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A CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE.
By Lingren.
Previously:-
The only reply Jefferson gave to that was to shoot at the General who flinched from the effect as the bullet bounced harmlessly off the glass.
"Shit!" Landry exclaimed with feeling, and Walter couldn't agree more.
Chapter 5
Major General Landry hurried up the stairs two at a time, he had several phone calls to make and lots to think about. He had to break the tension in the gate-room and find a solution without anyone else getting hurt.
The first thing he did on reaching his office was to order the locking up of the mountain. He wasn't taking any chances that the Goa'uld would manage to get out of the gate-room and head up top. That was totally unacceptable. He didn't want to think of the cost to his crew, let alone to the world at large.
Having instigated the lock down he called the President to advise him of the situation, who then asked why he wasn't going through O'Neill, Landry had to explain that unfortunately Jack was one of the fallen victims and he wasn't sure at this point in time if General O'Neill was still alive.
Landry called on his most experienced officers that were available and sat down to discuss tactics and the best way to resolve the situation.
Meanwhile back in the gate-room, Jefferson released Carolyn Lam at last. He pushed her away roughly, making her fall to her knees, then placed a surprisingly gentle hand round the cheek of the dead soldier and openly wept.
"My son," the Goa'uld cried. It was too late. The young Lieutenant's body had been too badly damaged for his son to repair and he'd died trying.
Carolyn had been surprised by Jefferson's outburst, but was glad she was free from his grip at last. She rubbed her arm, trying to bring some life back to the numb limb.
She looked around her at the chaos and felt helpless.
Just then Jack released a slight groan and moved his head slightly. His hand twitched and Carolyn was amazed that he was still alive. She ignored the Goa'uld and his men and crawled towards the General in order to check him over. His dark, pain filled eyes flickered open and he was gasping for breath.
"Easy General. Try not to move," she whispered, placing a restraining hand on his shoulder.
Sam and Daniel had recovered from the charge, but they were still sitting on the floor, barely able to move under the threat of a second blast from the Zat gun in Valetti's hand as it hovered threateningly nearby. Sam could barely comprehend what had happened, but at the sight of Jack lying there covered in blood made her heart stop, until she heard Carolyn whispering to him and his breathy gasps. She was worried sick that he wouldn't make it if he didn't get help soon.
Walsh was standing by the door, covering the SF's with his pistol in one hand and a Zat in the other.
Mike had closed his eyes and relaxed as much as he could, allowing his symbiote, Maldek, to heal him. He didn't know what the situation behind him was, but he hoped to god that Jack would be okay. If only he could get to him and use the healing device, then things would be better.
Sam saw the Tok'ra open his eyes again, obviously feeling better and hung her head so that Mike couldn't see her silent tears.
Actually, Mike didn't need to see them, he instinctively knew that things were bad, especially when he heard the commotion going on now, and Sam's head shot up; her eyes widening further in fear.
"Get away from him!" Jefferson yelled, grabbing Carolyn and pulling her away from Jack."
"He needs my help. He'll die too if I don't stop the bleeding!"
"So be it! He has plagued the System Lords for too long."
"Let me help him!" Carolyn demanded, fighting to pull herself free of the iron like grip on her arm.
"No!" roared Jefferson. "He must die as did my son!" He aimed his weapon back at Jack, threatening to pull the trigger.
Everyone in the room held their breath; nobody wanted to see the General die. Sam gasped in fear. She was thinking frantically for some way out of this, but it was like she was frozen; all her thoughts were stuck on Jack's bleeding form lying a few feet from her. It wasn't meant to be like this. They were...well, she'd hoped that they would be able to talk over things between them during his visit. She wanted nothing more than to show him how much she cared for him. Loved him. This was a nightmare, it just couldn't be happening!
Jefferson looked round the crowded room and sneered, addressing them all.
"You Tau'ri are so pathetically weak. Your bodies are fragile and easily broken. I can make you strong. I will let you live if you join the ranks of my Jaffa! Together we can rule this world!"
He waited for an answer, but none came, except a few snorts of derision. No-one wanted to see him take over the Earth and certainly not as his Jaffa, they would all sooner die than see that happen. Someone somewhere made a derogatory comment, which only served to anger him more. Sam glared at the SFs, from where the snort had emanated, willing them not to provoke the Goa'uld into killing Jack.
"Who are you?" Teal'c asked, hoping to distract the Goa'uld from shooting his friend again.
Jefferson's eyes glowed and an evil sneer appeared on his face.
"Shol'va!" he spat, recognising Teal'c for Apophis' ex-First Prime. You are not worthy to know my name. You shall not speak it."
"So tell me anyway!" Daniel said, speaking up for the first time, hoping to carry on distracting the Goa'uld.
"Dr. Daniel Jackson," Jefferson said slowly. He puffed up his chest and with a whole heap of conceit, he consented to telling them, his arrogance obvious. "I am Mim."
"Who?" someone muttered softly.
Daniel shook his head, he hadn't heard of a god called Mim before. He glanced up at Teal'c, but the Jaffa shook his head slightly too; he hadn't heard of the false god either. Seeing how Mim's ego had inflated with self importance, maybe they could use it to their advantage, Daniel wondered.
