Never slam a door you may wish to walk through again - proverb

SGC CONTROL ROOM

"Incoming wormhole. It's SG-1," said the female technician.

The blaring of the warning Klaxon was most welcoming to the people in the Gate control room. They had been tensely waiting for it for several minutes so far.

"Ready in the gate room," said Hammond. "Here they come."

Jack suddenly appeared through the wormhole, running full pelt, and yelling in a most undignified manner. He continued straight through the nets dropping over the Stargate, and beyond the armed soldiers in hazmat suits standing guard deeper in the room, only stopping once he got behind one of the barricades that held the huge canons guarding the gate.

Several enormous alien insects tore out of the event horizon behind him, shooting through the air and slamming into the nets, which quickly entangled them. Strong cables and wire mess strained to hold the ridiculously fast creatures who's wings beat as fast as a humming bird's, despite their much larger size.

"Close the Iris," ordered Hammond as he activated the microphone to the gate room. "Get those bugs subdued. Colonel O'Neill, are you all right?"

"Peachy, Sir," said Jack, deactivating his armband and turning to watch as the soldiers rushed in to capture the creatures. "Just peachy."

BP6-3Q1, Svoriin was not on his holiday list until he had a really, really good bug spray, no matter how much advanced technology might be there. Having those bugs flying through him while out of phase was an unnerving sensation, and they were far too deadly to risk being phased.

"Who am I trying to kid?" Jack thought to himself.

Teams would be going back. Possibly the robot duplicates, if they proved to be immune, otherwise heavily armoured troopers. There is no way the NID would not want to recover as much technology as they could from Svoriin, especially since it appeared to be fairly advanced compared to Earth.

Hell, they might even find some survivors. It seemed unlikely the bugs could have gotten everybody, not with the planet as advanced as it appeared.

As the flagship team of the SGC, SG-1 was most likely to be sent back on another scouting/search and rescue mission. Once Teal'c was recovered.

"Well done," said the devil himself, Harry Maybourne, from the control room. "You keep bringing in gifts like this, I am going to think you are bucking for my job, Jack."

"I'll try to break the habit," said Jack, giving an involuntary shiver as he watched one of the airmen fire a Zat at a struggling bugs, knocking it out.

Teal'c had better appreciate this.

#

SGC LABORATORY

Jack watched as Earth's most distinguished Geneticists worked on the corpse of one of the bugs, rushing to complete a cure for Teal'c, who's condition was somehow worsening despite Harlan's stasis pod.

"How goes it?" asked Harry, coming to stand next to Jack.

"Oh, it's a real show," said Jack with faked enthusiasm. "First there was cutting, then everyone got excited, then the microscopes came out and things just got wild."

"Don't worry," said Maybourne. "We've got the best people on Earth working on it. If they don't have any breakthroughs in the next 48 hours you can go back to Svoriin and search for more answers."

Jack huffed. He knew he'd end up going back.

"Why are you doing this?" Jack asked.

"What? Teal'c a valuable member of the SGC," said Harry.

"Come on, Maybourne," said Jack with an annoyed shake of his head.

"Seriously," said Harry. "The intelligence Teal'c has given us on the Goa'uld is valuable beyond measure. As the First Prime of Apophis, he has been able to tell us about dozens of worlds, the distribution of many of the Goa'uld forces, their economy, where we can find smaller, easier to raid targets. Hell, he even knows where some Goa'uld manufacturing planets are."

"So it has nothing to do with turning this bug into some sort of super-biological weapon then?" asked Jack, "Like you were trying to do with the Broca virus."

"That's part of it too," said Maybourne, not at all worried or upset at Jack's accusation. "But even without that, or the need for some way to fight these bugs so we can take Svoriin from them, the majority of our knowledge of the Goa'uld comes from Teal'c, and we probably haven't touched the sides of what he knows but hasn't thought to tell us."

Jack grunted. Unhappy with the fact Maybourne was making sense, again.

"Come on Jack, I think you're making the brainiacs nervous standing here staring at them," said Maybourne. "Go get some shuteye and we'll debrief. If anybody goes back, they are going to need your experiences. These bugs might not be able to hurt when you are phased, but we can't search medical records or research their computers like that. If there is information on where these things came from, if they are a weapon or just an experiment gone bad, the information is on Svoriin, so you know you are going to want to be on the team that goes back."

Jack hrrumphed again, but didn't object.

Teal'c had really, really better appreciate this.

