Three Days Earlier…
With the highly classified summit meeting completed, all the respective delegates of Ambassadors and world leaders sat back in their chairs as Captain Macdonald walked towards the President of the United States with a slight smile of relief in her face. For over eight hours, the delegates had argued back and forwards many times over what was to happen in the coming months and years. It was eventually decided that the new Stargate Alliance Academy would be set up on a distant world, far away from any danger of attack by the growing Lucian Alliance and the rising threat of the Goa'uld known as Mabus. Placing his paperwork into his brief case, the President turned to the Captain with a slight smile on his face as he spoke.
"Are you sure you are not a Diplomat Captain? You handled this like an old Ambassador"
"No sir, I looked at this as simply another operation"
"Well, if you ever get tired of the Military life, I could have an opening for you" He smiled.
"Thank you sir, however with respect sir, I must turn down your very… gracious offer. Besides… I like shooting people" She whispered with a wink.
Laughing slightly, he picked up his brief case as his personal security joined his side. From the corner of her eye, she saw something unusual yet before she could react her worst fears where realised.
Seemingly emanating from the centre of the table, a white gas begun to fill the room. Almost the instant she saw the gas, Alison threw the President to the ground and drew a weapon from her ankle. While the gas filled the room, the delegates began to panic as she felt a presence behind her, something or someone grabbed her head, tilted it back as a sharp pain ran through her head, suddenly her vision began to fade as voices cried out from all directions as darkness claimed her.
Her eyes opened and instantly clenched shut as a brilliant white light filled her vision, in the distance a low male voice begun to speak out as she rubbed her eyes to clear her vision. Once her vision had finally cleared she sat upright on the bed in which she was occupying before a soft female face looked down at her smiling nervously.
"Doctor. DOCTOR! She's awake"
"Great, how are you lassie?" He said softly. "My name is Doctor Carson Becket, do you know where you are?"
Finally her vision cleared as a sharp pain ran through her head like a hot pin being slowly pushed inside her skull.
"Becket, I thought…"
"Do you know where you are?"
"For a moment, I thought Atlantis. Looks like the Daedalus sickbay, am I right?"
"Aye lassie…" With a smile that soothed her, he turned to the nearest officer as he spoke. "Get Colonel Caldwell and SG-10 down here right away"
"Aye sir" Called out a Nurse.
"Do you remember what happened to you?" He said with concern.
"I was talking to the… President, something happened that gas must have got me, I blacked out. Ohh my god, is everyone Okay?"
"We'll talk about that later, just rest for now"
"How long have I been out?"
"About 36 hours. You've had us all worried lassie"
"36 hours? What…."
Her mind raced as she looked around the sickbay for any sign of the delegates, yet nothing but the sound of the Daedalus' powerful engines at full military thrust. As she attempted to stand, a pain once again ran through her head as she almost collapsed onto the floor only to be caught by the Doctor.
"Take it easy Captain, you've been through a lot"
"No, I have to get… to the bridge"
"The Bridge can wait Captain" a voice boomed out.
"Colonel Caldwell, it's… good to see you again" She said as she faked a smile.
"Cut the crap Macdonald. Doctor, does she know?"
"I have not had the chance to…"
"Know what?" She interrupted. "Doctor, know what?"
"You've been injected with the Goa'uld virus… you have a snake growing in your head as we speak" A second voice called out.
"WHAT?" Macdonald laughed in disbelief. "Amanda, that is a very bad joke"
"It's not a joke Mac, see for yourself"
Slowly, Amanda placed a tablet computer in her hands, on the screen before her was a medical scan of her. A scan that showed a small growth stretching out inside her head. Tears flowed freely as she dropped the tablet and fell to the floor while fear gripped her.
"Cut it out!" She cried out.
"I'm sorry lassie, I can't do that until it's fully grown. To do so would kill you"
"Alison, I know this is a shock…"
"Really Caldwell? Do you have any idea what the hell…"
"I had one of those things in me, remember?"
"Yeah, I read your file. What do we do now?"
"I'd like to keep you here under observation for awhile… I'm working on a sedative that should slow down the growth of…"
"My snake? Call it what it is Doc. Then give it too me"
"It's not read yet, I need more time" He complained.
"Time, time I don't have. You know what that ting will do. Caldwell, where are we?"
"In pursuit of a mothership that had taken Ambassador Williams and his aide. Apollo and Hammond are in formation. The Sun-Tzu is in orbit of Earth incase, the Bastille is being launched ahead of time. The Free Jaffa Nation is sending four more ships to assist with Earth's defence. As of 24 hours ago, Earth is on full alert"
"Are we expecting an attack Colonel?" She said with concern.
