Head Trip
By Chopin Gal - chopin44gal@comcast.net


RATING: FR-T

WARNINGS: mild swearing - kiddies probably hear worse in the schoolyard. 

CATEGORY: Drama, Angst

PAIRING: mostly Sam and Jack, with some interesting twists.

SPOILERS: Some S6 as context; mostly Season 8. I am projecting my own 
idea of an evolving arc and disclaim any prior knowledge of where TPTB 
may be going with this. The story is mine (for better or worse), but the 
wonderful Stargate characters belong to their masters: MGM, Gekko, et al 
(mostly for better).

TIME FRAME: Season 8

SUMMARY: The mission was risky ... she knew what she had to do.

DISCLAIMER: I am developing my story from incidents that happened 
primarily in Replicator episodes of Seasons 6 and 8: "Unnatural 
Selection" and "New Order, Parts 1 & 2". I take no credit for the 
original storylines and characters. I do, however, offer this projected 
tale of "what if" in response to what the writers of Stargate/Gekko 
Productions have given me to play with. I am doing this solely for the 
recreational pleasure of writing fanfic, and not for profit of any kind. 
I have also deliberately refrained from reading any Spoilers regarding 
the upcoming S8 episode of "Gemini". Any similarity in that storyline 
will be purely coincidental and not intentional. This work is my own. 

First line of this chapter is quoted from S4 Episode "Divide and Conquer"

Orilla is the Asgard planet named in "New Order"

Halla is the Replicator homeworld named in "Unnatural Selection"

The Replicator wave disrupter has been referenced from S8, "New Order 
Part 2".

The concept of Replicators' downloading and uploading knowledge directly 
to a computer via inserting their hands is based on a scene from S8, 
"Gemini". Credit goes to the writers of that episode. Thank you!

Carter is remembering what happened onboard Thor's command ship from S4, 
"SmallVictories".

The Replicator wave disrupter has been referenced primarily from S8, "New 
Order Part 2". 

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm an avid reader and have been inspired by some of the 
great Stargate fic already posted here. So I've decided to try telling a 
tale of my own. Hope you enjoy and feel free to give feedback. It just 
may motivate me to continue writing.


                         *******************

Chapter 1: Heartbreak

She wearily brushed her stray blonde hair back and looked in the mirror. 
A glimmer of excitement briefly flashed in her bright blue eyes. Her 
first solo mission. //Unusual? Yes. Necessary? Of course.//

She had trained and prepared for this day for as long as she could 
remember. He had taken her aside and explained, carefully and patiently, 
why this was so important. This particular mission would finally lead 
them to an assured defeat of the enemy. The plan was brazen in its scope 
and clever in its execution: a female soldier, turned spy, ready to 
infiltrate the leader's innermost circle. The power of a woman! She was 
not enamored of this charade - this need to portray herself as someone 
other than who she really was. But he knew her well; knew that she had 
the ability to pull this off seamlessly and quickly. What she would learn 
from this planet's leader would accelerate the defeat of the enemy 
itself.

The timing and disguise were crucial. //Once in, gain full access to the 
intelligence, retrieve and record, then quickly get out.//

At times he could be distant and almost cruel but she would follow him to 
the ends of the earth - he was her commander; she was his loyal 2IC. They 
made a great and formidable team. He would anxiously be waiting for her 
return and debriefing. It was time to move out. This seemed strange - 
this going it alone - no backup in the field; no visual connection to her 
team. She knew they were all waiting and watching from afar (as it needed 
to be). She adjusted her cap, and the P90 at her side, and moved through 
the wormhole towards her fated destination.

Jack was feeling jumpy. He couldn't shake this feeling of doom even 
though the day had started out encouragingly. Soon he realized that this 
day was of such great importance that it was up to him, as commander, to 
make sure nothing went wrong. Carter looked edgy, and that certainly 
wasn't a good sign. He walked over to her and tried some of his lame 
humor. She tried to laugh in reply, but the twinkle in her eyes failed to 
appear. Daniel and Teal'c were keeping a low profile, as instructed. This 
was Carter's show. Yes, Daniel was the resident diplomat but the elders 
on PX-435 insisted that "the woman alone" be the one to handle the 
initial negotiations. Their culture placed great emphasis on the power 
and influence of a woman when it came to treaties and peacemaking. Yet, 
they strangely accepted the woman as warrior also and permitted the 
carrying of weapons while mediations were begun. The Asgard insisted that 
the residents of this planet held the key to locating the enemy who, the 
past several weeks, had seemed to go into hiding. And, so, the plan was 
drawn up for Carter to go off world and extract what valuable information 
she could, quickly, and return to the SGC within 24 hours.

She arrived at the elders' Gate and was greeted by a rather somber group 
of two distinguished-looking older statesmen and four regal women, the 
youngest of whom would be about 60 years old. The group saluted her and 
led her to the "circle of wisdom" from which they would negotiate and 
answer her many questions. There was something about this group that 
added to Carter's already anxious state, but she couldn't quite define 
what that "something" was. She knew she had her own hidden agenda, and, 
the sooner she decided on the leader, the better.

It was only six hours since Carter had gone through the Gate, but the 
klaxons began to blare and Jack knew that something was amiss.

"It's Colonel Carter's signature, sir!"

"Then open the iris."

She stepped through, calmly, (which was a relief to the General) and 
nodded to him with a slight smile. He was unprepared for her rapid 
return. //Could the mission, although risky, have been executed so well, 
so quickly?//

Seeing that she was in sound shape, O'Neill asked her to debrief 
immediately. He would fill Daniel and Teal'c in later.

"Come in to my office, Carter. No need to use the conference room."

"Yes, sir!"

She followed him into his office, and prepared herself for what she had 
to do.

"To the point, Carter. Did you get what you went after?"

"Mission accomplished, sir" came the confident response.

A sigh of relief broke from Jack's lips, and their eyes met. Within that 
moment, Jack tried to convey his unspoken feelings for his former 2IC. 
She looked at him questioningly, and rose from her seat. He knew that 
they were ever the "good soldiers", never breaking the rules, and was 
somewhat confused as Sam approached him. Before he could say anything 
more, "Sam" had raised her right hand and thrust it into his forehead. 
The pain was blinding, but the recognition of what was happening was even 
worse than the pain.

Replicator Carter stood over the General as he writhed in pain, 
stubbornly trying to close his mind to her searching. She looked deeply 
into his eyes and willed him to stay with her as they traveled the 
recesses of his mind. This was the moment of truth! The moment she had 
trained for all those long months with Fifth. Their "brothers and 
sisters", in human disguise on PX-435, were keeping Colonel Carter 
occupied with a bogus treaty negotiation while she boldly gated to the 
SGC and captured the General's attention - literally.

O'Neill was on his knees and on the verge of collapsing - "Carter's" 
steely gaze refused to relinquish the vice-like grip she had on his mind. 
His skull felt like it was about to explode. And the images, all the 
images and memories of his past life, came flooding back in gruesome 
detail: Charlie's death; capture and torture in Iraq; Baal and his 
gravity chamber; Sam - //no, don't go there!// - Sam and the ashrak ... 
Sam and the entity ... Sam and the force field ... //almost losing Sam - 
NO - mustn't reveal these memories - mustn't reveal these feelings!//

She had prepared and trained for this day for as long as she could 
remember. He had taken her aside, and explained, carefully and patiently, 
why this was so important ... but Fifth had never explained the powerful 
feelings of love that one human being could have for another.

//The General was in love with her! Of course, not her, but the real Sam 
Carter!//

She suddenly felt a jolt of raw emotion rip through her replicated body - 
an electrical current so powerful that it caused her to release her hand 
from his forehead. She looked down at her hand as it shook uncontrollably 
while O'Neill crumpled to the floor. There was a stunned look on her 
face. Her mind was in turmoil. She felt a burning sensation in her hand 
and wiped it across her own eyes as if to erase the images that were 
transmitted to her just moments ago. She stumbled and steadied herself on 
the desk to keep from falling. She shook her head to clear her mind but 
the images of O'Neill and Carter refused to go away. Images of two 
people, side by side, in the midst of great dangers and assaults, often 
separated by great distances, yet, somehow, still connected. Images of 
laughter and teasing and sidelong glances of affection. Images of 
suffering - bearing each other's pain - worrying more for the other, than 
one's self. Images of longing for the other - as a human male must long 
for a human female.

//Damnit - why didn't Fifth prepare her for this?! It was definitely not 
the "intelligence" they were seeking. This wasn't a mental state - it 
came from somewhere deeper than the mind ...//

At that point, RepliCarter felt a strange, strangling pain across her 
chest - a pain that seemed to emanate from her heart.

As her breaths became more shallow and faint, she realized that being 
human carried with it an immense propensity for pain, and an immense 
propensity for love. She collapsed next to Jack. As her replicated heart 
stopped beating, a tear fell from her eye.

                         *******************

Chapter 2: Mourning

Carter glanced at her watch. It had been over six hours since arriving on 
this planet and the negotiations were going nowhere. She felt frustrated 
at the elders' reluctance to reveal much about themselves and their 
demands. In fact, this supposedly respected "circle of wisdom" seemed to 
be going in circles! It was an amusing paradox: a "circle" leading her 
back to a "square one".

Her thoughts drifted momentarily to her CO. She knew that O'Neill was not 
happy to send her through the Gate alone, but the orders had come from 
the President himself - at the recommendation of Thor. The supreme 
commander of the Asgard had come into possession of some highly important 
intel from a Tok'ra operative which implied that this planet's elders 
were in possession of Replicator documents, including plans for future 
attacks and the location of Fifth's base. She grimaced as the thought of 
Fifth entered her mind. Jack knew, as did Thor, that her brief capture, 
not so long ago, had caused a lot of psychic pain. At least they now had 
a weapon which seemed to be capable of wiping out pockets of replicators; 
that is, when they could find them. The Tok'ra spy alluded to the fact 
that there would be more to this mission than the surface secrets the 
elders were willing to share. It was Carter's duty to win their trust, 
and then gain access to the more highly guarded intel. Wanting the woman 
warrior, alone, as the prime negotiator seemed odd, but she soon warmed 
up to the idea, especially after Daniel reminded her, proudly, that "dux 
femina facti" - in ancient times and revered cultures, the "leader of the 
deed was a woman".

"Colonel Carter, you seem distracted."

She quickly looked up and around the circle to see all eyes staring back 
at her. A sudden chill caused her to shiver ... their eyes were so 
intense and, even more disconcertingly, somehow familiar.

"I'm sorry, my mind drifted for a moment ..." //This is ridiculous; 
Daniel should be sitting in this circle, not me.//

Just as the eldest male was about to speak, a horrendous cry pierced the 
still air. Carter turned in its direction, her finger on the trigger of 
her P90. What she saw made her blood run cold. Fifth was standing at the 
foot of the Gate and, obviously, in great distress. He had a look of 
utter desolation and despair upon his stricken face as he clutched his 
arms to his body. He was almost doubled over in pain.

Time seemed to stand still. For a moment, Carter feared that she might be 
caught in the same time-dilation trap that SG-1 had originally set for 
Fifth and his "brothers and sisters" on that other fateful mission for 
Thor a few years ago. The moment passed, though, as Fifth stopped his 
wailing, straightened, and pointed to her.

Before she could release the safety on her weapon, the P90 was struck 
from her hand and she was flung to the ground. Stunned, she looked up 
into the smirking face of First. Within seconds, all of the elders had 
undergone an insane metamorphosis, returning to their original human-form 
Replicator selves.

The "circle of wisdom" was nothing more than a sham - a clever ploy to 
lure her to this planet! She was the one charged with the mission to 
deceive and detect and discover the hidden Replicator intel - all along, 
they were the ones manipulating her and the General, the Tok'ra and Thor. 
To what end?

First motioned Fifth to his side. Together, they looked down on their 
prisoner.

Carter tried to settle her stomach as the chilling realization gripped 
her. This was not a planet harboring secrets about a common enemy - this 
*was* the enemy! And, quite possibly, this was the Replicators' new base 
of operations.

With the snap of First's fingers, the sickening sound of metallic "limbs" 
grew louder and louder. Carter shut her eyes, trying to eradicate the 
apocalyptic vision appearing before her. From near and far the menacing 
bugs came, hissing and humming and forming a new circle - a circle of 
doom - around her. But they did not come alone.

At the command of Fifth, new human-form "elders" appeared, droning what 
seemed to be some type of funeral dirge while moving forward and forming 
an even wider circle of containment outside the perimeter of her 
mechanical captors.

"Our sister is dead" cried Fifth. "All because of her!" At that, the 
chanting and keening became a cacophony of grief.

Carter had no idea whom they were mourning.

                         *******************

Chapter 3: Deception

The pain was gone now, and he could breathe freely. However, O'Neill 
delayed opening his eyes - not quite ready to face his nemesis.

The moment that "Sam" had gotten uncomfortably close to him and then, 
suddenly, entered his mind was one of the most shocking moments of his 
life. To have become a victim, again, to the humanoid replicators was 
totally unacceptable. His failure to realize that the "Carter" who 
returned through the Gate was not Sam sickened him. It also fueled his 
anger.

He tried to process what had just happened. When Fifth had released Sam 
from her brief captivity, she seemed, for the most part, unharmed. What 
he (and even Thor) had failed to consider was the ingenuity of the 
replicators to evolve to ever higher levels of existence. It seemed that 
their ability to replicate in human form had now resulted in a copy of 
Carter - somehow created during Sam's imprisonment.

As he realized this insidious consequence, Jack groaned and slowly opened 
his eyes. What he saw shocked him even more: "Sam" was lying next to him, 
her lifeless eyes staring into his. It looked as if she were trying to 
reach out to him in her last moments.

Unnerving as it was to see "Carter" lying dead, it jolted Jack into 
action. He sprang to his feet and picked up the phone. Not wanting to 
cause a general panic, he knew his best move would be to get Daniel and 
Teal'c into his office immediately. He had to clear his head and come to 
grips with the fact that he and the President, Thor and the Tok'ra 
(//damn Tok'ra - another botched piece of intel//) had all been duped, 
and his former 2IC was now probably in the hands of the replicators once 
again.

He also had to decide what to do with the "deceased" replicator now lying 
at his feet. He slowly bent forward to confirm what he knew to be true. 
There was no sign of life - no heart beat nor pulse ....

Yet, as a sign of respect for the image of the woman he cared about, 
//much more than he should,// Jack O'Neill gently placed his fingers on 
"Carter's" face, and reverently closed her eyes.

                         *******************

Chapter 4: Determination

//Can this be a nightmare? A terrible dream? Or is Fifth already inside 
my mind - again?!//

Carter listened and watched and finally had to admit that this macabre 
scenario was really happening. She knew because of the pounding of her 
heart and the rush of adrenaline through her body. //Flee or fight?// Her 
mind won out over her primitive fears. She decided that she had to stand 
her ground and let the transformed Replicators reveal themselves to her 
... she needed to find out just what was going on. Besides, she really 
had no other sane option - disarmed, with a superior enemy surrounding 
her.

They were obviously devastated by the death of one of their "sisters". 
Sam knew, from her last round with Fifth, that all the Replicators were 
linked to each other through some type of sophisticated communication 
system, possibly, a kind of neural network. //Neural?// It seemed the 
best term to describe their interfacing in a way that she could grasp. 
She thought of the replicator basic building blocks as analogous to human 
DNA - life-giving and essential. By evolving to human form, they had 
certainly taken a giant leap in power, along with the ability to somehow 
telecommunicate their thoughts and "feelings". //Feelings?// She was, 
indeed, witnessing some type of outpouring of emotion - an overwhelming 
display of grief. But she wondered if the Replicators, themselves, were 
truly capable of real emotion ... could replicated bodies, machines, hold 
all the mystery and depth of the human heart?

Carter had become so lost in her thoughts that she was barely conscious 
of the fact that the din had ceased. Fifth shook her out of her reverie 
as he roughly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up. The encompassing 
mechanical bugs slowly receded allowing a larger space for the human 
forms to enter. In some ways, the silence seemed even more ominous than 
the clamor it replaced.

At that moment, looking once more into the eyes of a very formidable 
enemy, Sam Carter was determined to fight back with all her mind, will, 
and heart. She was no longer a stranger to the mental torture and mind 
games used by these cunning machines. She had been through the ordeal of 
capture twice before, and had survived.

Perhaps, the third time would be the charm ....

                         *******************

Chapter 5: Revelation

They approached the General's office in haste, responding to his urgent 
message to "come alone and report to no one" ... Teal'c and Daniel had 
been through a lot, and as they waited for O'Neill to open the door - 
//Open the door? Why was it locked?// - they could not help but be 
concerned.

Both teammates had been apprehensive about letting Carter go off world on 
a solo mission, but their objections were overruled - by Jack and the 
President himself.

Daniel tried to allay Sam's own fears by supporting her with quotes of 
wisdom stuck to the door of her lab on a daily basis. He knew that she 
sometimes second-guessed herself, and he was constantly amazed that such 
a brilliant woman, outstanding in the fields of astrophysics and military 
science, could ever doubt her competence. In many ways, she had a certain 
humility that was quite endearing. It was refreshing to see a warrior who 
was both meek and bold. She had saved his sorry soul and Jack and Teal'c 
many times by her fast thinking and steady nerve in the field. He was 
proud to now serve under her command.

Teal'c had been trying to kel'no'reem when Jack's phone call summoned 
him. Although he did not find the need nor time to practice his former 
method of meditation on a regular basis, it still provided a grounding 
point when he was feeling somewhat anxious or disturbed. He found this to 
be true now, ever since Carter was given the assignment to go through the 
Gate alone. These Tau'ri had become his family, his kin. He looked upon 
Sam as a sister, and felt quite protective of her when the occasion 
demanded. Which, he had to admit to himself somewhat amusingly, was not 
often. "Sister" Sam was a very capable adult, a comrade in arms, who had 
gained his respect and loyalty years ago. He could think of no finer 
replacement as CO of SG-1 than Sam Carter.

With a click of the lock, Jack opened the door slightly, and then rushed 
both men into his office. What they saw was beyond comprehension: "Sam" 
lying lifeless on the floor! Both men were speechless and shocked. Daniel 
finally broke the silence as he swooped down to touch her ...

"Jack, my God, what's happened? Have you called the infirmary?"

Jack placed a restraining arm on Daniel's shoulder and told him, as 
gently as he could: "She's dead". Before he could say more, Daniel began 
to shake the lifeless form and call her name. Teal'c then knelt beside 
the body and looked up at Jack for an explanation - some type of 
clarification to the bizarre scene in front of him.

"It's not Sam!"

At that, both teammates sat back on their legs and stared at their former 
CO in amazement.

