The Tok'ra (Part 1)
Sara's Diary
Family. Some times its all just about family. Today is the day that Claire officially joins the SGC. Quite apart from Jack's hints, General Hammond thought it might be good to have her skills as an -on base- translator. Daniel is on SG-1, and is not always available when another SG team finds something that needs translation. Josiah was the other source, but he joined SG-7, so the General was back to square one for an on-base translator until all the craziness with Claire.
I couldn't believe her ex, though from what Ezra told us about how the creep lied about her. Letting her friend Lucy be mistaken for Claire. Then he had the audacity of showing up at Jack's barbecue of all things. Following, no let's call this right, stalking her. All to say he forgave her, and she could come back with him.
Forgave her? -Her-?
Sometimes it's unbelievable the self-delusions of some men. His almost ended up with him broken in two, three, many pieces. I'm not sure who would have gotten to him first when he tried caveman act with Claire. Daniel, Teal'c, Chris, SG-7... I think Jack was only not immediately there because he was tending the grill. Then there were the Cater clan. Sam's cousin Jack defused a potentially painful, for one Adam Walker, encounter as Drey'auc moved ahead of the men towards him. I think part to see what Daniel was up to, and then overhearing Adam get all dominating on Claire.
I suppose Jack's comment about almost everyone of us are Air Force with itchy trigger fingers didn't help, though Chris had to jump in by shouting a corrective 'Navy' just to make sure Adam knew who might be doing the shooting.
So Marshall Jack Carter saves the day, well at least one low life. My Jack quickly restores order while Adam pulled a hasty retreat.
Family. Selfishly I'm going to treasure the look on Adam's face when Daniel told him he was Claire's son. Besides how pale he went, the guilt, the fear, I know it won't return Daniel any of the years he thought his mother was dead, but I'm honest enough to say it was good see on his face.
Anyway, this is the day we welcome Claire officially to the SGC. Drey'auc is there with me as well as Jack, Teal'c, and Daniel of course. Sam was off with an experiment. A case where she's not so much conducting the experiment for once, instead she's having on conducted on her. It seems Helena and Judy has this thing that might help her with the odd jumble of impressions, likely from the time she was possessed by that Goa'uld Jolinar.
It was something Dr. MacKenzie suggested and helped work out. I'm not up on all the medical babble, but I think they mentioned since she hypnosis worked with uncovering the false memory of Daniel's death by Nem, this might work to help her sort out what's happening in her mind lately.
That's the theory and they want to try it before the impressions start to act like a kind of posttraumatic stress.
While the experiment was running, Jack, Daniel, Drey'auc, Teal'c and I took Claire on the tour of the base. Jack made his usual quips to make Claire smile, embarrass Daniel, and let our Jaffa couple practice their mystified-by-Tau'ri-humor expressions. I just bet inside, they're both getting it and laughing. From the twinkle in Drey'auc's eyes, I would say that's really what's going on with them. Anyway, somewhere near the end of it, an airmen caught up to us, it seems SG-1 is wanted for a meeting with General Hammond. Something to do with the experiment with Sam. SGC strangeness starting early this morning it seems.
Sam certainly didn't need this. With her dad dying of cancer and all. Her spirits were boosted by her family's visit, but they couldn't stay forever, her cousin Jack just missing Jacob Carter's announcement that he's taken up residence in Colorado Springs. Just to be near his little girl. Which is really sweet. Now if only he'd open up to her. At least her uncles Vince and Andrew were going to stick around. It's good to have family around at times like this.
Family. I think its time Jack and I became one again. I won't lie to myself, the pain from Charlie's death is going to eat at us for the rest of our lives. However, we're over the reason we separated. We're talking now, sharing. Sharing the most bizarre things either of us ever expected, but its sharing. We're about back to the place we were before Charlie died.
