Chapter Twenty-one summary: While SG-1 waits for Martouf and Lantash to find out what is going on with the base, Jolinar and Sam briefly talk to Selmak and Saroosh. When the Tok'Ra return to SG-1, Garshaw leads them to a chamber where they can discuss their reasons for being there with herself and some other Tok'Ra. Sam gives them a short version of Jolinar's 'death'. Jacob Carter's health worsens and he is admitted to the hospital in very poor condition.

Rating this Chapter - PG-13

"Italics" – Symbiote-Host Communication

Cor'cyfials shel'lek te dak - Close friends that love one another and share a sexual relationship, but are not "in" love with each other.

Mer Cor – My Heart

An Alliance of Friends

Chapter Twenty-one

Unwelcome News

George Hammond leaned back in his desk chair and rubbed his face. There was a lot going on right now, not the least of which was one of his oldest friends having a fatal illness. He still felt uneasy about allowing Major Carter to leave on this mission.

As his phone rang, he reached out, picked it up, and answered it, "Hammond." He listened, as they told him who was calling, and demanded, "Put him through."

A moment later, he asked, "Jacob? You okay?"

His eyes closed in pain, as he spoke lowly, "Oh no, I'll be right there." He called in his next in command, and left the base.

Jolinar reached out and brushed the hair off the woman's brow, and her eyes flew open and glowed, as her hand grabbed the wrist of the woman standing beside her platform. Before she could say anything, Jolinar whispered, "I am sorry, old friend. I did not mean to startle you."

"Old Friend?" The woman lying there asked, her voice low. A slight glow from the woman's eyes was enough to alert them to the fact that there was a masked symbiote standing beside them.

"Yes, Old Friend. They do not know that I am here…or that I still live. Things here are not good, Selmak, and unfortunately, in order to right some of them, I must remain dead—at least for now. However, I do not wish for you to worry about that now. It is more important that you survive. I need to know how you are?"

The eyes searched the face of the beautiful woman looking down at her, and her brow creased, as her mind replayed her words again. There was only one symbiote that this could be. "Jolinar. Because I know you well, I will not ask unnecessary questions. I have not lost my trust in you and know that, if you are pretending to be dead, there must be a very good, albeit bad, reason for it."

"You are very correct. I do not want to tire you, and I do not have time to explain at the moment, but I am hopeful that you will know soon, and that it will be resolved by then. What I am most anxious to know is how you are faring?"

Selmak sighed. "We are very tired, but as long as I am not required to do anything more than lie here, I will not die within the next few minutes. Why do you need to know? Do you need me to do something? I am afraid it is probably beyond our abilities at the moment."

Jolinar shook her head. "You need do nothing more than stay alive for as long as you can. I merely wish to know if your need of a host is crucial yet."

"Not crucial, no, but at the moment we cannot find a host, Jolinar. You know how difficult it can be."

She nodded. "I know. However, if the need is not immediate, I may have a host for you. I cannot guarantee it; however, it is possible. But, I may need some time. Will I have it, old friend?"

Selmak nodded. "As long as we do nothing, as I said, I am not failing yet. We will still be here, possibly for several weeks yet, although, that is not positive, of course."

Jolinar nodded. "I understand. As soon as I solve the problem here, I will turn my efforts to you, I assure you." She smiled at her and squeezed her hand. I must go. It would be best if I was not seen in here. Saroosh, I have missed you, as much as I have missed Selmak. I will return; I hope, in a few days. Please take care of one another."

"We will do our best, I promise; however, may I know the name of your new host?"

Jolinar smiled, as she told her, "Her name is Samantha. Samantha Carter and she is of the Tau'ri from Earth, as they have named it."

Selmak smiled back. "She is quite beautiful." She frowned, and then added, "Jolinar, Lantash…"

Before she could finish her statement, Jolinar stopped her saying, "Is here with Samantha and I. He was injured and taken to Earth, as well. The Tau'ri attended to him, and he and Martouf are very well."

Selmak closed her eyes tiredly, but a slight smile graced her lips. "I am very pleased to hear that. I—I was much saddened by their disappearance and possible death. Thank you for telling us; I am glad that you are once again together." She lie quietly for a moment, and Jolinar squeezed her hand gently.

Her eyes flared, and Saroosh whispered, "Save Selmak, if you are able to do so. I want to know that she remains behind and continues our fight."

Jolinar nodded once. "My Sam and I will do everything we can to accomplish that, Saroosh, I can promise you that."

She smiled fondly, "I have missed you, as well. I am sorry, and I grieve for you over the loss of Rosha. As for the other, I believe that you will succeed. Now, I must rest. This is too difficult for Selmak."

