Chapter 5:

Jack was given his next mission. Steelesun was planning on culling a planet clean, only leaving enough to respawn for the next culling. Jack's mission was to oversee the culling, make sure a handful of people are left. His mask was placed over his face and he grabbed his weapons. Walking down to the Dart bay, one of the male Wraith caught up with him. "Do you have a name?" he asked. Jack turned to the Wraith. "Jack. But call me O'Neill.". The male Wraith held the hand out without the sucker. "I am Shade, I guess we will be working together.".

Jack shook the hand. "Looks like it.". They both walked to the Stargate onboard the ship. It activated and they walked through, ending up on the planet. The Darts were zooming over and people were screaming as they witness the horror of their loved once being taken. Jack and Shade stood in front of the gate, if anyone tried to come near the gate, they will either get shot, or be send to the ship.

The culling was fierce, Jack, stood there and watched. "That's enough." He ordered. Shade then pressed a button on his guantlet and the Darts retreated to the Hive ship. Jack and Shade then walked through the gate and returned to the Hive.

Word was spread to Atlantis. Although the Atlantis team was just shocked. Sam was scared. Jack would never do such thing. The Jack O'Neill she knew would never! Her heart was breaking. She couldn't let him suffer. They need to find him and fast. "Where was the culling? Obviously the Hive would need to stop right?". McKay nods. "Well yeah? The queen Colonel O'Neill is serving is Queen Steelesun, she is more ruthless than any other queen. She has a storage facility where she stores all their uhmm, lifestock? My best bet is that they will be heading there, it is only a few light years away from where they just culled." He said with a smirk. Thinking he just made Sam more fixated on him.

"Thanks." Was all she said and checked for the gate address. McKay just looks at her. "That's it? No, well done? No special Samantha Carter speech?" he asked like a bloody idiot. Sam then said: "Only to SG-1.". McKay was really disappointed in himself. "Just give up McKay." Was all that John said. McKay just roll his eyes. "Come on, it's obvious she likes me, she just needs some, incouragement.". Sam heard it and flashed him her middle finger.

"Ooooooo! Think again." Ronen suggested.

She found it, the gate address. Relieve washed over the clenched muscles. "I got it, all I need now is a team.". John got up. "Count me in.". Ronen stood up too. "Me too.". Teyla got up next. "As am I.". Everyone turned to McKay. "Alright, I am in. You happy? We're all signing up for a suicide mission. Bunch of jackasses signing up for a suicide mission.".

Arriving through the gate, it was night. Sheppard looks back to the crew. "Alright, the storage facility is up ahead. We split in groups of two. Carter with me, Ronen and Teyla, McKay, tag along with whoever.". McKay decided to tag with Sheppard.

As they got to the facility, they snuck in. Jack was working on his gun. Cleaning and fixing it. Four Wraith guards were keeping a look out. But one looks at the hallway, growling lightly. Jack just snapped his fingers and the Wraith guards ran to catch the intruders.

One of the guards was checking on the harvest storage room. Confused at seeing nothing he turned to leave, only to have Ronen slicing its throat and stuffing dirt into it's gills.

In another room, the guard was checking, but he then saw a box on the floor. It released a curious snort. Picking it up he lightly shook it next to his ear. (If they have ears.). But a small stream of gass escapes the box, the guard then started choking on it and collapsed.

In the hall way the guard was sniffing as if he would smell through that mask. He then stepped on something that made a *click* sound. The guard snorted as if saying *Oh shit.*.

A small explosion made it fly up and crash into the roof and falling back down, having a long nail piercing its face.

The team regrouped and followed the corridor. Climbing the stairway. As they reached the top, they saw the room was empty. But their luck ran out when a giant force field formed around the building. Sam saw this and then realized the walls retracted into the ground, forming a giant cage.

"Where is your hero when you need him, hmm? Major?" taunted Jack, while wearing his mask. Sam ran to the edge and yelled. "Take of that mask!". Jack shrugged and did so. Sam then looked at him. She first realized on how younger he is, he looked pretty hot! But she pushed those thoughts aside. "Why are you doing this?" she asked.

Jack only chuckled. "Oh, I thought you didn't care, well. Unlike you, when I was inlove and I couldn't be with her, I remained single! While you ran off into the arms of another man, when I saw that I thought to myself, why the hell stick around if the only reason I still do the job has abandon me? I took the transfer to Atlantis, working with them was fun, but I learnt the truth about the Wraith!".

Sam then asked. "Which is?". Jack continued. "The war, its pointless. It's all just nature, only the strongest can survive! The Wraith showed me that, that I was meant to survive! So I did what every strong being does, stand with those who can survive!".

"That's not you! You fight for those who can't fight for themselves, that is the Jack O'Neill I know!". Jack sneered. "Really? Then why run to the cop huh? You betrayed my feelings, I was willing to give it all up for you!". Sam yelled. "As was I! I made a mistake! You're sick Jack, you need help!". Jack chuckled. "All I am sick of, is being hold back! Here I can be what I truly am! I can use my full potential!".

Sam had tears in her eyes. "Jack! I didn't abandon you! I thought if I moved on, you would find happiness somewhere else!". Jack quirked a brow. "You thought wrong!". He then pulled out a remote. "Say hi to Charlie for me." He then pressed it. McKay's head shot to the left, and he saw a red light. "Guys! He rigged this place to blow!".

Jack threw the remote down and turned and walked. Sam ran to the bomb. Two minutes, they have two minutes to escape. She ordered them to find anything strange. Thirty seconds later, Teyla found an air shaft. Climbing through they got out in fifty seconds. Then they made a run for it. The building exploded behind them and they ducked out of explosion range. They all sighed in relieve. McKay then grabbed Sam into a fierced and tight hug. "Great call for something out of the ordinary.".

She then just pushed him off. "Yeah thanks.".

The team then started walking to the gate. Only to see a shadow standing in front of it. "Well done." It said while lighting up what look like a cigarette. Taking a puff he smiled. "You just proved to be strong, I see why the Wraith fear you.". Sam stepped forward. "Jack? That was all a test?". Jack took one more puff. "Don't expect me to be nice next time." With that he threw the cigarette onto the ground and dialed the gate while aiming his gun at the team. With one last glance, he walked through.

Sam's first act was to stuff the cigarette into a plastic bag. "Get this to Doctor Beckett and have him analyze. Because the Jack I know, doesn't smoke.".