'You OK, kid?' Dixon placed a hand on her shoulder as Cassie sat down shakily on the steps.

She nodded, suppressing the urge to hurl the meagre lunch she'd managed to eat. She couldn't remember feeling this sick the last time she'd walked through the Stargate.

Dixon grinned at her sympathetically. 'It gets better.'

'That's so reassuring.' Cassie quipped. He held out his hand to her and she grasped it allowing him to pull her upright and off the steps.

They headed down to the DHD and Vala handed her some water. Cassie gratefully took a hesitant sip, washing the metallic taste that lingered in her mouth. She looked around the camp with interest; the grey buildings to the left that constituted the base, the training grounds to the right. A runaway stretched out in the far distance, a 302 taking flight into the clear blue sky.

Dixon swept his cap off and crumpled it in one hand. 'OK. I understand you ladies want to go to Hak'tyl?' He gestured at Captain Kellog to begin dialling.

'That's right.' Vala agreed brightly. Her eyes gave away her bravado.

'Look,' Dixon stared at the ground for a moment before he looked back up at the two of them, 'we all know why you're going and most of us wish we were going with you.' He gestured with his cap at Vala. 'You know the schedules for the SG teams for the next month. You need any of us; you call and we'll be there.'

Cassie swallowed hard around the lump in her throat as the sincere offer of help triggered a rush of emotion. She looked away to hide her tears, blinking furiously to clear her vision.

'Thank you.' Vala replied.

Cassie could hear the catch in Vala's voice; she had also been moved by Dixon's words.

'Bring 'em home.' Dixon ordered. He tapped Cassie on the arm. 'And you: make sure you come back alive because I am not having SG1 tear me a new one for letting you go off to find them, you got that?'

Cassie rolled her eyes. What was with everyone thinking they were letting her do this? It had been her decision. But she didn't argue, nodding instead.

The wormhole erupted again and Cassie looked at it in trepidation remembering the sickening journey she had just undertaken.

'Colonel Dixon is right. It does get better with practice.' Vala assured her.

'Yeah,' Cassie muttered, 'right.' She fell into step beside the other woman and stepped back through the Stargate. The journey was as dizzyingly terrifying as the last but Cassie was pleased to step out on the other side a shade less nauseous than before.

Two of the Hak'tyl warriors pointed their staff weapons at them. 'State your business.'

'We're here to see Rya'c, son of Teal'c.' Vala said formally.

'You are Vala Mal Doran.' The left guard shifted her staff weapon to a vertical position and nodded at her companion to do the same. 'We have met.'

'That's right,' Vala smiled tightly, 'Tya'na, correct?'

'Correct.' Tya'na pointed toward the path. 'Rya'c is in the village. We will contact Ishta and tell her of your arrival.' She removed a small Goa'uld communication ball from a pouch on her belt.

Cassie kept the hard pace Vala set as they walked to the village and Cassie was quickly pleased that she kept in shape. The former thief had warned Cassie after their initial discussion that Cassie would need to keep up off-world and Vala was being true to her word. The path was heavily wooded and narrow it made it difficult for anyone to approach the settlement without warning. Cassie noticed something that looked like a rabbit dart through the undergrowth.

'They're baagts.' Vala commented unexpectedly.

Vala sounded as though she was taking an afternoon stroll around a park, Cassie thought sourly. 'Baagts?' She winced at her own breathlessness. She guessed her jogging around her neighbourhood hadn't exactly prepared her for treks through alien forests.

'They thrive in these types of planets where the gravity is a touch stronger than normal.' Vala said.

'The gravity?' Cassie hadn't noticed anything different.

'You're probably finding it difficult to walk at this pace because your body is so attuned to Earth gravity.' Vala said conversationally. 'Most planets are close enough that you can't tell the difference but with some the difference is shaded just enough to make things seem harder than they would be if we were doing the same thing on Earth.'

'Great.' Cassie said dryly. 'So if you knew this why are you trying to set a new world record for speed-walking?'

'I wanted to make sure you'd keep up.' Vala slowed her pace and stopped. She handed Cassie the water flask again.

