As usual, thank you all for reading, following and reviewing!

Author's note: Much to my dismay, there was a little mistake in the last chapter, so thank you to the guest who pointed that out! It's not uncommon such mistakes occur when I rewrite passages in the chapters (which I do quite regularly), but I usually find and correct them before I post the chapter. But since I am the only one who proofreads, there's only so much I can do. That one simply slipped under my radar… I went back instantly and fixed the mistake, however. And for the other questions and suggestions the guest had, I hope this chapter clears it up. There simply wasn't the space for the explanations in the last chapter.

And with this said, back to the story.

Beyond Reason

Chapter Twenty-One – Finding out

Jack was on high alert the moment they exited the Stargate. The MALP had thankfully gone unnoticed by the Jaffa, but it was unlikely they would get that lucky another time.

Still, although he went from the engaged wormhole with his weapon raised and ready, nobody was waiting for them on the other side. Even though Jack had actually expected that, he couldn't help the little relieved sigh he did while he waited for his team to arrive. Before moving out, he had gotten in a heated discussion with General Hammond about their proceeding on this mission. That SG-1 was to go and check the situation out was a given and Jack hadn't been willing to budge on that fact, but the 'how' was another question altogether. The General had insisted on the usual SOP, which meant sending an UAV to check out the situation and the numbers of the enemy, but for once, Jack had argued against it heatedly. He knew it was a high risk to go into a mission without that information that would ensure his team's safety, but overall he feared that if they would send an UAV to fly over the Jaffa's heads to assess Nirrti's troop numbers, they could as well light a giant neon sign that read 'Hey there, we're coming!'. For this mission they needed stealth and the moment of surprise. And since they knew from the Tok'ra that Nirrti didn't have much resources or Jaffa, Jack thought the risk was calculable. Nothing his team couldn't handle with their experience.

To say the General hadn't been pleased with Jack's suggestion of ignoring the SOPs would be pretty accurate. But then again, they were immensely pressed for time. Every passing second that Carter remained in Nirrti's clutches left the Goa'uld with the possibility to gain information from her and who knew what that would reveal to the Goa'uld. So in the end, Jack had won his little argument with the General and had been allowed to come to this planet with only the information they had gotten from the MALP.

So when Sergeant Harriman had dialed up the planet once more, they had activated the MALP's camera and using the device still left on the planet, they had found out that the Stargate's vicinity was deserted, which would ensure their safe arrival. Honestly, Jack had been astonished. It was more than sloppy to not watch the Stargate, if you were trying to guard a god. But he wouldn't complain.

Jack remained on guard until Daniel and Teal'c had arrived safely and the wormhole had shut down. He was slightly expecting Jaffa to come running for them, because while their MALP had been hidden from sight by the ruins in front of the Stargate, the wormhole kawooshing to life had had to be seen somewhere. Still, nothing.

Jack was wary. Nirrti had to expect they were coming after her, so why wasn't she guarding the Stargate?

Then again, Jack knew there could be various reasons for that. Either Nirrti wasn't here anymore because she'd seen their first activation of the Stargate and had escaped while Jack had been preparing for the rescue mission or she did have better things to do or this wasn't Nirrti's territory to begin with. Since they hadn't seen the Jaffa's forehead symbol, they couldn't be sure. For all they knew this could be a hideout of some rebel Jaffa or some other Goa'uld had taken this planet over. Whatever it was, neither option was really what Jack wanted. He needed this to be Nirrti's hideout and their incredible luck just a fluke of fate.

Together with Daniel and Teal'c, Jack crouched down and silently made his way through the ruins, sticking to the collapsed walls and huge chunks of rock for cover. Jack had debated taking Jacob with them but had eventually decided against it, even if he was pretty sure he'd get it from the former General for that decision. But Jacob had just had retreated for some rest – the capture of his daughter was taking a toll on him, too – and for this mission Jack needed a small, inconspicuous team. So who better to take than the men he could read without having to look at them? SG-1 worked like a well-oiled machine and there was no one Jack trusted more to have his back.