#

ALTAIR BIODOME

'I think I've found something," said Samantha Carter, stepping from the stasis pod the Game Keeper was allowing them to use.

"Excellent, excellent!" crooned the Keeper, helping her out. "The new interface is working. Soon we shall have all of your former guest's memories to explore. Not to mention the memories of those special guests Colonel Maybourne promised."

"Er, I wouldn't go that far," said Sam cautiously. "It was all a bit jumbled up and not perfectly clear."

The Keeper had not forgiven them for freeing the previous residents from his machines and setting them loose to violate the world he had carefully spent a thousand years cultivating, but he was much more accommodating since they had began bringing him people who wanted to use his excellent Virtual Reality facilities.

Usually it was for training or as an advanced design aid, but the NID expressed interest in using the Keeper's mindreading machines as an interrogation tool. Especially if it could read Goa'uld minds.

"So what did you see?" asked Robot Sam.

Sam knew her robot counterpart was a bit annoyed the mindreading machines did not work for her, but it barely showed.

"Looks like the gate address of the Tok'ra," answered Sam.

"Colonel Maybourne is not going to be happy we haven't managed to see Jolinar's memories of the Goa'uld technology," said Robot Jack, coming over to put an arm around Robot Sam's shoulders and place a small kiss on her cheek.

Robot Sam smiled happily.

"That is still disconcerting," said Sam, shaking her head.

"Remember," said Robot Sam, "We're not military anymore."

Her robot status might preclude her from the Keeper's virtual reality machine, but it obviously did have its own benefits, but that was a whole kettle of fish Sam did not want to think about if she could avoid it.

"Anyway," said Robot Jack. "Tok'ra gate address? That sounds like there is going to be another interesting mission coming up for you."

"Always is," agreed Sam. "Always is."

#

TOK'RA WORLD

"We mean you no harm," said what Jack assumed was a Tok'ra. "But I warn you, if you make any aggressive moves, we will fire upon you."

"Same here," said Jack, keeping a wary eye on the ring of Staff weapons surrounding them.

The Tok'ra laughed, and Jack seriously considered walking through the prick, since his armband was already activated.

"Jack," said Daniel in the long drawn out 'warning' tone Jack new so well. "Remember why we are here, to make friends, not start a fight. Right?"

"Yeah, yeah," said Jack, letting his gun fall to his side. "I know."

The things he put up with in the name of peace.

#

TOK'RA UNDERGROUND BASE

"I do not believe you could be of any service to us. You are neither strong enough, nor advanced enough," said Garshaw dismissively.

He was really starting to piss Jack off now.

"You are incorrect," said Teal'c. "The Tau'ri have already had many successes against Goa'uld and have advanced considerably in the short time I have known them."

"You mean by stealing technology they don't understand and using it to kill? Bah, you are no better than-"

"Yes, exactly," interrupted Jack. "We took technology supposedly too advanced for us and used it to destroy Goa'uld. We will one day understand it, make no mistake, but in the mean time, we can and will do everything we can to stop the Goa'uld. If you have a problem with that, then we will leave, but a smart man would see the opportunity to strike back an ally like us gives you."

"What sort of an alliance could an unblended human and the Tok'ra have?" asked Garshaw. "The mere idea of blending disgusts you."

"But we are not the only people on Earth," said Daniel. "Or the only people fighting the Goa'uld. If we have an aversion to, er blending, it's because of our experiences with Goa'uld. There are many on Earth, and on other planets, who would likely jump at the chance to be a host."

"If that is the case, I'm sure you could find a suitable host for Selmak then," challenge Garshaw.

"Sure," said Jack. "No problem, but what are you going to offer in exchange? So far I haven't seen anything particularly impressive."

Damn it. Harry's attitude was rubbing off on him more and more every day.

#

SG-1 gaped in awe as a tunnel lined in glowing blue crystals grew in front of them. Within minutes, new rooms and corridors were complete.

"Yeah," said Jack to nobody in particular. "Harry will find you as many hosts as you want. Hell, he might even want to be one himself."

#

"The security risk is too great. It is our wish that your lack of return will convince your superiors that we are Goa'uld and not Tok'ra," said Garshaw looking far too smug for Jack's liking.

"You want them to think that we're dead," said Daniel.

"Well that kinda sucks," said Jack.

"I'm sorry. We will try to make you as comfortable as possible," said Garshaw.

"Nah, that's not going to cut it," said Jack activating his armband and stepping backwards into the wall behind him.