Cassie took the water and gulped back a healthy amount before handing it back. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. 'We're not going to get very far if you don't trust me to hold up my end.'

'It's not about trust,' began Vala, waving the water bottle.

Cassie raised an eyebrow in a fair imitation of Teal'c.

'OK,' Vala clarified, 'it is about trust but...' she stopped and sighed heavily. 'I'm used to working alone.'

'You were part of SG1.' Cassie argued.

'Yes, and look how that's turned out.' Vala retorted. She turned away to hide the devastation on her face but Cassie glimpsed it anyway.

'Vala.' Cassie struggled to find the words. What could she say? They'd both lost a family when SG1 had disappeared. She took a step toward the older woman and placed a hand on her arm. 'We're going to find them.'

Vala sniffed, giving away evidence of tears that she hadn't been able to hold back.

'I know them and I know they've survived somehow because that's what they do.' Cassie squeezed Vala's arm gently.

Vala looked at her, searchingly. 'I guess that's what we do too.'

Cassie hadn't thought of it that way but she nodded. 'We're going to find them.' She repeated.

Vala pulled a surprised Cassie into her arms for a quick hug. 'I just...miss them.' The words were whispered quietly as though Vala was confessing some big sin.

'Me too.' Cassie murmured.

Vala pulled away abruptly, swiped under her eyes and breathed in deeply. 'Now, tell me honestly,' she paused for effect and then waved at her face, 'did my mascara run?'

Cassie's lips quirked upward. 'You look fine.'

Vala gestured at the bags. 'Come on. We should make a move.'

The rest of the walk was made in silence but at a much better pace. They reached the settlement and Cassie took a moment to drink in the sight of Hak'tyl. It had become one of the most popular Jaffa settlements since the end of the Ori war according to Teal'c and she could see why. There was an order in the structures; the dusty pathways were clean and tidy. The small streets were bustling with people who were well-dressed. It was a society that was cared for; one which took pride in itself. Several of the Jaffa greeted them with a nod and a smile as Cassie and Vala made their way to the Council building at the centre.

Rya'c met them on the steps of the small structure. He wore a simple outfit of leather leggings and a brown canvas tunic belted at the waist with a leather belt which had a knife sheath attached. His hair was short; shaved close to the skull. Cassie smiled at him, genuinely happy to see him; they had met a few times over the years.

'Rya'c.' Cassie bounded up the last few steps.

'Cassandra Fraiser.' Rya'c's dark eyes were warm as they regarded her but they sobered quickly. 'You bring news of my father? Have SG1 been found?'

'Not exactly.' Vala suggested. 'Perhaps we should continue this inside with Ishta. She should be waiting for us.'

'Of course.' Rya'c turned and motioned for them to follow. 'This way.' He strode up the steps and both women hurried to keep up with him.

Ishta had kept the government seat of Hak'tyl simple and elegant. Cassie admired the restrained decor and sleek lines as they were shown straight through to what was clearly a reception room for visitors. The decor was plain but the room was bright with sunshine.

Vala dropped the bags she carried and flopped onto the wide upholstered bench by the door. 'Oh, that's good.'

Cassie placed her own bag on the floor and rotated her shoulder gingerly.

Rya'c turned to them eagerly but before he could speak Ishta swept into the room. Her dress was similar to Rya'c's and only softened by a more feminine cut to the tunic and Ishta's own womanly body and appearance; her blonde hair flowed down her back.

She gave Cassie a brief glance; they had only met once that Cassie could recall. Ishta rarely left the SGC base when she visited Earth and her visits had been rarer since Teal'c had aged in a time dilation bubble. Cassie wondered at that but Teal'c had always kept his own counsel on the matter of his love life.

Ishta's attention moved to Vala. 'There is news of Teal'c?'

Vala stood slowly. 'The SGC thinks it's probable that SG1 have been captured by the Lucian Alliance.'

Ishta glowered unhappily and whirled away, heading for the tall windows. 'Juka path!'

Cassie's eyes widened as she translated in her head and came up with snivelling excrement.

'Yes,' Vala said mildly, 'but I rather think the Alliance is a convenient explanation that someone was hoping we'd accept.'