"Thank you, Saroosh. I will return, as soon as I can, this I promise you, too." Jolinar squeezed her hand, before stepping back and giving Sam control. She laid the hand down gently, and made her way out of their room and across the next one, to sit with her teammates, as they played poker.

She sat and watched them for a few minutes, before telling them, "This looks just like the place in my dreams. I'm glad I've been able to see them like this."

"It is said throughout the legends that we have of the Tok'Ra, that when they arrive on a planet, they go deep underground. It is said they possess the technology to actually grow tunnels," Teal'c told her quietly.

Sam nodded. 'Yes, this is some sort of crystal, and your legends were correct, Teal'c. They are grown. I hope to see the technology used to create it some time."

Teal'c grimaced, recalling, "Apophis had me searching for tunnels such as these for many years. We never found them. It is believed that when the Tok'Ra move on, the tunnels are destroyed."

"They are."

The Colonel looked up from his cards and frowned. "How much longer do you think Lantash is gonna be?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know how much he'll tell the two of them. Both are safe to talk to, and I signaled that to him. If he decides to tell them everything before we join them, it could take a while. There's also the fact that they're discussing whatever it is that's going on right now on the base. It could be a while, Sir."

"Great," he grumbled, "I already owe Teal'c two Star Wars movies and three pizzas."

Sam grinned. "Gee, Sir, I'm sorry, but you're the one that taught him to play."

He sent her an exasperated look and turned back to concentrate on his cards. Sam sat back to wait. Jolinar was becoming uncomfortable. Waiting was not something she enjoyed, either, and she was almost as bad as the Colonel. She set herself to ignore her whining. She smiled as some images floated through her mind. She just might take a nap. She'd really not slept a lot the night before. Jolinar laughed softly and joined her in her recollections of their mates.

General Hammond entered his friend's hospital room and walked to the edge of the bed.

"George."

Quietly, the General asked him, "Jacob, are you all right?"

Jacob Carter gave a very faint smile, before telling him, "I've been better."

General Hammond didn't answer right away, but then he stated, "I was under the impression that the cancer hadn't gone this far."

Jacob explained, "Yeah. So was I. They cleaned out all the lymph nodes. The problem is, apparently, one squadron of those little buggers got themselves reassigned to my liver.

George Hammond nodded, before saying, "Let me make a call. I can get Major Carter recalled." He reached out and picked up the bedside phone.

Reaching out, Jacob stopped him. "No, George, there's no need."

"Jacob, she should be here." The General tried to convince him of the need for his daughter to be there.

Jacob shook his head slightly, before asking, "Why? Let me tell you something George, my little girl grew up seeing Daddy go off to God knows where, to fight God knows who, and I always came home alive and well. Now, I'm going to let her sit here and watch me lose a war? To some little runts so small, I can't even see 'em? No. That's not gonna happen."

As he hung up the phone, General Hammond, murmured, "That's exactly what she thought you'd say." He watched him old friend for a time, before he told him, "How about doing us all a favor, Jake."

Jacob looked over at his friend, asking, "Huh?"

"Cut the brave soldier routine. It's your daughter we're talking about here. She should have a chance to be here to see you through this. She wants to be with you, Jacob."

Jacob turned another slight smile on his friend, before he commented, "I've got a feeling she's on a pretty important mission right now. Am I right?"

General Hammond looked slightly uneasy, when he answered him, "Well, yes, but there are others…"

Jacob cut him short, saying, "Then do me a favor, and honor my wishes. Leave her there. She's where she, and maybe her country, need her to be."

Hammond, muttered, "This is ridiculous."

"There is one thing you could do for me, George."

"I'll do anything within my power, Jacob."

"Tell me what my little girl's doing."

George Hammond looked uncomfortable, as he told him, "Except that. You know it's classified, Jake."

"George, they're telling me I don't have much time left. Who am I going to tell? God?"

"That's not up to me. I'm sorry, Jake."

Jacob nodded, looking resigned.

Hammond knew what the President's decision was, but Major Carter and Jolinar had agreed that they would not tell Jacob, unless there was a symbiote available. That was something he didn't know, so technically, he couldn't tell him anything. He was torn, though. Would it really matter if he told him? He did, sort of, have clearance. He made a decision. He was recalling his daughter…she could tell him herself.

Sam and Jolinar were startled out of their dreams, when Lantash laid his hand on her shoulder, saying, "Major Carter, Master Garshaw is ready to talk to your people, now."

Sam sent Lantash a look and received an almost imperceptible nod in return. He stepped forward, and they walked as a group down the hall, before entering another room, that was somewhat larger than the other rooms they had seen. A few other Tok'Ra were there, including Cordesh.

