Author's Note: I want to again say thanks for the reviews and feedback. It makes a difference!

Rhuarc: I always read my reviews and I take what is written to heart. Unfortuneately sometimes I get hints of what someone might expect, and it's different from how I've conceptualized the story. Before I begin writing, I have the main plot and even scenes fleshed out in my mind. With Electric Potential it was always meant to have that ending, so even though I knew there were expectations of more, it wasn't the direction I wanted for the story. But, with that in mind, this one is going to be huge and with a great deal of intrigue, so that should make up for it!

For everg8er23, MoonRaver and Horsefly; thank you for your time and feedback! The 'friend' will be explained, but it's probably another chapter or two away. It's a major plot development in the story, and won't be revealed until the stage is set.

Chapter Three

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Jack swiped another line of sweat irritably. He couldn't help but think it was definitely getting hotter. He was walking through the city streets, heading toward these people's hospital, to see if Fraiser had made any progress. After Ka'ta had dropped his bomb, he and Teal'c had gone back to inform Hammond of the newest development, while leaving Daniel and Carter to explore the city. He wasn't interested in tours and cultural comparisons, and Carter was the one into the technological side of the Tic- Tac's. He figured he probably shouldn't call them that out loud either.

"Do you not trust these people O'Neill?" Teal'c had been marching quietly beside him, ever watchful.

"I was starting too." He saw Teal'c's eyebrow inch up slightly, "A little." He finished defensively. "How bout you?"

Teal'c stared back ahead, "I do not."

That kind of surprised Jack, Teal'c was more of a warrior then Daniel but he was more trusting than Carter. "Any reason?"

"I believe they are hiding something."

Jack snorted, "Well, yeah...like who gave them information on us."

Teal'c fixed Jack with an impassive stare, "I believe they are hiding something else as well."

Huh. Teal'c was sensing something he wasn't, "Keep a look-out." He ordered, realizing they were now in front of this hospital. Teal'c didn't answer verbally, instead he inclined his head in such a way that Jack had come to recognize as a yes.
Fraiser was peering into the microscope when Jack and Teal'c arrived. They waited for her to finish, but after a few minutes she was still studying the slide intently, one hand bracing her back, the other fiddling with a knob on the side of the instrument.

"Doc." Jack said.

Janet jumped, "Colonel!"

Jack smiled despite himself, "Any progress?"

"They were right." She sighed, and straightened stiffly, "It's definitely a breakdown at the cellular level, which means, it's not contagious...at least not so much as a typical virus. My concern is with whatever is causing this breakdown."

Jack looked alarmed, "You mean something on this planet?"

"Maybe."

"Doctor Fraiser, the MALP surveys indicated nothing harmful in the atmosphere." Teal'c was under the protection of his symbiote, but the others were not so fortunate. He didn't like the thought that his friends might be exposed to a potentially lethal disease.

"Your not wearing Haz-Mat gear." Jack wondered, waiting to hear the explanation before ripping into her for taking unnecessary chances.

"It's like Teal'c said Colonel, there is nothing in the air- their water and food, as much as we've tested, is clear. I don't know what's causing this but anything that could possibly affect us right now, is fine." Janet straightened her white coat and gestured for them to follow her to another row of microscopes set up. Three technicians were working steadily with petri dishes and pipettes. "Take a look."

Jack leaned over and peered into the first eyepiece of the instrument she had indicated. He saw what looked like normal cells, at least from what he could remember from his college biology days. "What am I looking at?"

"That's a sample from a healthy Uk'Tak'an. Now look at the one next to you."

Jack did, and pulled his face back in surprise. It was a mess of elongated cell walls, caved in, and instead of nice even circles, the edges were jagged lines. Something was definitely wrong, "That looks...painful."

"It is, extremely. This would not be a pleasant way to die." Janet shuddered at the thought and prayed they wouldn't find out too late that their people were susceptible.

Jack must have been reading her thoughts, "Maybe we should send any non- essential personnel back to the SGC."

"I only have essential personnel Colonel."

"Is there any work that can be done at the base?" He tried another tactic. He wasn't only concerned for his team, but all the people at the SGC, being second-in-command of the entire facility. He felt responsible for everyone, from Fraiser to the cooks.

