Chapter Twenty-One: It Takes Two…
The man was still dangling from Jolinar's grip when a voice prodded her from within.
Carter's mind voice said, Jolinar, what just happened?
The Tok'ra paused. I found this man leaning over us while we were completing the blending. I'm trying to question him.
Carter's voice was still...distant. This is… Weird!
Are you well, Major Carter?
I'm fine. Carter responded. No I'm better than fine, actually I feel great! That annoying persistent headache that I had went away faster than I could say Tok'ra! This shouldn't be possible, but the blending worked! Maybe with your subconscious somehow surviving all this time inside my mind…and your body absorbed into my own system, theoretically you could operate on a cellar level like your body was still whole, but then that wouldn't explain how…
Major Carter! Jolinar cut in.
Yes? Sam said, almost absently.
I'm trying to interrogate someone. The Tok'ra said with some asperity. Could you give me a moment to focus on the task at hand.
Sorry. Carter said before hushing up.
Jolinar now concentrated on the man before her as she held him tightly by the throat. "I am loosing patience, Peacekeeper! Who are you? Why are you here?" She threatened menacingly.
Crichton tried to answer, but he just gasped helplessly for breath as his face began to change colour. He stopped trying to pry at her wrist and helplessly pointed to his throat where her hand was clamped down on his windpipe.
Once again, Jolinar 'heard' Samantha Carter's thoughts. Uh, Jolinar? I think he's having trouble breathing. Ease up on the bad cop routine. He's no match for us anyway.
Jolinar reluctantly nodded in agreement. Perhaps you are right.
She released Crichton and let him drop to the floor where he lay, loudly gasping for breath. Jolinar waited for a moment for his breathing to return to something like normal.
"All right," The Tok'ra started again. "What is you name?"
"John… John Crichton and I'm no Peacekeeper," The human on the floor wheezed out, rubbing his now quite red and sore looking throat. "What the hell did you do to Samantha Carter?"
"She's here and quite safe," Jolinar said then frowned in puzzlement. "Are you the Crichton that Scorpius kept talking about?"
"That would be me, Scorpy and I have old issues. And, if Sam Carter is 'okay', what is a Goa'uld doing in her?" Crichton demanded angrily.
"I'm NOT a Goa'uld!" Jolinar answered vehemently. "I'm a Tok'ra."
Crichton blinked in surprise, but remained quite doubtful. "Like Anise?"
"How do you know of her?" Jolinar demanded.
"Oh, no," Crichton replied. "One thing at a time. If you're a Tok'ra, then you understand the human term 'quid pro quo. I tell you stuff, you tell me stuff. Now, I want to talk to Carter, let me hear her."
For a moment, Jolinar frowned skeptically before finally releasing control of their shared body to her Human host.
Crichton watched as Jolinar lowered her head, seemingly drifting off to sleep, but just as quickly, she 'awoke'. However it didn't end there. He noticed that her body language was now different; more at ease, less stilted, and her eyes and facial expression were not as stern looking as she stared at him with more warmth than she had before.
"So, you're the John Crichton, the astronaut that went missing years ago?" Carter said, eyeing Crichton's somewhat battered and bruised face. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"Ya, I have been getting that a lot lately," Crichton replied before trying to pull himself up to sit on the nearby metal cot across the small cell from Carter. "Rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated...in spite of the efforts of the Peacekeepers and half of the Uncharted Territories to make it otherwise." Crichton paused thoughtfully... or as thoughtfully as he could in his condition. Shifting painfully to redistribute his bruises he said, "You know, your friends failed to warn me that you have a symbiont in your head."
"My friends?" Carter said quickly. "What do you know about them? How do you know about Anise?"
"Shhh!" Crichton raised his finger to his mouth. "Not so loud, the wall might have eyes and ears."
"I've checked the entire cell, they might have listening devices, but I couldn't find any cameras," Carter said while looking suspiciously at the man before her. "Anyway, give me one good reason to trust you?"
"Yeah, now there ya got me. Scorpius recreated a man who supposedly died in orbit about the Earth three years ago. A person that you never knew personally, and sent me in here to trick you into revealing information about the Stargate. Believe me, as mind frells go, I'm familiar with the way Scorpy works."
"Ha! That's nothing," Carter said evenly. "I have seen stranger things."
Crichton smirked then grimaced as he pressed part of his shirt to the sore wound on his forehead. "Lady you cannot possibly have seen anything as weird as some of the stuff I've encountered."