"It's possible. With the Ancient weapons platform destroyed by the Wraith, those ships are Earth's only defence. The President has ordered research into a full planet wide defence grid, he's also offered his thanks for pushing him out of the way and saving his life"
"All in a days work"
Once more, she winced in pain and grabbed the back of her head as a pain shot through her while blood begun to trickle from her nose and ears. Using every ounce of her strength she began to fight against the enemy within as Becket laid her back on the bed carefully.
"Becket, give me that damned sedative" She growled through her pain.
"It's dangerous. It could kill you"
"I don't… I don't give a crap. Just do it" She cried out past her pain.
"Alright. Nurse, prepare two vials for immediate use"
"Yes Doctor"
Two Hours Later…
Carefully and with the assistance of Doctor Becket, Alison entered the bridge of the Daedalus with the use of a walking cane. As always, she straightened her back and handed the cane to the Doctor as she smiled and walked towards her team as she spoke softly.
"Reporting for… duty Colonel Caldwell"
"Captain. Doctor, is she cleared for duty?"
"Aye, I see nothing more I can do for the time being. The virus has been halted for the time being. Your medical staff is working on a way to dissolve the symbiont before it takes hold of the Captain"
"Excellent. Captain, how do you feel?"
"Like shit sir. Like I've got a supernova in my head. How long before we intercept the mothership?"
"Six hours forty-two minutes. We're pushing the engines to almost red-line, Green or should I say Alanis is working on a way of getting more out of the Engines"
"Okay" She said in slight pain.
"Your… counterpart wants to speak with you. She's in the messhall"
Almost saluting the Colonel, she turned and left the bridge as Caldwell grabbed Becket's arms before he could follow her, pointing to a secluded corner of the bridge, he followed Becket before he spoke.
"Prognosis?"
"The sedative worked, at least for now"
"Is she cleared for duty doctor?" Caldwell said abruptly.
"She needs more time Colonel, but you tell her that. I read her file, Ambassador Williams is her brother…"
"I know"
"I see, she could be of some use here. Besides, I think it would take an army to stop her going after him"
"She's a very… emotional woman. But she's a good soldier"
"Sailor Colonel, Navy remember?" He smiled.
"I know…" He mocked. "… I'll have Mitchell keep an eye on her, He and SG-1 are onboard the Hammond along with SG teams 5 and 13"
"Request permission to join the away team sir" Becket said quickly.
"No, I need you. I know this isn't what you had in mind when you left Atlantis, but this has top priority. The Goa'uld could know everything about Earth's defences, with Captain Macdonald's… status…"
"Understood" He nodded.
Using the walls for support, Alison entered the messhall as Amanda stood and walked towards her to help her walk to the nearest table. With only concern in her voice she nodded as she sat her counterpart down in the nearest chair slowly.
"How are you?"
"Sore"
"I'm sorry, it should've been me" Amanda complained.
"No. You have your mission, I have mine"
"Cut the crap Mac, don't put on the poker face with me. I've practiced many times in front of a mirror myself"
"Sorry…" Once again tears flowed as she held her head in her hands. "… Why me? Out of everyone in that damned room, why me?"
"I don't know. They are preparing for something… I just don't know what!" Amanda complained.
"No shit, this… I would not have agreed too!"
"What ever it is, I'll find out. I promise you that"
"Speaking of promises, I have to you have too ask you something"
"Of course, anything"
"If it looks like I'm about too… you know… turn. Kill me and burn the body"
"What?" Amanda cried out.
"You said anything. I want you too kill me, don't let this thing take over me"
"I-I promise" Amanda replied slowly.
"Thank you. One more thing, well two actually. First, find my brother take him to the Tok'Ra so can get that thing out of him. Then destroy Mabus' research, this can not happen to anyone else"
"I promise, I'll find your brother and my friend, but you have to do something for me in return"
"What is it?"
"Fight this damned thing Alison, fight it with everything you have!" She said with hope.
"Believe me, I'm trying!"
It took hours to catch up to the large Goa'uld ship, as they entered the large Mothership, SG units 1-5-10 and 13 split off into separate teams to complete their respective tasks as SG-1 and 10 attempted to locate and capture both Goa'uld known as Mabus. Carefully walking through the ship, Colonel Cameron Mitchell kept his weapon aimed before him while his team spread out as not to make a single large target. Using hand signals, he instructed his team where he wanted them to go as they split off and followed his orders. Moving low and cautiously, Alison Macdonald kept her weapon aimed before her as she made her way towards her assigned location. Nodding slightly, she peered around the corner as a hand grabbed her throat and picked her up with enormous strength, struggling against the powerful grip she found it hard to breathe as a voice whispered in her ear.
"Welcome, my dear. I have been expecting you"
The powerful grip chocked her as she was held off her feet while a Goa'uld stepped into the light and twisted her around so that she was facing her team.
"Lower your weapons or I will kill her"
Standing upright, Mitchell kept his weapon trained on the Goa'uld holding his team member captive as she fought for each breath under the powerful grip.