Jack cleared his throat and quickly reported what had transpired. He 
found himself working hard to stay in control of his emotions. He would 
not reveal his deepest fear, that he had allowed this replicator to 
uncover his most secret longings and desires. She had touched his mind 
and released a flood of images that shook him to his core. Images and 
feelings that he thought he had locked away many years ago. He would have 
to deal with that, alone, in his own good time. For now, his immediate 
concern was getting Carter back alive!

O'Neill quickly regained command of the situation and began planning a 
course of action. He welcomed his two former teammates to help him with 
his plans but, first, the President would have to be called and, then, 
contact with Thor.

Both supreme commanders listened, incredulously and distraughtly, to the 
news that they had been deceived. The mood was somber as they then 
discussed the immediate disposition of the replicator body. It was 
decided that "Sam Carter" was to be placed in the SGC morgue, the body to 
be highly classified and under constant guard. //Could there actually be 
some type of autopsy done on a replicated body?// This was not ruled out, 
but, for now, the destruction of all replicators on PX-435 became the 
prime objective.

The use of the mega-weapon to wipe out all replicators on that planet was 
the ultimate solution proposed by Thor. However, the Asgard, themselves, 
were not in proximity to the planet (having been lulled into a lack of 
preparation due to the expectation that Carter was going to extract the 
necessary intel to find the replicators elsewhere). Thor would now have 
to ready the weapon and his fleet, estimating arrival time at the planet 
to be approximately one week. The President, in the meantime, would ready 
the Prometheus to be used as backup to the Asgard fleet (although that 
seemed, to Jack, like sending a third-string quarterback into the game 
after all the winning touchdowns had already been scored).

Thor should have the capability to locate and beam Sam up before the mass 
extermination took place. It was this part of the plan that gave Jack the 
most trouble.

//Did they really have a week's window to descend on what seemed to be 
the new replicator base? Couldn't they go through the Gate now and 
extract Carter quickly? He would resume command of SG-1 and lead all 
available SG units through. Did the replicators even know that their 
operative was dead? Perhaps the best immediate plan of action was to 
"play dumb" and try to resume contact with Carter off world. Or why not 
send a MALP?//

The President listened patiently to O'Neill's concerns about delaying 
Carter's rescue. However, he could not be convinced that an immediate 
"search-and-rescue" mission through the Gate would be prudent or 
successful.

Jack winced as he heard the following words from the Oval Office:

"The security of our planet and the Asgard world are both in jeopardy. We 
cannot let the life of one good soldier be the focus of this operation. 
We must think of the greatest good for the greatest number of planets. 
Therefore, I will abide by Thor's recommendation that he and the Asgard 
fleet prepare and proceed to the targeted point of detonation. At which 
time, if Carter can be found, Thor will attempt to beam her up before the 
final delivery of the weapon."

Daniel and Teal'c sat in front of the speaker-phone on Jack's desk and 
met his somber, but determined, gaze.

All three men looked at the inert body of "Sam Carter" lying at their 
feet, and all three reached the same decision ....

                         *******************

Chapter 6: Violation

There would be no tears, no apologies this time. Fifth was no longer an 
object of her compassion. He stood before her as a real menace, capable 
of much destruction. She would find a way to subvert his power, weaken 
his control. She was still free to think her own thoughts as he had not 
yet had time to physically touch her.

Her own mind was already preparing for his assault when First approached 
them and spoke in his urbane, condescending manner.

"Colonel Carter, do forgive us for this disturbance. We have suffered a 
great loss, and, Fifth has been the most affected." Carter looked at him, 
still puzzled. Rather than explaining, he motioned for her and Fifth to 
walk in front of him as the circles of replicators widened further and 
then parted.

"Fifth, please take our 'guest' to her quarters. She may have questions 
that only you can answer."

With that, Fifth led Carter on a long journey to a fortress-like 
building, some type of citadel composed of shiny, metallic blocks. It 
reminded her of their last encounter. She was not foolish enough to think 
that this was Club Med. It was her prison cell at best; her torture 
chamber at worst. She felt that she could gain some time by engaging 
Fifth in conversation.

"What have you done to the people of this planet? Have you turned them 
all into replicator humans? What was the purpose of this "circle of 
wisdom", this negotiation going nowhere? Why did you bring me to this 
planet?"

Fifth looked at her and felt compelled to answer.

//She was willing him to answer, to reveal secrets and data that might 
help her to analyze and devise a plan of escape. She continued to force 
all her mental energy into his eyes - almost trying to hypnotize him by 
her stare. She already knew and experienced his mind games; now it was 
time to try some of her own.//

"The elders of this planet have become our new brethren. We created a 
necessary diversion here, with you, so that our sister could gate to your 
planet and extract much needed information from your leader, O'Neill."

Sam was taken aback, but did not show her surprise. //Keep it clinical 
and cool; maintain composure and continue to stare, stare, and 
interrogate the interrogator.//

"Why me?"

Fifth seemed uncomfortable but could not resist the power of her stare. 
Her crystal-clear blue eyes, so like the eyes of his lost companion, bore 
into him.

"Because she was to replace you at the SGC. There could not be two Sam 
Carters on base at the same time. The plan would have failed. As it is, 
your O'Neill still managed to destroy her." The last words came out as a 
whimper.

//Two Sam Carters! Fifth had violated not just her mind, but her physical 
body as well!//

Sam now felt newer, darker emotions rising within her ... emotions which 
would fuel her resolve to survive: anger and revenge. She welcomed them 
into her mind and allowed their power to grow, as Fifth moved forward and 
thrust his hand into her forehead.

                         *******************

Chapter 7: Mobilization

The next few hours were consumed with the "as planned" stage of the 
operation. Daniel and Teal'c assisted in transporting the replicator body 
to the morgue under the watchful eye of Dr. Brightman (who had been 
already briefed by Jack). She, along with several other medical staff and 
military police, would be responsible for maintaining the highly 
classified secret and the security involved.

The President and Thor would keep O'Neill informed of the progress of the 
Asgard fleet. As to further contact with PX-435, the President remained 
adamant about keeping a "hands off" policy.

The party line, for all relevant SGC personnel, was that Lt. Colonel "Sam 
Carter" did, in fact, return from the mission earlier than expected, had 
been debriefed, and released from base for a short leave. Jack made sure 
to have Daniel take care of Carter's signature in the base log book. 
Details were not necessarily his strong point, but, in this case, with 
Carter's very life at stake, he wanted to make sure that nothing 
suspicious would interfere with what he wanted to do next.

And what he wanted to do next could very well end in his court martial.

Jack O'Neill was a "take action" kind of guy. His service record, 
complete with more medals than he could count, showed that he was the 
first to volunteer for a difficult mission and the first to put himself 
in the line of fire for a comrade in need. He did not always agree with 
his commanders, but he respected their decisions and tried to follow 
orders as best he could. However, his military record also showed that 
there were times when O'Neill took matters into his own hands, veering 
dangerously close to insubordination and recklessness. But he always 
brought his soldiers home. No one was left behind.

Carter was no longer his 2IC; his first act as General saw to that. He 
knew in his bones (and in his heart) that she was ready for command. He 
knew that she now had to learn the hard lessons of leadership just as he 
had done. And those lessons were found in the field, not in some textbook 
or laboratory. Just as she was beginning to gain confidence and grow into 
her new position, he had to pull her from team assignment and prepare her 
for this unusual solo mission. Being the good soldier she was, she threw 
herself into this operation wholeheartedly and accepted the 
responsibility. In hindsight, he was a fool to let her go without 
covering her back!

He played by the President's rules then. This time, he would follow his 
gut and pursue some options of his own.

"While your CO is off world on her own mission, I am officially releasing 
both of you from active duty." Jack signed the necessary paperwork which 
cleared Daniel and Teal'c of any SGC responsibility for the coming week. 
They, at least, would not be breaking any military rules.

Because PX-435 had suddenly turned very wrong, very quickly, and because 
the current status of the planet had now become highly classified, Jack 
had to be careful about revealing the real nature of the problem to his 
immediate staff. He called Sergeants Davis and Siler into his office and 
told them that they would be taking direct orders from him, alone, and 
that everything they were about to see and do would be considered top 
secret. He then told Siler to prepare the MALP for immediate 
surveillance. After that, he gave orders to dismiss all other personnel 
currently working in the Gate or Control rooms.

He had the few good men and what he needed in place. They had to work 
rapidly to determine the present threat level and possible location of 
Carter. If all went well, Davis and Siler would continue to monitor the 
isolated Control and Gate rooms while he and Daniel and Teal'c proceeded 
through the Gate with the necessary equipment.

But, first, the MALP ....

                         *******************

Chapter 8: Resistance

At first, it was blinding hot. //Can pain be hot?// It felt as if a 
heated poker had been thrust between her eyes. The fire burned itself 
into the recesses of her brain. If pain could be a color, this was 
brilliant bursts of white and orange exploding within her skull. The 
flames licked at the corners of her mind, trying to grasp consciousness 
and burn away her thoughts, her will. The searing heat soon spread to the 
rest of her body. She felt as if her blood was boiling.

//The cold came next.// The white-hot poker became a pillar of ice, 
expanding and filling her skull with its deep and numbing pain. She felt 
as if she were submerged in a sea of blue-black frigid water, her limbs 
becoming heavy and slow. Her mind was shutting down as her hypothermic 
body sunk beneath the waves ... //No! Stay alert - this is just an 
illusion! You can ride this out ...float on the inky water ... let it 
carry you ... //

She did not fight the pain; instead, she allowed it to enter brazenly. 
She gave it room to play within the furrows of her brain; she allowed it 
to tease and taunt her. //Welcoming the pain freed her.// She moved 
*through* the pain and came to a hidden place of safety where she could 
concentrate all energy on preserving her own thoughts, emotions, and 
will. //She found, in the end, that she became a dispassionate observer 
of her own tortured mind.//

Fifth was livid. //How could this be happening?// He had been probing 
Carter's mind for hours. He could see the physical signs of his torture: 
first, in her fevered face and restless body, and, then, as her blue-
tinged lips and fingers shivered uncontrollably.

//He could not reach her mind!// It was as if a barrier had gone up, some 
type of mental protection. //The pain was getting through to her, but her 
thoughts and feelings were not getting through to him.// Sam Carter 
seemed to be providing a level of resistance that he had never 
encountered before.

He was feeling frustrated and confused by this first round of 
"communication". As he pulled his hand from her forehead, he felt a wave 
of exhaustion sweep over him. //Highly unusual, but probably another 
element of "being human".// He would take a brief rest and then resume 
his mental interrogation.

Fifth looked down at the figure slumped before him. //The love he had 
professed still burned within him, but he also carried the anger of being 
spurned. He had replicated this woman, and had trained her well. He 
taught her what she needed to know for her first mission, under the 
watchful eyes of First. He had planned to teach her more, much more, when 
she returned from Earth. He had planned to teach her about human 
emotions, about the human heart. Instead, he now knew the agony of loss 
... all because of Carter and O'Neill.// 

Sam stirred and moaned quietly. Fifth's face hardened as he thought of 
how she would be punished. //He would find those corners of her mind, 
those memories he needed, and twist them as he did before. The next time, 
she would bend ....//

                         *******************

Chapter 9: Master Plan

"*Sir, there's no time ... sir, just go!*"

Jack O'Neill sprang upright from his cot, his shirt soaked in sweat. What 
a time for a nightmare - a wrenching memory of her desperate eyes and 
pleading voice from so many years ago.

//He wouldn't leave her then; he couldn't leave her now.//

The base was eerily quiet in the early morning hours; just as he wanted 
it. Having dismissed all personnel from the critical areas, he was about 
to begin a rescue operation that only he, and he alone, had sanctioned.

While Siler worked on getting the MALP ready, he had ordered Daniel and 
Teal'c to bunk down and catch several hours of sleep. He, himself, tried 
the same, but his mind refused to shut off.

So Jack spent most of the night checking and re-checking his equipment, 
including the prototype weapon that Thor allowed him to keep at the SGC. 
This one piece of weaponry in his arsenal could neutralize all forms of 
Replicators (although he much preferred the feel of a P90 in his hand). 
//Yet, since basic projectile weapons could still wreak damage against 
the mechanical bugs, perhaps he would save the Ancients' weapon for just 
his encounter with the human forms. He had a nasty suspicion that he 
would be meeting Fifth once again; in fact, he was actually looking 
forward to it, as long as he could be assured that Carter was out of 
harm's way.//

//Damn bugs - how did they grow into such a powerful enemy?// At least 
Thor would be delivering the final knockout punch to the planet within a 
matter of days ....

//Days ... this was the second day of this calamity.// This would have 
been Carter's day of debriefing - her successful completion of her first 
solo mission. Instead, she was being held captive and at the mercy of 
Fifth and his company of mind-bending robots. //Of this he was sure.// 
Fifth somehow replicated Carter and began this insane spy game, with Jack 
as the target! //And now Carter was paying the price. Oh, yes, there 
would be a certain perverse pleasure in meeting Fifth again ....//

At 07:30 hours, the President called and informed General O'Neill that 
Thor was already on the way. He had further good news. By making a 
crucial adjustment to their hyperspace engines, the Asgard had managed to 
cut their estimated time of arrival practically in half. They would be 
over the planet within the next three days. Thor felt that time was of 
the essence, in the case that the Replicators would become suspicious of 
retaliation now that their operative had been discovered and neutralized. 
No one wanted to risk their escaping once again, as they had from Orilla.

This was Jack's greatest fear, too, and he knew that he would have to be 
absolutely certain that he and SG-1 acted as covertly as possible once 
they cleared the Gate. He remembered that these human-form Replicators 
could now sense when their mechanical "brethren" were being neutralized. 
He could not afford to encounter any bugs on their way to rescue Carter. 
He was trusting that his special-ops training would serve him well.

By 08:00 hours, Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c had geared up and gathered in 
the Control room as Siler prepared to send the MALP on its way through 
the Gate. What was waiting on the other side would determine their plan 
of action.

"Chevron Seven Locked."

The MALP rumbled slowly off the ramp into the event horizon. Within a 
matter of seconds, they had their answer. It seemed that the Gate was 
unguarded. Jack waited cautiously for several minutes as the MALP sent 
back photos of the surrounding landscape. It was fairly level terrain, 
with what seemed to be some type of large fortress-like building along 
the not-too-distant horizon. Luckily, no sign of mechanical nor human 
life forms could be detected.

"Retrieve the MALP."

Either this was a trap, or the Replicators were pre-occupied with other 
matters (//like torturing Carter//). Perhaps they had become complacent 
because of their hubris. //Oh, yes, they were arrogant as hell!// Jack 
remembered his own encounter with First on Halla.

Once, long ago, Teal'c had also reminded him of the arrogance of the 
Goa'uld. It seemed that both enemies had this in common.

//Let it be their fatal flaw.//

With that thought in mind, O'Neill adjusted his weapons, and strode 
through the event horizon with Daniel and Teal'c at his side.

                         *******************

Chapter 10: Mind Games

She was alone, her throbbing head and shaking limbs a cruel reminder of 
the ordeal she had just been through.

As her eyes refocused, she took note of the cube-like room which held 
her. It was composed of tiny metallic blocks, possibly Replicator cells. 
//Building blocks?// She shuddered as she tried to imagine how Fifth had 
used material such as this to replicate "Sam Carter". She had no real 
memory of her time in what seemed to be some kind of stasis; she only 
carried the memories of nightmarish visions and, then, that ridiculous 
scenario of her on a "farm in Montana". What was startling was the fact 
that she could *feel* his physical touch through the mental probing. A 
*kiss* seemed just as real as the *fire and ice* of her latest encounter.

//This was a dangerous game he was playing. He had the ability to 
transform reality and truly cross over into her psyche.//

Yet, this time was different. //Somehow, she had managed to pull back 
into herself and leave him standing outside.// She was still shaken from 
the attempted intrusion, but she sensed that she actually did not release 
anything of value to him. She knew, *in her heart*, that she had 
withstood the invasion and kept him out.

She knew he would be back. And she knew she would have to, once again, 
summon all her strength and determination to fight off the next mental 
probe. //She promised herself that she would, if necessary, find the way 
back to that hidden place in her mind. But how long could she continue to 
hide? How many torturous attempts to probe her mind and find what he was 
looking for?// She knew, from her aching body, that, sooner or later, she 
would probably succumb.

//Unless ... a new plan of action began to form in her mind ...//

O'Neill had told her that the mission was risky. She was originally 
trained to *deceive and detect*. In some ways, the Replicators' plan to 
spy on Earth was just as risky. But their "Sam Carter" had lost that 
gamble.

This Sam Carter was still *in the game*. And, one of the first rules of 
engagement was *know your enemy*.

//What if she were able to reverse the stakes?// How could she become 
capable of extracting information directly from Fifth? //She seemed to be 
able to resist him, both consciously and unconsciously, in this first 
round.// In fact, he looked confused and almost subdued when she boldly 
made eye contact and stared at him before the probe. She also remembered 
that the mind probe on Halla allowed her access to the hidden landscape 
of *his* mind, rather than hers. //He wanted to share himself with her.// 
She knew that she had alienated him on Orilla when she refused to return 
his love. //Yes, he still hated her and wanted to punish her for the 
rejection.//

//She sensed, though, that Fifth was still in love with her, and, thus, 
vulnerable. Why would he have replicated her in the first place?//

Her feelings of anger and revenge were leading her into new, uncharted 
territory. She had betrayed him once, following her CO's orders. The 
betrayal tasted bitter in her mouth. //But, now, she would have to 
consider betrayal as her only chance for escape, for survival.//

Sam wearily rested her head against the cubed wall, as a small smile 
played upon her lips.

//The mission was risky ... she knew what she had to do.//

                         *******************

Chapter 11: Kansas

They emerged from the wormhole under a canopy of bright blue sky which 
provided a brilliant backdrop for the vivid green of what appeared to be 
tall prairie grass.

"Well, it's not Minnesota, but Kansas isn't bad for a second choice."

Before Teal'c could raise an eyebrow to his statement, Jack adjusted his 
sunglasses and motioned for the team to move quickly from the ramp into a 
large clearing about 100 meters ahead.

They gazed up at towering gray statues which seemed to be representations 
of a group of elders - mostly women - sages in long flowing robes, each 
holding a different artifact: a globe, a book, a torch, a basket of what 
appeared to be fruit, a telescope of some kind, and a child. These six 
stone statues surrounded a large sandy area in which sat six empty chairs 
with a seventh chair in the middle.

"This is a sacred place" Teal'c intoned. "Colonel Carter would have met 
the leaders of this planet here. It seems to be a circle of wisdom."

As if to validate his words, a sudden glint of metal on the ground caught 
Jack's eye, and he stooped to pick up Sam's weapon which had been 
partially hidden by the sand. It seemed to have been tossed aside near 
the seventh chair. It was hard to tell just what had occurred as there 
were many footprints and scrambled markings in the sand. At least, there 
were no telltale signs of blood.

