Chapter Thirty-six

Teal'c laid in bed delirious with fever. The withdrawal from the Tretonin was beginning to break down his entire system. He had no idea how much time had passed since this had started, but he knew that Jack and Daniel should have been here by now.

Not ready to give up on them yet, or rather 'ever', Teal'c closed his eyes and placed all of his effort into breathing. The sounds of chaos and commotion out in the hall brought a slight smile to his lips. He was not used to simply waiting for rescue, but at the moment it was all he had strength for. Teal'c listened to the noises for about an hour before they settled into silence.

When someone burst into the room, slamming the door behind them, Teal'c struggled to sit up. Too ill for such an action he fell back to the soft bed. The intruder approached and Teal'c felt the sharp prick of a needle sink into his neck. He was not immediately well, but he felt an improvement.

He was still trying to gather his strength when he felt the chains that had been cutting into his wrists and ankle released. Teal'c turned his head to see a nervous young Jaffa standing by him.

"You are Teal'c?"

"I am."

"Can...can you help me?" The Jaffa asked meekly.

"What is transpiring?"

"Our Queen, she has turned on us."

"Turned?"

"She is running through the Temple, slaughtering anyone she finds."

"Have you harmed her?"

"No. We can not fight against her, she is too powerful. I believe she has fallen to Blood Lust."

"No, she is simply insane."

"How can that be?"

"What is your name?"

"Yais."

"Yais, help me stand."

Yais did as he was told and hauled Teal'c to his feet. He did his best to stand on his own, however it was apparent that he was still weak. Yais offered him his arm for support, but Teal'c pushed it away.

"Where is she?"

"I do not know."

"Where are the others?"

"I believe I am the only one to remain."

"What?"

"Everyone else has fled back to their home worlds or out into the Wilds surrounding the Temple." Yais admitted. "Our loyalty has been shaken deeply since discovering our First Prime mutilated in the pool. He never said a word against any of the Gods, he did not deserved to die by their hand."

"Why have you stayed?"

"My world was destroyed...I have no where to go."

"Could you not go to one of the other Jaffa worlds?"

"I...I have heard great stories of you...I did not wish to leave you here to die."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and looked down at Yais. He looked barely older than one hundred, and he was shaking violently. Teal'c decided that he was most likely a hindrance rather than a help. However he felt indebted to him.

"I will offer you passage to the Jaffa Nation world, if you are willing to accept it."

Yais nodded his head and smiled shyly.

"Take me to the Stargate."

Yais nodded once again and peered out the door. Although feeling dizzy Teal'c pulled himself together enough to follow. The Temple had indeed been abandoned. As they weaved through the empty halls Teal'c kept alert for Neith's presence, but he could not even sense her.

"Has anyone come through the Stargate recently?" Teal'c asked as they reached the Gate.

"You mean your Tau'ri friends? No, they have not."

Teal'c nodded solemnly and Dialed the Gate. Yais looked at the shimmering pool nervously.

"This will lead you to a jumper world. There is a camp there, and friend who will help you."

"You are not coming with me?"

"No."

Yais thought about this and simply nodded. He stepped towards open Wormhole but then stepped back to Teal'c. Reaching in his own pouch he drew out the Symbiot he had carried nearly all of his life. He held it up to Teal'c, but he remained motionless.

"Take it."

"I can not."

"I have used the last of the Tretonin on you...you will die without it."

"But I will die free." Teal'c said firmly.

"I could bring help ba..."

"No. I will contact the Tau'ri. They will help me settle this."

"The host is someone special isn't she? You fear the Jaffa will simply kill her since she is the last of her kind."

"Indeed."

"She must be Samantha Carter. I have heard of her as well."

Teal'c simply nodded.

"Do you think you can save her?"

"I do not know." Teal'c admitted.

Yais watched as Teal'c looked around the Gate room. He looked torn with indecision. After a moment his expression hardened once again.

"How long have I been here?" Teal'c demanded.

"Nearly two weeks."

"And no attempt has been made to open the Stargate from another world?"

"None. It has remained inactive."

"In that case." Teal'c paused before starting again. "In that case, I must ask a favour of you."

"Anything."

"Tell the eldest Jaffa at the camp that if they do not hear from me within twenty-four hours...they must bring the full force of both the Jaffa Nation and the Tok'ra down upon this place."

"What?"

"If Samantha Carter can not be saved...she must be killed."