Jonas sat in the corner of the cell, his knees drawn up close to his
chest, his arms rested over them loosely. He stared blankly at the floor
ahead of him, and thought back on their recent experience.
They had had no idea that the Goa'uld who had been oppressing this planet was Osiris. If they had known, they would have taken greater care, considering her great enjoyment at causing SG-1 as much hurt and pain as she could manage.
Jonas' short exposure to her malice had been enough to convince him that she was definitely a hazard, and he found himself deeply concerned for the safety of Colonel O'Neill, who had been missing for near on three hours.
Jonas had watched as two Jaffa had lowered O'Neill into the large sarcophagus, and had heard Osiris' order for the Kelownan to be returned to the cell until she wished for his return.
Crossing his arms loosely on his knees, he sighed, and shook his head. Something was wrong. It didn't take this long for the sarcophagus to heal such a small wound, even from a staff weapon.
Osiris was delaying the Colonel's return... but for what reason?
* * *
Sam Carter sat in her lab, waiting for the General's verdict on their plan of action. Teal'c sat opposite her, in pensive consideration of the situation. From the look on his dark face, Sam could tell he was eager to just jump right back through the Stargate, and save the two himself.
If they were even still on the planet.
"There has to be something we can do," Carter mused aloud, catching Teal'c's attention, "contact the Asgard, or even the Tok'ra."
Teal'c spoke then, his voice gentle but insistent, "The Asgard may provide assistance, now that they do not have the Replicators to deal with. But I doubt the Tok'ra will be able to help us, Major Carter. Their dwindling numbers are proving to be most problematic."
"I know," she agreed. "My dad would probably try to help... maybe even Malak too. But you're right. They've got their own problems."
"Maybe we should attempt to contact the Asgard, as you suggested," Teal'c concluded, standing from the table.
"Yeah, they owe us a favour I suppose." Carter stood from her chair, and walked with the large man out of the room.
* * *
He remembered O'Neill's return to the cell, and how drastically weak the Colonel had seemed. If he had been in the sarcophagus, then he never shouldn't have looked like that at all. But the burn had gone from his arm. He had been healed... but he had been delayed, as Jonas had first suspected.
And now he knew why.
Kneeling on the floor, he winced in pain, and let his head hang. He had been immediately locked in a Goa'uld restraining device, his arms chained over the bar behind him, a cuff around his neck.
He heard her footsteps as she walked around him, and even her fingers trailing through his damp spiky hair.
"If you tell me what I wish to know, you will be permitted to return to your cell," Osiris said quietly, continuing to circle him predatorily.
Jonas watched her go, until she was out of his line of sight, and then took to staring right ahead, saying, "I'm not telling you anything."
He felt the searing agony again, and gave an abrupt cry, before it ceased. The suddenness of it nearly caused him to collapse completely to the floor, but he gritted his teeth, and breathed heavily through the feeling until it subsided.
"What is this naquadriah you spoke of before?" Osiris asked, standing before him, hands on her hips, glaring down at the Kelownan.
Jonas shook his head, and mumbled, "I won't tell you."
Instead of feeling the same burning pain, Jonas was shocked to find that she did not punish him for his lack of knowledge. Instead, he heard the retreat of the Jaffa as they moved away, leaving Jonas alone with Osiris... well, partially. Her First Prime stood defiantly in the corner, watching the proceedings intently.
Moving to stand behind him, Osiris spoke to Jonas, "If you tell me, I will grant you the honour of becoming one of my Jaffa."
Jonas almost laughed at her pathetic effort to tempt him, instead choosing to say, "No thanks."
Her fingers twined in his short hair again, yanking his head back, as she leaned close and said, "Maybe you wish to become a host to one of my maturing symbiote from within my Jaffa."
"Not exactly," Jonas managed, shortly before she let go of his hair, letting his head drop back again.
She came around to face him, crouching delicately down to his level, and hissed, "You will have no choice."
Jonas glared back at her, his own bravery shocking him slightly. He had never been this close to a Goa'uld System Lord as powerful as Osiris, but he found he was not as afraid as he had once thought he would be in such a circumstance. She wasn't nearly as intimidating as she thought she was.