The Tok'ra erupted in confusion and the rest of SG-1 took the opportunity to follow suit, emerging at their previously designated rendezvous several minutes later.

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"We are sending a delegation back before they have a chance to leave," said Hammond.

"But it was a bust," said Jack. "They only want us for our bodies – wait that didn't sound right."

"Why would we send anybody back? There is no point unless..." started Daniel.

"Major General Jacob Carter has been fully briefed and has volunteered to be a host," said Hammond.

"Sam's dad?" asked Daniel.

"He arrived after obtaining clearance, searching for Captain Carter, and is currently dying from cancer," explained Hammond. "Rather than be healed by the sarcophagus, he has volunteered to be a host."

"Maybourne wants a man on the inside, eh?" asked Jack. "Can't say I didn't see that coming."

"Jacob understands that blending with this Selmak will likely mean he cannot share any information with us," said Hammond.

"But we'll have somebody on our side in their ranks," finished Daniel. "A sympathetic ear, as such."

"Worth a shot," admitted Jack. "The Major General isn't likely to be able to give away too much about our operations here, if he only just got clearance."

"Let us hope he is more forthcoming than the other Tok'ra," said Teal'c.

#

"I have come to give you thanks," said Selmak. "You have saved my life, and through this host, I have learned the Tau'ri have many things to offer to the Tok'ra."

"Can we speak to Jacob?" asked Hammond.

A moment later the eerie double voice of the Symbiote was replaced by Jacob's normal voice.

"Howdy folks," he said, opening his arms to embrace Sam. "I've got to tell you, George, you made the right call on this. The Tok'ra are the good guys."

"So what do we have to offer?" asked Jack. "They didn't seem much impressed with us before."

"Training," said Jacob. "Despite the fact they have centuries of experience, their operations suck. I managed to expose a Goa'uld double agent within a few hours of being there!"

"Are they were supposedly worried about Earth exposing their secrets," said Jack bitterly.

"Yeah, they really need some serious help," agreed Jacob. "So here is the deal. You find a couple of other likely candidates with the appropriate mindsets and training, and the Tok'ra will share intelligence they gather. Their ability to infiltrate Goa'uld operations is considerable, for obvious reasons. They'll be able to point out isolated bases and some targets of opportunity."

"And the crystal tunnel thing?" asked Jack hopefully. "I've been waiting to make a wine cellar for ages..."

Jacob laughed while the rest of the room hung or shook their heads at Jack's irreverence.

"Maybe one day, when they need specialised equipment or something," said Jacob. "At the moment they tend to travel light, not even keeping their own ships or secure storage bases, so every time they need something, they have to acquire it or build it from scratch. Earth has access to resources the Tok'ra normally find very dangerous to obtain."

"Sounds fair," said Jack. "But who's going to tell Harry he won't be getting a shiny new secret underground lair anytime soon?"

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"So the NID recently sent a team back to the repository of knowledge from PB2-908," said Daniel.

"PB2-908? That's Heliopolis, right? Ernest's planet? How did we get a ship all the way there?" asked Jack. "I thought it was like a year away or something, or did we send the fast ship? Klorel's one."

"It's a relatively close world, that's why they were able to manually dial it," explained Carter. "Have they managed to recover the Stargate from the ocean? It's unlikely the fall damaged it, even if most of the cliff landed up on top."

"They're not actually there yet, but anyway, some of the symbols I filmed there match with these images from P3R-272," explained Daniel. "I am positive they belong to an ally of the Asgard, and that makes it well worth a trip to investigate them further."

"All right," said Jack. "But if there are any bugs there, I'm coming home."

#

P3R-272 – Gate room

"Lucky we don't need a door if we want to leave," said Jack, rapping his knuckles one of the walls of the small room, "because the guy who designed this place really sucks at interior design."

"There's power and lights, and a breathable atmosphere, Sir, so there must be a reason for this room," said Carter.

"Are you able to read the inscription, DanielJackson," asked Teal'c, watching Daniel copy the writing into his notepad.

"No, but it is definitely the same language. Once we get that repository from PB2-908, it will be a lot easier to figure out," answered Daniel, continuing to make notes.

"Whoa," said Jack as part of the wall suddenly extended out towards him. "I wonder what this is for?"

#

SGC INFIRMARY

"Well, what's the worst-case scenario?" asked Daniel.