"I have explained your problem to Master Garshaw, and she has agreed to allow me to help you see, if you can retrieve the memories you lost, when the Ashrak attacked you and Jolinar."

Sam bowed her head toward the woman, saying, "Thank you. I appreciate it. We need to know what my contact told me right before the attack. If it wasn't important to Earth, I wouldn't have bothered you with it."

"Jolinar!" The exclamation came from Cordesh. "What do you know of Jolinar? How do you know her?"

Sam looked startled. "Well, I…uh…that's kind of a long story."

"If you do not mind, Major Carter, we would like to hear it."

Sam blinked, as if surprised, but immediately agreed, "Oh, well…sure…if you really want me to." She took a breath and started talking, "We were on this planet, Nasya, to meet a contact of mine. But, when we arrived, the Goa'uld were attacking the village. I found my contact, and she gave me the information. We were evacuating the villagers…sending them through the gate to Earth, and I told her to go. She didn't make it; she was hit, along with another man. She died instantly, but he was barely alive. So, anyway, while I was trying to save Jolinar's host, she jumped into me. He didn't make it."

The Tok'Ra that Lantash introduced them to earlier, Malek, asked, quietly, "Excuse me. Did you say that Jolinar's host was killed?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"But Jolinar lived on," Malek continued.

"Ah, yeah, for a little while, at least. Inside of me." At the profound silence that greeted her words, Sam looked uncomfortable, so she questioned, "Should I continue?"

SG-1 watched her, sort of surprised, as they hadn't realized her acting ability was that good. She'd almost convinced them that she was really nervous about explaining how Jolinar 'died'.

"Please, Major Carter, continue."

Sam nodded, indicating her agreement to tell them more.

General Hammond stood in the corridor outside of Jacob Carter's hospital room. His friend had fallen into a light sleep, and he had stepped out there to think.

Inside the room, an alarm went off, and George watched, as Doctors and nurses ran in. He followed them and stood silently, just inside the room, out of the way and unnoticed, during the battle for Jacob's life.

He knew what these alarms meant. He'd heard them often enough at the SGC. Jacob's heart had stopped.

He watched as one of the doctor's reached for the paddles, as he announced to those around him, "He's in V-tach. Let's go. Let's shock him at…uh, 200.

"200."

"Okay, clear," the doctor called out as he zapped him with the paddles.

George watched even more personnel rush into the room. His attention was caught again by the doctor, as he said, "Again, 300." And the nurse answered with, "300."

"Clear."

George watched as the doctor relaxed, saying, "Normal sinus, okay," before he switched his attention to Jacob, saying, "Hey, General, how're you doing?"
Turning to his staff, he said, "All right, he's in aplastic crisis. Let's give him a unit of packed cells, check his vitals every fifteen minutes. And, er, let me know if anything changes."

As the doctor started to move out of the room, General Hammond stopped him, saying, "Doctor, how is he?"

"He's…uh…stable, for now."

George nodded, before asking, "May I ask, how long does he have?"

The doctor paused, before saying, "Can't say with a cancer like this. Could be five days or five minutes. Sorry. If there's any family for you to contact, I recommend you get them here ASAP."

General Hammond stood for a moment more pondering his next step, before making his decision and leaving the hospital.

Garshaw frowned. If Sam had not felt sure that this was a carefully orchestrated act, she would have found it a little intimidating, as she asked her, "So am I to understand that you did not invite Jolinar to use you as a host?"

Sam looked surprised, saying, "Well, yeah, that's correct. It was an emergency situation."

Cordesh looked smug, for a moment, but the look passed quickly, and then he asked, "Then, if you were not a voluntary host, how do we know that you did not kill Jolinar yourself?"

Sam looked at him, and was obviously appalled, before she told him, "Um, well, because I…I didn't. I mean, I guess you're just going to have to trust us on that."

"And why should we trust you?" Cordesh demanded.

Sam was beginning to dislike this Tok'Ra more and more, and she could feel Jolinar fuming within her. "Cool it, Jol. I don't like the jerk either, but we can't afford for you to give yourself away."

"Yes, I am aware, my Sam. Do not be concerned. I will not do so."

Suddenly, Colonel O'Neill stood, from where he was seated, saying, "You know something?" He stalked over to stand before Garshaw and Cordesh. "I've been asking myself the same damn question. Why should we trust you? You are, after all, Goa'ulds."

Feeling the situation, which he felt was at least somewhat manufactured, deteriorate, Daniel attempted to stop the insults that he saw coming, saying, "Jack…!"