Oddly, there were no inscriptions or writings of any kind on the objects. 
Daniel seemed disappointed, but still ventured an opinion.

"These statues seem to portray a peaceful, agrarian society. The book and 
torch show that they value wisdom; the globe and telescope lead me to 
believe that they are open to explorers and to going off world 
themselves; the child and basket of fruit point to fertility and 
abundance. These people must have been the planet's original inhabitants 
since this sacred space remains intact and honored. It looks like they 
revered the Gate as well, having built some type of ceremonial ramp above 
the grassy ground, in direct proximity to their circle."

Teal'c spoke what the other two men were thinking.

"It is most unfortunate that a people so wise have fallen victim to the 
Replicators. It appears that their trusting nature allowed them to 
welcome travelers through the portal, and this seems to be their 
undoing."

Jack completed the sweep around the sandy perimeter finding nothing else 
to link with Carter. Kicking the sand in disgust, he ended with his own 
interpretation: "Damn bugs - give 'em an inch, and they take a mile. Give 
'em a mile, and they take the whole freakin' planet!"

Taking a calculated risk, he leaped up onto the seventh chair and did a 
quick survey of the surrounding terrain with his binoculars. The planet 
seemed to consist of rolling fields of grass which stretched to the 
horizon. Trees were few and far between. Their destination was about 40 
kilometers away. The one building, which seemed to mirror the sun's rays, 
was fairly large, but low and level, probably three stories at the most. 
Jack would gather more details once they got closer for better 
reconnaissance.

The temperature was mild and a slight breeze was blowing. //It seemed too 
idyllic a setting for those metal mind benders.// Jack couldn't help but 
think of the contrast to Halla - that bleak and barren planet which had 
been the Replicators' former homeworld. Somehow, the sterility of that 
planet seemed to fit much better.

"We've got some ground to cover, folks. This may be Kansas, but there's 
no yellow brick road! Let's move out!"

At that, the three soldiers moved beyond the sandy terrain of the 
clearing, across a wide arc of trampled grass (//some type of mass 
exodus?//), and, finally, into the more dense and shoulder-high blades of 
grass. Their dark-green combat uniforms would allow them perfect cover.

It was decided that they would fan out about one klick apart and sweep 
south to southwest, further examining the ground for any additional signs 
of recent activity. Jack would take point, with Daniel on his left flank 
and Teal'c on his right. O'Neill was yet unsure of how long this planet's 
day would last, and wanted to cover as much ground as possible before 
bedding down for the night. If all went well, they should arrive at their 
target by high noon tomorrow.

The men had been moving stealthily for about an hour, and no sign of life 
had yet been found. Suddenly, Daniel's voice crackled from the radio.

"Jack, think I've found something."

"Stay put and stay covered. We're on our way."

Once Teal'c and Jack had converged with Daniel, they looked off to his 
left, about another 50 meters. There was a wide gravel road, curving up 
from the southwest, and leading in the direction of the citadel. As they 
approached the edge of the grassline, they saw that there was a deep 
trench on the side of the road, about a three-meter (ten-foot) drop from 
the road itself. It seemed that this was a planetary highway of sorts; 
certainly, if there were any signs of life, they would be found here. 
//It would be a good idea to stick close to the highway, hug the trench, 
and see what could be found.// Jack was mildly surprised by their 
discovery. //So, there was a "yellow brick road" after all!//

Before moving out to the less protected, but, more rapid, method of 
reaching their destination, O'Neill signaled for Daniel and Teal'c to 
undo their backpacks, and take a moment's rest.

Teal'c motioned for an exchange of the heaviest part of their load: the 
Replicator wave disrupter, the prototype weapon that Jack had actually 
built while under the influence of the Ancients' knowledge. It was a 
cumbersome and bulky piece of equipment but the only sure-fire solution 
to neutralizing the enemy. Somehow, the weapon was able to render each 
Replicator cell inert and totally break down the building blocks. It 
carried one serious liability, though: it could not be used without 
warning human-form Replicators of what was happening to their brethren. 
Jack and his team knew that it was imperative that they refrained from 
any encounters with the Replicators until Carter was safely extracted. 
This whole search and rescue must maintain the element of surprise. So 
far, they had been lucky. //Still no signs of human or mechanical life. 
Unless ...//

Suddenly, O'Neill glanced down at the ground. Teal'c already knew what he 
was looking for, and provided the answer by scooping the rich soil up 
into his hand and letting it crumble and fall from his fingers.

"It appears that we are not standing on Replicator blocks."

"Excuse me?"

Daniel was not on the mission to Halla and had to bebriefed. After Teal'c 
told him of their past experience, he was just as relieved as his 
teammates to know that this planet seemed to be more "user friendly".

//God, stepping on Replicators seemed like stepping on someone's grave - 
your own!//

                         *******************

Chapter 12: Connection

First was not pleased with the results of the first mind probe on Carter.

"I am disappointed in you, Fifth. What seems to be the problem? Have you 
lost the ability to obtain data from the prisoner? I thought your skills 
had increased to an admirable level. Do you want me to assist you?" The 
icy tone carried with it a hidden message.

//He thinks I'm not good enough; I'm "too human", too weak. I'll show him 
- I'll show them all. I am much more powerful than they think.//

Fifth returned his leader's stern look and assured him that he was about 
to return to the prisoner and, this time, it would be a productive 
session.

Carter had lost all sense of time. This could be her second or third day 
on the planet. The cubicle was sterile and cold, containing only the 
basic amenities for her physical needs. //At least they allowed her 
that.// Drinking water and what seemed to be a compressed protein bar 
were being delivered regularly through some type of teleportation device. 
At first, she was reluctant to try the food and water, but, as she 
realized that her plan to defeat Fifth would take all the energy she 
could muster, she started to consume what was placed before her. She 
found that the food bar was much more palatable than Thor's protein 
cubes, and nothing untoward had happened. //Of course not, Carter - they 
want your mind first before they mess with your body.// That thought only 
served to energize her more.

There were no doors or exits of any kind that she could discern. As she 
waited for her captor to return, Carter started to play with the physics 
of it all: Fifth's ability to move through concrete barriers at will and 
reconfigure himself on the other side. //Was that really happening? Were 
these walls what they seemed to be? Yes, hard and cold to her touch, yet 
...//

Sam was beginning to doubt if her perception of reality were the truth. 
//Perhaps her confinement here were another illusion, part of the game 
these Replicators played. Fifth had done that before to her, on Orilla, 
with the "farm in Montana". Did he leave an imprint of reality in her 
mind again? Was he keeping her here through a mental suggestion?//

She realized that she would have to learn how to read Fifth's mind, 
literally, in order to save her own. //And, in order to do that, she 
would have to gain his trust.//

Besides, there was more at stake here than her own life. She needed to 
determine if this was, indeed, the Replicators' new command center.

//What were they doing here? What were they planning now that their 
RepliCarter had failed her mission? Were they mobilizing for future 
attacks on unsuspecting planets? Were all the elders of this planet 
completely gone, transformed into human-form Replicators? Was this a 
laboratory of some kind? What was hidden behind these walls - that is, if 
"these walls" existed.// Her mind was spinning with all these questions 
and concerns. //How could she escape and get all this intel back to 
SGC?//

//SGC ...// Her mind stilled and images of Jack and Daniel and Teal'c 
broke the gloom. Her CO and her team - they had been through so much 
together. //Was Jack safe? How did he manage to neutralize her Replicator 
self? What a horrible experience that must have been. What were they 
doing now? Did they realize what had happened to her?//

She felt stronger as she realized that she wasn't alone. //She would 
never be alone. No matter where they were, they were thinking of her. She 
knew this, in her mind and in her heart.//

She never felt a more powerful connection to her comrades. //She would 
fight this present evil, and live to see them again.//

Her thoughts were interrupted by the shadow of Fifth looming over her.

                         *******************

Chapter 13: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

With the discovery of the main road leading into the citadel, their plans 
had changed.

Now they traveled in single-file formation, with O'Neill taking point, 
Daniel behind him, and Teal'c covering their six. After weighing the 
risk, Jack felt they could proceed at a more rapid pace if they hugged 
the incline and used the trench as a footpath. Should any traffic or 
threat appear on the highway above, they were prepared to either flatten 
themselves against the slope or sweep back into the tall grass, only a 
couple meters away. Since they had better footing on the more solid 
terrain, it allowed them to gain some valuable distance.

After several hours, and no activity whatsoever from the road, O'Neill 
relaxed into a less intense gait with SG-1 following his lead. As the sun 
turned orange and began to sink beneath the waves of green grass in the 
distance, the wind began to pick up. Jack adjusted the collar of his 
jacket. //This really could be Kansas ... but I'm in no mood to find any 
tin men!//

The vivid sunset soon dissolved into the purple shades of night. The men 
continued to trek on for another few kilometers, stopping only to put on 
the night-vision goggles they had brought with them. Jack had not 
initially planned to undertake a night rescue, but thought it best to 
come prepared for all contingencies. He was glad, now, of his foresight.

Suddenly, Teal'c gripped Daniel's shoulder, motioning him to stop and 
placing his fingers on his lips. Daniel, in turn, sent the same silent 
message to O'Neill. All three soldiers leaned their backs into the slope, 
and dug their heels into the trench. With their P90s raised, they waited. 
The now still night air was broken by a distant sound, some type of 
rattling and humming. As the droning and grating came closer, it became 
an all-too-familiar noise. The men braced themselves, as the highway, 
only three meters above their heads, seemed to come alive with the 
traffic of mechanical replicators. Gravel and sand rained down on the 
soldiers' upturned faces as the procession passed. Within a matter of 
minutes, it was all over.

As the ominous clatter receded, O'Neill scrambled up the incline with his 
binoculars and looked at the departing column. The bugs seemed to be 
dragging and pushing large containers. It was a bizarre sight: the 
replicators were climbing atop and around the crates - as if they were 
protecting the contents. Jack slid down to his teammates and described 
what he had just seen.

//Obviously, with their attention on their valued cargo, the replicators 
had missed the opportunity for a fresh meal!//

The sudden surge of adrenaline having served its purpose, Jack, Daniel, 
and Teal'c now realized that their exhausted bodies needed to rest and 
prepare for tomorrow's assault. If luck continued to stay with them, they 
should be able to reach the citadel even earlier than originally planned.

Teal'c volunteered for first watch. Daniel curled up within the confines 
of the deep, velvety grass and was asleep within minutes.

Still unable to release his edginess, Jack sat alone with his thoughts, 
//his thoughts of Sam.// Replaying the same scene over and over in his 
mind, he saw her face as she pleaded with him to leave her when all hope 
seemed gone.Their eyes had locked, and her words still haunted him. 
"*Sir, there's no time ... sir, just go!*"

//Sir ....//

There were only two times in his life when Jack O'Neill felt time stand 
still. //Once, when he looked into the eyes of his dying son. And, once, 
years later, when he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved.//

                         *******************

Chapter 14: Welcome

She raised her head and smiled.

"I've been waiting for you."

Fifth took a step back and tried to comprehend this greeting. He had 
expected Carter to cower in his presence. //Yes, she did not reveal her 
mind to him during the last probe, but he knew, from his own exhaustion, 
that the ordeal had been physically grueling and painful. Why was she 
smiling at him? Didn't she realize the danger?//

Sam extended her hands, motioning to Fifth to help her up. He hesitated, 
and then slowly reached forward, grasped her arms, and pulled her from 
the floor. Before he released her, she had managed to grab both his upper 
arms as she balanced herself. Her touch was not aggressive, nor angry. 
//It was he who was feeling off balance ....//

He did not take his eyes from her as she spun around and asked "What is 
this really all about? How do you have the power to create human life 
from these metal blocks?"

//She seemed strangely excited by her surroundings, and, this, in turn, 
excited him. It was as if he were standing here, once again, with his 
beloved. But, no ... those hopes were dashed on the planet Earth ... her 
commander saw to that.//

As if reading his mind, Carter touched Fifth's arm gently, looked deeply 
into his eyes, and asked: "What happened to your sister? Was she a 
product of your love for me?" Her eyes shone with tears as she softly 
added: "Did you want me that much?"

Fifth was speechless. He could feel his anger and hatred dissipating 
under her tender touch and caring eyes. //The woman who had captured his 
heart from the first moment he had entered her mind on Halla seemed to be 
returning to him ... reaching out to him in compassion ....//

He looked away, and, as his mind tried to fathom what was happening, the 
Replicator's darker emotions regained control. A sudden rage possessed 
him as he turned and threw Sam against the wall.

"Stop! What are you doing to me?!" These were the last words Sam heard 
before she lost consciousness, as Fifth, once again, plunged his hand 
into her head.

//The game now began in earnest.//

                         *******************

Chapter 15: Confrontation

The rage drove him into the depths of her mind. He was feeling his own 
pain as he sought to cause hers. //He did not know what to believe 
anymore.//

Sam was being propelled farther and farther into the recesses of her 
mind. //Pain had now become her only reality.// Dimly, she knew it must 
continue to be her only focus; she dared not think of anyone or anything 
until she could find the strength to summon the only image she wanted 
Fifth to see.

Fifth felt more power than ever before. It was feeding on his maniacal 
desire to strip Carter of all her memories, her thoughts. She would not 
retreat to safety this time. He was in fast pursuit. //There were blurred 
landscapes and figures - the speed of the chase did not allow them to 
take form in his mind.//

It was as if her whole body were being tossed and turned in a vast 
windstorm, slamming into other bodies and objects which sped by so 
quickly that she could not grab on. //She desperately wanted to anchor 
herself to someone or something.// And, yet, in her agony, her mind was 
still able to warn her of the danger of doing just that. //She must keep 
Fifth out!//

He felt as if he were careening down a vortex. This was a new sensation. 
//It exhilarated him to feel, not only like the hunter in pursuit, but 
also, the hunted.// As he tried to grasp Sam's distorted memories and 
thoughts, he began to feel drawn, more and more, by some mysterious force 
as it exerted its gravitational pull on him.

Sam was moving *through* the pain once again, as she had the first time. 
Only, this time, she knew that she had to bring Fifth with her. She had 
to bring him to her safe place so that she could show him what he must 
see. She had rehearsed this scene in her mind for hours before his 
return; //it was the only image that could release her from his 
control.// Breaking through the pain, she stilled her mind for the final 
confrontation.

Fifth suddenly felt as if all resistance were gone. He had finally 
managed to overcome the barriers that Carter had been setting in his way. 
The pace of the hunt diminished ... //his mind was linking to hers// ... 
good ... //the moment of truth// ... he would gain access to her 
thoughts, her memories ....

Sam was waiting for him to come. He was not expecting the welcome he 
received.

Sam turned as he approached, and moved quickly to his side. //Taking his 
face in her hands, she drew him to her and kissed him.// He stepped back, 
in disbelief, but her smile told him that this was true.

//He had not lost his beloved.//

                         *******************

Chapter 16: Seduction

They were in a lush, green garden. Sam never looked more beautiful. She 
was dressed in a flowing, diaphanous gown which reached to her bare feet. 
Sunlight framed her long golden hair and emphasized her electric blue 
eyes. She took his hand, and they walked through a vivid landscape of 
colorful flowers. There was a feeling of tranquility - so different from 
the urgency and speed of his pursuit.

//With that one kiss, his rage had dissolved.// In awe of her beauty, 
Fifth allowed himself to be led. His senses came alive to the fragrance 
of the flowers, the sounds of the birds and insects, the feel of her hand 
in his ...

Sam continued to concentrate on creating this one idyllic scene, this one 
landscape of peace and trust, where she could capture Fifth in her mind. 
//She did not waver in her intention to focus solely on winning his 
heart.//

Hand in hand they walked, and, then, Sam turned and embraced him. //He 
felt safe in her arms; he felt wanted.// As she looked into his eyes, she 
kissed him once again. He could feel the press of her lips and the 
beating of her heart as they held each other close.

He knew that First was wrong, that he was right. //If this be humanity, 
then he celebrated these emotions of the heart. He wanted to be human.// 
Now, more than ever, he wanted this woman at his side.

//Sam could feel his surrender.// She leaned her head on his shoulder, 
and whispered "I will not leave you this time." And, then, enticingly, 
"There are so many worlds to conquer."

Fifth was beside himself with joy. //She wanted to be with him as much as 
he desired her. Yes, they would conquer brave new worlds together!//

"Show me your world." The intensity of her words drew him back to her 
face.

Now, he took her hand and led her into his mental landscape of reality.

It was a sterile, monochromatic world filled with images of his brethren, 
both mechanical and human, busily organizing and gathering themselves in 
what seemed to be some type of laboratory. There were rows of cube-like 
containers. Briefly, she saw an image of herself - her replicated self - 
stepping forth. Then she saw a large map of many planets, many galaxies, 
along with scrolls of codes and gate addresses. Next, she saw the 
original elders as they welcomed First and Fifth into their circle of 
wisdom. What came afterwards seemed a kind of holocaust: the mechanical 
replicators swarming out and over the planet, hoarding its human 
inhabitants into a citadel where human-form Replicators selected and 
stored prisoners behind row upon row of building blocks. She saw 
mechanical replicators transforming into ships of strange configurations, 
then dispersing and flying off into the distance ....

Sam met Fifth's eyes as she reaffirmed "There are so many worlds to 
conquer."

Clutching her to himself, Fifth released both of them from the probe. 
They slid down the walls of the cell, and collapsed, exhausted, in each 
other's arms.

Fifth knew that his beloved would be unconscious for some time. He gently 
placed Sam on her side, brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, 
and caressed her cheek. He remembered what he had told her when he she 
resisted him on Orilla. He thought he could make her love him by 
pretending to be someone else. //He tried to create a world that she 
wanted badly enough, a world with him in it. He did not understand fully 
the ways of the human heart. But he was learning. She could not conceal 
her true feelings for him now, and she wanted to be in his world, not 
hers.//

He would let her rest and recover. And, then ....

//Fifth felt a new passion, a new sense of purpose, stir within him.// 
But, before he could share new worlds of conquest with his beloved, he 
had to remove First from power.

                         *******************

Chapter 17: Complication

Jack had finally fallen into a deep sleep after a mostly restless night. 
Since his thoughts of Sam prevented his slumber early in the night, he 
relieved Teal'c by taking second watch. Daniel seemed to be sleeping so 
peacefully that O'Neill hated to wake him, as originally planned, and 
allowed the younger man to take the third, and final watch into the early 
morning hours.

The sneezing woke him up.

Jack turned towards the sound, eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the 
creeping daylight.

"Daniel? Is that you?"

A muffled snort and another fit of sneezing provided the answer. Of all 
the team members, Daniel Jackson was the most susceptible to the 
environment of the planets they explored. It sounded as if his night in 
this pastoral setting had triggered a severe allergic reaction.

