Title: Snatched from the Serpent - Chapter 1.
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, other SGC personal, various Tok'ra, a few OCs.
Pairing: Daniel/Sha're (eventually). Nothing else planned yet but no promises! (if you cant cope without your OneTruePairing, I suggest waiting until it's finished and you can be sure)
Summary: AU, diverging from SG1 episode 201, "In the Serpent's Lair". All members of SG1 are included. For now, it will be exploring the different end to Apophis'a invasion that I have devised and the ramifications that ripple through what would be the next few episodes in canon. I'm not sure how far it will go - it is definitely still a work-in-progress.
Category: Adventure, angst, drama.
Rating: PG-13 to be safe.
Notes: I use the following conventions in this story: Bold is a goa'uld or tok'ra speaking, ~ denote host/symbiote communications. Italics are used for (some) goa'uld words as well as for emphasis.


Earth, after the ha'tak's are gone.

It turned out that both Bra'tac and Teal'c were remarkably skilled pilots - somehow, despite damage from the exploding ha'taks, both gliders landed successfully at Kennedy Space Center. As it was under cover of darkness, a modicum of secrecy was preserved. From the space center to the SGC - Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c and Sam barely spoke. Daniel's absence weighed too heavily for talk.

Debriefings were done, Bra'tac returned to Chula, medical checks were completed, reports were made and SG1-sans-Daniel found themselves at loose ends far too soon. They gathered in Teal'c's quarters indulging in junk food and watching the most mindless cartoons that even Jack could find in the base's collection. Not much changed over the next few days - the truth was, while there was plenty to do, none of it was absorbing enough to distract them from their loss.

As the days crawled by, the transits to and from the alpha site slowed down and the base contemplated returning to normal operations. Hammond called SG1 to the briefing room. Characteristically, he was blunt. "We all miss Dr. Jackson. However, I need to know what you want to do now, Colonel. You can take some leave or not. You can continue as SG1, or we can re-assign any or all of you. If you wish to stay SG1, I have no problem with you remaining as a three person team for the time being, as we can assign others to work with you as needed."

Silence reigned before Teal'c spoke up. "I do not wish to be reassigned and I do not wish for any 'leave'."

Sam was next to speak. "I appreciate the offer of time off, but I don't think it would help, sir. Frankly, I'd rather be busy again."

Silence fell again as they all looked at Col. O'Neill.

Jack studied the table in front of him. All those little marks and scratches from the many, many meetings here.

"Sir?" Sam asked softly.

"What?" Jack snapped before grabbing for his self-control again. "Sorry, Carter. Just… thinking." He looked up after another long stretch of silence to find them all waiting. Hammond with his quiet look of sympathy, Carter with her eyes red-rimmed yet again and Teal'c with his stoic understanding. "I don't want leave either, and I'd prefer to keep SG1 as it is for now. Sir."

"In that case, we have several possible missions that you can consider." Hammond laid out the options and they talked it over before deciding which one. They would be off-world again tomorrow morning, after a more detailed briefing.


Klorel's ha'tak, shortly before the C4 explodes.

Decla and Elin knew something was deeply wrong. To delay the attack on the Tau'ri world below was not at all like Apophis and Klorel had been even more eager when the attack was planned. Prudence dictated they remained where they were; to break cover was always the last resort.

~ Prudence and patience are not the only way. ~

~ No. ~

Elin waited for the usual admonition that Decla had many centuries of experience and Elin's longing to do something more than watch was only going to get them killed. It did not come. ~ We should at least investigate. ~

Decla was thinking; she did not answer her host immediately.

~ It won't be that dangerous. Everyone else is cowering in their hidey holes. ~

~ To do other than stay out of danger would be out of character. ~

~ Fortune favours the bold. Even among the Goa'uld. ~

Decla would normally take this as an invitation to debate. However, something - intuition built from those centuries of experience - told her that now was not the time. Decision made, she wasted no time; her kara'kesh was checked and her healing device tucked into a pocket and she slipped away from her station and towards the peltac.

