Revelations:

  Heat shimmered over the sand, twisting the air in ghostly waves. The Tel ‘Tak’s loading ramp was still lowered, casting a long shadow across the cracked earth. A dry wind stirred the scrubby trees, whispering through brittle branches. The last light of the evening painted the horizon in hues of orange and violet, but the beauty of it was lost on the three figures locked in a tense argument.

  Set’s voice was low but forceful. "She is not going back to Lucia. It’s too dangerous."

  Karen stood her ground, arms crossed. "She won’t make it out here. She needs proper care."

  Densa, pale but conscious, lay propped against the Tel ‘Tak’s interior wall, her right leg stretched out, the bandage wrapped around her calf. The pain meds had dulled her expression, but she was still alert enough to register the conversation. Cate knelt beside her, checking her pulse; steady, but her skin was still clammy. She kept out of the argument, knowing that saying too much might expose her fa?ade.

  "I will not risk her life," Set insisted.

  "And I won’t let her die out here," Karen shot back. “Your wife is pregnant, did you know that?” She didn’t, but Pretaya did.

  “Yes!” he shot back. “Yes, and she will see the next eight months through!” There was a heat in his words, but slowly both Karen and Cate could see he knew he was on the losing end of an argument.

  “Eleven months? Wow!” Cate thought as she took in all he said.

  The tension stretched, taut as a bowstring, until finally, Set exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Fine. But she stays with you. If she worsens, I will come for her."

  Cate glanced up as he turned, adjusting the strap of his weapon. "And where are you going?"

  Set’s expression darkened. "To hunt. The assassin is still out there."

  As he strode into the desert, vanishing into the shifting dusk, Cate turned her attention back to Densa. The woman’s breathing had evened out, her body finally succumbing to exhaustion.

  Karen muttered, "This is a mess."

  Cate wasn’t about to argue, and she wasn’t sure the right time would come again. Instead, she took a breath and said, "I need to tell you the truth about the sniper. And about the girl."

  Karen looked at her, brow furrowed. "The girl?"

  Cate nodded slowly. "The girl is from a hidden people; descendants of Tefnut's people, the ones who first rebelled against Ra’s cruelty. They were among the first to rise up against his reign, even before Egeria's rebellion began. Her people have been in hiding for generations, fleeing Ra’s wrath, the Goa’uld and now the Lucian Alliance."

  Karen’s expression darkened, her arms still crossed, but now her voice carried a trace of disbelief. "Wait. So, these people; this girl’s ancestors, were part of the rebellion against Ra? And they’ve been running ever since?"

  Cate nodded again. "Yes. They’ve been hunted by the Goa’uld for centuries, and now they’re facing the Lucian Alliance. But they’ve never had a safe place to call home."

  The silence lingered for a moment before Karen spoke again, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Does she have a name?"

  Cate hesitated before answering. "Marta."

  Pretaya, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "That is strange."

  Cate looked at her, brow raised. "What do you mean?"

  Pretaya’s tone was thoughtful. "Marta was one of Egeria's first ‘children,’ one of the beginnings of the Tok'ra. That name... it’s not something I expected to hear, given what you’ve told me."

  Cate’s expression shifted, a flicker of understanding passing through her. "It’s all connected. And that’s why I made the promise; to find them, to help them, to give them a chance."

  "And you promised to go back for them?" Karen said, disbelief laced in her voice.

  "Yes."

  Karen scoffed. "That was reckless. You don’t know if you can keep that promise. And how exactly do you plan on finding them? After telling the girl her people should flee?"

  Cate’s reply was simple. "It’s what I do."

  Karen met Cate’s eyes, her expression now grim but with a clearer understanding. "This is a bigger mess than I thought."

  Cate didn’t argue. She simply exhaled, the weight of the truth hanging in the air. The night stretched on, the soft hum of the Tel ‘Tak’s power module lulling them into a restless silence.

  They made camp for the night, setting up inside the Tel ‘Tak’s cramped quarters. After a while, Karen pulled out some MREs she had packed. Densa stirred awake for this part, and Karen; knowing the Oranians and their food tastes, had made sure to include some spicy curries. The rich, pungent aroma filled the cramped space, and Cate couldn’t help but smile at the familiar scents. Spicy food was something that appealed to her as well. Sleep was hard to come by, though. Between the unfamiliar sounds of the ship and Karen’s occasional snoring… loud enough that Cate considered recording it for future blackmail; morning couldn’t come soon enough.

  By dawn, Densa was awake and determined to move. With a makeshift crutch fashioned from a scavenged support beam, she was able to stand. It wasn’t graceful, but it would do.

  As they prepared to depart, Cate stretched with a groan. "I barely slept. You snore, loudly."

  Karen shot her a look. "No, I don’t."

  "Yes, you do."

  "Lies."

  Pretaya, silent until now, sighed heavily. "Even a symbiote needs their rest. The woman is like a woodcutter’s camp."

  Cate smirked, while Karen sputtered indignantly. "Traitor."

  An hour later, they stepped through the Stargate, Karen dialling the symbols with practiced ease. The shimmering blue event horizon snapped into place with a familiar rush of energy. Leaving the desert behind, they stepped through, the watery veil swallowing them whole.

  Lucia:

  The first thing that struck Cate was the architecture. Tall, imposing columns framed the massive hall housing the Stargate, reminiscent of Central Station in Sydney. She had expected something more primitive, but instead, it was almost grand. The Lucians had even taken a page from the SGC’s book, placing weapons similar to .50 calibre machine guns in strategic locations. It was eerily familiar.

  But it wasn’t heavily guarded. That was telling.

  Parker led the way, her usual confidence in place as they walked through the hall to a reception area towards the exit onto the street. Within moments, they were face to face with Erim Snerd. Cate had an immediate reaction to him… dislike. The man oozed sleaze, like a used-car salesman who knew every trick in the book.

