The central computer analyzed the life forms that were currently moving through the laboratory - three humanoids, two males and one female, basic bipedal life forms with signs of higher brain functions. They were in excellent health and extremely fit, they were prime candidates for the change. The Goa'uld symbiote was not present, but that was not necessary. The Lords often sent individuals for the change.
The computer made the necessary adjustments to it's systems, accessing the correct files, preparing the proper equipment.
Soon now it would be ready to make the change for it's masters.
"Okay, kids, we ready?" Jack's fingers tapped the edge of the DHD. Daniel had written the address down for him, and he had it out. "This place is giving me the creeps."
He had been hurrying the two scientists for the last thirty minutes. With every minute that ticked by, he felt they were passing some failsafe for their safe return. Looking back, he was gratified to find his teammates picking up their packs and taking one last look around.
"Alright, Jack," Daniel muttered irritably.
Jack knew he was being unreasonable. His team wasn't used to seeing him so worked up, but they knew his mood and they were working hard not to make it worse. "Just dial the address, we're right behind you."
Jack had been waiting for this moment. He pressed the glyphs quickly and surely. He'd already dialed the address twice, just to make sure they were right. Then the general had radioed to tell the colonel that Jack was going to pay the electric bill next month if he kept it up.
After that, Jack had just fidgeted, watching over their shoulder, asking if they were ready yet. Generally driving them to distraction. Now they were on their way, Jack let out a sigh of relief.
The address dialed, Jack moved to stand next to the open gate waiting for the other two to join him.
"Last one through the gate is a rotten egg," his mood was starting to lighten now that the gate was open and Carter and Daniel were moving toward him. Satisfied that they were at last getting with the program, he turned and began to step through the rippling surface of the gate.
It was then that he heard the strange hissing noise. He had just enough time to turn his head to see Carter and Daniel crumple and fall. Then the gate had him, pulling him through inexorably. By the time he exited at the SGC he was unconscious. Crashing into the ramp he was totally unaware of his head impacting first and his body following, to lie in an inelegant heap.
Watching from the observation room above the gate room, General George Hammond was horrified to see the body of Jack O'Neill come shooting through the gate to lie lifeless on the ramp. He hit the alarm as someone else called the medical emergency. The marines in the embarkation room stood at the ready as they waited for the return of the rest of SG1 - or worse, through the gate.
By the time Frasier and her medical team had removed the unconscious colonel, the gate had disengaged. The only traveler through the gate had been the colonel. Of the rest of his team there was no sign or word of their condition.
Teal'c, who had returned from his recon,was in the gate room preparing to join his team when Jack had come flying through the gate. He watched as the medical team carried him from the room, then he turned to the general, "General Hammond, I require permission to go through the gate so that I may determine the condition of Major Carter and Daniel Jackson, and rescue them if possible."
It was hard for the general, he too wanted to know where the rest of SG-1 was, but he shook his head. "I can't allow that, Teal'c. No one's going back through that gate until the colonel wakes up and can tell us what happened."
Teal'c knew he was right, strategically speaking. But he had learned from years of living and working with the Tau'ri that what made sense in terms of logic and strategy wasn't always what the heart wanted to hear. It didn't matter what danger lay on the other side of the gate. His friends were there.
Daniel Jackson whom he regarded as his special responsibility to keep safe. And Samantha Carter, she who had a heart as fierce as any male warrior he had ever known. Along with Jack O'Neill, they were his friends and his family. He felt as if he had failed them in the most basic of ways by not being at their side when they had need of him. Now he needed to be with them, even if it was to die at their side.
Quickly he calculated the odds of overpowering the guards, making it to the dialing computer and escaping before he could be stopped. He rejected the idea in an instant and instead, asked simply, "Perhaps a probe may be sent to determine the fate of Major Carter and Daniel Jackson?"
"We're already on it," the General assured him.
Teal'c bowed slightly, "Then I shall go wait with O'Neill until he regains consciousness and can tell us more."
The general watched him leave. In the beginning he had had great reservations about the alien. Those suspicions had been well-grounded; Teal'c had been Apophis' First Prime, commanding armies in the name of his God. Now, in a strange twist of fate, the man was their most trusted ally in their fight against the Goa'uld.
"Good man," Hammond murmured as he watched the Jaffa accept another man's orders over the wishes of his own heart.
Hell, the general knew how he felt. He wanted to grab a gun and go after the Major and Doctor Jackson himself. Years of experience had taught him that there was more danger to going in unprepared than to take the time to regroup and to have a well thought out plan. Daniel and the Major would be all right - they had to be.
He turned back to the people waiting for his orders. As the Jaffa disappeared down the stairs, the general began to bark orders. The people around him hurried to do something, anything, that would bring their missing friends home.
In the laboratory, the main computer noted in its logs that one male had departed. Perhaps he had thought the facility inoperative, unable to fulfill his needs. Perhaps he had gone back to report to the Goa'uld system lords that the facility was no longer operational. But he was wrong as he would find out when his companions failed to return with him. He would return for the change and he would find the facility ready to receive him.
It had taken much longer to get its systems back on-line, longer than the main computer had calculated. It had been many years since its services had been needed. It had been forced to bypass several major systems and the power had been uncertain for some time. But now at last, everything was prepared.
There were two subjects remaining for the change. Soon the facility would prove that it was once again ready and able to fulfill the desires of the masters.
To be continued