"How close are we?" Jacob Carter asked, coming to stand behind his
daughter as she worked the controls. She was shaking her head, her blonde
hair moving slightly, reflecting the light.
"Close enough for a visual," Sam replied, bringing it up on a screen for the others to see. Malak and Bra'tac came forward to inspect the situation.
"Are we hidden from their scanners?" Malak asked calmly, his usual cool-headed personality showing perfectly through his question, and how he asked it.
Sam looked up at him, seeing his gentle eyes regarding her curiously. "Yes. Teal'c is bringing us in closer."
"We will be detected the moment we resort to using the rings," Bra'tac noted aloud.
"We will indeed, Master Bra'tac," Teal'c agreed.
"It's either that, or we try and fly the cargo ship right on in. That won't work due to the fact that we won't be able to open the cargo bay doors. We can't exactly blast our way in," Jacob pointed out, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Sam sighed. This was going to be a little harder than it had first seemed.
"We're going to have to use the rings," Sam concluded, rising from her chair, watching as the three men behind her moved back instantly to allow her an exit from the control station. She nodded her thanks slightly, and moved out to stand in the centre of the room. "I don't see what other choices we have."
"One of us should remain behind in the event of discovery," Bra'tac suggested, holding his prized staff weapon loosely in his grip.
Sam nodded, and looked immediately to her father. She didn't like him being on these missions.
Jacob smiled at her concern, even as Teal'c stood beside him, rising from his seat.
"It would be wise for you to remain, Jacob Carter. Selmak's experience in such missions will be invaluable. You will be able to guide us from here," Teal'c said calmly, linking his arms loosely behind his back.
"Looks like I'm staying here then," Jacob mumbled with a smile, giving in to the fact that he was outnumbered in this argument.
Bra'tac gave a nod, and looked momentarily to Malak standing beside him. The Tok'ra looked extremely calm, as always. The only time Sam had seen him any other way was on the Alpha Site, when the invisible assassin had attacked. The Tok'ra had been alarmed, along with the rest of his people. Back then he had been arrogant and naïve, unable to trust the Jaffa. Now he stood beside one as an equal.
Sam smiled.
"Alright. Dad, how long until we're close to use the rings?"
"We're close enough now, if you think you're ready."
"Give us ten minutes," Sam responded, moving off to change and gear up properly.
They were going to have to work fast.
* * *
Ormak jogged out from behind the control console, and said, "We have been contacted by Selmak. He along with four others are arriving to retrieve us."
Jack raised his eyebrows hopefully. "That's good news."
"Indeed it is, O'Neill," Lanara agreed, speeding up her work somewhat. "I am nearly finished here, Ormak. I need only for you to check the alterations."
Ormak nodded and moved over.
"Sounds like good old Carter and Teal'c are right on time, "Jack muttered to Jonas, who stood pensively by the Colonel's side, watching the actions of the two Tok'ra across the room.
Jonas nodded silently.
When Jack turned to talk to Jonas, he saw just how gloomy his friend seemed. "You're not still worrying about all this Tarak crap, are you?"
Before Jonas could reply, a staff blast struck him, knocking him down immediately with a cry.
When Jack whirled to fire, he was hit by the energy from a zat gun.
He managed to hear Lanara as she mumbled to Ormak, "The preparations are complete. They cannot reverse the process." Then there were two more shots, one staff weapon, and one zat. A man gave a shout as a boom filled the air.
Figures entered the room, all of them Jaffa.
They seemed to ignore Jack, instead moving to Jonas and the two Tok'ra, one of which was lying motionless on the floor, a steaming hole in his chest. The woman moved slightly, laying a hand on Ormak, before passing out.
Jack rolled over, seeing that Jonas had lapsed into unconsciousness, the large burn on his back making the Colonel cringe.
This wasn't going to plan.
* * *
"I've lost contact with the team," Selmak called, as the four companions stood close together in the ring area.
"We'll find them," Sam yelled in response, shortly before the rings activated, and she felt herself transported immediately to the dark surroundings of a Goa'uld mother ship.
They were alone, and reasonably safe for the time being. Sam looked around, seeing the alert forms of Teal'c, Bra'tac and Malak as they checked their surroundings.
"We are clear to proceed, Major Carter," Teal'c reported, a zat in his hand.
She nodded, gripping her P-90, and moved out to take point, hearing the others fall into line behind her, Teal'c taking up the rear.
Bra'tac walked closely behind her, his keen eyes and ears picking up the slightest sign that they may not be alone after all. Nothing moved him to action, so Sam took the hint that there was nothing to worry about.
"It is safe to assume that the others have been captured," Malak said quietly, from his position just in front of Teal'c.
