7.
The day Jolinar and I spend going through the two recent missions SG-1 has been on together with Martouf/Lantash. All seems normal and that is clearly not where he became cloned and a zatarc. So it must have happened on a mission he was on with the Tok'ra. Probably within a month of the summit where he was shot, probably even no more than weeks before.
The only way to know about those is asking the Tok'ra, and Jolinar doesn't want to do that. She thinks it would be months after that before she would be allowed to go anywhere on her own, and that is just not acceptable. If Martouf and Lantash are alive and prisoners they have been so for about 20 months. It is unlikely they are alive - or sane if they are alive - but neither Jolinar nor I can let them be prisoner for another several months.
So we will ask my dad. I am sure we can trust him. We just need to be able to talk to him without being discovered by anyone else. And we know how.
~The ashrak used a drug to mask his presence.~
~Uh, ashrak?~
~When I was killed. I did not sense him when I searched for him in the hospital. That was due to a masking drug. We will make some.~
~Good idea, but how?~
~We are going on a mission with your team tomorrow. We will sneak off for a little while and make contact with certain traders. There should be a market on the world you are going to. Do you have any valuables we can use, or should we go to one of the Tok'ra caches?~
~Ah, I think that we should be lucky if we can sneak off at all, so we better not do it any more than needed. I think I have some jewelry that I've inherited that I never use. That should work, right?~
~Yes.~
"You OK, Carter?" Colonel O'Neill ask.
I realize I've been silent for some time. Much more silent than usual. "Sorry, sir. I've been thinking about something. I'm fine."
"All right. Focus on the mission!" he orders.
Yesterday evening, I went home to my house and took some of the jewelry I inherited from my grandmother. It is not something I would ever use, but it is fairly valuable, so Jolinar thinks it will be suitable to pay for the masking drug. Now comes the question - how do I get away without arousing suspicion?
I look at the path from the Stargate we just entered through, and decide on a plan. "I remember this place. From Jolinar. There's a big market nearby, with all kinds of stuff. Including some interesting tech. We should check it out."
"Tech?" the Colonel asks. "Listen, Carter..."
"Is there anything else for sale? Like old tablets or artifacts?" Daniel asks, clearly interested.
I nod. "Yes, I think there is a good deal of that too."
"Jack, it sounds very interesting. We could learn a lot by seeing such a market and the things they are selling there," Daniel says.
"There may also be information to have," Teal'c adds.
Colonel O'Neill sighs. "OK, OK, let's go there. I just hope there's a nice place I can sit and have a beer while the rest of you indulge in your science-stuff!"
I smile at the success of my plan. Now just to carry out the rest!
Jolinar and I had little trouble walking away on our own and finding the people that could get us what we needed. My team mates were even happy, because they had found the market interesting with lots of useful things.
Now we have the components we need to make the masking drug!
I will mix them together and tomorrow morning I will inject myself with it before we call for my dad to come and help us with examining some of the things we bought at the market and some things we brought back from the same mission where we got the gene analyzer. I have convinced Hammond that we need the Tok'ra's help with this!
All in all, our plan is going better than expected - now we just have to hope my dad will have time to show up. After the attack on Revanna the Tok'ra are spread thin and hiding everywhere, so we can't just go and visit them.
I feel Jolinar's sorrow at the death of so many Tok'ra, many of them her good friends. I 'hug' her, wishing there was more I could do.
"Hi, dad!" I smile and go to hug him, hoping dearly the masking drug is working. Some bleed-through of Jolinar's energy signature is not a problem and actually desired, of course. I do have an energy signature myself due to the naquadah in my blood, so that is expected.
"Hi, Sam." He smiles at me. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing bad," I promise. "We need your help with some Goa'uld tech. I hope you have time to stay for a short time?"
"For you, of course," he says. "But right now is not a good time, so we should get started immediately."
"Okay, follow me. I'll take you to my lab."
Jolinar could have done as well - more or less - as Selmak, of course, but this works as a good diversion. After working for most of the afternoon, we have gone through the Goa'uld tech and some other things Selmak could help with.
Now it is time for the real problem.
Selmak gives my dad control.
"Well, if that's all, I thought I'd return."
"Can't you stay for a little while? Get something to eat with me at least," I say.
"Dinner in the mess hall isn't my definition of a good dinner. We even have better food in the Tok'ra mess."
"All right, then why don't we ask Hammond if we can take a trip to a local restaurant? You've earned it, after helping us with all this."
"Of course I've earned it, but is there something else you need to talk to me about?" He looks suspicious.
"Can't I just want to spend time with my dad?"
"Cut the crap, Sam! Tell me what's up!"
I sigh. "All right. I have a favour to ask. A big one."
"Regarding what?"
I take a deep breath and start explaining Jolinar's and my theory about Martouf as well as the proof we have found. Without mentioning Jolinar, of course.
"Sam, it's not that I don't believe you - or want to help you - but don't you think it's time you let this go?"
"Let it go?" I exclaim. "What if they're alive out there! Prisoners!"
"It is highly unlikly they are still alive after all this time. If any of this is even true in the first place!"
"It is! I am sure of it!"
"What about the gene analyzer? Are you sure you used it right? Not to patronize you - you're very smart - but it's not exactly Earth technology or anything you have seen before. The differences are tiny for a clone, Couldn't it all be wishful thinking?"
"Dad!" I exclaim. "How, how dare you insult my intelligence!"
"You needed my help with tech that in many cases were less advanced."
He dips his head and Selmak looks up.
"Unless something else is not what as we assume and this is a ruse." She looks at me very closely.
~This is ridiculous! I will handle it!~ Jolinar suddenly flashes my eyes and take control. "Quit the tip-toing around, Selmak! You were always too careful!"
"Jolinar?" Selmak asks. "And you were always too direct and not careful enough. How are you alive?"
"A long story which I do not have time for right now. Will you help Samantha and I retrieve the information?"
"You will make the time to explain if you hope that I will help you and keep your secret. Which I assume is the reason for all of this? You are not prepared ot go to the Tok'ra right now?"
"It would take far too long before I could do anything if I had to prove who I am, face whatever judgment and penance required, and then possibly be assigned to some inane post. No, this will wait!"
"You will have to make it likely you are who you are and tell me all which has happened. If I am satisfied - and my host who is right now furious and ready to drag you back to the Tok'ra for what you did to his daughter, is also satisfied - then I may agree to help and keep your secret until you have attempted to save your mate."
Jolinar fumes at this, but finally nods, calming herself. "I will explain."