The Colonel pointed a finger toward Daniel, saying, "Ah! Don't! We've done nothing but get interrogated, since we stepped into this room. Now, we came here with a Tok'Ra, that we consider a friend. You all, however, do not appear any too friendly, so I want to know, if our status has changed from guest to prisoner, and I want to know if you are Tok'Ra or Goa'uld, because you certainly don't act anything like Lantash and Martouf. So, are we prisoners, and are you Goa'uld?

Daniel tried again, to calm his friend down, but he once more got a finger pointed at him and this time a, "Neh!"

Casting an unreadable glance at Cordesh, Garshaw stepped forward, assuring them, "You are not prisoners, and we are not Goa'uld. It is always…distressing …when we have a comrade and their host's death verified. I apologize for Cordesh."

She paused, before continuing, "I also believe that there is some distress over the fact that Jolinar seems to have taken an unwilling host. We do not condone this, and it should not have happened. There is no excuse for doing so."

Sam held up her hand, before the Colonel could say anything else, and Daniel unobtrusively pinched Jack. He didn't dare say anything, for fear he would be overheard, but he did send him a 'you are being stupid' look. He watched as the Colonel frowned, before light dawned. Daniel breathed a little easier.

In the meantime, Sam was explaining something. "I don't want you to be under a misapprehension. Yes, Jolinar did jump into me without asking, but even if there had been a reason to ask me, there was no time for her to do so."

Garshaw frowned, and Cordesh's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by your statement, Major Carter? Why do you say 'if there had been a reason to ask you'? I do not understand," Garshaw, sounded quite confused.

Sam nodded, before explaining, "I told you that I was trying to save her host. Well, one of our medical practices is to help a person who has stopped breathing, but is still alive, to breathe. So, I had my mouth over her host's mouth getting ready to breathe for him. She thought I was offering, and in the chaos and panic around us, I wouldn't have understood, even if she did ask. We'd never heard of the Tok'Ra. And, when she entered me, I assumed that she was a Goa'uld and I panicked. When Jolinar realized what had happened, she was appalled, and tried to talk to me, but I was too panicked to listen to her. Unfortunately, we were together such a short time, that I was only barely beginning to be civil to him, er, her, whatever, when the Ashrak attacked us. And, while I don't mind explaining what happened to Jolinar, I came here to try to retrieve my memories. I also would like to see, if we could at least be aware of one another, and try to not kill each other when we meet, which, since we ended up with Martouf and Lantash, as well as Jolinar, is not, evidently, going to be all that rare an occurrence."

Garshaw nodded, saying, "Thank you, Major Carter for explaining what happened with Jolinar. It does help to know that she did not simply take you with no encouragement on your part. It relieves my mind to know this."

Before Sam could reply to her, Cordesh asked, almost harshly, "How can we know that you are not attempting to access Jolinar's memories in order to use them against us?"

Sam looked at him with her mouth opened slightly, before telling him, "Well, I can't remember something I don't have, for one thing. I don't have any of Jolinar's memories. Lantash believes that it's because we didn't actually blend. Jolinar was planning on leaving me, as soon as she could, so between that, and the fact that the Ashrak attacked us within hours, there's nothing for me to remember."

He nodded. "I see. In one way that is too bad. Since Jolinar was on a mission there might have been information we could have used."

Sam shook her head. "Well, I'm sorry. If I had her memories, you would be welcome to look for them, but I don't, so…I can't help you." Since the conversational ball was back in her court, she decided she wanted to clarify something that Cordesh said to her. "I do have a question though, or maybe it's a comment or perhaps both together. You asked me how you could know that I didn't kill Jolinar." Her eyes narrowed. "One…if you mean before she moved to me, since I wasn't aware of her at all, and we were being attacked, I fail to see how I could have killed her. Two…if you mean after I became her host, that's where I think you owe us some information. If there is a way for a host to kill a symbiote, or a way to kill a symbiote, but the host be saved, we don't know about it, and we should."

"Now, since Jolinar took me as her host, and she is dead, and I am not, I want to know how we, or I could have killed her, and me be here talking to you? Either I could have killed her somehow, or you are saying that we know how to use the thing the Ashrak used, something we couldn't use, since it is a Goa'uld device and requires certain elements to work it. So, is there something we should know that we don't? Because, otherwise, your question was pretty stupid." She looked back and forth between Garshaw and Cordesh. Garshaw was actually biting her lip, but whether in anger or not, Sam couldn't tell, and Cordesh looked stunned and furious. She would have bet that, if he wasn't a symbiote, he would have been extremely red in the face and practically spitting. Jolinar laughing in her head didn't help her to keep a straight face. "Shut up, Jol, or I'm going to lose it myself. Please control yourself. Stop it!"

