The Black Hand: The Hand is older than the Sabbat it serves. It is a secretive and closed off subsect that has its own rituals and practices not shared among the Sabbat at large. The Hand selects its own members and once each passes trials that test martial skills, mental strength and willpower they are given magical brands on their right palms in the shape of crescent moons. Every member is a trained warrior and while they live like normal Sabbat, in normal packs, they can be called at any moment to perform solo operations, or special teams at the command of the four Seraphim who act as generals to this shadow army. The Sabbat's most powerful leaders fear the Hand and have in recent years neglected summoning their use for fear that if the Hand were to come together it could destroy the Sabbat entirely if ever it had the mind to do so. There are even rumors that the Sabbat's Inquisitors are looking into the Black Hand for signs of disloyalty.

Chapter 9:

Alexander Hadrian sat behind his desk. His hands were folded in his lap as he tried to comprehend what he had just heard. Thirty Six. THIRTY FREAKING SIX! He looked across the desk at the vampire sitting in a chair with his hands clasped in front of him and his head bowed in thought. "They told you this?"

Liam looked up. "As I've said, Sire, yes. One of the Black Hand found me and gave me the message."

Alexander shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. He would have expected one, maybe three at most…even four or five would be believable but thirty six was unheard of. The intelligence on the Hand's numbers were never verified but the number was always estimated around 300 world wide. For them to commit 36 to one single operations would mean they wanted - no needed this operation to win.

"And you saw the brand?"

Liam flashed annoyance but covered it quickly before speaking to the Prince. "Yes, Sire, crescent moon burned into the right palm. It wasn't new or fake. I know how to identify a Hand Member."

Hadrian didn't let his subordinates see his emotions very often but he didn't hide his worry now. This changes things. "I never heard of them doing this before. Is the Stargate really that important to them?"

"To the Seraphim, we cannot know, but now we can be certain that whoever is pushing this is probably a Cardinal and not an Archbishop like we thought. Perhaps even the Regent herself is putting all this together."

Hadrian thought that over. Regardless he needed to inform the Justicars. If the Black Hand was coming in force he also needed to make new plans. Priorities had to be arranged and regardless of whatever he chose to do people were going to die. Whenever the Hand became involved people, living and undead, always died.

Liam stood up and Hadrian again noticed the shredded jacket and shirt the man was wearing. The absence of physical harm despite evidence to the contrary was not uncommon among the undead. Liam no doubt had healed himself before coming to the Prince with his prisoner. The Bishop was now locked in the sublevels and was under the 'care' of one of the few Temere in Hadrian's service. "With your permission, Sire, may I be excused."

The Prince gave his vassal leave to go. Silently Sage slipped out of the Prince's office and left the Methuselah to consider the fate of thousands or possibly billions of lives. Leadership was such a horrible burden.

The sublevels of the Ventrue Sanctum were something out of a syfy movie. The walls were solid steal plates with white plastic and see through materials. The lights gave off a humming and it wasn't a accident that the light bulbs only gave off 'soft' light - no shadows.

Liam exited the elevator nodding to the guards who didn't acknowledge him at all. Walking down the narrow hall he noted not for the first time the notches meant to shield defenders should an enemy try to force their way down here. He had to go to the end of the hall and take the stairs to the even deeper levels.

Liam finely came to his destination…the interrogation chambers. He walked up to a vampire with a clipboard looking at a monitor. Some vampires could see through two way mirrors so security cameras were becoming the norm.

He nodded to her and watched the screen. The image was of a empty mettle chair with straps tied down and behind it a man in black with dark sunglasses putting out small needles and knives onto a table. Liam wasn't surprised and didn't ask if the prisoner was in another cell. Lesombra had a key give away that no other clan had - they did not cast a reflection or show up on film or digital media. It wasn't a secret and was often the reason why reflective surfaces were used in hallways of Kindred buildings. It was an easy way to identify a Lesombra from any other clan. The eyes were a give away too but by the time you saw a lesombra's eyes chances were it was too late. It was only in the most advanced, specialized detection equipment designed to detect kindred that a lesombra might be recorded as a ghostly shadow. But those results were rare and unreliable.