"Umm ... sorry, Jack ... ah, ah ...." Again, another round of sneezes 
exploded beyond the sea of tall grass.

"It seems that Daniel Jackson is having some type of difficulty with his 
sinus cavities," suggested Teal'c, lying a short distance from Jack.

"Ya think?!"

Jack forced his aching body up, and moved to the grassline to see just 
what was happening. He wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him. 
Poor Daniel was surrounded by a mound of sodden tissues and leaning back 
against the incline of the road. His eyeglasses were lying at his feet, 
as he continuously wiped at his running eyes and nose. His face was 
swollen and blotchy.

"Jack, this just hit me ... I don't know what could be the culprit ..." 
the wheezing man barely croaked as he blew his nose and another paroxysm 
of sneezes shook his body.

By now, Teal'c, too, had emerged from the grass and was observing the 
rapidly deteriorating condition of his teammate.

"Daniel, do you require assistance with your medication?"

Daniel motioned Teal'c to the side compartment of his backpack and soon 
the Jaffa was supplying a canteen of water and several white pills, along 
with some type of nasal spray. Jack continued to watch the highway for 
any sign of activity, especially now that the bright morning sun had 
broken through the hazy clouds of dawn. He was concerned about the 
severity of this allergic attack and even more concerned about Daniel's 
ability to recover quickly.

Daniel gulped down the offered pills and, after one more forceful blow of 
the nose, applied the nasal spray. It took several minutes, but the meds 
started to calm his symptoms and the stricken soldier was able to look at 
his two worried friends and reassure them.

"Thank God for antihistamines. I never leave home without them."

"Daniel, how soon do you think you'll be ready to travel?" asked a 
worried CO.

"Jack, honestly, just give me about another five-ten minutes, and I'll be 
good to go."

O'Neill would have been more reassured if the somewhat shaky response was 
not followed by a sneeze. However, after several minutes passed, the 
worst seemed to be over. In another ten minutes, the team was almost 
ready to go. Jack gave the marching order.

"Okay, time to move out. Keep to the side of the road, same formation as 
last night: I'll take point; Daniel next; Teal'c - you bring up the rear. 
ETA 10:00 hours. We'll reconnoiter later, about a klick from the citadel. 
Let's hope we don't meet any more tin men."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow; Daniel collected his tissues, and Jack started 
to think about just what may be waiting for them on the road ahead ....

                         *******************

Chapter 18: Power

The cavernous laboratory hummed with activity. Mechanical replicators 
crawled up and down the walls, transporting material from the large 
containers which were slowly moving on massive conveyor belts which 
crossed the floor. All the walls, ceiling and floor were composed of 
building blocks, similar to those found in Sam's cell and on Replicator 
ships. An overhead lighting system cast a bluish tinge over the entire 
area. The walls rose three levels high, and there were walkways in front 
of the rows of cells on each level.

In fact, this was a multi-tiered prison. The elders of Alleria, the final 
survivors of this planet, were encased within each of these prison 
*cubes* - awaiting their transformation into human-form Replicators and, 
eventually, their deportation for colonization on other planets. The 
Allerians were blessed with a fruitful, agrarian society. They had the 
misfortune, however, of possessing the key element of Replicator 
regeneration, neutronium. Since leaving Orilla, the Replicators had been 
in search of a stable supply, and Alleria had served their purpose quite 
well. Soon, though, the neutronium would be depleted. A fresh supply and 
a new base of operations would be needed. Scouting ships were now 
exploring other possibilities.

First was standing in an observation tower, overseeing the activity 
below. More human-form Replicators sat behind him, in front of a panel of 
data screens, monitoring the transfer of the neutronium from the 
containers into the cube-like rooms. At the far end of the control room 
was a large three-dimensional map which constantly changed settings: 
planets and moons of one galaxy slowly spun, soon to replaced by new orbs 
and other galaxies. To the right of the planetary map was a large 
monolith containing Gate addresses and corresponding names of planets. 
The Replicator in charge of the monolith was able to add to this scroll 
by typing new data into a computer mainframe. As the Allerian minds were 
probed, the Replicators gained more and more information on Gate travel 
and locations. The monolith now contained these data.

Fifth approached as First commanded and directed the unloading and 
transfer of the neutronium. Within a moment, he was standing by the 
leader's side. Not taking his eyes from the operation going on below, 
First inquired: "Were you successful this time?"

"Yes, she has weakened and has given me valuable information on Gate 
travel and Tauri weapons systems," Fifth lied.

At this, First turned and scrutinized the younger man. Finally, he 
offered a slight nod of approval. "Good. Now come with me."

The two Replicators were beamed down to the first level and Fifth 
accompanied First into each holding cell as he examined the Allerians who 
were to be replicated. The elders were in some type of suspended 
animation, their frozen faces peering out from their cubed confinement. 
Fifth's mind remembered how Carter had stared back at him when she was 
being punished. But that thought was soon replaced by how Sam had looked 
in his last mind probe, how she had held him and kissed him ...

"Fifth, did you hear me? I said that we are getting some favorable 
reports back from the scouting expeditions, and I have been plotting 
possible new landing sites. Since time is of the essence, I have decided 
to travel to the most choice sites for an initial look around. Now that 
you have made a breakthrough with your prisoner, you should be free to 
take charge while I'm away. It should just be a few days. Are you up to 
the task?"

Fifth turned and smiled. "Yes. Go and do what must be done. All will be 
well."

He could not believe his good fortune. First's absence would give him the 
needed time to formulate a plot to overthrow the pompous old fool. //Of 
course he was up to the task! He, alone, was the most capable of ruling 
over his brethren. He, alone, was the most human of all of them. He would 
make the most wise and respected leader. They would see ... he would 
prove himself to his remaining brothers and sisters while First was 
away.//

But, now, it was time to attend to his beloved.

                         *******************

Chapter 19: Walls

She awoke, alone, totally spent from the effort she had exerted to 
convince Fifth that she cared for him and would be loyal to his cause. 
//She had to reach into her own mind and create a reality that was almost 
the exact opposite of who she saw herself to be.// She did not choose 
this duplicitous plan readily. In the end, however, it seemed the only 
path to her survival, and, quite possibly, the survival of her planet as 
well.

Even now, as she lay alone in this cold chamber, she could not be sure 
that her mind game, her portrayal, had convinced him. She vaguely 
remembered their moments in the garden, her final kiss and embrace, her 
tempting words to 'show me your world.' What seemed more clear to her was 
the picture of a Replicator world filled with activity and plans of 
domination. //New worlds to conquer. Did she, indeed, gain access to 
Fifth's mental landscape?// From the images in her mind, now, it did seem 
so ... but she would only know the truth of her situation when her captor 
returned.

//There were feelings as well.// It seemed that Sam had not only felt 
Fifth's excitement and eagerness to pursue missions of conquest, but she 
also felt something more sinister: his building anger and antagonism 
towards First. //If these memories were accurate, then this animosity 
towards the Replicator leader could possibly serve her well.// She needed 
to find a way out of this cell, discover what lay beyond these four 
walls, and then find a way to escape. By fueling Fifth's insubordination, 
she would possibly gain more freedom herself.

She was tired and despondent. //She felt as if her own world had been 
turned upside down.//

There were rules in Carter's world. Even in chaos, there were certain 
principles that still applied and reassured. This is where Sam was best 
at her game.

Sam Carter was a scientist and a soldier. Her world, until coming to this 
planet, was a world of theory and logic, cause and effect. Her brilliant 
mind could take any mathematical query and reduce it to its simplest 
factors; likewise, she could take the physical laws of nature and 
extrapolate and predict future consequences. She was confident in the 
power of her mind, her power to determine the null hypothesis or the 
proof positive of whatever reality with which she wrestled. Likewise, she 
was sure of herself in the field; she knew how to use the weapons of war, 
and she was learning how to lead in battle. She could trust her mind to 
provide solutions based on the military knowledge she had acquired.

Here, on this Replicator-infested planet, all bets were off. //In order 
to save herself, Sam had to move from the world of her mind to the world 
of her heart. By seducing Fifth, Sam had managed to hide her most 
vulnerable and cherished memories from his probe. She was good at this 
kind of deception ....//

For years, Samantha Carter had survived (quite nicely, thank you) in the 
mental realm of theories and computations. She had managed to build 
psychological walls, block upon block like the walls in this cell, to 
hide behind when the affairs of her heart threatened to upset the logic 
and order of her mind. The walls began early, with the loss of her mother 
and the subsequent unavailability of her father. Later, she learned to 
erect them higher and stronger when feelings of unrequited love haunted 
her. //She had finally met a man who was just as skilled as she at 
building these walls of defense - walls which could seal out the 
heartfelt emotions of loss, and desire, and love.// In many ways, they 
were two kindred, and wounded, spirits. They were also two comrades in 
arms, two friends who would never deliberately jeopardize their military 
careers because of their unsanctioned feelings for each other.

//Jack O'Neill and Sam Carter were master builders.// Jack's walls rose 
higher and stronger as Sam's feelings of love for him increased. And, as 
O'Neill became more unavailable, Carter, in turn, constructed ever higher 
and stronger defenses of her own.

//The walls they built seemed impenetrable.// There were no doors or 
windows to let someone in or out.

Just like the walls of Sam's cell.

                         *******************

Chapter 20: Heartfelt

Daniel knew he was in trouble. The itching was increasing, and, more 
ominously, he could feel the swelling in his hands and feet which told 
him that he was succumbing to another allergic reaction which required 
more medication. He did not want to hold up the pace of their last few 
hours so he deliberately kept plodding ahead, hoping that no one would 
notice a bit of awkwardness to his step.

Jack was moving fairly rapidly, encouraged by the fact that they had not 
encountered any further disruptions along the highway. The road and the 
surrounding countryside seemed deserted. It appeared that the Replicators 
had, once again, invaded and taken over a non-hostile civilization. From 
what he had seen in the "circle of wisdom", this was a highly civilized 
and peace-loving planet. //Had all the Allerians succumbed to Fifth and 
his menacing bugs?// O'Neill hoped to soon find out. His immediate 
concern, however, was finding Sam and extracting her from the citadel. 
There were no other buildings at the crest of the hill which they were 
fast approaching, and it seemed that this would be the most likely spot 
to hold a prisoner. Perhaps the city, itself, lay beyond the hill; that 
is, what was left of the city and its inhabitants. //If only they had 
been able to stop this, once and for all, on their original mission to 
Halla! Those damn bugs just kept getting bigger and smarter!//

Teal'c continued to survey the rear as they made their way to their final 
destination. He kept the wave disrupter tethered to his side, ever 
mindful that it could not be used without signaling Fifth and his 
brethren of a breach in security.

By 10:00 hours, the team had positioned themselves approximately one 
klick away from the luminous stronghold. Its reflection of the bright 
mid-morning sun was almost blinding. Jack could not identify any points 
of entry because of the glare. The men, by now, had left the side of the 
roadway and had returned to the refuge of the tall grass. O'Neill 
motioned for them to unfasten their gear and quietly crouch in front of 
him. As Daniel bent down, he winced from the pain of the hives which had 
now broken out over most of his body.

"Daniel, you appear to be in some type of distress," noted Teal'c with a 
penetrating gaze.

"I seem to have another problem with my allergies," the young 
archaeologist apologetically offered. He held out his hands, revealing 
fingers swollen to twice their size. He then rolled up his pants to find 
massive welts running across his lower legs.

Jack's first reaction was anger. "For cryin' out loud, why the hell 
didn't you say something on the trail?"

"Because reaching Sam is more important than stopping to medicate 
myself," came the humane reply.

By now, Daniel was struggling with the flaps of his backpack, trying to 
get to the needed pills and creams for treatment. His swollen fingers, 
however, were not making it easy. Teal'c reached forward and, once again, 
helped his needy comrade.

This time, a more powerful regimen was called for. As Teal'c opened the 
bottles of antihistamines and analgesics (to relieve the pain of the 
swelling), Daniel, in his agony, quickly reached for both. Unfortunately, 
his clumsy fingers ended in spilling the contents to the ground. The many 
white pills intermingled and slid beneath the blades of the deep grass. 
By now, Daniel was shaking from the pain and the exhaustion of the past 
few hours' trek. He slid to his knees, frantically searching for the 
answer to his distress. As he thrashed at the grass, he hindered himself 
even more by losing his eyeglasses. He could feel the swelling reaching 
inside his throat and knew that he now had to take immediate action. 
Finding a handful of pills, he thrust them into his mouth and swallowed 
hard, before his throat would close. Teal'c grabbed his agitated friend 
and quickly sat him down, trying to calm him and assist with a canteen of 
water. After a few anxious minutes, the danger seemed to pass, and the 
stricken scientist began to breathe more freely.

"Daniel, are you gonna be okay?" O'Neill, for all his previous bluster 
and impatience, was truly alarmed at the condition of his teammate. He 
gently retrieved Daniel's eyeglasses from the grass and, in a rare moment 
of tenderness and concern, found himself cleaning and wiping the lenses 
before he returned them to their shaken owner.

"Here, put these on, space monkey. Have the pills helped? How are you 
doing?"

Daniel, all color drained from his face, took a few more sips of water 
and adjusted his glasses before replying.

"Look, guys, I'm so sorry to give you such a scare. I can't explain it 
myself. There's something on this planet that is wreaking havoc with my 
system. The sneezing fit was something that I'm used to, but this attack 
of hives was something I haven't experienced in years."

"Let us hope that your epidermis once again becomes dormant for a lengthy 
duration," consoled Teal'c as he collected whatever remaining pills he 
could find.

As the team stayed hidden, a sudden hum made them all look upward. No 
threat hovered above, so Jack grabbed his binoculars and peered through 
the grass at what seemed to be a large Replicator ship rising from the 
confines of the citadel. It was very similar to the ship in which Fifth 
had escaped on Orilla.

//Jack's heart fell as he realized that Sam might be on that ship.// But, 
as quickly as that disturbing thought entered his mind, it was replaced 
by another, more hopeful, awareness. //It was as if Sam were here by his 
side, reassuring him of her presence. He saw her in his mind, safe and 
within reach. He thought he heard her saying "I will survive."//

O'Neill followed the flight of the ship until it disappeared in the 
distant clouds. His friends looked at him, mirroring his original 
concern.

"Omigod, Jack, what if Sam were on that ship?" murmured Daniel.

"She is in the citadel," came the confident and firm response.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Trust me, I just *know*."

                         *******************

"Le coeur a ses raisons, que la raison ne connait point." - Blaise Pascal

("The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing." - Blaise 
Pascal)

                         *******************

Chapter 21: Collaboration

//I will survive.//

Three simple words kept fueling Carter's determination to find a way out 
of her prison. She now searched around her cell, once again, to see if 
there were any physical means of escaping. Her fingers pushed at the tiny 
silver blocks but felt only a hard, cold resistance. The floor and 
ceiling were made of the same material, and there was nothing protruding 
to allow her to climb one of the walls to examine the blue light which 
was somehow illuminating her cubicle from above. The bluish color added 
to the chill in the room, and she shivered. Fifth had taken her watch 
when she was first captured, and between the disorientation from the two 
mind probes and the solitary confinement, she had lost a realistic sense 
of time. It could be five hours or five days since this nightmare began.

What did remain real, however, was her strong effort to conceal her own 
mind from her captor and her attempt to enter his mental landscape. From 
the images that kept repeating themselves now, it seemed that she had 
managed to succeed.

Soon the game would be taken to a new and dangerous level. When Fifth 
returned, his actions would tell her if she had gained his trust. //And, 
then, Sam Carter would have to continue the charade by acting as if she 
were in love with him.//

Sam was uncomfortable playing this role. //It seemed like a cruel 
reminder of what her own life was missing.//

Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter lived in a world of men. For years, she had 
tried hard to meet their standards: first, entering the air force in her 
father's footsteps, and, then, using her scientific mind and military 
training to gain a position with the SGC. Often being the only female, 
she had learned to *think masculine* in many ways. She had honed her 
linear, analytical skills, while mastering the art of combat. It was a 
long, and often lonely road to gain acceptance by her manly peers. In the 
end, however, she had earned their respect, and the men who served with 
her were proud to have her by their side. She was now being rewarded by a 
promotion in rank and responsibility. //A leader among men.// Yes, there 
were female officers in the service, but, except for Dr. Janet Fraiser, 
Sam had never become a member of that sisterhood. The most important 
people in her life continued to be her male comrades, and her closest 
ties were forged in the thick of battle with her own SG-1 teammates. 
//She would give her life unquestioningly for them, just as they would do 
for her.//

After many years, she had now come to a point in her life where she felt 
more free and more in control of her own destiny. She no longer needed to 
prove herself to anyone. Her occasional moments of self doubt were few 
and far between. She was confident in her own professional ability to get 
the job done, no matter how dangerous nor difficult a task lay ahead. As 
a soldier and a scholar, she liked who she had become. Sam Carter was at 
the top of her game, physically and intellectually.

//But years of proving herself to the male establishment had taken an 
emotional toll.// Her survival skills taught her that objectivity and 
critical thinking were favored over feelings. So she did what any good 
soldier would do; she buried the longings and desires of her heart and 
followed the military rules of engagement at all times. //She kept those 
few moments of human passion hidden beneath a layer of protocol and duty, 
remembering her CO's mutual agreement to "leave it in the room".// It was 
a male model, and it served her well.

She had not even realized how well, until Fifth had invaded her mind on 
Orilla and fashioned an image of what he thought to be her desire for 
love, for security. When the Replicator had appeared to her as a lover, 
she had rejected him and his false reality. //What Fifth never knew, and 
what she realized at that moment of intense encounter, was that she had 
buried her true feelings so deep that she managed to hide her most 
cherished secret, the true identity of the man she loved.//

Her captor returned bearing gifts.

Fifth quietly slipped into the room and gazed at his beloved. She was 
standing, with her head resting against the wall, looking pensive and 
sad. //Did she miss him?// He would have liked to watch her like this 
forever, unguarded and unaware. He wanted to feel her love once again, to 
dispel any doubts now that they were out of the probe. The touch of her 
hand, the whisper of her lips on his, still burned in his memory ...

But there was work to be done. He would tend to her immediate needs, then 
take her with him to the control room. First had already left, with a 
contingent of their brethren, to explore possible relocation sites. The 
final transfer of the neutronium into the holding cells was almost 
completed. //He wanted to show his beloved the wonder of it all.// He was 
in command and would be the one to replicate their newest brothers and 
sisters, the final act of creation on this planet. //He wanted her by his 
side, to celebrate with him.//

"Samantha, I bring you food and drink."

She turned and smiled warmly. He set the tray on the floor, and Sam 
welcomed him into her arms. Her kiss was warm upon his lips; her eyes 
shone bright and inviting. His heart felt as if it would burst with joy.