"All right. I have stopped. I have always gotten along with Cordesh, but I must admit his attitude has changed, in the past three years. He has always been pompous and arrogant, but he seems worse than I remember him. And you are correct—his question was stupid. He was attempting to 'show off' by intimidating you. I do believe his attempt was a spectacular failure, since there are several other Tok'Ra here to witness his defeat at your hands. I did tell you that your presence could bring out some of their pride and arrogance. It did with him."

"Ah, I wondered why he was so hostile to me."

Jolinar 'shrugged'. "He is trying to impress his superiority upon you. We are not like the Goa'uld, yet there is no denying that we are intellectually superior to many species 'in general', although you, Daniel, and, I am sure, many others are well over the 'norm' for your species. We are also physically stronger than most…except perhaps the Unas. Anyway, as I said, he was just trying to intimidate you, and 'put you in your place', wherever he considered that to be, and instead you put him in his, as well as making him look stupid. We must be careful, for he will not forget or forgive you besting him."

"Garshaw is about to answer, and we should be more aware. At times, when a host is conversing with her Lifemate, they will get a glassy or vacant look in their eyes. You have not yet, but we should stop speaking before you do so."

"Good idea, and besides, I agree, she is going to say something."

Finally, Garshaw managed to overcome whatever she was feeling, and answered her, "No, Major Carter, there is no way to kill a symbiote and allow the host to survive, except for the one of which you are already aware. You survived the Ashrak attack because Jolinar protected you, to the best of her ability, and I would suspect that your healers did what they could for you, as well. As you are aware, to use that method of killing the symbiote would be extremely risky. You are very lucky to have survived it. Cordesh simply spoke from," she shook her head, "no…I am not sure why he said what he did, for as you have pointed out—his statement was rather ah, questionable, in its validity." Cordesh looked at Garshaw in surprise, and she returned his gaze steadily, obviously unperturbed.

She turned back to Sam and smiled, very slightly, "As for not being able to give us any information that she might have had for us, please, do not concern yourself, Major. It is not your fault. You cannot be expected to produce that which, as you say, you do not have."

Sam bowed her head in acknowledgement of her comments, before saying, "I know it's very hard to lose a friend, which I'm sure Jolinar, and Rosha, too, were to you. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you that they didn't survive." Glancing at Cordesh once more, she added, "I know very little about how Rosha died; all Jolinar told me was that her long-time host's name was Rosha, and she died from severe injuries caused by the Jaffa. She probably would not have told me that, but she was mourning her deeply still, so deeply that, even though we did not blend our minds, I could still feel her sorrow at her loss. Other than that, I have no details to give to you."

She paused again, before telling them, "As she was dying, I did feel her deep sorrow for leaving her mates behind. She loved them deeply, as well. But, I've already told them that," she glanced over at Martouf and Lantash.

Garshaw accepted Sam statement, and then commented, "When we lose a fellow Tok'Ra, it is always a very sad day for us. We no longer have a queen, so as our people die, we become fewer. Often, we die for lack of a new host, since we will not take one that is unwilling."

"So, how does that work? What happens? Do you mean, when you can't heal an injury or something?" Jack was finally curious and back to being more cordial.

"Sometimes, yes, but, please, come with me, and I will explain if I can." Garshaw gestured for them to follow, but Sam stopped her, asking, "If you wouldn't mind, Master Garshaw, I'd like to get started trying to find my information. It very well could be vital to us. I feel strongly that I need to remember it soon."

Garshaw bowed her head, replying, "Of course, Major Carter. You are correct, and I should have thought of that myself." She looked over at Lantash and Martouf, asking, "Lantash, are you free to work with the Major, now?"

He bowed in return, saying, "Yes, I am ready anytime."

"Very well. We will see to it that your teammates are comfortable, until you return, Major."

Sam nodded, and gave her a small smile, as she told her, "Thank you. I do appreciate it."

Garshaw bowed her head graciously in acknowledgement before turning to lead the others away.

Malek moved forward, saying, "I will come with you, Lantash, if that is acceptable. I have some things to discuss with you, if you would not mind?"

Alarmed, Sam looked to Lantash, a question in her eyes. "It is all right, my Sam. Malek is another I would trust with our lives…which you have pointed out before; I am doing every time someone becomes aware of me. I would tell you to object, if I felt any danger associated with the suggestion."

"Thanks, Jol. I know you said earlier that you trusted him, but I didn't know how far that extended. It sounds like it extends for quite a distance."

"Yes, it does." Jolinar appeared to hesitate, but finally decided that she might as well tell her host, as she could eventually hear it mentioned, or find it in her memories. At one time, Malek and I were lovers. Not lovers in the sense that Martouf and Lantash are, but in the way of being Cor'cyfials shel'lek te dak. Close friends that love one another and share a sexual relationship but are not "in" love with each other. The sexual side of it ended many, many years ago, even before his present host and the one before that; however, the close friendship remained. In fact, it deepened, when Martouf, Lantash, and I fell in love. At one time, Malek had a female host, and he and Lantash were mated. They have a deep and abiding bond, thus we are all very close emotionally, even Martouf for he feels the same love that Lantash feels for him."