"Have they pulled out the stake yet?" Liam asked. Since he couldn't see the vampire strapped to the chair he couldn't see if the stake was still in his hart where Liam had put it.

"Not yet, Master Sage." The technician marked something on the clip board. "We were waiting to pump blood and start his regeneration. Are you taking part in the interrogation?"

"No." He said, he mumbled something that sounded like a prayer then turned and walked away. The technician who had stopped her work to stare at him shook her head in pity for poor diluted fools that believed in god. It was so pointless.

Carter opened her front door and stepped inside. Closing it behind her she leaned against it for support. She was exhausted. The sun was already out and she had been lucky to make it home at all. Her vision was blurry behind the dark sunglasses and every muscle was screaming protest.

With nothing but willpower Samantha trudged up the stairs to her bed room. She had to pass Cassandra's bedroom but was too tired to stop and check in to let the girl know she was home. Sam's guts were twisting. She hadn't realized it till after she had talked with the Prince but that single glass of blood had triggered something in her. She was so hungry. So very hungry.

Sam stripped and fell into her bed. Here she was safe in this dark room. Pulling the covers up she closed her eyes which had already drooped till they might as well have been closed. Sleep came instantly.

"SAM!"

Carter jumped out of the bed pulling the 44. from under her pillow. First it was pointed at the door then at the window then back at the door…there was no one in the room. "SAM! Daniel's here." That was Cassandra. The fog slowly cleared from her mind…Daniel, Daniel who?

Sam got out of bed and nearly came out of the room forgetting that she was half naked. Throwing on some pants and a T-shirt she came out. The gun was still in her hand so she tucked it into the waist of her pants behind her back coving it over with the shirt.

She looked down the stairs and blinked at the bright light. "Sam." Cassandra came half way up the stairs. She stopped when she saw Carter and her eyes went wide. "Daniel, is - he came to see you." She said slowly. Sam remembered herself and put on a smile. "Sure, be down in a minute."

Cassandra nodded and turned to go back down but her eyes lingered on Carter longer than Samantha was comfortable with. Carter went back to her room and check the clock, 2:00 pm. "Shit" she said. Throwing on a hoody she put the gun under her pillow and went downstairs.

Daniel was in the kitchen talking with Cassandra. Sam stopped blinking at the bright light. "Oh my god…" Sam stared at Daniel who had gotten out of his chair at the sight of her. Do I look that bad? Sam smiled though it must have looked more like a scowl. "Why don't we go into the living room. The light is hurting my eyes."

Daniel looked at Cassie then nodded following Sam into the darker living room. The curtains were still closed, thank goodness. Sam offered Daniel a seat and sat down opposite him in one of the chairs. Cassandra didn't follow. The girl knew when 'official' stuff was going to be discussed and she didn't have the clearance.

"Sam are you alright?" was the first thing Daniel asked.

Carter looked at him confused. "Yes," was the first answer she said without thinking, "What's up?"

"When you didn't come back to the SGC I got worried. You didn't answer your cell-phone and Dr. Lam said you never checked yourself in at the infirmary. What happened?" Daniel was staring at Sam intently. She couldn't guess what he saw.

To Dr. Jackson his friend who had always been a vibrantly healthy woman looked sickly and frail. Her skin was pale white and her eyes looked sunken in.

"I'm fine, really," Sam said. "I had to escort the bodies to the National Guard base then I just felt too tired to drive back to the SGC. I came home. But I will be back at work soon. Really." Sam tried to sound natural but even she knew that she wasn't sounding convincing. She had never been a 'good' liar but she should have been able to do better. She had had lots of practice over the last few weeks.

Daniel just stared at her. After several moments he started looking around the room. The silence was so thick you could have cut it with a butter knife. "Well, I guess that's it." Daniel got up and Sam rose up too.

"Daniel, please,'

He looked at her and waited but nothing came out. "yah, I got it. I'll let you get some rest. See you at the SGC."

Carter hung her head and mumbled a confirmation. Daniel left the house saying good bye to Cassie and Sam was left standing in the living room. After hearing the door close Sam started to shiver but it wasn't because of cold. She was angry. Her finger nails dug into her palm till she felt them hurt. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She couldn't' be lying to her friends like this. After 10 years of working together, saving the freaking world, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

When the sun went down Samantha Carter left her home in civilian cloths and made a B line for the Devil's den. Her emotions were out of control and god help her she needed to be around - not around people.