Carter chuckled. "I doubt that."
"Want to bet?" Crichton laughed.
The blond Major smirked, accepting the challenge. "You're on!"
Crichton grinned. "Okay, let me tell you about Harvey..."
***
Back in the maintenance bay of the Galactica, the work continued inside the Tok'ra shuttle. With two portable generators supplied by the Colonials, bolted to the deck in the aft engineering compartment, and connected to the main systems to power it, they were ready to try and restart the small vessel.
"Would you like to have the honors?" Starbuck looked nodded to the female Tok'ra.
With a shrug of the shoulders, Freya stepped forward to both generators, which were no larger than two beer coolers and flipped the power switch to activate them.
With a soft whispering hum, the generators activated and a few seconds later, the shuttle's lights and systems slowly reawakened, fully functional.
Starbuck smiled triumphantly. "What did I tell you? Colonial and Tok'ra technology can be compatible."
"Most impressive," Freya commented, when Lt. Hailey entered the engineering compartment.
"Looks like the old girl has a heartbeat again." Hailey commented, inspecting the now various working console stations.
"Unfortunately this is only a stopgap measure. It isn't enough to give us the hyperdrive back, but it is more than adequate to operate the rest of the ship's systems including the cloak," Freya said. "Other than that, were ready to go."
"Great," Starbuck said. "I can inform Adama that the shuttle is all set."
Hailey was looking at the two power generators for a moment, noticing a similar design to something they have back on Earth. She politely asked the Colonial warrior, "Starbuck, what do you use to fuel those generators?"
"Tylium," He answered matter of factly.
Hailey grew more interested. "Do you use this tylium for anything else?"
"Oh, tylium is the corner stone for all our technology. From power generators, to fuel for the Galactica and our Vipers, to explosives," Starbuck explained.
Freya and Hailey shared a knowing look with each other before the Tok'ra asked Starbuck. "What does this tylium look like?"
"It's just a mineral that we dig out of the ground or in asteroid belts, and refine on site," He replied. "Slightly dangerous stuff though. Once Apollo and I blew up this mining planet by using our blasters to set fire to a vein of Tylium, which caused a chain reaction that grew until it reached critical mass. The entire planet went up like a supernova, and even took out a Cylon baseship along with it."
"That sounds a lot like a naquadah," Hailey said with more than a little wonder.
"Or something very close to it," Freya agreed. "Do you happen to have samples of this tylium on hand?" She asked Starbuck.
"Sure," Starbuck glanced over to Hailey, curious. "By the way, what's naquadah?"
***
On the bridge of the Galactica, everything was starting to come together. So far, Adama had kept only his highest-ranking and most trusted officers informed as to what was really going on. The remaining officers and personnel knew only that something very important was about to happen, considering that they were getting the Battlestar ready to go on the offensive. But that particular secret couldn't last forever. People will talk. Therefore, Adama would have to let the rest of the crew and the Council know the full story...and soon.
Adama was with Colonel Tigh doing the finally run down on the readiness of the Galactica's combat systems when Captain Crais and Lt. Athena approached them.
"Commander Adama. Colonel Tigh," Crais said while standing respectfully at attention. "I must return to Talyn to get him prepared for battle."
Adama nodded. "Understood, Captain. Well have Talyn's transport pod ready for departure when you arrive at the launch bay."
"Father," Athena spoke up. "I also request permission to join Captain Crais, to help co-ordinate operations between Talyn and the Galactica."
For a moment, Adama was about to say no. Letting her go on Talyn for a simple recon mission was one thing, but this time she'd be in direct and heavy fighting on a ship that was no bigger than a Colonial frigate. He tried to be fair and even-handed with his children, but Athena was his daughter, the apple of his eye... who looked so much like her mother, and if anything should happen to Apollo, then she would be all the family that he had left. She would be safer here on the Galactica than on that tiny gunship.
Then he met Athena's eyes. She was looking at him calmly, with a steady glaze while standing at a perfect attention. It was then that Adama realized again that she was no longer his little girl, but a warrior and he had to respect that. Moreover, Athena was right, someone had to be on Talyn to co-ordinate with the Galactica and she was the best quantified since she was the colonial that was most familiar with the Leviathan gunship. And vice versa.
"Permission granted," Adama finally consented, then he watched as Athena left alongside Captain Crais, hoping that Crais could keep his daughter safe.
