"Jack, what can I do for you?" Jacob greeted his friend at the terminus of the transport rings inside the Tok'ra base as Jack along with Commander Tannen and her team appeared in the dimly lit tunnels.
"I'm hoping we can do something for each other," Jack replied. "You heard about the secondary base we're setting up in Peacekeeper space?"
Jacob nodded thoughtfully. "What about it?"
"Well, I've got my eye on a trauma doc I want on my team," Jack hedged.
"So?" Jacob asked.
"So he's got terminal brain cancer," Jack explained. "I was hoping the Tok'ra might be interested in sending a representative with us."
Jacob raised an eyebrow clearly intrigued by the possibility, but it was Selmak who replied. "There is a symbiote in need of a host," he noted. "Lantesh has recovered enough from the death of Martouf to receive a new host."
"Lantesh?" Tannen asked. "I thought Major Carter killed him."
"No," Jacob said. "Sam shot them twice with the zat. There wasn't anything we could do for Martouf, but Lantesh was cushioned from the zat by Martouf. Anise was able to save him."
"He's a za'tarc though," North objected.
"Anise believes she's removed the za'tarc programming," Jacob said. "Tell me about this physician."
"He's from Chicago," Jack said. "He works at Cook County General." Crichton took the folder Tannen handed him and gave it to Jacob.
"We will have to speak to the council," Selmak told them after studying the folder carefully for several minutes.
"Then let's go," Jack urged. He'd come prepared to argue his case before the council with all the data they had on the Peacekeepers and that area of space. He was hoping to dangle a carrot in front of their faces in the form of Peacekeeper technology.
"Lantesh cannot be sustained much longer without a host," Anise argued to the council an hour later. "We cannot allow him to die."
"Your lust for the chance to study this technology makes you hasty," Garshaw snapped back.
"We have no way of knowing whether Lantesh or this doctor could survive the joining," Aldwin reminded Anise. "The doctor is very sick."
"Better some chance than none," Selmak argued. "We do not currently have any other possible hosts for him. As for the Peacekeeper technology, we need every advantage we can get against the System Lords."
"But by sending him to such a remote location we lessen our already small numbers," Garshaw protested.
"Lantesh isn't contributing anything as he is," Tannen pointed out carefully. "With one of the long-range communications devices he can send you regular reports of the progress of the base and any technology we recover."
"So long as you may also use the device to communicate with your General Hammond," Garshaw added.
Jack Crichton looked the female Tok'ra in the eye and shrugged. He wasn't about to deny it. It was the truth, and they all knew it. Living as they did the Tok'ra knew very well the realities of what life would be like for his 'Miners.' Every resource they had would be used to its utmost advantage. That included 'personal' items brought by the base personnel in their small allotment. It would be helpful if they could communicate with the SGC without the Stargate via the devices O'Neill had nicknamed 'teleballs,' but Sergeant North and Lieutenant Hailey were already working on replicating the one recovered from the Jaffa training facility. Failing that, Commander Tannen and Colonel O'Neill were working on a plan to raid a goa'uld supply depot. A plan that appealed to both Generals Hammond and Crichton for many reasons, not the least of which was the simple axiom 'every little bit helps.' Raiding a goa'uld depot would definitely gain them quite a few 'little bits.'
"We cannot ask Lantesh if this is what he wants," Aldwin pointed out quietly. "He may not wish to blend with this Tau'ri doctor."
"Lantesh admires the Tau'ri," Garshaw said slowly as she thought through this new argument. "I doubt he would object. Nevertheless, when the time comes for the joining he will be able to choose."
"I would like to be the one to take Lantesh to Earth," Jacob requested. "The doctor will have questions that I can perhaps answer best."
Garshaw nodded. "Very well," she agreed.
Keegan and North carefully carried the stasis chamber containing the symbiote Lantesh through the Stargate to the SGC a few hours later. General Crichton, Jacob Carter, and Dr. Frasier followed them from the gate room through the corridors to the infirmary. "They argreed then?" General Hammond asked the obvious question as he joined the procession down the corridor.
