SG-1 was suited up and waiting in the gate room. Max thought all the gear
was bulky and unnecessary, she absolutely refused to take a gun, especially
the Zat.
"Here Sam." Jacob handed her a piece of paper. Max peeked over her shoulder to see. "If you find him, come here. We'll be waiting with a medical team. Just in case."
Sam looked over the symbols carefully. The gate exploded to life and she handed it back.
"Alright kiddies let's go!" Jack called and they all moved through the event horizon, Max first. By the time everyone arrived on the planet Max was sitting on the chest of a now dead Serpent guard. "I'm not even going to ask."
"Carter, which way?"
"This way Sir." Sam headed down the path heading East away from the gate.
They followed the path for a few minutes when Teal'c hushed voice came through the radio. "O'Neill, there are six Jaffa approaching from the rear. I suggest you take cover."
"You heard the man. Everybody down." Jack said as they rushed into the brush surrounding the path.
They didn't have to wait long, the Jaffa showed up herding a group of people toward the temple.
"Stay low. There's nothing we can." Jack looked at the two faces beside him. "Damn it where is Max?"
Jonas and Sam looked around them not seeing her they turned their attention back to the Jaffa. When they were directly in front of them Max dashed out and took down one of the guards, yelling in Goa'uld. Another fell before two of them grabbed her by the arms.
"Come on." Jack sighed and jumped out of the brush, shooting a third guard. Max managed to get herself free Jack and Sam took out two others while Max continued to pound on the unconscious guard. Jack pulled her off the guard roughly turning her to face him. "What the hell was that?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Ah." Jack rubbed his head, he hurt everywhere. Suddenly he opened his eyes and bolted upright.
"Sir. You okay?" Sam asked moving to his side.
"Where are we Carter? And what happened?"
"There was an entire platoon behind those who escorted the slaves." Teal'c spoke up. "They captured me, they were less then happy to come across five dead Jaffa and no slaves. You were all unconscious when we arrived."
"Jonas, Carter any ideas what happened?"
"No Sir, the last thing we remember is setting the slaves free." Sam answered, pausing for a moment she then added, "Sir. Max isn't here."
"What?" Jack looked around. "Was she here when you woke up?"
"They did not bring her to the cell with the rest of us. I heard a guard talking, he spoke of her strength and that they would take her to Flack."
"Not good." Jack stood and started pacing. Someone in the cell next to theirs began to stir. "Now we've got to find Felsar AND Max."
"I am Felsar." Said the man in the next cell as he sat up his blanked slid down to reveal a very battered man. "Who sent you?"
"Selmac." Sam moved to the bared window separating them. "Are you alright?"
"I will survive. Are there others?"
"Well that's one down." Jack said. He stood and walked around their cell. The walls were solid but there were small barred windows between their cell and Felsar's. "No, we're it for now. We're due back tomorrow, 0900. They'll send a rescue when we miss our check in time."
"We should be able to get out before then." Sam added optimistically.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max jerked awake as pain shot through her head. She went to rub her temple, where the pain was most intense, only to find her hands were tired down. Her eyes shot open as she realized she wasn't alone. Her vision was blurry but she had no doubt that the four figures next to her were Goa'uld. She tried to pull free of the restraints but they held fast. Her anger got the better of her when she realized they were laughing at her.
"What do you want?"
"You are not like the others." The voice was unmistakable Goa'uld but Max couldn't see who was speaking. "You are stronger, you took out two of my best Jaffa. Where are you from?"
"Like I'd tell you!" Max's vision had cleared and she was surprised to see images of her home floating above her. To say she was confused was an understatement, when the image changed she watched as her younger self ran into the open arms of her parents. It was then she understood, these images were her memories. She closed her eyes and let her anger bring memories of when she fought against Jaffa over the years. She thought about any and all the times she had crossed their paths. The projected images were changing so fast they were almost a blur.
"Enough!"
Max opened her eyes and glared at the Goa'uld now standing in front of her. She was pretty sure she understood how this worked, it should her memories, but she wondered if it would show her thoughts as well. She concentrated on the demon in front of her then closed her eyes again. Imagining she broke free of the restraints and killed her capture. Someone backhanded her, breaking her from her thoughts.