I suppose Claire, Adam and Jacob has me thinking about this more of late. Seeing Rya'c, and Ra'an, meeting Ir'ys, also had me thinking about family again. Time is short, and dwelling on the past won't make up for whatever time we have left. And I want to have Jack permanently back in my life. Not friends, not 'explanation and a date', but as my husband. Growing old together, for better or worse.
Now how do I steer Jack towards this again? It seemed easier the first time I prompted him to propose. Of course, without letting him know I was prompting him to propose.
Something to think about as the team is off on a mission that just came up. Probably something to do with Sam's experiment earlier this morning. It turns out to be just about that.
I caught up with her outside the locker room, walking her to the gateroom. Apparently she'd experienced a 'flashback' of sorts of life as the symbiote, Jolinar who possessed her earlier this year. This memory with a gate address.
Now so the trail doesn't get cold, they're off to hopefully contact the Tok'ra.
I think Sam appreciates the 'all girl escort', Drey'auc and I sometimes give her on the way out. Jack and the guys are great, good teammates and friends, but sometimes a girl likes to be around other girls.
We stop and wait while Sam takes a moment to call her father. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Time to volunteer a promise to look in on him while she's away. I don't think I can take Drey'auc with me. If he's anything like his daughter, that will mean he's sharp and no stories of her being from Zimbabwe are going to cut it with him. He'll likely check for one, and that's attention she, or the program, doesn't need.
That is not to say that Drey'auc didn't come along with me when I ended up visiting Jacob at the hospital. We didn't know he was in the hospital at first. A call to his apartment ended up with many rings and no Jacob Carter. A call to Vince caught him as he was on his way out to pick up Andrew and head to the hospital.
When we arrived, Raine was around, and that meant I could leave Drey'auc with someone she knew instead of waiting around in a room. Last I saw of the two of them, they were chatting or approximating talking. Neither of them are the most chatty of women, so I wasn't sure.
It was awkward. Vince and Andrew were off to grab a snack, breakfast, brunch, or something to call a meal by the time I made it to Jacob's room. So no-one familiar to introduce me to General Carter. Nor could I introduce myself as Jack's wife...not yet anyway. Saying I was a friend of Sam's was true, which surprised him as I didn't have the title 'doctor' tacked onto my name. Guess he expected his daughter to only associate with scientist who could understand her.
Jacob, it turns out, wasn't well at all, and I had a feeling he didn't let Sam know that before she took off. I wasn't sure what to do, so I called the General. He and Jacob knew each other a long time, so it wasn't that unusual. Though I didn't expect him to show up at the hospital later.
They talked, I didn't listen. When you have a room with two generals, the civilian better high tail it out of there unless invited. Neither of them had reason to extend an invitation to me.
Medical people ran by, a doctor I didn't recognize, and finally Raine bringing Drey'auc along. It seems they almost lost Jacob. Whatever his condition is, it wasn't good. I'd half expected Helena to come out and tell us just how bad he is. Instead General Hammond exited the room and made a beeline past us, pausing only long enough to tell Raine to keep him informed on General Carter's condition.
I really became alarmed when General Hammond asked to speak with Drey'auc and they left the hospital together. I'm not sure what that was about, but now I'm really worried. Not so much for Drey'auc, I just couldn't imagine why he would want her to come along with him after whatever happened in Jacob's room.
Was it SGC strangeness at work? I wouldn't expect it, but after my new neighbor turned out to be Daniel's dead mother, now alive due to mistaken identity, a crystal Jack, Charlie, robots duplicates, I guess I wouldn't have been surprised if it was SGC strangeness as work here.
Raine kept me company as I waited, with Janet showing up later. Just enough time for the General to make it to base, and send her back. Her news didn't improve things with my imagination. Apparently Drey'auc was sent along with SG-3 to help be their guide as Teal'c does for SG-1. They were going to go find Sam and bring her back.
Whatever was happening, I'm thinking that Major General Jacob Carter doesn't have much longer to live.