"Commander?" came a voice.
Adama turned to face Omega as he looked up from his station. "Lt. Starbuck reports that the repairs on the Tok'ra shuttle are completed. However, its hyperdrive is still off-line, and is likely to remain so."
"Tell the repair teams good work, and give them my thanks," Adama said to Omega. Freya had doubted that she could get the hyperdrive operational, but it was not a major problem. Their zone of operations would be close enough to the Galactica for the Tok'ra shuttle to do without a faster than light drive. "Contact Moya and alert Pilot that we'll be transferring Vipers and personnel over immediately, and while you do that, I'll inform the Council of the truth."
Deep down, Adama wishes he didn't have to. "I'd rather eat filtercarb than have to deal with that pack of nervous old women," he muttered.
***
Elsewhere on the Galactica, there was another slight test of wills underway. O'Neill's voice was firm and direct to the point that there no hint that negotiation was an option. No, ifs, ands or buts.
"Daniel, I said no! You're staying behind."
Teal'c just watched quietly, observing as his two Human friends and teammates argued.
"Jack," Daniel protested. "She's my friend too and I have every right to be on the retrieval team to pull her and Crichton out of that hellhole!"
"Normally I'd say yes, but not now," O'Neill said sternly. Then he added more calmly, "Listen, Captain Apollo has assigned over a dozen warriors to help out, and that big Luxan guy, D'Argo is coming along too. Your presence on the rescue team won't make a bit of difference force-wise, but you remaining here with the Colonial fleet is needed in case we don't make it back. You have to make sure that the Colonials make it to Earth and you have to be the one to inform General Hammond about them. They'll need an earth born human as liaison."
"He is right Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said in tones of ever-calm reasoning. "Your presence here will be far more important than it would be on the planet. The Colonials and their technology could be the key in Earths survival as anything other than another slave world for the System Lords or The Peace Keepers."
The logic of their argument was undeniable, but it still rankled Daniel deeply. "Fine," he said finally as he nodded to Jack and Teal'c. "I'll stay behind, but I don't have to like it. Just be sure you bring Sam, Crichton and yourselves back in one piece. If you don't, I'll never forgive you for leaving me behind. There's no telling what sort of hell they're going through."
***
In their prison cell, John Crichton and Samantha Carter sat on the floor facing one another, laughing and hooting like they were old high school buddies.
"I kid you not!" Crichton insisted, trying hard not to laugh so he could tell the rest of his story. "All I wanted was a toothbrush and next thing I know, D'Argo was shoving a worm in my mouth claiming that it would clean my teeth."
"Did it?" Carter laughed.
Crichton smiled showing his pearly white teeth. "My own dentist couldn't get my teeth to shine like those little wormy critters did."
Carter shook her head laughing. "Okay, I'll give you that one in the ultra strange department, but I once got possessed by an entity and was downloaded into a memory mainframe. Thankfully I was rescued and uploaded back into my body."
"Memory mainframe?" Crichton smiled, and piled on the skepticism. "Are you sure that you aren't making this stuff up just to compete with me?"
"Hey, I kid you not!" Carter fired back with a laugh. "Once my team was exploring another planet and discovered this huge underground complex. There was this lonely android caretaker named Harlan who made android copies of us with our entire life experience…our very personalities...copied from our minds and memories, and programmed into them. For a while, they actually thought that they were SG-1. Geez! They were us from hair to toenails...except for the fact they were machines."
"Original and equal," Crichton said thoughtfully.
"Ya, that's about right," Sam agreed.
"What happened to them?" John asked.
Carter shook her head sadly. "They all died helping us free this conquered planet from a System Lord."
"I'm sorry," he responded.
Sam got a far away look in her eyes. "I… I watched the android of me die right before my eyes. She died saving us, all of them did."
After a moment, Crichton admitted to her, "I was cloned once. Original and equal were the exact words of that crazed alien who copied me used to describe to results. My doppelganger and I could play could play 'rock, paper, scissors' for hours, and always… every single time, come up with matching moves."
"Wow," Carter commented. "And where is your clone now?"
"I have no idea," Crichton answered with a shrug. "Maybe he's sitting in front of you right now."
Sam blinked. "You really don't know if you are the real you?!"
"A real bitch not knowing if you're the copy or not, isn't it?" Crichton sighed.
Sam nodded, yes indeed that could suck. "So, where is the 'other' you?"