"Yeah," Jacob confirmed. "Now we have to talk to this doctor."
"I'll organize your flight," Hammond offered.
The next day Jack Crichton paced the office of County General's Chief of Staff while Jacob sat relaxed in one of the visitor's chairs.
"Will you relax, Jack?" Carter demanded.
"I'm not particularly proud of myself right now, Jacob" Jack replied. "I don't like taking advantage of his illness like this."
"You're giving him options," Jacob argued. "Options he doesn't have right now. The choice is still up to him."
"Gentlemen. I'm Dr. Ramano," a short balding red-headed man said as he stormed into the room. "What's this about you wanting to see Mark Greene?"
"That's private," Jack responded.
"Uh uh," Ramano disagreed. "You want to see one of my doctors on my time. It's my business."
Jacob fished his identification out of his civilian sport coat. "Let's try this answer then," he told the younger man. "It's classified."
Ramano stared at the identification Jacob held out to him and then at the two men in front of him. "What's this about?" he asked again. "I don't need..."
"You don't need to know what this is about," Jacob interrupted bringing the full weight of his years of military training to brunt on the chief of staff.
"Oookay," Ramano drawled knowing when to back down. "I'll have him paged."
"We'll need somewhere private to talk," Jack Cricton said then, just to see the chief of staff squirm, he added, "Here will due." Jack traded a smile with his friend behind Ramano's back as the doctor yelled for his assistant Shirley to page Dr. Greene.
They waited in silence for Dr. Greene after the two generals rebuffed Ramano's attempt at conversation.
"What's going on?" Greene asked by way of greeting as he entered Ramano's office. "The ER is packed, and Luka called in sick."
"Dr. Greene, these gentlemen would like to speak to you," Ramano said. An icy look from Crichton had him hastily adding, "I'll leave you alone."
"Do I know you?" Mark asked as he moved out of the doorway allowing Ramano to leave the office.
Jack waited for the door to close behind the chief of staff before he answered. "My name's Jack Crichton," he said. "I was part of the committee that reviewed your application to NASA."
"I dropped out of that," Mark said with some confusion on his face.
"I know. Family responsibilities," Jack said.
"That hasn't changed," Greene informed the two older men. "Besides, I have..."
"Cancer," Jacob said before the doctor could finish his sentence. "We know. That's why we're here actually."
"Care to explain?" Mark asked lifting his eyebrows in question.
"First, we need you to sign this secrecy agreement," Jacob said. It took twenty minutes of careful explanation before Greene signed the document.
"Okay, now that I've signed my life away, what is this about?" Mark asked.
"It's about an...experimental...cure for your cancer," Jacob answered. "There's a price though."
"There's always a price," Mark replied.
"This one is a doozy," Jack Crichton warned the physician. "You wanna explain Jacob?"
Carter nodded as he gestured for Greene to take a seat. Mark did so reluctantly. Once they were seated, Jacob gave Mark the same story he'd been given by his own daughter and George Hammond.
"What kind of sick joke is this?" Mark growled lunging to his feet.
Jacob's head bowed for a moment and when it came up again his eyes flashed yellow. "This is no joke, Doctor Greene" Selmak said. "My name is Selmak. I am of the Tok'ra. Jacob and I share his body. This is the...cure...you are being offered." Jacob's head bowed again as Mark Greene sank back into the chair. "Three years ago I had end-stage cancer," Jacob explained. "My daughter was part of the SGC team that was attempting to negotiate a treaty with the Tok'ra. The only thing Earth had that was of value to the Tok'ra in exchange for this alliance was hosts. Sam, my daughter, came to me and asked me to take the same chance we're asking you."
"And you agreed," Mark said. "What is a...toe kra."
"Tok'ra," Jacob corrected. "The name literally means 'against Ra.' Several thousand years ago a group of goa'uld broke from the System Lords. They didn't believe in taking over the host. Instead they blend with them. Selmak and I share my body."
"And you want me to...why?" Mark asked abandoning his first question in favor of another.
Jack sighed. "You may also recognize me because of my son, doctor. John Crichton."
"The Farscape..." Mark murmured.
