Even with the contacts that the Tok'ra had, information wasn't always instantaneous. Ba'al was one of the major players with the system lords, but the Tok'ra weren't always keeping track of him and his movements. He was only one of many, after all, and they were shorthanded in the best of times. Not to mention, he was also one of the most mistrustful of the system lords and always careful of those who were around him. Which made it difficult to place an operate in his midst.
"It'll take time," Jacob explained before he left the SGC. "But we'll find out where he is."
"And let us know?" Daniel had asked, before Jack – who was visibly impatient and frustrated – had managed to say anything that might strain relations with the Tok'ra as well.
"Of course." He looked at O'Neill. "We'll find this guy. Just give us a chance."
He'd been waiting this long, a few more days wouldn't make any difference, Jacob was sure. But he was smart enough to keep that thought to himself rather than share it with O'Neill, who would certainly have something to say about that.
"While we're waiting," Hammond said, clearly ready to get Jack's mind back on something a little less frustrating. "You have a mission."
A simple reconnaissance that would give them a nice distraction. O'Neill scowled, but didn't say anything, which was just as well, since it wasn't negotiable.
"What if we hear back from the Tok'ra before we-"
Hammond held up a hand to interrupt Carter.
"We'll call you back if Jacob gets back to us before you return."
That said, he led them all to the briefing room, calling on his aide to get the information ready for their briefing.
OOOOOOOOOOO
The meeting was dull. Especially when you couldn't really understand what was being said, Anthony decided. He watched as the Ghouls discussed something called a Tau'ri until they were all in a foul mood – and not just Bitchzilla. Ball's scowl had started early on, and deepened every time someone said anything, which was bad news for someone. Anthony just hoped that it wasn't him.
Just when he was pretty sure they were going to be there all day, and his back was aching so badly from being at attention like he was, they called for some kind of recess of some sort. He only knew because the Jaffa standing between him and Ball gestured to him imperiously to bring some food.
Anthony had been shown what to do, and threatened repeatedly with consequences in the even that he didn't do everything just right, so he was quick to head to the table, ignoring the way his calves and thighs seemed to cramp with every step. He loaded up a couple of heavy serving platters with an assortment of foods from the table – all of which smelled delicious compared to the slop that he'd been eating lately – and with Thumbtack's slave beside him to load separate plates with whatever delicacy the Ghoul they went to chose from the platters, Anthony served the afternoon meal to them, carefully avoiding looking at any one of them directly.
Which brought up an odd problem when he came to Bitchzilla and Gator – both of which were wearing dresses that showed a lot of cleavage. With his eyes averted downward, he couldn't help but get an eyeful, and that made him think of his wife, which in turn reminded him of just how long it had been since he'd seen her.
A wave of homesickness that took him by surprise and left his knees weak almost made him drop the trays he was holding – which almost certainly would have earned him a beating that probably would have been worse than any so far. Maybe worse than he could have survived. He swooned, but managed to keep from tripping himself or the other slave up, and even managed to keep the Ghouls from noticing. They didn't care about anyone so low as himself, at any rate, he knew. The Jaffa noticed; his eyes narrowed in threat, but when Anthony managed to right himself without any help and continue what he'd been doing, the Jaffa turned back to his master, and Anthony breathed a silent sigh of relief.
OOOOOOOO
The planet was almost as dull as the one that the desert people lived on. Although there was only one sun – and six moons that they could see quite clearly in the middle of the afternoon – it was still fairly arid, with only a few stands of trees well off in the distance from the stargate. The rest of the land was covered in short, brown grass that looked like a badly kept football field. And just as flat.
"This is ridiculous…"
Carter looked over at O'Neill, sharing his frustration. It was clear they were being given busy work, and she had plenty that she could be doing – even while they waited for word from her father.
"This area looks deserted, O'Neill," Teal'c said from the other side of Daniel, who was standing beside Jack.
"Just like the original reconnaissance team reported," Jack said, looking around.
"If there's a secret society of warriors living here, they're obviously well trained in the art of Ninja," Daniel agreed, taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
Teal'c gave him a quizzical look.
"You know…? Ninja vanish…?"
The Jaffa didn't bat an eye, although he also didn't have a clue what Jackson was talking about. Nothing unusual there. Most of the time it was O'Neill who confused him, but Teal'c knew the rest of the Tau'ri were just as odd.
"What more is there to learn of the police officer abducted by Loki?" he asked, looking around but not even seeing anything to be suspicious of. The place was empty.
Jack took off his sunglasses and looked over at Daniel, who had read the file a bit more than O'Neill.
"He's in his mid thirties," Daniel told him. "Went into the Marine Corps after high school, got out and went to college, got married, joined the Sheriff's office and was apparently doing a good job, considering the letters of commendation in his file."
"He's married?" Sam asked, surprised.
Jack shook his head.
"He was. She died eight months after he vanished."
She stared at him, shocked and dismayed.
"You're sure?"
He just nodded.
"She was in a car accident," Daniel said, his voice as bleak as O'Neill's expression.
There was a long silence, punctuated only by the soft brush of a sudden breeze that blew up around them, and then O'Neill put his sunglasses back on and settled his pack on his back a little more securely.
"Come on. Let's get this done so we can go home."
Daniel wasn't the only one to notice that his voice was a little hoarse, but none of them mentioned it. They just followed him towards the nearest stand of trees.