"Now," she began again, staring him firmly in the eye, "what is naquadriah?"
Jonas looked to the First Prime, seeing how the Jaffa had his hand rested eagerly on the hilt of a dagger in his belt. Jonas let his eyes wander back to Osiris, replying, "Very dangerous."
Osiris almost growled furiously, and she took a hold of his bottom jaw tightly, keeping her eyes in solid contact with his. "What does it do? Is it similar to naquadah?"
"Not as similar as you think," he told her, not quite sure why he was coming out with answers to her questions at all.
"What was it used for?"
Jonas clenched his fists in their chains, and replied, "To create a bomb."
Osiris looked positively ecstatic at her sudden success with the information she was receiving, and so continued her interrogation, "Did the weapon work?"
"No," Jonas said, taking some satisfaction at her deflated look.
She narrowed her eyes, and waited for him to continue.
"It didn't work," Jonas informed her quietly, his energy beginning to fail him, "my people nearly destroyed themselves in the attempt to make it work."
Osiris released his jaw, and stood. "The Goa'uld have more power than your weak race. We will make the device work."
"I hope you blow yourselves up in the effort," Jonas growled, raising his eyes to meet hers.
She backhanded him hard, stunning him.
"When we have planted you with a symbiote, you will help us to perfect the device."
"No I won't," Jonas said defiantly, shaking his head to clear it after her blow. "I'd rather watch you destroy yourself instead."
With an angry growl, Osiris nodded to a Jaffa behind the Kelownan.
* * *
Jack rubbed his head, and sighed loudly, letting the pain sink back down into the very pit of his being, hoping it would just damn well stay there this time. The nausea didn't help matters much.
The door sliding up made him spring to attention, and he rose from off his back on the floor, and turned, staring at the door.
He ran to the figure that was thrown inside, on the verge of unconsciousness, panting heavily.
The door slid closed once again afterwards, taking with it the image of the grinning First Prime.
I thought those guys were supposed to be blank slates, Jack puzzled, crawling closer to the figure lying on the floor, their breathing ragged, their face hidden as they rose to a kneeling position, their head rested forward on the floor, the damp hair sticking up all over their head. His eyes were clamped shut, and he gritted his teeth as he knelt there.
"Jonas?" Jack muttered, coming to a stop beside his friend, touching his back gently.
A shudder ran down Jonas' spine, and in a flash, the Kelownan had spun away from him, slamming up against the back wall, his eyes wild and terrified.
"Whoa, Jonas, it's me," Jack said to him, moving over slowly, hand held out to show his intentions, "it's Jack."
Jonas shook his head, taking to hitting himself in the side of the skull gently with his hand, lowering his face to hide it again.
"My god," Jack mumbled sorrowfully, "what did she do to you?"
"No," came a voice from the form before him, one that made Jack jump back in shock.
Eyes wide in horror, Jack watched the previously trembling form get to his feet with ease, staring down with calm eyes at the human.
Jonas walked towards Jack, causing the man to leap to his feet, and pace backwards, saying, "Jonas, listen to me..."
The Kelownan shook his head, and continued his pacing towards O'Neill.
"You're not yourself," Jack insisted, glancing over his shoulder at the fast approach of the back wall, "you have to fight this."
Jonas gave him a violent shove, slamming him against the back wall behind him, pressing a hand against his chest with shocking strength.
The eyes flashed.
Jack hung his head. He had failed his friend... allowed this to happen to him.
But instead of beating the crap right out of him, Jack found that Jonas moved in close, and said quietly into his ear, albeit in a distorted voice, a rather calm and gentle one, "Trust me, Colonel O'Neill. Play along with my actions."
With that, Jonas threw Jack to the floor, stunning the man both with his words and his actions.
Jack looked up at the approaching form, and he narrowed his eyes at Jonas.
Something wasn't right.
Jonas came into a crouched position beside, taking a take grip on the Colonel's shirt, and pulling him up, muttering, "I am not your enemy. I will not harm you."
Even as he was dropped rather roughly to the floor, it hit Jack... everything became painfully clear.
Jonas had not become a Goa'uld.
He had become a Tok'ra.
But how?
