Chapter 2: Between the Gates
by SlivvoThe steady hum of the Stargate’s deactivation left a strange void in the embarkation room. The blue event horizon had collapsed in on itself with a familiar whoosh, and the last of the refugees from Chulak had been led away by the medical team. The air still smelled faintly of something burnt—maybe the last remnants of energy discharge from the firefight they’d barely escaped.
Colonel Jack O’Neill exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. His team—his new team—stood around him, some catching their breath, others lost in thought. He turned toward the control room, where General Hammond and Sergeant Walter Harriman stood overseeing the aftermath.
“Well, that was fun,” Jack said, his tone dry as desert sand. “Anyone up for round two? No? Just me?”
Captain Samantha Carter shot him a look. “Sir, I think we’d all prefer a little downtime before storming another alien fortress.”
“Yeah, yeah, science majors always need a nap after intergalactic warfare.”
“Colonel,” General Hammond’s voice carried the weight of command, even through the intercom. “Debriefing, my office. Now.”
Jack sighed, turning back to his team. “You heard the man. Field trip to the General’s office. No pushing, no shoving.”
He caught Daniel Jackson shifting uneasily, his gaze lingering on the corridor where the refugees had been taken. Jack knew what he was thinking. Sha’re. Skarra. They were still out there, and Daniel wasn’t about to let that go. Jack wasn’t either, not really, but if he let his emotions get in the way, he’d never be able to keep his team together. And right now, they needed leadership more than grief.
Teal’c, the newest and most enigmatic addition to the team, stood at his side, silent as ever. The Jaffa warrior had proven his allegiance in blood, but that didn’t mean everyone was ready to accept him. Jack could already hear the whispers among the base personnel. Traitor. Sympathizer. Goa’uld.
Jack gave Teal’c a small nod, and Teal’c returned it with his ever-stoic expression. Good enough for now.
The debriefing room was unusually silent when they entered. General Hammond stood at the head of the table, arms folded across his chest. Kawalsky, still in his field gear, leaned against the far wall. He looked exhausted, but there was something else in his eyes—something Jack couldn’t quite place.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Hammond began, “we’ve just opened the biggest can of worms in military history. We now have proof that the Goa’uld are not only real but that they are a direct and ongoing threat to Earth. I don’t have to tell you what this means.”
Daniel, predictably, leaned forward. “General, if I may, this could also be an opportunity. The knowledge contained within the Stargate network is beyond anything we’ve ever—”
“Dr. Jackson, I understand your enthusiasm,” Hammond interrupted, “but my primary concern is the safety of this planet. We just retrieved over seventy displaced individuals from an alien world and barely made it back alive. I need to know exactly what we’re dealing with before we start treating this as an archaeological dig.”
“We’re dealing with a snake infestation,” Jack quipped. “And not the kind you can just stomp on with a boot.”
Carter cut in, ever the voice of reason. “Sir, we should consider the potential technological advancements. If the Goa’uld are as advanced as we’ve seen, there’s no telling what we could learn from them.”
“And,” Daniel added quickly, “if we learn more about them, we might find a way to fight them. To find Sha’re and Skaara.”
Hammond nodded slowly. “Which is why I’m authorizing further Stargate missions. We’ll establish reconnaissance teams, gather intelligence, and determine the scope of the threat. The President has already approved the formation of nine SG teams.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Nine, sir? Hell of a recruiting spree.”
“You’ll be leading SG-1,” Hammond continued. “Major Kawalsky will head SG-2. Your primary objective will be to determine viable threats and potential allies. You leave as soon as we have a go. Dismissed.”
As they all rose to leave, Jack caught Kawalsky rubbing his temple. “Hey, you good?”
“Yeah, just a headache,” Kawalsky muttered. “Probably just stress.”
Jack frowned but let it slide. For now.
Later that night, Jack found himself in the locker room, alone with his thoughts. The weight of the day sat heavy on his shoulders. He had been here before—standing at the edge of a new war, staring into the unknown. Only this time, it wasn’t just Earth at stake.
“You seem troubled, O’Neill,” came a deep voice.
Jack turned to find Teal’c standing by the door, arms clasped behind his back. The warrior had a habit of appearing out of nowhere. Jack figured he’d get used to it eventually.
“Yeah, well, it’s been a hell of a week. And it’s only Monday.”
Teal’c inclined his head. “The Goa’uld are a formidable enemy. But they can be defeated. I have seen it.”
Jack gave a small chuckle. “Yeah? Well, let’s hope you’re right, ‘cause I don’t feel like playing host to one of those things.”
Teal’c hesitated for a fraction of a second. “O’Neill. I must speak with you privately.”
Jack straightened. “That sounds ominous. Go ahead.”
Teal’c’s expression darkened. “I have seen warriors behave as Kawalsky does. The headaches. The moments of lost time. The Goa’uld are subtle in their early stages. If he has been infected, we must act swiftly.”
Jack felt a chill run down his spine. “You’re saying he’s been… snaked?”
Teal’c gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Jack cursed under his breath. If Teal’c was right, then this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Back in his room, Kawalsky gripped the sides of the bed, sweat pouring down his face. His head felt like it was splitting open, a searing pain tearing through his skull. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing it to stop.
And then, for the briefest moment, he wasn’t himself.
A voice whispered in his mind. Ancient. Cold.
You are mine now.
His hands clenched into fists as his body trembled against his will. He gasped for breath, and when his eyes snapped open, for just a second, they flashed with an unnatural glow.
Something inside him smiled.
Then it was gone.
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