"Well, we're not giving up on them," Sam told him, peering around a corner, and ducking into an alcove immediately at the approach of Jaffa... a rather large collection of Jaffa.
The others followed suit quietly, hidden by the shadows.
They watched as the Jaffa marched past, dragging several figures with them.
"Colonel," Sam muttered quietly, recognising him only by his camouflage gear. She recognised no one else, their clothing alien to her.
When the contingent had passed, she moved out carefully from her hiding place, the others standing close, waiting for her orders.
"I didn't see Jonas," she said quietly; worry fogging her mind for a moment.
"He will be here somewhere, Major Carter," Teal'c assured her calmly, looking over his shoulder to check they were alone in the corridor.
Sam nodded, and said, "Alright, let's follow the Jaffa. No doubt they'll lead us to wherever they've got Jonas and the others."
* * *
Jack groaned as he was tossed to the floor, hearing the sound of three others thrown to the ground near to him. No sound came from any of them. Either they were playing dead... or they actually were dead.
He saw the approach of Osiris as she paced over to the four of them as they lay on the ground.
"I should have guessed it would not be so easy to kill you," she growled, indicating to a Jaffa behind O'Neill, who quickly picked the man up off the floor into a kneeling position, handling him roughly.
"Well, what can I say? I'm extremely lucky," Jack moaned, looking back at the three others on the floor.
Osiris turned his head to face hers, and she said, "Why did Tarak betray me? Did you coerce him?"
Jack smiled. "Are you really that dense?"
She glared.
"He's not a Goa'uld..." Jack sighed. "He's a Tok'ra."
This news infuriated Osiris, and she threw Jack backwards with a shove, so that he landed hard next to the form of Jonas. Jack watched him for a moment, noticing just how hard it was to pick out the movements of his breathing.
Osiris moved closer, staring down at the three Tok'ra.
"This one is dead, my queen," the First Prime said proudly, kicking a foot lightly into the side of Ormak.
"A shame," Osiris grumbled. "I would have enjoyed extracting information from him." Then her gaze fell gleefully onto the two others. "No matter. I have two other Tok'ra with which to amuse myself."
"This one is wounded," a Jaffa noted, nudging Jonas with the toe of his boot. The Kelownan did not stir.
Jack watched as Osiris paced to him, and looked down on him.
"Would you like for us to place him in the sarcophagus, my queen?" the First Prime asked.
She grinned. "No. Let him suffer."
Jack bolted to his feet, grabbed immediately by the sturdy First Prime so that he could not rush forward to harm Osiris as he angrily said, "Damn you! If you don't help him, he'll die!"
"Maybe he will," Osiris agreed. Then she added, "But perhaps he will not, if his symbiote is able to repair the damage." She moved closer to O'Neill, saying quietly, "But maybe Tarak will die too."
Jack struggled for a moment before a force struck him hard at the base of the skull, plunging him into darkness.
* * *
Sam jumped back as the door opened, waving to the others to tell them to hide, watching as they quickly disappeared from sight. Sam herself ducked into a convenient alcove behind her, vanishing from sight. She kept her head behind the wall so that the exiting Jaffa would not spot her.
When they had moved off, she motioned for her little team to follow her as she made a move to trail the Jaffa. The two Jaffa and the Tok'ra came quickly into step behind her, as they travelled close to the wall, to avoid being seen by anyone.
Within mere moments, they had a vantage point on the holding cell where they just managed to catch sight of the Jaffa shutting the heavy door. All but two of the Jaffa moved off, the remaining ones guarding the cell.
"We must find a way to get past the guards," Malak noted, even though the others knew this fact already.
Sam nodded, even as Bra'tac walked out into the open.
Teal'c followed his mentor's suit, leaving Sam and Malak to watch as the Jaffa guards quickly charged them.
The two had rid themselves of their opponents in a matter of moment, and they looked patiently to the Tok'ra and the human.
Sam emerged with Malak, looking down at the two unconscious Jaffa that lay on the ground.
"Good job," Sam mumbled in amazement, and moved off carefully in the direction of the cell door.
Coming to halt at the panel that locked the door, she took to inspecting it carefully, searching for a way to open it.
* * *
Jack snapped back into awareness the minute he heard the small explosion from outside the door, watching as the door was lifted open by two sets of strong arms.
"Teal'c!" Jack gasped in amazement, rising from the ground, and rushing over, thankful for the light the open door provided.
"Human," Bra'tac greeted him, patting him on the arm.
"Good to see you too," Jack smiled, and nodded his head to Malak, seeing Carter appear.
"Carter, we gotta get outta here. This place is gonna blow us all to hell unless we make a swift exit," Jack told her.
Malak moved into the room past Jack, and crossed immediately to the body of the man who had been struck fatally by a staff blast.