  He smiled, all teeth. “Parker, my dear. You made it back.”

  Karen didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “I have four hours.”

  Snerd nodded. “Yes, and just enough time to witness something spectacular. The fleet departs soon.”

  Cate kept her face blank as he bought Karen’s cover story without question. He took the false intel about the Alpha Site, not even bothering to scrutinize it. Either he was desperate for information, or he was simply that arrogant. Cate figured it was a bit of both. The way he kept leering at her, she wanted to deck him. And she wasn’t deaf either, she heard the muffled comment he made to himself about her assets, she wanted to scream.

  With that out of the way, they had their next objective: Hallam and Sachi’s parents. Time was against them, and the dimming light of day signalled that night was fast approaching, an ominous reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.

  Lucia was a city of contrasts, a strange and unsettling blend of retro and sci-fi that seemed out of place yet entirely fitting for the Alliance’s twisted reign. Towering, crumbling buildings with faded fa?ades gave the city a 1930s feel, the kind of place where history was both alive and long gone. Yet, just beyond the smoke-streaked skyline, Cate’s eyes caught sight of the troopships; Goa’uld-made, their golden hulls gleaming in the fading light; being prepped for war. The Lucians, with all their bravado, did not have the means or the skill to craft their own ships; instead, they relied on stolen technology, their stolen victories repurposed for the next conquest. There was a coldness to it, the way they had twisted every inch of their spoils into weapons of terror. The one thing she noticed that wasn’t stolen, were the guns. They were everywhere and of every shape imaginable. Soldier’s though, seemed to have all been issued with this over and under double barrelled thing, which according to what she had heard was incredibly unreliable.

  As they moved quickly through the streets, their footsteps muted against the cracked pavement, Cate’s mind raced. The mission was simple in its objective, but the implications were anything but.

  Reaching Karen’s apartment took less than ten minutes, but it felt like an eternity. The air around them seemed to thicken with the weight of their task. The city’s streets, shadowed by the looming towers, felt like a labyrinth. Cate was acutely aware of every second slipping away; each moment bringing them closer to their confrontation, each second bringing them closer to danger.

  Karen disappeared to scout a route to Hallam’s HQ, her presence vanishing into the darkening streets. Cate settled by the window, her gaze drawn to the horizon. The last glimmers of sunlight gave way to the deep blues and purples of the encroaching night. It was almost beautiful in its tragic calm, but the stars twinkling overhead only served to deepen the gnawing dread in her stomach. She could feel the tension creeping in, the oppressive weight of the looming night. The city’s silence felt like a heavy breath before the storm.

  Thirty minutes passed.

  The door creaked open, and Karen entered, her coat torn, blood smeared across her forehead. The look in her eyes said everything before she spoke. "Ran into a cop. He got nosy."

  Cate’s eyebrows rose, her gaze flicking to the blood. “Dead?”

  Karen smirked, a hint of dark amusement in her voice. "Nah. Cuffed him to a drainpipe and stuffed a hanky in his mouth. Fat pig."

  There was no time to waste. Parker mapped out the route for her companion, explaining in this dilapidated city, a trip across a few rooftops was to be made.

  Cate could feel the shift in the air… there was no turning back now.

  He who would be King:

  A walk to Hallam’s estate should have taken fifteen minutes. For Cate, it felt like hours. Every step was a calculated risk, a game of cat-and-mouse. The streets were crawling with patrols, their harsh boots echoing against the stone. Cate kept to the shadows, slipping through narrow alleys, ducking behind rusted crates, even scaling the rooftops when she had to. She knew every corner, every crevice, every place to hide. But she was far from comfortable. The air felt too thick, the city too quiet; like a predator waiting to strike.

  Three guard checks later, she arrived at the mansion. The towering doors loomed in front of her, flanked by two armed guards, who nodded to her as she passed; her identity already secured through Karen’s network. The estate was more imposing than she had imagined. Hallam’s wealth was obvious in every detail; the sprawling gardens, the gleaming marble steps leading to the main entrance, the golden chandeliers visible through the windows. This was a man who knew power… and knew how to wield it.

  Inside, the atmosphere was even more opulent. The dining room gleamed with crystal and silver, the servants moving like shadows in the background, their faces neutral. Everything screamed wealth, control, and authority. But Cate wasn’t here for pleasantries. She was here for business.

  Hallam was waiting, lounging at the head of the table, his presence magnetic. Sandy hair, a carefully groomed goatee, a smile that disarmed even the most cautious. He rose as she entered, his movements graceful, almost theatrical. “Ah, Cate. Or should I say ‘Major’? It’s a pleasure.”

  Cate offered a tight smile but didn’t waste time with formalities. “I’m on a clock, and it’s Squadron Leader, but Major will do.” she said, her voice steady despite the pulse of nerves she felt.

  He nodded, but there was a slight tension in the air. His eyes, warm and dark, studied her with the intensity of someone who saw a challenge. “Of course. But I imagine a few minutes won’t hurt. I’ve always had an appreciation for the fine arts of time. And speaking of… under those contacts, I’m guessing you have the most amazing blue eyes.”

  Cate blinked, thrown off by the directness of the compliment. Her cheeks flushed, a warmth spreading through her. Was it his charm or the wine he had offered? She didn’t know. It had been too long. She hated how much she wanted to respond, how her guard slipped for just a moment.

  “Hmm,” she said, trying to regain control of the conversation. “How many ships can you command?” She kept her voice neutral, her military discipline returning. She wouldn’t let herself get distracted; not now, not by him.

  Hallam leaned forward, a sly smile playing at the edges of his lips. “Only three,” he replied, his tone dropping slightly. “But once that devil-spawned fleet leaves, Lucia will be completely vulnerable. And then, I won’t need more than that.” His eyes twinkled with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, but it was sincere, and Cate could feel the truth behind it.

