"IMPERIUM"
A long, long, long, long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...
I actually updated. I'm very sorry that this story has recently fallen by the wayside as it were, but I'm in my final year of school and I've been űber busy. However, after re-reading this story the other day and watching a lot of Stargate DVD's, I've rekindled my passion. Enjoy.
Oh and for those who are interested, the chapter titles are in Latin, and roughly paraphrased they mean:
1. Discovery
2. Experiment
3. Weapon
4. Challenge
5. Fight
6. Mission
7. Fury
8. Capture
9. Kiss
10. Escape
Also, for the purposes of this Chapter, the Prometheus is enjoying a sojourn at the Alpha Site. Deal with it.
"You have untapped greatness inside you, Sam. But you're limited by your own fears. You play by the rules, you do as you're told and you deny yourself your own desires."
"I have no desire to rule the galaxy, believe me."
"All humans desire power. It's just that most of them are never in a position to attain it."
The Repli-Carter and Carter, "Gemini"
"Airman!" Jack snapped. "Where did she go?"
"I don't know, sir," replied the bewildered gate technician. "She bypasssed a few protocols in the dialling program. The gate she dialled isn't on our records, and then she pretty neatly covered her tracks. I don't think we can find her, sir."
"Airman!" Jack roared. "I don't care if you have to use every computer geek on this planet, find out what she did and where she's going."
He was breathing heavily, his eyes wide in fear and hurt. Jacob was wearing a similar expression, shoulders slumped as he gazed painfully at the Stargate. Even Teal'c, a master of his emotions, had a rare look of shock upon his face. Daniel found himself shaking slightly, but his thoughts were more occupied with Jack's well being.
"Jack?" Daniel asked, very quitely, daring to lay a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Jack stiffened and shoved it off roughly, giving Daniel one of the ugliest looks he had ever seen.
"Don't touch me, Daniel," he said, his voice horribly icy. He glared around the control room with a similar look. "Why aren't you all working?" he hissed hoarsely, before turning to stride from the room.
As Sam re-emerged on the other side of the 'gate, she was overwhelmed with a sense of calm and freedom. She closed her eyes happily and simply stood, for a moment, allowing the device's power to blend with her own adrenaline. It was like a drug, this feeling, and she couldn't get enough of it.
Samantha!
The voice of the device, which she now treasured as her dearest friend, had awoken once more in her brain. She kept her eyes firmly shut, reaching out to strengthen the connection.
This isn't fair, she told it. You know my name, and yet I don't know yours.
The device's response was akin to a sort of mental laugh. Sam immediately realised she liked it when the device laughed, for it flooded her body with even more pleasure.
You can call me Dominatus, if you like, it finally responded, offering her the mental version of a smile.
Where are we, Dominatus? Sam asked.
Open your eyes, it replied.
She obeyed, and the scene before her was one of unimaginable destruction. This world had obviously once been home to a great civilization of unrivalled power. But now, the buildings were little more than glorified rubble. The entire great city was simply a shadow of its former self; a barren wasteland as far as the eye could see. Dominatus swelled within her, radiating pride and power.
These are Ancient buildings, she told it, recognising some of the architectural features from the less ruined buildings.
I know, Dominatus replied. This was once one of the crown jewels in the Ancient's galactic empire. It was known as Luculentus. Now it is rubble.
What happened? Why did you bring me to see this? Sam asked, her eyes roaming over the destruction.
I am giving you a lesson in power, Samantha, Dominatus said sharply. You are young, and you need to learn. The Ancients are acknowledged as the most powerful race ever to rule the galaxy. They built the Stargates, that was enough to cement them in universal history, but their technology went above and beyond a simple wormhole system.
But here is the lesson, Samantha. It is the way of the universe that one power is replaced by another until perfection is achieved. What could destroy the Ancients? They were, after all, perhaps the master race of the galaxy. But they were not perfect power. The Ancients were born to come second. There is perfect power in the universe, and it razed Luculentus to the ground.
Sam considered this for a moment, allowing Dominatus' words to sink in. You're perfect power, she said finally.
Yes! hissed Dominatus, and he flooded her body with triumph. It was I who destroyed Luculentus; I who challenged the Ancients. I am perfect, Samantha, and together, you and I may rule the galaxy. You are perfect, Samantha. Together, we are doubly so.
Sam laughed loudly, glaring with contempt at the shabby ruins of a dead race. Masters of the galaxy, indeed. She would be master of this galaxy, she and Dominatus.
I love you, she whispered to it.
Dominatus smiled. I know, he replied. And if you love me, you know what you must do. Luculentus was only the first step. Will you help me conquer the galaxy, Samantha?
I will, she answered fiercely.
Then you know what you must do...
Jack sat alone in his office with his head in his hands. He knew his behaviour in the briefing room had been entirely inappropriate. But it was Sam –his Sam – the woman he had come to know and cherish over his years at Stargate command. That Sam was not the one who had stood before him in the 'gate room today.
This one had been different. Colder. Harsher. Completely terrifying. What was it she had said?
"It's about power, Jack. Not that you'd understand."
He felt a surge of hate in his body. The Sam Carter he knew was not some power-seeking, inhuman beast. It was the device! It had twisted her, morhped her, and he hated what it had done. It had corrupted something beautiful and pure, and Jack vowed he would get her back and destroy it, even if it cost his life... or the universe.
So consumed with this fierce fire in his belly, Jack did not notice that he was idly shredding a report with his hands. Nor did he notice Daniel steathily enter his office, until the young archaeologist stilled Jack's hands.
"Daniel..." Jack began.
"You're sorry?" his friend finished with a wry grin. "I know. It's Sam. You had every right to react the way you did, nobody blames you."
"I blame me," Jack mumbled. "I should have gone on that mission, I should have destroyed that device as soon as that incident happened in the lab, I should have watched over her closer after that fight, I..."
"Jack!" Daniel said firmly, cutting him off. "None of that matters. There's nothing you could have done. All you can do now is work on a way to save her. She needs you now, Jack."
"You're right, Daniel," Jack said. "All I can do is my best to get her back."
Daniel offered his friend a small, comforting smile.
"How's Jacbo holding up?" Jack asked.
Daniel opened his mouth to answer when the klaxons whirled to life.
"Unscheduled offworld activation! Unscheduled offworld activation! General O'Neill to the gateroom! Medical team to the gateroom!"
The two men exchnaged pointed looks, and rushed towards the gateroom.
When the were there, they found a lone man lying bloodied and broken on the ramp. O'Neill raced to his side, cradling the man's head until the medical team could arrive.
"Colonel Johnson!" he said, recognition dawning upon him that this was the commander of the Alpha Site. "What are you doing here?"
"Alpha Site... compromised," Johnson choked out, a bubble of blood welling at the corner of his mouth. "We came under... attack. I'm... only survivor."
The blood bubble burst, spraying Jack's face. He ignored it, his eyebrows knit with concern.
"Stay with me, Johnson," he muttered. "Who attacked you? What for?"
Johnson momentarily lapsed into unconsciousness, but Jack carefully shook him awake.
"I need you with me, Johnson. Who attacked you and why?"
"It was..." Johnson stammered, his eyes wide with fear and his body convulsing. "It was Colonel Carter, sir."
He closed his eyes and gave a great sigh.
"Sir... she stole the Prometheus."
