elite team out of his voice.
"They...should be fine sir. If I may give my people some instructions, sir then I'll be happy to brief you on their conditions before I head back." Janet answered.
"Head back?" General Hammond asked, but then held up his hand to forestall her answer. "Go instruct your people, Doctor and then come brief me in my office."
"Thank you sir." Janet said before indicating to her medics that they should follow her back to the Infirmary.
Twenty minutes later, Janet Fraser knocked on the General's door and was called to enter.
"That was fast, Doctor...but if all of SG-1 are fine, as you say, what is this urgency I sense to return to Antar? The Royal Wedding isn't for ten days." Hammond asked.
"According to what Dr. Ebron told me, Dr. Jackson took a staff blast directly to his chest and would have died in less than half an hour if Dr. Ebron hadn't been able to heal him right then and there. Colonel O'Neill took a staff blast directly to his abdominal region and also would have died soon after if Max Evans hadn't been able to heal him. Also, Major Carter was wounded in her bicep area, but that was more painful than serious and Max Evans quickly healed the burn before they were transported to Antar. What the Colonel and Dr. Jackson do need within the next two hours, to allow them to heal quickly and completely, is blood. They lost a lot of it and Antarian healers can't replace it for them."
"I see..." Hammond replied thoughtfully. "And after they've been given the transfusion, Doctor?"
"I believe they will be completely recovered and up and around in two days; they only just need to rest after suffering from such trauma, sir." Janet answered.
"Very well, Doctor, go gather together whatever you need to take with you and I will accompany you through the Gate." Hammond told her.
"I'm sure that SG-1 would feel quite honored that you came to see them, sir." Janet said before rising from her chair and leaving the office.
Another twenty minutes passed and Dr. Fraser was back with two of her medics who were carrying small coolers filled with blood packs on their backs.
"Ready to go, Doctor?" General Hammond asked.
"Yes, sir." Janet replied.
The General nodded and indicated to one of the technicians in the control room to begin the dial-up process. Minutes later, the General and three medical personnel were stepping through the Stargate and coming out on the other side into the Antar Gate chamber.
"General, what a nice surprise." Liz Parker greeted the SGC personnel.
"Good to see you as well, Dr. Parker." George replied.
"You'll be wanting to see the Colonel and Daniel...this way please. I have a hover-craft waiting to take us all down the hill." Liz told them.
As the hover-craft took them down the hill and into the city, Janet noticed that they had passed the hospital and seemed to be on their way to the Royal Manor.
"Dr. Ebron said that he would be taking our patients to the medical facility?"
"Yes well, that was before he mentioned to the Colonel that he was being taken to the hospital for observation. Jack made such a fuss about how he'd never get any rest in the hospital and wasn't that the main idea...that Dr. Ebron and Max were the ones persuaded to just allow Daniel and Jack to stay in their quarters. Jack did have a point; the two of them do mostly need to rest. We can set up the blood transfusions for them anywhere and both Max and Dr. Ebron can easily keep an eye on each of them." Liz finished explaining with a resigned shrug.
"Max and Dr. Ebron don't have the experience of dealing with Colonel O'Neill when he's..." Janet glanced over to her C.O. "...uh being a cranky patient." She amended what she had been about to say and saw Liz hide her own grin.
The hover-craft arrived at the house where Jack and Sam were quartered and it was only then that Liz, feeling guilty that she had not done so before, thought to warn Max and thereby Jack and Sam, that she was bringing General Hammond into their house.
When Janet, General Hammond and one of the medics entered "Jack's room", Max was standing beside the bed speaking to his patient and Sam was lounging in a chair across the room, but Hammond's sharp eyes picked up certain signs that all was not as it seemed.
Jack was laying on the right side of the bed, but there were wrinkles in the blankets on the left side which hinted that someone else had been lying next to him. George also noticed two suitcases which had been stashed away in a corner...and one boot; too small to be Jack's, poking out from under the left side of the bed. General Hammond saw all of these things and Max watched him as his gaze traveled around the room briefly pausing on the tell-tale signs of dual occupation.
'I'll speak to the General after we've checked on Daniel.' Max thought to himself.
"How're you feeling Colonel, Major?" Hammond asked, concern for his two officers the only emotion which was showing on his face.
"I'm fine, sir; thanks to Max...just a little tired." Jack admitted.
General Hammond frowned as the realization hit him. If Jack O'Neill was actually admitting to fatigue and willing to lay down, he must truly be exhausted and/or still hurting. And it greatly worried him to contemplate how close to death his second-in-command must have come, if Max Evans could not effect a complete healing.
"I'm fine, sir; also thanks to Max. I was just making sure that the Colonel stayed in bed until Janet arrived." Sam replied breaking into Hammond's troubled thoughts.
"Speaking of which, I need to set up a blood transfusion for you Colonel." Janet piped up, coming forward.
"Oh, I forgot; you'll need a hook of some sort to hang the IV from won't you?" Max asked and Janet nodded, looking around for something they could use. "Here will this do?" Max asked.
He reached up, touched the wall behind the bed and seemingly pulled a metal branch horizontally out of the wall. The tip of the branch had a hook in it, just right to hang an IV bag from.
"Uh...thank you, Max." Janet said; her eyes huge.
"Will you need anything else, do you think?" Max asked her, but Janet could only shake her head no.
"Well, General, perhaps you'd like to go visit Daniel while Dr. Fraser gets to work?" Max suggested.
"Good idea; Colonel, Major, I expect you both to follow any orders Dr. Fraser gives you so that my two best officers can return to duty as soon as possible." Hammond said sternly.
"Thanks, General." Jack murmured trying not to watch as Janet plumbed for a vein in his arm.
"Yes, sir; thank you sir." Sam added before her superior left the room behind Max.
Max led George Hammond through the Royal Gardens and into the Manor; both men deep in thought. When they entered Daniel's room, they found a medic already there, just completing the set up for the transfusion. Daniel was comfortably tucked into bed and it looked as though Sha're had been lying beside him although on top of the covers. Now she was partially sitting up, propped on one arm and carefully watching the medic's activity. But as soon as she saw the General and Max come into the room, she stood up to greet them.
"General Hammond, Max."
"I see you have our patient well under control." General Hammond remarked. "How are you feeling Mrs. Jackson?"
"I am fine; it is my Dan'yel I'm worried about." Sha're replied stiffly.
"I'll be okay Honey, you know that." Daniel told her softly.
"It...doesn't sound as though you're fine." Max said troubled.
"I...I was unable to keep my husband safe or protect his teammates." Sha're said guiltily, glancing down.
"Sha're." Daniel murmured tiredly from the bed. "We've been over this already...If we'd all stayed within your personal shield, Apophis would've overwhelmed us easily; your shield couldn't have lasted forever, stretched like it was."
"And as Teal'c has reported to me, you could not allow Apophis to escape to warn the other Goa'uld of our plans." Max assured the distraught woman.
"Sha're, you saved our lives; you were able to take out most of the Jaffa and keep Apophis distracted enough so that we were able to do what we needed to." Daniel added and patted the bed beside him. "Please, come and lay down; I know you're just as tired as I am, Love."
Sha're glanced doubtfully at the three men in the room.
"I'm all set here, ma'am." The medic said, double-checking the IV tubing. "Dr. Fraser will come by to check on Dr. Jackson later, but I'll leave you for now...General." He nodded to his C.O. and then left.
"We'll leave you to rest as well." General Hammond said kindly. "Both of you get some rest...Mr. Evans, is there somewhere we might speak privately?"
"Of course, General." Max replied. "I'll check in on you later." He told Daniel and Sha're before motioning the General out of the room and shut the door behind them.
Max led the way downstairs and towards the back of the house where his office was located. The room was not huge, but it had a lovely wall of windows and books lining the other three walls. There was a sofa underneath the windows and a table with four chairs in one corner, while Max's desk stood in front of one of the book-lined walls. It was a comfortable room, but efficient for a man who had a great deal to do.