Jack heard Malak's mournful sigh, as he said, "Ormak is dead."
Jack nodded, hanging his head. He felt a little responsible, having let his guard fall enough for the Jaffa to sneak up on them in the first place.
"What of the others?" Bra'tac inquired, moving to inspect the condition of the corridor outside, noting that they were safe for the time being.
Carter entered the room, looking sorrowfully to the dead Tok'ra who lay still on the floor near to a woman.
Malak touched a hand to the woman, and let a slight smile touch his lips. "Lanara is alive, and unharmed."
Carter moved warily to the fourth figure, unsure of what to make of them. Jack was certain she was wondering just who this was.
Carter saw the large wound on the person's back, shortly before she touched a hand to their bare arm.
The form rolled over, gasping in pain, their eyes glowing momentarily.
Carter leapt back in shock, falling to the floor with the brunt of the suddenness of it.
"Jonas..." she began quietly, even as Jack crossed to her, followed by Malak.
Malak knelt, looking the person in the eye as they lay on the floor.
"Tarak," he said, his voice calm and gentle, "my name is Malak. I am Tok'ra... you are safe now."
Obviously straining to do so, Tarak spoke, "My host is badly wounded. It will take all my strength to heal him."
Carter was speechless, as Jack helped her to her feet.
"Just be glad the symbiote that matured was Tok'ra," Jack muttered to her, seeing her spaced-out nod.
Malak spoke into a communication device he held, "Selmak, we have located our friends."
"Are they alright?" came the reply.
"We have lost Ormak, and Tarak is badly wounded. Lanara is well."
There was slight sigh from Selmak, before he said, "You must leave quickly. Lanara and the others have activated the device. You have very little time."
"Understood." Malak helped Tarak to his feet, the latter wincing in pain. Malak cast a regretful glance at Ormak's body. He understood it had to be left behind... despite his wish to retrieve it, and give the Tok'ra a proper send-off.
Teal'c carefully scooped the woman into his arms, carrying her out of the cell, past Bra'tac, who waved to the others to tell them it was safe for them to beat a hasty retreat.
"What if Osiris detects the sabotage?" Carter asked, glancing back at Malak and Tarak.
"Apparently she won't be able stop the damn thing no matter what," Jack assured her, hurrying her along the corridor.
"That's good to hear," Carter said hurriedly, glancing over her shoulder again at the two men behind her.
"Don't worry, Carter," Jack assured her gently as they moved, "Jonas will be fine."
Carter nodded slowly, even as a shot struck the wall beside her.
"Everybody fall back!" Jack called, raising the zat Teal'c passed to him, and letting off a shot.
Teal'c himself had claimed a staff weapon to use from one of the guards, and he and Bra'tac took up positions at the front to ward the Jaffa off. Lanara was placed behind Teal'c for protection. She stirred slightly.
Shot after shot was fired up and down the hall, great fiery blasts from staff weapons, and streams of electrical blue energy crackled from the zat, followed by a shower of rapid bullets from Carter's P-90.
More and more Jaffa appeared in front to stop them from advancing.
From behind him, Jack heard Malak's shout, "Colonel, we must get back to the cargo ship!"
"I know that! Carter, can we get past them to the ring room?" Jack said loudly to be heard over the continuous firing of weapons.
Carter took a moment to consider their options, before the woman shook her head.
Lanara, the Tok'ra woman woke at this point, and looked around hazily at her surroundings, and strange situation. The last thing she had seen was the engine room.
She crawled carefully back to Malak and Tarak... or Jonas.
"We cannot pass them, O'Neill," Teal'c called back, not taking his eyes off his targets.
Jack cursed quietly, hearing the hushed voices of the Tok'ra behind him.
Jack peered over his shoulder to see Jonas coming around. Was it Jonas or Tarak?
Firing off two shots rapidly that struck a single Jaffa, killing him, Jack rolled over to the three Tok'ra figures.
"Jonas, are you alright?"
It was Jonas. Jack could tell that from the look of sheer agony on his friend's young face. He shook his head, and groaned.
"There's another way..." he managed to say, looking down the long corridor at the battle that was taking place.
"What?" Jack said loudly, narrowing his eyes as the volume increased somehow. Either that or he was going deaf all of a sudden.
Jonas' eyes clamped shut, before they opened, and Tarak spoke, "There is another route, O'Neill."
After shaking off the odd feeling that swept over him any time he heard the odd voice from Jonas' body, Jack asked, "Where?"
Tarak cringed at what was obviously a burning pain in his back, and said, "Osiris' chamber. Her personal ring device."
"Oh, peachy," O'Neill mumbled, nodding to Malak and Lanara, who were giving him desperate looks.