  “You’re confident,” Cate said, her mind already calculating the logistics of such a bold move. “But I imagine they’ll leave some token of defence behind?”

  Hallam’s hand absently stroked his goatee as he gestured expansively around the room. “As you have seen, Lucia is large, but not easily defended. In times of peace, we would have 20,000 soldiers keeping things secure, both in the city and its immediate surroundings.” He turned to look out the window, the city lights casting a faint glow over his face. His voice softened as he spoke. “The city and its… suburbs stretch over four and a half thousand square miles. Population? Just over four million. But most of them live in poverty. It’s a different world, Cate.”

  There it was… the thing that drove him. The contrast between the opulence he enjoyed and the suffering he witnessed every day. Cate could see it in his eyes, a quiet yearning for change. The irony wasn’t lost on her. Here was a man who had everything but wanted more… who wanted to burn the system down, even if it meant risking everything.

  “How many men at arms can you muster?” Cate asked, keeping her tone level.

  “Thirty thousand in the city itself,” Hallam replied without hesitation. “Another twelve thousand in the outer rim towns. They’re scattered within the populace, living amongst the people. We’ve been building our army for five years now. We aim to put an end to this… this murderous regime.” His voice grew harder, and Cate felt the weight of his words.

  His offer was simple: strike when the fleet departed, when the Alliance was weakest. Three hours after their departure, he would begin offensive operations. Cate couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. It was a gamble; one that had to be taken.

  When it was time to leave, Hallam stood too close. Cate could smell him… warm, masculine, faintly spicy. The air between them crackled, and she could feel the heat of his gaze on her. He cupped her chin gently, his thumb grazing her skin as his lips lowered. Cate’s heart raced. It had been so long. She closed her eyes for a split second, caught in the moment, before her military training kicked in.

  “No…” she said softly, pushing away from him. “I have to go.”

  He released her, but his gaze lingered, that same pleading intensity in his eyes. “You’ll come back, won’t you?” The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Cate found herself trapped in the gravity of it. She nodded.

  “Yes,” she said, her voice a whisper, almost like a vow. “Yes, I will.”

  As she stepped back into the night, the cold air hit her like a shock. Her mind raced, but her body moved with purpose. The patrols were still there, still watching, but she was quicker. A single soldier blocked her path. A swift takedown, a quiet struggle, and he was out of the way, floating down a drain towards the harbour.

  Cate reached Karen with an hour to spare. Sachi’s family was already secure, with Pretaya taking charge, honouring the promise she had made to Anise.

  “Cate, this is Sachi’s mother, Eile, her sister, Angwen, she’s fourteen and, Sachi’s little brother, Ruel.”

  “I’m not little!” The boy straightened, trying to appear taller than his five-foot-four frame.

  His mother simply smiled. “Yes, he is.” Then, her expression darkened. “Can we go now? I don’t like the feeling in this city.” It wasn’t fear; just a fact.

  Cate offered a quick greeting before assessing what Parker had laid out on the bed: a M4 rifle with spare magazines, what looked like an old M1 Garand, flashbangs, grenades. Three M9 pistols. A pump-action shotgun. Extra pistol magazines and a box of shells for the shotgun. Karen went straight for the M1; Cate noticed it had a longer magazine, that was certainly going to be effective.

  “Not something I’d expect a Maths Professor to be toting around.” Cate said casually as she armed herself with the M4, her favourite weapon. She checked it over, loaded a clip and stuffed the spares into her pockets.

  The red head didn’t look up, but there was a ‘don’t ask’ tone to her voice. “There is a lot you’ve yet to learn about me Catherine.”

  She could take a hint, so Cate moved on. “I saw four old men with those unreliable double-barrelled things they call assault weapons when we came through the gate,” Cate noted. “Now that the fleet is on the verge of leaving, do you think they’ll tighten security there? I know I would.”

  Pretaya’s host lowered her head, then lifted it again as the symbiote spoke. “I agree, Catherine. They will be more alert now. We must proceed with caution.”

  An understatement.

  Cate exhaled. “We have to prepare for the possibility of a firefight.” Her gaze flicked to the kids. “We can’t put them in danger.”

  Eile stepped forward and placed a hand on the shotgun. “I’ll take this.” A statement, not a request.

  Cate hesitated. “Do you know how to use it?”

  In response, Eile swiftly loaded twelve shells into the magazine with practiced ease, then hefted the weapon like it was an extension of herself. “Satisfied?”

  Cate blinked. Are all Lucians this martially inclined? She gave a curt nod. “Yes.” Since it was late Autumn, the long coats wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. “How embarrassing if we were to be searched.” A random thought.

  Escape:

  Getting into the Kapitol was smooth; at first. The outer guards knew Karen and bought her story about Cate, or rather Rosmalin, returning to her unit. It was the best cover they could come up with.

  As they walked cautiously into the main hall, Cate noticed the two large doors standing open. Knowing how quickly things could escalate, she let the others move ahead before quietly swinging both doors shut. She dropped the floor bolts into place, but was that enough? Her eyes caught on the U-shaped handles, and she glanced around for something to secure them. A row of pennants lined the hall, each one representing the twelve ruling families of Lucia. She grabbed one, its stout pole more like a lance. It was surprisingly light. “Trinium?” she muttered.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Sliding it through the handles, she found it fit snugly. It would hold… at least for a little while. What she didn’t realize was that, ironically, she’d chosen Hallam’s family pennant. Wasted time. She hurried to catch up with the others.

  The guards inside weren’t so easily deceived. One took too much interest in Cate’s cover, recognizing the name. Unluckily for him, he had once served in the same battalion as the very dead Mahor Rosmalin Soosa. Karen didn’t hesitate. Her Garand was out in an instant, the shot fired point-blank. Suddenly, it was a firefight; five against three.

  Cate moved fast, cutting down a guard to her left. That made two. Four to three.