Sam entered the now familiar smoky first floor and swept by the mix of humans and kindred trolling for a snack. She went straight upstairs and went to the bar. She pulled out a twenty and set it down taking a stool. "I need," before she finished the bartender, a vampire she was sure snatched the money and set a large mug of a thick fluid.

Sam didn't scoff. She gulped down the thick blood without any qualms. Hitting the heavy mug back down on the wood bar the bartender took it away and replaced it with another. "Bad night, Colonel." it wasn't a question.

Sam didn't know the bartender's name but she knew him from her and Mango hanging out here over the last few weeks. "yeah, you can say that."

"You're chum is due to come in any time now."

"My chum?" Sam said feeling better. The blood was doing its work. Her stomach felt full which was a rare thing. But she was still hungry and drank from the mug, but not all at once like before.

"Yeah, Mango. She is due any time now."

Carter frowned, "The Militia is patrolling still aren't they?"

Bartender shrugged. "She an't with the Militia anymore. Got herself recognized as Neonate and is now working the same as you or me. And there she is."

Sam turned around as Mango was coming up the steps. She didn't look any different accept her leather jacket was newer, and her cloths didn't' have any holes in them.

Mango saw Sam and guided her way over to the bar. Pulling out a $10 bill she placed it on the bar. "Hit me."

"Hey there," Sam said.

"Been a while," Mango said.

"Yeah," Sam faking a light mood. "I just heard, you're a neonate now. How did that happen?"

Mango shrugged. "Came in from a fight about 2 weeks back. A ghoul came up to me and gave me a envelope full of cash and said 'get lost'."

"That's it?" Sam asked, "How much did they give you?"

"$300. But I couldn't go back to the motel or stay in the basement so I ended up sleeping in a dumpster that first day."

"Why didn't you call me I could have…"

Mango smiled put her hand over Sam's, "I know. But you got a kid and I didn't want to bring my crap to your house. Besides, you got your own troubles with whatever it is you do for the Prince."

To hear Mango talk it was easy to forget she was only sixteen years old. Cassandra was in her early 20s but in a lot of ways she was a 'kid' still. Carter nodded. It was grown up thing, the kind of stuff she had learned to expect from Mango. The Brujah put others before herself, always.

"What about Kim and Punk? Are they neonates too?"

Mango shook her head. "No. Just me." She stared at her mug of blood the bartender set down. "Just me."

Carter didn't speak either. The two friends drank and after a few minutes Sam got up. "I have to go to work. But we'll get together soon, okay. I want to hear more."

Mango shrugged, "We'll see. I've been living night to night so far so don't put anything on the calendar. Let me know if you need any help."

Sam stared at Mango. What kind of help was Mango offering? The answer was obvious. Killing, that was what vampires did after all. For the briefest of moments Sam considered it. But then it was over and she smiled and turned away. Time to go back to the SGC.

I'm telling you, Jack, there is something wrong." Daniel was on the phone in his apartment talking to General Jack O'Neil the head of HWS, Homewolrld Security. Jack was asking what exactly happened to make Daniel think there was something wrong with Sam. "Its not any one thing. Jack, she's, she's different. You have to see her. Cassandra has been telling me that she doesn't leave her house accept to go to work or some kind of bar."

Jack made a comment and Daniel had to bight his tongue before continuing. "Jack, I think she is involved in something. Think about it. After the General Hammond crashed she wasn't found in the wreckage. She just showed up in a hospital claiming to have no memory of what happened. We've seen the Goa'uld and the Lucian Alliance do things like this before…No I'm not saying I know, I'm saying that there is something strange going on and…"

"Yes, she did…But Jack you had to have been there. This thing wasn't your average Lucian Alliance assassin. She saved my life, yes and she killed him."

Daniel hung up the phone when Jack finished making his point and they both agreed to meet up when Daniel was scheduled to come to Washington in a month. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "There is something wrong, Jack. I know it." he said to himself

Daniel played with the idea of contacting COL. Cameron Michel but decided against it. If he couldn't convince Jack he probably wouldn't get much farther with Michel. Instead he picked up the phone again and called the SGC. Might as well check on Vala.

