Part 5
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JACK
My first thoughts upon waking were, "Oh, for cryin' out loud, I'm in her clutches again." Pain, my periodic companion for most of my career, was absent, replaced by a hazy, floaty feeling. My second thoughts were of Sam. I opened my mouth to ask for her, but choked on the tube in my throat. It must have set off an alarm because a nurse was at my side almost immediately.
"Easy, Colonel. You have a punctured lung and they inserted a breathing tube last night to help you breath. Dr. Frasier said I could remove it as soon as you woke up. Just hold still… Now, isn't that better, sir?"
I tried to answer with my usual charm and wit, but only managed a croak through my parched throat. She held a straw up to my lips so I could sip some water from a glass. "Thanks," I whispered. "What time is it? Is there anyone around who can give me a sitrep?"
"It's mid-morning, the day after you were brought in, sir. I'll call Dr. Frasier and Dr. Jackson. They both asked to be notified as soon as you regained consciousness." I nodded my thanks and, despite my almost frantic need to know how Sam was, drifted off for what surely was only a few seconds. When my eyes opened again, Daniel was by my side, reading a tattered volume.
"Hey, Daniel, what's up?" My voice was scratchy and barely above a whisper, my throat still sore from the breathing tube.
His face lit up with a genuine smile. "Jack, it's good to see you awake. Janet was concerned because you lost so much blood. You're lucky Sam got you here as quickly as she did."
"Good morning, Colonel O'Neill," Dr. Frasier said briskly as she walked from her office to my bedside. "You're a very fortunate man, sir. There's no doubt the emergency care you received for your open chest wound and pneumothorax on Eden saved your life. The bullet did a considerable amount of damage, yet managed to avoid most of the major organs."
I steered them back to my chief concern. "Sam, where is she?"
"Uh, she's fine. Sam stayed on Eden and is coordinating the assault on the base. I spoke with her just an hour ago when we sent a bunch of Marines and munitions through. Teal'c should there with her soon," Daniel told me, "and she's getting hourly updates on your condition." I suddenly felt both immensely reassured and extremely anxious for her. I knew she was more than capable in combat, but anything could happen.
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SAM
After the gate closed behind the supply train, I signaled Mathers to show himself when the four-man rebel escort called out for him to disable the DHD again. It was an amazingly brave thing for a non-combatant to do, but he was more than motivated to volunteer. While the young sergeant distracted the mutineers and lulled them into complacency, Dave, Dr. Yashita and I came up behind the men.
"Hands up, gentlemen. Drop your guns, now!" I demanded. Dan relieved them of their weapons and we used some of his network cables to secure their arms and legs. Trussed up and shifted over to the side, we opened the gate to Earth to send them home for interrogation. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when we sent Jack, Gita and the other scientists safely home.
General Hammond, a man of his word, came through for us. A detachment of Marines and several carts of equipment and munitions arrived within a couple of hours of our sending the supply train home. Especially welcome to me was the sight of Teal'c coming through the gate.
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TEAL'C
Our forces had control of the Stargate and its surroundings. Soldiers guarded it day and night, and patrolled the road without fail. The ultimate goal of this exercise was to retake Eden Base. To accomplish this objective, ColonelCarter, Major Francis and I planned and analyzed UAV photographs throughout yesterday and well into the night.
ColonelCarter had assigned to me two Marines to help reconnoiter our target. Dr. Morris had barricaded himself and the majority of his supporters in the base infirmary, along with his prisoners. Some of the mutineers remained on guard throughout the small settlement, patrolling the open spaces, guarding the obvious weak points where we might attempt to regain the base. Either the doctor had some knowledge of defensive tactics or one of his cohorts was so trained, for they were well placed to warn of any approach from outside.
Sgt. Mathers had severed the computer network link to the base so the rebels could not make connection with their associates on Earth by that method. However, this did not preclude communication via the Goa'uld communication device should the mate to it still be in the NID's possession on Earth.
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SAM
About two hours after Teal'c and his marines left to scout the area around the base, my radio sounded with a request from one of his men asking for me to join them at a location a few hundred yards from the ball field.
"Can't you just tell me what you've seen, Corporal?"
His voice was shaking with some emotion the radio disguised, as he replied, "No ma'am. You really need to see this for yourself."
