Chapter 17- Interrogation and Sleep Deprivation

After a good night's sleep Laura and Jack came up to the briefing room. "Knowledge of Goa'uld magic is forbidden," they heard Teal'C say.

"It's not magic, Teal'C. My ancestors, Goa'uld or Tok'Ra just wanted you to think that," Laura said as they came up the stairs.

"Permission for me and my kid to barge in, Sir?" Jack asked, stroking the back of Laura's head gently.

"Colonel O'Neill. Miss O'Neill. I was hoping to meet the both of you as the Pentagon wants me to interrogate her as well. Your mission report from Chulak made for the most engrossing analysis of my career," a general that was standing said, indicating Laura with his chin and stepping forward.

"Well, thanks. What was your favorite part? Jack asked.

"Perhaps now is not the time, Colonel," Hammond said.

"General, you know what me and my brat went and did? We told Teal'C how we all respect a person's rights in this country," Jack said. Laura never took offense when Jack called her "brat." It was a term of endearment and he always said it affectionately.

"I assure you, there's nothing untoward taking place here, Colonel. Please, join us," the general invited.

"Thank you. Hey, Teal'C," Laura greeted the Jaffa as she and Jack sat next to him.

"Harcesis, O'Neill," Teal'C said back.

"That's "Teal'C," with an apostrophe," Jack said to a female officer who was apparently taking notes and he spelled it for her.

"Teal'C, Miss O'Neill, what can either of you tell us about the Goa'uld?" The General asked.

"They rule basically by force. Sort of like the Yeerks in the Animorphs series. Their numbers were very few, but they are growing," Laura said.

"How many worlds do they control?" The General asked.

"I honestly don't remember. Teal'C?" Laura asked, turning to Teal'C.

"Many hundreds. Perhaps more," Teal'C said.

"And should we expect to encounter these Goa'ulds everywhere we go?" The General asked.

"It is possible," Teal'C said.

"We?" Laura heard Jack whisper to Hammond.

"But there are many more worlds that the Goa'ulds have no use for. On those worlds the people are abandoned and left to fend for themselves," Teal'C said.

"Is there a leadership or government with which we could negotiate a peace?" The General asked.

"No, I don't think so. Some, like Apophis, are great kings, and rule over many worlds as their gods. But they have no need for peace. Apophis considers me an abomination as I am the human offspring of two of the Goa'ulds. Most younglings, like me, are murdered within minutes of birth. If they could kill you, like me, they would. I have the memory of the Goa'uld who fathered me. I am a threat because of what I know," Laura said.

"Could they? They have spacecraft, right?" The General asked.

"Yes. Without the Stargate, such a journey would take many months. Perhaps even years. It would take many vessels, many slave armies," Teal'C said.

"We're not that much of a nuisance just yet," Jack said.

"These slaves- Where do they come from?" The General asked.

"There is a tale of a primitive world the Goa'uld discovered millennia ago, the Tauri, first world where forms of this type evolved. It is said the Goa'uld harvested among the primitives. Some became Goa'uld hosts. Others became Jaffa. The rest were taken as slaves, and seeded among the stars to serve them. But that world has been lost for centuries," Teal'C said.

"Teal'C, beings of this form evolved here on Earth," the General said. A stunned look crossed Teal'C's face.

"This world-" Teal'C started to say.

"Is the world you're talking about, Teal'C. Ra came here. If our ancestors hadn't rebelled and buried the Stargate-" Laura started to say.

"Then, Harcesis, you would not have become strong enough to challenge them," Teal'C finished Laura's statement with a grim, foreboding tone.

"Then the galaxy is populated by the ancient peoples of Earth," the General said.

"There could be millions by now," Hammond said.

"And you are their greatest hope. And mine," Teal'C said. Laura felt shocked. The peoples of Earth across the galaxy wouldn't trust a Harcesis to save them. Sha're had feared her on Abydos. What was to stop the others from fearing a child that had the Goa'uld memory? But then again she would go down in Goa'uld history as the one Harcesis who stood up to the Goa'ulds by going against breeding and freed the galaxy.


Laura came out of the commissary, a glass of Dr. Pepper in her hand. Being the youngest at the base, the cooks had ordered the drink for her, along with food most kids liked to eat. To which Laura had just had two slices of pepperoni and bell pepper pizza. The General had determined that she was no threat, but Laura couldn't say the same for Teal'C. Laura only had the memory. Teal'C on the other hand was a former First Prime and had an infant Goa'uld in his stomach.

Laura looked up as Carter and Daniel came down the corridor, Daniel holding a cup of coffee in his hand. "Hi, Captain, Daniel," Laura said, waving.

"Hi, Laura. So your interrogation is over?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. I guess they figured if I was gonna turn on anyone I would have done it years ago," Laura said as they all stepped into the elevator.

"I'm going to drop by the control room. By the silence around here, it seems like the Goa'ulds have finally given up," Sam said when the elevator stopped at their floor and Sam, Laura, and Daniel stepped off.

"I wouldn't count on it. The Goa'ulds are not the sharpest tools in the galaxy when it comes to giving up. They don't take defeat graciously. As long as they have Jaffa to throw at the iris, they are going to keep coming," Laura said, then noticing along with Carter that Daniel was rubbing his eyes.

"When was the last time you slept?" Carter asked.

"I don't know," Daniel said with a mirthless chuckle.

"I guess it doesn't help when the whole base goes on alert every two hours," Carter said.

"No, it's not that. It's just that... my mind races and I can't stop thinking about Sha're, where she is, what she's become," Daniel said in a slight ramble.

"I know and I am sorry. There is no telling what could be happening. But you can't stay awake forever," Laura said.

"I can try. You're right, Laura. I'll meet the two of you at the next briefing," Daniel said. Sam touched his shoulder briefly as she walked to the control room.

"Carter, can I come with you? I've got nothing else to do as my interrogation is over," Laura said, jogging to keep up with her.

"Sure," Carter said as they made their way down the hall and then a siren blared.