So while he now made his way through the ruins unseen, Jack knew unfailingly that Daniel and Teal'c were watching his six. Noiselessly, they covered the distance to where Jack estimated he'd seen the Jaffa stroll around the MALP had made out.

But soon, they couldn't move on. Jack stopped, when the ground suddenly gave way before him. Taking cover behind a column, the Colonel looked around. They were standing in the ruins on something like a wide hill. Down below them the ruins stretched on, going as far as Jack's eyes were able to see. Jack understood. He'd believed the structures on this hill to be the remnants of a city, but they were merely one building. One building that had apparently hosted the Stargate, but had collapsed around it during time. What stretched out beneath them was the city. And from what Jack could make out, a rather large one.

The Colonel pulled out his field glasses and swept his eyes over the surroundings. With one hand he reached out and grabbed hold of the column to steady himself. Suddenly a familiar feeling tingled up his arm. Surprised he looked back and saw markings on the column he recognized. These were Ancient structures! Probably the most and largest they had ever found!

Jack was surprised. He hadn't recognized this planet as an Ancient one when they had gone through the list of planets. He had missed this one and seeing how he had been able to identify so many other planets he hadn't ever been to before, he was quite stunned. How could this planet have slipped his mind? Had it been the fatigue that had made him screw up? Or was it because this planet was apparently one of the very few Ancient planets Jack could think of that did not have some kind of intruder defense and was not inhabited? Jack had no idea. But he knew for sure, he wasn't wrong. This planet was Ancient. Jack's newfound Ancient side recognized the lines carved into the stone and quite stunned, he realized he could even read them. Well not like he could read English, where he actually understood the words and were able to write and pronounce them, but he simply knew the meaning. It was as if his brain skipped the Ancient language and directly converted the words to English. Daniel would have a field day at this discovery, Jack thought distracted. But then he focused back on the task at hand. Right now it was not the time for this sensational archaeological found. Maybe next time.

"Jack," Daniel whispered next to him.

Jack looked over to where his friend huddled behind the fragments of an outer wall, Teal'c standing next to him. Just like Jack himself, the archaeologist had his field glasses in one hand, the other one pointing down at something.

Jack looked down over the vast ruins. Further away, where the ruins gave ways to a clearing in between them, the Colonel could make out a rather huge assembly of Jaffa. He grabbed his field glasses to get a better look.

Apparently, there were two groups of Jaffa standing opposite each other, because Jack could make out different symbols on their foreheads. Approximately about thirty Jaffa stood on each side, heavily armed and staring at the other group suspiciously. Great, Jack thought. Apparently they'd stumbled into some kind of meeting that, by the looks of it, could go downhill rather fast, and they were greatly outnumbered. Better to stay unseen then, he thought.

But then another thought dawned on Jack. This assembly down there probably was the reason why they had been able to come to the planet undetected. If there was some kind of meeting going on, Nirrti would have kept the small number of Jaffa she had at her disposal to herself seeing how the Goa'uld were rather infamous for betraying their own if it suited their situation. And the two Goa'uld meeting up would be distracted enough with themselves and the danger they posed to the other snake's life to let a small, inconspicuous SG team slip through. Which worked out pretty good for SG-1.

"Whose Jaffa are those?" Jack asked towards Teal'c.

The Jaffa looked on, not needing field glasses. "From what I am able to make out, these are Nirrti's and Ba'al's Jaffa," their friend said confidently.

"Ba'al?" Jack echoed.

"One of the System Lords," Daniel supplied, being a source of never-ending knowledge. "From what I've read, even a rather powerful one with vast territories."

"Never heard of the guy," Jack replied, while watching the Jaffa imitate menacing statues down below. "And, apart from that, what kind of name is 'Ba'al'?"

Daniel ignored his sarcasm. Instead, the linguist said torn: "I wish we could hear what they're talking about. Maybe we could get a hint on Sam…"

Jack agreed. Just watching would get them nowhere. Determined, the Colonel stashed away his field glasses. "I'm going down," he announced.

Daniel's head swiveled around and he looked at him as if Jack had gone crazy. "What? Down there?" he asked baffled.