"Let her go and surrender" He ordered.
"Ohh not today Colonel Cameron Mitchell of SG-1. Yes, we know you… this little one here has been a constant pain to our plans. She must pay for her deeds" The Goa'uld replied with a smile.
Slowly and cautiously, each team member stood as their weapons remained trained on the Goa'uld before them. Seeing the look in the Captain's eyes, Amanda Williams switched her P-90 to single shot, took aim and fired into the side of her counterpart. Almost like a video game, time seemed to slow as the bullet exploded from the barrel of the standard issue SGC weapon towards its target. Taking a deep breath, Alison winked slightly as the bullet ripped through the air and entered her body, pain ripped through her as the bullet entered her side and passed through her body and entered the Goa'uld holding her captive. Shock rippled over the face of the Goa'uld as its host released her as she fell to the floor. Almost before she hit the floor with a hard crunch, the SG team members fired into the body of the Goa'uld before them, tearing through flesh the bullets ripped apart the body of the host as bullets bounced off the wall behind it. Eventually, the lifeless body fell to the floor as Mitchell looked at his fallen team member as she hung onto life itself while she coughed up blood.
Alison Macdonald lay alone on the cold hard floor as her very life begun to slip away slowly, the warm feeling of her own blood pouring out of the wound in her side while she kept her mind focused as she tried to hold on with every ounce of her strength. The sound of a voice in the distance calling out her name caught her attention as she attempted to move, yet the searing pain ran through her every time she attempted to move. At her side lay the body of a Goa'uld host as the last spark of life drained from it's host's body as tears rolled down her face while the last moments ran through her mind repeatedly.
Dispatched by Stargate Command to intercept the Goa'uld Mabus and his Counterpart, they entered a large mothership during an attack by three BC-304 Command Cruisers, although the meeting had been completed days earlier and deemed a success, the disappearance of Ambassador Williams and his aide was a mystery to all concerned but not Stargate Command as the terrifying truth was known.
"Macdonald!"
His voice appeared to call out in slow motion as she lay on the floor while tears rolled down her cheeks and blood poured from the wound at her side and from her mouth. Dropping to the floor, Mitchell looked at the wound as the rest of the team joined him.
"What the hell where you thinking?" He yelled at Amanda Williams.
"Saving her" She said with sadness.
"By shooting her?" He growled.
"You know what's happened too her, she wouldn't't have much time left anyway"
For a moment, Alison looked up at her counterpart and nodded slightly as Amanda knelt down at her side.
"End… this" Alison said through her pain.
"I promise" She said as she slowly drew her sidearm.
The team looked on in shock as Amanda raised her sidearm to the head of Alison. Smiling slightly, Alison raised her head to the barrel of the gun as she nodded slowly while Mitchell grabbed Amanda's shoulder hard.
"What the hell are you doing?" He said sharply.
"Keeping a promise" Amanda growled.
"Let… her do it Colonel"
Everyone knew what was happening deep inside the Captain's mind, the Goa'uld Symbiont being grown from her own tissue. Tears rolled down Alison and Amanda's faces as they looked at each other while Amanda raised her service issue pistol to the head of her counterpart before she mimed 'I'm sorry!'
"I've never had a sister… I'm glad I met you" Alison said softly. "Remember… your promise"
"With my last breath" Amanda said past her own tears.
Slowly, Daniel Jackson turned away to shield himself from what must happen before Vala stood in his way and shook her head. As she whispered.
"Don't turn away Daniel, give her this moment"
"Okay" He said softly.
Forcing a smile, Daniel Jackson turned back as Amanda closed her eyes. However, before she pulled the rigger, a powerful hand grabbed hers and pushed her away as Alison stood and her eyes glowed with the signature of the Goa'uld within her.
"Ohh, this is much better" The Goa'uld cried out.
"What the hell?"
"Ahh yes, my would be assassin. So sorry you can not keep your promise, as you can see… I have full control now"
"This is impossible!" Amanda cried out.
"Impossible is a word Humans use too much. The injection Becket gave my host… only sped up my growth" The Goa'uld laughed. "I let my… host have control while I gained strength… and grew stronger"
With a dark smile, the Goa'uld in control of Alison stepped forwards as Amanda stepped back in an element of slight fear. As the Goa'uld raised her weapon, a gun shot echoed through the halls as Daniel Jackson stepped forwards with his sidearm smoking slightly from the bullet he had fired. As she fell, Mitchell stepped forwards and fired his P-90 on single shot.
"And one to grow on!"
"Ohh Mitchell, that was dire!" Vala called out.
"What? I've always wanted to say that!"
The bullet from Mitchell's gun tore a large hole in Alison's chest as the host body fell to the floor hard. With shock still resonating through Amanda, she walked towards the body of her counterpart and checked for a pulse.
"She's dead…"