Chapter 9
As the door closed behind Sam and her attacker, she let herself go limp, forcing him to adjust his grip on her. As he did, she slipped down through his arms and twisted, surprising him with an elbow to his nose. He grunted in pain and drew his hands up to his face. Taking advantage of his distraction, she hurriedly turned and ran for the door. She was a step away, when he surprised her by grabbing her wrist.
"Major, wait! Please!," came a nasally plea from behind her. It sounded suspiciously like Siler… with a broken nose. Sam took a deep breath, preparing to defend herself further, but turned toward him nonetheless, primarily out of a morbid curiosity.
"You'd better have a *really* good explanation for this, Sergeant," she said when she saw that it was, in fact, the base handy-man. Siler winced in response, touching his hand lightly to his nose every second or so.
"You… you broke my nose!" he replied, voice dripping with astonishment.
"Well, what'd you expect? I mean you ambush me, pull me into a closet…"
"Yeah," he nodded. "You're right. Sorry. I guess I had that coming."
Sam nodded gruffly. "Damn straight! Now, are you gonna tell me what the hell is going on, or am I gonna have to bring you up on charges?" she demanded. Siler nodded slightly and gave his nose one last tweak before responding.
"You got those notes earlier," he began. She nodded. "Well, that's the bottom line, Major. No one here is really who they say they are. No one except you, O'Neill, Teal'c, and… Dr. Jackson, before…"
"Before he died," Sam finished. He nodded. "And I'm supposed to believe this?" she asked incredulously, head tilting to one side. "I mean, ya gotta admit, this little story you've come up with is hardly believable. Not who they say they are in what way, exactly? What, are you all like aliens or something?" she continued, unable to suppress a small grunt of laughter.
His stone cold expression of assent sobered her immediately and he motioned for her to join him sitting on the floor. They both lowered themselves to the concrete. "You're serious," Sam commented as she got comfortable. He nodded.
"So… if you're not Siler, who are you?"
"My name is Ronar, and to you, I suppose I *am* an alien. Though in truth, it is *you* who are alien to *my* world." She just stared at him in disbelief. Ronar shook his head in frustration. "You don't believe me."
"No, I don't believe you. Quite frankly, I'm waiting for one of your maintenance guys to come barging in through that door with a Polaroid, ready to take a picture of the look on my face when you yell, 'Gotcha!' No, I don't believe you."
"Well, honestly, I don't see what's so hard to believe. I mean, stuff like this has happened to you before. I mean, think about all the times in your past that you've been fooled… Hathor's base, those aliens that were able to look like you, the memory stamp on that ice-age planet, Lieutenant Tyler… well, actually, he was one of ours, but that should just go even further to show you… the human mind can be a very pliable thing, Major."
Sam blanched as this guy who really looked exactly like Siler ran down a list of instances that the real Siler could never have been aware of in such detail. "How do you know all of this?" she asked, her eyes wide with astonishment and sincere curiosity. If he was telling the truth, did that mean these… people, whoever they were, had access to their memories?
"There are, uh, devices implanted in your brains that serve as a direct link between your minds and the mainframe computers. They can't *read* your thoughts right now, or anything, but when they were first put in, they were able to download your long-term memories." Ronar paused to look at his watch, then glanced up at the security camera in the corner.
Sam was starting to think that he might be telling her the truth. That what he was telling her could be possible. But she'd never thought for a moment that the minute suspicions she, the Colonel, and Teal'c had had would amount to something of such magnitude. "I mean, I thought maybe… *maybe*… we were being tricked somehow by the Kelonans, that maybe there was more to just Daniel's death than meets the eye, but what you're saying…" she said.
Ronar just shook his head at her as she trailed off, seemingly unwilling to share any more information just then. "I really can't keep you any longer, now, they'll be starting to look for you, soon."
"Look for me? Who?"
"Them. I reprogrammed this camera for a few minutes, but they'll want to override momentarily. We have to go, Major. Just… please be careful who you trust. Even yourself." And with that, he stood and left, closing the locker door behind him and leaving Sam alone with her thoughts.
If she couldn't trust herself, who *could* she trust? This Ronar guy? And what about Teal'c and the Colonel? And her Dad? If they could take memories from her, could they influence her as well? Was that why she couldn't trust herself? Sam shook the wealth of sudden and unpleasant thoughts from her head as she stood up to leave.
Back in the corridor on her way to her lab, she tried to wrap her brain around the information she'd just been given. Was it really possible that everything around her was a lie? God, she hoped the guys were okay. She really couldn't do this alone.
* * * *
"Uh, Jacob? I have a *really* bad feeling about this," Jack whispered harshly to the Tok'ra as the three men sought cover in a patch of dense brush. Apparently, Anubis' Jaffa, who were *not* supposed to be a problem on this mission, had increased their presence on the planet and decided that the cave network SG1 had been heading for was a great place to set up their camp. As the group approached, they realized too late that the area they had entered was *crawling* with Jaffa.