"Teal'c!" Jack called, trying to keep the volume down so that the Jaffa would not hear him.
Teal'c tilted his head, showing Jack he could hear him.
"Pull back, there's another way off this ship," Jack told him, knowing Carter had heard by her nod.
Immediately, Teal'c, Bra'tac and Carter began pulling back as carefully and quickly as they could without turning their backs to the Jaffa fire. They continued to shoot back at the enemy, knocking several down, only to watch in despair as more arrived to take their place.
Tarak, Malak and Lanara began leading Jack towards Osiris' chamber, a place the Colonel was not keen on visiting again. But they had no other choice.
* * *
Carter heard her gun click on empty, and let it hang around her body on its strap as she resorted to using her sidearm, pulling the trigger and watching as the bullets ricocheted off the Jaffa's armour, several piercing it, and downing the warriors.
She took no satisfaction in murdering these somewhat mindless soldiers... they were just -as she was- following orders. It was just that their orders contradicted one another's.
Firing her last shot, she pulled back into the open door the Tok'ra had led them to, seeing the two friendly Jaffa tumble in after her.
The two slid shut, and Carter rose to her feet, even as Teal'c fired a staff shot at the locking device, sealing them in.
"I hope you're right," O'Neill said to Jonas.
Jonas, or whatever the Tok'ra residing within him was called, said, "I am certain. I have not seen her use the ring technology, but I am certain." He indicated a point in the ceiling that confirmed the Tok'ra's suspicions of such a device. There were definite ring shapes marked in the cavernous ceiling that told Carter that her friend, or his symbiote, was right.
"Now we just have to figure out how to activate them," Carter pointed out, walking around the large room in search of an activation panel or button.
Lanara, the Tok'ra woman rose, and strode across the room. "I am aware of how to activate the rings. We need only enter our destination."
She crossed to a panel on the throne-like chair, and pushed several Goa'uld panels in sequence.
"Everyone step into the circle on the floor," Lanara instructed them, pressing a last button with discernible force, and running over herself.
The seven companions gathered within the circle, just as the other door opened ominously, and Osiris entered, along with her First Prime.
"Stop them!" she bellowed angrily, pointing with a long feminine finger at the team within the ring.
Carter saw Colonel O'Neill's smug grin, and sarcastic wave as the rings activated, and plunged down around the seven figures, enveloping them in light, shortly before it transported them onto the welcoming floor of the cargo bay.
"Dad, we gotta go!" Sam shouted loudly, running immediately through to the control centre where her father was waiting to do just as she was asking. He pressed his hand to a control, and she watched as the Goa'uld ship spun out of view, and the cargo ship entered hyperspace.
"How long until the ship blows?" O'Neill asked Lanara in the back room.
Carter turned to hear Lanara say, "It should have already been destroyed."
Jacob nodded, saying, "She's right. Just before we entered hyperspace, I read a rather noticeable explosion..." his words trailed off.
"Dad?" Carter ventured, crossing to him momentarily.
"I'm reading the launch of a Death Glider shortly before the explosion. No doubt it contained Osiris and her First Prime."
Carter shook her head. At least they had taken out one of her vessels.
Hearing a cry from the back room, she bolted in that direction, remembering their injured friend.
She skidded to a halt beside Jonas, and took another look at the wound, which was deeper and more severe than she had first thought. She grimaced, and gave a look to Colonel O'Neill at her side.
"How bad is it?" O'Neill asked Malak, who was trying to ease his Tok'ra companion.
"I am not certain he will survive, O'Neill," Malak responded woefully.
Lanara looked to have more than a few tears in her eyes, even as she touched a hand affectionately to Jonas' arm as he lay on his side.
"Jacob!" O'Neill called, hearing the approaching footsteps of the elder Tok'ra. "How long until we get back to Earth?"
"We should return him to the Tok'ra home world," Lanara managed, on the verge of sobbing at the potential loss of one of her kind.
"No," O'Neill corrected sternly, and with venom. He didn't trust the Tok'ra as far as he could throw them, especially not since his experience with Kanan. "Jonas is coming back to Earth. Got that?"
Lanara lowered her head, just as a tear tumbled down her cheek.
"Colonel," Carter tried quietly, feeling sympathy for the obviously pained Tok'ra woman.
O'Neill wasn't having any of it though, and he looked up firmly at Jacob Carter.
"It'll be at least ten hours, Jack."
"Then you drop us off," O'Neill ordered.
"Colonel?" Carter queried, narrowing her eyes, and frowning as Jonas gave a moan of pain as he lay on the floor. His breathing had become laboured, and he floated in and out of awareness.
"Some planet around here must have a Stargate. You drop us off, and we Gate back to Earth." Colonel O'Neill's face was enough to convince Jacob Carter, who moved back into the control room to plot a course to a nearby planet.