Prince Hadrian watched the interrogation of the Sabbat Bishop. He stood behind a one way mirror preferring to 'see' the man being slowly destroyed bit by bit rather than the vague image the camera's picked up. The Tremere, warlocks that specialized in blood related magic,…their skill at causing harm in subtle but highly agonizing ways was almost the equal of the Tzimitse. The Lesombra was slumped in the chair. Dried blood had caked to his face where he had literally sweated it.

The Tremere used an Onex scalpel and was now slowly shaving off the Keeper's fingernails, one patient slice at a time. Behind the chair Akhilesh, the Sheriff, was preparing a IV of blood to keep the prisoner alive and alert. He brought it over and inserted the needle into the vampire's neck not at all gently. The vampire didn't react to the pain. Silently the Tremere pointed to the small table and the Sheriff retrieved a syringe of what looked like blood. The prisoner was now becoming numb to their administrations so they needed to shock his system. Electricity would just be painful so something more creative methods would be needed. Akhilesh injected the vampire with werewolf blood. The result would be a sudden awakening of all the prisoners senses most notably his ability to feel pain.

The Bishop's eyes flew open and he screamed.

"SPEAK!" the Sheriff bellowed into the vampire's ear. "Tell us what the Sabbat is planning and this will end. Otherwise, I swear, we will make you wish you were never embraced in the first place."

The Tremer stopped working on the fingernails. "Hm, his genitals have regenerated. Give me a moment if you please."

The Sun came out putting Colorado Springs into the bright day of summer. Inside the Ventrue stronghold it didn't matter. The windows filtered out UV light and most of the inner room were devoid of windows so there was a ever presence sense of night. The clan elders, ghoul staff and other relevant parties were in one of the large conference like rooms well hidden from the Sun and its destructive influence.

Hadrian entered and all conversation stopped. Silently he moved to the head of the room, any of the kindred or ghouls standing or leaning against the walls got out of his way and tried to look small to avoid his notice. He wasn't a tall man, in truth he was actually short, 5 foot 4 inches. But power had a way of giving height.

He took his place and surveyed the room silently marking who looked mad, cocky, or confident. The first two were good things to see in vassals, the later was not. A confident vampire more often than not was confident for a reason and that reason was never good for a leader of vampires. Fortunately only the usual suspects looked that way.

"Good morning gentleman, and ladies. I know you are all tired and the sun has risen. That aside what I have to say could not wait. Intelligence has come to light that indicates the Sabbat is planning a major offensive against Colorado Springs and that this attack will happen within the week."

Suddenly the room was full of voices. Hadrian's hand swept through the air, and his voice carried out over all of them. "I. Was. Not. Finished." the noise died away. "Over that last few weeks the Sabbat has been progressing north from Mexico picking up greater numbers of humans from the streets and isolated communities. It is our belief that these humans are not being taken for their blood but for their flesh. The Tzimisce can use these humans to construct szlachta as well as war-ghouls to throw against us. It would also be expected that a great many of these humans will be embraced and intentionally made feral to weaken us further."

"To combat this threat I am deploying the militia as well as human law enforcement at both the state and federal level to secure all avenues of approach into Colorado Springs. I am also charging my subordinate leaders to ready their kindred, at all levels for combat in expectation that we will not be able to prevent the Sabbat from entering the city."

Hadrian stood quiet and instinctively the others knew he was finished. The Harpy, Amelia, raised an arm indicating she wished to be recognized. Hadrian nodded his head and the Toreador stood up. "Sire, may I ask why are the Sabbat attacking us with such overwhelming force. Colorado Springs is not in a strategically important position and no attacks of this magnitude have been leveled against us in the past. Why now?"

Hadrian smiled showing he was unconcerned with the nature of the question. Most would now be thinking that the only thing that really changed in Colorado was that he was now here so the attack was really his fault. "There target is in the military base underneath Cheyenne Mountain." Voices starting murmuring. Hadrian smiled even wider showing all his teeth. Leaving behind all aristocratic baring he leaned forward placing his hands on the table's edge assuming a more predatory posture. His fierce green eyes stared at the bitch, Amelia, and then went over the room. "And before any of you ask, yes I knew there was something of value there. It is the reason I invaded this domain and why the Camarilla entrusted its care to me. And not a single one of you are permitted to go anywhere near it without my express permission."