Drey'auc's Day
I promised Sha're I would look after him, and so I was nearby Daniel Jackson when this Adam Walker tried to loom over him. Fortunately for him, just knowing Daniel Jackson is the son of Claire Jackson had him retreating. Not that Daniel Jackson needed my help, or the rest who came to defend Claire Jackson from the deceiver who stole her from her family years ago. Why he still lives is a mystery of Tau'ri justice. I do not understand their laws, but will abide by them. Since O'Neill lets him live, so will Teal'c and if my husband does so, then I will.
Adam Walker lives to walk away. I do not have to be Tau'ri to read in their faces that the next time he may not have that opportunity given him.
Welcoming Claire Jackson to the Tau'ri stronghold is far more pleasant task.
Though curious what troubles Captain Carter, so much to have the other healers try something new. An experiment where they have attached many things to her head. We cannot stay with Doctors Russell-Koenig, Robinson, MacKenzie and Frasier. So welcoming Claire Jackson gives me something else to occupy my mind.
It is a time I get to enjoy with my husband. Just walking side-by-side with him. Pretending we don't understand all of O'Neill's strange Tau'ri humor. Though the pretense is not as often as we would like. He says the oddest thing, even for one of the Tau'ri.
We have not yet taken up the Tau'ri custom of walking hand-in-hand, though we have talked about it. I recall how awkward that conversation was when I brought up the observation and asked if we should do so as we now live among them. We already dress as they do, their warriors at the least. Eat the same things, watch their entertainment. Would it be that strange to practice this custom? I confess I am curious, and I suspect Teal'c is too.
However, I also agree it is a big step and though we live among the Tau'ri, we are Jaffa. Perhaps this is just one of the ways we should abstain to remain Jaffa. Though Sara and O'Neill do make it look appealing.
When a young Tau'ri warrior comes to collect SG-1 for a meeting, I had no doubt that it has something to do with whatever troubled Captain Carter. I see Sara also has come to the same conclusion, though Claire Jackson is too new to this way of life to notice the signs. SG-1 will be going somewhere soon.
Helping my husband get ready to leave is less ritual, more wishing to feel his touch, to look into his eyes and see the great depth of care he has for me. We do not hold hands as the Tau'ri do yet, but this is our way to touch and show our love.
Perhaps I shall treat him with another meal, or spare him another mistake. Learning the strange ways of the Tau'ri kit-chen gives me something to do while he is away besides speak with Sara of the Jaffa culture.
I see him to the Chappa'ai and thoughts of what to do before his return is interrupted by Sara who wishes to visit the place of healing to see Captain Carter's father. I cannot go in with her, the secret must be maintained and I agree with her. Captain Carter is very intelligent, so her father might well be as well. What story we present her will likely not hold up to scrutiny.
So Raine Lone Tree joins me to 'keep me company' as Sara puts it while she visits General Carter. At first we say little to each other, and then she guesses correctly I do have something I wish to talk about. She had helped me with cooking last time, matching Tau'ri ingredients with what would likely work for the Jaffa recipes.
We are well into the discussion of such things as a 'meat ther-mo-me-ter', 'iron skil-let' and a 'spa-tu-la' when we are called to General Carter's room. Sara is outside of it as many healers rush in. Raine explains she will not go in as General Carter is not her patient, nor has the healer in charge asked her help. I hope he will change his mind and ask if need be. Raine Lone Tree is a good healer, like Janet Frasier, they have made miracles happen and General Carter may need one to survive.
General Hammond surprises me by both walking out of the room as I did not know he was here, and asking that I walk with him as he leaves the place of healing. What he asks of me I can tell he considered for a long time, and to be honest it brings a smile that does not reach my lips, but warms my heart greatly. He trusts me as he does my husband. I only do not smile because the gravity of the situation that has prompted him to ask my help with.
He wants to know if I would help as guide and possibly translator when he sends SG-3 to go bring Captain Carter back. Since the Tok'ra likely speak the same language as the Goa'uld and Jaffa, and with Doctor Sanchez is off with SG-7, that leaves me the best person to speak, or explain the nuances of what they may encounter. He does not want a fight, and hopes my knowledge will help avoid that as we will be following after SG-1.