Sam frowned, as she sifted through Jolinar's emotional ties to Malek, when she was in the affaire with him. What she said was true…she loved him, and now Malek's present host, Devlin, but not in a sexual way any longer. She could live with that. "I'm glad you told me, Jolinar. I have no problem with it. What little I saw of him, I liked him. I'm sure I'll follow your emotions about him, as well. Do you think he knows that you are alive?"

"I do not know for sure. I do not believe so, though. I do not believe that Lantash felt it safe enough where they were to tell them what was truly happening. If he did not, then he would have used a code word to let them know that all was not as it appeared, and would be revealed to them, at the earliest possible time. He would have been sure to convey his trust of you and your teammates so, that they would not be confused, as to whether you were a problem, or if his attitude and words about you were basically true. Obviously, much of the 'not as it appears' would pertain to the four of you; however, he would indicate that you yourselves were not a threat. That may be why Malek is accompanying us. He may want to know what has happened."

"If you use a code word, wouldn't that tip off the one you're hiding the information from, too?"

"No. All of us have words that belong to only one other person. Had I told Garshaw and Malek the same thing, it would have been with different words. That way, each set of words is unique to each set of people, instead of each person using the same code word for everyone. It was set up that way, for exactly that reason. Using that code informs the other that the situation they are facing is very serious, and possibly dangerous. If it is possible, they will try to meet somewhere safe from being overheard later. It works well, since it is very rarely used, and is so unique to each of us. There are also ways we can convey, as Lantash would have about you, where the threat comes from. Lantash would have been vague about that area, allowing them to know that even he does not know where it is coming from, but he would have indicated that the four of you were Not it."

Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can see where it would work. I may suggest to the General that we do something like that."

As her teammates left with Garshaw, Sam had left with Martouf, Lantash, and Malek. Leaving her conversation with Jolinar, she looked around and frowned, before turning to the two men, and asking, "Where are we going? It needs to be completely safe, Lantash."

He turned toward her and assured her, "That is what Malek and I were wondering. Would you mind going to his chamber? Since he is not usually on this base, he is in guest quarters. They are isolated, at the moment, since there are no other visitors. We grow chambers, as we need them, so he is in a new tunnel, and his is the only chamber grown in it, so far. The old guest chambers were turned into labs. He also has his own guards here, and he can have them remain at the end of the tunnel he is in, which will ensure that no one approaches, without our knowledge, and even they will be too far away to overhear anything that is said."

Sam nodded her agreement, and returned to Jolinar, but before she could even ask the question, Jolinar told her, "Malek is very close to Per'sus, the High Councilor. He is probably still a base commander, as well, and they usually have guards with them, to do just such things as this—there are many things that are discussed that need complete secrecy. His guards are there to provide it, as well as to protect him from an attack. Often Jaffa will target a commander thinking that to lose them will weaken us." She shrugged. "It does not, but they cannot seem to understand that—nor can the System Lords."

"I see. That makes sense." Feeling Jolinar considering something, she remained quiet waiting for her to gather her thoughts or make a decision, whichever it was she was doing.

Sensing that her decision-making was accomplished, Sam tuned back into her. She wasn't disappointed in her growing perception of their blending and Jolinar's needs and reactions. "I believe that there is information that you should have. Instead of waiting for the questions to arise, I've decided to give it to you now, so that when the time comes, you will not be required to ask."

"I think that you need to know exactly who knows about the Asgard. I am fairly certain that the traitor does not know of it. If he does, then he learned of it from spying and since that information is more closely guarded than most confidential information, it is unlikely that he could have learned it. We are never careless about being overheard, even if we have to go above ground, and find a place where we can be seen; however, we also can see for a great distance."

"So, as you know, Lantash and Martouf are privy to that information. So are Per'sus and Aiydon, his host. Garshaw and Yosuf know of it. Malek and Devlin are aware of it. Ma'ashat and her host Katera, as well as, Selmak and Saroosh, Apashe and Kalana, and Anise and her host Freya."

"Many do not trust Anise and Freya, as they give the impression of leaning toward those who disagree with the way the Tok'Ra are being led. The opposition's leaders are on the council, mainly so that they cannot say that they are not allowed into positions of challenge to the others. Anise and Freya do an excellent job of their seeming leanings. In reality, she is very loyal to Per'sus, Garshaw, and Selmak. They are our main leaders. We shall be joining them, as we are all of the oldest that yet remain alive. They are the only Tok'Ra that know about the Asgard, so they are also the only ones that know the Asgard are working on changing one of us into a queen."