Once again, she managed to hide her reality, her innermost secrets.

//I will survive.//

                         *******************

Chapter 22: Murphy's Law

General Jack O'Neill turned his attention to the readiness of his 
teammates for the undertaking that lay ahead. He could see that Daniel's 
latest bout with his allergies had left him weak and shaken, even though 
the young man insisted that he was "good to go". Teal'c, on the other 
hand, was battle ready and fully alert.

"Daniel, I'm going to reconnoiter the perimeter and Teal'c will stand 
guard here with the wave disrupter. We don't want to be surprised by any 
more unexpected parades on the highway. It's been quiet since daybreak, 
so I think one guard will do fine. Why don't you try to stretch out and 
get some rest? From his position along the trench, 'T' can cover us 
both." Teal'c nodded in agreement.

"Jack, let me go with you ... two of us can cover twice the ground twice 
as fast," pleaded the somewhat recovered archaeologist as he determinedly 
hoisted his backpack to his shoulders.

O'Neill knew time was a factor now that they had reached their target. He 
wanted to survey all sides of the citadel, assessing possible threat 
levels and points of entry. //Daniel was right; he could use another pair 
of eyes and feet to make this go as quickly as possible.//

"Okay, Daniel, but chuck the pack. We need to travel light and swift: 
weapons, radios, and binoculars only. The rest of the gear can stay 
hidden here." Following the command, Daniel dropped his backpack into the 
grass, and retrieved the only necessity that he could not afford to be 
without - his allergy pills. In fact, he popped a few more into his 
mouth, just to forestall any future attacks.

Jack was busy checking his ammo, and only Teal'c watched as his comrade 
took the additional meds. He raised an eyebrow in concern. //Did not 
Daniel Jackson realize that those pills had been mixed together when they 
fell? Was he quite sure of what he was taking?// Even with his better 
eyesight, Teal'c had trouble differentiating the two strong medications 
when he retrieved them earlier from the grass. He had assumed that Daniel 
would sort them once he recovered from the severe attack. The way he had 
gulped down the initial dose seemed to control the swelling and lessen 
the symptoms, but ... //just how much of the antihistamines had Daniel 
consumed?// Teal'c looked at his comrade and was about to speak when Jack 
interrupted.

"Come on, Daniel, let's move out!"

Daniel brushed past Teal'c as he followed Jack's lead, the two men once 
more hugging the incline at the side of the road with assault weapons up 
and ready.

//Funny,// thought Jack, //a beautiful day for a picnic. Ants on a 
blanket seemed so welcomed compared to the bugs that lay ahead.//

The men moved rapidly and were soon approaching the citadel. Jack 
motioned for Daniel to halt, as he crawled up the embankment for a better 
look at the building. Raising his binoculars, he saw that the glare was 
caused by the stronghold's metallic surface which, from this vantage 
point, appeared impenetrable. There were no visible means of entrance, no 
doors nor windows, just row upon row of shining metal.

"Damn! We need a giant pair of wire cutters!"

"Excuse me?" came the reply as Daniel looked up at his disgruntled 
leader.

Jack scowled back. "The whole building looks like an Erector set!"

As he scrambled back down the slope, Jack decided on a plan of action. 
"Daniel, we know that those large cargo containers had to go somewhere 
... maybe there's a back door to this operation. You take the left side; 
I'll push forward and come around the right. Let's see what's in the 
backyard. I'll cover you now as you cross the road; stick close to the 
trench, and get to the rear as fast as you can. No matter what you find, 
draw back and wait for me to appear from the other end. I'll signal you 
when I turn the corner. Got that?"

Daniel shook his head in agreement, and cautiously climbed the incline 
with Jack matching his every movement. Once they determined that there 
was no activity of any kind on the highway or in front of the citadel, 
Jack gave the signal and Daniel sprinted across the roadway and jumped 
down the far slope.

O'Neill continued to advance in the trench on his side of the highway, 
working his way to the right end of the building. As he drew nearer, he 
realized that the incline was receding and he was soon almost level with 
the road. //Just what I need ... might as well hang a bull's-eye on my 
shirt.//

When he darted across the gravel roadway, Jack observed that the road 
turned left with him and seemed to circle the building. Bracing his back 
against the gleaming side of the stronghold, even though he knew the 
risk, //Jack was ready to follow this yellow brick road right into its 
final destination.// He knew that he was about to find his one opening, 
one chance, to gain access to the citadel. What he didn't know, at that 
very same moment, was that his lethargic teammate was having some trouble 
arriving at the same destination.

The fast pace of their trek, and Daniel Jackson's sudden dash across the 
highway, had begun to take its toll. As his adrenaline rush began to fade 
and the side effects of way too many antihistamines began to mount, 
Daniel started to get very, very drowsy. He vaguely remembered that Jack 
had given him an order to reconnoiter the rear of this building. But new, 
more pleasant sensations forced themselves upon his waning consciousness. 
The glittering metal blocks reflected the warmth of the late-morning sun. 
They felt so cozy against his back as he moved cautiously towards the 
corner. The bright sun warmed his face as the comforting heat of the 
building warmed his back. He found himself a bit woozy and chuckled at 
his sudden loss of coordination. //Oh, what the heck ... just slide down 
here a moment ... take a short break ... feels so warm ... so nice ... so 
tired ....// 

Jack rounded the corner quickly, hand on the trigger of his P90. Yes, he 
did not want to shoot if at all possible, but he also felt that he would 
now be close enough to Carter to take that risk if it happened. His hunch 
had been right - the worn tracks of the gravel highway traveled halfway 
down the back of the building and then turned in. He had expected to see 
Daniel coming up from the other direction and was surprised by his 
absence. Perhaps he had already scouted the position, and returned to the 
far side. Jack waited a few more minutes, his eyes on the corner where 
Daniel was to have appeared.

Reaching for his radio, he whispered "Daniel, come in." No answer. Once 
more, "Daniel, come in. What's your position?" His urgent inquiries were 
met with silence.

Teal'c scanned the highway once again, noting that nothing seemed out of 
the ordinary. A fly buzzed around the Jaffa's nose and, as he swatted the 
insect away, his radio came to life.

"Teal'c, come in. Have you heard from Daniel?"

"No, O'Neill. All is most quiet at this end. Do you require my 
assistance?"

"I think we may have a problem. Make sure our gear is concealed and move 
forward with the rest of the ammo and explosives. Keep the wave disrupter 
ready to fire, but don't fire without my order. I found my point of entry 
at the rear of the citadel. I'm now going to draw back to Daniel's 
suspected position. Advance quickly along the slope of the highway; when 
you get within 50 meters of the citadel, cross the road and proceed to 
the left side of the building. That's where we should find Daniel. I 
don't know what happened to him. Be aware and be prepared. I'll meet you 
there."

Teal'c advanced as ordered, while Jack retraced his steps.

//Daniel, on the other hand, was peacefully dreaming of ancient tombs and 
artifacts ....//

                         *******************

Chapter 23: Access

In the end, her release was a fairly simple procedure. Fifth placed his 
hand on the wall of her cell and the tiny replicator blocks began to 
shimmer and dissolve into liquid pools, reminding Sam of her captor's own 
ability to transform and regenerate his human form.

As they stepped through the portal, they were met by the hostile stares 
of three Replicators in what appeared to be a main control room. Sam 
could not help but notice its strange similarity to the SGC: banks of 
computer screens and a three-dimensional map of planetary systems along 
with a large window which seemed to look out upon some type of storage 
facility.

The most novel attraction was an imposing monolith which contained a 
scroll-like device that seemed to be continually changing data. Sam 
suspected that the Replicator seated at a computer closest to the 
monolith was transferring code from the mainframe into the monolith.

Fifth, now in command, spoke firmly and quickly to his suspicious 
brethren: "Our prisoner is no longer a threat; she is completely under my 
control. Do not bother yourselves with our intrusion. I am going to Level 
One for the final inspection and assimilation of the neutronium. Continue 
with your duties. The prisoner shall come with me."

With that, Sam was swept into a beam of light and transported to the 
lowest level of the cavernous storage room with Fifth at her side. The 
room itself was about the size of a football field, the main floor 
transected by two huge conveyor belts which were not in operation. Large 
containers rested silently on the belts. The surrounding walls, ceiling 
and floor were composed of replicator blocks similar to those found in 
Sam's cell. She and Fifth were bathed in the now-familiar bluish light 
which emanated from high above. Sam soon realized that this was much more 
than a warehouse. Glancing up at the two levels of walkways above her, 
she knew instinctively that this was some type of prison. She did not 
have long to wait to find out what these cells contained as Fifth placed 
his hand upon the first holding cell and its blocks partially dissipated 
to allow them access.

The cube-like room was identical to her former cell and also brought back 
chilling memories of her encounter on the Replicator ship at Orilla. 
//Thank God he can't read my mind now// Sam thought, as she looked upon 
the stricken face of one of the surviving elders of Alleria.

"These are the last of the Allerians to become our brethren. They have 
had the good fortune to live on a planet abundant in neutronium, an 
important component of the process of transformation."

//So that was what all these huge storage containers were about ... 
shipping and storing neutronium towards the creation of new Replicator 
life forms. "Good fortune?" Sadly, an innocuous chemical element became a 
planet's death knell.// Sam forced herself to smile and nod in agreement.

Fifth was pleased that his beloved seemed so interested in his 
revelation. He continued to explain the process of absorption of the 
neutronium into the cellular structure of the human being and the 
eventual "birth" of the new Replicator life form. From what Sam could 
understand, this seemed to be a bizarre alchemy - an unnatural 
transgression of sterile machine over living matter. That the Replicators 
had evolved to such a state meant that they were practically unstoppable. 
Whole civilizations had become victims to their insatiable appetite, 
their need to ingest and advance to ever greater states of being.

//The need to survive and reproduce ... all programmed into each of these 
tiny building blocks which surrounded her now and still remained a 
mystery. God, how she hated these things; how she wished now that the 
time-dilation device on Halla had been a success.//

"When ... how long does the process take?" the scientist in her posed a 
question.

Fifth beamed as he said, "It is quite remarkable, is it not? These on 
Level One are now ready for assimilation. All of their minds have been 
probed and data stored. I must now command my brethren to close ranks, so 
that the final ingestion begins. It will take several days by your 
calculation of time for our children to be born."

Sam almost lost her composure upon hearing his last words. "*Our children 
to be born?*" //You sick parasitic son of a bitch!//

Fifth turned and gave a verbal command: "Go forth."

At his words, replicator blocks began whirring and coming to life. Sam 
watched in horror as a familiar spider-like machine formed and crawled up 
and over the frozen face of the elder in front of her. In seconds, the 
woman was completely covered by the blocks which then reincorporated 
themselves into the wall of the cell. She knew, from the clattering 
around her, that this was being repeated in each and every cell on the 
lowest level. As she recoiled from a sudden feeling of panic deep down in 
her gut, Sam had a trace memory of being suffocated, buried alive. 
Looking at the blank wall before her, Sam knew what the elder had just 
experienced. //Sam knew because it had happened to her on Orilla.//

It took every ounce of self-control to refrain from reaching out to 
strangle her enemy. Sam realized that she could not succeed, but the 
weight of what was happening before her very eyes was almost unbearable 
to watch. She felt that she was witnessing the execution and extinction 
of a group of people who had probably, in good faith, welcomed these 
cunning Replicators into their midst. //She would find a way to avenge 
their deaths, and her own violation.//

"There is still work to be done on Level Two." With that, Fifth reached 
for her hand and beamed them up to the second level.

Placing her anger and shock to the back of her mind, Sam began to think 
and observe more carefully. She was being given a guided tour and must 
attempt to glean even more information from her smitten captor. What she 
experienced the next hour told her all she needed to know about how they 
were finding new locations to replicate. She watched as Fifth walked from 
cell to cell and completed the mind probes of the prisoners. Because they 
were encased in their tombs of replicator blocks, there could be no 
resistance as Fifth thrust his hand into the elders' exposed foreheads. 
Fifth shared that this knowledge was actually being transmitted into his 
mind and would then be downloaded into the computer mainframe in the 
control room. Sam was not quite sure how that was accomplished but hoped 
to soon find out. She believed that the data eventually appeared on the 
monolith's screen and, possibly, the planetary map. They were literally 
stealing the knowledge of this planet before turning these poor souls 
into Replicator selves. Now she better understood what she had learned in 
her cell, how First knew where to look for new conquests, new planets 
that had what he needed.

While they had relaxed and dined on the food he brought to her cell 
earlier, Fifth told Sam that First and a large contingent of Replicators 
had left Alleria to determine a possible relocation site. He then proudly 
announced that he was in charge. She fed his ego by remarking that he 
should remain in charge, that he should not allow First to degrade and 
humiliate him any longer. His boyish face brightened at her suggestion 
and he kissed her impetuously on the cheek. In many ways, he seemed to be 
nothing more than an immature adolescent, going through his first 
infatuation and rebellion. //If only it were that simple! But, if she 
could keep him at that level of desire and need, she might have a chance 
to fight her way out of this nightmare.// 

//She had to find out more about the Replicators' plans and locations. 
Funny, wasn't that the original mission? "Deceive and detect" ... in some 
strange way, nothing had changed but everything had changed. She was 
alone on a Replicator-infested planet with no backup, no members of her 
team covering her six. And how did Jack manage to neutralize her double? 
Was he injured in the encounter? This was no time to be thinking of Jack 
.... //

//She wanted to get back to the control room ... perhaps there was a way 
to send some type of signal home ... highly doubtful ... getting to the 
Gate was her best hope of survival ... she knew it was a good day's 
journey back ... but which way was "back"? The sea of tall grass and no 
visual sightings or landmarks on such a level terrain would make it 
difficult to find the Gate. They walked on a gravel road for the last 
part of the journey to the citadel, and she had tried hard to take note 
of the direction of the sun as she was prodded along. There may be a map 
in the control room, showing the location of the Gate. Yes, that was 
quite possible. If the Replicators came and then dominated this planet, 
they then had to transport the neutronium from the mines and possibly 
used the Gate for transporting their newest brethren to other 
unsuspecting planets. It seemed likely that First would have studied a 
map of Alleria to best implement his logistics.//

//Somehow she would get Fifth to dismiss the other Replicators or, better 
yet, distrust and destroy them. She would need to feed his paranoia. If 
it came down to just Fifth and her in the control room, with none of his 
human-form "buddies", she might have a chance ... she just might have a 
chance. Finding her P90 would better the odds; she was certain she could 
handle the mechanical creepy-crawlers or at least die trying.//

                         *******************

Chapter 24: Wake Up Call

"For cryin' out loud ... Daniel, wake up!" O'Neill kept his exasperation 
to a low whisper and firm shake of the sleeping scientist's shoulders as 
Teal'c bent forward and placed his fingers against the young man's neck.

"His pulse is slow but steady ... I believe that Daniel Jackson has 
ingested a larger amount of medication than is beneficial. He may be 
asleep for some time."

"What ...!"

"While you were busy preparing for the assault on the citadel, Daniel was 
seeking additional relief from his troubling allergic reactions. He had 
two very strong prescriptions which had accidentally intermingled when 
the pills fell onto the grassland. I am certain that Daniel consumed a 
copious amount of the antihistamine quite unintentionally in his 
desperate attempt to ameliorate his grave skin condition. The side effect 
of such an error would be drowsiness and slumber."

Jack O'Neill straightened and looked from Teal'c to the slouched figure 
in front of him, "Well, if this isn't a nice ball of wax ...."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and looked quizzically at his leader.

"Just a cliché ... nothing but a cliché," Jack stammered. His mind was 
already racing over the immediate problem and change of plans that 
Daniel's overdose presented. They could not leave their incapacitated 
comrade unprotected in broad daylight and, yet, even more pressing, he 
had to get into the building and find Carter! Instead of two men as 
backup, he would have to go it alone and have Teal'c fall back with 
Daniel into the safety of the tall grass.

"Teal'c, this is what we're gonna do. Carry Daniel back to our hidden 
equipment and last position. Make sure that he's comfortable and secure. 
Leave him with his weapon and radio and, for god's sake, write a note 
telling him to stay put. Attach it to his glasses! We'll pick him up on 
our way out with Carter. He can monitor the highway until we return. Then 
come back here pronto and cover the rear of the building. Keep open-radio 
contact. If you don't hear from me by 12:00 noon, break down the back 
door and join the party! Be ready to rock and roll."

"O'Neill you seem to be talking in a language that seems somewhat 
unfamiliar to me," the trusted Jaffa responded as he handed the wave 
disrupter over to Jack.

"Come in through the back at the appointed time and be prepared to kick 
the crap out of some mechanical bugs. I'll take care of the human 
variety. Be fully armed and ready for action! Is that better?"

At that, Teal'c nodded and hoisted the unconscious body of Daniel Jackson 
over his broad shoulders while Jack disappeared behind the back of the 
citadel.

The weight of the wave disrupter added to the weight on Jack's mind. He 
wanted to get in and get out as quickly and quietly as possible. This was 
like walking into a lions' den blindfolded. One false move and the whole 
pride could awaken with a fevered pitch and block his attempts to find 
Sam. He did not want to open fire with either his P90 or the disrupter 
device until he had Carter safely in his sight and saw that she was able 
to join him in his exit strategy.

//And a glorious grand finale it would be.// Jack O'Neill was a walking 
arsenal: his own weapon, Carter's P90, some Claymores and C4s for 
*interior decorating*, and the ultimate weapon at hand, the wave 
disrupter. Once he *deconstructed* Fifth and his cronies, he knew that 
the mechanical bugs would not be far behind. He'd then be able to take 
out some of them with the disrupter, but those basic bugs were just as 
vulnerable to the less sophisticated and more crude weapons of the 
Tau'ri.

//Nothing like some good, old-fashioned fireworks. If he was lucky, Jack 
planned to position all the Claymores and C4s on his way in, and bring 
this whole freakin' erector set tumbling down on his way out!//

                         *******************

Chapter 25: Command and Control

The mind probes on Level Two were excruciating to watch and, yet, Sam 
knew she had no other alternative. After his extraction of all necessary 
data from the Allerians, Fifth activated the mechanical bugs once again 
and sealed the prisoners' fate. He then summoned Sam to his side and 
prepared to beam them back to the control room.

//On the other hand, what was the purpose of the prison's final level, 
Level Three? Who were the suffering, sentient beings within those cubed 
walls? As much as she wanted to return to the control room, Sam felt that 
she had to know.//

Caressing his cheek and gazing longingly into his eyes, she whispered, 
"My love, I'm in awe of your power and see how you've grown into a 
fearsome leader, especially now that you're free to do as you choose with 
these prisoners. I can't help but thinking how good it is for you and our 
brethren that First is not in control. You're younger and more able to 
sustain the rigors of these probes, aren't you? Watching you and being 
with you, I feel a great vitality, an energy that will enable us to shape 
the future of the many worlds beyond this world." And, with that, she 
kissed him ... passionately.