"He died about a cyc… a year ago," Crichton answered. "I wasn't there when it happened, but Aeryn was. She took it hard…extremely hard."
"I'm sorry," Carter whispered. "For both of you."
"I guess the thing that really got to me was that I was so jealous of him. He had everything that I didn't. He got rid of Harvey, figured out how to generate a stable wormhole, and he had Aeryn's love," Crichton said sadly. "For awhile, I did feel like the clone. The unwanted spare part."
"And now?" Sam asked sympathetically.
Crichton looked up at her with determination. "My name is John Crichton and that's all that matters."
"Good for you." Carter said approvingly.
They sat there quietly, until the silence became too unbearable for Carter. She broke it by boasting rather proudly. "I blew up a planet once."
Crichton feigned boredom and yawned. "Been there, done that."
"How about the time that I figured out how to save the Earth when our Stargate was jammed open and connected to a planet that was close to the event horizon of a black hole?"
He perked up and said with a laugh, "That's a new one. Does the story end with some explosions?"
Sam nodded cheerfully. "In fact, it does. A big one."
John settled back. "So, the Earth is still in one piece?"
"I'm still here, aren't I?" Carter smiled.
"It's still good to know," John responded.
Crichton suddenly shuffled closer to Carter, until he was beside her. He then leaned in and whispered into her ear, "In case the walls really do have ears, just nod or shake your head."
She understood and nodded her head.
John paused to gather his thoughts. "I was unconscious when they brought me here. Do you know were we are in this base?"
Carter nodded her head.
"Good," Crichton said, still keeping his voice to a whisper. "Do you trust me enough to make like Clint Eastwood in 'Escape from Alcatraz'? Because, if Scorpy follows his usual procedures he'll wait until he reckons that we've become buddies, then he'll make one of us watch while he works on the other. I'm not up for that, are you?"
See stared at him for a second before nodding emphatically.
One more hurtle down, much to Crichton's relief. He had Carter's trust now. He asked the next and equally important question. "Is Jolinar willing to help us?"
Carter rolled her eyes and nodded her head fiercely.
"Okay, that was a dumb question." Crichton smiled.
The blond Major glared at him. Well—Duh!
He whispered in her ear again, "Can you or Jolinar find your way around inside the base?"
Jolinar had the best idea about the layout of this base from her days as a Tok'ra infiltrator. Carter nodded yes.
The she 'heard' Jolinar's voice in her head. I had forgotten what it was like to have a man whisper in my ear. The feeling of his warm breath washing over my skin is…stimulating.
What?! Carter's body stiffened at Jolinar's words...and at the physical responses that were beginning to wash over from her Tok'ra companion. Jolinar was becoming aroused.
I like this John Crichton. Jolinar said. He's an interesting male with a very kissable mouth and the cutest eyes. Don't you agree Major Carter?
Jolinar! A dumbfounded Carter replied silently. What are you doing? We're trying to plan for an escape… Focus!
I am sorry, Major Carter, Jolinar deeply apologized. But I have been trapped in your mind for so long and I'm just enjoying the taste of physical sensation and freedom.
Sam sighed. That's nice Jolinar...and it's okay, but please help us to concentrate on getting out of this place and then you can really start to enjoy the taste of freedom. Escape first, tasting second.
Jolinar's response sounded almost smug. Does that mean I can have some time with John Crichton afterwards?
Sam's eyes narrowed. Exactly what are you planning, Jolinar?
There was a wave of affected innocence. Nothing unlady like, Major Carter. Trust me.
"Yeah, right!" Carter muttered. "Why did I get the horny symbiont?"
"Excuse me?" came a voice.
Startled, Carter turned to Crichton. She hadn't realized that she'd just spoken aloud. She blushed deeply. "Uh… Nothing. I was just...discussing some things with Jolinar."
"Anything that I should know about?" Crichton inquired innocently.
***
"This is not fair!" Chiana wailed angrily to Jool and Rygel as they walked down the long corridors of the Galactica. "D'Argo has no right to tell us that we can't go with them on the rescue ship!"
"Well, I for one don't have a problem with it," Rygel spoke up. "This is one of the rarer, but more intelligent ideas to come from that Luxan brute in a long while."
"It's not too much of a surprise that you'd approve of D'Argo's demand," Jool commented in disdain towards the Hynerian. "Considering your habit of not sticking your neck out anymore than you have to."