"Your computer analogy is pretty good. Colonel, your hard drive has been filled with information that is written in a language your computer doesn't understand. If it continues to progress the way it has so far, you may eventually lose the ability to comprehend us. Or, worse, your computer could shut down all together," said Janet, a worry frown creasing her face.

"Great," said Jack. "I don't even own a computer and I get to 'blue-screen'?"

"How do you even know what that is?" asked Daniel.

Jack angrily replied in the alien language, and Daniel was glad he did not understand it.

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"General, if O'Neill really does have the knowledge of the gate builders in his skull, we cannot afford to lose him. He could potentially unravel all the most advanced technologies we have encountered. Technologies that make the Goa'uld look like cave-men," said Maybourne.

"I am more concerned about losing one of my best operatives, Colonel," said Hammond.

"That's why we have to take him to Altair as soon as possible. The stasis pods there are our best chance to keep him alive until a solution can be found," repeated Maybourne.

"Harlan's world? You just want to try to have another robot made of him," accused Daniel angrily.

Harry didn't even blink at the attack.

"If possible, yes. Imagine what we could learn from a robot copy of O'Neil that has all of his current knowledge," he said. "Look at how much you have gained just by having Jack read every piece of the Gate builder's writing you have on hand. We even have a perfect schematic of the DHD's now."

"General, Harlan was unable to make a stable copy of Teal'c due to his Symbiote. It's unlikely he will be able to copy Colonel O'Neill with whatever is happening inside of his head," reasoned Carter.

"But it won't hurt to try, and Jack will be safe inside the stasis pod. Your robot counterpart has tested them thoroughly and repaired many of the systems that had fallen into disrepair," argued Maybourne. "Those pods are the only chance we have of extending Jack's life."

Hammond sat quietly for a moment, watching Jack, who was sitting with his head on his hands on the table. It was obvious he could no longer understand them.

"The mission is a go," he said. "But Colonel Maybourne, the priority is to get Colonel O'Neill into a stasis pod and stabilised. Under no circumstances are you to endanger him in your attempts to make a robot copy. Understand?"

"Understood, Sir," said Maybourne, quickly standing up.

"Jack is not going to be happy about this," said Daniel. "Any of them."

"Indeed," agreed Teal'c.

#

ALTAIR: HARLANS LABORATORY

"Jack, can you understand me?" asked Daniel.

Jack looked around; appearing confused, but then nodded.

"Jack, you are a robot – a copy. Look," said Daniel, pointing to one of the pods.

Jack looked a bit startled, but then understanding dawned as he saw the other pod with the incomplete Teal'c still in it.

"Comtraya!" called Harlan excitedly. "It's wonderful to have another person to keep us company!"

Daniel wasn't sure what it was Jack said next, but he was pretty sure he could guess.

Swearing had a universal language all of its own.

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"So what you are saying is the changes have stopped, because the robot does not have actual DNA," concluded Hammond.

"Yes sir, and the increased, er, capacity, and knowledge placed inside by Harlan's duplicator has allowed Robot Jack 2 to regain understanding of our language, although he is still unable to speak it at this point in time," explained Carter.

"Which hardly matters since he has been able to write a program to translate between Alteran and English," added Daniel.

"It's incredible how much he has been able to tell us, but he doesn't seem to have a lot of control over what knowledge he can access, possibly because the transformation is incomplete," Carter said excitedly.

"Any progress on getting the real Colonel O'Neill cured and back with us?" asked Hammond.

There was an uncomfortable silence as Daniel and Sam tried to put their news into words.

"The latest copy of ColonelO'Neill has built a device, using a power core from a Jaffa Staff weapon and several components taken from other equipment," said Teal'c.

"He is not actually sure what it does, but he says it was in the forefront of Jack's mind and he couldn't rest until he had built it," said Daniel.

"I am confident it is to help 'cure' him of his affliction in some manner," said Teal'c. "ColonelO'Neill was most concerned with returning to his normal state, and that would have been occupying his thoughts at the time of his duplication."

"Yes, well, it appears to be some sort of super-capacitor," said Carter. "Robot Jack 2-"

"Do were really have to call him that?" interrupted Daniel.

"He did insist, DanielJackson," said Teal'c.

"Robot Jack 2," continued Carter, "believes the device needs to be connected to the Stargate and has something to do with the dialling program Colonel O'Neill wrote. So far we have dozens of new addresses, but none of them are the right one."

"So we just wait for the program to finish and then use this device to dial the address it calculates?" asked Hammond. "What is 'Robot jack 2' doing in the mean time?"