Fifth seemed surprised at this sudden outpouring of emotion, and his 
cheeks flushed as their lips parted. She did not take her eyes from him 
as she continued to stroke his blushing cheek. It was a daring and bold 
move, but she could not retreat from her overall mission now. So she 
pushed forward and provocatively said, "How can I help you? I want to 
help you become the leader you are destined to be. Show me what I can do 
... perhaps I can be of value on Level Three ...."

//There! The words were spoken ... will he see through her mind game? 
Will he sense the hidden insincerity of her saccharine words? She held 
her breath and waited for his response.//

He gently pushed her away and returned her gaze with a penetrating and 
questioning look of his own. //Sam did not falter ...her very life 
depended upon the success of this masquerade; not only her life, but the 
lives of countless others.// She had already promised herself that she 
would play some small part in stopping this Replicator menace from 
spreading farther.

A smile slowly crept across his lips, as Fifth said, "Beloved, to hear 
you speak with such affection and to see your eyes burn with passion 
gives me a feeling I've never known before. It's as if my heart were 
overflowing with joy. I feel that I can do anything with you by my side. 
Together, we will conquer new worlds and bring forth many new children. 
Come, let me show you the first fruits of my labor ...."

Once again, the beam of light swept them both to another level, the final 
level - Level Three. Sam both feared and welcomed what she now was about 
to learn.

The procedure here was different. Fifth did not attempt to enter into 
each individual cell as he did on Level Two. Instead, he issued a loud 
and forceful command to "Come forth".

Sam could feel a sudden chill run down her spine as she watched the 
shimmering replicator blocks dissolve into human-form Replicators which 
emerged and stood attentively in the front of their holding cells. There 
were 20 ... 50 ... almost 100 bodies of silent sentinels, the final 
remnants of Alleria, who were now waiting for Fifth to activate their 
inert minds and bodies.

"These are mine, Samantha. I have been patterning and training them since 
their births. //They know only me as their creator.// Before this day is 
over, they will be ready to be fully activated in my service. When our 
remaining brethren on Levels One and Two are fully formed, I will let you 
assist me in the birthing process. Your human wisdom and knowledge will 
shape them well. You will add much to the act of regeneration. Together, 
we will be co-creators of our brothers and sisters."

Sam now knew this was the time to strike. She had just hours before a new 
generation of Replicators would be at Fifth's disposal. She had to reduce 
her current threat level and make her move soon.

"Fifth, if these are your very own, what is left of First's creations?"

He seemed puzzled by the question, but naively gave her the answer she 
was seeking, "First has taken his brethren with him to assist in the 
scouting expedition. Those in the control room are the only remaining ... 
many of our brethren are already situated on several of the appointed 
planets, awaiting First's arrival and eventual selection of the optimal 
site for relocation. I have been left in command of this final operation. 
The neutronium is now depleted and it will take only a week or two to 
complete the transformation of these three levels."

"*And these will know only you as their creator.*" It was said slowly and 
deliberately, giving him time to realize the importance of her words. Sam 
turned and looked into Fifth's eyes once again, feeding the flames of 
avarice and desire.

//She was walking a very fine line here between escape and annihilation, 
but Sam was betting that, for all their rapid evolution into human forms, 
the Replicators still had not mastered the depths and deceptions of the 
human heart. Fifth was learning, and had learned, from his initial 
betrayal on Halla ... but he was still innocent of her motives ... 
ironically, she felt in control.//

                         *******************

Chapter 26: Liberation

Fifth looked around at the silent Replicators surrounding him and Sam as 
they stood on the third-level walkway of the citadel. As he clapped his 
hands, the prisoners stepped back and were reabsorbed into their 
individual cells.

"Soon, very soon ...."

"And then what? Will you allow First to just return here and regain 
control over what should rightfully be yours?" Sam persisted in goading 
the Replicator into the realization that his power would be short-lived 
and limited. She reached for his hand and placed it against her warm 
cheek.

"Fifth, you have let me into your mind as I've let you into mine. I know 
the greatness that lies within you and I want to share in what you've 
become ... together we can find our own new worlds, far from First and 
his brethren. These Allerians, here, in this room are your own creation 
... *our children* ... we can teach them all they need to know, just as I 
can continue to teach you the human emotions of love and pleasure. First 
will never ridicule you again ... you'll be safe. Let me help you find 
these new worlds with the knowledge you've acquired from the prisoners. I 
can help to map out the coordinates and the directions of our escape. Do 
you trust me, my love?" Her lips softly brushed across his hand as she 
looked up at him.

It seemed that everything he had desired was now within his reach, 
including the beloved whom he thought he had lost. She was standing here 
pledging her loyalty and aid in overthrowing the bonds that had linked 
him to those of his brethren who did not really understand, nor care, 
about the needs of the human heart. He and his beloved would teach their 
children well; they would teach them that human emotions were not to be 
feared nor despised, but to be welcomed.

Fifth held Sam to his chest and a tear glistened in his eye. //It was 
time to begin ...time to be free ....//

They were beamed directly into the control room where the three remaining 
Replicators continued to scan the computer monitors and manipulate what 
seemed to be a three-dimensional map of ever-changing galaxies. Sam was 
fascinated at the depth of vision on the map which added to the realism 
of the planets and stars which rotated before her. But she was not able 
to identify the constellations. Fifth watched his brethren as they 
continued to eye the woman in their midst suspiciously. He went to one of 
the computers and thrust his hand into the monitor; Sam observed that 
massive amounts of data seemed to be spilling onto the screen. She 
realized, with a start, that Fifth was downloading the memories and 
knowledge and life histories of the Allerians on Level Two. Soon the 
scrolling device on the monolith came to life and more and more symbols 
and codes appeared. Again, Sam concluded that these were the newly 
acquired Gate addresses. After he had successfully downloaded all he had 
learned from the Allerians, Fifth removed his hand and called the 
remaining Replicators to the center of the room.

"Our work on this planet is nearly finished and you must now make a 
decision. Do you wish to serve me or serve First?"

Sam moved cautiously to the rear and leaned against the wall, scanning 
the room for anything that resembled a weapon. Before the Replicators 
could answer, Fifth raised his hand and released a powerful beam of 
bluish-white light which seemed to vaporize all three. Nothing remained 
on the floor, no particles of metal, no building blocks. They had 
vanished completely.

"I knew their answer; I knew what was in their minds. I could see the way 
they looked at you. They would never have been loyal to me." He extended 
his hand to Sam and proudly walked her around the control room, 
explaining the many screens and maps before her. This was, indeed, the 
Replicators' base of command. Fifth began to show her the coordinates and 
codes of what he believed to be their best possibilities of escape, of 
relocation, but Sam needed to know more than his future projections. She 
had to know the whereabouts of First and the probable relocation sites 
now being explored. This is the information she wanted to take back with 
her through the Gate.

//In the end, the captor became the captive.//

Sam continued to feed Fifth's almost childlike desire for affection 
through her physical touch and soft whispers of endearment. She convinced 
him that it would be safest for them to not only have their own plan of 
escape, but also have all of First's possible points of relocation so 
that they were completely sure they were moving far beyond his power and 
jurisdiction. Fifth and she worked quickly on massive amounts of data 
and, within an hour, they had successfully covered all contingencies.

Sam now held disk files which were a compendium of Replicator knowledge: 
plans, coordinates, and Gate addresses. The data revealed galaxies 
totally unknown to the Tau'ri. She could not believe her good fortune, 
but felt a pang of guilt and regret. Much of this knowledge was stolen 
from the minds of the Allerian people, a race of people eliminated by the 
Replicators' insatiable need to dominate and destroy.

//Somehow, she would not let the Allerians' sacrifice be in vain. She 
would get this valuable intel into the right hands. Thor may be able to 
find First and eradicate the threat completely if he had the information 
she had just gained. What did he tell her, years ago, when she first 
helped him destroy an immediate replicator threat? It was just one of 
many small victories .... Now, with the wave disrupter, perhaps the tide 
had turned in their favor. Maybe, with the knowledge she just gained, 
Thor and the Tau'ri would be able to free themselves, once and for all, 
of the Replicator menace.// 

//Before that freedom could be won, however, she had one more small 
victory to win - here, in this room, with her own mortal enemy. How would 
she free herself from Fifth?//

                         *******************

Chapter 27: Taking Charge

His adrenaline continued to feed the pace at which he fortified the 
outlying perimeter with the Claymores. O'Neill then managed to charge 
along the rear of the citadel and, just as quickly, turn inside the 
building itself. The back portal was actually a rather large archway 
which served as the only entrance. Once inside, Jack kept his back to the 
wall and gun raised as he sized up his surroundings. The room appeared to 
be a large warehouse of some kind, holding two hefty conveyor belts with 
recognizable crates all now sitting, empty, upon the inactive machinery. 
The interior was framed by three rows of cells and walkways and 
illuminated by a bluish-white glow emanating from the cavernous ceiling 
high above. Both the silence and the light seemed eerie.

Even more sinister was the dawning recognition that he was now standing 
on, and surrounded by, the ever threatening replicator building blocks. A 
chill ran through his back as he gingerly stepped forward and cautiously 
examined the wall he had been leaning against. Yes, these were the basic 
building blocks and potential enemy, but they seemed strangely quiet and 
inert. No alarms were sounding and nothing within the vast space was 
creating an imminent danger.

//So far, so good ... now can I stretch my luck and leave a few calling 
cards?// O'Neill carefully lay the extra weapons at his feet and 
proceeded to skirt the inside perimeter of the ground floor, moving 
rapidly and placing C4 at strategic points along the cells and under the 
conveyor belts which transected the entire length of the room. As he 
completed his task, he scanned the room for possible points of entry to 
the levels above, finding only one stairwell located close to where he 
had originally set down the other weapons. There seemed to be some type 
of observation tower with large windows on the third level, oddly 
reminding him of the Gateroom at SGC.

All the charges were set, allowing for a 30-minute search and rescue of 
Carter. If things turned sour and extraction did not go well, he would 
radio Teal'c to blow the Claymores from a distance and allow the whole 
house of cards to come tumbling down on himself and those nasty bugs.

//If he didn't find Sam alive, he had no reason to save himself. They 
would leave together or die together in this one last stand with the 
Replicators.// His gut told him that she was still alive, still here, and 
he was betting that he would find his answer at the third-floor 
observation tower.

He was also hoping to settle an old score with the Replicator who began 
this dangerous game. By invading O'Neill's personal space in that daring 
act of deceit with the replicated Carter, Fifth had committed a brazen 
act of hubris. But he had also given Jack a moment of truth - a truth 
from which he could not shake himself free.

//Jack O'Neill finally realized how much Sam Carter had become a part of 
his life. She was much more than a comrade in arms and a skilled soldier 
and scientist; she was the woman whom he had fallen in love with ... a 
long, long time ago.// 

Teal'c carried his sleeping teammate back to the safety of the tall grass 
and deposited him gently on the ground. Daniel stirred slightly but did 
not awaken. Concerned for his friend, the Jaffa felt his pulse once again 
and was relieved to detect a slow and steady rhythm. As a final 
reassurance, Teal'c shook the young man until he murmured and slowly 
opened his eyes. Kneeling over the groggy scientist, his friend stared 
deeply into his half-shut eyes and explained what was happening.

"Daniel Jackson, hear me. You will continue to feel very sleepy for the 
next hour or so, but you are safely hidden within the grass. You have had 
an adverse reaction to the large amounts of antihistamines which you have 
consumed. Please do not take any more medication unless absolutely 
necessary. O'Neill has gone into the citadel to extract Lt. Colonel 
Carter and I am returning to help them both. Wait here until we return. 
If you feel able, watch the highway as a precaution . Your weapons, 
radio, and all remaining gear are at hand. Should you reach a better 
state of awareness, prepare for a quick departure."

The stricken archaeologist seemed to understand most of the message and 
nodded slightly before turning on his side and drifting off once again.

"Pleasant dreams, my friend", said his companion as he moved swiftly and 
stealthily down the highway and soon came to his original point of 
departure. Teal'c saw that O'Neill had laid the Claymores and awaited a 
signal from his former commander.

The radio soon crackled, "Teal'c do you read me?"

"Yes, O'Neill, I have returned and am in position at the corner of the 
building."

"Good. I've set the C4 for 12:00 hours. Slight change in plans. Stay at 
your mark. Do not follow me. If I can't leave with Carter before the C4 
goes, I want you to provide the final pyrotechnics with the Claymores at 
the same point in time. Then get the hell out of Dodge!"

Teal'c frowned upon hearing this new directive, and was about to oppose 
when Jack's abrupt "Over and out" nullified what he was about to say. The 
radio went silent ... as silent as the Jaffa whose keen eyes and taut 
nerves prepared him to hold his appointed line of defense for the moment, 
but not for the duration of time his comrade had commanded.

If his friends did not appear at the exit of the citadel within the next 
fifteen minutes, he would, indeed, enter and engage any enemy in order to 
save them.

                         *******************

Chapter 28: Search and Find

Sam was busy interfacing the knowledge she had gained from the monolith 
database with the three-dimensional map of the galaxies. Her sharply 
honed scientific skills were now being used to plot various trajectories 
and elliptical paths through the stars and planets that spun before her 
eyes.

As Fifth had showed her how to download the remaining Gate addresses and 
Allerian data, he seemed in awe of her ability to comprehend the 
technology. She, too, had been somewhat surprised at the ease with which 
she took to the task. //Staying alive creates a surge of adrenaline which 
not only awakens the body, but the brain as well!//

She knew this was the last agenda and that, soon, Level Three would be 
coming alive with the final Replicators which would pledge allegiance to 
Fifth. He would collect his brethren and fly both her and them to a 
distant galaxy to begin the process of conquest and survival all over 
again. Only, this time, she would be farther away than ever from her own 
world with all chances of rescue or escape proving even more remote and 
improbable.

//She had to free herself of Fifth now ... where was the location of the 
Allerian Gate? The map had to be stored on one of the data disks which 
they had downloaded ... she just needed time to search. And where was her 
weapon? She needed time alone, time to sort her thoughts and formulate an 
escape plan. Would Fifth leave her alone in the control room?//

As if aware of her thoughts, Fifth approached from behind and placed his 
hands on her shoulders. "Beloved ... you have served us well ... from 
what I see on the map, we can safely transport our children to the planet 
of Cistercia ... here ... this is the outer limit of the Hellasian galaxy 
and light years from First and his brethren. According to what we have 
found, it will support our need for neutronium so that we can build a new 
colony ... with you as my queen", the last words slipped easily from his 
lips.

Sam forced herself to turn and smile up at his trusting face. She could 
not afford to break the masquerade, and so she kept her eyes on his to 
further convince him of her loyalty and love.

"My love, I do not feel like a queen ... I'm tired and hungry. Can you 
provide one last banquet before we leave? And, clothing ... I would like 
to dress for the journey in robes which would honor you as I stand by 
your side ... I want to leave my past and all semblance of my past in 
this room when we depart."

She rose from her chair and took his head in her hands, caressing his 
cheeks with her soft fingertips while she kissed him passionately.

//He felt completed ... no longer alone and alienated ... no longer 
tormented and ridiculed for his human feelings and desires. Soon, he and 
his beloved would take the very first step to a life which would be like 
that of which he dreamed. He would truly be alive.//

"I will bring what you desire, and then we shall greet our new brethren."

Turning, he placed his hand on one of the control-room walls, and the 
cells liquefied allowing him to pass through. Before he did, he glanced 
lovingly at her with a smile that beamed his pride and pleasure.

Sam felt a sudden wave of nausea as his figure disappeared. She had to 
steady herself on the chair in front of her. Her mind game had gone way 
beyond anything she had originally imagined. He loved her so much that he 
seemed almost human in his devotion.

//Get a grip on yourself. He's not human ... he's a Replicator! This is 
the only way you can escape ... you had to make him trust you.// 

She shook herself free of guilt and regret, and focused on the task at 
hand. Sitting down at the console, she quickly searched the database for 
the missing Gate location and, within minutes, had a map of the Allerian 
terrain before her.

//Yes, she could navigate from this ... she could find her way back to 
the circle of wisdom and the way home to SGC ...the way home to sanity, 
to reality, to her friends and comrades ... to ...//

"Sir!"

He burst into the control room from the walkway surrounding the 
observation tower. It was the only point of access leading from a 
physical staircase, probably left there from the Allerians' earlier use 
of the citadel.

She could not believe her eyes ... O'Neill was clad in camouflage gear 
and armed with not only his weapon but her missing P90 as well. Strung 
across his left shoulder was the wave disrupter!

"Carter, we've got to move fast ... here, catch!", and he threw her P90 
to her as she rose from her chair.

//Jack's heart was beating wildly; he had met no resistance on the way up 
the stairs and Sam was standing here before him, looking good, looking 
really good ... well as "good" as one could be, considering the 
circumstances ... there would be plenty of time later for her to fill him 
in on all the details.//

"Sir, let me retrieve this last piece of data and we can try to make it 
to the Gate."

Sam bent down to the computer screen and hit a command key which began 
spitting out a map of some kind ... Jack was about to tell her that it 
wouldn't be necessary ... //for cryin' out loud, he and the boys knew the 
way back home. And, where was that low-level piece of replicated junk, 
anyway? He had one more piece of unfinished business with Fifth.//

It happened so quickly that neither Sam nor Jack could have defended 
against it.

//Sam would always remember that exact instant ... the image would be 
imprinted upon her mind and replay itself at her most vulnerable moments. 
The assault and penetration happened in a flash; but in her mind's eye, 
everything began to move slowly, ever so slowly, as if a surreal 
nightmare had just begun ....//

As Jack was scouting all parts of the room for any potential threat and 
Sam was concentrating at the computer, a sudden flash of blue light 
beamed behind O'Neill. Sam looked up in alarm and watched helplessly as 
Fifth reappeared and thrust his hand into the back of Jack's head.

"Crap" was O'Neill's last conscious thought as he fell to his knees and 
dropped his weapon. The wave disrupter also tumbled to the floor.

                         *******************

Chapter 29: Flashpoint

When the neural disturbance came upon him, it was totally unexpected. 
Fifth had been finalizing plans for their departure. //He would prepare a 
proper feast for Sam on Cistercia, a banquet fit for a queen.// For now 
he simply wanted to quench her thirst and hunger with a light meal and 
find a suitable garment for her travels. Her beauty continued to amaze 
him and he thought of her in the flowing robe when she first came to him, 
freely, of her own will. //In his mind, he could see again their walk in 
the garden. He remembered the feeling of tranquility that came upon him 
when she took his hand and led him into that idyllic setting. They 
embraced and he felt safe in her arms; he felt wanted.//

Suddenly, his pleasant thoughts of Samantha were interrupted by another, 
more sinister sense of something, someone near ... //an intruder within 
the citadel!// Fifth immediately beamed himself back into the control 
room to determine if there had been a breach of security.

