Halls of Osiris

Part 4:

Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado:

O'Neill rounded the corner, his long strides leaving the young lieutenant who had been sent to collect him struggling to keep up.

"It's about god-damned time we heard something," the Colonel snarled over his shoulder. "Who've they sent?"

His pace didn't slacken until the pair rounded another corner and were forced to stop before a bank of elevators. O'Neill scowled at the junior officer as he puffed to a stop behind him.

"I don't know, sir. The General sent me to find you as soon as the message was received. The Tok'ra hadn't arrived yet."

O'Neill growled and focussed his ire on the elevator call-button. "Come on, already," he muttered, then practically leapt into the car when the doors finally opened. He stabbed at the button for the twenty-eighth level.

Major Carter met them at the elevator, relieving the lieutenant of his charge with a quick nod. The younger man saluted and beat a hasty retreat.

"Well?" O'Neill's tone was belligerent.

"The Tok'ra sent Alwin, sir. He's in the briefing room with the General. Teal'c's already there."

"Aldwin? Peachy."

Carter grinned; her CO's expression suggested the information was anything but. "Yes, sir."

"So what's ol' Al got to say for himself?"

"Nothing so far. Just that the Council had information about Daniel."

"Which of course they've just fallen all over themselves to deliver as quickly as possible," O'Neill snarled as they swung into the briefing room at full steam.

"Actually, Colonel, yes. We did." Aldwin rose as O'Neill and Carter entered the room. "We only heard from our operative a few hours ago. The Council sent me as soon as we received confirmation." He turned to address General Hammond at the head of the conference table.

"I assure you, general, we are just as interested in the quick resolution of this situation as you are. Aside from Dr. Jackson's contributions to both our efforts, his capture represents a considerable security risk for the Tok'ra."

"Ah, yes. The great motivator. Self-interest." O'Neill made no attempt to disguise his disgust as he dropped into his seat.

"Colonel." Hammond's voice held a warning to which O'Neill acquiesced with poor grace. After a final glare in the colonel's direction, the general returned his attention to their visitor.

"We are well aware of the Council's concerns, Aldwin, and we do appreciate the Tok'ra's cooperation in finding Dr. Jackson. Now that the rest of SG-1 are here, let's get this briefing started."

"Of course, General. Time is of the essence. As I have already indicated, one of our operatives has sent word of Dr. Jackson's location. I am sure you understand that the operative's mission is very sensitive. He took a great risk in contacting the Council before the pre-arranged time."

"Right, Al, we get it. Sensitive mission. Great risk," O'Neill interrupted impatiently. "Where is he?"

"Dr. Jackson is being held on a planet that was once called Garawon. I have the Stargate address and other pertinent information about the planet here." Aldwin passed a data pad to Major Carter.

O'Neill frowned. "'Once called?'"

"Yes, colonel. The planet is no longer inhabited, at least until recently. Ra destroyed the population of Garawon during a skirmish with a minor system lord several hundred years ago. The planet held no naquada or other important minerals, and therefore no great interest for Ra, and because of it's distance from his other holdings was difficult to effectively defend. He eliminated the problem."

"Scorched earth. Lovely fella, that Ra."

Aldwin's dark head inclined slightly. "Quite."

"So, Garawon was part of Ra's holdings, and Danny was picked up by Horus Guards, so I'm guessing the System Lord of the week is Apophis, correct?"

"Ah, no."

Teal'c inclined his head at this statement, speaking for the first time. "Please explain."

"Not all of the Horus Guards have given their allegiance to Apophis. Some have fled, offering their services to other system lords, or simply wandering without purpose. And Garawon was abandoned by the Goa'uld when the human population was removed. Indeed, the planet holds interest to only one Goa'uld--- it's original master."

Teal'c intoned gravely, "Osiris."

O'Neill looked from one man to the other. "You have got to be kidding me."

"I am afraid not, Colonel. When Osiris fled this world, he traveled immediately to Garawon. Apparently he had secreted a base on the planet's southern continent, quite distant from its Stargate. This base remained unscathed by Ra's attack on the northern continent. Osiris has hidden himself and the Horus Guards he has managed to collect in this place while he considers his next move."

Hammond tapped a pen on the table thoughtfully. "Why would Horus Guards be attracted to Osiris? He was imprisoned for thousands of years here on Earth."

Teal'c's deep voice answered, "Osiris is of the house of Ra, as was Heru'ur. He was also once very powerful and much-feared among the system lords. They may believe that he is capable of bringing his house to supremacy once again."

"Teal'c is correct. At the moment, Osiris is biding his time, assembling his forces and collecting intelligence."

"General, if Aldwin's source is correct, it's very likely that Daniel's capture was no accident," Carter commented. "Osiris had already met Daniel, and knew that he had knowledge of the Goa'uld. He's bound to have heard even more about him from the Jaffa he's collected, especially if some of them were officers under Heru'ur."

"Indeed. If Dr. Jackson could be convinced to divulge what he knows---"

"Like that's gonna happen," O'Neill snorted.

"He may not be left with a choice, Colonel. Our operative has indicated that Osiris is interested in more than information.

"As you are aware, the host that Osiris took upon his release from his prison was female. If Osiris is to solidify his power he must produce offspring. It is our understanding that he hopes to rescue his queen, Isis---"

"She's dead." O'Neill's voice was flat.

"Yes, but Osiris has no way of knowing this, and even if he did that does not change his situation. He would simply have to locate a new queen. As you also know, the Goa'uld utilize their host's reproductive systems in their own spawning. This is why they most often choose hosts of the same sex as themselves. Osiris' new queen must have a female host in order to spawn, and therefore Osiris himself is in need of a new host."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "By taking DanielJackson as a host Osiris would gain both of the things he most needs with little effort. Why has he not done so?"

Aldwin smiled. "That is our operative's doing. He has convinced Osiris to wait. Quite a considerable bounty has been offered for Dr. Jackson by several of the major system lords, and Osiris is also in considerable need of weapons and other goods."

"Ah, the high price of galactic conquest," O'Neill commented.

The general nodded. "So Osiris plans to extract the information he wants and sell Dr. Jackson for the bounty."

"He has taken the suggestion under consideration. His Jaffa have been traveling to worlds that the Goa'uld rarely visit in search of suitable replacement hosts, but he has not yet decided which plan to follow. Osiris' indecision has bought Dr. Jackson some time."

"But not much." O'Neill sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Your guy on the inside, who is it?"

"I am sorry, Colonel. I am not at liberty to tell you."

"Oh, for cryin' out loud---"

"I'm sorry, Colonel." Aldwin turned again to the general. "We can not risk having our operative compromised. His situation is very delicate."

"Can we at least count on his help once we're in?"

"I can make no promises, Colonel O'Neill. The operative has positioned himself very close to Osiris. He has become one of his chief advisors. If he were to be exposed as Tok'ra, Osiris would not hesitate to kill him instantly. If he can aid you without jeopardizing his mission, he will. Otherwise---" Aldwin spread his hands helplessly.

"Otherwise," Hammond continued the thought, "we're on our own."

Aldwin leaned forward and studied O'Neill earnestly. "What I will tell you next is--- how do you phrase it--- 'off the record?' I can assure you of this: Osiris will not take Dr. Jackson as a host. He knows far too much about the Tok'ra for us to allow this to happen. In the event that the Tau'ri cannot retrieve him, the Council has instructed our operative to take steps to see that it does not."

O'Neill glared at the Tok'ra. "That makes me feel so much better."