Hadrian straightened pretending to remember his aristocratic position. The next words were meant to sound blood thirsty, and the Prince enhanced them with his own powers making sure they resonated in the minds of all that heard them. "Any Kindred found or even suspected of disobeying my edict will be sent to final death without hesitation and its master will be dragged from its haven, staked and left to the die in the sun."

The room was dead quiet. Not a single being dared move. Hadrian's command of dominate and presence was reflective of his age and bloodline. He could not be disobeyed. "Now, if you will address the wall behind me, I will outline my plan for our defense. Hold all questions till the end."

Sage was waiting in the hallway and watched the elders and other Kindred leave the Prince's briefing. The Sheriff, a authentic Mohawk of clan Gangrel, was forced to walk by him. The Indian gave Liam a look that was meant to be menacing. Liam returned it but his sunglasses no doubt made him just look unimpressed, either way worked for him.

Hadrian was last to come out of the conference room and gestured for Liam to come in. Inside Sage saw Doc who looked to be a well dressed southern gentleman from late 1800s sitting at the table as well as the Tremere, Simon Lakatos a 40 something man of Hungarian decent. "Liam, you know these two men." Hadrian said. He didn't wait for Sage to answer. "I want you to brief them on what you know of the SGC, Col. Carter, and anything relevant about the Black Hand."

That surprised Liam Sage. "Sire, may I ask why?"

Hadrian crossed his arms over his chest. "Because they will be leading a small group to guard the mountain while the bulk of our forces stay here in the city."

That last part was expected. Sage knew that strategically the city would be more important than the SGC. If Hadrian tried to guard the mountain the Sabbat would take the city and all its people and then have a foothold where they could re-supply and feed while the defenders on the mountain would be out in the open and only grow weaker as time went by. Protecting the city meant that whatever attack that was sent to take the Stargate would then be forced to deal with the same disadvantages and could be trapped between the Mountain and any retaliating force Hadrian sent. But why was he briefing these two about the mountain?

"Of course, Sire, won't I be able to show them the area once we are onsite?"

"No, you are staying in the city. Our forces are spread too thin between both Denver and here. The militia is already strained and most of Colorado's own kindred are of little note. We destroyed their most powerful when we took the city. I will need you and the most experienced Kindred to remain were you can be used to greatest effect."

Sage turned to look at the Toreador and Tremere, "as you wish."

Carter, back in uniform, left the meeting with General Landry. "Sir, we have gone over the security tapes and found when the man entered the SGC. However his identification has not been found. Security is working on possible ways of tracking his movements once he was inside."

Landry nodded. "Very good, Colonel. Keep me apprised. SG-3 is due to return this morning, and the White House had instructed us to resume normal operations today, I know its short notice but I'd like to accommodate them if for no other reason than to keep them off my ass."

"Roger, Sir," Carter kept walking to her office as Landry turned to head to the Infirmary.

Once inside her office Carter got started on the ever building paperwork. Being in charge of a starship hadn't even generated this much paperwork. "Yo". Carter's head shot up and saw James standing inside her office. His horrid little form gestured calm. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"What are you doing here?"

James looked offended. "Sorry, but I've got orders." he pulled out a piece of folded paper from his pocket. Placing it down on her desk he backed off. "Just wanted to say hi also. Not like we are strangers or anything."

Sam instantly regretted her reaction a few moments ago. She had to remind herself that James was a young man still and looking deformed, like all Nosferatu were probably made it hard for him to talk to anyone. And he did help her when she needed it. "I can't talk here. Maybe you and I can meet up at the Devil's den. I'm heading back there tonight."

James seemed to brighten up. "Sure, Nosferatu don't do the bars too often. Looking forward to it."

Sam smiled, "But you got to get out of here before someone sees you."

"Oh, yah, right." James faded away turning invisible and Sam had to guess was now gone. It was fascinating to see but when she thought about how easily anyone with that power could just slip by any security system it made her shutter. Yet another way the Kindred seemed insurmountable compared to humans.