Carter hoped they made it in time.
"Close enough for a visual," Sam replied, bringing it up on a screen for the others to see. Malak and Bra'tac came forward to inspect the situation.
"Are we hidden from their scanners?" Malak asked calmly, his usual cool-headed personality showing perfectly through his question, and how he asked it.
Sam looked up at him, seeing his gentle eyes regarding her curiously. "Yes. Teal'c is bringing us in closer."
"We will be detected the moment we resort to using the rings," Bra'tac noted aloud.
"We will indeed, Master Bra'tac," Teal'c agreed.
"It's either that, or we try and fly the cargo ship right on in. That won't work due to the fact that we won't be able to open the cargo bay doors. We can't exactly blast our way in," Jacob pointed out, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Sam sighed. This was going to be a little harder than it had first seemed.
"We're going to have to use the rings," Sam concluded, rising from her chair, watching as the three men behind her moved back instantly to allow her an exit from the control station. She nodded her thanks slightly, and moved out to stand in the centre of the room. "I don't see what other choices we have."
"One of us should remain behind in the event of discovery," Bra'tac suggested, holding his prized staff weapon loosely in his grip.
Sam nodded, and looked immediately to her father. She didn't like him being on these missions.
Jacob smiled at her concern, even as Teal'c stood beside him, rising from his seat.
"It would be wise for you to remain, Jacob Carter. Selmak's experience in such missions will be invaluable. You will be able to guide us from here," Teal'c said calmly, linking his arms loosely behind his back.
"Looks like I'm staying here then," Jacob mumbled with a smile, giving in to the fact that he was outnumbered in this argument.
Bra'tac gave a nod, and looked momentarily to Malak standing beside him. The Tok'ra looked extremely calm, as always. The only time Sam had seen him any other way was on the Alpha Site, when the invisible assassin had attacked. The Tok'ra had been alarmed, along with the rest of his people. Back then he had been arrogant and naïve, unable to trust the Jaffa. Now he stood beside one as an equal.
Sam smiled.
"Alright. Dad, how long until we're close to use the rings?"
"We're close enough now, if you think you're ready."
"Give us ten minutes," Sam responded, moving off to change and gear up properly.
They were going to have to work fast.
* * *
Ormak jogged out from behind the control console, and said, "We have been contacted by Selmak. He along with four others are arriving to retrieve us."
Jack raised his eyebrows hopefully. "That's good news."
"Indeed it is, O'Neill," Lanara agreed, speeding up her work somewhat. "I am nearly finished here, Ormak. I need only for you to check the alterations."
Ormak nodded and moved over.
"Sounds like good old Carter and Teal'c are right on time, "Jack muttered to Jonas, who stood pensively by the Colonel's side, watching the actions of the two Tok'ra across the room.
Jonas nodded silently.
When Jack turned to talk to Jonas, he saw just how gloomy his friend seemed. "You're not still worrying about all this Tarak crap, are you?"
Before Jonas could reply, a staff blast struck him, knocking him down immediately with a cry.
When Jack whirled to fire, he was hit by the energy from a zat gun.
He managed to hear Lanara as she mumbled to Ormak, "The preparations are complete. They cannot reverse the process." Then there were two more shots, one staff weapon, and one zat. A man gave a shout as a boom filled the air.
Figures entered the room, all of them Jaffa.
They seemed to ignore Jack, instead moving to Jonas and the two Tok'ra, one of which was lying motionless on the floor, a steaming hole in his chest. The woman moved slightly, laying a hand on Ormak, before passing out.
Jack rolled over, seeing that Jonas had lapsed into unconsciousness, the large burn on his back making the Colonel cringe.
This wasn't going to plan.
* * *
"I've lost contact with the team," Selmak called, as the four companions stood close together in the ring area.
"We'll find them," Sam yelled in response, shortly before the rings activated, and she felt herself transported immediately to the dark surroundings of a Goa'uld mother ship.
They were alone, and reasonably safe for the time being. Sam looked around, seeing the alert forms of Teal'c, Bra'tac and Malak as they checked their surroundings.
"We are clear to proceed, Major Carter," Teal'c reported, a zat in his hand.
She nodded, gripping her P-90, and moved out to take point, hearing the others fall into line behind her, Teal'c taking up the rear.
Bra'tac walked closely behind her, his keen eyes and ears picking up the slightest sign that they may not be alone after all. Nothing moved him to action, so Sam took the hint that there was nothing to worry about.
"It is safe to assume that the others have been captured," Malak said quietly, from his position just in front of Teal'c.
"Well, we're not giving up on them," Sam told him, peering around a corner, and ducking into an alcove immediately at the approach of Jaffa... a rather large collection of Jaffa.