The corridors were unusually silent. True, the ha'tak carried far fewer jaffa than usual, but even with that allowed for, Decla could almost feel the unease of the rest permeating the air. It did not take long to reach the peltac and here, it was not all silent. Soft crackles betrayed damaged circuitry and the marks of staff blasts still smoldered and hissed. She paused to look down at a dead jaffa and noted he had been killed by some kind of primitive - but effective - projectile weapon. Continuing on, a slight movement caught her eye and after a few more steps, she was looking down at a human who was undoubtedly one of the perpetrators.

Daniel knew he was dying. Well, he was dying if he did not get help and as his teammates had gone, he would just have to help himself. The sarcophagus was not far. He could make it. He would make it. The sound of soft footsteps broke his concentration and he saw her enter. She paused by one of the dead jaffa and then continued. Daniel still had his weapon - when the goa'uld stopped only a foot away from him, he could not miss. He swung it up, firing towards her face.

Decla reacted fast and the projectiles were deflected - barely - by her kara'kesh. Shoving the weapon from his reach and pinning the human in place, she continued to the main console and took note of what it reported. Returning to the human, she knelt beside him. "Who are you?" she demanded.

He laughed mirthlessly and glared, defiant despite his injuries. "It doesn't matter," he said mockingly. "We are both about to die."

Decla did not move. True, he was injured… but it did not appear that the injuries, although painful, would necessarily be fatal. She considered his clothes, his weapon, his actions. "Tau'ri," she murmured. "It is your world below us."

"And it will remain ours. We will never accept the Goa'uld back. Never!"

~ Decla… ~

~ Do you think… ~

~ The shields are down on the first Ha'tak. In such a case, even 'primitive' weapons might be a danger. ~

Decla acknowledged the point.

"Human… Tau'ri… what have you done?" she asked softly.

Daniel tried to move - but the goa'uld device held him fast. Strange… it wasn't hurting him either. "Why would I tell you?"

"If you wish to live, you must tell me." Decla studied his face and considered the evidence. A number of Jaffa were dead, Klorel was gone, there was damage, and her instincts were prickling.

Daniel laughed again. "Must? Must? I told you! We are both about to die!"

~ Decla… ~

~ It cannot be possible. ~

~ Remember what we saw when we scanned the planet. Dare we assume so much? ~

It was a risk. To run at this point was at least forfeiture of their goa'uld identies… but such a thing was better than death. Decla spent a heartbeat in consideration before making a decision. She deactivated the kara'kesh and hauled the human to his feet. "Kel nok shree goa'uld. Come."

Daniel did not wish to co-operate but the startling statement and the pain from his injuries distracted him and they were moving before his mind caught up.

Decla paused by a console, activating a small viewscreen. To her relief, the startled countenance of her colleague looked back at her. "Kree chappa'ai!" she snapped before flicking it off and continuing.

Daniel had caught his breath. It hurt - he stumbled. To his surprise, the goa'uld (or not-goa'uld) caught him before he could fall and somewhat impatiently shifted position so he could lean on her as they moved. His mind whirled - she had spoken to someone… they were going to the stargate. It was the only way out, he knew. Would it be better to take the chance to live - and the risk of, well, anything - versus the certainty of death?

Decla was slowed by the need to assist the human without harming him further and when they reached the chappa'ia, Remiru was already waiting by the dialing device. "Iria." she said and a few moments later, blue lit up the room. They went through - and then dialed another world, and another and another until they had passed through a full seven gates and reached a comfortable - and safely uninhabited - world.

Daniel did not fight them - he hurt too much and before long, they were almost carrying him. While they had not stopped, he recognized their actions as those of people who wanted to avoid being followed. Presumably then, they were not friends to Apophis. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," he muttered to himself as they waited for yet another wormhole to connect.