"I'll be there shortly. Carter out." Releasing the TALK button, I turned to the marine major in charge. "Major, I'll be right back. Are there a couple of troops I can take with me as escort?" He shouted two names over his shoulder and the owners of the names trotted over.
We strode through the woods for almost a half an hour before reaching their position. Teal'c, alerted to our approach, jogged up to us. "ColonelCarter, we have found the security force members who would not join Dr. Morris." He halted our advance and placed his battle-scarred hand on mine. "You must prepare yourself, ColonelCarter."
My delight changed to alarm at his words and I tore my eyes away from the distress in his. I sprinted to where the other men stood, still as statues. My eyes followed the line of their gaze to a small mound, recently covered with dirt and fallen leaves. From the side protruded arms and legs, still wearing their pajamas or heavy winter coats, unchanged from the morning Morris staged his unholy rebellion.
"Oh, my god," was all I could choke out around the huge obstruction in my throat. One of my escorts ran into the trees and was heard retching. I felt like crying, screaming, hitting something all at once. Some of these men and women – I recognized jewelry, insignia, and other personal items – had been friends; some had helped rescue me. Some were still young, serving their first assignment; others were veterans with families and plans for their retirement. What would I say to those families about how they died?
Shaken to the core of my soul, I turned and stalked back to my temporary headquarters. "Major, we're attacking the base in three hours. Be ready," I tossed at the puzzled younger man as I passed him on my way to the Stargate. "I have to speak with General Hammond."
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TEAL'C
ColonelCarter returned from Earth carrying a small box, 20 minutes before our assault was to begin. She barked orders to any person not actively working. Within seconds, the relative calm before a battle became the frenzied activity of an anthill stirred by a child.
I accompanied her to the front line, from which she would direct operations. The unexplained container, of the type the SGC used to store items of alien technology, was in a small pack attached to her back.
She had deployed her forces to take advantage of the natural terrain and cover the rebel guards. The guards around the base had shown themselves to be competent snipers, taking out two careless marines as we surrounded the compound. Our assault on the compound would soon start.
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SAM
Nervous does not begin to describe how I felt before the attack. My heated anger had faded to a cold fury. I swore to get that man and his henchmen, if it was the last thing I ever did. Word came while I was on Earth that Jack was awake and asking for me. I hated to disappoint him, but hoped he would understand my absence under the circumstances.
The battle was short and very bloody. Within an hour, we'd taken back much of the base, many buildings having been abandoned as the rebels retreated. Others, defended by Morris' rogue NID buddies, had cost more to win. They were desperate to keep this slice of home and the promise of a future after so long as fugitives. Morris concentrated his forces in the two adjoining buildings which housed the infirmary and data center, effectively blocking us from the intel provided by the Tok'ra installed satellite.
My forces surrounded the long, narrow structure, which ran parallel to my HQ; our sharpshooters covered all exits from various positions around the building. Theirs took out any one of our troops foolish enough to show themselves. Gradually, the cold winter day came to a close as the sun sank behind the western mountains. Equipped with night-vision goggles and infrared sights, the assault teams waited for full dark and I prepared myself for the ordeal to come.
Finally, I had no more excuses for delay. Marshalling my thoughts, I ran the events of the past days through my mind – the shock of discovery, the beatings we endured, the horrible and pointless deaths of my people.
"Now!" I instructed Teal'c, who pulled back the door blocking the besieged buildings from my view. I raised my hand and focused my fury to a pinpoint, powering the ribbon device. A blast of energy burst from the jewel sitting snuggly against my palm. It demolished the barricade they'd placed in the breezeway between the infirmary and the data center. Gasps of shock and horror escaped from those around me.
Some of the rebels who'd been behind the barricade picked themselves up and scattered. Others lay where the blast hurled them like straw men. I threw myself back against the wall. Troops burst forth from behind me to run across the intervening ground between HQ and the breach. We'd effectively divided their forces in two.
Teal'c and I followed, crouching to provide as little target as possible. I used the ribbon device when necessary, but the rebels in the data center to the west folded quickly.
"ColonelCarter, we have secured this end of the structure," Teal'c announced within minutes of our entering. That left the infirmary offices and wards, where Morris held over 30 hostages, all non-combatants. Thank goodness, most of the USACE people had gone home for the winter.
"Let's talk about this in the computer lab. I want to check some things from the satellite data," I instructed my friend and Major Francis. We stood around the monitor showing the occupants of the base complex, especially the inhabitants of the infirmary.