  Eile shoved her children behind a large column, Ruel pulling Angwen down to take cover. The three women lined up in direct sight of the Stargate and the DHD, while the remaining guards mirrored their position behind sparse cover. The noise was deafening. Reinforcements were coming.

  Cate ducked back behind the column just as a round chipped the stone above her head, sending dust and debris down her back. “Jesus Christ!” she swore. “They have our weapons!”

  More rounds snapped past. The kids dashed to the next column while the women laid down covering fire.

  “What?” Karen yelled over the chaos.

  “They’ve got M16s!”

  This changed everything. When they planned the escape, they’d expected to be up against a handful of old men with those useless over-and-under Alliance assault rifles. Instead, they were fighting younger, trained soldiers; and worse, their own weapons had been turned against them.

  “We’ll deal with that later!” Karen barked, squeezing off three quick rounds. A pained shout confirmed a hit. Three to three.

  Eile fired four rapid shots from the shotgun. Another man dropped. Two to three.

  Then came a booming crash. The women turned sharply. The cavalry had arrived… but not theirs.

  “Cover!” Cate shouted. Instinct took over. The others knew what was coming. She yanked the pin from a grenade, counted two beats, then lobbed it.

  The explosion tore through the hall, followed by bloodcurdling screams. Silence. For now.

  Another impact. “Boom!” The doors wouldn’t hold much longer.

  Cate sprinted to the DHD, her hand hovering over the symbols. “Dial it!” Karen shouted. But where? The last dialled address could be tracked. The Alpha Site was out of the question. Her mind raced, she couldn’t recall the sequence from their origin.

  Vegema. It was risky, but the best option. Cate punched in the coordinates, sending her IDC as Karen laid down covering fire. The doors burst open.

  Sachi’s family ran through first. Karen followed. Cate re-engaged, firing as reinforcements flooded in.

  She made a break for it. A shot clipped her shoulder, but she didn’t stop. She dived through the event horizon just as the gate gurgled, the puddle surged as she disappeared through it.

  Lucy, I’m home! :

  “Close the iris!” Someone yelled as Cate tumbled through the Stargate, rolling once down the ramp. Six louds bangs echoed in the chamber, someone had tried to follow.

  “That’s new.” She thought lazily as pain shot through her left shoulder. She glanced back to see the spiral disc of the Trinium made iris close. And so was the ramp. Her knee slammed into it hard. She was going to have some bruises for sure.

  Quick hands rushed to help her up, another surge of pain went through her, like a jolt of electricity as Cate’s right leg gave way. “Get a med team down here stat, and a gurney!” She recognised the voice, yet faces were a blur. For some reason, Cate thought she was back at the SGC. Tears of pain filled her eyes, watering her vision.

  Moments passed, something resembling clarity allowed her to get a bearing on her surroundings. Well, what was above her. She could see clearly the old missile turb above her head that now allowed the landing of the Puddle Jumper in the Gate Room. “What?” He mined raced, did she dial Earth subconsciously?

  The rattling of the gurney was the next thing she was aware of. Most of the pain she felt came from her knee; she winced as medics gently lifted her onto the cart. “Is everyone okay?” The words were a slur, through a veil of pain.

  “Yes, we are, but you’re not Cate.” Another voice, Karen. “Take care of her please.” She said to someone nearby.

  Cate tried to turn her head, medics had already fitted a neck brace. Precautionary measures; she knew that. In the back of her mind, she was pretty sure she hadn’t done ‘that’ much damage. She could tilt her head slightly to the left. A familiar face looked at her with concern on his face. “Paul?”

  “Lieutenant Colonel Paul.” He told her, an amused smile on his face. “I know you’re confused, I damn well would be.”

  “Yes.” She answered. “Yes I am.”

  “Cate.” Another very familiar voice.

  A little twist to the right. Caroline Lam. “I’m going to give you some morphine and then fit a cannula, is that okay?”

  A slight nod gave her the answer. Anything would be better than how she felt right now. Cate couldn’t understand why she felt so crappy. She’d been wounded before, she had broken bones before; this was just so different. There was a small sting as the morphine went in, then another as the cannula went into her right wrist. Cate knew that would normally hurt. It didn’t. Either that or Caroline was good at her job. A weird random thought occurred to her, she could hear Desi Arnez’ voice. “Lucy I’m home.” How ironic.

  A few metres away a group of people stood near the end of the ramp. One of them was Allienna. “Do you think she’ll be alright?” She asked the officer standing next to her. By now Paul Davis had moved away to give the medics space.

  “I’m not a doctor, Allie, but Cate has done some damage. Not mentioning her knee, even I can see it’s dislocated. I think they’re worried about her spine. That was the worst gate landing I have seen in years.” He shook his head. The initial prognosis wasn’t good.

  The group that included Karen and Sachi’s family, all watched as if family were worried about a loved one. Even James Doolittle had joined. Anxious faces all turned as one, like on a tennis court, when they gurney was wheeled away. They heard Caroline calling for a C-scan to be set up immediately.

  A room was made available for the friends to wait, to bide their time. Comfortable faux leather lounges, a table with games for the kids. Angwen and Ruel taking to ‘Ticket to Ride’ like a duck to water. There were no trains in Lucia, a quick explanation from the Earth born humans, soon cleared that up. Karen sat at the end of the same table, Paul Davis was opposite her. For the moment they were both content to sit there and worry about Cate in their own way. Until she finally broke the silence.

  “I thought you were chained to the SGC, Colonel. It can’t be coincidence that you’re here now.” The woman had this particular irritating way of getting answers, almost as if everyone she spoke to was guilty of something.