"You will show me more of your world." The Goa'uld moved something next to her head sending waves of pain through her head again. "Where are you from?"
Max tried not to think about it. Whenever she managed to think about something else he would pass the device by her head causing more pain and making it more and more difficult to concentrate. She would tell them nothing, it wasn't like they could use the information against her people or anything, she was just being hard headed. She thought back, remembering a place she visited, the people had taught her to meditate so deeply that it would appear she was dead. Max had used this a number of times to escape capture, hopefully it would work now.
The projection showed only black as the girls breathing slowed. The Goa'uld turned the device to full strength, nothing happened. The girl didn't appear to be in any pain like before and no new images were being projected.
"What is going on?" He demanded.
"She appears to be dying."
"Throw her in with the others. Do not remove the device." The Goa'uld looked at the confused scientist before him. "Your improvements to the Tok'ra's device are good but not enough to kill that one. She is hiding within herself. I want to be able to monitor her memories from my chambers. Take who you need and make it happen."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sam and Jonas were both pacing the length of their cell, Teal'c watched impassively while Jack was ready to kill the two. Sam was near the door when Jack jumped up and grabbed Jonas.
"If you don't stop..."
Jack didn't get to finish his threat, the door opened and two Jaffa stepped in. One grabbed Sam, before she could even process what was happening she was thrown across the room. She hit the wall with enough force to knock her out and she crumpled to the floor in a boneless heap. A third Jaffa tossed Max in the cell then all three left.
Jack was checking on Sam, finding no blood he moved her into a more comfortable position before joining Teal'c and Jonas by Max.
"They have attacked a Tok'ra memory device." Teal'c stated. "There appear to be no other injuries."
"So she's going to be alright?" Jacked jumped back as the image filled the space above Max. It was of when she arrived in the infirmary after she had been stoned. Jack examined the device and frowned. "Alright how do we turn this thing off?"
"The device appears to be altered O'Neill. I do not believe we can turn it off."
A small moan echoed in the room, Jack turned to see Sam trying to sit up. He moved next to her, arms reaching out to steady her. "They brought Max back, I think you were in their way."
"Did she ever tell us what happened? I mean how did she end up like that?" Jonas asked, still looking at the screen.
Sam looked up to see the image flicker and change to Max waving to a group of tan natives. She was on what looked like a tropical island and heading to an activated Stargate.
"How come she guesses at addresses and ends up in paradise?" Jack asked.
"Sir, we shouldn't..."
"I know Carter, but the damn thing's been altered. We can't find the off switch." Jack told her as he continued to watch the images. "Ah trees.
Sam tried to stand but was stopped by a wave of dizziness. "Easy there Carter. I don't want you passing out again."
She nodded and leaned against the wall watching as Max exited the wormhole and stepped into the middle of a village. Max moved to a small group of crying women, in the center sat a mother cradling her very injured child. Without hesitation Max knelt down and healed the small boy. The mother was delighted but the other women fled. The boy hugged his mom, and after a few words and even more tears, she let him run off and play. The mother then began to look panicked. She and Max spoke quickly in a language none of SG-1 understood. There was an urgency in the woman's voice as Max drew Earth's symbols in the soft dirt.
"What the hell?" Jack said, shocked at Max's actions.
The woman nodded then smoothed away the signs just as several men grabbed Max and started beating her. As each punch and kick landed in Max's memory her body convulsed on the floor.
"O'Neill." Teal'c called as eh tried to still the girl's shaking form.
Jack jumped up and started messing with the device embedded in Max's temple. The images continued. Max had fought off some of the guys but they had the upper hand. The woman ran off to the nearby Stargate. Several men threw Max away from the group. As soon as there was no one near her people started throwing stones.
Jack looked down at Max, the images playing before him making him sick. "Damn it!"
"Sir?" Sam tried to stand again. She got herself upright but was leaning heavily on the wall. "Colonel, help me over."