Rygel laughed at Jool's insult. "Ha! Look around yourselves ladies. We're on a warship surrounded by hundreds of capable warriors, despite them all being Human. What can we do that they can't, besides melting steel with your vocal cords or getting confusing glimpses of the future?"
"And making food disappear," Chiana said heatedly, looking at him. "That's not the point! We want to help!"
"It is the point," Rygel said. "Yes, we have been in many battles, but were still not soldiers. However, Colonel O'Neill's team, D'Argo, Aeryn and the Colonials are experienced and hardened fighters. If we go with them, we might just get in the way."
"Spoken like true Hynerian Dominar," Jool said.
"Yes-yes. Say what you will, but this time we'd better sit this one out and let the warriors around here handle it. It's our best hope to get Crichton and this 'Sam-whoever-she-is' back. For your information, well meaning heroics could get them both killed," Rygel countered.
"I hate it when you make sense, but I don't do waiting well," Chiana grumbled. "And I don't like being told what to do."
"Who does?" Jool said sympathetically.
"Well, you can always spend some time with that Earthman, Daniel," Rygel smiled at the grumpy Nebari. "Oh, I forgot, you're avoiding him."
"May I ask what you were thinking when you poured your heart out into a recording device and never considered he would try and replay it later?" Jool asked with a hint of amusement.
"I'd rather not say, so drop it," Chiana replied sharply, still walking just ahead of the group. However, she had to agree with Jool, it was a dumb thing to have done. There was something about that Human, Daniel Jackson that excited her. Unfortunately, whenever Chiana got overly excited, she never thinks before she acts. Or sometimes she just does her thinking with another part of her body other than her head.
As the group continued to walk on, they turned a corner and Chiana suddenly came face to face with the object of her desire, Daniel Jackson himself. The Human with the strange optical enhancers looked equally surprised to see her, as he had just happened to be talking to Teal'c about her. There was a rather long and uncomfortable moment as Daniel and Chiana stopped within a few feet of each other and stared.
Behind Chiana, Rygel smirked and rumbled, "In the immortal words of John Crichton, 'speak of the devil'." The Hynerian glanced at the Human with the optical enhancers.
Daniel was staring, almost spellbound, at Chiana, but he managed to say. "Uh, Teal'c can we continue our discussion about… hmmm… Colonial history some other time?"
"Very well Daniel Jackson," the confused Jaffa answered, looking between the Human and Nebari. "But was not our discussion a moment ago was for your feelings towards her?" He gestured to Chiana.
"Uh, thanks for reminding me Teal'c," Daniel went pale as he looked around for a convenient hole to crawl into, regretting his failure to emphasize the idea of their discussion being a private conservation, to his Jaffa friend. There was no going back now. Brushing aside that mistake, he looked to Chiana. "I would really like to talk to you." Then glanced to their small audience. "Alone."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow in curiosity, while Jool and Rygel smiled at each other. After another moment Daniel sighed, adding, "Please."
Jool nodded and turned to Daniel's companion. "Teal'c, what's the name of the world that you're from?"
"My home world is called Chulak," Teal'c answered.
Jool smiled, extending her hand to him, taking Teal'c by the arm. "I would love to hear about it."
"I would be honoured to tell you." Teal'c bowed politely before letting Jool lead him away.
Daniel watched the two of them go when he realized that Rygel was not leaving with them. The Hynerian just watched him and Chiana, grinning from ear to ear.
Daniel frowned slightly. "Do you have somewhere you need to be your, uh, lordship?"
"Dominar! Not lordship, what do I look like, a mere King? As for your question, no, I don't have plans to be anywhere else." Rygel smiled broadly at the two apparently would be lovers, if the young Nebari's vision holds true. "And why would I?"
Chiana was alternating between staring at the deck and Daniel when she finally turned glaring at the ex-Dominar.
"Rygel!" She growled angrily. "In the immortal words of John Crichton, 'buzz off'!"
Laughing, Rygel swung his hover throne about and started to follow Jool and Teal'c. "Ha! I can take a hint as well as the next one, but Chiana, I have to say that this young man seems to have gotten under your skin…in more ways than you are accustomed to."
As Rygel disappeared down the corridor, Daniel shook his head at the unusual little green creature in the floating chair. He had seen a lot of strange things and curious forms of life throughout his journeys by the stargate, but Rygel was unique to say the least. Learning more about Rygel people and their world would be very educational. It could be like visiting a planet run by a race of cousins of Kermit the Frog.