"Have a seat, General." Max motioned towards the sofa and took a seat there himself. "May I offer you something to drink or eat?"
"No thank you, Your Majesty." General Hammond replied.
'Uh oh, the General is being formal, something's wrong. Maybe I should've sat behind my desk.' Max thought to himself. "What can I do for you General?" He asked, sitting up straight and becoming equally formal.
"I've been noticing some things...between Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill." The General stated.
"Indeed?" Max replied noncommittally.
"Don't 'indeed' me, Your Majesty!" The General barked, but then modified his tone when Max gave him a reproving look. "I know that you spoke to the President and he's spoken to me about my two officers...that they've fallen in love with ach other and that you have encouraged them to break regulations."
"We have no such regulations here on Antar, General." Max replied.
"But they are still under my command, no matter which planet they Gate to and therefore Air Force regulations still apply." The General shot back. "They could be court marshaled for this."
"Well, I certainly hope not, General." Max replied. "Sir, Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill have been fighting their feelings for one another since the day they met. During that time they have worked extremely well together and with their teammates...managing to save the Earth how many times, General?" Max asked.
"More times than I can count." General Hammond admitted and Max shrugged.
"Their feelings all came out because of certain circumstances which happened here, but all without any help from any of us. And yes, I encouraged them to explore their relationship and feelings for each other, but we have regulations here on Antar as well. All of our people are to be in control of their emotions and actions and you cannot control anything if you are not honest about your emotions or, even worse, try to suppress them. I have not seen them, but I know that Sam and Jack have had long discussions with each other...about their thoughts and feelings for each other, about their pasts; what they want for the future and everything in between. They have continued to act properly in public and to complete their duties as excellently as any commander could hope for. Have you noticed any changes in their behavior while they were at the SGC, General?" Max asked.
"No...I haven't." Hammond admitted. "And I've thought back over the years they've served together...after the President spoke to me. In fact, I didn't notice anything until today and even those signs would've been invisible unless you were really looking for them."
"And has the President made any decision in regards to Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill...have you?" Max asked.
"The President had made his decision, but he wants me to weigh in on it as well. It's a difficult decision; whether to bend the regs just for two officers. And then what do we do in the future?" The General shook his head. "I am to give the President my decision with the next seven days and he will give Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter his final answer when he comes back to Antar, to attend your wedding."
"I...see." Max replied thoughtfully. 'But you won't tell me what the President's decision is or in what direction your own thoughts on the matter are leaning.' Max thought to himself. 'But surely the President wouldn't spoil our festivities by giving a negative decision on our wedding day, or even the day after...would he..?'
TBC
I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to post this next chapter. I hope there are still some readers out there, interested in this story! RL issues, the holidays, the freezing cold (even for Michigan) and the fact that my Muse took off for warmer parts, all add up to this delay. But here it is Finally and I hope you enjoy it! I don't want to jinx anything by saying this, but I am well through writing chapter 40, the final chapter. Plus, I have been asked to write an epilogue after that, looking at the future of our heroes. Hope to post all of that very soon.
Thanks for your patience and enjoy the story! ~jane
Stargazers/Stargaters Part 39
Two days after Isabel reported her dream-walk conversation with Ska'ra, Jacob Carter came through the Earth Stargate and was greeted by his old friend, George Hammond.
"Jacob, good to see you."
"You too, George." Jacob replied, shaking his friend's hand heartily.
"Thanks for coming to the SGC for a change. Everything's been so Antar-based lately, I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a different venue for this meeting. After all a large portion of this mission will be carried out by SGC personnel..."
"Sounds fair, George. Am I the last to arrive?" Jacob asked.
"Yes, but only by fifteen minutes. Everyone's up in the briefing room; come on." General Hammond let the way up the stairs.
There was quite a group gathered in the briefing room when the two older men arrived. The SGC members all stood as their CO came in, but Hammond quickly motioned them to sit down again. Besides SG1 and Sha're Jackson, Major Paul Davis from the Pentagon was there as well. Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans, Tess Harding and Dr. Ebron were the Antarian representatives.
"Let's get down to business." Hammond ordered after everyone was seated. "Jacob, what does the Tok'ra Council have to say about the mission proposed by Princess Isabel and Ska'ra of Abydos?"
"They are cautiously optimistic." Jacob said and then allowed Selmak to take over.
"We have Tok'ra operatives in position within eight of the queens' fortresses and they will send all the Intel they can within the next day or two."
"What about the other four queens? Can they get us any Intel on them?" Jack asked.
"Now that we have their locations we are trying to insert someone into each of those strongholds, but moving so quickly is very hazardous." Selmak reminded them in her deep, serious voice.
"We want Intel, not dead bodies." Hammond agreed. "Major Davis, you have a report from the Pentagon?"
"Yes sir, General." Paul Davis replied, opening up a file folder. "Of course the Joint Chiefs are excited about the possibility of our eliminating the future threat these Goa'uld queens represent, but they also...uh...respectfully remind the General that capturing one or more of these creatures alive could be of great scientific value...the information we might be able to glean from them..."
"Need I remind the General how dangerous one of those queens; Hathor, was to this base? Within a matter of hours she had almost all of our personnel here under her drug-induced influence for Pete's sake!" Jack exclaimed, rubbing his abdomen subconsciously.
"No, I remember with perfect clarity how dangerous that...um...lady was to this base, Colonel." General Hammond replied, wincing slightly at this own memories of the Goa'uld queen, Hathor.
"So we use fully female personnel to interrogate them." Major Davis suggested. He had not been at the SGC during the Hathor incident, but he had read all of the reports.
"That might work, but the queens may also have the mind-control drug Seth used...and it worked on both sexes." Jacob reminded them. "And even though we know how to neutralize the drug, we can't afford to underestimate these Goa'uld."
"Besides, the queens' value isn't in what technology we could get out of them; it's their value to the other Goa'uld which is most important." Daniel spoke up out of the blue.
"What do you mean, Daniel?" Michael asked. "I thought the whole idea was to simply kill these queens and presto...no more future Goa'uld."
"They will have to be...um...eliminated eventually, but in the meantime, I'm with Jack; the queens are too dangerous to try and interrogate...or...or...torture information out of...and besides, if the System Lords find out we have them...that will only make them attack Earth...enmasse."
"Then what are you proposing we do with them, Dr. Jackson?" Major Davis asked.
"We stick them somewhere safe, but Not on Earth...and then make it look as if they've been abducted by rival Goa'uld. We've been trying to think of different catalysts to get the snakes fighting amongst themselves...what better way to light their fuse than to make them all think that their bitter rivals have stolen the queen they are allied with?"
"They will just order their Jaffa to fight one another, DanielJackson." Teal'c remarked.
"We'll need to escalate our plans to draw the Jaffa away from their masters. We need a way to prove to them that the Goa'uld they serve are Not gods...but only parasites." Daniel replied.
"That's going to take time, Daniel, Teal'c and it sounds as if we need to move against the queens ASAP; before Apophis makes his move." Jack argued.
"Um, I was just wondering..." Daniel said after a moment of thought. "Have any of you tried mind-warping the Jaffa into believing that their Goa'uld masters are ordering them out of their service...dismissing them...or even telling the Jaffa that they Are just slimy parasites?"
There was silence as everyone glanced in shock back and forth around the group.
"We've been showing scenes to the Jaffa of their master's acting stupidly, insanely...un-god like...but we never thought of actually having the Goa'uld "tell" the Jaffa the truth. That is an excellent suggestion, Dr. Jackson! We will implement it as soon as we can." Tess exclaimed excitedly.
"You must phrase your mind-warp most carefully, Lady Tess." Teal'c replied gravely. "Jaffa know very well that the Goa'uld are slimy, snake-like creatures, as you say. It would be best to concentrate on having their masters order them to stand down from fighting and to leave their service."
"You know, I've never understood that, T. Why do Jaffa believe that a bunch of slimy snakes are gods? Especially since they have to carry immature Goa'uld in their pouches; nurture and protect them." Jack asked.
