Chapter 5
"Who is that?" demanded Jack as he stood in Hammond's office, clearing things up. "What was that thing in Carter's lab?"
"Calm down, Jack," said Hammond. "Our scientists are studying the body. They believe it to be a clone." Jack's mouth dropped open.
"A clone, sir?" he asked.
"Yes. The DNA was almost identical, but for a small anomaly. It, uh… seems that whoever did this hasn't perfected the hearing capabilities of the clone. It's far too sensitive, and that's why 'Carter' couldn't stand the sound of the base alarm."
"Will the clone wake up, sir?" Jack wanted to know.
"No, Colonel. Apparently, the brain was slightly deformed. It seems whoever did this hasn't perfected the process."
"Do we have any suspects on who actually did do this?"
"No, there is no evidence to point to anyone. We've called in the Tok'ra to help us, but otherwise…" The General trailed off. Jack nodded.
"Should we contact Major Carter?" Jack said. "The real one?"
"At this point, I'm inclined not too," said Hammond. "It's the last thing she needs on her vacation. Dismissed.'
Jack left, annoyed. He had hoped to backwardly alert Hammond that Carter was missing. It didn't work. He went to the commissary, hoping that pie would ease his mind like it usually did.
"George!" said Jacob Carter as he walked down the ramp to the 'gate. "How've you been?"
"Not bad," replied Hammond. "We could just use a little help."
"With what?"
"We have a bit of a situation."
"Yeah, OK. I'll see what I can do. Where's Sam?" Jacob didn't particularly sound interested in the situation part.
"I ordered her off base for a vacation."
The retired general smiled. "Good for her. I'll see if I can wangle some time so I can go see her?"
"Sure," replied Hammond.
"So, you mind filling me in?"
Jack returned to his office from the commissary and sat down, stomach full and head empty. If the pie had done one thing, it had served to make him focus on the stabbing pain in the gut that he had acquired from eating too much. He stared at his computer, considering playing a couple of games, possibly ones that didn't involve shooting anything or killing anyone. As wimpish as it sounded, Jack felt as if he didn't have the stomach to face either.
Suddenly, an email popped up on his screen.
Sender: Unknown
To: Colonel Jack O'Neill (joneill at sgc.gov)
Date: 2021 hours
Subject: Believe me now?
Are you now convinced that I was telling the truth? The deadline is passed, but I am willing to give you another chance.
O'Neill began to slowly type back. "Why?" he said to himself as he typed the words. "It's too late; you've said it yourself. You killed her, you bastard!" He viciously hit the enter key, sending the message into cyberspace. It took a mere moment more for X to reply, as if he had been anticipating Jack's response.
To: Colonel Jack O'Neill (joneill at sgc.gov)
Date: 2032 hours
Subject: New information
We have the technology to bring her back… It is possible, but the task will have to be completed first. As last time, you will wonder if we really do have this sort of technology and if we'll keep to our word and, yet again, my response will be the same. You'll have to trust us. I trust you have all ready made your decision. This time, we'll throw you a bone. You may have one person the help you. A person of your choice, of course. But choose wisely. It had better be someone who's not afraid to get their hands dirty…
X had been right. He had made a decision, but he was guessing it wasn't the one that the mysterious person had been thinking of. He was going to kill this son of a bitch. He was going to kill him if it was the last thing he ever did. And he was going to enlist the help of someone who wasn't afraid to bypass a couple of laws and, as much as he hated the man, Jack had to reluctantly admit that he could be a help in these particular circumstances.
Jack sat in the park, waiting and thinking. He missed Carter so bad. He missed her so badly that he was calling upon a person whom she hated to come and rescue her.
"Hi, Jack!"
Jack looked up. "Hello, Maybourne."