She unfolded the paper and started reading.

BACK IN TOWN.

MEET AT THE GYM. IMPORTANT NEWS.

BE SAFE.

Carter folded it back up and pocketed it. Who had been out of town. The answer then came to her, Sage.

Carter parked in her normal spot outside the gym where she had been training with the Ventrue. "Its been a while." Sam spun not having taken two steps from her car. Liam stood there. His hands were in his black jean pockets and he wore a nondescript black shirt. There were no visible weapons. "Its been an interesting few nights for you."

"Where have you been?" Sam asked. She hadn't seen him in what seemed like weeks. "You didn't return any of my texts or calls."

Liam shrugged. "You didn't need me."

The simple statement took her aback a bit. Thinking about it she had to agree. All her calls and texts had been really just her looking for something somewhat familiar but really she hadn't had a real need for Sage to come. Was that because she was adapting her unlife as a vampire?

Liam started talking. "I wanted to be the one to tell you the latest news. The Sabbat is on the move. An attack is imminent. The Prince has confirmed that they are gathering up homeless and other dregs. So when it happens…its going to be big. And bad."

Sam's eyes grew wide. A full on attack. "Do you think they are going to take the city?" She was already thinking of how she could get Cassandra out of the city; buy her a plane ticket to…well who knows were. Anywhere but here.

Liam shook his head. "I don't think so. With Denver so close and Hadrian taking residence here it would be too hard to hold. You don't know this but our Prince is a good deterrent from any serious occupation. But that doesn't mean they won't come in force and punch a hole straight to the SGC. We're convinced that they are after the Stargate."

Sam leaned against her car. "They want to get off world. Why? They can get all the technology we bring back from Area 51 or the Pentagon. Why bother anyway. If they control the capital than why do they need to do all this?"

"They're not after Technology, at least not only that. They are searching for the buried ancients. Our progenitors. Kindred have been digging all over this earth trying to find them for centuries and now the Sabbat is ready to try looking somewhere else."

The Stargate. Sam couldn't believe it. All of this, trying to take her ship, the entire thing was just to get off world. To find buried ancient vampires. It was so ludicrous that it made sense. Merlin, from myth had been an Ancient, and had taken the knights of Camelot off world. The Ancient gods of Egypt had been symbiotic aliens. The Thor, the Viking god of thunder and lightning had been a little grey man. How far fetched was it that vampires could have gotten off world themselves?

"So what are we going to do? Does the Prince have a plan?"

Liam fixed Sam with a look that she could not identify. "We are going to do whatever it takes to defend Colorado Springs from the Sabbat."

When he didn't' go on Sam prodded, "What about the SGC? What does he want me to do?"

"What you have been doing." Liam answered. "A small group of volunteers are going to be set around NORAD but for the most part it has been decided to leave the mountain to defend itself."

COL. Carter was stunned. That made no sense. "What? If that is what they want they are going make a B-line straight for the SGC. They'll kill everyone and if they do make a connection -"

"I know." Liam cut her off. "But it would cost us too much to defend the mountain and the city. If we choose the SGC they will take the city and have access to all the people here to feed on. We could hold NORAD for maybe a week before we were too starved to resist, and that doesn't even account for how do we survive the sun out in the open…a small group could survive in the woods but all our fighters would incinerate with the first sunrise."

He went on after a moment of letting that sink in. "Our best bet is let them try and take the SGC and hope the fact that it is a giant bunker can keep them out. Once the city is secure and most of their forces are committed on the mountain we will counter attack and trap them between us and the mountain. Attack on two fronts makes the most sense."

Carter slammed her fist down on her car in frustration…she left a dent two inches long in the side. Not caring she forgot her control and hissed. "This is crazy. This whole situation is out of control." Stalking around Sam looked for anything to take her frustration out on but there was nothing.

Liam waited quietly till she was done. After several minutes Carter was standing with her back to him so he couldn't see her bighting her lip drawing blood then sucking it back into her mouth. "Be mindful, Carter. The Beast will surge with your emotions and if you are not careful you may do something you'll regret."

Sam whirled on him. "Why the hell are you telling me this and not the Prince? I've done everything asked of me. Why am I only now being told?"