"It is what we are taught all of our lives, O'Neill. The Goa'uld control whole planets on which the entire population are Jaffa, sworn to their service. As it was on my home world of Chulak, so it is elsewhere. Parents are expected to present their offspring to their god and allow them to be implanted with their first primpta, an immature Goa'uld. Once the children grow up, even if they do not believe a Goa'uld is a god, it is too late for them to get rid of their symbiote; their systems are dependent on having one and if they lose it, they will die a most painful death and bring dishonor to their family."
"I imagine finding a Jaffa who could think for himself by the age of maturity would be almost impossible to find." Daniel said nodding. "Your family, your teachers, your entire world is based on following and serving that Goa'uld. And you're honored and promoted, or dishonored and punished by how well you serve that false-god."
"Indeed, you are correct, DanielJackson." Teal'c replied.
"So we implant the idea that a Jaffa's master is ordering them to stand down from fighting for him." Tess clarified. "And send them to the nearest planet where our physicians are set up to remove the immature Goa'uld and restart their immune systems."
"Can it possibly be that easy?" Dr. Ebron asked.
"If it works, this plan will be much easier than anything else we've come up with." Michael said thoughtfully.
"But even so, it will be an enormous feat, to contact the millions of Jaffa out there and break through a lifetime of brainwashing." Isabel said.
"Especially in the short period of time we have before we need to move against the Goa'uld queens." Jack added.
"Then if there are no more questions, let's get to work, people; you have a go." General Hammond said and everyone stood to leave.
~*~ Several weeks later ~*~
Liz rushed into hers and Max's bedroom to quickly change her clothes. She had been Earth-side for two long and lonely days, working in her lab at the SGC and had only just returned to Antar with thirty minutes to spare before her meeting with Valaria, her soon-to-be mother-in-law, was scheduled. As she wiggled out of the comfortable black T-shirt and green fatigue-pants she had been wearing under her lab coat, Max opened the door to their adjoining bathroom and leaned against the jamb to enjoy the unexpected but highly enjoyable view. Liz gave a tiny squeak of surprise as she finished pulling the shirt over her head and saw him standing there before her. Max's grin widened but he remained where he was, running his eyes up and down her petite figure.
"I didn't know you were home, Max. I didn't even sense that you were in the bathroom." Liz told him as she returned his hot gazed while tossing her T-shirt aside. "Happy to see me?" She asked in her soft, slightly husky voice which Max loved to hear.
"Ohhh yeah, I'm always happy to see you, Love, but especially after these last long and lonely two days...and nights." Max replied. "And I think you were in a hurry when you came running into the room, maybe that's why you didn't sense me."
"In a hurry?" Liz asked distractedly as she fantasized about what Max looked like under those clothes he was wearing.
"Yes, it sounded as though you were in a hurry..." Max repeated and it was as if a bucket of ice-water had been splashed all over Liz.
"Your mother! I have another meeting with your mother. What time is it? Oh man, I'm going to be late! Where's my...there it is." Liz muttered to herself as she pulled a peach-colored dress off of its hanger and quickly pulled it on over her head. I'm sorry we can't spend some time together this afternoon, Max, but your mother..." Liz rushed over to where he stood, tip-toed up to kiss him and then made as if to rush out the bedroom door, except that Max took firm hold of her shoulders.
"You know Liz...I think you're beautiful no matter what you wear, but I don't think that Valaria will believe for a minute that your peach dress was designed to be worn over those olive-green pants." Max somehow said all of this with a straight face but then broke out into another grin as he let Liz go and she looked down at herself.
"Oh man!" Liz exclaimed as she whirled away from Max, drew up the hem of her dress and then yanked off the pants...giving her fiancé a lovely if quick view of her silk-covered bottom...before the dress hem fell back down over her legs and Liz scrambled back to her closet to find some shoes.
"I guess the pre-wedding nerves are finally starting to take effect...it's just that there is so much going on right now...what with capturing the Goa'uld queens and freeing all those Jaffa and the word should come any day now to begin phase three...and these last meetings-classes with your mother about how to be a proper queen and it's only ten days until Our Wedding...Liz threw up her hands into the air and then just plopped herself down onto the floor; her skirt flowing out around her like petals on a flower.
"Liz!" Max strode forward to kneel down beside her. "Honey, it'll be okay; everything's going pretty smoothly so far...How about this...I have a meeting with SG-1 and the others in just a little while, but I figure that it'll be over just about the same time your meeting with Valaria will conclude. I'll ask the others to clear out for a while...we'll come back here, I'll draw you a nice hot bubble-bath and then grill some steaks while you soak for a while. We'll just have a nice, quiet evening together and then you can get a good, long rest tonight, replenish your energies...how does that sound?" Max asked as he gently stroked his hands through her silky brown hair.
"That sounds...marvelous!" Liz sighed as she leaned back against her soul-mate for a few moments and then moved to stand up with his help. "Thank you Max." Liz glanced up into his love-filled amber eyes, gently ran her fingertips down the side of his jaw and then tip-toes up to sweetly kiss him on his lips. "You take such good care of me..." She sighed as they hugged for a moment, but then drew away reluctantly. "I'd...better...get going..." She said, slowly turning away from him.
"I'll walk you out." Max replied, not letting go of the small hand he had taken hold of as they walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
~*~
The meetings, or classes between Liz and Antar's Queen Mother had started out months ago as formal instruction on all of the minutia involved in becoming and being a queen, but they had relaxed a bit into more enjoyable afternoons drinking tarva, a tea-like beverage and sharing stories about Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess' childhoods, on Antar as well as on Earth. But before the story telling there were always quick reviews on all that Liz had learned; Antarian customs, laws, language, interplanetary treaties and trading agreements...and then they would cover the wedding arrangements or Valaria would continue drinking tarva while Liz endured yet another dress fitting. But as the weeks had sped by, the instructions and reviews grew shorter, more easy and the time for chatting back and forth grew longer. And while Liz knew that Valaria would never come close to feeling like a mother to her, they were becoming rather good friends towards one another.
~*~
After Max left Liz to walk the last few yards to Valaria's home on her own, he tried to block the romantic plans he had made for the two of them, for that night, out of his mind; the meeting that day was an important one and he would need all of his concentration on the agenda; phase three of their plan.
There would be a large number of people at this meeting and so it was to be held in the largest conference room the training center, which had been completed some weeks before, had to offer. Isabelle, Tess and their best dream-walkers and mind-warpers, SG-1, Sha're Jackson, Jacob Carter and several other Tok'ra and finally, Janet Fraser and her Antarian counterpart, Ebron were all to attend. As everyone took a seat; the key personnel around the large table and the rest in raised seats right behind the others, Max thought back over the last several weeks since they had been given the go-ahead by the U.S. President to begin this operation.
Every dream-walker and mind-warper they had, had been working themselves around the clock and into exhaustion, to contact as many Jaffa as possible and convince them turn away from their Goa'uld masters. They had used several different techniques, whichever worked best on each individual Jaffa; giving them repeated nightmares, showing the atrocities carried out on orders from a Goa'uld, as they tried to meditate in kel-no-ream...give them visions of their masters acting stupidly, becoming uncertain in their decisions, acting most un-god-like...and where they could, the Antarian tormentors forced the Goa'uld to act foolishly, clown-like in front of their most loyal Jaffa...But the best technique by far was to show the Goa'uld ordering each Jaffa to leave their service, as they meditated or dreamed. For the snakes to admit what pathetic and evil parasites they really were. Millions of Jaffa, especially those on board ships without a Goa'uld among them, abandoned their duties, their way of life...their gods and flocked to the nearest planet in droves, where Antarian medical teams were waiting for them.