Jack nodded and then turned a stern gaze on his friend. "And before you ask, I am going alone! Understood?"

"But Jack!"

"No, Daniel!" the Colonel cut him off. "Alone, they won't notice me. Trust me, I've done this before. And if they do spot me, then I order you to return to the SGC immediately! Leave me back and go as fast as you can! Do you understand?"

Jack's eyes bored into his friend's lighter ones. He knew Daniel hated every part of his plan and that it went against every believe of his friend to leave a team member back. But Jack had to make sure that at least someone of their team would return to the SGC and report their discoveries to them. Someone had to continue to search for Carter, even if he screwed up here.

"Okay," Daniel agreed reluctantly.

Jack nodded and shared a quick glance with Teal'c. Jack didn't entirely trust Daniel to really leave him back, but he trusted on Teal'c to drag the archaeologist back to the Stargate, kicking and screaming if necessary. Teal'c was a warrior, just like he was, and he saw things similar to the way Jack did. The Jaffa would understand the necessity of Jack's orders and he would fulfill them.

Now reassured, Jack began his descent. Carefully, he maneuvered through the ruins, wary of where he placed his feet. He had to be fast and quiet, but he couldn't risk a crash and he couldn't risk being spotted, so he was cautious.

When he had finally gotten to the bottom of the steep hill, he halted, when his radio crackled to life.

"Jack, be careful," Daniel's voice said. "There's an Al'kesh arriving."

Jack looked up and saw the mid-range bomber slowly lower down from the sky. Apparently it had just arrived out of space and was now making its way down to the planet. Talk about timing, Jack thought grimly. Now he would bet anything they had arrived at some kind of meeting and even just in time.

The Al'kesh provided a rather good distraction and so it was easy for Jack to make his way through the ruins to where the Jaffa stood waiting. He took up position behind a wall's corner and even risked a glance over the wall's edge. The Jaffa stood unmoving, but tense. As if they were waiting for someone or something.

Suddenly a light flashed not far away and rings appeared. Another handful of Jaffa appeared and in their middle stood a tall man. From the haughty attitude and the richly decorated garments he wore Jack had no trouble to recognize a Goa'uld. And going by the marks on the Jaffa's foreheads this had to be Ba'al. Still a ridiculous name…

Jack watched the man walk over to where his Jaffa were waiting and immediately, another figure stepped out of the ruins. As if mirroring Ba'al's arrival, the figure was surrounded by six guards. Jack swept his gaze over the surroundings attentively. Obviously both Goa'uld had agreed on a certain number of Jaffa to take with them, but Jack would bet his life that Ba'al's Al'kesh was practically bursting with Jaffa and the rest of Nirrti's Jaffa's were distributed all throughout the ruins, out of sight. He really had to be careful and he hoped Teal'c and Daniel were, too.

Jack observed the figure that was now walking over to stand with Nirrti's Jaffa. It certainly wasn't Nirrti, that much Jack could say. Neither the height nor the body frame matched.

The man, Ba'al, crossed his arms in front of his chest and just like Jack, he seemed to study the smaller figure standing opposite him. It was a woman, but Jack couldn't really see much of her. Her figure was covered with a long skirt that went down to her feet which stuck in richly adorned sandals. A tight top hugged her torso and from her head fell something akin to a veil. The bejeweled cloth was held on top of her head with something like an ornamented headband and fell down to her back. The left side of it was draped over her shoulder and clipped to the right side of the headband, hiding most of the female's face under the veil.

For a moment both Goa'uld seemed to seize each other up with their eyes and a tense atmosphere floated in the air. Then Ba'al inclined his head minimally in what was probably supposed to be a greeting.

"Nirrti," he acknowledged. "Long time no see."