Half of Liam's lip curled in a smile. "If you were standing before the Prince and were acting the way you are now you would have been gunned down." He smiled openly now. "And you forget, Madam Colonel, among us, you, are a mere child. And I," his voice dropped, "am your elder, your master and ultimately responsible for you." Sage returned to his normal demeanor, blank. "Carter, we are being watched."

Samantha stopped glaring at him and frowned, "What?"

Without turning Liam spoke, "The car across the street, behind me parked to the side of the road." He turned towards her car and leaned towards it. "It hasn't moved since you came here, and I never saw the driver come out."

Sam came closer to him as if she was speaking in a low voice, but discreetly looked over his shoulder. A car was parked down the road but in line of sight with them. A person could be seen in the darkened cab but even vampire vision couldn't show her who it was. Pushing all their issues aside Sam's training kicked in. "I can drive. See if he follows me."

"Better idea. Get back into your car and head down the street, just a block. When he moves the car I'll wait to see if there is a second following. I'll take care of it from there. Wait till I come to you."

Carter didn't nod her head or anything. She waited till Liam turned to leave an then made to get into her car. She started the engine and did as she was told. She went down to the end of the block and turned which put her behind the gym and stopped. She kept the engine on and waited.

She didn't wait long till Liam appeared on the passenger side. She rolled down the window. Sage poked his head in. "Pop the trunk."

Before Sam could respond Liam dragged to the window what could only have been who was in the car they believed had been spying on them. "DANIEL?"

Daniel didn't know where he was. It had happened so fast; he was watching Samantha meet with some strange guy in the parking lot of a old ratty gym. She started hitting her car and nearly yelled loud enough for him to hear what she was saying. Then BOOM, lights went out. Feeling around he realized he wasn't tied up and that he was laying on his side in a dark confined space. Slowly and with a lot of stiffness he tried to shift around.

He felt the floor move a bit as he shifted…a car, he was in the trunk of a car. "Okay, Jack, you were right, I should have left it alone," he muttered to himself. Man his head was throbbing.

He moved around trying to orient himself then realized there were voices coming from outside. They were muffled but audible…and one of them WAS SAM.

Liam was sitting partially in the passenger seat of Carter's car while she tried to wear a hole in the ground walking back and forth. Liam had directed Sam to drive into what appeared to be a construction site that looked like it hadn't seen work in years. It was very secluded which was both comforting and at the same time very worrying to Samantha.

"Stop that." Liam said finally indicating her constant movement. "That isn't helping."

Carter gritted her teeth. "What are you going to do?"

Liam's eyebrow raised in mocking surprise. "Well, I don't know, the famous Dr. Daniel Jackson was following you. We don't know how long, and we don't know why. Maybe I want to answer those questions."

His mockery tipped Sam's emotion even more towards loosing control. She was scared for Daniel. Her friend had been following her, that was obvious. Which made whatever happened to him her fault for not being more aware, and if the Prince found out and chose the punish her the best way to do that would be through Cassie. So she was trying to figure out how to save two of her friends at the same time. And it all depended on what Liam did. He was little more than a stranger to her and everything hinged on his decision. What would she do - could do - if Liam chose to kill Daniel just to tie up a potential risk to the masquerade? "That's not an answer."

Liam stared at her through his sunglasses. "I'm going to find out what he knows, Sam. Then depending on what we learn we'll go from there." Sam visibly relaxed. "Don't get too comfortable. If I think we have to kill him, you'll do it."

Sam stared at Liam. Her voice didn't work when her mouth tried to speak. Liam took off his sunglasses. His face set in a determined, icy glare. "Whatever you are thinking, don't. We don't have the time and if we turn on one another now than its all over…for everyone."

"He's my friend, and its my fault he is involved in all this. I know how you work so stop playing with me." Carter snapped.

"You're right, this is your fault, and his life is in jeopardy because you couldn't play your part convincingly. So deal with it. You're a fucking vampire, start acting like one. How do we make sure the masquerade is safe and at the same time not kill one of the world's living heroes?"

Suddenly it came to her, "We can use dominate and erase his memory."

Liam nodded. "And can you?"

That stopped Sam. She had had limited experience with Dominate. Fortitude was the clan power she used most. Accept for that slip with Cassandra she had had almost no practice using it. She looked at Liam and shook her head. "I don't," she admitted.