Once their primta had been removed and destroyed and their immune systems were working again, the Jaffa were counseled and reconditioned by SGC personnel until they could all see the errors in their way of life. Al but a few Jaffa vowed to return to their home planets, to spread the word, send their friends and families to the Antarians and Tau'ri for help and set out to destroy the temples and tanks filled with immature Goa'uld in them. Only the most fervent of the Jaffa; those who had secretly held doubts about the godhood of the Goa'uld before all of this happened, volunteered to return to their Goa'uld masters...and kill them. System Lords and minor Goa'uld were falling from power all over the galaxy, but there were still many more powerful and well-guarded snakes out there and they would not be destroyed so easily, especially after word of what was happening to other Goa'uld, reached them.
Among these well-protected Goa'uld were the eight queens...and Apophis. Four of the twelve-known queen Goa'uld had amazingly already been destroyed by their own Jaffa slaves. But now it was time to capture the last eight and set the most important part of their plan into action.
After the key participants each gave brief reports to bring everyone up to speed, Jacob carter motioned to Max that he wished to speak.
"I've had word from our Tok'ra operatives hidden within Apophis' court that he is finally ready to move against the Goa'uld queens. We've been lucky that his preparations have taken this long, so that we could reach as many Jaffa as we have...and that four of the twelve queens have already been killed by their own slaves, but our time is quickly running out. If we are going to attempt to capture the queens, we must move now!"
"Calm down Jacob, we've only been waiting for word from you." Jack told his friend; half-teasing, half-serious, before continuing. "Okay, teams two through eight need to be gathered together and meet in the Stargate Chamber. The success of Operation Queen Bee hangs on all of our teams attacking at the same time, so that there's no chance for any warning to be leaked before we can all strike."
"I'm contacting everyone now." Tess spoke up.
Sg-1 was team one, of course and the other teams were made up of Stargate personnel and Antarians; some of which were not attending that meeting.
As everyone rose from their seats and began to leave, Max smiled to himself as he noticed Jack and Sam's hands clasp together and Daniel tighten his hold around Sha're's slim shoulders. He bet he already knew what each couple was quietly discussing amongst themselves as they left the conference room. Jack and Sam, ever the well-trained warriors, were going over their plans for capturing the Goa'uld queen, Basset; Apophis' ally and Max knew that Daniel was busy trying to convince his beloved wife that she could not come with SG-1 on their mission. Indeed, Sha're was only waiting until they had reached their room in the Royal Manor, listening to all of her husband's arguments about why she could not go, before stopping his words with a gently finger placed against his lips.
"Dan'yel, I understand everything that you are telling me, but do you not understand that I have all of those same worries too...about you? My love for you is what made it possible for me to fight my demon and Apophis all those years. My love for you is what helps me to make a new life for us on these two strange planets, instead of on Abydos. And it is my love for you which makes me dread the thought of losing you now that we are finally back together...especially if I must only stay behind and wait for your return.
"Dan'yel, Apophis sent my demon to Basset's fortress twice; I know my way around it. And I can still use the Goa'uld hand-device as well as the pistols you and Sam have taught me how to shoot. Please my husband, let me come with you so that I may...what is the word? Exorcise the memory of my demon from me forever."
"And maybe get some revenge on Apophis at the same time?" Daniel asked in an understanding tone.
"YES!" Sha're cried out adamantly. "I want to hurt him like he hurt me...as he has hurt you..."
"I don't know what Jack'll say about you coming along, Sweetheart." Daniel warned as his determination began to soften.
"Tell him that I can...as he says...watch your back." Sha're replied hopefully.
"Okay, okay..." Daniel agreed as he gathered her into his arms. "I'll ask Jack, but you must promise...promise me that you'll be careful...that you won't take any chances..."
"I will, if you will, my husband." Sha're replied smiling.
"You know me so well...I love that about you. Sha're I love you so much." Daniel murmured desperately before locking his lips onto hers for one, long, passionate kiss before finally pulling away and leaving her to go and find Jack.
Nearly one hour later, the eight teams, the Royal Four and Jacob Carter all met up in the Stargate Chamber and the first address was already being entered into the alien device. The teams would be sent through to their assigned destinations in order of which one had the most distance to travel from Stargate to Goa'uld stronghold, so that hopefully, the eight teams would reach their goals at the same time. The Tok'ra had managed to insert one of their operatives into each court and received valuable Intel from each of them on the eight remaining queens; their strengths, their weaknesses. Also, the Tok'ra had developed an isotope which when injected, would make each team invisible to advanced Goa'uld security sensors, which several of the queens used to protect their citadels from sneak-attacks. And finally, on this mission all of the teams were carrying staff-weapons and/or zats, with only hand-guns for emergency back-up.
Finally it was time for SG-1 to step through, but first they threw a Goa'uld sound-grenade into the worm-hole, to knock out any Jaffa who might be guarding the Gate on the other side. So when the five of them stepped through on the other side, Jaffa, wearing cat-head shaped helmets were lying unconscious all around the chamber.
"Yes...it's great to be able to use Goa'uld weapons against the snakes themselves." Jack muttered just loud enough for his team to hear him as he inventoried the room.
"They will not remain unconscious for long, O'Neill." Teal'c reminded his commander and friend.
"Yeah, let's get to work and then get out of here." Jack replied.
Not wishing to call attention to themselves, the five team members moved to drag the Jaffa across the floor until they were all leaning up against the wall of the chamber, their staff-weapons still loosely held within their hands. The hope was that the Jaffa...or their superiors, would jump to the conclusion that that Goa'uld soldiers had all fallen asleep at their posts, rather than that they had been attacked by an invading party coming through the Stargate; especially when that band of invaders would prove to be invisible to the security sensors.
"Okay, let's go and find our queen bee." Jack ordered and the rest of them followed him out of the chamber.
The best case scenario would be for them to find the Goa'uld queen, Basset, knock her out and escape; carrying her with them back through the Stargate. And the icing on the cake would be for them to leave behind evidence that the System Lord, Ba'al was the one to have kidnapped her.
"Basset spends much of her time in her throne-room." Sha're whispered. "This way." She said and the others followed her and Teal'c as they led the way.
They had made several turns down the seemingly unending hallways of the palace when the five teammates heard the telltale thump, thump, thump of oncoming guards and Jack signaled them to slip down a side hallway and press against the walls.
'Man, it's a good thing that the Jaffa have never figured out how much of a give-away their loud marching is; it's easy to slip around them.' Sam thought to herself.
The Jaffa passed by and Jack took another glance around the corner, using his tiny periscope, just to make sure that no one else was coming down the hall and then signaled for the group to move forward. They made two more turns and then Teal'c signaled that they had reached Basset's throne-room. At that they flattened themselves on each side of the doorway, Jack counted down from three and then they threw the doors open and swept into the room, glancing quickly around for the Goa'uld queen or her Jaffa. But the room was empty and they walked towards each other, still wary to quickly discuss where to search next.
"She may be in her private chambers." Sha're suggested. They are through that door." She pointed to the right.
"I believe there are extensive gardens on the palace grounds, are there not? She may be out in them." Teal'c suggested as well, pointing to the archway on the left.
"Okay, I'd rather not split up if we don't have to. Let's try searching the private quarters first." Jack ordered.
They all had turned towards the right hand archway when two Jaffa suddenly appeared in the doorway. Shock delayed any action by the guards for the split-second it took for SG-1 to dive out of the center of the room where the Jaffa brought their staff weapons to bare and then fired. Coming out of forward rolls, Jack, Sam and Teal'c fired back while Daniel instinctively tried to protect Sha're with his own body. But the effort was unneeded as Sam and Jack's zat-nick-a-tels found their marks and the guards fell to the ground, dead.
"No help for it." Daniel murmured to himself. He was more of a "stun-and-run" kind of guy and even though he had killed before, he never set out deliberately to kill the enemy. But this time he knew that none of them could leave anyone who had seen them in the palace, alive. No one must know that the Tau'ri and not Ba'al, had attacked and kidnapped Basset.
More Jaffa could be heard on their way towards a third doorway, directly across from the dais and SG-1 ran for it; Sha're, Daniel and Sam, to the right; Jack and Teal'c, to the left and it was several moments before each group realized that their teammates were not with them.
