TITLE: The Lost Ones

AUTHOR: Cyn(di)

EMAIL: custardpringle@yahoo.com

RATING: PG-13 for weird evil happenings and general suffering/pain on the parts of all concerned. Also language, as always.

CATEGORY: supernatural, drama

SUMMARY: Daniel is having terrible nightmares. And the worst thing is, they're not only in his head . . .

SPOILERS: I'm too lazy to keep track, so let's say anything up through "Evolution Part 2."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry, L E McMurray, there's little death and destruction in this chapter either, but there is some mayhem. I know the story's dragging a little but more unpleasantness is coming, don't worry. I'm still trying to work out the plotline and the bloody midterms are slowing me down. Besides, if you think this chapter is bad, you should've seen the first draft. Uck.

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By some miracle-mostly the fortunate lack of speed traps between Jack's house and the SGC-he and Daniel managed to arrive at their briefing only ten minutes late. Sam and Teal'c, of course, had managed to get there at least twice that long in advance-but then again, Jack reflected, knowing those two, they had probably never left the base in the first place.

Just before they entered the room, Jack pulled his friend aside for a moment. "Look, Daniel, is there anything you want to tell me here?"

"About what?"

Jack made a vague gesture. "Oh, let's see . . . how about pretty much everything you've said and done in the past few hours?"

"Jack," Daniel said quietly, "I'm sorry you had to deal with what happened to me last night. I don't think you were supposed to be there, or even to know about it. Could you please just trust me on this and keep it quiet, at least for now?"

"You betcha," Jack agreed reluctantly, adding, "Are you sure you can deal with it?"

"No," Daniel said honestly, "but if anything happens to me because of it-" he smiled humorlessly-"by the time you know, it'll be too late to do anything."

"That's a comforting thought," Jack muttered as he followed Jackson into the room.

As they sat down, they were greeted by a disapproving look from General Hammond, although it softened somewhat at the sight of the obvious exhaustion on Daniel's face. He settled simply for stating the obvious: "Doctor Jackson, Colonel O'Neill, you're late."

"Actually," Jack observed, "I'd say Jacob was early, but it makes no real difference at this point. Let's get on with this, shall we?"

Hammond nodded to the Tok'ra, who immediately began his account. "Last night two guards-their names were Lorrin and Tolrak-disappeared from our base on P3A-476. They were one of several guards on duty at the time who reported seeing bright, silver and white lights flashing in the woods just outside the complex. Lorrin and Tolrak were sent to investigate and never came back."

"You need our help to find them?" Sam asked.

"Not exactly. Search parties sent out this morning were able to find them- or their remains, at least, I'm sorry to say."

"How did they die?" Teal'c enquired.

Jacob's eyes flashed briefly, and Selmak answered, "We do not know. Our doctors have determined that both guards were killed by an energy pulse directly through their symbiote pouch." (Jack saw Daniel stiffen slightly upon hearing this.) "However, we have been unable to ascertain what weapon was used; it seems to be something quite similar to a Jaffa staff, but far more focused and precise."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "That would indeed be a most potent weapon."

"Could it have something to do with the lights that were reported in the forest?" Sam suggested.

Jack flashed her a thumbs-up. "Nice thinking, Carter." She smiled back.

"That is what we believe," Selmak confirmed. "We would like your assistance in determining the nature and origin of those lights."

"You said it was similar to a staff weapon," Daniel said thoughtfully. "It might be some new technology Anubis is testing."

"This doesn't sound like particularly Anubis-like," Jack contradicted. "Wouldn't he rather just take it and blow the entire base away? More impressive, more efficient, not to mention more fun-no offense, Selmak."

"Only if he knew about the base to begin with," Sam pointed out. "He may not have."

"If he was not aware of its existence before," Teal'c commented gravely, "he certainly is now."

"After his troops, or whoever was there, encountered our guards, you mean?" asked Jacob, visibly impressed by the speed at which his friends' reasoning progressed.

"Wait a minute here," Hammond interrupted. "This is all based solely on a hunch on your part, Doctor Jackson. For all we know, those lights in the forest have nothing whatsoever to do with Anubis or even with the Goa'ould at all."

Daniel nodded in agreement. "You're right, sir. But whatever they are, they've already resulted in the deaths of two Tok'ra." He turned to Jacob. "I would suggest that you move your base as soon as you can."

Jacob nodded and stood up. "With your permission, George, I'd like to contact my superiors and discuss this with them."

"Of course." The general stood up as well. "SG-1, please remain here; we'll be back in a couple of minutes."

The instant the two older men were gone, Jack threw up his hands in disgust. "How much do you wanna bet he's going to make us go back there and help out? On our downtime, no less. Thanks ever so much, Daniel."

The archaeologist was silent, lost in his own thoughts.

"It shouldn't take too long," Sam said encouragingly. "If I recall correctly, sir, the base on P3A-476 is pretty small."

"General Hammond will most likely allot us our full vacation time afterwards," Teal'c added helpfully.

"Hope so," O'Neill said absently, scribbling something on a small notepad as he spoke. He slid it over to Daniel, who read: You know more about this than you're letting on, don't you?

After a moment, Daniel passed back: Unfortunately, yes.

Jack: Do you know what happened to those two guards?

I'd rather not talk about it. Please.

The other two watched this brief exchange with growing bemusement. Sam was opening her mouth to ask about it when Hammond and Jacob returned.

"The Tok'ra have approved your suggestion, Doctor Jackson," General Hammond informed them. "SG-1, I'd like you to return with Jacob to the planet and help the Tok'ra to relocate. With luck, you may also be able to learn something about this weapon, whatever it is."

Jack smiled bitterly. "I told you so. What are we now-a moving company?"

Hammond treated his second-in-command to an exasperated glare. "Colonel, you are dangerously close to stepping out of line here." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "You leave in two hours. And Doctor-please try to get some sleep soon. You look like you need it. Dismissed."