Jack moved quickly, helping steady Sam as they moved over to where Max lay. "The bruises started showing when they" Jack gestured toward the floating images, "started throwin' the rocks."
"I saw and I have an idea." Sam eased herself to the floor next to Max and iced up her hand. "Max, tell me about your parents."
The image flickered to a bright park, full of grass, children and what looked like mountain lions. They saw a young girl run up to her parents practically jumping into their open arms.
"Good, now show me what they would do if you hurt yourself."
The image changed of to the same little girl running through a large open room toward her father, who stood next to the Stargate. He held the girl for a second before pulling back and running his hand over the child's injuries.
"Good call." Jack patted Sam on the back as Max's injuries disappeared.
"Max, you need to wake up now." Sam tried shaking Max a little. The image switched to the younger Max wrapped up in her blankets, morning light shinning through an open window and her mother gently shaking her.
"Fes la ket!" Felsar called from his cell.
Max moaned and rolled on her side. "Come on, up and at 'um." Jack shook her, this time she bolted up right.
"Ouch." Max rubbed her face, her fingers finding the memory device attached to her temple. "What's going on?"
"Are you well?" Teal'c asked.
"Yeah, I just need to..." Max was trying to get a good grip on the device.
"Max you shouldn't."
"Ah! God Damn son of a bitch!" Max cursed as she removed the device.
Sam dug through her pockets until she came upon the bandages and gauze she was searching for. As she applied pressure Max let loose with another string of curses. All eyes were on Jack.
"What? I didn't teach her that!"
Sam looked skeptical as she bandaged Max's temple. "You really should have left that alone."
"It hurt." Max shrugged, seemingly fine.
"We'll talk about this later. Right now we need to get outta here."
"Jaffa approach." Teal'c announced.
"Carter, try and stay conscious this time would ya?"
Max was off to the right of the door when two Jaffa came in, staff weapons trained on SG-1. Max lunged forward, grabbed the closer Jaffa's staff and aimed it at the second Jaffa just as the first fired the weapon. She then snatched the weapon and fired it at the remaining guard. Teal'c picked up the fallen weapon and moved into the hall.
"Here Sam." Jacob handed her a piece of paper. Max peeked over her shoulder to see. "If you find him, come here. We'll be waiting with a medical team. Just in case."
Sam looked over the symbols carefully. The gate exploded to life and she handed it back.
"Alright kiddies let's go!" Jack called and they all moved through the event horizon, Max first. By the time everyone arrived on the planet Max was sitting on the chest of a now dead Serpent guard. "I'm not even going to ask."
"Carter, which way?"
"This way Sir." Sam headed down the path heading East away from the gate.
They followed the path for a few minutes when Teal'c hushed voice came through the radio. "O'Neill, there are six Jaffa approaching from the rear. I suggest you take cover."
"You heard the man. Everybody down." Jack said as they rushed into the brush surrounding the path.
They didn't have to wait long, the Jaffa showed up herding a group of people toward the temple.
"Stay low. There's nothing we can." Jack looked at the two faces beside him. "Damn it where is Max?"
Jonas and Sam looked around them not seeing her they turned their attention back to the Jaffa. When they were directly in front of them Max dashed out and took down one of the guards, yelling in Goa'uld. Another fell before two of them grabbed her by the arms.
"Come on." Jack sighed and jumped out of the brush, shooting a third guard. Max managed to get herself free Jack and Sam took out two others while Max continued to pound on the unconscious guard. Jack pulled her off the guard roughly turning her to face him. "What the hell was that?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Ah." Jack rubbed his head, he hurt everywhere. Suddenly he opened his eyes and bolted upright.
"Sir. You okay?" Sam asked moving to his side.
"Where are we Carter? And what happened?"
"There was an entire platoon behind those who escorted the slaves." Teal'c spoke up. "They captured me, they were less then happy to come across five dead Jaffa and no slaves. You were all unconscious when we arrived."
"Jonas, Carter any ideas what happened?"
"No Sir, the last thing we remember is setting the slaves free." Sam answered, pausing for a moment she then added, "Sir. Max isn't here."
