Chapter 15 Trust:

  The Aurora arrived in orbit, its massive form a testament to the Tau'ri’s ever-growing influence in the galaxy. The ship’s arrival had not gone unnoticed. From her position aboard the Invincible, Cate watched the display, arms folded across her chest. Whatever this was about, she doubted she was going to like it.

  A moment later, Cam’s voice crackled over the comms. “Cate, beam up. We need to talk.”

  A sigh escaped her lips, but she gave the signal to transport. The shimmering blue light enveloped her, and an instant later, she stood aboard the Aurora’s bridge. Cam Mitchell was waiting for her, looking as casual as ever despite the urgency in his voice.

  “I need you for something,” he said without preamble. “When we locate the missing scientists and personnel from the Gamma Site, I want you to lead a team to get them out.”

  Cate’s expression hardened. “No.”

  Cam blinked. “That’s not really the answer I was expecting.”

  “Well, it’s the one you’re getting,” Cate shot back. “I’m done soldiering, Cam. I need to go back to the surface; make sure Darlen is treated fairly.”

  Cam studied her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “Alright. But we’re not done talking about this.”

  A short time later, Cate beamed back down. The battlefield had quieted, but the scars of war still lingered in the air. She found Darlen being held under guard, though no one had mistreated him; yet. She wasn’t about to take any chances.

  Before she could intervene, the shimmer of transport beams lit up the space nearby, and SG-1 materialized. Vala was the first to step forward, a wry smile on her lips.

  “You always did have a knack for getting yourself into messes, darling,” she teased.

  Cate exhaled. “Not now, Vala.”

  But Vala wasn’t deterred. “Actually, now is the perfect time. You’re making a mistake, you know.”

  Teal’c inclined his head. “You have always fought for those who could not fight for themselves, Taipan. This is no different.”

  Cate clenched her jaw. She knew where this was going.

  It was Allienna’s voice, quiet but firm, that finally broke through. “You once told me that walking away is easy. It’s staying and fighting that’s hard.”

  Cate closed her eyes briefly, knowing she was losing this argument. When she opened them, her shoulders had dropped in resignation. “Fine. But I pick my team.”

  Cam, who had beamed down alongside them, grinned. “I expected nothing less.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “James and Darlen are coming. Morena too.”

  Tyra, who had been hovering nearby, immediately bristled. “What about me?”

  Cate sighed. “Tyra—”

  “No! You don’t get to cut me out of this,” Tyra snapped, stepping forward. “I’ve earned my place.”

  Cate hesitated. Every instinct told her to refuse, but looking at the fire in Tyra’s eyes, she knew it was useless. She had already fought and bled beside them. Finally, with reluctance, she nodded. “Alright. You’re in.”

  Cam clapped his hands together. “Great. I’ll have four international SFs join you—one each from Daedalus, Invincible, Chekov, and Aurora.”

  The team stood in the half-light of the broken street, a circle of weary faces, each one struggling with the same question: how to locate the captives without getting themselves killed in the process. The weight of the mission was heavy on their shoulders, and with each passing minute, the pressure seemed to mount.

  Cate crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the dark horizon. "We need to get a clear picture of where they're holding the captives," she said, her voice low but resolute. "But we can’t afford to tip them off. We need eyes on the ground—someone who can blend in."

  Cam shifted, leaning against a crumbling wall. "We’ve got options. We could send a team to scout the perimeter, work our way in slowly. But that risks being spotted." He paused, rubbing his chin. "Maybe we can hack into their comms, see if we can get any intel that way."

  Samantha, standing beside him, frowned. "You know the comms are encrypted. We could spend hours trying to break through, and by then, they could have moved the captives." She glanced at Allienna, who had been quiet up to that point.

  Allienna was staring at the ground, arms crossed as she thought it over. "We could try the rooftops, move in from above. It’d be risky, but it might give us a clearer view of what’s going on inside."

  Cate shook her head. "That puts us too close. If we’re spotted, we’re compromised."

  There was a brief silence as the team weighed the options. The tension in the air grew thick, and no one seemed to have a solid solution. Every idea carried a risk, and none of them felt right. The frustration was palpable.