"Maybourne has him working with the other robots on some of the Tollan and Goa'uld devices," said Daniel. "He seems to think even the partial knowledge the repository has given Robot Jack 2 will help with figuring out exactly how the Tollan devices work and how we can build our own versions."

"Well people, if there is nothing else?" asked Hammond.

"Sir, I'd like to go to Altair and see if I can get Jack 2 to translate some more of the writing from Heliopolis I have on tape. He could be the Rosetta stone we need for translating all four of the languages there," said Daniel.

"I'd like to return to P3R-272 with a copy of the super-capacitor we have made. The repository appears to be out of power now, but the capacitor might be able to power it up enough for us to gain a computer interface."

"Very well, but under no circumstances are you to allow anybody to be put into the same position as Colonel O'Neill now finds himself. Understood?

"Dismissed."

#

SGC GATE ROOM

Most of the lights in the Gate and control rooms were out, temporarily out of power as the super capacitor overcharged the Gate to dial the eighth chevron and blow half the circuits in the base.

"We can't let you go through," said Harry Maybourne, standing in front of the Stargate facing the second Robot copy of Jack O'Neill. "You might be acting against the bests interests of Earth. Come on Jack, if you are still in there, you know the security risk is too great."

Robot Jack 2 paused for a moment before speaking into the box attached to a chain around his neck.

"The cure for Jack is on the other side of that wormhole," came the translation from the box. "It's the Asgard Galaxy, I know it. They will help. They are the only ones who can help."

"Then we'll send a M.A.L.P," said Harry. "We can establish communications and make sure it's not some kind of trap."

Robot Jack 2 said nothing for a second, looking at the NID Colonel intently.

"I want to help Jack too," said Harry. "But you know we can risk exposing the sensitive information inside of your head, even if it is the Asgard. You don't need to go through. It's the original Jack's thoughts pushing the need to go, not your own."

Robot Jack 2 didn't say anything for a moment, apparently considering Maybourne's words. The armed soldiers pointing their weapons at him shifted nervously, but Harry stood stock still in front of the gate.

Robot Jack 2 spoke again.

"Okay," translated the voice box. "Send a M.A.L.P., tell the Asgard what's happened and ask them for help then."

Harry smiled and held out his hand for Robot Jack 2 to shake.

"Stand down," ordered Hammond from the control room. "Nobody is going to get shot today."

"We are going to need another super capacitor," sighed Harry. "That makes about the tenth one so far."

"And some more light bulbs," added Robot Jack 2.

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"So you don't remember any of it?" asked Daniel.

"Nope," said Jack. "The Asgard said it wasn't meant for us."

"What about him then?" asked Daniel, looking over to where Robot Jack 2 was showing Carter the new power supply the robots had made for themselves using the cold fusion root from Hadante.

They still intended on remaining on Altair with the resources of Harlan's factories and laboratories, but they could now spend weeks away from there, if required, thanks to the new 'batteries'.

"Yeah, I didn't mention him, since I didn't actually know about him until I got back," said Jack, sounding a bit annoyed.

"I believe ColonelMaybourne was insistent that the existence of Robot Jack 2 was not mentioned to the Asgard," said Teal'c. "He was possibly afraid the Asgard would have taken the knowledge from Robot Jack 2 as well."

"Yeah, right. Trust Harry to keep that quiet," said Jack. "And P3R-272, the repository?"

"Sam thinks she can get it working again, if we can find a better power source," said Daniel.

"Probably better if we don't for a while," said Jack. "I don't think the Asgard would appreciate us barging in on them again to get somebody else cured."

"Jack, you don't think Maybourne will put somebody else into it, do you?" asked Daniel.

Jack just looked at him, his what-do-you-reckon expression answering Daniel without the need for words.

#

ALIEN PLANET

"There!" said Teal'c, pointing at the sky.

But it wasn't a ship normally used by the Tok'ra coming in.

A Deathglider came screaming down towards them, with heavy fire coming from above it. The huge bursts missed the agile craft, but smoke was already trailing from it, indicating heavy damage.

"Drop!" shouted O'Neill, his hand automatically seeking his armband even he fell.

All four SG-1 members were quickly intangible as each of them activated their Phase devices. Doing so at the first sign of danger had almost become second nature.

The glider continued on its barely controlled decent, overshooting them and crashing into the far side of a hill.