"What?" Jack looked around. "Was she here when you woke up?"
"They did not bring her to the cell with the rest of us. I heard a guard talking, he spoke of her strength and that they would take her to Flack."
"Not good." Jack stood and started pacing. Someone in the cell next to theirs began to stir. "Now we've got to find Felsar AND Max."
"I am Felsar." Said the man in the next cell as he sat up his blanked slid down to reveal a very battered man. "Who sent you?"
"Selmac." Sam moved to the bared window separating them. "Are you alright?"
"I will survive. Are there others?"
"Well that's one down." Jack said. He stood and walked around their cell. The walls were solid but there were small barred windows between their cell and Felsar's. "No, we're it for now. We're due back tomorrow, 0900. They'll send a rescue when we miss our check in time."
"We should be able to get out before then." Sam added optimistically.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max jerked awake as pain shot through her head. She went to rub her temple, where the pain was most intense, only to find her hands were tired down. Her eyes shot open as she realized she wasn't alone. Her vision was blurry but she had no doubt that the four figures next to her were Goa'uld. She tried to pull free of the restraints but they held fast. Her anger got the better of her when she realized they were laughing at her.
"What do you want?"
"You are not like the others." The voice was unmistakable Goa'uld but Max couldn't see who was speaking. "You are stronger, you took out two of my best Jaffa. Where are you from?"
"Like I'd tell you!" Max's vision had cleared and she was surprised to see images of her home floating above her. To say she was confused was an understatement, when the image changed she watched as her younger self ran into the open arms of her parents. It was then she understood, these images were her memories. She closed her eyes and let her anger bring memories of when she fought against Jaffa over the years. She thought about any and all the times she had crossed their paths. The projected images were changing so fast they were almost a blur.
"Enough!"
Max opened her eyes and glared at the Goa'uld now standing in front of her. She was pretty sure she understood how this worked, it should her memories, but she wondered if it would show her thoughts as well. She concentrated on the demon in front of her then closed her eyes again. Imagining she broke free of the restraints and killed her capture. Someone backhanded her, breaking her from her thoughts.
"You will show me more of your world." The Goa'uld moved something next to her head sending waves of pain through her head again. "Where are you from?"
Max tried not to think about it. Whenever she managed to think about something else he would pass the device by her head causing more pain and making it more and more difficult to concentrate. She would tell them nothing, it wasn't like they could use the information against her people or anything, she was just being hard headed. She thought back, remembering a place she visited, the people had taught her to meditate so deeply that it would appear she was dead. Max had used this a number of times to escape capture, hopefully it would work now.
The projection showed only black as the girls breathing slowed. The Goa'uld turned the device to full strength, nothing happened. The girl didn't appear to be in any pain like before and no new images were being projected.
"What is going on?" He demanded.
"She appears to be dying."
"Throw her in with the others. Do not remove the device." The Goa'uld looked at the confused scientist before him. "Your improvements to the Tok'ra's device are good but not enough to kill that one. She is hiding within herself. I want to be able to monitor her memories from my chambers. Take who you need and make it happen."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sam and Jonas were both pacing the length of their cell, Teal'c watched impassively while Jack was ready to kill the two. Sam was near the door when Jack jumped up and grabbed Jonas.
"If you don't stop..."
Jack didn't get to finish his threat, the door opened and two Jaffa stepped in. One grabbed Sam, before she could even process what was happening she was thrown across the room. She hit the wall with enough force to knock her out and she crumpled to the floor in a boneless heap. A third Jaffa tossed Max in the cell then all three left.
Jack was checking on Sam, finding no blood he moved her into a more comfortable position before joining Teal'c and Jonas by Max.
"They have attacked a Tok'ra memory device." Teal'c stated. "There appear to be no other injuries."
"So she's going to be alright?" Jacked jumped back as the image filled the space above Max. It was of when she arrived in the infirmary after she had been stoned. Jack examined the device and frowned. "Alright how do we turn this thing off?"
"The device appears to be altered O'Neill. I do not believe we can turn it off."