By the time Decla felt safe enough to stop and find a place to sit and talk, Daniel was near enough to unconscious as to make no practical difference. Remiru helped her silently and once a suitable distance from the chaapa'ai, she settled him on the soft grass and pulled out her healing device.

"Do we get an explanation yet?" Remiru was junior to Decla, but not so junior that he would not have his say.

"He is one of the Tau'ri." Decla answered absently, busy checking for injuries beyond the obvious.

"And?"

"I believe they had sabotaged the ha'tak."

"That's absurd!"

Decla glanced up, half surprised and half amused by the emphatic comment. "No. They had obviously penetrated the security; a number of jaffa were dead and the peltac damaged. Klorel was missing and the shields on the first ha'tak were down. Their planet is both very populous and advanced enough to have powerful explosives and the beginning of space travel. As Elin reminds me, the desperate must not be underestimated."

Remiru closed his eyes and sighed. "On the basis of so little, we flee?"

"Our people need us alive."

"But…"

"Hush. I must mend the Tau'ri."

Daniel woke slowly. There was no pain. He was lying on something soft but not artificial. Grass, his mind supplied after a moment. Then memory came rushing back, his eyes flew open and he sat up in a panic. The movement left him dizzy and the light was annoyingly bright. A hand came down on his shoulder.

"Steady."

The voice was human. Daniel blinked and blinked again. He could not see… ah… his glasses. The unknown beside him put them into his hands.

"You were badly hurt. Decla has mended your injuries but you will need time to recover your strength."

Glasses on and eyes adjusted to the light, Daniel looked at the young man beside him. Despite his human voice, he was dressed as goa'uld. Unwilling to answer immediately, he looked around. They were in a small glade surrounded by very pretty forest. The sky was blue, the grass green but somehow, he didn't think this was Earth. "Umm… thank you, I guess. Decla… is she…"

"I am here."

At the characteristic goa'uld tone, Daniel jumped and twisted slightly to see the goa'uld (or not-goa'uld) who had hauled him off the ha'tak. Memory surfacing, he now matched the one sitting beside him to the one who had been waiting for them at the gate. He folded his arms across his chest, he expression wary - and he stayed silent.

Decla sighed. "As I said, kel nok shree goa'uld. However, I understand your caution."

Yuri was startled. "Decla! What are you about?"

Decla gave her friend a slight smile. "I am thinking of what would have happened if I had not acted on my instincts."

Yuri's eyes flashed as Remiru came forward. "You do not know what has happened. You are extrapolating wildly from almost nothing!"

Daniel jumped and edged sideways. He had suspected they were both goa'ulds. Now he knew they were.

"Tau'ri." Decla let Remiru glare at her as she turned to the human. She was sure she had chosen correctly. "There is a stream behind us if you want a drink, or to wash. We do not have any spare clothing though."

It was not what Daniel had expected. "Um… I guess… Am I prisoner?"

"No." Decla said with finality. "The chappa'ai is a short distance that way," she continued quietly, pointing to their left. "And this world is uninhabited. But we have no information on the status of your world, although we hope your efforts on the ha'tak have saved it. Still, I very much wish to talk to you before you go - or if you need assistance returning to your people or finding a safe place to go, I will give it."

Daniel did not answer; he just got up and turned. The stream was indeed just behind them and he walked to it, wondering all the time if he was really free to go. Neither of the two stopped him - indeed, their attention appeared to be focused on each other. A drink and a bit of a wash did leave him feeling better and he walked back into an argument.

"… And I still say you are risking far too much on vague presumptions!"

Decla saw the tau'ri return and held up her hand to halt Remiru's censure. "You may say it but I am still senior to you and I do not feel my reasoning insufficient."

Daniel stopped. "If you don't mind, I would like to check exactly where the stargate - chaapa'ai - is."

"Of course." Decla followed him and after about fifty meters, the tree cover ceased and the chaapa'ai could be seen, standing at the far edge of a large clearing. All was quiet.