Quickly, but cautiously, SG-1 approached the crash site, and found Apophis weakly crawling from the smoking wreckage.

For a moment, O'Neill was determined just to shoot the Goa'uld, and even went as far as raising his gun before a horrible thought entered his mind.

Maybourne would have him whipped if he didn't capture the 'God'. The potential insight into Goa'uld technology and strategies was enormous.

"Help me," groaned Apophis. "Tau'ri, please. I demand Kal Mah!"

It almost wasn't enough to stop Jack, but the sudden appearance of more gliders distracted him, and he raised his Gauss rifle to shoot at the attacking planes, dialling it to maximum force.

The Hypervelocity rounds made a dull boom as they left the barrel of weapon and streaked upwards to strike the glider, punching holes right the way through the outer wing and sending it careering out of control.

He really loved these new guns, especially since they could be fired while still out of phase, but they were another reminder of why Maybourne would spank him for not bringing back Apophis.

Carter and Teal'c quickly accounted for another glider each while Daniel deactivated his armband and knelt next to Apophis, pulling out one of the new 'Medikits' from a pouch to slap on the Goa'uld's chest.

Ultra-fine needles pierced the burnt and torn clothing to lodge themselves into Apophis's chest, and after a blindingly fast analysis, a cocktail of drugs flowed into the System Lord's body. Apophis at first looked terrified by Jackson's actions, and struggled, weakly trying to tear the unknown device from his chest, but the drugs entering his system quickly took effect, and he relaxed as the pain of his wounds quickly subsided.

Then Daniel took out a Zat and shot him.

"What?" he asked when Carter gave him an incredulous look. "If he dies we can always use a sarcophagus to bring him back, and I much prefer him unconscious."

Jack fired a few more rounds at the remaining Death gliders before turning to Daniel.

"Sure, but you're carrying him to the gate," he said. "Harry is just going to love this."

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"We are not putting him into a Sarcophagus," said Hammond. "He will get all the care we can give him using normal Earth Medicine, but unless he starts making it worth our while, he will be allowed to die. So far he is insistent that he will not help unless he is given a new host, and has expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of Sokar destroying our planet, even if it means his death. We do not want him to know we have access to a Sarcophagus."

"Why did we bother bringing him back?" asked Jack. "I missed out on shooting him for nothing?"

"Jack, we had to bring him back," said Daniel.

"Oh sure, you can say that. After all, you got to shoot him," replied Jack testily.

"Indeed," agreed Teal'c. "It was most uncharitable of you, DanielJackson."

"Highlight of my week," agreed Daniel, grinning broadly.

"Sokar's attack against the iris will fail. The combination of a modified Goa'uld personal shield to absorb most of the energy heating the Iris and superconducting cooling to take the rest is effectively neutralising it," said Carter.

"Why don't we just dial out the next time there is a break and keep the wormhole open like we did the first time?" asked Daniel. "Why let him dial back in again and again?"

"By allowing Sokar to continue his attack without any apparent damage, we are proving it is worthless. Eventually he will give up, and he will know it is useless to ever try it again," explained Sam.

"And then what?"

"Then we open negotiations with Sokar," said Maybourne.

"Wait, we are going to sell Apophis? That's a little, er, evil, isn't it?"

"Once he is dead, we have no use for him," said Hammond. "We will give him the best aid we have, but once he is dead, he is no longer under our care."

"That's stepping mighty close to a very fine line, General," said Daniel.

"It is not my decision to make, Daniel," said Hammond. "But can you honestly say you feel obligated to go out on a limb for this animal?"

"Will Sokar still want him?" asked Jack. "If he has gone to meet his G-, well, himself I guess..."

"It is possible Sokar's may wish to revive Aphopis using his own sarcophagus," suggested Teal'c.

"That's what our analysts are saying," said Maybourne. "We haven't found the all the limits of the Sarcophagus's ability, but it has not always been able to revive some of the people who have gone into it. Considering just how damaged Apophis is, there is a very good chance Sokar will be wasting his time."

"Very, very fine line," repeated Daniel solemnly.

An uncomfortable moment of silence passed as even Maybourne considered the dangerous precedent they were setting.

"So, how much do you think we'll get for him?" asked Jack brightly. "I'll settle for a carton of beer, and maybe some chips."

#

SGC INFORMARY

"Jack, tell them I am Daniel," said the ancient looking man. "I just got out of a sarcophagus, I feel like somebody has tied a knot in my spine, and nobody recognises me! What the hell happened?"