A small moan echoed in the room, Jack turned to see Sam trying to sit up. He moved next to her, arms reaching out to steady her. "They brought Max back, I think you were in their way."
"Did she ever tell us what happened? I mean how did she end up like that?" Jonas asked, still looking at the screen.
Sam looked up to see the image flicker and change to Max waving to a group of tan natives. She was on what looked like a tropical island and heading to an activated Stargate.
"How come she guesses at addresses and ends up in paradise?" Jack asked.
"Sir, we shouldn't..."
"I know Carter, but the damn thing's been altered. We can't find the off switch." Jack told her as he continued to watch the images. "Ah trees.
Sam tried to stand but was stopped by a wave of dizziness. "Easy there Carter. I don't want you passing out again."
She nodded and leaned against the wall watching as Max exited the wormhole and stepped into the middle of a village. Max moved to a small group of crying women, in the center sat a mother cradling her very injured child. Without hesitation Max knelt down and healed the small boy. The mother was delighted but the other women fled. The boy hugged his mom, and after a few words and even more tears, she let him run off and play. The mother then began to look panicked. She and Max spoke quickly in a language none of SG-1 understood. There was an urgency in the woman's voice as Max drew Earth's symbols in the soft dirt.
"What the hell?" Jack said, shocked at Max's actions.
The woman nodded then smoothed away the signs just as several men grabbed Max and started beating her. As each punch and kick landed in Max's memory her body convulsed on the floor.
"O'Neill." Teal'c called as eh tried to still the girl's shaking form.
Jack jumped up and started messing with the device embedded in Max's temple. The images continued. Max had fought off some of the guys but they had the upper hand. The woman ran off to the nearby Stargate. Several men threw Max away from the group. As soon as there was no one near her people started throwing stones.
Jack looked down at Max, the images playing before him making him sick. "Damn it!"
"Sir?" Sam tried to stand again. She got herself upright but was leaning heavily on the wall. "Colonel, help me over."
Jack moved quickly, helping steady Sam as they moved over to where Max lay. "The bruises started showing when they" Jack gestured toward the floating images, "started throwin' the rocks."
"I saw and I have an idea." Sam eased herself to the floor next to Max and iced up her hand. "Max, tell me about your parents."
The image flickered to a bright park, full of grass, children and what looked like mountain lions. They saw a young girl run up to her parents practically jumping into their open arms.
"Good, now show me what they would do if you hurt yourself."
The image changed of to the same little girl running through a large open room toward her father, who stood next to the Stargate. He held the girl for a second before pulling back and running his hand over the child's injuries.
"Good call." Jack patted Sam on the back as Max's injuries disappeared.
"Max, you need to wake up now." Sam tried shaking Max a little. The image switched to the younger Max wrapped up in her blankets, morning light shinning through an open window and her mother gently shaking her.
"Fes la ket!" Felsar called from his cell.
Max moaned and rolled on her side. "Come on, up and at 'um." Jack shook her, this time she bolted up right.
"Ouch." Max rubbed her face, her fingers finding the memory device attached to her temple. "What's going on?"
"Are you well?" Teal'c asked.
"Yeah, I just need to..." Max was trying to get a good grip on the device.
"Max you shouldn't."
"Ah! God Damn son of a bitch!" Max cursed as she removed the device.
Sam dug through her pockets until she came upon the bandages and gauze she was searching for. As she applied pressure Max let loose with another string of curses. All eyes were on Jack.
"What? I didn't teach her that!"
Sam looked skeptical as she bandaged Max's temple. "You really should have left that alone."
"It hurt." Max shrugged, seemingly fine.
"We'll talk about this later. Right now we need to get outta here."
"Jaffa approach." Teal'c announced.
"Carter, try and stay conscious this time would ya?"
Max was off to the right of the door when two Jaffa came in, staff weapons trained on SG-1. Max lunged forward, grabbed the closer Jaffa's staff and aimed it at the second Jaffa just as the first fired the weapon. She then snatched the weapon and fired it at the remaining guard. Teal'c picked up the fallen weapon and moved into the hall.