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Chapter 1: Deceit
Part 4
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An hour earlier
The Tok'Ra ship, Aku (translation: 'supernatural spirit')
"Are you sure this is the place?" Sam asked her father for the seventh time.
"Yes, Sam, I'm sure." Jacob sighed and turned to look at Daniel, who was sitting with his head resting against the wall, having spoken not one word to any of the inhabitants of the ship since they boarded. At this, Jacob was unsure, he couldn't tell if it was because he had given up trying to get them to talk to him, or because he was so lost in thought and guilt about Jack's current situation. Given that his relationship with each of them was a lot better than it had been upon his return, Jacob guessed it was the latter, glad that his relationship with his wife was, once again, as it had been. She had finally accepted that he hadn't wished to lie to her…had seen the pain it had caused reflected in his eyes.
Having heard about the problems with the weapon from another source, the Tok'Ra had immediately used their communication lines with their spies, as best they could without putting anyone in danger. Their discovery had been unsettling, and, to some, startling beyond belief. They had known of Orisis' revival but had heard so little of him that some had discounted the story of the return as a hoax, or at best a dying revenge. For Osiris to make them think that he was still alive and well was enough to set fear into the hearts of many, whether it be true or not.
They had discovered the whereabouts of the Colonel and the other hostages with little difficulty, and Jacob had an unsettling suspicion that there was something amiss. The ease with which they had come by the information was a little too much for him to take and Selmac, in all her wisdom, agreed. However, whether his co-operation was for his daughter sake, his son in law's sake or for the memory of his friend, George Hammond, Jacob had insisted that the mission be his.
"We're here." Slowing the controls and bringing the ship to a halt, Jacob ensured that they were at a reasonable distance to escape quickly, if necessary, and yet close enough to actually go down to the planet.
"Okay, this is the plan." Sam turned to the others. "Our first priority is to get a good look at the facility. From the Tok'Ra sources, we know that the compound is larger than anything we've seen before, and it goes underground as well. We have no idea where anyone is being held, so the last thing we need is heroics. Understood?"
With four nods to the affirmative, Sam returned the gesture and looked at her father, "Dad, I want you to pull us out of there the minute you think anything's going wrong."
Jacob sighed and nodded, "I still wish I was going with you, but you're the boss on this one, Sammy." Giving her father a small smile, she turned to the others and they prepared to leave, turning back only at Selmac's parting words, "Bring them back safe and sound, Colonel."
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Ten Minutes later
Outside the Goa'uld facility on the planet Jho'Kla
"Okay, Daniel, I want you and Anna to go to the South. Make your way round to the back of the facility and see what you can figure out about the guards, any entrances. Anna, you know the drill. Teal'c, I want you to take the North, head towards their shipyards and see what their air attack could do. Graham and I will head closer in this direction. It seems to be the best way into the facility and I'd like to get a closer look. Understood?"
All nodded and headed out in the direction set them, and Daniel turned back and offered Sam one last smile before he headed off after Anna. They slowly moved around the facility, creeping forward with ease and speed. Daniel kept his pistol clutched in his left hand, his right never straying far from the Zat gun at his side.
It felt strange for him, working so close to Anna. He knew her like the back of his hand, or at least he had, things had changed since his 'death', and yet, they had only worked side by side on one occasion before. It felt odd, knowing that usually, in these circumstances, he would be working with Jack, Sam or Teal'c. Usually the latter of the three, and now, he was on a mission to save the former. Now there was a twist in the tale of his work with the SGC, him rescuing Jack.
He ducked instantly, having sensed the slight change in Anna's pace, and the further tensing of her shoulders. The instant she fell to her knees and rolled into the bushes to her left, he had done the same and was lying right next to her. He was so close he could hear her quickened breath making its way through her system.
"D'is was a trap." she whispered softly. "D'ey knew we were coming."
"We don't know that. Not yet." Daniel strained to hear what the guards were saying, struggling to catch on to any word, any phrase. "Eh...okay, this was a trap." He turned and gave her an apologetic look.
"What are d'ey saying?" she whispered, moving closer to him, knowing that he would have to lower his voice as the guards approached.
"Well, they have Sam and Lieutenant Simmons,"
"D'ey took t'e most direct route, d'ey would not have been able to escape."
"I know. They know where Teal'c is, but I think he's walking in to a trap as well, so they don't seem to be in any rush."
"Do d'ey know we are here?" She asked, slightly apprehensive of the answer.
"No, no but they know we're in the area. They seem to know everything, except that...or maybe they know everything." Daniel pointed to the sky, and Anna was able to make out at least five ships flying through the air, in the direction that she had no doubt Jacob was.
"It would appear d'at t'e best course of action would be to return t'rough t'e Stargate."
"If there is one."
"I believe d'ere is one on the hill behind us."
"How can you be sure?"
"I saw it. It is not a very difficult object to miss, Daniel."
"So what," Daniel replied, choosing to ignore her sarcasm, "we just leave? We leave Jack and Sam and everyone to be tortured, possibly even killed?"
"What would you have us do Daniel? Would you rather we fight a loosing battle and die knowing thet d'ey did not stand a chance or would you rather live and come back wit' reinforcements."
Daniel didn't reply, but it was obvious that he saw her point. He took one last look at the facility, sending a silent prayer that everyone was all right before turning and following Anna in the opposite direction.
He was abandoning them again. He was abandoning her again. Only this time, it was nothing to do with a cover up, nothing to do with a fake death. This time it was all the more real to him...it could be about her death, about Jack's death and about Teal'c and General Carter and Simmons and Feretti...it was about him leaving them, not knowing whether they would be alive to rescue upon his return.
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END DECEIT: PART 4
END DECEIT
Okay, I'd just like to point out that, if there are any facts/happenings that seemed ambiguous, they were supposed to! There are things that I have deliberately left to be explained in Part 3.
I am working on Chapter 2 (Protocol) and Chapter 3 (Intertwining Deceit and Protocol). But I'm doing it slowly. I want this story to be written well!
Any ideas/feedback/constructive criticism will always be welcome. I can be reached at kyizi@hotmail.com