In a moment, at a glance, his enemy was before him. Fifth silently 
rejoiced to see that it was O'Neill, the one who had destroyed his 
replicated creation of Sam. He could now discover what had happened when 
she was sent on that mission. He would find out the cause of her 
destruction, and then he would wipe out the destroyer. Vengefully, Fifth 
thrust his hand into the back of Jack O'Neill's head.

Sam looked from Jack's stricken face to Fifth's feverish glare. She knew 
that using her P90 would only be a temporary solution and, besides, 
Jack's slumped figure was blocking her aim. The final solution, her 
weapon of choice, was lying across the room at the Replicator's feet. She 
feared that any quick move towards the wave disrupter would result in 
severe injury to Jack. Sizing up the precarious situation, Sam decided 
that the best course of action was no action. If she continued the 
pretense of allegiance, she might be able to distract Fifth from the mind 
probe and eventually reach the disrupter. Regretfully, Sam placed her 
weapon on the desk behind her and watched, helplessly, as the painful 
scene unfolded.

Jack's eyes appeared unfocused and his mouth twisted in agony as Fifth 
relentlessly pushed farther and farther into his victim's mind. Carter 
stifled a cry of compassion knowing that it would condemn both her and 
O'Neill to the Replicator's wrath. So she stood, immobile and on edge, 
waiting for Jack's release.

Trying to feign disinterest, she said, "Fifth, my love, we have no need 
of O'Neill. Leave him."

The Replicator looked up and at her as if seeing her for the very first 
time. "Oh, no, Samantha ... this is the man who caused me so much pain 
... I will have my revenge now and then we shall leave for Cistercia."

//Fifth was already finding the secrets that Jack O'Neill had hidden deep 
within his mind, feelings and longings that had only recently begun to 
rise to the surface ...feelings which were about to cause a devastating 
chain reaction for all of them.//

//The pain came in waves, crashing over him and then releasing him, only 
to catch him up once more in the maelstrom of images and scenes from his 
past life.// He fought to defend himself from Fifth's violent intrusion 
but he had been taken so quickly and unexpectedly that O'Neill did not 
really have time to prepare himself fully for the mental assault. //His 
mind was on Sam.// Seeing her standing there before him, uninjured and 
safe, he wanted to rush to her side and wrap her in his arms. He wanted 
to tell her how much he really cared. Instead, he followed military 
protocol and threw her weapon to her, preparing for their escape. //All 
of these most recent thoughts and feelings now became the property of 
Fifth.//

The turbulence continued to rack Jack's brain, sweeping both him and his 
abductor along a slippery path of military data and past missions into 
the deeper vortex of personal encounters and cherished memories. //He 
felt as if he were being stripped of all his most valued possessions. He 
tried to find something to anchor himself. He needed time to rebuild the 
walls which were now falling all about him ... time to find a place to 
hide ... to hide and protect ... who? Who was it that he should not 
reveal? In the end, he saw only her face, the woman who filled his mind 
with hope and desire and love.// At the closing stages of the probe, Jack 
O'Neill could not separate himself from his memories of Sam.

Teal'c waited, cautiously, for O'Neill to reappear at the back of the 
citadel along with Colonel Carter. He glanced once more at his watch and 
realized that the final minutes of decision were upon him. Knowing that 
he was deliberately going against his commander's direct orders to stand 
his ground and retreat without them, Teal'c, nevertheless, followed his 
own sense of urgency and headed towards the back entrance. //He would 
not, could not, leave his teammates abandoned to their enemy.//

Fifth felt a power and a sense of control that filled him with 
determination. He could tell from the first moment of impact that O'Neill 
had been taken by surprise and, knowing that, he became all the more 
relentless in his purge of the contents of Jack's mind. He soon managed 
to strip away and store the objective military data that his replicated 
sister had been sent to retrieve. This was offered up quickly and almost 
effortlessly. Around this, however, he began to see more and more images 
of Samantha: moments of O'Neill and Carter on missions together, feelings 
of connection and danger; a flash of the two of them standing face to 
face separated by some type of force field, looking longingly into each 
other's eyes; snatches of conversations; captivities and tortures; always 
returning to that look in their eyes, a deepening bond ... Jack, at the 
bedside of Carter; Carter leaning on Jack's shoulder; a furtive embrace, 
a look, a touch ... and a passion kindling under the surface of Jack 
O'Neill. //Fifth could feel the heat of this desire and, with this 
feeling of desire, came an overwhelming sense of love. The love flashed 
out to another woman who looked like Sam ... he realized with a jolt that 
he was seeing the Replicated Carter in the act of probing Jack's mind.// 
He next saw her lifeless body lying on the floor of O'Neill's office. 
//She had seen and felt what Fifth was now feeling! But she was not ready 
for this kind of earthly knowledge.// Fifth had not yet instructed her in 
the art of love. He had not yet trained the Replicated Carter to 
experience such a powerful human emotion. //Was this shocking revelation 
of a man's love for a woman so overwhelming that it somehow killed her?//

This was not what he was searching for! This was a terrible truth that 
filled him with anger at the humans who were responsible for his 
beloved's death! //It was not only O'Neill ... it was Samantha Carter 
too! Fifth could see clearly now - this man's love was reflected in the 
eyes of his beloved.// Their fleeting moments of intimacy had all played 
out before him as he probed Jack's mind. His own Samantha was gone, lying 
dead in O'Neill's office. //The woman he thought he now loved had 
deceived him once again. The woman who was to be his future companion had 
given her heart to the man who knelt before him.//

A cry of despair rose from his chest as Fifth released Jack from the 
probe. It became a keening, horrific sound of grief and anger as the 
Replicator kicked O'Neill aside and lunged towards Sam.

"He loves you! You have betrayed me!"

The shock of those words stunned Sam and, before she could reach back for 
the P90, Fifth was upon her. The strength of his impact sent them both 
hurtling out onto the observation tower of Level Three. Sam took the 
brunt of the fall, her head and shoulders crashing onto the metallic 
surface of the deck. Fifth landed on top of her and immediately put his 
hands around her throat. He raged at her as he closed his fingers on her 
neck.

"You never loved me! You love him!"

He was inches from her face and his eyes burned with such hot anger that 
she felt she would be consumed by the fire. The pressure on her windpipe 
and her need to free herself from his stranglehold brought her back to 
her senses. Her vision was starting to dim and she knew she only had 
seconds left to think clearly. Reaching up, she raked her fingers across 
his eyes. As he screamed in pain, she found the leverage she needed and 
pushed him to her side. He reached for her leg as she twisted and tried 
to scramble away. She was slammed to the surface, and then felt herself 
being lifted from behind and thrown back into the control room. Her body 
careened, headfirst, into the monolith. She could feel the crushing blow 
but forced herself to stay conscious. //Her own anger was now rising. Her 
own need to survive, to save Jack and herself, to bring these mechanical 
aberrations to an end began to give her added strength.// Sam ignored the 
blood running from her forehead as she turned and saw Fifth coming. He 
had turned into a bastardized version of his former self. His features 
were so distorted with rage that she could not believe it was the same 
gentle almost-human form who had professed to love her. //It was best to 
see him like this; it would make it easier for her to do what she knew 
must be done.// She got to her feet quickly and prepared for the next 
assault.

This time she was ready. As he moved towards her, she lashed out with a 
high kick which caught him squarely on the jaw. He staggered backwards, 
but did not fall. Sam advanced swiftly, throwing several punches to his 
body and a blow to his head. All landed successfully but he still refused 
to go down. As she lashed out once more, he reached out and grabbed her 
wrist with such force that she could feel the bones snap. The sudden pain 
shooting up her left arm and his continued pressure on the injury caused 
her to fall to her knees. As she looked up, she saw the flash of the back 
of his hand as it met her face. //Her fierce determination to stay alive 
matched his determination to punish her.// Even as she lay there, stunned 
and half conscious, she was planning her next move.

Teal'c had made careful note of the Claymores and knew that O'Neill had 
placed timed explosives throughout the interior of the citadel. As he 
turned into the cavernous building, he scanned the large room looking for 
any sign of replicator activity or his friends. Nothing seemed to be 
happening on the lower level. All machinery and boxes appeared to be 
stationary and the building seemed to be some type of storage and housing 
facility. Indeed, there were three levels of cell-like rooms with 
surrounding walkways. It was then that he realized that all the building 
materials were made up of replicator blocks. He could see some of the C4 
charges as he slowly moved towards a stairwell which he hoped would take 
him to his missing teammates. However, before he could mount the steps, a 
sudden movement on the highest level caught his attention. Someone had 
come out on to what appeared to be some kind of observation tower or 
balcony.

He then heard the following command echo off the cavernous walls: "Come 
forth, my children, come forth!"

Sam watched as Fifth moved out on to the third level and knew what he was 
about to do. As she heard the chilling words of activation, she crawled 
towards the wave disrupter and Jack's prone body. He was still 
unconscious from the mind probe. //If he were here, though, it was highly 
improbable that he came alone. He must have come with Teal'c and 
Daniel.// Her mind now started to clear and she realized that her 
situation might not be as dire as it seemed. Fifth had thought he left 
her unconscious; she deceived him once again. And she now lifted the wave 
disrupter and herself from the floor, albeit a bit unsteady. She had to 
cradle the weapon in the crook of her left arm because of the broken 
wrist.

//Things could be worse. It would be awkward but she knew what she had to 
do. Thank God, she wasn't a lefty! Her right arm and trigger finger were 
working just fine. She knew that the P90 would also be needed once Fifth 
had awakened all his 'children'. For now, though, she had to eliminate 
the leader and take out as many human-form Replicators as she could 
before their mechanical brethren joined the party!//

                         *******************

Chapter 30: Endgame

Daniel awoke slowly, a blade of grass tickling his face. He felt 
lethargic but relieved to notice that his hands and feet were no longer 
itching and swollen. He lay there contentedly, gazing up at the vivid 
blue sky and floating clouds framed by the pointed edges of the tall 
grass which surrounded him. Stretching his lazy limbs, he stifled a yawn, 
and then sat bolt upright with a startled cry.

"My God ... Jack? Teal'c!"

Recollection collided with reality. Daniel's disorientation soon cleared 
as vivid memories returned: running down a gravel highway covering Jack's 
six, crossing the road and bracing himself against the citadel, 
replicator blocks and the warmth of the sun ...

//What was he doing here? He vaguely recalled someone, a deep voice, 
talking to him about staying here, being prepared ...prepared for what? 
Teal'c - it was Teal'c's voice, giving directions.//

Daniel felt in the grass for his glasses. Finding them, he saw a note 
attached to the frame. "Daniel, you have experienced an adverse reaction 
to your medication which caused you to collapse. Do not consume any more 
of the drugs unless you are in dire circumstances. I have gone to help 
O'Neill extract Colonel Carter from the citadel. He wants you to collect 
our equipment, guard the road, and be prepared to exit quickly upon our 
return."

Letting out a sigh of exasperation, the now fully awake archaeologist 
rose to his feet and crumpled the paper in his hand. //I let them down 
... Sam's in that building facing God knows what ... and I'm here taking 
a nap in the grass.//

With thoughts of guilt and regret racing through his mind, Daniel did a 
quick sweep of the hiding place, gathered all remaining equipment for 
quick pickup on way back, checked the road for clearance, and began 
running down the gravelly path, fully armed and ready for action. He 
wanted to make up for lost time.

Teal'c saw neither Carter nor O'Neill as he glanced upwards at the figure 
on Level Three. There seemed to be something strangely familiar about the 
man who was now shouting some type of command. Teal'c stepped back 
farther into the deep shadows near the stairwell, concealing himself 
while he observed the bizarre drama unfolding two flights above.

"Come forth, my children, come forth."

At the sound of Fifth's command, the holding cells, made up of replicator 
blocks, began a massive transformation. The outer covering of each cubed 
cell began to liquefy and dissolve as newly formed Replicators stepped 
through in obedience to their creator. They stood stiffly, staring out of 
glazed and emotionless eyes, automatons awaiting their next command. The 
bluish-white light which emanated from the cavernous ceiling and bathed 
the figures in its eerie glow added to the surreality of the moment. 
Teal'c guessed that there were about 80 glistening bodies standing around 
the entire perimeter of the third-level walkway ... standing at attention 
in deference to their master ... //Fifth! Yes, that was Fifth at the edge 
of the walkway!//

Knowing that the C4 was about five minutes from self-detonation, the 
mighty Jaffa did not wait for Fifth's next action. Instead, he turned and 
ran up the stairway looking for his friends.

O'Neill's head was spinning, his thoughts could not seem to focus ... his 
senses awakened first. He was lying on his side, the pain in his head was 
subsiding but being replaced by the pain in his bruised ribs. He could 
hear a man's voice shouting some kind of command, and then he felt a 
brief touch on his shoulder, a gentle, but firm touch with a whispered 
"sir, hang in there". He winced as he moved and opened his eyes. What he 
saw quickly brought him back to reality. Sam, looking bloodied and 
beaten, was limping towards the Replicator form of Fifth with the wave 
disrupter cradled in her arms.

Jack tried to find his weapon and rise to his feet, but the sudden 
movement of trying to get up sent him tumbling onto his back. The 
grogginess and pain in his head refused to release him. Instead, he was 
forced to watch, helplessly, as Carter lifted the disrupter and pointed 
it at Fifth.

Fifth looked at what he had wrought. //His children, his brothers and 
sisters, came forth at his command and were now awaiting the final word, 
the word of approval and activation. These were truly his creations, not 
those of First. He was now in charge of his world. He would take these 
new beings with him to a planet far, far away. Perhaps, in time, the pain 
would lessen, his anger and rage already being replaced by an immense 
sadness and hollowness.//

As he gazed upon the Replicators surrounding him on the walkway, Fifth's 
rage had turned to grief. //Samantha Carter was supposed to be at his 
side for this moment of birth. The new order of creation was to be shared 
with the woman he thought he loved. Were these human emotions worth the 
cost? In some ways, First and those who followed him, were to be envied 
for their inability to feel this kind of pain - the pain of love and 
betrayal and despair.// Tears came to his eyes, another human sensation. 
He felt them burn his cheeks as they ran down his face.

Just as Fifth was ready to give the final command, he sensed her presence 
and turned to look into Sam's face. Their eyes met and held for what 
seemed an eternity.

By the time that Sam had struggled over to the observation tower, the 
Replicators had appeared from their cells. Her worst fear had 
materialized. Scores of Allerian elders were now standing, in zombie-like 
formation, awaiting their new orders as human Replicators. An entire 
planet had been transformed from human to alien life forms intent upon 
further domination and control. //She had to end this now.// These were a 
race of peace-loving and trusting people, wise men and women who valued 
learning and knowledge. They were now shells of their former selves. 
Those who had been captured and replicated seemed beyond any help, at 
least, any help that she could give. //Indeed, she only knew of one human 
being who had returned from this stasis intact. Herself! Fifth released 
her after making his copy. He had spared her life. Why?//

She found her answer in his pained eyes. "I loved you ... I really loved 
you." The words were said in a whisper as the Replicator prepared for 
what Sam was about to do.

In that brief moment of encounter, time stood still. Fifth's features 
softened and he looked at her, once more, with the yearning and trust she 
had seen when they first met so long ago on Halla. Emotions of love and 
grief played upon his face. The moment of truth had arrived for both of 
them, standing there on the precipice of decision. //There was no 
redemption, no going back, for either one.//

Carter had made tough choices all through this ordeal. She had a mission 
to fulfill, a mandate. She was a warrior and responsible to her 
commanders and her country. She did, in good faith, what was demanded of 
her given the extraordinary circumstances of her hostage situation and 
the very nature of the enemy itself. She was not proud of the methods 
that she had to use to resist her own torture and overcome the enemy. 
Playing psychological mind games and using deceit and seduction as 
weapons were not her normal methods of operation. She knew what she had 
to do to survive. And she had to survive in order to serve the greater 
good - the survival of her planet and many others. The knowledge she had 
been able to retrieve by Fifth's trusting her could now help in the final 
eradication of the Replicator threat. "De oppresso liber!" She believed 
in the integrity of that motto. But she also saw and felt the pain of the 
oppressor as he stood before her, looking more human, in his grief, than 
ever before. The humanity in her responded: "I am sorry, so sorry that it 
had to end like this. But I cannot allow you to enslave any more people."

He heard her and, as she clumsily shifted the wave disrupter to fire at 
him, Fifth yelled his final words of defiance to the static Replicator 
forms who lined the walkway, "Brethren arise!"

The wave disrupter swept over Fifth and his figure broke apart into inert 
particles. As if waking from a slumber, the other Replicators began to 
turn and slowly march towards the observation tower. Sam stepped over 
Fifth's remains and carefully took aim at the perimeter - her own anger 
and grief compelling her as she thought of what had been taken from the 
people on this planet. Beginning from one end of the walkway and 
continuing in a sweeping motion, Carter sent wave upon wave of disrupter 
beams into the Replicators dissolving them even as a new threat arose.

The sinister sounds of mechanical bugs could now be heard as the 
replicator cells, themselves, started to take on the shapes of the 
enemy's basic form. Carter moved back within the control room just as 
Teal'c came charging through the entrance on the far side with an 
automatic weapon in hand. Jack was now leaning on the side of the 
monolith, rubbing his hand across his eyes, still trying to focus and 
come to the aid of his comrades.

"Colonel Carter, we have little time left, O'Neill has planted C4 
throughout this building." Seeing her bruises and the awkward way she was 
holding the wave disrupter, Teal'c added his concern, "Do you need my 
assistance in retreating?" He then looked beyond her towards the 
observation tower.

Knowing his unspoken question, Carter replied, "It's all right, Teal'c, 
Fifth is dead. I'm okay but the whole place is waking up ... can you 
handle the wave disrupter and take the General while I retrieve my data 
and cover your six?"

The Jaffa nodded and reached for the disrupter while, at the same time, 
swinging around and anchoring O'Neill's arm around his broad shoulder. 
The General tried to push away and walk on his own, but almost collapsed 
once he was free of Teal'c's strong grip. Without hesitation, his comrade 
pulled the shaken commander closer and began the trip down the stairs.