"Yes," Jack said. "John didn't die in the accident. He's...well...lost in space," Jack told him with a shrug. It was Jack's turn now as storyteller as he described what really happened to John and the events since. "You're being offered this chance because my team needs a doctor," Jack explained. "And I want the best."
"What would happen if I said yes?" Mark asked. "My family..."
"Couldn't know," Jacob answered. "Doctor, I want to be sure you understand. Your life as you know it would be over, and your family will most likely never know why. I have some contact with my son, but not much. Mostly letters and a few visits."
"The visits will be even less frequent for you, Doctor. At least while you're with my group," Jack added.
"Even when you're no longer with Jack's mission, you'll be a Tok'ra, and we will have other missions for you," Jacob told him.
"So what's the plus side to this?" Mark questioned.
"You live," Jacob told him. "Not only will you live, but barring catastrophic injury you'll live for centuries. You'll explore the universe. See things most humans can't even imagine. You'll have a hand in defending Earth from the System Lords, and you'll never be alone again. The relationship you develop with your symbiote will enrich you in ways I can't even begin to describe. Blending with Selmak has made me a better person. I'm a better father to my children."
"What about the symbiote?" Mark asked.
"His name is Lantesh," Jacob answered. "He's very fond of the Tau'ri, which is what the Tok'ra call people from Earth."
"Will I be able to talk to...him before?" Mark asked.
"I'm afraid not," Jacob said. "Lantesh's previous host, Martouf, has died. He's being sustained now on a kind of life support."
"I need to talk to my wife and Ramano," Mark told them. "Make arrangements."
"There's not a lot of time," Jack told him.
Mark nodded. "What exactly can I tell them?" he asked.
"Tell them you've been offered an experimental cancer treatment," Jacob said. "If you decide not to blend with Lantesh, we just bring you back here. If you do join the Tok'ra, we can discuss your options. Tell them that because it's a military project you won't be able to have contact with them during the treatments other than letters or e-mails."
"Alright. Wait for me here," Mark requested as he stood.
Mark left the office to find Ramano pacing outside. "What's going on?" he demanded.
"I need to talk to Elizabeth first," Mark told him as he strode quickly towards the elevator.
"No you don't," Rocket disagreed as he kept pace with the taller doctor. "As your boss, I need to know what's going on."
"My wife needs to know first," Mark fired back. He stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the ground floor. "I'll meet you in your office in an hour," Greene told his boss as the elevator doors shut in his face. It didn't take Mark long to find Elizabeth outside trauma one studying an x-ray on the light box mounted to the wall. "Elizabeth, we need to talk," Mark said beginning the conversation.
"Not now, Mark" Elizabeth replied.
"Yes, now." he insisted.
Elizabeth sighed deeply before saying, "Fine." She grabbed Abby as the nurse rushed past and told her to arrange to transfer the patient in trauma one to surgery and to tell the patient she'd be there in a moment to explain his condition to him. Elizabeth thanked the other woman then led Mark to the lounge. "What is it, Mark?"
"Let's sit down," he suggested.
"Just get on with it," Elizabeth snarled. "I have a patient waiting."
Mark took a deep breath as he organized his thoughts. "The cancer's back, Elizabeth," he told her.
"What?" she whispered sinking onto the battered couch. "But..."
"I haven't said anything before now because you've had so much to deal with," he told her. "I tried to tell you the night Ella was brought in."
"So why are you telling me now?" she demanded angrily. "After hiding it this long why now?"
"I've been offered an experimental treatment," Mark explained. "It's a military project. It's...a limited time offer. I need to leave tonight for the facility."
"Tonight," Corday whispered. "What about Ella? What about Rachel?"
"I'll see if Susan can take her for the night until Jen can come get her," Mark told her.
"That's not necessary," Elizabeth denied quietly. "I'll come back to the house."
"Elizabeth," Mark said gently. "I can't ask that of you."
"How long will you be gone?" she asked.
"I have to go through a final selection process when I get there," Mark told her making up the lie on the spot. "If I'm selected it could be months, and I won't be able to have any outside contact while it's going on."
