Teal'c listened to the strange woman's conversation with O'Neill uneasily. She did not appear to be one of the ancients, and though her behavior was consistent with it, she was clearly not a goa'uld. That made her an unknown enemy, with unascertained abilities. This 'judging', would obviously not be for their benefit. Upon hearing her final statement, Teal'c inwardly flinched. This alien had indeed found SG1's greatest weakness, their steadfast loyalty to each other. Still if this were truly a trial, what else better to judge the members of SG1 on? Their friendship could not fail them, as they'd proven many times past, they would die for each other. Teal'c realized the woman's eye's were focused upon him. He met her gaze with what he hoped was a calm expression.

"He shall be judged first."

Immediately protests rang out,

"Not a chance in hell!"

"You have no right to do this!"

"Please, We'll leave and we won't bother you again!"

The alien raised a hand elegantly; "This is not a negotiation." Looking back to him, "You will come."

Inclining his head towards O'Neill in a gesture of apology, Teal'c followed the mysterious being out of the cell, he sighed inwardly when he heard the others follow him. Did they not see only harm could come of their stubbornness? But he found himself comforted by their presence never the less. He could almost feel O'Neill scanning the corridor for a possible escape route. He could see none however. Only stone walls holding glowing torches like the one in their cell. The woman evidently did not mind the team accompanying them, since she made no protest, just carried on walking. After a few minutes of silence, they came across a door in the wall. The woman reached out a hand, then turned to Teal'c.

"You trust your friends, with your life?"

Teal'c replied disturbed, "I do"

She nodded, "Then here is your challenge"

The corridor swam around Teal'c, colours blurring into each other and twisted about him in a fiendish dance. It was quite nauseating and the squirming sensation in his stomach was almost like having a symbiote again. Just when he thought he would 'lose his lunch', as Colonel O'Neill would say, reality seemed to catch hold of itself again, and resolved itself into distinct hues and shades. He was in a long hall; similar to the one they had first encountered the light in. The floor consisted of pale marble slabs, and the walls were gray blocks of stone like their cell. The hall was lit, but he could not see a light source, nor could he find his teammates. The only apparent exit existed in three stone arches, implanted in the right wall. They were approximately 15 feet apart and about 8ft in height and width. Teal'c found it odd he could not see what lay through the arches, only a deep empty blackness. Before he could further investigate, a voice spoke behind him.

"You claim to trust your friends?"

Teal'c turned, to see their captor, who stared intently at him with her colorless eyes.

"I do, with my very life."

"And they return this trust?"

Teal'c considered uneasily, why was this strange creature asking such questions? He answered however, with a hint of pride in his voice, "They do."

The woman inclined her head, in a manner uncomfortably similar to his own gesture. "Then Teal'c, traitor to your own kind, here is your task," Teal'c frowned as she spoke his name, though his expression went apparently unnoticed. The alien's voice grew stronger and echoed round the chamber.

"In a moment, your friends will enter this room. When they do, each must walk through one of the doorways you see before you, indicated by the image reflected through from the archway. They must do so without force or coercion from you. While they remain in this room, speak not a word, or you murder yourself and your comrades. Without words, you must convey to them this task and ensure they carry it out, whatever horrors you may see in accomplishing it."

"And if my companions enter through your doors, do you guarantee their safety?"

The stranger shook her head, "I guarantee nothing, only your deaths if your challenge is not fulfilled. If you are truly their friend, you will give them a chance of life and complete your task. If not, you prove the worthlessness of your own life and theirs." She met his eyes coldly, "Your friends will now enter, speak not one word or you doom them all."

Teal'c thought to reply, but the room span again, before returning to its previous state, save it now contained the three remaining members of SG1 as well as himself. Teal'c observed their confusion and found it difficult not to reassure them,

"What in the name of snakeheads was that?" Colonel O'Neill muttered, rubbing his head. Teal'c watched his commanding officer check his teammates, "Carter, Daniel, Teal'c? You guys okay?"