  Then Teal'c spoke, his calm voice breaking the silence. He had been standing off to the side, listening, not yet part of the discussion. “I believe the solution is simple. We send Darlen.”

  The others froze, momentarily stunned by the suggestion. Cam’s brow furrowed, incredulity seeping into his tone. "Darlen? You’re serious? He’s only just switched sides. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he was one of the enemy. We’re supposed to trust him now?"

  Allienna shook her head, her voice sharp with scepticism. "We’ve seen how unpredictable he is. How can we rely on him for something like this? He’s a liability, Teal’c."

  Samantha folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "He doesn’t exactly have the skills we need. He’s not exactly the stealthiest type, especially after what just happened."

  Teal'c remained unfazed, his deep voice calm as ever. “It is precisely because he was once the enemy that he is the best option. Darlen knows their movements, their habits. He knows how to slip into places unnoticed, how to gather intelligence without being detected. His recklessness may be what makes him the perfect candidate for this task.”

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  Cate, who had been pacing quietly, stopped for a moment, her gaze landing on Teal'c. The logic was there, but the risk was still palpable. Darlen had betrayed his allies—just the night before, he had been one of them, and now they were depending on him to infiltrate his own former group. It felt like walking on a razor’s edge.

  "I don’t like it," Cam muttered, his arms crossed. "He’s too fresh from being one of them. We can’t just overlook that."

  Cate took a long breath, thinking it over. She knew the others were right to be cautious, but the truth was, they didn’t have many options. Darlen’s unique position—being a former member of their enemy’s ranks—could give him access that none of them would have. "Teal'c’s right," she said finally. "Darlen knows how to move in ways we don’t. He knows their territory, their tactics. It’s not just about stealth—it’s about what he can hear, what he can learn that we can’t. We can’t afford to turn down the chance."

  The silence that followed was heavy. No one was fully convinced, but after a moment of deliberation, Cam nodded reluctantly. "Alright, we give him a shot. But one mistake, and we pull out. No hesitation."

  Cate nodded, her expression hardening. "Understood. We’ll move in once we know where the captives are. Everyone else, prepare for what comes next."

  She called him over; the young man had no idea what was about to hit him. “Do you understand the importance and the danger that goes with this Darlen?

  He nodded slowly. They were going to trust him, a small tear dropped down one cheek. “Thank you.” He told her quietly.

  As a group, they faded into the shadows once again, Allienna had a hide out under an older house that was built on limestone blocks, creating a huge cellar for the owners. This particular house had been unoccupied for at least three years, so she knew no one would bother them. Last minute preparations were made, they even gave the former Alliance soldier a side arm, much to Cam’s disapproval.

  Darlen moved through the city with the agility of someone who knew its every crumbling alley and hidden corner. His boots hit the cracked pavement softly as he slipped from shadow to shadow, always keeping his head down, listening to the faint hum of the city around him. His mind was sharp, his senses on high alert, but the frustration gnawed at him. It was taking far longer than he expected.

  He paused near a pub, the low murmur of conversation spilling out into the street. He glanced through the grimy window, only to freeze when he spotted one of his old friends from the Alliance—someone who knew him, someone who had worked beside him for years. Darlen’s heart pounded as his instincts screamed at him to leave. With a quick shift, he ducked into a nearby alley, pressing himself against the wall, his breath shallow as the figure inside the pub passed by the window without noticing him.

  He swore under his breath. This was taking too long.

  His frustration simmered, and he knew it wasn’t just the hours of waiting. His own past, his betrayal—it was all creeping in. He wasn’t even sure why he’d been so desperate to come back to the others, to join the fight, but here he was. He had no choice now but to push forward.

  Back at the rendezvous point, Morena was already on edge. She paced back and forth, her fingers twitching as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. She didn’t doubt Darlen for a second. He wouldn’t betray them. He was different now, wasn’t he? But the longer he was gone, the heavier the weight on her chest became. Every shadow felt like it could be his captors bringing him back, and the thought that they might have caught him, that something might have gone wrong… it gnawed at her.