"What? Why?" she asked.
"It's a military project," Mark said. "Something about security, I guess." She didn't say anything. Finally, he said, "I've gotta talk to Ramano. You're sure about Rachel?"
She nodded obviously not trusting herself to speak.
"I love you, Elizabeth," he whispered as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
When he returned to the chief of staff's office he found Rocket and the two military officers staring daggers at one another. "Finally!" Rocket grumbled. "Now am I going to find out what the Hell is going on in my hospital?"
"I need some time off," Mark said. "These gentlemen have an experimental cancer treatment."
Ramano pursed his lips. He knew very well that Greene's cancer had returned, and while patient records were supposed to be confidential he'd looked into just how serious his condition was. "How long?" he still demanded.
"Indefinite," Mark answered. "Starting immediately. I'll be leaving tonight."
Ramano nodded. "Good luck, Greene" he told the other man then stormed out of the office.
"I need to stop by my house," Mark said turning to the two generals. "To get a few things and explain to my daughter."
"We've got a car waiting," Jack told him.
Mark nodded as he lead the way out. Twenty minutes later they arrived at the Greene house, and Mark left the generals and the driver waiting in the car while he went inside. "Rachel?" he yelled as he took the stairs to his bedroom. "Rachel, I need to talk to you."
"What, Dad?" the teenager asked as she came out of her room and followed his father down the hall.
"Sit down," Mark commanded gesturing towards the bed. He waited until Rachel was seated next to him then took her hand. "Rach, you know I've been sick a lot lately."
"Is it...is the cancer back?" the teenager asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," Mark admitted. "I need to go away for a while, Rach. I've been offered some experimental treatment, but I have to leave now to get it. Elizabeth's moving back in. She'll take care of you while I'm gone, or you can call your mother to come get you."
"You're...you're leaving? Just like that?" Rachel screamed at her father.
"No...not just like that," Mark argued. "Rachel, I have to do this. If I want to see you and Ella grow up, it's the only chance I've got," he admitted to his daughter. "I've got to call your mom and let her know what's going on. What do you want me to tell her? You want to stay here with Elizabeth or go to Milwaukee?"
Rachel stared hard at her father for several seconds contemplating her options before she said, "I'll stay here."
Mark nodded. "Okay," he said. "Let me finish packing, and then we'll call your mother." The conversation wasn't an easy one, but in the end his ex-wife agreed to let Rachel finish the school year in Chicago then return to Milwaukee for the summer. They would decide where she'd attend school in the fall once they knew more about Mark's condition. He agreed even though he knew he would not be returning to Chicago even if the 'treatment' were successful. He picked up his bags and jogged out to the waiting car after kissing Rachel good bye. "Let's get out of here," he said as he threw his bags into the back of the SUV and climbed into the back seat.
The flight to Colorado passed uneventfully as Greene dozed in his seat while Carter and Crichton chatted quietly together. When they arrived at the SGC, there was a small group waiting for them. "Dr. Greene," Crichton said. "I'd like you to meet General George Hammond, who commands the SGC. This is Colonel Jack O'Neill, his 2IC and leader of SG-1. Major Sam Carter, Jacob's daughter and and 2IC of SG-1. Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, the other two members of SG-1. Commander Tannen who will be my second when we deploy, and last but certainly not least, Dr. Janet Frasier."
"Do you have your records with you, doctor?" the petite redhead asked. Mark nodded handing the thick folder over to her. "Good," she said. "We're going to run some tests, and then I want to sit down and talk to you about what you've agreed to."
Six hours later after countless tests and a very long counseling session from Doctors McKenzie and Frasier, Mark found himself lying on his side in the infirmary. Dr. Frasier held his hand as she instructed, "Close your eyes, open your mouth, and whatever you do, don't bite down." A moment later he heard footsteps approach the bed as Jacob Carter carried the symbiote Lantesh to him. He didn't have time to panic as he felt something slide into his mouth. He felt a stab of pain at the back of his throat, but remembered not to bite.
'Hello, Mark' a voice he didn't recognize said. 'I am Lantesh. I think we should get to know each other, don't you?'