"No, really, Jack? I'd have never guessed," Jacob replied, throwing Jack a look that had 'Well, *duh*' written all over it. Jack rolled his eyes as Jacob redirected his attention to the binoculars in his hands. He looked around the Jaffa compound for a minute as Jack and Teal'c sat back on their heels, weapons up and eyes peeled.
"Well, on the upside, we found our operative," Jacob commented, finally, handing Jack the binoculars. Sure enough, in the center of the camp, a woman, who was quite attractive despite the conspicuous bruising of her face, was locked in a smallish looking cage, guarded by two Jaffa. For the time being, it looked like she was being relatively ignored, save her small 'honor guard.'
"Upside. Right," huffed Jack, as he lowered the binoculars from his face. "So, what's the plan?"
"She does not appear to be in good condition, O'Neill," said Teal'c, attempting to bring as much relevant information to light as possible before formulating any kind of plan. Jack nodded.
"And she's guarded. Not to mention the fact that, right now, that camp is looking an awful lot like Grand Central Station," added Jacob. Sure enough, the compound was bustling with activity.
"Teal'c? After it gets dark, about how many Jaffa do you think would still be out and about?" Jack asked.
"The number of Jaffa roaming the compound will be greatly reduced. I believe it would be in our favor to attempt a rescue after nightfall," Teal'c replied, picking up Jack's train of thought. He nodded in agreement with his friend and turned back to Jacob.
"So, we wait until it gets dark. Teal'c and I will go in and take out the guards and cover you while you release your buddy in there, then we run like hell, how's that?" Jack decided. Jacob nodded.
"Sounds like a plan. Knew there was a reason to keep you around." Jacob smiled and Jack rolled his eyes. Carter should get a medal for putting up with him so gracefully.
* * * *
Jack munched quietly on a Power Bar as they waited for the population of the camp to settle down for the night. The light of the full moon filtered through the canopy of leaves above them and Jack couldn't help but think that this would be a great place to go camping. He stifled a laugh. Sometimes he amazed even himself with the crap that popped into his head when he was bored.
Jacob was propped up on his elbows, peering through the binoculars, keeping an eye on the situation in the compound. Teal'c was off next to a tree a few feet away, trying to get a few more minutes of Kel-no-reem in before the impending battle.
"Jack," Jacob whispered, commanding the Colonel's full attention. Jack dropped his Power Bar and crawled over to join Jacob.
"What's up?" he whispered back.
Jacob didn't move the binoculars from his face. "Things are pretty quiet down there, now. I think this is the best chance we're gonna get. You might want to go and rouse Teal'c from his Kel-no-reem."
"I am awake, General Carter." Teal'c had overheard the hushed conversation and crawled over to the two men, startling them with his sudden presence. Jack smiled a bit to himself as Jacob nearly threw his binoculars into the air as a reflex action.
"Fine. Great. Wonderful. Teal'c, if you ever do that again, I'm going to shoot you myself," Jacob whispered. Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Much fun as that might be, Jacob, don't you think it's about time we get going?" Jack smiled as he prodded the older man to focus on business. Jacob smiled.
"Right. I'll give you guys two minutes to start clearing the way, then I'll follow you down. Good luck."
"Right. Luck," Jack replied as he and Teal'c began crawling through the brush and down into the compound. He still had a really bad feeling about the whole situation, and it was getting worse rather than better. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as Teal'c broke away from him, heading in the direction of the larger-looking guard a few feet from the Tok'ra's cage. Jack took a deep breath and moved quickly, but stealthily toward the other.
The guard was looking away from him, and Jack hoped to God that he would stay that way. This would be a whole lot easier if he could just pick him off without getting into a big hand to hand brawl. He would have liked to just shoot him from a safe distance, but with the echo potential of the rocky landscape, something that loud was just out of the question. The idea was to do this quietly and with as little interference as possible. That meant no loud weapons. Not even a Zat.
The one break they had, was that the Jaffa were not wearing their helmets, allowing Jack and Teal'c access to their heads. As Jack approached his prey, he lifted his arms and deftly wrapped them around the guard's head, then pulled and twisted, breaking his neck with little more sound than that of his vertebrae cracking.
Jack lowered the dead man to the ground and searched out Teal'c, who had made similar progress a short distance away. Having completed their respective tasks, the two men stood and looked at each other. Teal'c nodded his head in the direction of their previous hiding spot, silently asking what was keeping Jacob. Jack glanced over toward the brush and then back at Teal'c, shrugging.
He was about to turn to the cage and free the Tok'ra himself, when he was startled by the report of a Beretta firing somewhere in the trees. Jack's head shot up as lights went on all over the compound. He looked around, desperately seeking a way out, but it was already too late. The sound of the gunshot… the shot of a standard-issue sidearm… had awoken the entire camp, and half-clothed Jaffa were already flooding out of the barracks.