  Then, as if struck by a sudden wave of realization, her heart gave an uncomfortable lurch. She was in love with him.

  Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She quickly wiped them away, not wanting to show weakness, but there was no stopping it. How had it happened? When had she started to care so much? She shook her head as if that could shake the truth loose.

  Two hours passed, and Cam’s frustration reached its peak. He slammed his fist against the wall. "I told you this was a bad idea. He’s probably got himself caught, or worse, he’s gone back to the enemy. What the hell were we thinking?" His voice was harsh, tinged with anger and worry.

  Cate stood in silence, her arms crossed, eyes distant. She didn’t say a word as the tension mounted. Deep down, she had a gut feeling. Darlen had his reasons, and for some reason, she trusted him. He won’t betray us, she thought, though the doubt was harder to silence with each passing minute.

  Allienna, her patience worn thin, finally looked at Cate. “We can’t keep waiting. We either move forward or we call it off.”

  Before Cate could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the distance. They all looked up as Darlen finally reappeared, his face drawn and tired but with that familiar grin. His eyes locked onto Cate for just a moment before he tossed a quick glance at the others.

  “Close calls, near misses,” Darlen said, his voice laced with the kind of weariness that came from too much time spent in enemy territory. “But I’ve got the intel.”

  Cate’s patience snapped. “Yeah, yeah, we’re all thrilled. But where are they being held?”

  Darlen’s grin faded for a split second, his eyes narrowing as if he were just catching up. “Oh yeah. The captives.” He rubbed the back of his neck and began relaying what he’d overheard. “There was a shift change at 2200 hours, that’s in about an hour. The people I was listening to were in the Stag Inn. They had earlier shifts, so they were gossiping a bit. One of them mentioned how dreadful the Imperial Hotel was now. She remembered it before the Alliance took over, said she used to travel to Plaxia with her father. That was before she joined the Alliance.”

  He paused, his mind racing as he tried to bring the rest of the details together.

  Samantha raised an eyebrow, intrigued but uncertain. "How does this connect to the Gamma site captives?"

  Darlen’s expression flickered back for a second. "She said she was starting to feel sorry for the 'Tau'ri'. That no one deserves to be treated the way they’re treating them." He looked up, meeting their eyes one by one, and his tone shifted slightly, more serious. "I think that was a slip-up. She mentioned the captives without meaning to. That’s where I heard it. The Imperial Hotel…Horgfells place of operation."

  Morena’s breath hitched, but she didn’t speak, her emotions still tangled, her mind focused on the crucial information.

  Cate looked at the others. "This is it. We move in after the shift change, but we need to be quick. We don’t know how much time we have before they move the captives again."

  Getting ready, tucked away beneath the old house Allienna used as a hideout, Cate’s hands trembled as she fitted both wig and uniform. The only wig Allie could get on short notice was red…bright, almost garish, and the very shade Cate had worn when she was betrayed in North Korea. Her fingers shook as she adjusted the fit, and a flash of memory crept in, unbidden. That mission, the one where trust had been broken, where she’d felt the cold sting of betrayal at the hands of someone, she’d thought was an ally.

  The wig settled into place, but it didn’t feel right. A wave of self-doubt hit her. Was this her fate again? To be a pawn in someone else’s game, only to be discarded when the time was right? She shook the thoughts away, but the uncertainty lingered, a gnawing feeling in her gut. Get a grip, she told herself. This was different. Darlen wouldn’t betray her. He couldn’t. But someone else? The thought turned her blood cold.

  Her team was finishing up getting into stolen Alliance uniforms. Morena, James, and one marine were also in their new attire. The Alliance was so hated on Vegema that even the sight of those clothes caused alarm, the tension in the air nearly visible. Vala caught her eye, stepping forward with a playful smirk. “Honestly, these uniforms are a crime against fashion,” she said, waving a hand in mock disgust as she examined the outfit. “Who even thought that shade of brown was a good idea?”

  Cate couldn’t help but chuckle despite herself. Vala had an uncanny way of defusing tension. Sam and Mitchell both nodded in approval. “You five have got guts, I’ll give you that,” Mitchell said, his grin wide. “Just remember; keep your heads low, don’t do anything stupid.”

