A/n: hi, this is my first fanfic. This story has been posted before, but I made some drastic chapter rearrangements, plus grammar check…I hope you guys enjoy this! Season 8 spoilers. Please read and review, thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own stargate or anything related.
"UNAUTHORIZED OFF WORLD ACTIVATION!" The alarm sounded and people ran from every room to assist in protecting the base. Jack O' Neil was currently eating vanilla cake when he heard the alarm, but was in no hurry to get up. General Hammond walked by the cafeteria in a rush and spotted Jack sitting there.
"Colonel! What the hell are you doing just sitting there!"
"With all due respect, general, a man cannot be interrupted while eating such yummy foods such as vanilla cake." He licks his fingers and stands up. "Now, general, how can I help you?"
"Jack, I don't have time for this. Get to the command room or I will take away your fishing days."
"Yes sir." Jack mock saluted the general and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Colonel!"
"Sorry, sir, just going to wash my hands, but I guess that can wait. But if killer ants from another world come through the gate, you will be sorry that my hands still have sweet sugary vanilla on it."
"Whatever, Jack, just do whatever."
"Yes sir! In that case, I'm gonna get more cake."
General Hammond walked off sorry he even asked Jack to do anything. The only good thing about Jack was his experience, loyalty, and stubbornness. Well, those could be bad too.
Ten minutes later, Jack arrived in the command room, hands washed and all.
"Sir, where have you been?" Samantha Carter said with concern to Jack.
"Major, please report."
"Um, right. So the gate was activated, but nothing came through and now it won't shut down. We have concerns that some goauld's newer technology has been tested on this facility. Our chemical analysts are collecting the air samples now; I'm gonna get down there, sir." With that, Sam left the room with a smile, to get her HAZMAT suit on.
"Ok, I understand what's going on, but why did you need me here in the first place?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to check this place out," Daniel Jackson said enthusiastically.
"I had a feeling you'd say that, but no, not until Carter figures out what's going on and if we'd blow up or whatever she said."
"Sam said we're analyzing air samples, and it has nothing to do with us blowing up. We have reason to believe the Goa'uld sent an emission of radioactive material experimenting if the gate would be compromised. As you can see, it worked. The M.A.L.P is also doing scans on the other side."
Ok, so we'll wait. Fine with me; I'm gonna get more cake."
2 HOURS LATER…
"Colonel O'Neill."
"Major Carter?"
"Uh, the air samples have been analyzed and the stargate is clear; we can go through anytime you'd like to sir."
"Alright Colonel, debriefing in ten minutes."
"Ok, sir."
Sam was on her way back to her lab when she bumped into Daniel. "Hey, debriefing in ten minutes."
"K," said Daniel absentmindedly. That's strange. Normally Daniel would be over excited to explore a new planet and its potential history and culture, but now he just walked off into the elevator, muttering something to himself.
Then, Sam walked past the gym where Teal'c normally worked out during this time of day, but no one was around. Teal'c was found later in his room, seemingly kelnoreeming.
"Teal'c, I don't want to bother you, but debriefing is in ten minutes."
Teal'c didn't respond. Sam just thought he was in deep thought, but somehow, things didn't seem right; everyone was acting strange except Colonel O'Neill, who still seemed like himself since the last time she checked. Sam walked into the infirmary to find out what might possibly be going on only to find Janet sitting on one of the cots with eyes glazed over.
"Janet, are you ok?" Sam walked over and tapped the doctor on the shoulder.
"Sam?"
"Yes, what's wrong?" Sam was really concerned now. Janet seemed in distress.
"Janet! Snap out of it!" Sam yelled shaking Janet by her shoulders. Janet suddenly sat upright, her eyes slowly coming into focus. She put her hand to her eyes. "Oh, my head hurts. Sorry, I was just out of it; I don't know what came over me."
"Are you ok? I was really worried for a second, you seemed like you were in a trance."
"Yeah, I'm fine now…what do you need Sam?"
"Oh, I was just walking around and when I noticed everyone acting strange I came to you to see if you'd notice anything or maybe something did come through the wormhole that can't be detected because we've never encountered this before, but now this happens. I'm going to check on Colonel O'Neil. He wasn't showing any 'symptoms,' but I'm sure by now…" Sam walked out of the room not even finishing the sentence. She was really worried now, because if Jack 'lost it,' she would have the weight of the world on her shoulders, not that it never was, but if everyone at SGC was affected, then it might well be. She'd be one person against them. Perhaps she woke up on the wrong side of bed today, perhaps everyone did. With their luck, nobody even got to sleep on a bed, more like head plopped on piles of paper work…
Sam reached Colonel O'Neill's office, but he wasn't there. "I guess they all went to the briefing room already." Sam said to herself. When she reached the briefing room, no one was there either. General Hammond had to leave for Washington, but none of SG-1 would actually miss meetings unless something serious happened. Sam frantically searched each level yet no one was around, even 'chevron guy' was not monitoring the gate. Things were out of hand, where in the universe could they all be? Suddenly, a hand reaches out to grab her from a side door. The person's hands were over Sam's mouth, preventing her from screaming, "MMmm!"
