Chapter 6

"You are Tok'ra," Selmac gently told Autumn. "We had thought you lost when you were captured by the forces of Ra during a solo mission eleven years ago."

"Oh. That's good. Does that mean I'm free to go back to Daniel's place for another round of Boggle? I'm only here because you thought I was a Goa'uld, right?"

"Boggle?" Anise asked curiously. "Is that a word for…"

"It's a word game," Jacob interrupted. "I'll explain it later. Where were we?"

"If we're dealing with a Tok'ra here, the guards are no longer necessary," Janet suggested, having joined the group. "However, we can't simply let her leave."

"Security risk," Jack agreed. "But we can't exactly take it out of her either. I'm assuming that before she lost her memory, she was a willing host?" Personally he didn't mind removal of the symbiote, but he knew the Tok'ra would have none of it, so he diplomatically avoided suggesting such an action.

"Of course," Selmac replied.

"Doctor Frasier, may I see her injuries?" Anise asked, rather politely.

Janet slid some printouts out of the file she held. "These are of Autumn's – I mean Kalana's – brain, and these are of, uh, Melinar." She handed them over and took out another page, on which she wrote the patients' actual names.

Anise studied the images carefully. "I believe she was tortured with a ribbon device, in addition to substantial blunt trauma."

"Perhaps a crash landing on Earth after escaping Ra?" Selmac suggested. Fortunately the words were spoken softly enough for Autumn to not hear. Autumn also happened to be distracted by Daniel, who was making use of the sudden absence of security protocols, despite the audience.

"Since she's here, I'd say that's likely," Jack agreed. He'd joined the discussion to avoid watching Daniel.

"Is it permanent?" Janet asked.

"I believe a healing device would be able to reverse the damage," Anise determined.

Selmac nodded in agreement. "I can start right away."

"With Autumn's permission, of course," Jack reminded.

"That decision is not for 'Autumn' to make," Anise argued. "The wellbeing of Melinar is the issue here, and 'Autumn' has no memory of her. Kalana would wish for Melinar to be healed, without question. It would not be right for 'Autumn' to prevent Melinar's healing, since Melinar has no opportunity to argue to the contrary."

"But Autumn…" Janet began.

"Autumn is merely the result of Kalana's injuries. In fact, Autumn is an illness from which Kalana is suffering, and from which she must be cured," Anise reasoned.

Janet still wasn't happy with the situation. "What about Daniel?"

"Daniel Jackson has never met Kalana and has no say in this matter."

"Tell that to him," Jack retorted.

"I shall." She stepped over to where the others were talking. "Doctor Jackson, we intend to use the healing device to repair the damage to Melinar. This should allow Melinar to restore Kalana's memories."

"Uh, wait, what if Autumn doesn't want to remember her life as Kalana? What if she doesn't want to be a host to Melinar any more?"

"You forget that Autumn is simply Kalana without her memories. Kalana would wish for Melinar to be restored. She has forgotten this, but it is the decision she would make if she remembered. Melinar should not suffer any longer due to Kalana's loss of memory."

"I… but…" Daniel began to protest, but he remembered his own circumstances. If he had not allowed his friends to help him regain his memories because he did not remember them to be his friends, they would have lost his friendship. This situation was similar -the only difference was that his friends could reason with him and convince him that they wanted to help, while Melinar was unable to speak for herself. "You're right. I went through the same thing when I descended."

"When you what?" Autumn asked.

It wasn't a good time for long explanations, so Daniel stuck to the short answer. "That was when I lost my memory and my friends helped me remember. Now you've met Selmac and Anise. They were your friends before you lost your memory, and so was Melinar."

"So… when they heal Melinar, she'll help me remember everything?"

"That's right."

Autumn sighed at the magnitude of the day's events. "This whole thing is just… weird. I should have stayed in bed."

"And miss out on meeting people who knew you from before, and want to help you? Do you really want to give that up?"

"I… I just wish my life didn't have to be so complicated."

Daniel nodded. "I agree. It seems like the universe won't let anything in my life be simple. But… I think I'd rather my life be interesting than be safe." Jack shot him an annoyed look.

"You're right. The bookstore is nice and all, but… it's not my full potential. And if I get my memory back, it should save you a lot of explaining… such as what's up with those Tok'ra outfits."

Daniel couldn't help a short laugh. "When you've got your memory back, I'll be here to explain anything you're still wondering about."

"Deal. So… how does this 'healing' work?"

A little later…

Selmac set down the healing device. "I have repaired the damage. We can now only wait for her to awaken." The healing process had put Autumn to sleep.

Daniel, Jack, and Doctor Frasier stood beside him, watching both Kalana and her vital signs. Anise and Sam stood a little way back. "She's waking," Janet observed, seeing the change in EEG readings. "Melinar, that is."

The woman's eyelids sprang open and the eyes flashed gold. Daniel jumped back a foot in fright. He'd been expecting it, but he would never be ready for it. "Where am I? What has happened?" she asked. Daniel repressed a shudder at the change in her voice. He was used to hearing it from the other Tok'ra, but not from his Autumn.

"Melinar of Malkshur, you are safe," Selmac reassured. "It is I, Selmac."

Melinar looked up curiously. "You have changed since I last saw you," she remarked dryly.

Anise stepped forward. "This is Jacob Carter of the Tau'ri."

"Anise and Freya! You have changed very little." The Tok'ra symbiote caused her host's face to smile.

"It is good to see you alive, Melinar. It has been eleven years since we thought you lost to Ra. There is much to discuss."

"Eleven years... yes, I can now see the memories of the life of my host. This is indeed the world of the Tau'ri."

"The Tok'ra are now allied with the Tau'ri. While your host has met those present, I should properly introduce you to them. This is Doctor Janet Frasier, Doctor Daniel Jackson, Colonel Jack O'Neill, and..."

Melinar ripped off the EEG sensors and sprang off the bed. Before she realised what was happening, Sam found herself crushed against a wall with strong fingers around her neck. "YOU!" Melinar hissed.

A/N: This is a shorter chapter. I would have had it up many hours ago, except that when I was almost finished, a blackout cut off internet access (fortunately I have a laptop so the batteries kept it functional). Since it was midnight, I decided it was about time I went to bed.

Probably only a couple of chapters left after this.