Author's Note: The politicians are about to arrive! Since Hayes is a made up president, I'm going to simply make up names for all the other world leaders as well – so don't correct me if you happen to live in one of the invited countries and I give your leader the wrong name!

OOOOOOOO

"Welcome to the SGC, Mr. President."

Henry Hayes smiled and shook Hammond's hand, but he didn't bother with the usual pleasantries this time.

"How bad are things, George?"

"We're still assessing, sir, but it's not looking good. I have a briefing set up for you…"

The President nodded, and looked at the assembled military and civilian personnel. Considering the fact that it was late in the night, there were a fair number – which only made sense, after all, since this was going end up being the heart of their defense if things went bad.

"Let's go take care of that, then. I want to know what we're dealing with before the others get here."

Hammond nodded and turned, leading the way back into the mountain.

"May I ask who you've invited to this conference?" he asked as Hayes moved to walk beside him with the secret service agents following along with everyone else.

"I made it a broad invitation," Hayes told him. "Many won't show – not with the threat of being the only ones in the air with the alien ships – but those leaders that do show will be allowed to have one aide with them and a security force at hand, so you'll need to find quarters for them."

"We can do that, sir. And we'll make sure to have all the VIP rooms set up by morning."

He already had people working on that, after all.

"Good. Where is SG-1?"

"Colonel O'Neill had something he needed to take care of," Hammond told the President. "He and the others will be joining us as soon as they're finished."

"Good."

OOOOOOOOOOO

Emmett Bregman was livid, and trying very hard to hide it. The President's plane had landed and the motorcade had delivered him to the door (figuratively speaking) of the SGC, and Ben hadn't made his appearance yet. It'd been almost half an hour, now, since he'd left him down below, and there was no sign of him. Which was unusual, really, because Ben was more professional than that – even when there was a pretty girl involved. He'd sent a runner – one of the Marines that was on standby in case something was needed – down to their quarters, but that Marine hadn't returned, yet, and Emmett was too busy trying to record and narrate the arrival of the President to do more than just fume.

When there was a lull in things, he'd go find Ben, and there would be some serious explaining to do.

OOOOOOOOO

"Any luck?"

Teal'c shook his head.

"I have been unable to locate her using the base cameras."

Daniel nodded his agreement.

"We checked everywhere, Jack – including the bathrooms."

"How about the infirmary?" O'Neill asked, remembering Pia's infatuation with Ian the few times the two had met.

"We checked," Daniel told him. "Janet said she hadn't seen her – but she is releasing Ian."

"Good. He can help Sam."

"What of Pia?" Teal'c asked. "Perhaps Jacob Carter can-"

"Excuse me… sir?"

Teal'c Jack and Daniel all turned at the sound of the voice, and saw a Marine trotting up to them.

"Yes, Sergeant?" Jack asked, knowing already that it was something bad, just by how pale the man's face was.

"I need you to come with me, sir. We have… a problem…"

"What kind of problem?" Daniel asked, curiously.

"You need to come see…" the sergeant said, watching Jack.

O'Neill nodded. It had to be important, or the man wouldn't be making a big deal out of it.

"Lead the way, Sergeant."

OOOOOOOOO

"Mr. Bregman sent me down to find his cameraman, sir," the Marine said as they walked up to the door of one of the VIP rooms. The room that Emmett and Ben were staying in. "I didn't find him... but I..."

He opened the door, and they all walked in - and stopped. The room held several other security personnel, all looking down at the sprawled form of Pia. Pale and lifeless, there was no doubt that she was dead, and Jack heard Daniel give a sharp intake of breath.

"Does Jacob Carter know about this?" Jack asked.

"He's with the President's group right now, sir."

Teal'c had crossed the room and knelt down beside the body, pushing Jack (the dog) out of the way when the lab whined and tried to get closer.

"There is no sign of trauma, O'Neill…"

Daniel frowned.

"Tok'ra don't just keel over and die…"

Jack frowned, too.

"They do if they don't have their symbiote any more…"

Teal'c looked up, and Jack turned to the sergeant.

"Get Jacob Carter down here. I don't care what you tell him, but I want him away from the President and Hammond immediately and without making him suspicious."

The Marine nodded, and whirled, leaving the room in a run.

"You don't think Jacob had anything to do with this, do you Jack?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"No. Not really – but I'm not sure – and I'm not going to take any chances." He turned to the others in the room. "I want Ben Crane found. Now."

OOOOOOOOOO

"You're sure you're okay?" Janet asked.

Ian nodded, only slightly annoyed and hiding that as well as he could to keep her from getting annoyed right back at him. That was the last thing he needed, because he really needed to get out of the infirmary and check a couple of things.

"I'm fine. Really."

"How's your head?" she asked, suspiciously.

"It still hurts," he admitted – mainly because he wouldn't be able to pull off the lie anyways. "But not so bad. I really need to-"

"I know." She frowned at him, as if debating whether or not to let him go, but then shrugged. "If you have any serious pain I want you to come back here immediately. Understood?"

"Yes."

She still didn't look completely convinced, but she sent him on his way, knowing that the scientists would definitely need his help.

Five minutes later, Ian was heading for Sam's lab and fairly distracted by a myriad of images that seemed to be filtering through his mind at a million miles a minute – images he'd never seen before. Which meant they were new – and that meant he needed to talk to Sam.

"You!"

He stopped, startled, when someone stepped in front of him where the corridor had only moments before been completely empty. A guy who couldn't have been much older than he was, with civilian clothing and an odd expression on his face and the broken handle of a broom or a mop in his hand.

Over his surprise quickly, Ian scowled as he sensed the aggression in the other guy's stance.

"Are you talking to me?"

"You have much to answer for…"

The voice was deep – far deeper than anything that came from a human throat – and the eyes were suddenly glowing.