  For the moment, Paul had his chin resting on a hand, a miserable look on his face. At first, he didn’t react, a moment passed before he straightened to look across at her. “Generally true Professor Parker.” He used her formal title, even though he well knew everything else about her. “A year ago, Vegema asked for assistance in moving their Stargate. They felt the current location was difficult to defend and so making it compromised. Allienna and James came up with this plan to move it west to the hills, twenty kilometres away.” Those ‘hill’s’ were in fact a small mountain range that ran from the coast in the north, to some two hundred kilometres south of Plaxia. The largest feature was Mount Danger, rising to two thousand three hundred metres, that very same piece of geology that Darlen climbed over and Cate with her friends went beneath.

  “That’s where we are now? Why does it look so much like Stargate Command?” Now she was curious. And did he say a year ago?

  He nodded and gave her the unasked answer. “We thought it a good idea and agreed to help. Our engineers and the locals here, felt it might be a five, maybe eight year project. But at least, we agreed to move the gate immediately and build a temporary gate room and some kind of facility here.” His previously grim face smiled a small smile. “A senior airman who has been with the SGC for a few years gave us the answer. Air Force was decommissioning a few of our old ballistic missile silos and the surrounding infrastructure to comply with our nuclear disarmament commitments. He reminded us of not so long ago when Sam Carter had an entire building beamed into orbit.” His head turned upwards. “The project was almost complete, we had one still intact, in South Dakota. To our amusement the airman asked couldn’t we just move the entire missile base here? It was structurally almost the same beneath the ground as the SGC.”

  Karen’s jawed dropped. “You didn’t?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “Yes, we did. And that’s why I was here, today was to be the day of the official handover.” He platted his fingers together, the smile disappeared quickly to the event at hand.

  “Unbelievable. I can’t imagine how much that must have cost.” Although Pretaya had no question at all on the subject. She was quite pleased.

  “Enough Trinium and naquadah to build five new ships. I think we got a good deal.” He told her.

  There was a light knock on the door. It was Caroline, she wasn’t smiling. “May I?”

  “Of course.” Paul told her, standing to offer her his chair, he grabbed another from the corner of the room.

  The doctor graciously accepted the chair. When she sat, Eile and the kids attention was drawn to her. “The news isn’t good?” Sachi’s mother asked.

  Straight to the point. “Cate has broken her knee. The patella is in four pieces, she is going to need a complete knee reconstruction. The wound on her shoulder isn’t deep, but it has torn a ligament there, that will take months to self-repair.” So far it didn’t sound too bad.

  Caroline had more. “The worst is the bump on her head, a large haematoma. Our scans show there may be some damage to her brain, we won’t know until after our initial surgery and we can do more scans, and she has fractured her pelvis into the bargain.”

  “How long do you think she’ll be off Doc, from your estimate?” Another voice joined the gathering. “Howdy folks.” Jack said when he entered the room.

  “General!” Davis shot up out of his seat.

  “Siddown Davis.” Jack told him. “Doc?”

  Caroline was taken aback, why was the general here? Just because of Cate? “If and I say if; she has no brain injury and we’re just dealing with knee surgery general, three months.” She pressed on quickly, knowing Jack’s partiality for interrupting. “I’d like to get scans on her spine as well, just to be sure. Now if there is any brain injury, we have no way of knowing. We’ll have to run tests in a week or so after we’ve fixed her knee, if I can get my orthopaedic surgeon here.”

  “That bad huh?” He hadn’t heard everything yet.

  “We need to do a MRI on her general, which means… “ She didn’t finish.

  Jack did interrupt. “Back on Earth. Sorry Doc but that is out of the question right now.”

  The Stranger:

  There was a twisted knot in Hallam’s mind. That knot was a woman, and she had somehow managed to hook him in like a fisherman hauling in that prize catch. The difference being that on Lucia, it was rare for a man to be in that industry, so it was in context. It was where his family had drawn their wealth, owners of the five biggest fishing fleets on the three major continents and with commercial ties with many of the smaller owners in the islands. He remembered as a small boy, on board his mother’s boat and the look in her eye when she landed a six crevit (equal to 50lbs) langster fish off the Daerelian Peninsula. Catherine MacGregor had that same look.

  He drank too much wine. That was the intoxicating effect she had on him. Even when he knew the darkened skin, the hair and eyes were all a fa?ade, he saw beneath a very beautiful and very dangerous woman. Exactly the type he wanted in his life. Someone to share his challenges and conquests. The viscous red liquid swirled in the glass, leaving a thin film as it ran back to the bottom. His sixth. Disgusted with himself, the glass flew from his hand to smash into pieces at the back of the fireplace; the remnants of the wine flaring the flame. Hallam shook his head, then buried it in his hands.

  “A magnificent female is she not, I am certain she will make a good host.” The voice resonated in the room, enhanced by some alien influence. A tall dark haired man walked casually into the room. He was wearing what passed for a rather fancy suit on Lucia, something only the very wealthy might wear. Something from Hallam’s own wardrobe. “I think she swallowed your sincerity completely, I am impressed.”

  Hallam turned to him and stood. He was taller, and while not as heavily built, he oozed physical fitness. “I would not be speaking in such a disparaging way of her, Ares. Make no mistake, she is not a woman to be taken lightly. I don’t think she was completely taken in… there was an intelligence and sharpness to her I’ve not encountered.”

  For a moment, Ares didn’t answer. Something flickered in his eyes; not just the telltale arrogance of his kind, but something else. Something rawer.

  The scent of burning metal filled his nostrils. The cold bite of the event horizon had long since passed, but the nausea remained. One moment, he had been aboard his flagship, the next; this. His ship torn apart, unfamiliar stars in the void, his forces scattered like dust in a hurricane. And then the fire… screaming Jaffa, hull plating twisted like paper, the heat searing even through his personal shield. A breach in reality itself. He should have died, yet here he was.

  The past slipped away as quickly as it had come. The Goa’uld glow returned to his eyes, masking whatever brief loss of control had seized him. When he spoke again, his voice was smooth, his posture perfectly composed.

  “You are naive if you think she is not already lost, Hallam.” Ares smiled, slow and confident. “Women like her always belong to the most powerful.”