"Here, here and here, you can see where he's stationed guards," Major Francis pointed to blips on the screen indicating humans.
"Major, zats only for this engagement. I don't want any of our people hurt any more than we can help it." He nodded his understanding. "I'll lead this charge with the ribbon device." Seeing both of them about to object, I interposed, "Those are my people in there and Morris is with them. I owe him an encounter with the power he seeks." I turned my hand over, spreading the fingers to stare bleakly at the ribbon device that could inflict such havoc when powered with anger or contempt.
What I failed to see was the expression of utter fear on Francis' face and that of the two troops watching our six. Their fear was of me.
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JACK
They wouldn't tell me anything! I was going mad. The news that she hadn't even had time to come see me was frightening. Things were moving too fast. Finally, when no one was looking, I tried to struggle to my feet and almost passed out. Spying Siler in the hallway, I used a stage whisper to get his attention.
" Psst, psst! Siler, in here," I said in an undertone and motioned. The unsuspecting sergeant stepped up to the side of my bed. "Help me into that," I ordered him, pointing to a nearby wheelchair. He reluctantly obeyed. Ripping off the IV needle and some monitor leads, I instructed the hapless NCO to push the chair as fast as he could and we entered the elevator before anyone noticed I was gone.
Moments later, we pushed our way into the gate room. Hammond, Major Davis, Daniel and several others stood at the base of the ramp, waiting for word, waiting to provide assistance.
"Colonel! What are you doing here? Has Dr. Frasier released you?" Hammond shot questions at me.
"Not exactly, sir, but I couldn't stand laying there not knowing what was going on." My head ached and felt like it would float away, but I was determined to be there. Siler pushed the chair up to the group and made a hasty retreat. Not that I blamed him.
Pursing his lips in annoyance, Hammond turned to a nearby airman, "Please contact the infirmary and have someone come down to make sure Colonel O'Neill hasn't caused any damage to himself in his little escape." Shortly, a very upset nurse, followed by an extremely aggravated Janet, came down trailing my IV stand and a portable monitor.
"Colonel O'Neill, you can stay here for one more hour. After that, if necessary, I'll put you in restraints to keep you in bed," Frasier spat before she angrily stalked over to stand by Daniel. Shaking his head and smiling at the situation, Daniel put his arm around her shoulder. I suddenly realized she was just as worried about Sam as I was. Abashed, I wheeled over to the general and major.
"What's the latest, sir?"
"We've taken back most of the base, leaving just building 7. Colonel Carter used the Goa'uld weapon to blast open their defenses," the general said tersely. Like me, he longed to be in the fray. How had he survived this long in this position?
As he turned back to the Stargate, the first chevron engaged. A technician's voice boomed, "Incoming wormhole. It's from Eden."
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DANIEL
The messenger brought wonderful news. The base was almost secured and Sam had captured Morris personally, but not without cost. Teal'c and many other wounded followed the courier. He had stepped between Sam and a bullet from one of the NID rogues. The bullet pierced his neck, nicking an artery.
Instantly, Janet leapt into action, transforming from the worried friend to the doctor faced with a wave of new casualties. Everyone obeyed her orders without question. In this instance, she ruled over all.
"Lieutenant, call the Academy ER. Tell them we have five maybe ten more critical cases coming their way," she told a technician. He spun to obey. "Sir, if you don't mind, would you please move Colonel O'Neill out of the way? We're going to need more room," Janet asked the general, no one immune to her call. He moved quickly to make room for the medical team to perform their triage.
Exhausted stretcher-bearers, often wounded themselves, laid their more grievously wounded comrades down gratefully. SFs, technicians, officers all pitched in to hold compresses, prop up returning warriors on their way to the infirmary, and begin the process of transporting the injured to medical help.
I turned to follow General Hammond as he pushed Jack's chair to the elevator. Major Davis had long since been drafted. We made our way to the control room to watch while staying out of the way.
There was still no word of Sam.
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SAM
I felt a deep, burning exhaustion throughout my body from the repeated use of the Goa'uld weapon. My final target had been Dr. Morris himself. He reached toward one of his hostages to use her as a shield against me. I couldn't allow that to happen and, as I'd said, he had earned a display of the power he sought so brutally.