After a time, she gave Sam some more important information, "Should something ever happen, and I am unconscious, or for some reason, we cannot communicate, and you need someone that you can trust, there are others that you can depend upon, even though they are not within this main group that know of the Asgard. You can turn to Alanna, Daimesh, Arwanna, Jocasta, and Aldwin. Jorlin, Brialek, Calise, Gava, Markesh, and Zarest are also very loyal Tok'Ra. Most Tok'Ra are loyal, in truth; however, those I have mentioned have been tested more than once, and they have never betrayed us, in any way. I am sure there are many, many others; however, these are the ones that I know personally quite well."

"All right. I understand what you are saying. Are the four of you all that is left of the eldest?"

"No, although many are gone. Malek, Anise, and Lantash are all from early clutches. Selmak is from the first clutch, and is considered the oldest and wisest among us."

Sam frowned. "I don't think I understand. You just said that Per'sus, Garshaw,

Selmak, and You are most of the oldest…now you are saying that Selmak is the oldest, since she is from Egeria's first clutch."

"Garshaw and I are both Goa'uld; we are Tok'Ra by choice, not birth. Selmak and Per'sus are from Egeria's first two clutches, which were not coded to wish to fight the System Lords. They chose that path themselves, and thus they are the oldest of the Tok'Ra-born. Selmak would have been High Councilor, but she refused it, preferring to work as an operative through the years, as I have. She has been on the council for centuries though, as she preferred more short term assignments than I did."

"Ah, I see. So, who are the others like you and Garshaw?"

"Ma'ashat, Apashe, Kintash, Kairyn, Cartesh, and Cordesh. We are all the Goa'uld that are left. All of the others were born Tok'Ra. And of all of them, I am the eldest, as well as, the most experienced in battle."

"Thank you. I know I would have found it eventually, but I'm glad you told me, instead of me just absorbing it or whatever."

"You are welcome, my Sam. I am remembering more quickly now that I am here. I hope the information about the traitor is found quickly." She paused, then announced, "I believe that we have arrived at Malek's chamber."

They neared the center of a tunnel that seemed deserted, when Malek turned into a room. It had no others near it.

"Please sit, Major Carter. May I get you anything? Some water, perhaps?"

"Thank you, Malek, I think that I would like that, yes. Water is fine."

Lantash sat beside her and placed his arm around her. Malek lifted his eyebrows at him, finding it odd that Lantash could have found someone in such a short time. He had not been missing very long, and he knew, for a fact, that he was not interested in finding a new mate. Something did not seem right to him, but no doubt, Lantash would tell him in good time.

"Samantha is our mate, Malek," Lantash told him quietly.

He looked at him quizzically for a moment, and then his eyes appeared to widen slightly, before his visage became stoic once more.

Lantash chuckled. "Very probably," he verified for him.

"When?"

"About two weeks ago.

Lantash paused, and his voice dropped to little more than a breath, of a whisper, "It is her memories we are attempting to find." Lantash had never seen his friend so surprised…and showing it. He watched him, as he looked at Samantha and then turned back to him.

"So you were being truthful, and the Major is your mate. I must admit to wondering, when you growled earlier, although I did not believe it to be much more than an interest. No wonder you did not return right away. I see, too, that there were some well-rehearsed…fabrications…on Major Carter's part." And what was that story of being a prisoner?"

"We can go into that later. We really do need the memory recall device that you retrieved from the medical bay for us."

Malek handed it to him, and Lantash began to explain how it worked. Sam nodded, when he finished. "Don't put it on so that we experience the pain. We don't need to do that. We just want the name."

Lantash nodded and attached the disc to her temple, before turning it on. Sam looked at him, and asked, "Should I concentrate on anything in particular?"

"Sometimes that helps, but other times it does not. It would not hurt to try to focus your thoughts to the time of Jolinar's escape."

"All right. We're going to attempt to relax and let our minds drift, but still keep the time frame we need in mind, rather than trying to force an image."

"That might work, Mer Cor. All we can do is try. Tell Jolinar to relax."

"She said to tell you that she is perfectly capable of hearing you without an intermediary, and that she is quite aware of what she needs to do. Thank you." Sam laughed softly, as she listened to Jolinar. "I think you have upset her, Lantash. She is being quite vocal about," Sam frowned, and then laughed again. Clearing her throat, she tried again, saying, "As I was saying, she is being quite vocal about your ancestry, and ah, we are back to kettles and pots again. Now, go talk to Malek, so that she will settle down and attempt to do this."