"Er, what's the last thing you remember?" asked Jack, appearing a bit too hesitant for Daniel's liking.

"You mean before three armed goons dragged me out of the coffin?" he asked, shooting a look at the guards still standing close by. "No offence guys."

One of the soldiers nodded in acceptance of the apology, having been referred to by a lot worse names in his time as an infirmary guard.

"Yes, before you woke up," clarified Jack.

"We had just met Ma'Chello and he asked me to help him with some sort of weapon. I grabbed it and – oh no, he did something to me didn't he? Why the hell did you let me switch off my armband?"

"Well you can't exactly interact when you are out of phase," said Jack.

"Yes, that's why we wear them, right?"

"Hey you are the one who rushed over to him," said Jack. "I didn't tell you to."

"But-"

"Enough!" said Janet, stepping between them and taking Daniel's chin into one hand while the other lifted a torch up to shine into his eyes. "I am assuming this really is Daniel then?"

"What's that meant to mean?" asked Daniel. "What's happened to me?"

"Yeah, it's him," said Jack. "And Daniel, you are sort of going to want a mirror for this."

#

SGC BRIEFING ROOM

"Okay, now everybody is back in their own bodies, what do we have?" asked Hammond.

"Maybourne is already drooling about the body-swap thing," said Jack, a hint of disgust in his voice.

"I am not surprised," said Carter. "It is the perfect infiltration device. You can put an agent into anybody's body and imitate them."

"Ma'Chello is considered a genius amongst the Goa for the cunning of his inventions," said Teal'c. "They wanted him captured in order to obtain his knowledge."

"But he is a crackpot," finished Jack, sounding rather annoyed.

"It's not that his inventions don't work," said Carter.

"It's just that he is a nutter," said Jack.

"He was captured and tortured," said Teal'c. "It is not unheard of for people's minds to break under such treatments."

"Yeah well, his might not be completely broken, but it's bent like a banana and only half as useful," said Jack despondently.

"That's a bit unfair," said Daniel. "He is helping us reach a new understanding of Goa'uld technology, and he is much more coherent now that his body has been repaired by the Sarcophagus, while I was wearing it."

"Flesh-burrowing, mechanical worms, Daniel? Almost invisible, Flesh-burrowing, mechanical worms, that attack everybody indiscriminately and drives them insane with visions? That's not a super weapon, that's a time bomb in your trouser pocket."

"He has many other technologies with potential," said Carter. "And his bed is something we can duplicate now. It's not quite true hibernation, or as good as Harlan's stasis pods, but it will keep even a severely injured patient alive for years, possibly decades."

"If it doesn't steal your soul and implant it in a flesh-burrowing worm," mumbled Jack.

"Be that as it may," said Hammond, regaining control of the conversation. "He has agreed to share his technology with us to fight the Goa'uld, and even if he doesn't currently have the Goa'uld empire destroying weapons he promised, every little bit helps. I'll have Colonel Maybourne assign one of his scientific teams to work with Ma'Chello. Well done."

"Hopefully that will keep the indiscriminate worms out of our flesh," said Jack darkly.

#

SGC INFIRMARY

"Captain, you're our physics expert here. Is it possible there's one of these Reetou standing here that we can't perceive?" asked General Hammond.

"Theoretically it is possible, sir, yes. I mean, according to the physics we have learned from studying the Tollan devices, matter exists both in particles and waves," answered Carter. "lf the Reetou manipulate their waves in a similar way to the Tollans, they could possibly be putting them exactly 180 degrees out of phase with ours right down to the sub-atomic level, then their light and sound waves would be undetectable by us. Our phasing armbands do not take us that far 'around'."

"So if we activate our armbands...?" asked Jack.

"That's a possibility," agreed Carter.

Without another word, Jack slapped the activating crystals on his armband. Immediately a six legged, insect-like creature shimmered into view, right where Charlie had indicated.

"Whoa," Jack shouted involuntarily while instinctively reaching for his gun, which he was not carrying.

The insect, the Reetou, also reacted, jumping backwards and raising her 'arms' in an obviously defensive manner as it realised Jack could see it.

"I assume you can now see it," stated Hammond.

"Oh yeah," said Jack, stiffly, unable to take his eyes off the horror sitting just a few metres away. "And believe me, when I tell you I think I know why it decided to be invisible."

"Mother says you are very rude," said Charlie in a disapproving tone.