As his form flew away from me, time seemed to slow, making the flight last for minutes instead of seconds. My heart swelled at the sick thud of his back and head against a wall. I felt a twisted sort of smile spread across my face at his pain. A gasp from my left brought me to my senses and I muttered, "Oh, my god. What have I done?" Faces of my co-workers and subordinates echoed Francis' horror at the power I wielded. Their horror was nothing compared to my own, to my disgust at my reaction.
I closed my eyes briefly to gather my wits. Breathing deeply I walked slowly to the doctor where he slumped against the wall. Next to him, others cowered away from me, both friend and foe, all but Sgt. Bodine. He smiled encouragement at me. Vastly relieved, I attempted to return the smile.
I squatted next to Dr. Morris. "I hope you're satisfied with the demonstration of Goa'uld power weapons you and your puppet masters have lusted after for so long. It's the last time I will ever use this thing." Slipping it off, I threw it at him, one last assault.
From a standing height, I gazed at my antagonist with loathing. "Tell your masters this from me, Doctor. Do not come to Eden; do not ever think to hurt my people again. My family and friends are off limits to them. I will not be so gentle next time. Is that clear?"
The man who sought to deprive me and mine of everything we'd worked so hard on for so long, swallowed hard and nodded his head mutely.
Reaching into my waist pouch, I removed the alien hand device and turned to Sgt. Bodine. "Let's see what we can do about this injury of yours, Sergeant." A soft glow radiated from the tool as I passed it over his chest, healing the worst of his wounds and the infection.
Again, I missed seeing the expressions of those who watched. Someone told me later that Bodine's face was a study in ecstasy, while others' fear changed to wonder.
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JACK
After shipping most of the worst injured off to the Academy hospital and the ER at Fort Collins, Janet marshaled her own forces and left for Eden.
My gymnastics in getting out of bed had pulled loose some of my stitches and a minor infection in my wound left me weak. Hammond himself ordered to stay in bed and I figured I was pretty lucky in all of this. Teal'c was in the bed next to mine, like always. Dr. Warner had stitched his gash up and gotten new blood into him just in time. Much longer and even a snake, if he'd still had one, couldn't have saved him.
The next morning, I woke to the most beautiful sight in the universe. Sam was sleeping in a chair at my bedside, her head pillowed on her arms, tousled blond hair spreading over my left arm. I didn't really want to disturb her well-deserved rest, but she stirred as soon as I did.
"Mmf, Jack, you're awake," she mumbled, scrubbing her face. Now that I could see her lovely face, I could see it showed the long hours since she'd last rested. "How are you feeling?" She stood up to kiss me lightly, and then sat on the chair where she'd slept.
"Fine; the drugs are great. The Doc's not here to torture me; can't wait to go home to my beautiful fiancé." I smiled my best smile, elated that she was here, safe. "I should be asking how you are, Colonel Carter. What's the situation?"
"We're in control now. I brought back Dr. Morris, his mutineers and the NID rogue agents for General Hammond to process and charge. They shouldn't be seeing the outside of a prison any time soon. Teal'c is doing much better, thank goodness. While I'm here, Majors Francis and Vance are cleaning up and assessing the damage." She looked down, as though afraid to tell me the rest.
"What is it, Sam?" She raised her exhausted face to mine.
"We lost 52 of our people to this coup, Jack. Morris had most of the SFs, those who wouldn't join him, slaughtered and buried in a low mound near base." Tears slipped from her azure eyes and I could tell she was beating herself up for allowing it all to happen, as though she could have done anything about the dastardly scheming of the NID.
I pulled her into my arms and whispered into her hair, "Sam, there is absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent this happening. You did ask Hammond to get rid of Morris and he couldn't. Morris played on the weakness of some of the base personnel using lies, innuendo and exaggerations. Even if we'd been there, he could have taken over, and we probably would have died trying to stop him. Don't blame yourself."
She pulled back, leaving her hand in mine, and licked her lips. I could see there was something she had to say and I wasn't necessarily going to like it. "Jack, I need to spend more time on base, to stay closer to my people, for a few months. I've been selfish, wanting to spend all my spare time with you. The cabin will just have to wait for a while."
Vastly relieved that what she feared telling me was so simple, not requiring any separations or her leaving me, I kissed her hand. "Sam, you're my world. So long as I can be with you I don't care where I live or if the cabin is ever finished." Her brilliant smile lit up her beautiful face.
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Continued in Part 6