Chapter 7

Alarms blared as General Hammond came down the stairs from his office. "Who is it?" He asked the airman sat at the controls.

"It's SG1's remote code sir. No travelers on route but we are receiving another transmission." The airman reported.

"Patch it through."

Carter's voice came over the radio. "General, mission status is the same. Need more time to end the situation diplomatically. Next transmission in twenty four hours, Sir. Carter out."

"Captain…what's going…" The signal cut off, all that was coming through was static. "Well, that doesn't seem like Captain Carter to be so… brief! I'd like you to try to contact them in two hours, airman." Hammond shook his head.

"Yes, sir." The airman called after him as he watched Hammond make his way back to his office.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

The men in the mines could barely move. Their muscles burned like fire, and dehydration was taking its toll on the remaining members of the team. Jack was only being fueled by his anger at his second in command. Teal'c had his symbiote, but even a Jaffa needs food and water after a while. Daniel was barely standing, never mind swinging his tool and moving rocks.

Carter entered the cave and cleared her throat to get their attention. "Ehmm."

Jack looked up at her with fury in his eyes. "What the hell is going on?"

"Sam, we haven't heard from you in days." Daniel's voice was scratchy from lack of water and inhaling dust.

"Yeah I know." Sam replied. "Shaylon has promised to let you go, soon."

"Carter, we are dying down here. You do know that right?" Jack asked through gritted teeth.

Sam stood there, acting as though she hadn't even heard what he had said. "Oh I've had time to do some research on the sarcophagus. It's amazing what it does to you if you use it when you're healthy."

Teal'c gave his typical eyebrow in her direction. "Captain Carter, you were not healthy when you used it. You had been gravely injured."

"Yes, Teal'c. I know. But, I umm, tried to escape again, and got injured, so I used it again, and a few times since then."

"Okay, so how many is a few?" Daniel asked.

"Ah, not quite sure…." Sam shrugged.

"Is that such a good idea, Captain?" The last word from her Colonel dripped with anger.

"Well, it's amazing what else it does. I can think so clearly now, I think I'm actually smarter than before. I feel wonderful, too. I don't think I've ever had this much energy in my life." Sam seemed almost excited about what she was telling them, and it concerned her friends.

"I don't think you should use it anymore Sam." Daniel spoke up.

"Shaylon wanted me to trust him, and I wanted him to trust me. So now we trust each other." She replied like it was no big deal to her.

"Captain Carter…get us out of here…." The Colonel's patience was wearing thin.

"Yeah sir, I'm working on it." Sam replied, a bit of annoyance in her tone. "Oh, sent Hammond a message too. So he should be happy with that for now. I mean really, look at all the naquada we'll get out of the deal."

"Sam, one way or another you need to get us out of here, please." Daniel sat down on a rock, defeated.

"I know Daniel. I know. Oh, he wants me to stay here. Help him figure out how to end their little thing they have going on." Sam turned and waved her hand in the air.

"What did you say? Alright Carter, look…" Jack began.

Sam turned back to her commander. "No, Sir…Jack…" Her voice reeked of sarcasm as she pointed at him. "You've never given me a chance. You have always thought just because I'm a woman, I can't be in command or control of anything, haven't you? I'm taking care of it. Just let me do it my way!" She turned and left the cave in a huff, while the men of SG1 stared at the spot where she had stood.

"Who the hell was that?" Daniel looked at Jack.

"It seems Captain Carter has been adversely affected by the sarcophagus. She may not be trustworthy any longer." Teal'c spoke quietly. He had heard stories in his childhood about the Goa'uld experimenting with humans who were not hosts, and what would happen to them. "I remember as a child, people speaking of the theft of one's Kalach…The Goa'uld used humans for experiments with the sarcophagus."

Jack looked at Teal'c and questioned him. "What? What's a Kalach?"

Daniel thought for a moment. "Uh, Kalach…soul, it means one's soul." He looked down at the ground, knowing what was happening to Carter.

"Crap." Jack sighed heavily, and sat down next to Daniel. "This is so not good."