#

SGC GATE ROOM

"So, these Goa'uld Trans thingies, can we make them, I don't know, a little less, Goa'uld-like?" asked Jack, lifting the rather silly looking weapon.

"Transphase Eradication Rod. Sorry, sir," said the NID technician distributing the new guns. "The manufacturing facilities from the Ha'Tak Mothership had the design, but we still don't understand it well enough to change it."

"Any luck with the Tollan side of things?" asked Jack.

"We are still working on the data recovered from the salvaged equipment, but it has given us a much better understanding of the principles behind the armbands and these weapons."

"So, no chance of getting an upgraded armband that makes us invisible too?"

"Possibly, in a year or two," said the technician. "But the Goa'uld will be able to feel you."

"Yeah, good point," said Jack, wiggling the large gun in an attempt to get a better hold on it. "Well, so long as it does the job, I guess."

#

REETALIA

"Whoa, that's a lot of bugs," whispered Jack.

Below them, on the other side of the small hill, an army of Reetou gathered. It was hard to say exactly what they were doing, but their ordered lines and squad sized grouping certainly looked very military.

"Are we certain they are indeed rebels intent on invading Earth?" asked Teal'c.

"Not very trusting of mother, are you?" asked Jack.

Teal'c replied with a frown, which was really all Jack needed as an answer.

"Okay, new plan," said Jack. "We need to capture one or two of these guys to interrogate to find out if what Mother has been telling us is true. Let's head back to the gate. We'll turn off the armbands, or maybe just pretend they are off, and let a patrol see us going through. If they follow and try to sneak into the base, we know they are up to no good. Otherwise we can talk to them and find out their side of the story."

Teal'c did not look happy at the prospect of being so close to a Reetou, but followed orders.

#

SGC INFIRMARY

"So there is an army of insectoid warriors with plasma gun arms, intent on wiping out all humans and other host creatures in order to destroy the Goa'uld," asked Daniel, looking distastefully at the still smoking corpse of one of the Reetou that followed the SG teams back.

"Seems that way," said Jack, keeping his eye on the stunned but still alive Reetou strapped to the gurney nearby. His arm was in a sling but the wound from the Reetou weapon was not bad, thanks to the upgraded armour all SGC teams now wore.

"I mean, maybe they had another reason for following you and opening fire when they realised they were visible," said Daniel hopefully. "Maybe they could be peaceful if not threatened."

"Not likely, and given the whole 'cutting their arm off and replacing with a freaking big gun' thing that they have going on," said Jack, "No, I really don't think they are looking for peaceful communications."

"Well, with the new detectors, and the TER guns, they won't be invading through the Stargate anytime soon," said Daniel. "So I guess, that's that."

Jack just looked at Daniel.

"Right?" Daniel asked.

Jack leaned his head to one side and kept staring at Daniel.

That's not that, is it?" asked Daniel.

"No."

"We going to send a bomb through, again, aren't we?" he sighed in exasperation.

"Oh yeah."

"Another nuke?"

"Nope, we have something special this time. Harry had his boys cook up a nice little package of the same combination Nirrti put inside Cassandra's chest."

"Big boom?"

"Really big boom," confirmed Jack.

"You know, sending a bomb through didn't really work out that well last time, with Ra. I mean, sure it saved yours and my lives, but it sort of started an interstellar war and stirred up a whole ants nest of trouble," said Daniel. "Do we really want to do something similar again, especially when they can't reach Earth?"

"Daniel, Earth is not their only target, and we can't protect everywhere."

"So we are just going to nuke them?"

"Just the rebels," said Jack. "And maybe their Stargate, since it kind of will be in range of the bomb. Mother has gone back with a warning for the government, although she won't have a lot of time before the bomb goes off."

"That really doesn't make me feel any better," said Daniel.

"Me either," admitted Jack, "but unless you want to accept the possibility of facing invisible six legged bugs with plasma cannons for arms on every planet we go to..."

Daniel was silent for a moment as the pair watched doctors and scientists working to remove the vicious looking weapon from the captured soldier's arm.

"You know, I'm surprised Maybourne isn't here insisting we figure out how that graft was done," said Daniel. "Between that and the invisibility, I sort of expected him to be here drooling again."

"Where do you think the other bodies went?" asked Jack.

#

Thanks to Alphafightclub, Jbern, GenoBeast and DragonForce for ideas in this chapter. Just a reminder, I will not be covering all the seasons and episodes of the TV series.Don't expect many more chapters. :(