* * *
To Sam's surprise, Selmak had come through the Stargate shortly before they were about to contact the Asgard, clearly having business on his mind.
"General Hammond," Selmak said to the man as he, Carter and Teal'c entered the embarkation room. "I have a matter of great consequence to discuss with you and your team."
"Well I'm afraid only half of my team are present at the moment," Hammond informed the Tok'ra as he moved down the ramp.
"Um... is my father in there?" Carter began, indicating the person standing before her, the one she recognised so obviously at first sight.
With a nod, Selmak lowered his head, coming up slowly, as Jacob Carter surfaced.
"Sam," Jacob said, holding out his arms.
The woman crossed into them, accepting and welcoming his warm embrace.
"Like Selmak said, I'm here on business I'm afraid," Jacob continued in his symbiote's place. "And General, we are fully aware of the condition of SG-1 at present."
"How in God's name would you know about that?" Hammond asked as politely as he could in such a scenario, and shifted his weight on his feet.
"We have a number of Tok'ra informants currently operating aboard a Goa'uld mother ship in Osiris' possession. She was the one to attack you on the planet where you rescued the natives, and she has now decided to leave the world, ship and all," Jacob told them, even as they moved on their way to the briefing room. So, at least they were alive... even if they were captives of Osiris.
"What does that have to do with the Colonel and Jonas, dad?"
Jacob turned his gaze to his daughter as he continued; "We recently received an encoded transmission on the progress of the mission." After a quiet moment, he persisted, "We planted a Tok'ra symbiote in one of the Jaffa, shockingly enough without them ever knowing, and now that symbiote has reached maturity. It has found a host, and contacted us, we suspect with the help of the other Tok'ra onboard the ship."
"How many are there?" Carter asked, amazed at just how strange this all was. And for them to be aboard the same ship as O'Neill and Jonas was just good luck. The Tok'ra could help them escape.
"There are currently three aboard Osiris' ship. They're working at sabotaging it and her other operations on that planet. But we've run into a problem."
"What is the complication?" Teal'c queried, striding into the briefing room behind the others. The four came to a halt at the side of the table, next to the window overseeing the embarkation room itself.
"Now that the ship has left the planet's orbit, the other two Tok'ra that were operating on the world have been cut off. Half our operation is being piloted out into deep space. That's where we need your help, just as well as you need ours," Jacob told them, crossing his arms, and sighing.
"How so?" Hammond inquired, seating himself at the head of the table, watching as Carter and Teal'c followed suit, turning in their chairs to watch Jacob.
"Well, as you know, we have a cargo ship at our disposal. We need to get onto that ship, and recover the Tok'ra operatives."
"As well as Colonel O'Neill and Jonas," Carter added, to which her father nodded.
"Exactly."
Hammond let out a deep sigh. "I'm not so sure that sending you out like this is going to solve matters, but I have no other choice. I can't tell you how much I don't like the three of you rushing off into this alone."
"We will have the assistance of Malak, along with Master Bra'tac," Jacob informed them, allowing himself a slight smile.
"How did you convince Bra'tac to involve himself in such a hazardous mission?" Teal'c asked, standing once again from the table.
"It didn't take much. We just told him what was at stake, and he went for it right away. Malak was eager to lend a hand," Jacob explained, just as Sam rose from her chair.
"Very well," Hammond surmised, nodding his head, "SG-1, you have a go."
* * *
He strode the corridors, feeling the panic and fear from within his host. He had told him on several occassions that the lodging was not permanent, and he would remove himself from the host as soon as an opportunity presented itself.
But still, Jonas Quinn was uncomfortable, and gave him a hard time about all of this, making it most difficult to keep his cool exterior as he moved about the corridors.
Attired appropriately in Goa'uld clothing, consisting of flaring trousers, thick heavy boots, and sleeveless shirt, he headed in the direction of the quarters of Osiris. She had asked to see him as soon as he had clothed himself accordingly, and revealed himself to Colonel O'Neill.
Tarak was a little bewildered himself, but he knew what he was to do here... even if he was alone.
Just then, a figure appeared before him, raising a hand before Tarak could strike.
"I am a friend, Tarak," the voice said quietly, pulling him into the shadows.