The others followed suit quietly, hidden by the shadows.
They watched as the Jaffa marched past, dragging several figures with them.
"Colonel," Sam muttered quietly, recognising him only by his camouflage gear. She recognised no one else, their clothing alien to her.
When the contingent had passed, she moved out carefully from her hiding place, the others standing close, waiting for her orders.
"I didn't see Jonas," she said quietly; worry fogging her mind for a moment.
"He will be here somewhere, Major Carter," Teal'c assured her calmly, looking over his shoulder to check they were alone in the corridor.
Sam nodded, and said, "Alright, let's follow the Jaffa. No doubt they'll lead us to wherever they've got Jonas and the others."
* * *
Jack groaned as he was tossed to the floor, hearing the sound of three others thrown to the ground near to him. No sound came from any of them. Either they were playing dead... or they actually were dead.
He saw the approach of Osiris as she paced over to the four of them as they lay on the ground.
"I should have guessed it would not be so easy to kill you," she growled, indicating to a Jaffa behind O'Neill, who quickly picked the man up off the floor into a kneeling position, handling him roughly.
"Well, what can I say? I'm extremely lucky," Jack moaned, looking back at the three others on the floor.
Osiris turned his head to face hers, and she said, "Why did Tarak betray me? Did you coerce him?"
Jack smiled. "Are you really that dense?"
She glared.
"He's not a Goa'uld..." Jack sighed. "He's a Tok'ra."
This news infuriated Osiris, and she threw Jack backwards with a shove, so that he landed hard next to the form of Jonas. Jack watched him for a moment, noticing just how hard it was to pick out the movements of his breathing.
Osiris moved closer, staring down at the three Tok'ra.
"This one is dead, my queen," the First Prime said proudly, kicking a foot lightly into the side of Ormak.
"A shame," Osiris grumbled. "I would have enjoyed extracting information from him." Then her gaze fell gleefully onto the two others. "No matter. I have two other Tok'ra with which to amuse myself."
"This one is wounded," a Jaffa noted, nudging Jonas with the toe of his boot. The Kelownan did not stir.
Jack watched as Osiris paced to him, and looked down on him.
"Would you like for us to place him in the sarcophagus, my queen?" the First Prime asked.
She grinned. "No. Let him suffer."
Jack bolted to his feet, grabbed immediately by the sturdy First Prime so that he could not rush forward to harm Osiris as he angrily said, "Damn you! If you don't help him, he'll die!"
"Maybe he will," Osiris agreed. Then she added, "But perhaps he will not, if his symbiote is able to repair the damage." She moved closer to O'Neill, saying quietly, "But maybe Tarak will die too."
Jack struggled for a moment before a force struck him hard at the base of the skull, plunging him into darkness.
* * *
Sam jumped back as the door opened, waving to the others to tell them to hide, watching as they quickly disappeared from sight. Sam herself ducked into a convenient alcove behind her, vanishing from sight. She kept her head behind the wall so that the exiting Jaffa would not spot her.
When they had moved off, she motioned for her little team to follow her as she made a move to trail the Jaffa. The two Jaffa and the Tok'ra came quickly into step behind her, as they travelled close to the wall, to avoid being seen by anyone.
Within mere moments, they had a vantage point on the holding cell where they just managed to catch sight of the Jaffa shutting the heavy door. All but two of the Jaffa moved off, the remaining ones guarding the cell.
"We must find a way to get past the guards," Malak noted, even though the others knew this fact already.
Sam nodded, even as Bra'tac walked out into the open.
Teal'c followed his mentor's suit, leaving Sam and Malak to watch as the Jaffa guards quickly charged them.
The two had rid themselves of their opponents in a matter of moment, and they looked patiently to the Tok'ra and the human.
Sam emerged with Malak, looking down at the two unconscious Jaffa that lay on the ground.
"Good job," Sam mumbled in amazement, and moved off carefully in the direction of the cell door.
Coming to halt at the panel that locked the door, she took to inspecting it carefully, searching for a way to open it.
* * *
Jack snapped back into awareness the minute he heard the small explosion from outside the door, watching as the door was lifted open by two sets of strong arms.
"Teal'c!" Jack gasped in amazement, rising from the ground, and rushing over, thankful for the light the open door provided.
"Human," Bra'tac greeted him, patting him on the arm.
"Good to see you too," Jack smiled, and nodded his head to Malak, seeing Carter appear.
"Carter, we gotta get outta here. This place is gonna blow us all to hell unless we make a swift exit," Jack told her.
Malak moved into the room past Jack, and crossed immediately to the body of the man who had been struck fatally by a staff blast.
Jack heard Malak's mournful sigh, as he said, "Ormak is dead."