Jack's eyes narrowed in concentration. The snakes were, of course, speaking in Goa'uld, but Jack had picked up enough bits and pieces here and there in the years of fighting them that he was somehow able to follow the conversation. Jack had always had a knack for languages even though he could by no means speak or read the Goa'uld's language, but why should he bother anyways? That was Daniel's job and who was he to ruin Space-monkey's fun? Jack however found it important he could at least follow basic conversations in Goa'uld, because it would give him the advantage of knowledge when the enemy still thought him unaware and he usually wanted to know what was going on around him anyways. So he had tried to remember whatever words he stumbled upon and what he didn't know was most of the time cleared up by the context.

The woman opposite of Ba'al nodded back. "Ba'al. Thank you for coming," she answered with the typically warped voice of a Goa'uld that was slightly muffled by her veil in a manner that indicated she had nothing less but expected the System Lord to be present.

Jack felt shivers run down his back at hearing the woman's voice. Something about it felt all wrong for him.

"You look different," Ba'al commented lightly as if he was talking about the weather.

"I have chosen a new host," Nirrti answered.

"What was wrong with the last one?" Ba'al wanted to know.

"She was nearing her… body's limits," Nirrti said cryptically, but the System Lord seemed to accept that answer.

"So, what do you want?" Ba'al asked.

"I want my position within the System Lords back," Nirrti all but ordered.

"Oh? Do you?" Ba'al asked amused. "And what do you need me for?"

For a moment, Nirrti was silent, but finally she admitted, more than reluctant: "I need… help."

Ba'al looked down on his hands, almost uninterested. "It's not that easy to rise up back to the rank of a System Lord, once you've fallen because of betrayal. The System Lords do not forgive that easily," he commented.

"I know," Nirrti said.

"You would need the support of a strong System Lord or the others would banish you immediately," Ba'al continued, gloating.

"I know," Nirrti repeated, although it sounded strained by now.

"Well that explains at least why I had to come here," Ba'al finished presumptuous. Jack impulsively decided that he didn't like the man.

"So?" Nirrti prompted the man.

Ba'al tilted his head to the side, his gaze growing calculating. "Well, what's in it for me?" he inquired.

"Power," Nirrti answered simply.

Ba'al laughed out loud. "How is it going to bring me power, if I help add another System Lord to the ranks?"

"Because I have knowledge," Nirrti answered, still calm. "Knowledge that would give you some advantages."

Ba'al watched her and Jack could tell that the System Lord was intrigued. "What knowledge?" he wanted to know.

Now it was Nirrti, who crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You want me to reveal it here and now? Then what guarantee would I have you would still help me gain my objectives?"

"Well, you will have to give me something, woman. I don't make uncertain deals," Ba'al countered.

"Very well," Nirrti agreed. "I have gained sensitive and important knowledge of the Tau'ri's structures and defenses."

Ba'al raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, while Jack's stomach dropped to somewhere around his knees. Oh god, knowledge about Earth's structures and defenses? How could Nirrti have gained that?

The answer was pretty simple, though. Only through Carter.

Jack closed his eyes in dread. Carter was military, she would never reveal such information voluntarily! What had Nirrti done to her to get into possession of such information? Jack didn't even want to imagine.

"Hm…" Ba'al drawled. "I've heard of the Tau'ri, but I don't have any problems with them. Why would I need knowledge about them?"

"You might not have encountered them yet," Nirrti agreed. "But they have the most annoying habit to meddle with things that are not their problems. Sooner or later you will cross them. They seem determined to destroy the Goa'uld."

Now Ba'al really laughed out loud and a few of his Jaffa even chuckled. "Oh please!" he snorted and Jack gripped his weapon tighter. Yes, he really didn't like this man.

Nirrti shrugged. "You could still strengthen your position within the System Lords with the knowledge. Quite a few of them have difficulties with the Tau'ri and if you would be the one in possession of the key to their obliteration…" the Goa'uld baited. "But maybe you'd be more interested in the knowledge I have of the Tok'ra and the Asgard?"

Jack paled. Really, what had this Goa'uld done to his 2IC? Squeeze her out like a lemon?

Ba'al seemed to think for a moment and then he said: "Interesting… Alright. What do you need from me?"

"Just your approval for my rise back to the position of a System Lord and your fleet, once the attacks begin," Nirrti answered.

