Hathor smiled as she aimed her ribbon device towards Jack O'Neill, watching with pleasure that he was still unable to shot at her.
"You have disappointed us, our beloved" she hissed. Suddenly her eye caught something. That woman, Samantha Carter was standing again and shot her repeatedly with her weapon. In that moment Hathor knew she had lost that world. She would have to leave it, but she wouldn't leave it alone. After all, her beloved was still with her. Using her mental powers, she lit a fire on the bathtub where she was. As she had thought, immediately after the fire lit, O'Neill and the woman started dragging the sleeping men out of the room. She heard how O'Neill called for her beloved.
"Daniel! Let's go!"
But her beloved didn't move a hair. When O'Neill and the woman left the room dragging two more men, Hathor knew it was her chance. She stepped off the bathtub and held a hand towards Daniel, guiding him to the exit. He just followed her blinding. She had to act rapidly. O'Neill would know very soon that she was taking his friend with her. She reached the chappa'ai and concentrated on its symbols. There was only one place where she could go. She was not really willing to go there, but this was her only escape. Once she had reached Chulak she would think in a trade with Apophis to let her stay there. May be providing him with a full selection of larvae would help. Finally the chappa'ai activated and she, taking Daniel with her stepped through it, not before having a last look at the superior window where she saw O'Neill and the woman watching with horror how their friend stepped through the gate willingly. The last thing she heard while she was crossing the pole of water was the desperate scream of O'Neill.
"Daniel! NO!"
"General, Sir" started O'Neill "I suggest we take all the SG teams that are here actually and plan a party rescue to Chulak immediately."
It had passed twenty-four hours since Hathor had left the SGC, and most of the men were fully recovered from her drugging effects. General Hammond sighed and involuntary rubbed the back of his neck, where Captain Carter had knocked him down. The painkillers Dr. Fraiser had given to him were not working very well.
"Colonel, I know how concerned you are about the well-being of your team members, specially Dr. Jackson, but now we are not in disposition to sent a rescue party to Chulak."
"Well, Sir, with all due respect, I don't agree with that" Jack replied harshly.
"Look, Colonel. There are four teams in stand-down at the moment. That counts on twenty people. Of these people, eight has resulted injured some way when Hathor was here. Three more were women who have been in duty for forty-eight hours. They need a rest. Teal'c is still in the infirmary, with two bullet injuries. That makes that the effective number of available people downs on eight, well seven, as a team member is lost." The General continued. "I'm not going to sent a team formed by seven men to such a hostile planet as Chulak."
"So we're just going let Daniel there, with that bitch? What are you going to call him? War casualty?" Jack almost snapped those words to General's face.
"Colonel" the General continued, still calmed, knowing the worry written on Jack's face "Dr. Jackson is a very valuable part of that program, and I'm not going to resign to loose him that way. However, you must understand, it would be a suicide to sent a team in such conditions. We'll wait until Teal'c gets recovered form his wounds. Dr. Fraiser told me it would take only a couple of days due to the larvae he carries. Until then, all the teams are on stand down so we can dispose of the most people to the rescue mission. Now go and rest yourself. That's an order for you too, Captain. By the way, Captain, I don't want to worry you, but when you return from Chulak, we'll have a serious conversation. Dismissed" and with that the General left the briefing room.
"Well, it's going to be my last mission. I'm going to get filed and I'll end up working in some little governmental office God-Knows-Where." she said remembering how she had to hit his upper superior. Jack walked behind her and patted her back compassionately.
Hathor looked at her surroundings once she had stepped through the gate, only to find Daniel suddenly getting in front of her with his hands extended. Soon she found out why. Three Jaffa where approaching at them with their staff weapons ready to fire. Hathor took a step towards and gently she separated Daniel from her way.
"Jaffa, we are the greatest Queen Hathor. We wish you take us before your master" she said. From what she had seen with the Jaffa that helped the Tau'ri, it was useless to try to gain the favors of a Jaffa, so she just said that in a deep Goa'uld voice and with an intense flash of her eyes. At this the Jaffa nodded and led her and Daniel to the village.
"Teal'c, big guy, how are you doing?" Jack said as he entered the infirmary, close followed by Sam.
"I'm doing well, O'Neill. Indeed, my larvae is working very fast to heal the wounds and very soon I'll be fully recovered"
"That's good" said Jack "because once you're recovered we'll have a little nice trip to Chulak to rescue Daniel from that bitch"
"Daniel Jackson will not come willingly with us if he is still under the influence of Hathor" Teal'c stated, his face imperturbable.
"I know," grimaced Jack "We'll carry tranquilizers with us. That's a good reason I want you in the trip. Do you know how heavy can Danny-boy result when you have to carry him for a while?" Jack said. "Last time I nearly got lumbago"
"Daniel Jackson's weight is not a problem for me" Teal'c simply said.
"Good. Teal'c, have you got any idea about where Hathor must have gone when she has arrived at Chulak?" Sam said.
"Chulak is the planet ruled by Apophis. She surely will go to his palace and ask to stay there while she tries to recompose her army of Horus guards. She will offer him something in reward like larvae."
"Sooo, what you're saying is that we will have to face our dear friend, King-snake-head again, right?"
"Yes. I think so," said Teal'c.
"Well, it's always a pleasure to share experiences with him. We could tell him how we felt last time he killed us" Jack said sarcastically.
"If what you've said it's true, we'd better start working on a good plan to get into there, pick up Daniel and leave as soon as possible" said Sam. "I'm going to talk to the General," she said, leaving the infirmary in a hurry.
Jack sighed and took his usual seat beside the bed, that usually, but not this time, occupied a certain archeologist.
"Well, Teal'c, do you think Hornets will win the game this time?"
"I don't understand your question, O'Neill" came Teal'c's dry reply. Jack sighed again. It could be cruel, but he preferred Daniel lying in that bed.