The archaeologist chuckled to himself at the thought of it before looking back at Chiana, who smiled back nervously.
"You've been avoiding me," Daniel said softly. "I was wondering if we could just talk."
"Well…" Chiana's body twitched nervously, looking down at her feet. "… I have my reasons to avoid you. It's a natural after-effect of me making a total fool of myself."
"We all have our off days, Chiana," Daniel replied.
"I shot my mouth off… I just poured my heart out to you… I…" Chiana groaned angrily at herself before pacing about. "I'm an idiot! I'm usually smarter than this!"
"Chiana," Daniel stepped in front of her, to stop her from pacing. "Listen to me. If there were a law stating that anyone who commits a foolish act had to be sentenced to life in prison… Well there wouldn't be anyone left on the outside of the cell doors. Trust me, when it comes to acting foolish, we Humans do it on a daily basis. Even me."
"It's just when I had that vision of us, I just wanted everything to be right," Chiana confessed. "I really… attracted to you."
Daniel grinned. "Would you feel better if we could start over?"
Chiana laughed half-heartedly. "If it could be so easy."
"It can be if you let it," Daniel took a step back and extended his hand to her, saying. "Hi, my name is Daniel Jackson."
Confused, Chiana stared at him oddly. "What are you doing? I already know your name."
Smiling, Daniel continued to hold his hand out. "Humour me, Chiana."
Must be a Human thing… a very weird 'Crichton' Human sort of thing. The Nebari thought before placing her hand into his to play along. "Very well, my name is Chiana… it's nice to meet you."
"That is a very lovely name," Daniel smiled, gently shaking her hand, then releasing it. "For very lovely lady."
Chiana almost felt her heart skip a beat. It had been a while since a man had made her feel like this. "That's very kind… you're quite lovely… err… handsome yourself. Round optical enhancers and all."
She winced as she fumbled over her own words. Daniel saw that she was becoming frustrated and quickly stepped towards Chiana, placing a hand on her arm. "It's okay, you're doing fine."
"If I only could keep my foot out of my mouth," Chiana muttered then paused to softly look up into his eyes, asking. "Do you believe in destiny Daniel?"
He regarded her steadily. "Sometimes."
Chiana stared back just as calmly. "Then lets make this easy for both of us. Please kiss me?"
For moment, Daniel managed to resist. "Chiana… you have my attention you don't have to… "
"Please," she pleaded softly.
It was hard to stare into those dark smoky eyes of hers and not feel compelled to do as she asked. Daniel found that he wasn't just sinking into them...he was already lost. He leaned down and softly pressed his lips to hers. Much to his surprise, just as his mouth met hers, Chiana slipped out her tongue and licked his upper lip. It surprised him, but Daniel quickly decided that's perhaps how they kissed on her world. On Earth, you don't normally 'French' someone on your first kiss. Their mouths locked together for a moment, parted briefly, then came back together as Daniel held with it and put his heart...and other things, into it.
It was Chiana that finally broke the kiss. And what a kiss it was. Daniel's ears were ringing.
Backing away slightly she stared at him, her facial expression nearly blank and unreadable. Then she broke into a grin, almost giggling, while bouncing up and down in excitement. "It is you!"
"I'm happy that you got the answer you were looking for Chiana," Daniel paused for a moment then spoke frankly. "But I really have a problem with this 'predicting' one's entire future based on a vision that you are betting on. I just don't put much stock in letting faith or predictions run my life."
Hearing this, Chiana frowned sadly fearing he was rejecting her, but the Human kept smiling. "I've always believed that you also have to chart your own future, your own way. I'd like to go for a walk and would be honored if you would to join me?"
Chiana's heart now sang happily. "I'd love to, but don't you have to get ready for the rescue mission with your team?"
"Jack ordered me to sit this one out despite my objections," Daniel said unhappily. "He wants me to stay with the Colonial fleet in case anything should go wrong."
"I know that feeling well," The Nebari frowned sadly. "After everything I've been through, showing that I'm capable as the next girl in a fight, I get told that it's suddenly too dangerous for me."
Daniel glanced at her. "I don't suppose that you can tell me how this all ends?"
Chiana shook her head. "It doesn't work that way, Daniel. It clicks on and off whenever it wants to like it has a mind of its own. But believe me, when or if I do get hit with a vision, you'll be the first one to know."