Liam nodded again rising to his feet. "You don't because you thought it was morally repugnant to violate someone's mind if I recall," He was not wrong. "Now for the second time it's the one thing that can save a friend of yours."

Sam swallowed as Liam crossed to the back of the trunk. "I'll do it this time. Pop the trunk."

Just then the back flung up and clipped Liam under the chin. Daniel came out falling to the ground and trying to get his legs under him. Crap…

Daniel didn't understand most of what he was hearing. Dominate and a few other words made him think of the Goa'uld's old mind control technology…what if that was what happened to Sam and she wasn't really herself. He needed to get out of here. There was a male voice, Daniel only guessed it was the guy from the parking lot though he couldn't be sure. The voice came around…Daniel knew what was coming…Wait for it.

"Pop the trunk…" POW Daniel used his legs to kick the trunk lid up to startle whoever it was right outside and then he dived forward rolling onto his shoulder. OW, the ground hurt like hell on impact but Dr. Jackson was used to that by now and started running. He didn't even see Sam before he was grabbed by two strong arms.

Before Daniel could react he was tossed back hitting the rear bumper of the car. Dazed he looked up, Sam was standing less than seven feet away watching it all…Daniel's hart sank confirming his suspicions that she was under some kind of mind control until he made eye contact. Sam's eyes were blue…they had always been blue. Carter stared at him her eyes looked like they were glowing without giving off any light and they were green standing out from her pale face.

Suddenly the man was right over him looking down. He rubbed his jaw…"nice try, Doctor." He stopped rubbing his chin. Daniel gasped seeing the uncovered mouth, and the sharp fangs clearly visible. The man's eyes were black, absolutely black without irises and sucked Daniel in. Who the hell was this guy? He remembered the man in the SGC the one with the Amber eyes…those lightless eyes.

The man grabbed Daniel by the head bringing their faces closer together. Daniel tried to struggle but the awkward hits and kicks were ignored. All his movements and Dr. Jackson couldn't even wrench his head away. He looked into the black pools of the man's eyes. "Relax, Dr. Jackson. Just relax and let me do all the work."

Sam watched in a sick fascination as Sage crouched over Daniel and Dominated him. It was strange but she actually felt this buzz go through the air as Liam talked. "How long have you been following Samantha Carter?"

"Just tonight. She has been acting strange for weeks. I was trying to help her." Daniel's voice was hollow like he was talking in his sleep.

"What have you learned about Samantha Carter?"

"After the crash she is different. She is keeping secrets. She isn't Samantha."

Liam was quiet for a few moments. "You are sleepy, very sleepy. Now sleep." Daniel's eyes closed and his shoulders rested against the car as Liam gently set him down.

Liam turned around "This isn't good, Samantha."

"What are you going to do?"

"Relax your fists." Liam said. "If I dig deeper I might damage him. If we tell the Prince, an interrogator will be assigned and they will definitely damage him. For his sake, I'll blank out the last few hours and fill in that he followed you and was satisfied that you are suffering from PTSD. It should be easy."

He sounded doubtful. "You aren't filling me with confidence. What aren't you saying?"

Liam looked her in the eye. "We're running a risk. By all accounts Daniel Jackson is strong willed. I felt his resistance. Anything I do to him might work or it might wear off. If he is strong and I have no reason to doubt he is, you need to find a way to make him believe there is nothing wrong with you. That means that whatever you are doing you need to do a whole lot better."

Sam nodded her head in quick agreement, "I'll do it. Anything."

"Good, because the other options won't be pretty and they won't be ours to choose." He went back to Daniel and the buzz went through the air again. "Now, listen to my voice and believe everything I say…"

Note: Sorry its been so long. This was supposed to lead into the big finish but instead dragged. I'm finding the more that I write this that The VTM world is vastly more complex that I thought and I get stuck trying to explain its detail since most of my readers are stargate fans not Roleplay fans. But I'm trying to stear this more to Stargate its just taking some time. So stick with me people.

For those that are hoping I'll go back to my tirminator story I've been playing with ideas. You can PM me if you have questions. As always if there are questions or ideas I love to read feedback, let me know.