Chapter 6 – Interlude

Kefnu - or Lottie Ray, as these primitive beings currently knew her - eyed her next host, openly displaying her interest to the pitiful man.

She knew very little about him, except that he had only recently come down to the planet, and had the means and knowledge to get back off again. The man wandered over in what he obviously thought an attractive way, and seated himself next to her.

"How 'bout I buy you a refill?" he asked, giving her a smirk.

"That wasn't exactly what I had in mind," she told him truthfully, inwardly sneering at the human's gullibility and weak mindedness. She drained the glass and stood, raising an eyebrow at the pleased looking man. "You coming?" she asked, sauntering off and heading out of the door, and into a back alley.

The man caught up with her around the next corner, catching her arm and spinning her to face him.

He smiled at her and ducked in for a kiss, pushing her against the wall.

In one swift movement, Kefnu had spun the man around and pinned him against the wall, one hand around his neck, and the other reaching for the golden hand device that was in her bag.

"That was not what I had intended either," she informed him, voice resonating and eyes flashing.

"Easy, now; you don't need to-"

"I am your God. I will do as I please."

She pulled her hand out, the ribbon device in place and activated it, putting the man into a trance-like state.

She wasted no time in killing the host and leaping into the man; gaining control just in time to see the blonde woman fall to the ground lifelessly.

His eyes flashed and he tilted one head to the side.

"Interesting," he commented as he gained access to the host's memories. Flexing his muscles and testing out his new body, he found it to be in good physical condition before he deftly pocketed his previous hosts belongings - those of any use, at least - and gathered the large, cumbersome golden ribbon device. His new knowledge prompted him to consider new things…a less obvious hand device among them.

He also now had a way of access a position of power…maybe they would not accept a God…but this Emperor was an interesting being…reminiscent slightly of Sokar.

He had not hesitated to take the opportunity when Telk had sent a force through to one of his old master Ba'al's planets, and he would not hesitate now.

Pulling out a blaster, he shot the dead woman a few times, knowing that it was not unusual for one of the mercs to turn up dead, before walking swiftly away, heading to the shuttle he knew would take him to a place of power.


Jack bolted upright, his chest heaving and a sheen of sweat glistening on his face and arms. The Air Force academy t-shirt that he wore stuck to him damply as he disentangled his legs from the bed covers and put his head in his hands, rubbing his face as if to wipe away the last trace elements of the dream.

"Dammit, it's just a dream!" he told himself angrily.

It had seemed so real, though he knew it couldn't possibly be true. Sam was gone, completely vanished from their galaxy to who knew where.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he climbed out of his bed and made his way to the shower, glancing at his watch to see that it was 5:13 am, exactly four years to the day since she had been taken.

The SGC scientists had only recently managed to decipher the technology of the device that had been used to boost the energy of the DHD, build a new one out of Earth's technology, and then work out how to fit it into the base's computers.

Stepping under the soothing hot water of the shower, Jack couldn't stop the images of his dream resurfacing.

He landed on the other side of the 'gate in a rush, stepping out of the wormhole with practised ease. Teal'c and Daniel followed with a grace not quite managed by the newest addition to the team, who stumbled and rolled down the steps, landing at the bottom with an audible 'oof'.

Jack rolled his eyes and jumped easily down the steps, grabbing Sorrell by the back of his tactical vest and pulling him up.

This was only his third trip through the 'gate and he hadn't mastered the landing techniques yet.

"O'Neill!"

"What?…Oh…hello!" Jack reacted instinctively, his P-90 snapping up as he spied several rows of beings, lined up across the far side of the wall. Almost all were wearing some form of military uniform and were aiming rifles at them.

Then he saw the figure that stood, in shocked disbelief about twenty yards in front of the others, about halfway between them.

His stomach flipped, and his heart gave a huge wrench.

"Sam?" he heard Daniel cry in shock. The figure blinked and, in one smooth movement she had reached to the holster at her thigh and had drawn it, pointing it at them with a pained look in her eyes. He could hear the lines of the alien military tense, it was obvious that they viewed Sam as some kind of leader although she wore form-fitting black pants and a blue jacket rather than the uniform that the rest wore.

She looked virtually the same, short hair, blue eyes, stunning figure…but she seemed older…not only in years but in knowledge too.

All of a sudden, Jack heard movement behind him, and a figure darted out from behind the Stargate, firing across at the military force, and Jack saw a uniformed figure fall lifelessly to the floor.

And then, all hell broke loose as the military started firing at anyone who wasn't a part of their group.

"NO!" he heard Sam yell as she swiftly turned, standing sideways on the them, one hand out to the left and right of her, palms out as if she would stop the bullets and energy bolts with her bare hands.

Jack had woken as a hail of bullets and energy had screamed towards the calm face of the concentrating blonde.

Shaking his head to rid himself of the nightmare, he finished showering and decided to head towards the base, knowing that Daniel would be there, trying to distract himself with some translations from somewhere or other.

Half an hour later, he had dragged the man from his office, where he had once again fallen asleep at his desk, and was now making him eat something.

"O'Neill," Teal'c greeted him, placing his pile of food on the table. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company at this hour of the morning?"

"Oh, I just y'know thought I'd come in and do so-"

"The same reason we're all here, and up at this time every year," Daniel said quietly, staring morosely at his coffee.

"Yeah."

"I see."

The three lapsed into silence, picking at their food…well, Daniel and Jack picked, Teal'c just didn't eat as eagerly as usual.

Daniel doubted that - as bad as it sounded - they wouldn't be as upset about it if Sam had been killed. They didn't know if she was suffering at the moment or if she was dead, but if they knew for sure that she was gone, then they could put her memory to rest. But as it stood, they had no idea and guilt constantly gnawed at them for leaving her behind…Jack in particular.

If you're out there, Sam, then I'm sorry, and I love you, the archaelogist thought, looking at the ceiling.

Though he didn't know it, Jack was thinking much the same thing as he scratched idly at the scar on his left bicep, just below his armpit.