Dressed as I was when I went to Abydos, I join the marines under Colonel Makepeace. Tales of my earlier deeds say more than the new mark upon my brow. Of course, the Tau'ri wouldn't know what it really meant, but they know I will not fail them should it come to a fight. That and I am roughly the same height as some of them help convince them I will 'hold my own'.
Shouting "Tok'ra Kree" gains their attention as the Tok'ra had us surrounded. I only wonder if I have failed or if the same had happened with my husband. The Tok'ra are very good with stealth so I do not feel too bad, as I have heard Sara comment. Nor does it appear the marines blame me for not spotting what they couldn't. In fact, they seem pleased that I stopped a possible attack.
I find I liked the surprised looks on the faces SG-1, particularly my husband. I fear my eyes sparkle with mirth as I try to keep my face as stoic as my husband's. He is not fooled, the rest are too busy either fending off accusations that another Jaffa has arrived, or more Tau'ri. The fact I am a Jaffa woman helps alleviate the notion that the Tau'ri have lied and we serve some Goa'uld. None of the false gods employ Jaffa women as warriors in the field save in defensive warfare. We are not even sent as messengers in times of peace. When we travel it is because our families are moving to a new location that Goa'uld wants us to live.
My presence speaks louder than any words that the Tau'ri indeed do not serve the Goa'uld.
It is plain on Captain Carter's face that her thoughts are only on her father's failing health. Colonel O'Neill and Doctor Jackson trying to change the minds of the Tok'ra to let her go. I had not been aware that the Tok'ra were holding them against their will. Holding all of us in 'protective custody' as the police shows of the Tau'ri would state it. In those terms, we are under arrest.
Apparently Tok'ra does not want us to leave.
Sha're's story
My demon is greatly concerned. The power her lord wielded is diminishing as the System Lords sense Apophis is weak after his defeat in orbit of the Tau'ri homeworld. My Dan'yel had a part of that, I am sure of it. Both my demon and her lord curse his name as well as O'Neill, and Drey'auc's husband whom they call the Shol'va.
My brother's demon is seen often calling, reporting on how this or that border is being tested by other demons, especially Heru-ur. Mainly it seems that the name no-one wants to speak is the one who is behind most of the attacks, Sokar. The planet he took from Amonet was but the first of other conquest he is pushing for in my demon's lord's territory.
It bothers her a lot and during such moments her control of our body lapse, letting me remind her I am here. Not always the wisest move as she knows how to inflict much pain upon me, but I will not stay in my prison a passive captive. She will know no peace until she leaves me. Dan'yel believes in me, I know I can do this. He fights them, so will I.
My brother's demon reports that their spy among the Tok'ra remains undiscovered and we may soon learn of their location. That pleases Apophis who hopes that by ridding the System Lords of the Tok'ra he may draw support with this fight against Sokar. Horus and Serpent guards are nearly a match for one another, and more of a match than the other System Lord's Jaffa, yet if Apophis gains assistance from any of the others, he could tip the balance in favor of himself. Instead of this steady loss from Sokar, while Heru-ur waits in the wings.
It is even said that some Anubis helmeted Jaffa have been found among the attackers, leaving the demons to wonder if the outcast demon Anubis could be testing the System Lords for a possible return as Sokar does now.
Their distress gives me joy, in a life where it is a precious and rare commodity.
Author's note
I specifically made mention of the Anbis helmeted Jaffa as the Anubis mask (which I thought were beautifully done) in the Movie Stargate were too expensive to do for the series. However, since fanfiction, any fiction, doesn't have to worry about budget like that, I wanted to include the Anubis helmet-masks in this series. By lumping it together with the Serpent helmet-mask and Horus ones, I also wanted to establish these are heavy troopers, elite among the Jaffa rather than the mass of warriors who do not have the helmets. Why also Ra would have a mixture of them as he was the Supreme System Lord.