Tarak cocked his head, feeling his host's curiousity rubbing off on him. He almost smiled.
"My name is Ormak. I am Tok'ra, as are you yourself. I am here to sabotage this vessel, along with another. We were awaiting your implantation, although we never expected Osiris to select this host."
"It is a most unexpected event to me also," Tarak countered, casting a glance out of the alcove, checking on their security. "Where is this other you spoke of?"
Ormak was a tall man, taller than he himself was. His light hair was the colour of sand, and reasonably thick, styled into a regulated look that settled on either side of his head, close to his eyes. He was largely built, and seemingly ready for action.
"She awaits our word in the engine room. She has set up an overload in the main core. It will destroy the vessel, after we give her our word," Ormak explained, emerging from the alcove, followed shortly by Tarak.
"She is named Lanara," Ormak added, momentarily before he nodded once, and turned, leaving the Tok'ra to continue on his way to Osiris' chamber.
Arriving shortly after meeting Ormak, Tarak entered Osiris' chamber silently, surprised to see her resting on a graceful chair, her eyes closed peacefully.
At his slightest movement, Osiris' eyes snapped open, and she smiled.
"Ah, Tarak," she purred, standing slowly from her chair, "I see you are prepared to begin your service to me."
"Yes, my queen," Tarak said in response, bowing his head slightly.
When he looked back up at her, Osiris was smiling happily. She came to a halt before him, laying a hand on his chest gently. "I knew I had made the correct decision in making the alien a host."
Tarak remained silent, feeling the discomfort of his host again. He wished to surface, but with a little persuading, he fell silent once again. Tarak wished as much as Jonas did that he could share his body as was promised, but now was not the time.
"Do you swear your allegiance to me, your God?"
"I do," Tarak told her, lying so freely, wishing instead to take a knife and plunge it into her. Jonas did not agree with that course of action exactly... he wanted to free Sarah, the host.
"Then you are ready to begin your service," Osiris told him, moving away, turning her back on him, so blindly trusting him. She would regret her naivety later.
"How do you wish for me to serve you?"
Osiris turned to him, an evil grin crossing her features as she said, "By killing the human."
They had had no idea that the Goa'uld who had been oppressing this planet was Osiris. If they had known, they would have taken greater care, considering her great enjoyment at causing SG-1 as much hurt and pain as she could manage.
Jonas' short exposure to her malice had been enough to convince him that she was definitely a hazard, and he found himself deeply concerned for the safety of Colonel O'Neill, who had been missing for near on three hours.
Jonas had watched as two Jaffa had lowered O'Neill into the large sarcophagus, and had heard Osiris' order for the Kelownan to be returned to the cell until she wished for his return.
Crossing his arms loosely on his knees, he sighed, and shook his head. Something was wrong. It didn't take this long for the sarcophagus to heal such a small wound, even from a staff weapon.
Osiris was delaying the Colonel's return... but for what reason?
* * *
Sam Carter sat in her lab, waiting for the General's verdict on their plan of action. Teal'c sat opposite her, in pensive consideration of the situation. From the look on his dark face, Sam could tell he was eager to just jump right back through the Stargate, and save the two himself.
If they were even still on the planet.
"There has to be something we can do," Carter mused aloud, catching Teal'c's attention, "contact the Asgard, or even the Tok'ra."
Teal'c spoke then, his voice gentle but insistent, "The Asgard may provide assistance, now that they do not have the Replicators to deal with. But I doubt the Tok'ra will be able to help us, Major Carter. Their dwindling numbers are proving to be most problematic."
"I know," she agreed. "My dad would probably try to help... maybe even Malak too. But you're right. They've got their own problems."
"Maybe we should attempt to contact the Asgard, as you suggested," Teal'c concluded, standing from the table.
"Yeah, they owe us a favour I suppose." Carter stood from her chair, and walked with the large man out of the room.
* * *
He remembered O'Neill's return to the cell, and how drastically weak the Colonel had seemed. If he had been in the sarcophagus, then he never shouldn't have looked like that at all. But the burn had gone from his arm. He had been healed... but he had been delayed, as Jonas had first suspected.