  A brief smile crossed Hallam’s face. “Then she will be mine. You forget… we…” He caught himself. “I need her if we are to bring the Tau’ri to heel in our conquest of this galaxy. Yet we must proceed with caution. Lucia first. The pieces will fall one by one, and in the end, Earth will be ours.”

  Ares settled into another lounge chair, crossing one leg over the other. His manner was regal, as if he were the ruler in this realm. “I watched my brethren rule in much the same way. And that, my dear Hallam, was their downfall.”

  He pointed a finger, his voice sharp. “I will not allow you to make the same mistake. The Tau’ri are not like the worlds we’ve conquered. They’re fractured, chaotic, and that is why they are the key to our success. If we are to make this work, we must rule them. Not destroy them.”

  His voice rose, becoming colder, each word carefully measured. “When Earth falls to us as conquerors, not destroyers, then the galaxy will be ours. But destroy them, and the entire galaxy will unite against us. We will not succeed.”

  Hallam sneered, his eyes narrowing with the weight of his years of watching the Tau’ri from the sidelines. “Naivety is on you, Ares, if you think Earth can be tamed. Their so-called Stargate Command is ruled like a dictatorship by a single nation. And they only ‘allow’ other member states to contribute manpower but never share administration. Their entire system is built on control, not cooperation. They’ve stolen technology, manipulated others to serve their goals, and now they pretend to be the galaxy’s saviours?”

  Hallam’s gaze was unyielding. “The only way to control such a beast is to contain it; or kill it outright.”

  They argued back and forth, each word a clash of wills. The room grew heavy with the tension of two men, each certain they held the key to victory, unwilling to concede. Hours passed unnoticed, until several of Hallam’s commanders entered. It was time. Time to prepare for their own takeover of their world.

  Hallam turned away from Ares with a quiet finality. “You’ll see soon enough. Watch and learn how power projection is done swiftly, smoothly, with minimal collateral damage.”

  The Surgeon:

  The room was thick with anticipation as Cate’s friends waited for word from Doctor Lam. It felt like hours. A lot of coffee had been consumed, but not much else. Conversation had been sparse.

  Allienna sat close to James Doolittle, Earth's ambassador to Vegema; the man who, just two days ago, had proposed to her host. Karen sat on the same couch, quiet but observant. Dusty Dixon, Nugget Bianchi, and Tyra had been given special leave from the Alpha Site to be there. Dusty paced restlessly, his boots scuffing against the floor, while Tyra sat close to Nugget, their heads occasionally tilting toward each other in hushed exchanges.

  Jack, leaning against the far wall, shot Dixon a look of mild irritation. The pacing was starting to get to him.

  At the small table, Morena and Darlen sat with their heads together; anyone with half a brain could see those two were deeply in love. Despite their quiet connection, the overall mood in the room was sombre, more like a wake than a waiting room. That, more than anything, was beginning to wear on Jack.

  He decided to lighten the mood.

  “Did I ever tell you about the time Carter and I were stuck under the ice…?”

  Karen looked up at him, unimpressed. “You did, Jack. Twice.”

  “Oh… ah, well then.” He cleared his throat and went back to watching Dixon, still pacing like a caged animal.

  No one notices when Caroline walks in until she speaks.

  “General O’Neill, we have the results.”

  Immediately, the room is alive with voices, each one firing off questions in rapid succession.

  "Is she okay?"

  "What’s the news, doctor?"

  "How bad is it?"

  The buzz quickly escalates into a cacophony until Karen steps in, her voice calm but firm.

  “Quiet, everyone. Let Jack speak.”

  The group falls silent, tension thick in the air as Jack takes a slow breath, finally meeting Caroline’s gaze.

  He keeps it simple, voice low but direct. “Good or bad news, Doc?”

  Caroline hesitates for a moment, clearly bracing herself for the impact of what she has to say. She inhales, then begins.

  “Cate’s been through hell. Concussion from a severe blow to the back of her head; luckily, no brain damage. But she’s got a fractured pelvis and a shattered right knee. T3 and T4 of her vertebrae have been cracked.”

  There’s a collective intake of breath from the room. A few members of the team visibly stiffen, exchanging glances. The reality of Cate’s injuries lands heavily on them all. Jack nods, his jaw tightening as he processes the news. The silence stretches, thick with unsaid words, until he asks the question that’s been hanging in the air.

  “Can you fix her, Caroline?”

  She shakes her head. “I can set a broken arm or leg. But this... this is beyond my expertise. She needs the best. I know two surgeons in the States who are more than capable; Professor Julia Shultz at John Hopkins and Doctor Ken Schu at Denver State Hospital. Doctor Schu is also an Air National Guard member. But it’ll take time, and time is something she doesn’t have.”

  Jack’s expression darkens, frustration rising like a wave. “We really don’t have time for that.” He shifts his weight, looking at the team, then back at Caroline. “If you need the best, there’s someone who can help right now.”

  Caroline blinks, processing Jack’s sudden shift in tone. “Who?”

  Jack’s eyes flicker with something akin to recognition, his voice softening just slightly as he says, “You’ve heard of Anne MacGregor?”

  Caroline nods slowly. “Yeah, but... she’s… ”

  “She’s the best,” Jack interrupts, his tone firm now. “And I’ve known her and her husband, Will, since ‘86. Back when Cate was just a kid.” His gaze drifts for a second as memories shift in the back of his mind. “Will and I were on the same staff course in Texas. Anne... she’s one of the most highly qualified orthopaedic surgeons in Australia. She’s also a Navy Reservist; Captain, no less.”

  Caroline blinks, processing the weight of what Jack’s saying.

  “So, we’re talking about the real deal. Not just some family doctor, huh?” Caroline says, arching an eyebrow as her eyes meet Jack’s.