Rya'c stared at her. 'You believe there is another explanation?'

'I don't know.' Vala admitted, her frustration shining from her eyes. 'But I'd prefer to question the Cartegians myself.'

Rya'c's gaze swept over her and Cassie. Cassie could see him take in their attire and come to the right conclusion. 'You are going after them.'

'Yes.' Cassie said. 'We're not waiting.'

Ishta turned back to them, her surprise evident. 'You have left the SGC?'

'Left Earth.' Vala agreed cheerily. 'Striking out on our own.'

Cassie couldn't help notice that Ishta looked at them as though they were mad.

'Is this wise?' Ishta asked carefully.

'Probably not.' Vala admitted. 'But the SGC has had to call off the official search so...'

Ishta's expression softened. 'You have not given up on finding them.'

'Never.' Cassie raised her chin as Ishta's knowing gaze swept over her.

'You are a child...' Ishta began.

'I'm an adult.' Cassie interrupted her. 'Some of your own warriors are younger than I.'

'But they are trained as warriors.' Ishta rejoined.

She began circling Cassie as though challenging her to a fight. Cassie really hoped that wasn't the case, she was really tired after the walk, but knowing Teal'c, it was very probable Ishta was going to test her abilities in some way.

'I've been trained.' Cassie replied shortly, tensing. She had grown up as the child of SG1. Every single member had been her trainer in some way.

'Very well.' Ishta suddenly dropped into a crouch and swept her leg out to connect with Cassie's, knocking them out from under her.

Cassie landed on her butt and rolled as Teal'c had taught her, coming up into a fighter's stance, fists in front of her face just in time to parry Ishta's first blow. Cassie ducked the second, leaned away to avoid a third and drove her own fist into Ishta's midriff with enough force to send the leader of the Hak'tyl back a few paces. Cassie was stunned enough at her brief success that she missed Ishta's leg flashing out; it caught her shoulder and had Cassie tumbling off balance again to the floor.

Ishta offered her a hand and Cassie took it as she scrambled up from the floor.

'You have some skill.' Ishta looked at Cassie thoughtfully. 'But you should always be prepared for a counter-attack.'

Cassie willed her heartbeat back to normal. So she had been tested but she had also passed. Vala winked at her across the room.

'Finding Teal'c and the others is a noble quest.' Ishta said. 'I regret that I cannot join you but I have duties here.'

Rya'c straightened. 'I will go with them.'

Ishta looked at him with fondness. 'Your father would be expect nothing less.'

Rya'c nodded.

'Actually, we didn't really come to recruit help,' Vala said urgently, 'I mean, we came to request help just not that kind of help,' she noticed Rya'c's glower, 'not that you're not welcome to join us, it's just...not the help we were after.' She winced.

'What help do you require?' Ishta asked.

'A ship.' Cassie jumped in. 'Cartegia is only accessible by ship.'

'And supplies.' Vala added. 'The SGC provided us with zats and enough food for a few days but it would good to have as much as you could spare.'

'Weapons and food I can provide to you,' Ishta agreed, 'but I have no ships to spare. There are none currently on Hak'tyl and those we have are many days from returning.'

Vala sat back down with a thump and turned to Rya'c. 'What about Bra'tac or one of the other Jaffa settlements?'

Rya'c frowned and crossed his arms over his tunic. 'Master Bra'tac is on a pilgrimage and nobody knows of his current location. Rak'nor may have a ship but he leads many settlements. It may take some time to locate him.'

There was silence while they all processed the lack of transport. Cassie sat down on a nearby chair and rubbed her neck tiredly. It would be ironic if they couldn't secure some kind of transport. All they needed was a cargo ship. A memory stirred; a visit from an old friend and stories of the Ori Resistance...she was certain there had been mention of a ship.

'I guess I could explore one of my old contacts but he is a long shot and may not have gotten out of prison yet.' Vala mused out loud.

'Or maybe we try someone not in prison.' Cassie said.

They all looked at her with various degrees of bemusement.

'Who?' Vala asked impatiently when Cassie remained silent.

Cassie allowed herself a small smile. 'Jonas Quinn.'