Jack shifted uncomfortably, suddenly understanding. Nirrti was planning war for them! And Carter in her hands could assure that she had a few unfair advantages that could cost them dearly.

Suddenly, a brick in the wall behind him gave way from his shifting and fell, making a very audible sound. Jack froze for a second, but then reacted immediately. He let himself fall to the ground and cautiously crawled away. He had merely ducked behind a large chunk of rock a few feet further away, when one of Nirrti's Jaffa searched the place he'd just been hiding in.

Phew, that had been close, he thought, his heart racing with the sudden adrenaline rush.

When the Jaffa finally returned, Jack observed the two Goa'uld. Ba'al seemed amused more than anything, obviously trusting in his Jaffa to have secured any planet he'd set foot on, but Nirrti seemed alarmed. She questioned her Jaffa heatedly and with such speed that Jack didn't understand a word anymore.

Jack took the time to study the woman from his new hideout. He was closer to her now and had a clear sight on her. Well, he couldn't really see much of her that wasn't hidden by some kind of cloth, but it was still more than before. Something about her felt oddly familiar for the Colonel.

His eyes travelled over her, scrutinizing, trying to place a finger on the uncertain feeling of familiarity. Suddenly, the Goa'uld looked in the general direction of where he hid and her eyes were visible to him.

Jack gasped, feeling sucker punched. A nauseous feeling washed over him and left him fighting for air. His lungs felt like cement. For a moment all thoughts swam in his head and he had trouble relating to the reality. This couldn't be!

Almost as if electrocuted, Jack jumped up and stealthily made his way back through the ruins. He didn't look back to see if he was being pursued, he just trusted on his speed and the lead he had. The way it all stayed calm behind him however told Jack that his retreat had gone thankfully unnoticed. He wasn't about to slow down, though.

The moment he was out of hearing range, Jack radioed Daniel and Teal'c and ordered them back to the Stargate. He didn't even wait for either of them to confirm the command, but began climbing the hill. For a moment he contemplated telling them what had happened so the information couldn't get lost no matter what happened to him but then dismissed the thought. It would only cost him time and breath to explain it all and he had neither to spare right now. He just had to ensure he would get back.

As soon as Jack had overcome the hill, he ran. He had to get back. Immediately. He needed to report the information he'd gained, come hell or high water. It was downright essential to their survival.

Pushing his legs to their limit, Jack rounded blocks and walls, his eyes firmly glued to the shape of the Stargate looming in the distance. His mind was blank, he only operated on instinct and habit, his military training taking over and telling him what to do.

When he finally dashed towards the Stargate, Daniel and Teal'c were waiting in its front, but the MALP had already disappeared, sent back by the two men.

"GO!" Jack yelled, not even caring for stealth anymore.

Daniel and Teal'c seemed confused, but they obeyed and stepped into the event horizon. Jack threw himself after them only seconds later.

Cartwheeling, he emerged on the other side, only halting when he crashed into the MALP, which was parked at the end of the ramp leading to the 'Gate. Groaning, Jack straightened, feeling even more fucked over. What a day…!

"Jack!" Daniel yelled confused and worried.

Jack felt the other man's hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong? What happened?" the archaeologist asked.

Jack didn't acknowledge him. "Close the iris!" he yelled over the blaring alarms.

Immediately the event horizon's light behind him was blocked out by the shield sliding in place and not long thereafter, the wormhole disengaged and only then Jack let himself fall back against the ramp. Dimly, he heard General Hammond call for a medical team even though he didn't need one.

Jack closed his eyes exhausted and immediately was greeted by the picture of the eyes he'd seen. Nirrti's eyes. They had been blue. Blue eyes. Blue eyes he was very familiar with. Carter's blue eyes…

He felt like crying. Because he knew what it meant. And this was worse than any torture the Goa'uld could have put his 2IC through.

A/N: I am sooo glad I finally got this chapter off my back! I haven't had that much problems with any other chapter before. I've rewritten parts of it like what, seventeen times? And I still think it's rough and bumpy. Well, whatever. Next one will hopefully be better.