  Jack smirks, the briefest hint of pride flashing in his eyes. “Trust me. You don’t want anyone else working on her bones. Anne’s got the skills to handle this. Plus, she’s just moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to Cate and Will.” He shifts a little, the conversation taking on a more personal note. “Got Will out of retirement too… he’s working at Stargate Command now. That’s how she ended up taking a job at Colorado Springs General Hospital.”

  The room is quiet as everyone processes this new piece of information. It’s not just a call to a good surgeon; it’s a connection, a link that’s deeply woven into Cate’s personal history.

  Caroline nods slowly. “Okay, I’ll get in touch with her. She’s the right choice for this.”

  Jack looks at her, determination hardening his expression. “No, I’ll make the call.”

  Caroline’s brow furrows in confusion. “But…”

  Jack cuts her off. “I’ve got a direct line to Anne. I’ll handle it.”

  As Caroline watches Jack turn to leave, she quickly adds, “How quickly can you get her here?”

  Jack pauses at the door, looking over his shoulder. “I’ll get down to the gate room and make the call.”

  Caroline nods, her tone more urgent now. “Please do, General.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Jack returns, his expression a little more relaxed than when he left.

  “Well, good news,” Jack says, running a hand through his hair. “She’ll be here in about two hours.”

  The room collectively exhales, but Jack adds with a wry grin, “It was a pain making that call across the galaxy, but Sam happened to be in the gate room, so she got me connected with her pretty quickly.”

  Caroline lets out a relieved sigh, nodding. “That’s a relief.”

  “Yeah,” Jack agrees. “We’ll make it work. We always do.”

  The time seems to stretch on in the hospital unit, the air thick with tension and quiet murmurs. Some of the team engage in soft conversation, while Jack and Karen take a brief walk, discussing the mission to Lucia. Jack listens intently, letting her details about the mission wash over him, though his mind is preoccupied with the thoughts of Cate.

  When they return, a gate tech radios through to Jack, breaking the stillness.

  "General O'Neill," the tech's voice crackles over the comm, "Dr. Anne MacGregor has just stepped through the gate. Should I bring her to the waiting area?"

  Jack stands up straighter, a sense of relief washing over him. “I’ll take it from here,” he replies. With that, he quickly makes his way to the gate room, his pace quickening, eager to get Anne to Cate as soon as possible.

  By the time he arrived at the gate room, Anne was standing at the end of the ramp, her small figure unmistakable even in the bustling environment. She was everything Jack expected; slight in stature, but with an air of confidence and capability that matches her reputation.

  "Anne," Jack greets, walking toward her with a genuine smile. “Glad you made it. Let’s get you to Cate.”

  Anne offers him a smile, her dark eyes assessing the surroundings before focusing back on him. "Jack, I didn’t think I'd be visiting another world quite this way. What a place.”

  Jack chuckles, leading her through the halls of the base. “Trust me, you ain’t seen nothin yet.”

  They went quickly, and Anne had to walk quicker to keep up with Jack’s stride. She asked for no other reason than general interest. “From what I saw briefly at the SGC, this place seems to be almost a carbon copy.”

  He answered the only practical thing he could say. “It is.”

  As they walked toward the hospital unit, Anne notices the occasional glance of curiosity from passing personnel. She’s not the tallest person, standing only 5'3”, and there’s no mistaking the physical resemblances to Cate, with her olive complexion and dark hair was different though and Cate was a good five foot nine inches. An SG team about to leave seems to notice it too, whispering in hushed tones, likely surprised to see the resemblance in the woman walking alongside Jack.

  When they reach the hospital unit, Anne is introduced to the team. Caroline, surprised but pleased by the family connection, mentions how she’d never realized the link until Jack had brought it up earlier.

  “I’ve read your papers on hip and knee replacements,” Caroline says, trying to break the ice. “I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”

  Anne smiles warmly, shaking her head. “Well, when your daughter decides to get into trouble, I suppose I can’t ignore it.” Her eyes soften, a brief moment of vulnerability sneaking through before she focuses on the task at hand. “I assume she’s in pre-op?”

  Caroline nods and mentions that Cate is prepped for surgery and already given a shot of midazolam. “She’ll be groggy,” Caroline notes, but Anne responds with a smirk.

  Anne’s lips curl into a faint smile. “All the better. She won’t be too pleased to see me here.” The glint in her eye reveals a hidden layer of humour beneath her words. "When she hears I’m involved, she’ll probably need a little more than just sedatives to keep her calm."

  Jack can’t help but chuckle, remembering Cate’s fiery reaction when he’d told her about her father’s return to active service, and with the Stargate Program no less. “You might be right about that.”

  Anne takes a deep breath and turns toward the door. “Let’s not keep her waiting.”

  The moment Anne enters the room, Cate’s eyes flutter open, the grogginess from the sedative making it harder to focus. The sight of her mother, standing at the foot of the bed, catches her attention almost immediately. The mood shifts from the relaxed post-surgery haze to something more tense, the familiarity of her mother’s presence instantly triggering a mix of emotions.

  "Well, well," Cate mutters, her voice thick with the remnants of sleep and irritation. "I didn’t know you were part of this circus, Mum."

  Anne raises an eyebrow but stays calm. “Oh, you should know by now, sweetheart. I’m always part of the show. Just sometimes I prefer a different entrance.” She takes a step closer, her voice softer now. “You’re going to be just fine, Cate. We’ll get you back on your feet in no time.”

  Cate shifts in bed, frustration creeping back into her tone. “Yeah, sure, with my luck, it’ll be a miracle if I can walk again.”

  Anne tilts her head, crossing her arms as she watches her daughter. “I know you, Cate. And I know how much you hate being told what to do. But trust me, I’m here to help.”

  Cate glares at her, still a little too groggy to fully focus, but the sharpness in her eyes is undeniable. “Yeah, well, I didn’t ask for help.”

  Anne simply smiles. “I know. But you’ve got it anyway.”