Carter rushed to the computer consoles and swept up the valuable disks 
and maps, stuffing them into her shirt pocket. She then swung her P90 
into position and proceeded to back out of the control room just as the 
first round of replicators began to race in from the observation deck. 
Adrenaline and anger were now coursing through her veins and she found 
herself swearing at the mechanical spiders as she ripped a round of 
ammunition into their bodies. It was a known fact that the low-tech 
weapons of the Tau'ri were actually more effective in stopping these 
mechanical forms than more sophisticated weaponry; that is, until General 
O'Neill was able to use the knowledge of the Ancients to provide a 
prototype of wave-disrupter technology. Thor then developed a mega-weapon 
which was now the ultimate solution. But Thor was not here, and Jack was 
still in shock from the mind probe; so the combination of one wave 
disrupter and their "primitive" P90s and explosives would have to cause 
enough damage to buy them time to return to the Gate.

Teal'c moved quickly down the stairs, using the wave disrupter to clear 
his path as the replicators started to swarm up the stairs from the lower 
levels. Once he reached the first level, he had to fight through the 
clattering bugs as they climbed over his boots on their way to the 
stairwell. Most of the ground was now covered with the menacing army of 
replicators. They seemed to be following a prescribed route to the 
observation tower. //Of course! They may have had some type of internal 
sensor which had been activated when Carter killed Fifth. It was as if 
they were programmed to find their creator's assassin.//

Knowing that she would need his help now more than ever, Teal'c dragged 
O'Neill out the back of the building so that he could leave him in a safe 
area while he returned to Carter's side.

Daniel was panting heavily as he rounded the corner of the citadel. He 
traced what seemed to be a line of Claymores leading to the back 
entrance. As he ran forward with weapon raised, two figures came 
stumbling out. He was close enough to recognize his comrades and shouted 
to them. Teal'c turned in surprise and quickly ordered the young 
scientist to take their fallen leader and retreat to safety.

"Daniel, you must move as far away from the citadel as you can with 
O'Neill. We only have minutes before the explosives will detonate. I must 
return to assist Colonel Carter!"

As Daniel slung Jack's arm around his shoulder, he locked eyes with the 
Jaffa and they both nodded. Words were not needed; the next few minutes 
would settle their fate, and, quite possibly, the fate of their planet.

While Daniel fell back with O'Neill, Teal'c returned to the citadel with 
the wave disrupter and swept the cavernous room of the encroaching 
mechanical forms. He had hoped that Colonel Carter would have been 
appearing from the stairwell by now but she was nowhere to be seen. With 
a concerned look, he rushed towards the stairs, prepared to help his 
friend escape.

                         *******************

"De Oppresso Liber" is the motto of the U.S. Special Forces and 
translation is "To free from oppression."

                         *******************

Chapter 31: Comrades in Arms

"Damn you all to hell!"

Sam Carter continued to back out of the control room while shooting the 
army of replicators which were swarming in from the observation deck. Now 
fully aware that Jack had planted C4 throughout the citadel, Carter knew 
that she needed to exit the building as quickly as possible. The force of 
her "primitive" P90 would only deter the replicators temporarily until 
they regenerated themselves and began their pursuit once more.

Having cleared the room, she turned and faced the stairwell and began her 
descent. In a matter of seconds, hordes of replicators were mounting the 
staircase, with even more taking shape from the ceiling and walls 
surrounding her. The citadel had been composed of many replicator 
building blocks and now, slowly but ever so surely, the mechanical 
spiders were awakening and seeking out their prey.

Sam resumed firing as she stepped down, around and through the invaders; 
almost stumbling as she sought to fight them off from her face, arms and 
legs. She had just about reached the ground floor when she suddenly felt 
the impact of a replicator on her back. As she struggled to free herself 
from its deadly embrace, the attacker released a hot spray of acid onto 
her back and shoulders. She screamed in pain as the smell of burning 
flesh filled the stairwell.

Teal'c did not see Colonel Carter as he turned inside the citadel, all 
the while targeting the angry mass of replicators with the wave 
disrupter. The disrupter was the one weapon capable of destroying the 
replicators. Unfortunately, the entire citadel was now coming alive with 
so many bugs that the limited range of the disrupter could not decimate 
all of them at once.

Clearing a path before him, Teal'c ran to the stairwell just as he heard 
an agonizing scream. Looking up the stairs he saw his teammate staggering 
down the steps with a large replicator attached to her back and others 
clawing at her legs. Her tortured face told him all he needed to know. 
The Jaffa quickly pointed the disrupter at the buzzing nest that 
surrounded his besieged comrade and released the strong wave particle 
beam which disintegrated all the marauders.

Sam felt an immediate release from the pain and pressure and was able to 
regain her shaky balance as she descended the few remaining steps towards 
Teal'c. She prayed that the adrenaline would continue to override the 
stinging on her back and the throbbing in her left wrist. She needed her 
fear and anger to propel both her and Teal'c far and beyond the citadel 
before the C4 exploded.

"Colonel Carter, are you capable of continuing?"

Sam took a quick gulp of air, raised her head to the tall Jaffa, and 
reassured him, "I've got what we need to win this war - let's live long 
enough to deliver it to Thor!"

With those words, the two members of SG1 fought their way to the exit of 
the citadel, Teal'c using the wave disrupter to further destroy the 
renegade bugs now racing down the sides of the building and Sam shooting 
her P90 at whatever got in her way. It was not lost on the Jaffa that the 
replicators were intent upon reaching his teammate, so much so that they 
would scramble up and over his feet and legs in their march to their 
target. He made a cautious note of this new pattern of behavior believing 
that Fifth had, indeed, somehow programmed these final remnants of 
replicators to attack the one who had killed him.

Daniel hurried to the far end of the citadel with Jack's arm slung around 
his shoulders. The General continued to stumble and still seemed to be 
unaware of just what was happening to him and his team. Daniel was glad 
that he, himself, was now clear headed enough to do the thinking for both 
of them. Having rounded the corner of the building, the archaeologist 
took one last glance at the exit but Sam and Teal'c were nowhere to be 
seen. With a sinking heart, he knew that he had to retreat even farther 
to escape the heat and debris from the impending explosion. With a prayer 
on his lips, Daniel strode down the highway to the safety of their former 
encampment.

In a matter of minutes, the citadel had turned into a gigantic hive of 
replicator activity and now, even the outer structure of the building 
began to transform itself into pockets of mechanical bugs clattering and 
racing down the walls. By the time Carter and Teal'c had emerged from the 
ground level, they were confronted with more replicators which seemed to 
gravitate to Sam as she ran alongside her teammate. Teal'c continued to 
use the wave disrupter to eliminate the new swarms of bugs as Sam ran 
towards the outer perimeter of the fortress. The attacking replicators 
and Sam's injuries were slowing them down. They were not as far enough 
away as they'd hoped when the noise and concussion from the exploding C4 
reached them. The domino effect of the internal blasts sent them flying 
forward. Sam could feel the heat on her back as she was lifted and tossed 
about 20 feet, landing and rolling in the narrow incline of grass where 
Jack had left the Claymore detonator. Teal'c landed near her but had 
managed to keep the wave disrupter in his possession. He had blood on his 
massive shoulders and knew that he had been hit by the flying debris. 
Both teammates lay silent and stunned for a few moments.

Teal'c, regaining his senses more quickly, turned and touched his comrade 
gently, "Colonel Carter, can you speak? Have you sustained further 
injuries?"

Sam Carter's body was ready to shut down ... she heard her friend as if 
from a great distance, and soon realized that the concussion from the C4 
had probably weakened her hearing. //She was stunned but her mind was 
still thinking clearly. They were still not safe; she wouldn't breathe 
freely until they had put some distance between themselves and the 
remnants of this burnt-out fortress.//

She knew that Teal'c had eliminated many of the replicators, but she also 
knew that the ones which she had shot with her automatic weapon were not 
totally "dead". They would probably regenerate and pursue SG1 once again 
on their way to the Gate. From what she had learned from Fifth, though, 
she was fairly certain that the remaining replicators were all located 
within the confines of the citadel. //There should be no hidden threats 
lying ahead of them on their journey home and she had the map to get them 
there.// The wave disrupter was still intact and would provide the 
ultimate defense against the replicators that survived the explosions and 
her P90. But every one of her team had already felt the impact of this 
mission. //If she could gain them some valuable time, just a few hours in 
which they could rest and recuperate, they would be able to gather their 
resources and complete the mission. She knew what she had to do.//

"Teal'c, I'm fine. The C4 has taken out most of the citadel. From the 
concussion, I'd say there's quite a crater. I see that Jack also laid 
these Claymores and I'm going to detonate them now to provide the final 
blow. Then we'll regroup with Daniel and General O'Neill. I need you to 
keep the wave disrupter under your control at all times. We may be 
pursued. It should take several hours, at least, for the remaining 
replicator blocks to reconfigure and take shape. I want us to pull back a 
few miles beyond your last position and then rest."

Seeing the blood on his shoulders, Sam sat up and touched his bloody 
shoulder. "Oh, T ... how bad are you hit?"

The Jaffa took his comrade's hand and looked into her tired eyes, 
"Colonel Carter, do not concern yourself with my injuries. I believe they 
will prove less severe than yours. I am glad to see that you are able to 
remain calm and project the next steps to be taken. I fear that General 
O'Neill may not yet be himself and it is good to have you in command."

He raised himself to a standing position and put out his hand to pull his 
commander up. She was grateful for the assist, and both of them looked at 
the destruction in front of them. Carter was right ... there was a deep 
hole in the ground, with smoke still rising from the crater. The 
Claymores were placed along the perimeter as a second line of defense and 
precaution ... Jack probably decided to throw everything he had into 
assuring that the bugs were blown sky high. Sam reached for the detonator 
and, taking it in hand, motioned Teal'c to begin the retreat down the 
highway. However, as they prepared to move away from ground zero, Sam saw 
something that sent a chill down her spine. A replicator was slowly 
climbing out of the crater.

"Go, go!" Sam pushed Teal'c forward, and followed behind with the 
detonator as the replicator began to move from the rubble and onto the 
highway. Teal'c then turned and dispatched the enemy with the wave 
disrupter. Carter pressed the detonator and a series of explosions rocked 
the ground. She and Teal'c ducked and put their arms over their heads as 
debris rained down upon them once again. When the smoke cleared, she and 
her loyal comrade looked at each other with grateful hearts. They had 
survived.

                         *******************

Chapter 32: Mission Accomplished

Daniel had reached their encampment and placed Jack down on his side just 
as the first explosions rocked the earth. He turned in the direction of 
the citadel and could see a massive plume of smoke rising into the blue 
sky. His first thoughts were of Sam and Teal'c. //Did they get out in 
time? Were they okay?// His next aim was to rush back to help, but he was 
interrupted by Jack who struggled to sit up and asked, groggily, "what 
the hell was that?"

Daniel turned in O'Neill's direction and spat out the answer, "The C4 
just took out the citadel. I don't know if Sam and Teal'c made it out."

The General's blanched face turned even more pale. He motioned for the 
younger man to help him up, wincing as the change of position reminded 
him of his bruised ribs.

Jack O'Neill had one honkin' headache. The vise around his forehead 
refused to relinquish its hold. As hard as he tried, his equilibrium 
would not return and every time he stood up, he was forced to sit back 
down lest he fall flat on his face. This happened once again as Daniel 
stood beside him and they both watched the rising smoke in the distance. 
Never in his life did he feel so helpless and out of control.

//Damn Fifth! Damn the whole friggin' lot! His people were out there 
alone, possibly dying, and he couldn't even aim and fire his weapon! He 
traveled all this way to save Sam and now she was forced to save 
herself.//

"How did we get here? What's happening?"

Daniel sat the General down and offered him some water. O'Neill drank 
copiously, hoping that the water, itself, would miraculously clear his 
head and help him regain his composure. Jack could at least focus more 
clearly now; as Daniel talked, his "two heads" merged into one and that 
alone was an improvement. //Having his line of vision restored should 
allow him to use a weapon.//

"Jack, Teal'c managed to get you out of the citadel and then went back in 
for Sam. You were pretty out of it and I just about dragged you here when 
the C4 went off ..."

Daniel could not finish his sentence as a new series of explosions shook 
the ground.

"Crap! Daniel, hand me my P90 and let's get out of this grass!"

The second jolt cleared Jack's head further and the fresh surge of 
adrenaline served to push the viselike pain to the background. He rose, 
shaken but determined to help his team. The two men pressed forward out 
of the grass but did not have to travel far. Only a hundred yards or so 
in front of them, they saw their teammates, moving in their direction. 
Teal'c was carrying the wave disrupter and Carter was holding the P90 at 
her side. She jogged somewhat erratically beside the big Jaffa. As they 
came closer, Jack's heart caught in his chest ... his vision was now 
sharp enough to detect that both of his friends had sustained injuries. 
Teal'c had blood running down his arms, and Sam had bruises and blood on 
her face along with one arm held tightly to her side. He knew they had 
given as good as they got, and was feeling both relieved and proud to see 
them still standing.

Seeing that there were no replicators following their comrades, Jack and 
Daniel relaxed a bit and walked up to meet their friends. The smell of 
the explosives was still hanging heavy in the balmy air, but as Sam 
finally stood before him, another smell sent alarm bells ringing in 
O'Neill's head. He looked from Teal'c to Carter; their uniforms were torn 
and dirty, but something more ...

"Colonel, turn around."

Sam looked up into his face, so glad to see his eyes clearly focused and 
his voice firm. But she was confused by the order.

"Sir?"

"Turn around, please ... let me have a look at your back."

//Sam Carter was running on empty ... and knew that she had a few more 
miles to go. The pain from her burns would have to be borne a while 
longer, until they were all at a safer distance to care for their 
injuries and then retreat to the Gate.// 

"Sir, there's no time. We have to go."

//Her blue eyes, filled with pain and fatigue, searched his concerned 
face and he felt time stand still once more.// It was as if they were 
back on Apophis' ship, standing there, separated by a force field and 
speaking their true intentions through one long and revealing look. 
//This time, though, there was no barrier and he would not let the moment 
get away.//

"Come here."

General Jack O'Neill reached out and drew Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter 
into his arms. He enveloped her in a heartfelt hug that conveyed not only 
his pride and respect, but also his love.

Sam's back exploded with pain from the pressure of Jack's arms and she 
let out a gasp. He quickly pulled back and realized that he had 
aggravated her injuries, not to mention the stab of pain to his own ribs.

A slow smile crept across Jack's face, returned by a knowing glance from 
Sam.

"We're a pair, aren't we? Now, Carter, since you seem to have things 
under command and I'm still recovering from a nasty headache, tell me 
what our next move should be ..."

As Teal'c and Daniel foraged in the tall grass, gathering up all their 
equipment, the former commander of SG1 and his very able replacement 
began walking down the Allerian highway towards the Gate. Sam had her map 
out and was telling Jack that if they were able to set some distance 
between themselves and the ruins of the citadel during the remaining 
hours of daylight, she thought there was a good chance that any pursuing 
replicators could be contained if and when they followed them. She then 
shared some of the important data she had learned from Fifth, confident 
that Thor would be able to now track and destroy First and his new colony 
and other Replicator outposts.

Jack was surprised that Sam had killed Fifth, knowing that it would have 
taken a courageous effort on her part. //He sensed that she wanted to 
talk to him much more about what transpired in the control room. He was 
still feeling angry at himself for the surprise attack and the mind 
probe. He had the feeling that Fifth had torn secrets from him which may 
have unsettled Carter. She alone heard what was revealed. There was also 
some unfinished business on Earth. How would Sam handle seeing "herself" 
lying dead in the SGC morgue? What to do with the Replicator's body? And 
that little matter of his going off-world without permission ....//

Teal'c and Daniel stepped from the grass barrier and followed their 
teammates on the gravel roadway. The sky was a brilliant blue and the 
breeze began to dissipate the smell of destruction and chaos that they 
were leaving behind. It was as if Alleria was reawakening to its original 
innocence and beauty. The grass was waving and birds began to reappear in 
the sky.

Sam Carter was walking gingerly but so engrossed in her conversation with 
the General that it provided the remaining energy before stopping for the 
night. She knew that Teal'c and Daniel would cover their six and, as 
painful as her injuries were, they were not unbearable. She and O'Neill 
had been able to talk freely and openly about the past two days and what 
they had experienced. They had not been so relaxed in each other's 
company in a long, long time. Having him here by her side and knowing 
that he would not leave her behind also comforted her. But knowing that, 
in the end, she had to depend on herself and her military skill to save 
the mission provided even more consolation. She felt a new confidence and 
ability to cope with whatever future missions would demand.

//In fact, she was feeling euphoric because of the surge of hope she felt 
in what she now secretly knew. Jack loved her! No, he was not quite aware 
that she knew this as a consequence of his mind probe. She would find a 
way to tell him. If she were brave enough to face Fifth and eliminate 
him, she would find the courage to face Jack and share her true 
feelings.// 

//It would be much harder to live with her acts of deception and eventual 
betrayal of Fifth ... she would be haunted by what she had to do in order 
to survive. She knew that it was one of the hardest things she ever had 
to do. But she was standing here, alive, and her team was alive and she 
eradicated a major threat to her planet and planets beyond.//

//The Allerians? The circle of wisdom? She wanted to know more about 
these people; she now felt compelled to find out if any of them could 
have possibly escaped through the Gate. It would become a personal 
mission. She wanted to tell them that it was now safe to return; that 
she, Samantha Carter, had freed them from their oppressors. Fifth's face 
suddenly flashed in her mind and she realized that in some strange way he 
had been destined to be a victim ... he was neither all human, nor all 
machine. He was truly oppressed. In killing him, she had released him. 
"De oppresso liber."//

"Carter? Hey, Sam ... are you with me? I've been talking to you but you 
seem miles away. Are you okay?"

Jack O'Neill was grasping Carter's shoulders, albeit very gently, and 
interrupting her walking daydream ... she moved beyond her numerous 
thoughts and looked into his face once more.

"Sir, I am so sorry ... you're right ... as we've been walking, I just 
started thinking about this whole mission and about all the ramifications 
of what has happened. There are some things that must remain confidential 
and off-the-record once I tell you ... can we do that?"

"You know, Carter, I get the feeling that you and I are gonna have one 
helluva debriefing when we get back to SGC."

Looking up into Jack's somewhat amused face, Sam Carter knew that this 
mission, which had forced her to deceive, had also forced her to face the 
truth - about herself and the man she loved. There would be no going back 
now.

"What?" O'Neill prodded ...

It was Sam's turn to give an enigmatic grin.

"Read my mind."

                         *******************

Thanks for reading my story and the many kind reviews. I hope you enjoyed 
the Sam I wrote for you: strong, decisive, in command, and courageous. I 
hope that this is the Sam Carter we get to see more of in Season 9 of 
Stargate! 

Special thanks to my guru, SG1-Fanfic, whose own stories have inspired 
me! And thanks to all the loyal citizens of Samanda at the Gateworld 
Forum/SaGC (Sam's a Great Character) thread for supporting this project.

This story was written purely for pleasure and no intention of 
infringement of copyright regarding Stargate productions and characters.

Peace, CG