The other members of SG1 muttered confirmations, clutching queasy stomachs, Teal'c nodded wretchedly and walked up to the closest arch, about 10 feet to his left.

"T'?" O'Neill called after him, Teal'c heard his friends walk up behind him, "Whatcha doing?"

Teal'c raised a hand to point at the doorway, then stepped back instinctively in horror.

Huge flames leapt up from the floor and sides of the arch, what they were feeding on he could not tell, but they seemed to consume the space under the door, leaving no gap visible. In the middle of the flames, a hologram-like image appeared,

Of O'Neills face.

Teal'c shut his eyes, feeling something akin to despair as he realized exactly what he was expected to do. Was this a trick? A way to make him send his friends to their deaths? Perhaps for the amusement of these strange beings. Or was it indeed a test? Would his comrade and fellow warrior pass safely through the fire, or would the door become his funeral pyre?

"What on earth is that!" O'Neill yelped, jumping backwards. "And what the heck is my face doing in there?"

Major Carter walked forward cautiously, "It looks like a hologram Sir, maybe the fire is-OW!" Teal'c watched with a sinking heart as his teammate pulled back, "No, real fire alright Sir."

O'Neill sighed with exasperation, "Well I could have told you that!" O'Neill turned towards Teal'c, "Have you ever seen anything like this before?" Teal'c shook his head, and feeling a deep sense of dread, turned away from the arch.

"Teal'c?" He heard O'Neill questioning voice behind him. The Jaffa bowed his head, trying in vain to dull the vivid ache in his heart.

"Teal'c what's wrong?" He felt a hand on his shoulder, and heard the soft voice of Major Carter. He could not be a coward in this. Turning back towards his teammates concerned faces, he pointed to his mouth and shook his head in a negative gesture.

"You can't talk?" Daniel Jackson guessed, logically as the groups' linguist he would most effectively understand his efforts at communication. Teal'c inclined his head grief-stricken, and with a hand on O'Neill's shoulder, directed him towards the blazing arch. He watched his friend's eyes widen, and glance back to him.

"Umm T', you don't fancy explaining this anytime soon do you?" Teal'c grimaced and put a hand to his forehead, covering his eyes. He could feel his teammates exchanging looks. Suddenly, there was a hand on his arm.

"This part of your judgement thingy Teal'c?"

Too ashamed to meet the eyes of his friend, he simply nodded.

"I have to go through that arch thing on fire right?

He nodded again.

"Is it safe?"

Teal'c looked up, to meet the concerned brown eyes of Colonel O'Neill, he did not know how to respond. To his surprise, O'Neill smiled slightly and began to walk towards the arch.

"Jack what are you doing?" He heard Daniel Jackson inquire.

"I'm going through this door thing that's what I'm doing."

"Sir! Its on fire!"

Despite his sorrow, Teal'c could not help but feel amused at O'Neill's expression of extreme aggravation, "I do KNOW Carter!" At the puzzled glances of Major Carter and Daniel Jackson, Teal'c observed O'Neill inhale and exhale a deep breath.

"Look, this my not be the smartest thing I've ever done, heck, it could be the dumbest for all I know, and that's saying something." O'Neill paused, and brought his eyes to meet Teal'c, "But we've known this guy for a long time now, and I think we all know, he wouldn't ask me to so this if he thought there was a better choice." Staring at him intently, "Right Teal'c?" Unable to express his huge sense of relief at the trust his friend had In him, Teal'c just nodded, thanking whatever true gods there were for the loyalty of such a comrade. "Besides," O'Neill continued, "The knee's playing me up again, darn cold cell. Nice roasting fire will fix it straight up" at the aghast looks from his teammates, "What?"

"Jack…"

"Ah!" O'Neill held up a hand, "Daniel."

"Sir-"

"Carter."

Teal'c noticed the despair in the Majors eyes, "Good luck Sir."

O'Neill nodded, "You too."

With that, Teal'c watched his commanding officer, fellow warrior, and best friend walk rapidly to the archway, pause, and dive into the flames.