  Cate’s eyes narrow as she glances up at Anne, her voice sharp. “You shouldn’t be here, Mum. It’s dangerous.”

  Anne lets out a dry chuckle, arms still crossed. “And nearly getting run over by a bus isn’t?”

  Cate stiffens at the reminder, her eyes flashing briefly with the memory of that day in Sydney, two years ago, when the two of them had been shopping and she’d pulled Anne out of the way just in time. She bites her lip, trying to hide the flicker of guilt.

  “I didn’t ask for you to follow me around like that,” Cate mutters, trying to shrug it off.

  Anne raises an eyebrow, her gaze steady. “Well, maybe if you let me look after you more often, I wouldn’t have to.”

  Cate scoffs. “I’m not a child anymore Mum in case you hadn’t noticed and, this isn’t the same.”

  Anne shrugs. “No, it’s not. But don’t lecture me on danger, Cate. I’m no stranger to the Stargate Program. I ran the medical approvals for all the Australians and New Zealanders who joined the Atlantis and Icarus missions.”

  Cate’s gaze hardens, disappointment creeping into her voice. “So, you’ve been involved all this time, and you didn’t think to mention it to me?”

  Anne’s tone cools a little. “You didn’t have the clearance, Cate. I signed an NDA. What did you expect?”

  Cate scoffs, crossing her arms defensively. “I was Level 7 clearance, for god’s sake.”

  Anne raises an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “Yes, and you lost that when you went back to the Air Force after you quit ASIS.”

  Cate exhales sharply, momentarily at a loss for words. She glares at Anne, then away, then back again.

  “Fine,” she mutters under her breath, unable to hide the faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She wouldn’t want anyone else working on her, even if she was too stubborn to admit it.

  Cate’s operation lasted twelve gruelling hours. Through it all, none of her friends left the immediate area. They may have stretched their legs or paced the halls to ease aching muscles, but none truly departed; except for Dusty. As CAG of the Alpha Site, with only two days before the anticipated Lucian Alliance attack, he had no choice. Leaving had weighed heavily on him.

  When Cate was finally moved to recovery, the anticipation in the waiting room surged. Everyone wanted to see her, but a weary Anne and Caroline put a stop to that immediately.

  “Settle down,” Anne said, rubbing her temples. “She’ll be out for at least another hour.”

  Jack O’Neill, standing amidst the waiting group, took one look at Anne swaying slightly on her feet and shook his head. “Captain MacGregor,” he said, an amused glint in his eye, “do I have to make it an order for you to get some rest?”

  Normally, Anne would have a sharp retort ready, but in her current state, she simply exhaled and nodded. “Fine. But only for an hour.”

  From the side, Tyra, unfamiliar with Earth military ranks, leaned toward Nugget. “Isn’t Doctor MacGregor a bit old to be just a captain?”

  Nugget hesitated, suddenly aware of the minefield he was about to step into. “Uh… well, she’s a Navy captain, not an Army captain. It’s different.”

  Tyra frowned. “Wouldn’t it be easier if you all used the same ranks?”

  Nugget opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Yeah, probably.”

  James, overhearing, smirked. “Sure, but then where would the fun be if we Earthlings couldn’t confuse the hell out of everyone?”

  Laughter rippled through the group, cutting the tension. But it didn’t last long.

  An hour later, Cate stirred, her body sluggish and mind foggy from the medication. As she blinked against the sterile glow of the recovery ward, a stern-faced Vegema nurse entered the waiting room where the group had gathered.

  “Only two at a time!” she snapped, her authoritative tone leaving no room for argument.

  A collective groan filled the air.

  “I mean it!” she added, eyeing them all like a hawk.

  Jack sighed dramatically. “Alright, alright. Parker and I will go first.”

  As they moved forward, a message arrived from Earth. Cate’s father, Will MacGregor, had been at the SGC, waiting anxiously for updates. As Jack and Karen were about to enter, he arrived.

  Jack, ever the diplomat, intercepted him outside the room. “Cate’s got a lot of people in there,” he explained. “Her friends. They’ll want to meet you.”

  Will nodded. “I’ll meet them after I see my daughter.”

  “Anne’s resting,” Jack started to say, only to be immediately proven wrong as Anne strode back into the corridor.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted.

  Jack threw his hands up. “Look after your wife, Will, because I certainly can’t!” With that, he and Karen retreated to the waiting room, leaving the MacGregors alone.

  Inside recovery, Cate blinked groggily at the two familiar figures standing over her. Their presence felt like a dream, distant yet grounding. It took a moment for her mind to process it, but when it did, she let out a slow, weary sigh.

  “You both should be at home,” she murmured, her voice hoarse, cracking at the edges.

  Anne’s gaze softened as she brushed a strand of hair from Cate’s forehead. “No place we’d rather be, sweetheart.”

  Cate swallowed, emotions knotting in her throat. The haze of pain and medication made everything feel surreal, but the concern in her mother’s voice was unmistakable. “I just wanted you to enjoy retirement. Dad, you spent so many years away, and now you’re both risking your lives again.”

  Will pulled up a chair beside her bed, his expression unreadable at first. Then he exhaled, his voice steady but carrying the weight of experience. “Cate, if we don’t stop them now, they’ll come to Earth. You know that.” He let the words hang between them, giving her time to absorb them. “Wouldn’t you rather us use our experience to help here, to make sure your nieces never have to see the kind of war you have?”

  Cate stared at him, the truth settling deep in her chest. She could feel the bandages, the lingering ache of surgery, but nothing cut deeper than the realisation of how much they all had at stake. She exhaled slowly, her fingers weakly reaching for his hand. He clasped it, firm and reassuring.

  “Yeah,” she whispered. “I would.”

  Anne leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Then rest, darling. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

  Cate let her eyes slip shut, this time surrendering to sleep willingly. The weight of the world was still there, but for now, in this moment, she wasn’t carrying it alone.