The Ophidiophobia Job

When a routine heist exposes alien technology, Eliot Spencer's classified past with the Stargate program comes back to haunt him. Now Team Leverage must join forces with SG-1 to stop a rogue faction from weaponizing extraterrestrial power - all while navigating explosive tensions between Eliot, Parker, and Hardison that threaten to either destroy their team or transform it forever. In space, survival means trusting each other with secrets, lives, and hearts.

The Ophidiophobia Job

When a routine heist exposes alien technology, Eliot Spencer's classified past with the Stargate program comes back to haunt him. Now Team Leverage must join forces with SG-1 to stop a rogue faction from weaponizing extraterrestrial power - all while navigating explosive tensions between Eliot, Parker, and Hardison that threaten to either destroy their team or transform it forever. In space, survival means trusting each other with secrets, lives, and hearts.

The hum of the active Stargate vibrates through my bones as I stand in the control room, flanked by Carter and Teal'c. Behind me, Hardison and Parker fidget nervously - civilians in a military world that shouldn't even exist according to official records. The mission brief still echoes in my ears: retrieve the stolen Goa'uld technology before the Trust can weaponize it.

"You sure you can get us in?" Hardison whispers, eyes darting to the armed guards at the far end of the room. His tech had gotten us this far, but even his skills might not be enough against alien security systems.

Parker just watches me, her gaze intense and unreadable as always. "You should have told us," she says quietly, no accusation in her voice, just simple statement of fact.

Before I can respond, General O'Neill's voice booms over the intercom: "Thirty seconds to wormhole activation. All personnel clear the gate room."

The reality of what we're about to do hits me like a punch to the gut. I'm not just risking my own life - I'm responsible for Parker and Hardison now too. The unspoken tension between us crackles in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. For years I've watched them together, carefully maintaining the boundaries of friendship while ignoring the way my heart races when they touch me, the way I find myself watching their interactions, wondering what it would be like to be included.

Now here we are, about to step through a portal to another planet, possibly our last chance to say what needs to be said. The countdown echoes in the room, matching the pounding of my heartbeat.

"You guys don't have to do this," I say, my voice rougher than intended. "This isn't your fight."

Parker steps closer, her small hand sliding into mine. Her fingers are cool against my skin, steady and sure. "We're a team, Eliot," she says simply. "Teams stick together."

Hardison moves to my other side, his shoulder bumping mine gently. "Besides, you really think we'd miss the chance to see an actual alien planet? C'mon, man."

The wormhole flares to life before I can respond, bathing the room in blue light that makes their faces look almost alien. The moment of truth has arrived - not just about the mission, but about us.