"Wait, Sam." Daniel hissed. "Where are Jack and Teal'c?"
"They must have run through the archway on the other side of the room." Sam replied and after a moment of thought, Daniel spoke up.
"Am I correct in remembering from our briefing that the throne-room splits this palace in half and that the only way to get to the other side, where Jack and Teal'c are, is by going back through that chamber?"
"Yes, that is correct, Dan'yel." Sha're answered.
"Well, I don't recommend that we go back there now." Sam stated. "I think we should check out Basset's personal quarters and then try to hook up with the Colonel and Teal'c later."
"Sounds like a plan, Sha're?" Daniel said and then looked at his wife.
"Yes, this way." Sha're replied and then began leading the way.
The three of them slipped through the halls without meeting up with any more guards, their position still masked to Goa'uld technology by the isotope in their systems and soon found Basset's private chambers.
"Empty." Sam said after they had carefully checked out the luxurious suite.
"Anywhere else we should check on this side of the palace, Sha're?" Daniel asked.
"No, the communications center is on the other side of the palace." Sha're answered. "I think we should try to slip back towards the throne room and find Colonel Jack and Teal'c."
"Sounds good, let's go." Sam ordered.
The three of them had only traveled back through the hallways a short ways when they heard Jaffa approaching and ducked into a nearby room, but peaked through a crack in the mostly closed door.
"Ohhh man, it's Apophis!" Sam hissed out.
"My tormentor?" Sha're spat, raising her right hand on which she wore a Goa'uld hand-device.
"No Sha're!" Daniel cried out, hearing the dozen of Jaffa stomping their way past along with their master. "There are too many of them for us to take out. Let's complete our mission and let the System Lords do our dirty work for us."
"They won't, he will get away again." Sha're spat out desperately.
"I know that there is that chance that he might get away in the end, but this operation is the best chance we have to eliminate most, if not all of the Goa'uld; we have to stick with that plan." Sam reminded her friend sympathetically.
"And if Apophis does get away, we'll keep after him until he's dead." Daniel promised.
Sha're thought hard for a few moments; emotions easily read on her face, but then nodded and lowered her hand.
"Good, come on, let's go find Jack so we can tell him what we've seen.
~*~
On the other side of the palace, Jack and Teal'c also made the decision to continue with the mission; try to find Basset on their side and then meet up with the others. They did not want to break radio-silence unless they needed to, just in case.
"Let's check out those gardens, T." Jack suggested and the former Jaffa nodded in agreement.
A short while later, after several twists and turns, the two men stepped out into the gardens and looked around.
"Nice gardens...shame there's a snake somewhere out here though." Jack observed.
"Indeed, O'Neill. Teal'c agreed gravely.
"Let's check it out." Jack said stepping forward.
As they moved through the garden, the two men could occasionally see through the plantings to a central area with a fountain.
"I think someone's sitting by the fountain, T." Jack murmured to his partner. "Why don't you circle around and I'll go this way."
Teal'c nodded and they moved forward silently. Several minutes later, both men had moved up until they could clearly see that there was indeed a woman sitting by the fountain in an ornate wicker chair.
'Man, she looks like Cat-Woman in Technicolor!' Jack thought to himself and tried to suppress a grin.
The woman had short golden hair in soft spikes around her head and she wore a headband with gold cat ears attached which poked out through her hair. She wore a skin-tight cat-suit but it was made of a brightly colored silk in blue, green and gold stripes...And apparently the costume included a tail, because the woman was playing with what looked like a thick, fuzzy, golden rope.
Jack saw Teal'c across the way and nodded. The two men stepped out from their hiding places to confront her, their weapons pointed at her.
"Basset, I presume?" Jack asked sarcastically.
"What insolence is this?" The woman, Basset replied haughtily and stood up.
The fuzzy golden rope was indeed a tail and as she passed her hand over her face, a golden mask appeared. It was that of a cat face, including slitted holes for her flashing green eyes, a cat's nose and snout and even whiskers.
"Oh please, Halloween's months away, who dresses like that on a daily basis?" Jack drawled, irreverent as ever.
"More insolence...you shall soon learn to show respect for your god!" Basset cried out and lifted her hand device to shoot, but Jack and Teal'c dove out of her field of fire and came up ready to shoot. As planned, as Teal'c shot ineffectually at Basset's personal shield with his staff-weapon, Jack aimed a specially designed air-pistol, which delivered a tranquilizer-dart into the Goa'uld queen's back.
As they had learned with Heru-ur and Osiris, a low velocity, low power projectile, such as a thrown knife or an air-dart, could easily pass through a Goa'uld personal shield while a high velocity bullet or the charge from a staff-weapon could not.
The tranq took effect in seconds; Basset barely aware of being hit by the dart as Teal'c continued to fire at her and she fell to her knees and then face down on the ground, unconscious.
"Splash, one pussy cat." Jack pumped his fist in victory before Teal'c picked up the woman and slung her over his massive shoulders.
"Let me cuff her wrists and ankles, just to be safe and then I'll plant the evidence that we brought with us to implicate Ba'al in her abduction and then we'll be on our way to find the others and get the hell out of Dodge."
"Very well, O'Neill." Teal'c replied ever calm.
Jack finished his work and the two men and their captive returned to the palace to find their teammates. Jack even risked one call on the radio.
"Carter, come in."
"Carter here sir."
"What's your situation?" Jack asked.
"We're fine, but we haven't been able to complete our objective." Sam replied.
"Don't worry, we have." Jack told her. "Can you make it to the Stargate?"
"Affirmative, Colonel, but be aware that Apophis and at least two dozen of his Jaffa are on the premises." Sam warned.
Jack held in the curses he would have liked to spit out at that moment.
"Acknowledged." Was all he said.
SG-1 met up with each other on Jack and Teal'c's side of the throne-room and were silently congratulating themselves on another successful mission when all of sudden they heard the thump, thump, thump of Jaffa marching and then a squad of Basset's guards came around a corner. The leader was First Prime to his Goa'uld mistress and seeing SG-1 he straightened his shoulders and pointed his staff-weapon directly at Jack.
"Hah, we have you surrounded and it will be my great honor to take you to my god, Basset." He postured boldly, unnoticing of the body slung over Teal'c's shoulder.
Jack looked around him and saw that actually they were not surrounded at all.
"I think you've miscalculated a few things Mylo...we aren't surrounded..." Jack began, but was interrupted.
"My name is Flod'on and you will show respect." The Jaffa barked, becoming angry at Jack's sarcastic tone.
"You have a kitty-cat stamped on your forehead and you're expecting respect? Not!" Jack replied before leveling his zat-nick-a-tel and firing.
The rest of his team instinctively fired their weapons at the same time, Sha're catching a few of the Jaffa with her hand-device as well, until all of the guards were dead.
"Let's get out of here." Sam urged, heading down the hallway towards the Gate chamber.
"Why does Colonel Jack mock the demons like that? It only angers them more." Sha're asked Daniel as they ran down the hallway.
"It throws them off, distracts them so that we can shoot first." Daniel explained.
"And it's fun." Jack called back over his shoulder as he ducked inside the Gateroom...and was brought up short by the sight of Apophis and his snake-headed Jaffa. "Ahh damn!" Jack muttered as the rest of his team came in behind him.
But he did not recon on Sha're's reaction to seeing the warriors who served her former captor and tormentor.
"Jaffa kree...and...DIE!" Sha're cried out, activating the personal shield on Amonet's old hand-device, which encircled all five of them and then lifted the weapon to fire at the Jaffa, trying to hit the Goa'uld they protected.
Realizing that they could shoot their zats through the protective shield while it protected them from outside blasts, SG-1 began firing as well.
"We can't let Apophis escape! Don't let him get anywhere near the door or the ring-transport." Jack reminded his teammates. "Daniel, do you think you think that you and Sha're can reach the DHD?"
"Yes, but what about the rest of you? If we go for the dial-home-device, you won't be protected by Sha're's shield anymore." Daniel asked.