And now he knew why.
Kneeling on the floor, he winced in pain, and let his head hang. He had been immediately locked in a Goa'uld restraining device, his arms chained over the bar behind him, a cuff around his neck.
He heard her footsteps as she walked around him, and even her fingers trailing through his damp spiky hair.
"If you tell me what I wish to know, you will be permitted to return to your cell," Osiris said quietly, continuing to circle him predatorily.
Jonas watched her go, until she was out of his line of sight, and then took to staring right ahead, saying, "I'm not telling you anything."
He felt the searing agony again, and gave an abrupt cry, before it ceased. The suddenness of it nearly caused him to collapse completely to the floor, but he gritted his teeth, and breathed heavily through the feeling until it subsided.
"What is this naquadriah you spoke of before?" Osiris asked, standing before him, hands on her hips, glaring down at the Kelownan.
Jonas shook his head, and mumbled, "I won't tell you."
Instead of feeling the same burning pain, Jonas was shocked to find that she did not punish him for his lack of knowledge. Instead, he heard the retreat of the Jaffa as they moved away, leaving Jonas alone with Osiris... well, partially. Her First Prime stood defiantly in the corner, watching the proceedings intently.
Moving to stand behind him, Osiris spoke to Jonas, "If you tell me, I will grant you the honour of becoming one of my Jaffa."
Jonas almost laughed at her pathetic effort to tempt him, instead choosing to say, "No thanks."
Her fingers twined in his short hair again, yanking his head back, as she leaned close and said, "Maybe you wish to become a host to one of my maturing symbiote from within my Jaffa."
"Not exactly," Jonas managed, shortly before she let go of his hair, letting his head drop back again.
She came around to face him, crouching delicately down to his level, and hissed, "You will have no choice."
Jonas glared back at her, his own bravery shocking him slightly. He had never been this close to a Goa'uld System Lord as powerful as Osiris, but he found he was not as afraid as he had once thought he would be in such a circumstance. She wasn't nearly as intimidating as she thought she was.
"Now," she began again, staring him firmly in the eye, "what is naquadriah?"
Jonas looked to the First Prime, seeing how the Jaffa had his hand rested eagerly on the hilt of a dagger in his belt. Jonas let his eyes wander back to Osiris, replying, "Very dangerous."
Osiris almost growled furiously, and she took a hold of his bottom jaw tightly, keeping her eyes in solid contact with his. "What does it do? Is it similar to naquadah?"
"Not as similar as you think," he told her, not quite sure why he was coming out with answers to her questions at all.
"What was it used for?"
Jonas clenched his fists in their chains, and replied, "To create a bomb."
Osiris looked positively ecstatic at her sudden success with the information she was receiving, and so continued her interrogation, "Did the weapon work?"
"No," Jonas said, taking some satisfaction at her deflated look.
She narrowed her eyes, and waited for him to continue.
"It didn't work," Jonas informed her quietly, his energy beginning to fail him, "my people nearly destroyed themselves in the attempt to make it work."
Osiris released his jaw, and stood. "The Goa'uld have more power than your weak race. We will make the device work."
"I hope you blow yourselves up in the effort," Jonas growled, raising his eyes to meet hers.
She backhanded him hard, stunning him.
"When we have planted you with a symbiote, you will help us to perfect the device."
"No I won't," Jonas said defiantly, shaking his head to clear it after her blow. "I'd rather watch you destroy yourself instead."
With an angry growl, Osiris nodded to a Jaffa behind the Kelownan.
* * *
Jack rubbed his head, and sighed loudly, letting the pain sink back down into the very pit of his being, hoping it would just damn well stay there this time. The nausea didn't help matters much.
The door sliding up made him spring to attention, and he rose from off his back on the floor, and turned, staring at the door.
He ran to the figure that was thrown inside, on the verge of unconsciousness, panting heavily.
The door slid closed once again afterwards, taking with it the image of the grinning First Prime.
I thought those guys were supposed to be blank slates, Jack puzzled, crawling closer to the figure lying on the floor, their breathing ragged, their face hidden as they rose to a kneeling position, their head rested forward on the floor, the damp hair sticking up all over their head. His eyes were clamped shut, and he gritted his teeth as he knelt there.