"Ah...excuse me?" Daniel held up his hand pointing his index finger to the ceiling to attract Mim's attention. "What could be more degrading and beneath such an exulted Goa'uld as yourself, than killing..." and he hoped Jack would forgive him for this, "...an old man who is no threat to you or your um...ambitions?"
Mim spun round and glared at Daniel, so the archaeologist could see the barb had hit home.
"Be silent!" he yelled, but he did lower the gun which was Daniel's point entirely.
Mim's eyes roamed the room and came back to settle on Sam. He positively crowed with delight when his host accidentally revealed a private detail about her and O'Neill.
"You!" he called, pointing to Sam. "Colonel Carter of the infamous SG-1, come, kneel before your god!"
Sam was torn from her inner turmoil by the sound of his summons. Eventually and reluctantly she stood, not wishing to make any sudden movement to set the Goa'uld off, then make her way slowly over to where Mim stood, studiously ignoring Jack's supine form. She couldn't bear to see him like that. After Carolyn had spoken to him, he'd lapsed back into unconsciousness again.
Mim grabbed her by the arm, his hand gripping her tight enough to make her squirm in pain. He was looking her up and down with predatory and appreciative eyes.
He looked down at Jack again and smiled evilly.
"I shall spare his life if you will consent to be my queen," he purred softly into her ear.
Sam stiffened and closed her eyes at the choiceless proposition, her body going cold at the thought of becoming his mate, but it was her or Jack. Jack or her. His life was precious to her, and she could only hope that if and when he recovered he would be able to find it in his heart to forgive her for putting his life before hers. She strengthened her resolve and looked down on him, drinking in his lax features, satisfied that he was breathing still, she gave in.
She nodded her acceptance. She would do anything for Jack; even this.
Mim released her and ran his hand over her face and down round her breasts, softly growling with anticipated pleasure.
"It would please me more to take you away from O'Neill. My host was aware of your...connection. My victory here will be all the more sweeter now that I have you."
OoOoOoOoO
General Landry looked across the wide expanse of table towards Major Rodgers, the expression on his face showing his doubts.
"Do you really think that will work?"
"What do we have to lose sir? I can't guarantee that nobody else will get hurt in the ensuing choas, but I believe it's the best option we have General."
Landry slumped back in his chair, and steepled his hands against his lips while he weighed up the pros and cons of the proposed plan.
"Sir, I can't see any other way to do this. At least this way, it should cut down our losses to the minimum," Rodgers pleaded.
"Those are our men down there Major. I won't accept any more deaths." He stopped short as he recalled the incident. At least one or two of the security detail were dead and maybe even Jack too, he couldn't tell from the control room window.
The room fell silent as they thought over the dramatic details of several minutes ago. They could all see the situation developing in the gate-room two floors below them.
"Ah sir," Walter had entered the room now, calling the General's attention. "Sir, Colonel Carter...um...she's just agreed to become the Goa'uld's queen sir..."
"She what?" Landry gasped. There were other gasps from around the table too at this news.
"The Goa'uld didn't give her much of a choice sir. He said he would spare General O'Neill's life if she agreed. Now he's demanding that we open up the gate and let him return to his home world, promising to return later with his new queen."
Landry looked round at the men under his command. What he was about to ask them was not going to be easy, but for the sake of the Colonel, and for Jack O'Neill, he didn't have much of an option left open to him.
"Major," he sighed with regret, looking straight at Rodgers. He was also determined to resolve the problem the best possible way, so this is why he addressed his team. "Get your men organised. If we're going to do this, then it has to be now before he takes Colonel Carter through the gate. The sooner we do this, the sooner our people can get medical attention."
Major Rodgers jumped to attention, his plan already running through his mind again.
"Yes sir," he replied eagerly. He had to make this work. Colonel Carter was too valuable a commodity to lose from the SGC. He also knew that she would sacrifice herself for her former CO. That went without saying. The old SG-1 had been a very close knit team. A legend in fact among those in the know working in the SGC.
He hurried from the room, shouting orders to his men as they hastened to get themselves ready for the rescue mission.
Hank Landry followed Walter down to the control room to try and delay the inevitable showdown with Min about opening the gate. His surprise at realising that Jack must still be alive was staggering, but very welcome none the more for that, despite what he must be suffering in indescribable agony lying there bleeding to death. Help was so near in the shape of his daughter Carolyn, but it might just as well have been a hundred miles as opposed to a hundred inches for all the good she could do for him. Min wasn't allowing her anywhere near the General.
Even now as he watched Sam Carter, he could see she was trying to brazen out her feelings, but he knew his people and Sam in particular where her loyalty towards Jack was taking a toll on her psyche. She hadn't taken her eyes off him all the time Min held her now. He could see the shock at what had happened, clearly in her features, and he could hardly blame her.
Rodgers' voice drifted through to his consciousness from the headset in his ear.
"General. We're in position and ready, awaiting your orders sir!"
Landry snapped out of his thoughts and gave his permission.
"Do it!" he ordered without hesitation.
TBC