"There's no other choice...go." Jack ordered and Daniel nodded reluctantly.
Sha're reformed her shield around herself and Daniel and then they began making their way quickly towards the DHD; firing at the Jaffa who were already in the process of dialing out. A few of the other Jaffa continued to fire at them, but most of the guards were attempting to protect their master and help inch his way towards the ring-platform.
"Teal'c, cover the doorway, Carter with me." Jack yelled before he dove into a quick summersault.
He came up firing several yards away from his last position, with Sam coming out of her roll just behind him; both of them taking refuge behind a storage container and shooting from either side of the crate.
"Colonel, Apophis is making towards the ring-platform, we've gotta stop him!" Sam yelled before she made another leap and a roll towards the transporter with Jack hot on her heals.
"Back off you snake!" Jack yelled. "Carter, cover me." He muttered to his 2IC as he quickly drew out his dart-pistol and tried to load it.
Teal'c and Sam were firing as quickly as they could, but one Jaffa managed to get one good shot off towards Jack...and hit his target.
"AhhhOWwww!" Jack yelled but just managed to complete loading the dart-gun and fired it at Apophis.
The dart broke through the protective shield, but missed the Goa'uld by an inch...
...Meanwhile, Daniel and Sha're had made their way to the DHD, dialed up Earth and the vortex managed to disintegrate two Jaffa who were standing too close to the Gate. But Daniel did not send the IDC. Instead he called the SGC through his radio.
"General, this is Daniel Jackson, I'm going to keep a radio signal flowing through the Stargate to keep the worm-hole open as long as possible, but you must keep the iris closed until I tell you to open it. We're fighting with Apophis and a bunch of his Jaffa, but we can't let them escape. Please stand by and be ready to open the iris on a moment's notice."
On the other end of the worm-hold, General Hammond tried to think clearly through his shock.
"Dr. Jackson, we could send through some back-up support." Hammond suggested as he listened to the sound of staff blasts and the screams of...he hoped...the enemy Jaffa.
"No time to redial, General...oh man, I gotta go..." Daniel yelled through the noise of the battle and that was the last word that General Hammond and the rest of the SGC staff heard for several anxious minutes.
"Sha're, stay here and make sure that no one shuts down this worm-hole, I have to help Jack." Daniel told her too softly to be heard through the radio's microphone.
Daniel had seen Jack try to shoot Apophis with his dart-pistol and miss. But with Apophis facing away from him, Daniel decided that he had the best chance of hitting his most hated enemy if he acted right away. Not wanting to try and throw his knife at Apophis from inside of Sha're's shield, Daniel stepped away from its protection, unsheathed his knife...and threw it as hard as he could.
"Let this work..." He prayed.
The knife flew through the air and found its target; the back of Apophis' neck. And while it was too small to decapitate the host, the blade made quick work of cutting off the symbiote's head, where it had flattened itself and wound its way around the host's spinal column. But unfortunately, Daniel was paying so much attention to the knife's arc across the room, that he did not notice the Jaffa who had been following his actions and who now leveled his staff-weapon and fired. Sha're had been distracted by two other Jaffa and only saw the flash of the staff-weapon as it hit her husband square in the chest.
"DAN'YEL!" She screamed and ran over to him.
Daniel was at best, unconscious and at worst, dead and Sha're did not take the time to find out which before she turned and focused all of her anguish and hatred on the half-dozen Jaffa who still remained standing. She was joined from the other side of the room by Sam, who was also standing protectively over the unconscious form of Jack and although sporting a wounded shoulder, was shooting with mad deliberation...Teal'c was also firing with great purpose, having witnessed his two comrades' fall. And it only took a few seconds more until the rest of the Jaffa had joined their fellows in death.
"Oh man...oh my God..." Sam prayed as she frantically gazed around to make sure that all of the Goa'uld were truly dead. "Teal'c, you okay? Check them all out, would you? Make sure that they're all really dead, especially Apophis. Sha're, you okay?"
"I am well, MajorCarter." Teal'c said before going to check on the Jaffa.
"I...I'm alright, Sam, but, but...Dan'yel...my Dan'yel..." Sha're broke off and slumped to the floor to check out her husband. Then she cried out in Abydonian and Teal'c ran over to her. "Dan'yel, no...stay with me..."
Sam knelt down by Jack and checked him out as well. She was having a hard time concentrating, between Sha're's cries and her own anxiety for her friend...and for Jack. He had been hit in the abdomen, but still had a faint pulse.
"Hang in there Colonel...please..."
She looked over to where Daniel lay.
"Sha're, is Daniel alive?" Sam asked, fearing the worst.
"DanielJackson is alive, but just barely, MajorCarter." Teal'c answered for the weeping woman.
"I think...we'd better dial up Antar instead of going through to Earth. Will you do that, Teal'c?" Sam asked.
"Of course, I think that might be wise, MajorCarter." Teal'c replied and rose up out of his crouch to do so. "General Hammond, this is Teal'c. ColonelO'Neill and DanielJackson are badly wounded. I must close down this worm-hole and open up a new one to Antar. I believe that MaxEvans is their only hope now." Teal'c quickly explained, speaking through his own wrist-radio before shutting down the Stargate and then dialing up another set of co-ordinates.
A moment later, the Stargate burst forth and then settled down to ripple within its circular frame.
"Antarian Security Force, this is Teal'c of the Tau'ri, ColonelJackO'Neill and DoctorDanielJackson are badly injured and in need of immediate medical care."
"Teal'c, this is Michael Guerin; we're sending for Max right now. Can you bring them through to us by yourselves or do you want to wait for us to come to you?"
Teal'c looked over to where Sam was applying what first-aid she could to Jack's wound.
"I don't think they'll make the trip through the freezing cold of the worm-hole, Teal'c." Sam replied, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"We require medical help to come through to our location." Teal'c replied.
"Okay, Teal'c; Max is coming up the hill right now. Shut down the worm-hole and we'll redial from this end. What's your address?" Michael asked and Teal'c told him before shutting down the Stargate yet again.
Just a few miraculously-short moments later, Max, Dr. Ebron, Michael and several other Antarians came through the gate. Max took a quick look around before sending Dr. Ebron over to where Daniel lay and then quick-walked over to where Sam was leaning over Jack. Michael and several of his men spoke to Teal'c and then double-checked all of the Jaffa and Apophis' body.
"Sam, I need you to move back so that I can help Jack." Max said firmly, but gently and Sam immediately did as she was told.
Similarly to Dr. Ebron across the room, Max began to run his hands over Jack's body, but just barely touched it as he diagnosed his patient's condition and searched for a way to make a connection with the Air Force colonel, since he could not look into Jack's eyes. But then there it was, the door Max needed to enter Jack's sub-conscious. He slipped in and as he worked to heal the barely living body, Max was assailed by memories from Jack's past. Aboard Apophis' ship two years ago, Jack had walked out of the room, he, Sam, Teal'c and Bray'tac had all been in; searching for Daniel only to find the fourth member of his team slumped against a door-frame with a huge blast wound in the middle of his chest. He listened as Daniel pleaded with him to leave him behind, that Daniel would watch their backs...that he, Daniel was as good as dead. It had been heart-wrenching to walk away from Daniel that day and Jack felt that same awful pain again today as he regained consciousness briefly, just in time to watch it happen all over again. Jack felt such pride as Daniel managed to knife Apophis in the back, but then the emotional grief overcame him as he watched Daniel slump to the ground after being hit in the chest by a staff-blast.
On the other side to the room, Dr. Ebron was seeing almost the same memories as Max was, except from Daniel's perspective. The incident from a couple of years ago, on Apophis' ship during which Daniel had nearly died after being blasted in almost the same place as he had been today. Ebron saw Jack's expression through Daniel's eyes as the Colonel realized that his friend had sustained a mortal wound...and that he would have to leave him behind...as Daniel promised to use his last few moments of life to watch their backs. Then he saw the excruciating, inch by inch journey that Daniel had made, crawling across the floor to the sarcophagus and somehow dragged himself up and into the alien healing device...
