Head Trip - Chapter 2

Carter glanced at her watch. It had been over six hours since arriving on this planet and the negotiations were going nowhere. She felt frustrated at the elders' reluctance to reveal much about themselves and their demands. In fact, this supposedly respected "circle of wisdom" seemed to be going in circles! It was an amusing paradox: a "circle" leading her back to a "square one".

Her thoughts drifted momentarily to her CO. She knew that O'Neill was not happy to send her through the Gate alone, but the orders had come from the President himself – at the recommendation of Thor. The supreme commander of the Asgard had come into possession of some highly important intel from a Tok'ra operative which implied that this planet's elders were in possession of Replicator documents, including plans for future attacks and the location of Fifth's base. She grimaced as the thought of Fifth entered her mind. Jack knew, as did Thor, that her brief capture, not so long ago, had caused a lot of psychic pain. At least they now had a weapon which seemed to be capable of wiping out pockets of replicators; that is, when they could find them. The Tok'ra spy alluded to the fact that there would be more to this mission than the surface secrets the elders were willing to share. It was Carter's duty to win their trust, and then gain access to the more highly guarded intel. Wanting the woman warrior, alone, as the prime negotiator seemed odd, but she soon warmed up to the idea, especially after Daniel reminded her, proudly, that "dux femina facti" – in ancient times and revered cultures, the "leader of the deed was a woman".

"Colonel Carter, you seem distracted."

She quickly looked up and around the circle to see all eyes staring back at her. A sudden chill caused her to shiver … their eyes were so intense and, even more disconcertingly, somehow familiar.

"I'm sorry, my mind drifted for a moment …" This is ridiculous; Daniel should be sitting in this circle, not me.

Just as the eldest male was about to speak, a horrendous cry pierced the still air. Carter turned in its direction, her finger on the trigger of her P90. What she saw made her blood run cold. Fifth was standing at the foot of the Gate and, obviously, in great distress. He had a look of utter desolation and despair upon his stricken face as he clutched his arms to his body. He was almost doubled over in pain.

Time seemed to stand still. For a moment, Carter feared that she might be caught in the same time-dilation trap that SG-1 had originally set for Fifth and his "brothers and sisters" on that other fateful mission for Thor a few years ago. The moment passed, though, as Fifth stopped his wailing, straightened, and pointed to her.

Before she could release the safety on her weapon, the P90 was struck from her hand and she was flung to the ground. Stunned, she looked up into the smirking face of First. Within seconds, all of the elders had undergone an insane metamorphosis, returning to their original human-form Replicator selves.

The "circle of wisdom" was nothing more than a sham – a clever ploy to lure her to this planet! She was the one charged with the mission to deceive and detect and discover the hidden Replicator intel – all along, they were the ones manipulating her and the General, the Tok'ra and Thor. To what end?

First motioned Fifth to his side. Together, they looked down on their prisoner.

Carter tried to settle her stomach as the chilling realization gripped her. This was not a planet harboring secrets about a common enemy – this was the enemy! And, quite possibly, this was the Replicators' new base of operations.

With the snap of First's fingers, the sickening sound of metallic "limbs" grew louder and louder. Carter shut her eyes, trying to eradicate the apocalyptic vision appearing before her. From near and far the menacing bugs came, hissing and humming and forming a new circle – a circle of doom – around her. But they did not come alone.

At the command of Fifth, new human-form "elders" appeared, droning what seemed to be some type of funeral dirge while moving forward and forming an even wider circle of containment outside the perimeter of her mechanical captors.

"Our sister is dead" cried Fifth. "All because of her!" At that, the chanting and keening became a cacophony of grief.

Carter had no idea whom they were mourning.