"Shhh, it's me, Jack." He said in a whisper, but still not releasing her from his grip.
"Oh, thank God. Where is everyone, what's going on, is there something that's going on not affecting you or me?" Sam said all in one breath and now realizing that Jack had not let go of her arm in the close proximity of the isolation room; it had just gotten really warm in there. "Sam, calm down. Nothing is wrong; SGC just went on a faculty picnic for now, didn't you get the memo. I left it on your desk."
"Well, I haven't been to my desk since this morning, but why? SGC can never completely shut down for even an hour; do you know how many risks being taken right now, because no one is monitoring the gate? And if it is a faculty meeting, why aren't you there and here hiding inside an iso-room?" And you never call me Sam… she thought. Then, she heard a familiar zat gun charging and before she could react, blue electricity shot through her body leaving her incapacitated.
Sam woke up in her bed at the SGC. She tried to get up, but felt a presence in the room. She was half expecting it to be Jack, but then, it spoke. "Good Evening, Samantha." A man emerged from the shadows; it was Fifth.
"Oh, Fifth, um what are you doing here?" Sam asked cautiously, remembering what he did to her on the replicator's ship.
"Oh, just checking up on my little experiment." He said smirking.
"It was you; you're the one who sent through an undetectable pathogen, which I believe to have changed people. I don't understand any of it, but why not me?"
"Because, I have a special surprise reserved for you." He said leaving the room. Sam got up after him, but by the time she reached the door, he was gone. Sam's head was reeling with information, contemplations, and a headache. Zat guns were really cool, but not fun to experience first hand. She thought back and she couldn't remember Jack holding onto a zat gun, so maybe Jack was still unconscious. Sam walked down the hall to find Jack slumped over on the bed. She couldn't do anything to wake him up, but the effects would soon wear off, assuming they were shot at the same time. She checked his pulse just in case; it was still there. Just in case Fifth decided to give Jack's death as the surprise, Fifth harbored a lot of hostility ever since the whole abandoning thing. As a replicator, he still did not understand complete human compassion.
Jack mumbled something, rousing to consciousness.
"Sir, how are you. Do you know what happened?"
"No, Sam, I don't know what happened, but I think it was a zat gun."
"Well, I know who shot you." Sam paused for effect. "It was Fifth." She said giving Jack a concerned look. "He said he was testing an aerosol form of an unknown pathogen on us, like some sick experiment of his. I hope nothing serious happens to SGC; we need to get them back from the picnic and checked out. Even Janet was not feeling well." Sam got up while helping Jack to his feet. "Sir, you should stay here for a while; I'll get the rest of SGC from the picnic. Umm, where exactly would that be, sir?"
"There's no need Carter, I'm fine, I can get them myself. In the meantime, why don't you dial the previous location, P3X-561."
Jack is acting suspiciously weird again. How did he know the planet address when the computer hadn't even generated a number for it yet? Sam thought.
"Ok, sir." Sam walked off, totally not going to activate the wormhole. Instead, she was heading for the infirmary to stock up on tranquilizers; she would need them if this were anything like what Fifth would plan.
Sam reached the infirmary and rummaged through a drawer to get the tranquilizers, but none were there. She was looking in the cabinets when she heard someone at the door.
"Looking for these?" And there was Jack holding a bag of tranquilizers in his hand, with an evil grin on his face. "Don't think I don't know you Major. Care to explain why you were looking for these?"
"Sir, um, I was just adding some to my vest, you know, just in case we need it in P3X-561." Sam said cautiously.
"Sorry, but that doesn't sound convincing to me." Something happens and Jack seemed to space out for a second. "Major Carter, where is everyone? What's been happening to the crew?"
"Sir, there's nothing wrong with me. What's going on; what's wrong with you?" Sam was really scared now. Jack had the tranqs in his grasp, and she had no weapon on her. Her vest was on her, but it wasn't completely armed yet. This was so unlike her not be prepared for battle; she should've known not to drop her guard; the base was under constant attack.
Jack changed expressions again. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with me, Samantha. But you look like you could use some rest." And with that he nodded to someone behind her that she didn't know was there, and was shot with a tranquilizer. She immediately fell unconscious, Daniel catching her just in time. "I'm sorry Sam, this is for your own good."