"Jonas?" Jack muttered, coming to a stop beside his friend, touching his back gently.
A shudder ran down Jonas' spine, and in a flash, the Kelownan had spun away from him, slamming up against the back wall, his eyes wild and terrified.
"Whoa, Jonas, it's me," Jack said to him, moving over slowly, hand held out to show his intentions, "it's Jack."
Jonas shook his head, taking to hitting himself in the side of the skull gently with his hand, lowering his face to hide it again.
"My god," Jack mumbled sorrowfully, "what did she do to you?"
"No," came a voice from the form before him, one that made Jack jump back in shock.
Eyes wide in horror, Jack watched the previously trembling form get to his feet with ease, staring down with calm eyes at the human.
Jonas walked towards Jack, causing the man to leap to his feet, and pace backwards, saying, "Jonas, listen to me..."
The Kelownan shook his head, and continued his pacing towards O'Neill.
"You're not yourself," Jack insisted, glancing over his shoulder at the fast approach of the back wall, "you have to fight this."
Jonas gave him a violent shove, slamming him against the back wall behind him, pressing a hand against his chest with shocking strength.
The eyes flashed.
Jack hung his head. He had failed his friend... allowed this to happen to him.
But instead of beating the crap right out of him, Jack found that Jonas moved in close, and said quietly into his ear, albeit in a distorted voice, a rather calm and gentle one, "Trust me, Colonel O'Neill. Play along with my actions."
With that, Jonas threw Jack to the floor, stunning the man both with his words and his actions.
Jack looked up at the approaching form, and he narrowed his eyes at Jonas.
Something wasn't right.
Jonas came into a crouched position beside, taking a take grip on the Colonel's shirt, and pulling him up, muttering, "I am not your enemy. I will not harm you."
Even as he was dropped rather roughly to the floor, it hit Jack... everything became painfully clear.
Jonas had not become a Goa'uld.
He had become a Tok'ra.
But how?
* * *
To Sam's surprise, Selmak had come through the Stargate shortly before they were about to contact the Asgard, clearly having business on his mind.
"General Hammond," Selmak said to the man as he, Carter and Teal'c entered the embarkation room. "I have a matter of great consequence to discuss with you and your team."
"Well I'm afraid only half of my team are present at the moment," Hammond informed the Tok'ra as he moved down the ramp.
"Um... is my father in there?" Carter began, indicating the person standing before her, the one she recognised so obviously at first sight.
With a nod, Selmak lowered his head, coming up slowly, as Jacob Carter surfaced.
"Sam," Jacob said, holding out his arms.
The woman crossed into them, accepting and welcoming his warm embrace.
"Like Selmak said, I'm here on business I'm afraid," Jacob continued in his symbiote's place. "And General, we are fully aware of the condition of SG-1 at present."
"How in God's name would you know about that?" Hammond asked as politely as he could in such a scenario, and shifted his weight on his feet.
"We have a number of Tok'ra informants currently operating aboard a Goa'uld mother ship in Osiris' possession. She was the one to attack you on the planet where you rescued the natives, and she has now decided to leave the world, ship and all," Jacob told them, even as they moved on their way to the briefing room. So, at least they were alive... even if they were captives of Osiris.
"What does that have to do with the Colonel and Jonas, dad?"
Jacob turned his gaze to his daughter as he continued; "We recently received an encoded transmission on the progress of the mission." After a quiet moment, he persisted, "We planted a Tok'ra symbiote in one of the Jaffa, shockingly enough without them ever knowing, and now that symbiote has reached maturity. It has found a host, and contacted us, we suspect with the help of the other Tok'ra onboard the ship."
"How many are there?" Carter asked, amazed at just how strange this all was. And for them to be aboard the same ship as O'Neill and Jonas was just good luck. The Tok'ra could help them escape.
"There are currently three aboard Osiris' ship. They're working at sabotaging it and her other operations on that planet. But we've run into a problem."
"What is the complication?" Teal'c queried, striding into the briefing room behind the others. The four came to a halt at the side of the table, next to the window overseeing the embarkation room itself.