She leaned back and she and Jolinar relaxed, as well as they could. She heard Lantash and Malek sit down at the small table. Lantash was telling his friend, "There is a great deal that you need to know, Malek. My being a prisoner of the Tau'ri is not a fabricated story. Martouf and I were taken to the Tau'ri base, the SGC, after we were severely injured in a firefight with some Jaffa. I was not sure that we would live; however, the Tau'ri healer, kept Martouf from going into shock, and she also replaced much of the blood he lost. By doing so, it freed me to concentrate on our wounds. I would have to say that, without her help, we probably would have died."

"After I healed us, we were moved to a cell. We were prisoners. Although, I have to tell you that as places of incarceration go, it was the best we have ever seen. We had warm food three times a day. A snack when we wanted it, clean fresh water, a shower, facilities, and a daily change of clothing. There was also a small box called a TV that the guard on duty occasionally looked at." He frowned. "We still have yet to find out what has happened to Marcella and John, however, I am quite sure that, if we can find the guard, he will tell us for he always watched to see what would happen next." He paused once more, before continuing, "It was rather odd, actually. The greatest threat we faced was boredom. It was very tedious, except for the box and he only turned it on at certain times of day, however, we were assured that when Captain Carter returned, we would be interrogated. It seemed she was on a mission. He grinned. "Remind me, and I will tell you how Jolinar and Samantha along with one Jaffa and at least fifteen costumed SGC soldiers stole two motherships from Cronus. It is very entertaining. Anyway, eventually, she returned, promoted from Captain to Major, but she was the person they wished for me to talk to nonetheless."

"When she came into the room our cell was in, she said little, but she did look at us oddly for a short time. I believe that she asked us who we were. I told her that it did not matter, as I would tell her nothing. She found my answer quite amusing, and informed me that it was nice to know that I was loyal. No more than a few minutes later, she informed her General Hammond that he could release us, as we were Tok'Ra. You can imagine our surprise and consternation. We could not feel a symbiote, yet she assured her commanding officer that we were not Goa'uld, but Tok'Ra. They asked, if she was sure several times, and then finally, the General asked her, if Jolinar was absolutely sure, and she went on to explain that she was sure that we were from her home base, and that she remembered us, but could not remember our names. It was a shock, believe me."

"I am sure that it was. I assume she was using a masking serum…as she must be now."

Lantash nodded, "Yes, to all of your comments. But to return to the tale; We realized that she had amnesia, so we knew…"

As Lantash paused, Malek asked him, "If you were a prisoner, how were you treated after Jolinar and Samantha managed your release?"

Lantash smiled, telling him, "We were released at once from our cell, taken to lunch, and made ambassadors of the Tok'Ra by their country's leader, so as to keep one of their interrogation units from being allowed to—talk—to us. We were given, ah, diplomatic immunity. We were also given a well-appointed room, complete with a cooking area, sleeping area, and facilities. We were given clothing, food, and a guide who, along with Samantha showed us what areas were available to us for our use. Let us think a moment. There was a "work-out room" which was full of equipment they used to strengthen the body, a pool with very hot water that they called a hot tub. We were allowed in the firing range area, if we wished to practice shooting their weapons. Oh, and there was their eating area and a recreation room at which we were welcomed. Sensitive places and areas we were not allowed to enter were pointed out to us, and we were politely asked to please refrain from attempting to access them. As I believe I told you, I believe I would have noticed anything that was "out of the ordinary" in the last few days." As he finished telling Malek the events that brought them here, he leaned back in his chair. "So, there you have it. Jolinar still has some missing memories. Unfortunately, they are some rather crucial ones."

Malek nodded and then sighed. "Does she know what they are about?"

Lantash looked grim, as he answered, "Yes. A Tok'Ra has turned traitor, Malek. He informed on her to Cronus, and they almost did not make it away, before they caught them. She was on the run for months during which Rosha was killed. Her last host was the man about which Samantha told us. The problem is that, although she knows there is a traitor, she cannot remember his name. All she is sure about is that he is on a Council…but she is not sure which one. She believes it is this one, but cannot be sure. That is what she is attempting to remember. We must find out, Malek. I am sure that he is behind the attacks on the other bases. I believe that this base will be hit soon, but there is no point in moving yet, as he would just send the new information on. As Jolinar said, we must find out who it is and catch him. And she must remain dead, until he is caught."

Malek nodded. "Yes, if he knew she was alive, she would be in constant danger from both him and Cronus. No wonder you would not explain earlier. This information is much too dangerous to be talked about without having absolute privacy." He and Lantash sat in silence, Malek brooding, and Lantash, along with Martouf, worrying over Samantha and Jolinar.

TBC