  Cate clutched the false papers in her pocket, feeling the weight of them more than she wanted to. It wasn’t the weight of the paper that bothered her—it was how hastily they’d been made. Would they pass muster if someone scrutinized them? The doubts returned, her hand brushing over the documents again. She wasn’t worried about losing them. It was the risk that they wouldn’t look convincing enough.

  Darlen interrupted her thoughts by breaking the silence, his voice low. “You’ve got the accent down. If you’re trying to sound like a Gredian, scarily so ma’am.”

  Cate blinked, a little taken aback. “Gredian?” she asked.

  Darlen nodded. “Yes. A race from the Lucian home world. Hated by nearly everyone. So much so, I can’t think of a better choice for your cover.” He gave her a pointed look, a small grin playing at his lips. “I’m sure that accent will do the job. Even if it’s a little… unsettling.”

  Cate raised an eyebrow. “Unsettling?”

  Teal’c, who had been listening in, added his own thoughts. “Indeed. Even the false gods were wary of the Gredian. Their ruthlessness is legendary.”

  Cate couldn’t help but laugh a little, the tension easing just a fraction. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  As she adjusted the last few details of her uniform, Darlen couldn’t resist a grin. “You sound just like them, Cate. I can barely keep a straight face.”

  Cate gave him a side-eye. “You’d better, or I might just make you wear a wig next time.”

  “Not a chance,” Darlen replied with a chuckle, but his expression faltered for a moment. “By the way, some of us aren’t exactly thrilled about me being issued an M4.” He gave a slight nod toward the rifle slung across his back. “I know I’m not exactly new to weapons, but this…” He let out a small, uncertain grunt.

  Cate glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “You’re telling me you don’t like the M4?”

  Darlen shook his head. “It’s not that, it’s just—” he gestured to the weapon, “—they don’t exactly fit with the whole ‘Alliance soldier’ look, do they?”

  Cate suppressed a laugh. “You’re not wrong, but we make do with what we’ve got.”

  Her team was ready now, and as they stepped out into the cold night air, they headed toward the hotel. No more time for second thoughts.

  They reached the hotel, and Cate stood tall as she approached the guards. Her voice was steady as she presented the false orders. “The prisoners need to be moved to safety. An attack is imminent.”

  The guards exchanged wary glances but nodded. “Understood, Mahjor.”

  Cate’s heart pounded in her chest. The Allies had to expect something like this, but that didn’t mean it would be easy. They had just enough time to get the 130 Gamma site prisoners out before everything went to hell.

  As they moved the prisoners through the hotel’s back corridors, all hell did break loose. Gunshots rang out as the Alliance soldiers reacted. A firefight erupted, filling the air with the sound of weapons being fired and ricocheting off walls. Cate's team did what they could to keep the prisoners moving, ushering them to safety with SG-1 and the marines hot on their heels.

  As the last of the prisoners reached safety, Cate’s team was left exposed. Bullets flew, too close for comfort. It was then that Cate heard the comms crackle to life. “We’ve got your back, Cate!” Mitchell’s voice came through clearly.

  “Move, now!” Sam added, just as shots from an Alliance soldier landed dangerously near Cate’s position. The team scrambled for cover, and within moments, SG-1 and the marines arrived, fighting back the Alliance forces to cover their retreat. They had reached an alley that ran parallel to the old Hotel, running north-south. One hundred metres ahead of them lay their refuge, a service entry to the sewerage that ran under the city. From there, a cross tunnel would lead them to the safety of their ‘Underground’. Cate glanced at Darlen; his face set in determination. Her eyes locked with his, and for a split second, doubt crept in…was this it? The moment she’d feared? The moment he would turn on her? But then his gaze softened, the briefest hint of reassurance flickering in his eyes. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and together they with the rest of the team behind them, they ran for it.

  The Gamma site captives were free again, Allienna’s freedom fighters had proved their worth once more. They had gained a new ally in Darlen, one who would prove valuable in days to come. And Cate, well she just buried a demon that had been haunting her for quite some time.