"Oh man...to have to witness your friends...and family...being put into such danger; so badly wounded, time and time again...How do these people do it?' Dr. Ebron wondered as he finished healing Daniel's wound and shook his head in wonder.
"What's wrong, doctor? Will my Dan'yel be okay? Dr. Ebron...?" Sha're asked in panic, seeing the doctor shake his head, it seemed, sadly.
"Hmmm? Oh, Mrs. Jackson...yes, Dr. Jackson should be fine; I was able to heal his wounds." Dr. Ebron was sweating; breathing hard and looked exhausted. "It is a good thing that you called us for help though, instead of taking him back to Earth. With all due respect to Janet Fraser's medical expertise and her incredible determination to keep her patients alive...I don't think that your husband would have survived if he had been placed under her care this time; his wounds were just too extensive."
"But he will...live...this time?" Sha're asked again, still worried.
"Dr. Jackson will need a blood transfusion; he lost a lot of blood...and he will need quite a bit of rest and TLC, but he should make a complete recovery."
"But, Doctor, what is this TLC?" Sha're asked, still frightened.
"It is something that I'm sure you have in abundance...tender, loving, care." Ebron explained, smiling.
"Oh, yes, yes I can give my Dan'yel lots and lots of that!" Sha're exclaimed happily.
"Good, I'm happy to hear that my patient will be in good hands." Dr. Ebron assured her wearily. "Let's see how my Lord King is doing with the Colonel." Ebron said as he motioned two of the other Antarians over, to keep an eye on Daniel.
Max was just coming out of his trance when Sha're and Dr. Ebron walked over to them.
"How is Colonel O'Neill sir?" Ebron asked.
"He will be okay." Max said, taking Sam's hands in his own and looking straight into her eyes. "I'm glad that I was called to help him, he was very seriously wounded. He will need a blood transfusion, but should heal completely. Dr. Ebron, how is your patient?" Max asked.
"He should be fine, sir...after he also received a blood transfusion and has had quite a bit of rest." Dr. Ebron reported.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now let's get our patients ready to transport to Antar. Dr. Ebron, do you concur?" Max checked with the Antarian physician.
"Yes, sir." Ebron answered.
Everyone worked together to place the two patients on gurneys, cover them up with warm blankets and gather up all of the gear which SG-1 had brought with them, including a still unconscious Basset; they still did not want to leave any evidence of their having been there, behind. But it was not until the Stargate was dialing up Antar that Max noticed the blood on Sam's arm.
"Sam, why didn't you tell us that you had been wounded?" Max asked rather angry at himself that he had not noticed Sam's wound before this.
"It's nothing much, it can wait until we get to Antar." Sam replied. "I didn't want to worry anyone when Jack and Daniel were so badly injured."
"Well let's see it now; I don't want you going through the worm-hole with an unprotected, much less an unhealed wound, Major." Max said authoritatively before helping Sam to roll her sleeve up. "Mmm, well it certainly isn't 'nothing' as you diagnosed, 'Dr. Carter', but it should be easily healed...Look into my eyes, Sam."
Sam looked into Max's amber eyes and the connection was made. As he healed her arm, Max saw the battle from Sam's point of view. Just as Jack had fought to protect Sam, protect the rest of his team , complete the mission and kill Apophis and every Jaffa in sight with extreme prejudice...so had Sam fought as well...with the fierceness of a woman in love.
'Well, well, well, now isn't that interesting?' Max thought to himself with satisfaction as he came out of his trance and checked out how well he had healed Sam's arm; he was truly exhausted now.
"How does it feel, Sam?" Max asked.
"It feels great, Max; just like the first time you healed me. Thanks a lot." Sam replied happily.
"Good...and now you and my other patients are safe to step through the worm-hole." Max said motioning for the two gurneys to be picked up and carried through the Stargate with the rest of them following behind.
When the group came through on the other side, Dr. Janet Fraser was there waiting for them.
"How are Daniel and the Colonel?" She demanded, running over to where the two patients had been set down for the moment.
"They sustained very serious injuries, but we were able to heal them almost totally; they should recover completely." Dr. Ebron reported to his colleague...and lady-love. "Also, Major Carter was wounded in the arm, but I believe that King Zan completely healed that before we left the planet."
"I'll check her out. What do you mean by 'healed almost totally'?" Janet asked.
"They will need blood transfusions, Doctor." Ebron said, trying to remain professional while dealing with this woman he was falling in love with. "It should be safe to transport them back to Earth now, if you wish, or you could bring a supply of blood and administer it here."
"Do you truly believe that blood is all that they will need to recover?" Janet asked, trusting this man she was also falling in love with. "They won't require any further surgery?"
"They shouldn't, Janet. Why don't you let us take them to our health facility, you can order a supply of blood and then follow us down and examine them there." Ebron suggested and Janet nodded.
"Let me contact the General, order one of my staff to bring the blood and then I'll follow you down." Janet said.
"I'll see you soon then." Ebron said softly, gently.
"I'll get there as soon as I can." Janet agreed, blushing just a little.
When Janet stepped back through the Stargate, she found General Hammond waiting for her at the foot of the ramp and three of her most experienced medics suited up and ready to go, just as she had left them, thirty minutes before.
"Doctor, how are Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson?" George Hammond fought to keep the fear he had for the health and safety of his most elite team out of his voice.
"They...should be fine sir. If I may give my people some instructions, sir then I'll be happy to brief you on their conditions before I head back." Janet answered.
"Head back?" General Hammond asked, but then held up his hand to forestall her answer. "Go instruct your people, Doctor and then come brief me in my office."
"Thank you sir." Janet said before indicating to her medics that they should follow her back to the Infirmary.
Twenty minutes later, Janet Fraser knocked on the General's door and was called to enter.
"That was fast, Doctor...but if all of SG-1 are fine, as you say, what is this urgency I sense to return to Antar? The Royal Wedding isn't for ten days." Hammond asked.
"According to what Dr. Ebron told me, Dr. Jackson took a staff blast directly to his chest and would have died in less than half an hour if Dr. Ebron hadn't been able to heal him right then and there. Colonel O'Neill took a staff blast directly to his abdominal region and also would have died soon after if Max Evans hadn't been able to heal him. Also, Major Carter was wounded in her bicep area, but that was more painful than serious and Max Evans quickly healed the burn before they were transported to Antar. What the Colonel and Dr. Jackson do need within the next two hours, to allow them to heal quickly and completely, is blood. They lost a lot of it and Antarian healers can't replace it for them."
"I see..." Hammond replied thoughtfully. "And after they've been given the transfusion, Doctor?"
"I believe they will be completely recovered and up and around in two days; they only just need to rest after suffering from such trauma, sir." Janet answered.
"Very well, Doctor, go gather together whatever you need to take with you and I will accompany you through the Gate." Hammond told her.
"I'm sure that SG-1 would feel quite honored that you came to see them, sir." Janet said before rising from her chair and leaving the office.
Another twenty minutes passed and Dr. Fraser was back with two of her medics who were carrying small coolers filled with blood packs on their backs.
"Ready to go, Doctor?" General Hammond asked.
"Yes, sir." Janet replied.
The General nodded and indicated to one of the technicians in the control room to begin the dial-up process. Minutes later, the General and three medical personnel were stepping through the Stargate and coming out on the other side into the Antar Gate chamber.
"General, what a nice surprise." Liz Parker greeted the SGC personnel.
"Good to see you as well, Dr. Parker." George replied.
"You'll be wanting to see the Colonel and Daniel...this way please. I have a hover-craft waiting to take us all down the hill." Liz told them.
As the hover-craft took them down the hill and into the city, Janet noticed that they had passed the hospital and seemed to be on their way to the Royal Manor.
"Dr. Ebron said that he would be taking our patients to the medical facility?"