What the *hell* had happened that would make Jacob have to fire? Jesus Christ! The man *knew* better! Jack pulled his Zat from it's holster, hoping to take down a *few* Jaffa and maybe get out of this alive. Shit, if he didn't, *Carter* was gonna kill him!
Jack dove for a small pile of boulders a short distance away as he saw Teal'c hit the deck out of the corner of his eye. He was under fire, and Jack immediately focused his attention on taking some of the heat off of his friend. He fired aimlessly into the group aiming for Teal'c, but it wasn't enough. He cursed as the other man went down in the blue haze of a Zat blast.
Jack continued firing, more out of anger than self-preservation. He tried to keep the Jaffa from approaching Teal'c's prone form, but the Zat just wasn't doing it for him. As he dropped the smaller weapon to unclip his P-90, he heard a twig snap behind him. He twisted his body just in time to see a Zat discharge. *Sorry, Carter*, he thought, as he hit the ground, writhing in pain.
* * * *
"General Hammond, I thought this was to be a discussion, not an order, and no, General Hammond, I don't believe that is a feasible plan. It is going to be hard enough to maneuver myself and Daniel through the complex." Leske shot Janet a sideways glance. "Adding one more person to the formula may upset the mix."
General Hammond was slowly losing patience with this woman. "I am in command of this facility, and my decision is not up for rebuttal." The General's voice changed pitch as his anger increased. "You need to go back, you need earth's Stargate to return, you *will* follow these orders. Dr. Fraiser will accompany you through the Stargate when you return."
Leske turned towards Dr. Fraiser. "This is nothing personal Janet, and I don't want you to take it that way, but…"
Janet understood the General's order. His concern for the welfare of Dr. Jackson apparent. Even though it wasn't voiced, the General's decision to send Janet was influenced by Dr. Jackson's obvious discomfort in the infirmary. There was no way he was sending a compromised member of SGC back through the Stargate into a possibly volatile situation without backup.
"Leske, there will be no buts… if this mission is to go forward, it will go forward *exactly* as I've said."
Leske sat back in the office chair, resignation apparent on her features. A small watch that Leske was wearing emitted four beeps in succession. The General and Janet looked at her questioningly.
"Leske?" The General asked.
Chewing on her lower lip, never taking her eyes off the hands in her lap. "General, how long before the devices arrive from Area 51 and are refitted?"
General Hammond made two phone calls before answering her question. "The devices have arrived at the front gate and Sgt. Siler informs me about two hours before they are refitted and tested."
Leske let forth a sigh and issued a brilliant smile. Suddenly turning to Janet, horror washing across her bloodshot eyes. "Janet…how long before Daniel wakes up?"
"Between the sedative and the pain pill, and the fact that Dr. Jackson is bordering on exhaustion, I'm hoping for about six hours of sleep."
Leske's eyes widened. "You have to wake him now! You don't understand. We can't miss this window of opportunity…there will be no other time. If we don't go soon, the remaining members of SG1 will be trapped there."
"Wake him up? Leske, short of giving him a stimulant to counteract the sedative…what the hell are you talking about? Why, can't we ever get the full story when you tell us something? General?"
Leske raised her hand before the General could even speak. "On my planet, there is a small group of people who are objecting to the treatment of the people we kidnap through the Stargate. The majority of us have infiltrated into the 'production company' and are working on the inside. Not until SG1 appeared, have we been able to cohesively act together. Daniel's ascension was the first step. When he was sent through the Stargate, Talin assumed the iris on earth wouldn't open and Daniel would be killed.
Ronar, as Sgt. Siler, punched SG1's codes for the iris to disengage. We were never sure if Daniel ever made it through. But we took the chance and sent me after him…Ronar, again using the SG1 codes…from my point of view it probably was suicide mission….we never knew if Daniel made it. Ronar gave me 48 hours until he would be on duty again. If I didn't return, he was to figure that earth never opened the iris and both Daniel and I were dead. My codes were then to be locked out and the movement was to find another planet to gate the remaining members home to. But if Ronar gets a signal during our allotted time frame, he will open, what you call an iris, and give Daniel and myself access back to the planet to rescue SG1."
"And you were going to tell us this *when*? How are we to trust you if you are giving us information piecemeal?" General Hammond's ability to have confidence in this woman was pushing the limits.
"Please General…Daniel needs to get his teammates home and I need to go home."
"What's the window?"
"The earliest, six, the latest, ten hours from now."
"General, I needed to run tests on Daniel when he awakens, I am not comfortable with this at all. I do not know the condition…"
"Dr. Fraiser," General Hammond replied sadly, "I do not believe we have a choice. Give Daniel two hours of sleep and wake him. We will brief at 1800 hours before the mission. And young lady," the General said. "Before you leave this office, is there *anything* else we need to know?"
"No sir," Leske replied meekly. "Except the SG1 that may be returning, will be slightly different than the one that left. For Daniel's sake, I hope the tweaking that Talin did between the two men will dissipate when the device is shut down. And I hope shutting off Daniel's neurofilter works, we never had the opportunity to shut them down on a person that was alive before."