Daniel looked and then sighed. He had no GDO, even if his code wasn't locked out - he would have to go home indirectly. "How long have I been here?"

"About a quarter of a day. Will you talk with me now?"

Daniel sighed again. "I guess that depends what you want to talk about."

"Come back to the glade then."

Wondering yet again if he was making a mistake, Daniel followed her back.

Once the three of them were settled - Decla and Daniel where the grass was softest, Remiru a bit further away, Decla began. "I am thinking - presuming - that when you spoke of dying, you had done something to the ha'tak."

Daniel pondered this. By now, what was going to happen must have already happened. "Umm.. yes. We put bombs in there.

Remiru cut in impatiently. "How could you have known where to put bombs?"

"Umm… We had help." Daniel wondered if he should admit but then... Teal'c never hid who he had been. "The, ah, former first prime of Apophis."

"The shol'va." Decla said softly. "We had heard we was working with the Tau'ri."

"Yes. So… um… yes. If we had stayed there, we would be dead."

Remiru did not seem convinced.

Decla moved on. "Your people - you visited other worlds? To attack the goa'uld?"

"We have cause."

"There is no shortage of cause. It is not a terribly safe thing to be doing but as my host regularly reminds me, timidity is not necessarily any safer."

"Your host reminds you?" Daniel was shocked at the implication.

"We are Tok'ra." Decal said calmly.

"Decla!" Remiru cried.

Daniel blinked and blinked again. "To'kra?" He did not accent the word quite right.

"Tok'ra. Yes. Or in the common tongue, Those Against Ra."

"Tok'ra. Tok Ra."

"Yes."

Daniel looked at them. They looked like goa'uld. But they did not act like goa'uld. Was it possible? "When I first woke up… was I speaking to…"

"Yuri. Yes, Yuri is Remiru's host. Tok'ra accept only a willing host and we share. Our hosts are our partners - they work with us, share their lives with us by their own free will." Decla paused, her head tilted as if she was listening to something. "My host is Elin. She wants to talk to you."

Daniel nodded in something of a daze. As he watched, Decla bowed her head and when she looked up, Daniel caught his breath at the merry, mischievous smile that graced her face.

"Hi. I'm Elin."

"I… I'm Daniel."

"Nice to meet you, Daniel. I'll even forgive you for trying to kill us."

~ Elin! You are outrageous! ~

"I… ah… Alright, you sound different, but I already know a goa'uld can imitate it's host pretty damn well so how the heck can I know it is the host speaking?"

"True, they can." Elin's lilting tones darkened to something more serious. "You can not know. A goa'uld, by nature, can control it's host. There is no easy way to be sure, not beyond using drugs we know will send the symbiote to sleep. Some advanced technology can tell also, but a people who can do that would not have been troubled by a few ha'tak's. So you can only take my - our - word for it. Right now, I am in control and I am Elin, host to Decla of the Tok'ra."

Daniel sat in silence, turning all this over and over in his mind. He was not prepared to believe… but it was compelling enough that he could not reject it entirely. The two Tok'ra waited paitently until at last, Daniel spoke again. "Did you have anything else to ask me?"

"Much that I am curious about but Decla is still thinking over what it would be reasonable to ask. We do not think you want to give us any information that might be used against you or your people which is frustrating my curiousity immensely!"

Daniel half smiled at the seemingly young woman in front of him. Bubbly. he thought wryly to himself. What did Sam say once? Oh yes. Perky blond teenage cheerleader. Standard victim type in horror movies. "May I ask something then?"

"Of course. Although, we do not promise to -" Elin froze mid sentence and Remiru tensed. Her eyes flashed as Decla took control. "The chaapa'ai have been activated. We must check..."

"I will check. You stay here with the tau'ri." said Remiru softly starting in that direction.

"Oh no, I want to see for myself!" Daniel exclaimed, scrambling to his feet.

Both Tok'ra stared at him for a moment before Decla shrugged and stood. "Then we will all go, if you can stay quiet."