"Yes well, that was before he mentioned to the Colonel that he was being taken to the hospital for observation. Jack made such a fuss about how he'd never get any rest in the hospital and wasn't that the main idea...that Dr. Ebron and Max were the ones persuaded to just allow Daniel and Jack to stay in their quarters. Jack did have a point; the two of them do mostly need to rest. We can set up the blood transfusions for them anywhere and both Max and Dr. Ebron can easily keep an eye on each of them." Liz finished explaining with a resigned shrug.
"Max and Dr. Ebron don't have the experience of dealing with Colonel O'Neill when he's..." Janet glanced over to her C.O. "...uh being a cranky patient." She amended what she had been about to say and saw Liz hide her own grin.
The hover-craft arrived at the house where Jack and Sam were quartered and it was only then that Liz, feeling guilty that she had not done so before, thought to warn Max and thereby Jack and Sam, that she was bringing General Hammond into their house.
When Janet, General Hammond and one of the medics entered "Jack's room", Max was standing beside the bed speaking to his patient and Sam was lounging in a chair across the room, but Hammond's sharp eyes picked up certain signs that all was not as it seemed.
Jack was laying on the right side of the bed, but there were wrinkles in the blankets on the left side which hinted that someone else had been lying next to him. George also noticed two suitcases which had been stashed away in a corner...and one boot; too small to be Jack's, poking out from under the left side of the bed. General Hammond saw all of these things and Max watched him as his gaze traveled around the room briefly pausing on the tell-tale signs of dual occupation.
'I'll speak to the General after we've checked on Daniel.' Max thought to himself.
"How're you feeling Colonel, Major?" Hammond asked, concern for his two officers the only emotion which was showing on his face.
"I'm fine, sir; thanks to Max...just a little tired." Jack admitted.
General Hammond frowned as the realization hit him. If Jack O'Neill was actually admitting to fatigue and willing to lay down, he must truly be exhausted and/or still hurting. And it greatly worried him to contemplate how close to death his second-in-command must have come, if Max Evans could not effect a complete healing.
"I'm fine, sir; also thanks to Max. I was just making sure that the Colonel stayed in bed until Janet arrived." Sam replied breaking into Hammond's troubled thoughts.
"Speaking of which, I need to set up a blood transfusion for you Colonel." Janet piped up, coming forward.
"Oh, I forgot; you'll need a hook of some sort to hang the IV from won't you?" Max asked and Janet nodded, looking around for something they could use. "Here will this do?" Max asked.
He reached up, touched the wall behind the bed and seemingly pulled a metal branch horizontally out of the wall. The tip of the branch had a hook in it, just right to hang an IV bag from.
"Uh...thank you, Max." Janet said; her eyes huge.
"Will you need anything else, do you think?" Max asked her, but Janet could only shake her head no.
"Well, General, perhaps you'd like to go visit Daniel while Dr. Fraser gets to work?" Max suggested.
"Good idea; Colonel, Major, I expect you both to follow any orders Dr. Fraser gives you so that my two best officers can return to duty as soon as possible." Hammond said sternly.
"Thanks, General." Jack murmured trying not to watch as Janet plumbed for a vein in his arm.
"Yes, sir; thank you sir." Sam added before her superior left the room behind Max.
Max led George Hammond through the Royal Gardens and into the Manor; both men deep in thought. When they entered Daniel's room, they found a medic already there, just completing the set up for the transfusion. Daniel was comfortably tucked into bed and it looked as though Sha're had been lying beside him although on top of the covers. Now she was partially sitting up, propped on one arm and carefully watching the medic's activity. But as soon as she saw the General and Max come into the room, she stood up to greet them.
"General Hammond, Max."
"I see you have our patient well under control." General Hammond remarked. "How are you feeling Mrs. Jackson?"
"I am fine; it is my Dan'yel I'm worried about." Sha're replied stiffly.
"I'll be okay Honey, you know that." Daniel told her softly.
"It...doesn't sound as though you're fine." Max said troubled.
"I...I was unable to keep my husband safe or protect his teammates." Sha're said guiltily, glancing down.
"Sha're." Daniel murmured tiredly from the bed. "We've been over this already...If we'd all stayed within your personal shield, Apophis would've overwhelmed us easily; your shield couldn't have lasted forever, stretched like it was."
"And as Teal'c has reported to me, you could not allow Apophis to escape to warn the other Goa'uld of our plans." Max assured the distraught woman.
"Sha're, you saved our lives; you were able to take out most of the Jaffa and keep Apophis distracted enough so that we were able to do what we needed to." Daniel added and patted the bed beside him. "Please, come and lay down; I know you're just as tired as I am, Love."
Sha're glanced doubtfully at the three men in the room.
"I'm all set here, ma'am." The medic said, double-checking the IV tubing. "Dr. Fraser will come by to check on Dr. Jackson later, but I'll leave you for now...General." He nodded to his C.O. and then left.
"We'll leave you to rest as well." General Hammond said kindly. "Both of you get some rest...Mr. Evans, is there somewhere we might speak privately?"
"Of course, General." Max replied. "I'll check in on you later." He told Daniel and Sha're before motioning the General out of the room and shut the door behind them.
Max led the way downstairs and towards the back of the house where his office was located. The room was not huge, but it had a lovely wall of windows and books lining the other three walls. There was a sofa underneath the windows and a table with four chairs in one corner, while Max's desk stood in front of one of the book-lined walls. It was a comfortable room, but efficient for a man who had a great deal to do.
"Have a seat, General." Max motioned towards the sofa and took a seat there himself. "May I offer you something to drink or eat?"
"No thank you, Your Majesty." General Hammond replied.
'Uh oh, the General is being formal, something's wrong. Maybe I should've sat behind my desk.' Max thought to himself. "What can I do for you General?" He asked, sitting up straight and becoming equally formal.
"I've been noticing some things...between Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill." The General stated.
"Indeed?" Max replied noncommittally.
"Don't 'indeed' me, Your Majesty!" The General barked, but then modified his tone when Max gave him a reproving look. "I know that you spoke to the President and he's spoken to me about my two officers...that they've fallen in love with ach other and that you have encouraged them to break regulations."
"We have no such regulations here on Antar, General." Max replied.
"But they are still under my command, no matter which planet they Gate to and therefore Air Force regulations still apply." The General shot back. "They could be court marshaled for this."
"Well, I certainly hope not, General." Max replied. "Sir, Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill have been fighting their feelings for one another since the day they met. During that time they have worked extremely well together and with their teammates...managing to save the Earth how many times, General?" Max asked.
"More times than I can count." General Hammond admitted and Max shrugged.
"Their feelings all came out because of certain circumstances which happened here, but all without any help from any of us. And yes, I encouraged them to explore their relationship and feelings for each other, but we have regulations here on Antar as well. All of our people are to be in control of their emotions and actions and you cannot control anything if you are not honest about your emotions or, even worse, try to suppress them. I have not seen them, but I know that Sam and Jack have had long discussions with each other...about their thoughts and feelings for each other, about their pasts; what they want for the future and everything in between. They have continued to act properly in public and to complete their duties as excellently as any commander could hope for. Have you noticed any changes in their behavior while they were at the SGC, General?" Max asked.
"No...I haven't." Hammond admitted. "And I've thought back over the years they've served together...after the President spoke to me. In fact, I didn't notice anything until today and even those signs would've been invisible unless you were really looking for them."
"And has the President made any decision in regards to Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill...have you?" Max asked.
"The President had made his decision, but he wants me to weigh in on it as well. It's a difficult decision; whether to bend the regs just for two officers. And then what do we do in the future?" The General shook his head. "I am to give the President my decision with the next seven days and he will give Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter his final answer when he comes back to Antar, to attend your wedding."
"I...see." Max replied thoughtfully. 'But you won't tell me what the President's decision is or in what direction your own thoughts on the matter are leaning.' Max thought to himself. 'But surely the President wouldn't spoil our festivities by giving a negative decision on our wedding day, or even the day after...would he..?'
TBC