She shook her head, "No Sir. We need access to fresh cell samples and if we are going to figure this out, it's going to be here."

He sighed, "Okay Doc, just....be careful."

She nodded, offering him a tight-lipped worried smile, "As usual. Don't you have some feast to go to?"

Jack groaned, "Crap." He looked at his watch, "Ten minutes. Come on Teal'c, let's get this over with."

"Good luck Colonel." Janet bit back her grin, knowing how much O'Neill disliked political get-togethers of any kind, even the intergalactic versions.

He jerked his head her way, "You too."
"Colonel, Teal'c...Welcome!" Ka'ta had approached the pair as they arrived in the city center, where a roaring party was under way.

Jack shifted uncomfortably, but the enthusiasm of Cat was almost enough to make him relax. He reminded Jack of an eager puppy, wanting to please and liking everyone. "Where's Daniel and Carter?" He asked.

Ka'ta's smile faltered slightly, and Jack felt a momentary pang of remorse for not being more polite, "Over there Colonel." Ka'ta pointed across the square where his two people were surrounded by a horde of children. "They are telling the story about the time Major Carter was abducted by the Shavadai."

"Ah." Jack twisted his upper torso, getting a grasp on the situation. The center was filled with what must have been the majority of the cities inhabitants. Luckily it was a small city. There were more children than adults, he realized, interesting. "Where's the rest of your council?"

"They are here." Ka'ta looked in the crowd, "There is Li'tut...and Far'at."

"Teal'c, why don't you join Carter and Daniel, I want to speak with...Cat." Jack wanted to see if he could pry some information from the man and he knew that Teal'c was an intimidating man.

Teal'c inclined his head, "Be careful O'Neill." He warned, and headed towards their friends.

Ka'ta frowned, "Does he not trust us?"

"We have reason not too." Jack said, deciding he wouldn't beat around the bush.

Ka'ta's face flushed guiltily, "I'm sorry Colonel. We truly mean you and your people no harm."

Jack studied the man, and while his words rang with sincerity, he could tell he was concealing something, "Then why are you hiding information?"

"It's irrelevant." Ka'ta begin to edge away, "I really should greet my people."

Jack put out a hand, stalling the man's progress, "I will find out. If you tell me now, things will go easier."

Ka'ta looked like he wanted to, he opened his mouth, and then shut it. He seemed to be fighting an internal battle, "I'm sorry." He finally said; his words strangled from anxiety.

Jack was going to argue, but before he could, the whole city shook, down to its very foundations. Jack struggled to stay on his feet, and saw others lose the battle around him. It was only seconds before it stopped as quickly as it had begun.

"What the hell was that?" He asked, stunned.

Ka'ta was looking at him with...remorse.

"What was that?" Jack repeated, this time with a layer of steel in his voice.

"I'm sorry Colonel. You and your people can no longer return home."

Jack felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Teal'c was right; they had been hiding something else. "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked, dread snaking through his gut.

"The Stargate, it's gone."

Jack swiveled on his feet, and jogged across the city center, filled with a number of citizens gaining their feet, "With me, now." He ordered his three team-members, and headed off towards the edge of the city.

They had made a quick trek through the woods, back to where the Stargate was located. Jack had heard them asking what was going on but he didn't want to answer. He snapped once for them to leave it until later, and they had wisely settled into a silent procession. He couldn't help but notice it was cooler, which struck him as odd.

When they arrived at the clearing, he stared, dumbstruck. Cat was right. The gate was gone, grass overgrown in the position it used to be. He turned back, seeing the shocked look on his friend's faces. His shoulders slumped. He should've listened to that little voice...and then to Teal'c when his little voice quit talking. Damn.

"Jack, what's going on?" Daniel was watching him.

"Your friend, Cat, said we couldn't get home anymore. He said the gate was gone." Jack snarled, not meaning to take it out on Daniel, but unable to hold back the anger, born more out of fear for his people than for being wrong.

Daniel remained quiet, understanding Jack's need to be harsh. Teal'c and Carter continued to stare, but both had an air of acceptance. SG-1 didn't give up. They'd figure a way out of this, like all the other times before.

Jack took a deep breath; forcing the anger into a manageable level, "Let's get back. I want answers, and this time I'm not taking anything less than complete explanations."