"Now that the ship has left the planet's orbit, the other two Tok'ra that were operating on the world have been cut off. Half our operation is being piloted out into deep space. That's where we need your help, just as well as you need ours," Jacob told them, crossing his arms, and sighing.
"How so?" Hammond inquired, seating himself at the head of the table, watching as Carter and Teal'c followed suit, turning in their chairs to watch Jacob.
"Well, as you know, we have a cargo ship at our disposal. We need to get onto that ship, and recover the Tok'ra operatives."
"As well as Colonel O'Neill and Jonas," Carter added, to which her father nodded.
"Exactly."
Hammond let out a deep sigh. "I'm not so sure that sending you out like this is going to solve matters, but I have no other choice. I can't tell you how much I don't like the three of you rushing off into this alone."
"We will have the assistance of Malak, along with Master Bra'tac," Jacob informed them, allowing himself a slight smile.
"How did you convince Bra'tac to involve himself in such a hazardous mission?" Teal'c asked, standing once again from the table.
"It didn't take much. We just told him what was at stake, and he went for it right away. Malak was eager to lend a hand," Jacob explained, just as Sam rose from her chair.
"Very well," Hammond surmised, nodding his head, "SG-1, you have a go."
* * *
He strode the corridors, feeling the panic and fear from within his host. He had told him on several occassions that the lodging was not permanent, and he would remove himself from the host as soon as an opportunity presented itself.
But still, Jonas Quinn was uncomfortable, and gave him a hard time about all of this, making it most difficult to keep his cool exterior as he moved about the corridors.
Attired appropriately in Goa'uld clothing, consisting of flaring trousers, thick heavy boots, and sleeveless shirt, he headed in the direction of the quarters of Osiris. She had asked to see him as soon as he had clothed himself accordingly, and revealed himself to Colonel O'Neill.
Tarak was a little bewildered himself, but he knew what he was to do here... even if he was alone.
Just then, a figure appeared before him, raising a hand before Tarak could strike.
"I am a friend, Tarak," the voice said quietly, pulling him into the shadows.
Tarak cocked his head, feeling his host's curiousity rubbing off on him. He almost smiled.
"My name is Ormak. I am Tok'ra, as are you yourself. I am here to sabotage this vessel, along with another. We were awaiting your implantation, although we never expected Osiris to select this host."
"It is a most unexpected event to me also," Tarak countered, casting a glance out of the alcove, checking on their security. "Where is this other you spoke of?"
Ormak was a tall man, taller than he himself was. His light hair was the colour of sand, and reasonably thick, styled into a regulated look that settled on either side of his head, close to his eyes. He was largely built, and seemingly ready for action.
"She awaits our word in the engine room. She has set up an overload in the main core. It will destroy the vessel, after we give her our word," Ormak explained, emerging from the alcove, followed shortly by Tarak.
"She is named Lanara," Ormak added, momentarily before he nodded once, and turned, leaving the Tok'ra to continue on his way to Osiris' chamber.
Arriving shortly after meeting Ormak, Tarak entered Osiris' chamber silently, surprised to see her resting on a graceful chair, her eyes closed peacefully.
At his slightest movement, Osiris' eyes snapped open, and she smiled.
"Ah, Tarak," she purred, standing slowly from her chair, "I see you are prepared to begin your service to me."
"Yes, my queen," Tarak said in response, bowing his head slightly.
When he looked back up at her, Osiris was smiling happily. She came to a halt before him, laying a hand on his chest gently. "I knew I had made the correct decision in making the alien a host."
Tarak remained silent, feeling the discomfort of his host again. He wished to surface, but with a little persuading, he fell silent once again. Tarak wished as much as Jonas did that he could share his body as was promised, but now was not the time.
"Do you swear your allegiance to me, your God?"
"I do," Tarak told her, lying so freely, wishing instead to take a knife and plunge it into her. Jonas did not agree with that course of action exactly... he wanted to free Sarah, the host.
"Then you are ready to begin your service," Osiris told him, moving away, turning her back on him, so blindly trusting him. She would regret her naivety later.
"How do you wish for me to serve you?"
Osiris turned to him, an evil grin crossing her features as she said, "By killing the human."