Jack nodded, hanging his head. He felt a little responsible, having let his guard fall enough for the Jaffa to sneak up on them in the first place.
"What of the others?" Bra'tac inquired, moving to inspect the condition of the corridor outside, noting that they were safe for the time being.
Carter entered the room, looking sorrowfully to the dead Tok'ra who lay still on the floor near to a woman.
Malak touched a hand to the woman, and let a slight smile touch his lips. "Lanara is alive, and unharmed."
Carter moved warily to the fourth figure, unsure of what to make of them. Jack was certain she was wondering just who this was.
Carter saw the large wound on the person's back, shortly before she touched a hand to their bare arm.
The form rolled over, gasping in pain, their eyes glowing momentarily.
Carter leapt back in shock, falling to the floor with the brunt of the suddenness of it.
"Jonas..." she began quietly, even as Jack crossed to her, followed by Malak.
Malak knelt, looking the person in the eye as they lay on the floor.
"Tarak," he said, his voice calm and gentle, "my name is Malak. I am Tok'ra... you are safe now."
Obviously straining to do so, Tarak spoke, "My host is badly wounded. It will take all my strength to heal him."
Carter was speechless, as Jack helped her to her feet.
"Just be glad the symbiote that matured was Tok'ra," Jack muttered to her, seeing her spaced-out nod.
Malak spoke into a communication device he held, "Selmak, we have located our friends."
"Are they alright?" came the reply.
"We have lost Ormak, and Tarak is badly wounded. Lanara is well."
There was slight sigh from Selmak, before he said, "You must leave quickly. Lanara and the others have activated the device. You have very little time."
"Understood." Malak helped Tarak to his feet, the latter wincing in pain. Malak cast a regretful glance at Ormak's body. He understood it had to be left behind... despite his wish to retrieve it, and give the Tok'ra a proper send-off.
Teal'c carefully scooped the woman into his arms, carrying her out of the cell, past Bra'tac, who waved to the others to tell them it was safe for them to beat a hasty retreat.
"What if Osiris detects the sabotage?" Carter asked, glancing back at Malak and Tarak.
"Apparently she won't be able stop the damn thing no matter what," Jack assured her, hurrying her along the corridor.
"That's good to hear," Carter said hurriedly, glancing over her shoulder again at the two men behind her.
"Don't worry, Carter," Jack assured her gently as they moved, "Jonas will be fine."
Carter nodded slowly, even as a shot struck the wall beside her.
"Everybody fall back!" Jack called, raising the zat Teal'c passed to him, and letting off a shot.
Teal'c himself had claimed a staff weapon to use from one of the guards, and he and Bra'tac took up positions at the front to ward the Jaffa off. Lanara was placed behind Teal'c for protection. She stirred slightly.
Shot after shot was fired up and down the hall, great fiery blasts from staff weapons, and streams of electrical blue energy crackled from the zat, followed by a shower of rapid bullets from Carter's P-90.
More and more Jaffa appeared in front to stop them from advancing.
From behind him, Jack heard Malak's shout, "Colonel, we must get back to the cargo ship!"
"I know that! Carter, can we get past them to the ring room?" Jack said loudly to be heard over the continuous firing of weapons.
Carter took a moment to consider their options, before the woman shook her head.
Lanara, the Tok'ra woman woke at this point, and looked around hazily at her surroundings, and strange situation. The last thing she had seen was the engine room.
She crawled carefully back to Malak and Tarak... or Jonas.
"We cannot pass them, O'Neill," Teal'c called back, not taking his eyes off his targets.
Jack cursed quietly, hearing the hushed voices of the Tok'ra behind him.
Jack peered over his shoulder to see Jonas coming around. Was it Jonas or Tarak?
Firing off two shots rapidly that struck a single Jaffa, killing him, Jack rolled over to the three Tok'ra figures.
"Jonas, are you alright?"
It was Jonas. Jack could tell that from the look of sheer agony on his friend's young face. He shook his head, and groaned.
"There's another way..." he managed to say, looking down the long corridor at the battle that was taking place.
"What?" Jack said loudly, narrowing his eyes as the volume increased somehow. Either that or he was going deaf all of a sudden.
Jonas' eyes clamped shut, before they opened, and Tarak spoke, "There is another route, O'Neill."
After shaking off the odd feeling that swept over him any time he heard the odd voice from Jonas' body, Jack asked, "Where?"
Tarak cringed at what was obviously a burning pain in his back, and said, "Osiris' chamber. Her personal ring device."
"Oh, peachy," O'Neill mumbled, nodding to Malak and Lanara, who were giving him desperate looks.
"Teal'c!" Jack called, trying to keep the volume down so that the Jaffa would not hear him.