***
Crichton was resting on his side of the cell, on the extremely uncomfortable metal cot. Amazingly, on the other side of their tiny prison, Carter slept soundly. It probably had something to do with the symbiont living inside of her now, or perhaps it was just the soldier in her allowing her to sleep anywhere, and at any time. Aeryn herself could drop off to sleep almost anywhere, at will.
In his short time with Samantha Carter, Crichton could tell she'd been through a lot by judging from his own personal experience with Scorpius. Her eyes were still slightly red and bloodshot, indicating a high level of stress. And when she smiled or laughed, occasionally, it never really quite reached her eyes. Crichton wasn't about to ask Carter what had happened during her imprisonment here, but it was very likely that she'd been through the aurora chair, and probably several other types of mental interrogation. Crichton hoped that perhaps he could help her later on, when she was ready.
Now, the BIG surprise was the symbiont, Jolinar. Samantha didn't give him much on the details of how she got a Tok'ra in her. What she did say was that Jolinar had died saving her, but somehow ended up surviving and trapped in her mind. After Scorpius had interrogated Carter, Jolinar was now able to communicate with Carter directly. Thankfully, the two of them seemed to get along quite well. Which was a thousand times better than having a neural clone named Harvey.
This Jolinar seemed to be a tough one lady who can take care of herself, even bare handed. She could probably arm wrestle D'Argo to a still stand. Also she was as direct and to the point as Aeryn was.
Crichton chuckled, shaking his head. Man! She even acts a bit like Aeryn. The first thing Jolinar had done when she came to was to attack him. What was it with him and women who wind up kicking his ass?
Still chuckling quietly to himself, Crichton forced his mind back to the subject of their escape. He had a trick or two up his sleeve that the Peacekeepers still didn't know about yet. While he hoped that the Galactica would come along and save the day, he still believed in Murphy's Law. 'If anything can go wrong, it will.' Even more so he believed in Crichton's corollary to Murphy's Law, coined by his father. 'If anything can go wrong, it will...unless someone makes it their business to do something about it.' If Galactica got them out, fine. If not, they would be on their own then...and he wasn't about to do another round in the Aurora Chair.
Suddenly, the door to their cell opened. Crichton snapped up to a sitting position, half expecting that it would be the guards to bring them to Scorpius. Much to his surprise, it was only a single guard stepping in holding a tray with rather large two bowls on it. Without a single word, he just placed the tray on the floor before backing out of the cell. The cell door slammed shut immediately after he left.
"Is that what I think it is?" he heard Carter saying as she awoke, eyeing the tray left at their cell door.
Moving across the room to the tray, Crichton eyed the two bowls that contained what could pass for soupy oatmeal, except it was pink. He knelt down and picked up the tray, sniffing their 'dinner' suspiciously.
"It's edible, so we can safely call it food... of some kind," he reported to his cellmate as he brought the tray over to her. "Eat up. It's the Uncharted Territories finest."
Carter sat up and made room as Crichton sat down on her bed, placing the tray between them. Crichton handed her one bowl and watched the blond Major raised it to her lips and simply drank from it. To his amazement, she emptied half the bowl in three large swallows.
"Wow," Crichton commented with a laugh. "I forgot that you're eating for two now."
"Ha-ha!" Carter sniped back, enjoying having something in her stomach now despite the food's weird after taste. "You'd better eat yours, there's no telling when our next meal will be."
"No," Crichton shook his head, handing his bowl to her. "You need this more than…"
He stopped, testing the weight of the bowl in his hand. It felt heavier than the first bowl he'd given to Carter.
"What is it?" Carter asked as Crichton examined the contents of his bowl closely, and then glanced guardedly towards the cell door hoping they wouldn't have any surprise visitors.
Carefully, he placed his fingers into pinkish soup and slowly fished out what appeared to be an oddly shaped thinly wired gauntlet of some sort. Placing his bowl back on the tray he held the strange device while wiping the food off clinging to it.
"I've seen this before," Crichton said as he examined their find closely before handing it to Carter, whispering, "Can you use this?"
Carefully, Carter took the gauntlet from Crichton before slipping it over her right hand. Flexing her fingers, Carter felt Jolinar working through her as the jewel for the Ribbon Device located in the palm glowed briefly.
"You bet," she answered Crichton, smiling with renewed confidence and hope flowing through her and Jolinar. "And we will."
Someone inside was helping them and had just handed the key to their freedom.
