I actually updated... miracles never cease.
I'm so sorry but due to large upheavals in life this story had fallen by the wayside a bit... a lot. However, the other day, what should I find in my email but a random little review. "Hannah," I told myself, "You're on holidays. You have nothing to do. Write another chapter, you silly girl."
So here it is. Thanks to Turtler for that inspirational review, and to everyone who's put up with me. I hope you enjoy.
"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"
"She stole the what?" said Jack incredulously. "But... but... its so... big!"
"Yes sir," stammered Johnson, his pained eyes flicking open. "Please, sir... she... she was insane. She just was killing and killing. She had this ball of light..."
He gave a another soft sigh and his body trembled violently. Jack shook him gently, but the Colonel's eyes shut and he lapsed into unconsciouness, his breathing unnaturally slow and rasping.
"Where is that med team?" Jack hollered.
"Right here!" said a voice, and the base doctor and a gurney rolled quickly into the room. The paramedics quickly relieved Johnson from Jack's arms and lifted him carefully onto the gurney.
Jack nodded approvingly at the doctor's back as the gurney was raced out of the gateroom. Daniel offered him a brown checked hanky. Jack gratefully accepted it and began to wipe the blood off his face.
"The Prometheus?" Daniel said, confused. "Why on earth would she take that?"
"Do you really think I have an idea, Daniel? Her behaviour at the moment is hardly predictable!" he snapped, glaring at the younger man.
Daniel gazed levelly back at him. "I'm just trying to help, Jack," he said calmly.
"Do you really think anything can help? Help this?" Jack hissed quietly.
He pushed the bloodstained handkerchief back into Daniel's hands and stalked miserably back up to his office.
Half a galaxy away on board the stolen Prometheus, Samantha Carter was, like her commanding officer, covered in the blood of slaughtered soldiers. Unlike him, however, she was entranced by its sticky tingle where it met her bare skin.
Her fingers and body were soaked, there was blood on her face and in her hair, turning the sunny blonde a sickly scarlet.
There's so much of it! she mindcalled in wonder to Dominatus.
Yes, he replied, Your species does have rather a lot of the stuff for its size.
She was staring at her fingers, marvelling at the way the light caught the blood and changed colour, from almost pink to ruby to black. She laughed harshly.
I spilled it! she cried triumphantly. It's my blood now!
She lifted her right hand and slowly pressed a finger to her mouth, the acrid taste of the blood filling her with raging lust and joy.
Our blood, corrected Dominatus, a hint of anger creeping into their bond. For we are a team, are we not?
Yes, Sam gushed, eager to please. We are a team.
They both went silent for a moment as Sam continued to marvel in the blood of the men from Alpha Site. Then Dominatus tingled in the back of her mind, and she moved towards the controls.
Where are we going? she asked, her fingers flying across the ship's computer, preparing to enter a set of co-ordinates.
We are going to cement ourselves as a galactic power, of course. Your name and mine will be on everyone's lips.
Yes, she moaned, as his words filled her with desire, Samantha Carter and Dominatus, the greatest powers the galaxy has ever seen.
Dominatus chuckled. No, my love, your new name...
Jack sank dejectedly into his office chair and buried his head in his hands.
Sam had destroyed the Alpha Site and stolen the Prometheus. It was too impossible and horrible to comprehend. For a brief moment, Jack felt his control tremble, and he almost felt like breaking down and sobbing bitterly. It stung him, for breaking down and crying was not something Jack O'Neill regularly participated in.
Fortunately, he was snapped out of his momentary lapse of strength by the sudden shrieking ring of his telephone.
"O'Neill," he growled brusquely, hoping to deter the other party, for he was definately not in a mood to talk.
Especially not with the voice that answered him.
"SHANAHAN!" he roared. "What on earth do you want this time?"
"Where's Samantha?" demanded the cop.
"Samantha? Samantha is currently off-world," Jack snapped petulantly.
"You let her go off-world? With the way things have been?"
"Yes, Petey," Jack drawled sarcastically, "I let her go off-world. Because I'm completley insane, and I don't care for her a whit."
"This is not the time for inappropriate sarcasm, General," Pete answered drily.
"It's always a time for sarcasm. In fact, I'd say this is an especially appropriate time for sarcasm!"
"Why?" said Pete, and even through his anger, Jack recognised a note of fear.
"Because dear Samantha has decided she'd much rather go Dark Side than save the galaxy anymore. She and her device have just slaughtered an entire off-world base of men; my men, Pete, and good ones at that. But wait, there's more! Samantha has also decided that stealing earth's one and only spaceship was a good idea!"
"You let her?" Pete shouted in shock and anger.
"How dare you!" Jack roared. "Do you honestly think, Mr. Good Cop, that I would willingly allow the degeneration of one of my team to reach such a point? Do you think I'd turn anyone loose under alien influence? Let anlone one of my friends? My Carter?"
"She's not yours," Pete said icily. "She's-"
"More mine than she'll ever be yours," Jack snapped dangerously, before banging the phone down.
He sat in silence for a second, breathing heavily. Then, almost as fast as he had put it down, Jack snatched up the phone and had it reconnect to the number Pete had called from.
"Shanahan here," Pete answered peevishly.
"I never liked you," Jack said with passion, and promptly hung up again.
That response had been childish, and he knew it, but calling back had allowed him to siphon off some of his anger and hurt into the other man. It was so much easier to believe this was Pete's fault, or use him as a scapegoat.
Their conversation, however, had another side effect. Hearing that note of fear in Pete's voice, and understanding how Sam was destroying those who - dare he admit it, for both himself and that... other man... – loved her, galvanized him into action. He quickly pressed the button on his phone that read 'Geeks'. A much more apt description, he had found, than the original speed dial, which had read 'Technical Support'.
"Don't talk, just listen," he said, as soon as someone (who turned out to be Felger) had answered the phone. "I need to know if there is a way to track the Prometheus through space..."
My new name? Sam asked, confused.
Yes... one the galaxy will come to love and fear.
His mindvoice fell silent, leaving Sam trembling in anticipation. Then, it happened. Barely more than a whisper, Dominatus spoke the words of her new name. Her true name.
Caedes Regina.
She rolled it around in her mind, relishing the sound of it.
Blood Queen, she translated, intrinsically understanding its meaning.
Or Slaughter Queen, Dominatus agreed. It is not a direct translation, more a feeling. One to inspire fear. And what better way to baptise the new Queen of the galaxy than with more slaughter?
You have a target, then? Sam asked.
Yes, my little Caedes, Dominatus said, his words stroking her mind, I do. Something that will truly cement us as a galactic force. First, however, you need to use my power to improve the engine and weapons of this... Prometheus.
There was a small pause, and Sam trembled at a peculiar sensation ringing through her mind-bond. Almost like Dominatus was rifling through her mind, as one would through files.
So that is where the name came from. The myths of your planet say that the man Prometheus gave fire to mankind. Our Prometheus will also bring fire... to the entire galaxy. Melding me with the ship will create a weapon unlike anything the galaxy has known thusfar.Sam flooded the bond with desperation and longing. What is the target? she beseeched him, almost begging to know where their journey of destruction would begin.
Dominatus laughed, high-pitched and insane.
Sam's body quivered.
Have you ever, he said, heard of a race called the Nox?