Teal'c tilted his head, showing Jack he could hear him.
"Pull back, there's another way off this ship," Jack told him, knowing Carter had heard by her nod.
Immediately, Teal'c, Bra'tac and Carter began pulling back as carefully and quickly as they could without turning their backs to the Jaffa fire. They continued to shoot back at the enemy, knocking several down, only to watch in despair as more arrived to take their place.
Tarak, Malak and Lanara began leading Jack towards Osiris' chamber, a place the Colonel was not keen on visiting again. But they had no other choice.
* * *
Carter heard her gun click on empty, and let it hang around her body on its strap as she resorted to using her sidearm, pulling the trigger and watching as the bullets ricocheted off the Jaffa's armour, several piercing it, and downing the warriors.
She took no satisfaction in murdering these somewhat mindless soldiers... they were just -as she was- following orders. It was just that their orders contradicted one another's.
Firing her last shot, she pulled back into the open door the Tok'ra had led them to, seeing the two friendly Jaffa tumble in after her.
The two slid shut, and Carter rose to her feet, even as Teal'c fired a staff shot at the locking device, sealing them in.
"I hope you're right," O'Neill said to Jonas.
Jonas, or whatever the Tok'ra residing within him was called, said, "I am certain. I have not seen her use the ring technology, but I am certain." He indicated a point in the ceiling that confirmed the Tok'ra's suspicions of such a device. There were definite ring shapes marked in the cavernous ceiling that told Carter that her friend, or his symbiote, was right.
"Now we just have to figure out how to activate them," Carter pointed out, walking around the large room in search of an activation panel or button.
Lanara, the Tok'ra woman rose, and strode across the room. "I am aware of how to activate the rings. We need only enter our destination."
She crossed to a panel on the throne-like chair, and pushed several Goa'uld panels in sequence.
"Everyone step into the circle on the floor," Lanara instructed them, pressing a last button with discernible force, and running over herself.
The seven companions gathered within the circle, just as the other door opened ominously, and Osiris entered, along with her First Prime.
"Stop them!" she bellowed angrily, pointing with a long feminine finger at the team within the ring.
Carter saw Colonel O'Neill's smug grin, and sarcastic wave as the rings activated, and plunged down around the seven figures, enveloping them in light, shortly before it transported them onto the welcoming floor of the cargo bay.
"Dad, we gotta go!" Sam shouted loudly, running immediately through to the control centre where her father was waiting to do just as she was asking. He pressed his hand to a control, and she watched as the Goa'uld ship spun out of view, and the cargo ship entered hyperspace.
"How long until the ship blows?" O'Neill asked Lanara in the back room.
Carter turned to hear Lanara say, "It should have already been destroyed."
Jacob nodded, saying, "She's right. Just before we entered hyperspace, I read a rather noticeable explosion..." his words trailed off.
"Dad?" Carter ventured, crossing to him momentarily.
"I'm reading the launch of a Death Glider shortly before the explosion. No doubt it contained Osiris and her First Prime."
Carter shook her head. At least they had taken out one of her vessels.
Hearing a cry from the back room, she bolted in that direction, remembering their injured friend.
She skidded to a halt beside Jonas, and took another look at the wound, which was deeper and more severe than she had first thought. She grimaced, and gave a look to Colonel O'Neill at her side.
"How bad is it?" O'Neill asked Malak, who was trying to ease his Tok'ra companion.
"I am not certain he will survive, O'Neill," Malak responded woefully.
Lanara looked to have more than a few tears in her eyes, even as she touched a hand affectionately to Jonas' arm as he lay on his side.
"Jacob!" O'Neill called, hearing the approaching footsteps of the elder Tok'ra. "How long until we get back to Earth?"
"We should return him to the Tok'ra home world," Lanara managed, on the verge of sobbing at the potential loss of one of her kind.
"No," O'Neill corrected sternly, and with venom. He didn't trust the Tok'ra as far as he could throw them, especially not since his experience with Kanan. "Jonas is coming back to Earth. Got that?"
Lanara lowered her head, just as a tear tumbled down her cheek.
"Colonel," Carter tried quietly, feeling sympathy for the obviously pained Tok'ra woman.
O'Neill wasn't having any of it though, and he looked up firmly at Jacob Carter.
"It'll be at least ten hours, Jack."
"Then you drop us off," O'Neill ordered.
"Colonel?" Carter queried, narrowing her eyes, and frowning as Jonas gave a moan of pain as he lay on the floor. His breathing had become laboured, and he floated in and out of awareness.
"Some planet around here must have a Stargate. You drop us off, and we Gate back to Earth." Colonel O'Neill's face was enough to convince Jacob Carter, who moved back into the control room to plot a course to a nearby planet.
Carter hoped they made it in time.