Part Two
i know what darkness means
(and the point to run from me)
the isolation stings
(so thick it wants to bleed)
the echos in my brain
(all the things you said to me)
you took my everything
Now i'm coming for you
I won't back down
I will not bow
I've come to bring you hell
And I can't forget
things you did
I've come to bring you hell
The shadow that you see
(in the places that you sleep)
are memories of me
(you better pray a soul to keep)
the truth behind you eyes
(you know the things you never see)
your darkest little lies
(I'm coming for you)
I won't back down
I will not bow
I've come to bring you hell
And I can't forget things you did
I've come to bring you hell
All the scars that will not heal
All the wounds that will not seal
I will not forget the days
Theses memories never fall
I won't back down
I will not bow
And I can't forget
things you did
I've come to bring you hell
Eve Wilson clenched her teeth around the pen in her mouth as she ran the list of appointments through in her head, mentally checking if there were anymore phone calls she needed to make in order to finish clearing the senator's books for the next week or so, carefully running over the estimate by a few days to allow for travel. Whatever it was that Jo was planning to do it had something to do with what had been in that file. One of the few files in the other woman's collection that she hadn't read, though she had read most of the others just to make sure it was totally necessary for Jo to see them, she felt it her duty to protect her ' boss' from any extra work on top of what she really had to do, knowing how bad stress was on anybody. It was never hard to re-arrange Jo's appointments, as most people understood that as a high standing senator of the United States of America, things came up, and the only man she couldn't re-arrange meetings with was the president, namely due to the fact that it tended to be meetings with the president that came up.
Eve frowned, pushing her pen through her dark brown hair to reinforce the bun that was threatening to escape from it's pins, as a young man in a crisp Air Force uniform walked into her office, his brown eyes glancing in the direction of the door to the adjacent office.
Sitting upright she met his gaze as he closed in on her desk, noting his rank before hand. "How may I help you Major?"
"I'm here to escort the senator to her plane Ma'am." Paul Davies answered the younger woman calmly, wary of her icy blue eyes as she looked him over.
Eve smiled at him reassuringly acknowledging that she was aware of his discomfort. "Of course, if you wait for a moment I will inform the Senator, Major?"
Paul smiled. "Davies, Ma'am."
Eve nodded, wondering what her mother would think if she knew her daughter was being called 'Ma'am' by an officer who would most likely call most unranked women miss if he were anywhere else, she stood up and walked around her desk, to the door into Jo's office, making a show of knocking before she entered, knowing what most people's opinion on the relationship between the two woman.
Major Samantha Carter offered her teammates a hesitant smile as she sat down at the table, placing her meal on the table in front as she did so. So far the standoff had yet to be broken by either side. The two Tok'ra were still locked away in the VIP rooms, and no decision had yet been made by either the General or the Pentagon as to whether or not they would follow the Tok'ra conditions.
Looking up she noted that of the three men, Teal'c was the only one who seemed to be eating anything, Daniel Jackson having not even bothered to get anything besides a cup of coffee, while her commanding officer had a slice of pie on the tray in front of him, untouched. Glancing at the meagre amount of food on her plate, a turkey sandwich, blue jello, and a cup of tea, she realised that she wasn't really hungry either. There was just too much on her mind.
"Do you know about this senator who's coming to join the talks?"
Sam looked up at Jack O'Neill raising an eyebrow. "Sir?"
The greying USAF colonel smiled warily. "The good Senator Hunter has finally decided to pay us a visit, which to be honest, under the circumstances, I'm not sure is better than good old Kinsey reappearing to continue pounding that old stake into our backs."
Sam's eyes widened in surprise. "THE Senator Hunter? As in long wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, first woman to ever stand a chance to be president, Senator Hunter?"
Jack grinned pleased to have managed to surprise his second in command. "Yeah, Davies is bringing her in and up to date as we speak, apparently the present situation got her interested and she requested permission from the Pentagon to come along and visit."
Sam glanced at Daniel noting his seeming lack of expression with confusion. The 'young' Senator Hunter was known as a fair minded woman, who listened to the public opinion rather than following Senator Kinsey's example, and doing the, 'power hungry for the good of the country', thing. It could offer a better solution to their situation, maybe a new opinion on it would help, or not.
Sam sighed exchanging glances with her other two teammates, knowing that they were as worried about Daniel as she was.
He was withdrawing from them very slowly, as though preparing both sides for the separation that was to come, thanks to the Tok'ra. Almost as though they had no hope.
Senator Hunter looked out the car window as they approached the base entrance, keeping half an ear on Major Davies' summary of the Tok'ra and their culture and beliefs. The three hour trip had been full of the man's voice and she couldn't help but wonder how he had kept going for so long without much more than a few sips of water. The information he was giving more or less matched up with what she had learned from the reports that appeared in her pile once every month or so, though some of it was more detailed than in the reports, and some totally new to her.
Much to the good Major's surprise she didn't once make her opinion of the project known, keeping quiet as she patiently allowed him to go through his spiel. She had learned quickly that the best way to find out that everything she wanted to know was to keep her opinion to herself until it was necessary to make it heard.
He ended his report just as the car drew to a stop and an airman stepped forward to pull open the door for her. Smiling her thanks she climbed out, heels clicking dully on the concrete. Turning back she waited patiently for her escort to make his own exit, before following him into the bowels of the Cheyenne Mountain facility, a mixture of excitement and dread stirring in her stomach as she stepped into what she knew to be the first elevator of two.
Within the hour she would see the great device that had given birth to the programme in the first place. The StarGate.
Lin'Al approached his personnel bag wary of his sleeping companion, opening the light pack he pulled out a small box before calmly returning to his perch on the rooms second bed. The General had sent word of the arrival of another Tauri representative, a member of their government, who had most likely arrived to take part in the final talks, or, otherwise, to halt the talks and prevent the Tok'ra from gaining what could be their biggest advance in millennia, a living immortal. Unlike Anise, the senator's sudden arrival made Lin'Al suspicious, he doubted that the senator, a woman, was there to join the talks, it seemed much more likely to him that she had arrived to stop them, to refuse the Tok'ra High Council conditions. To deny them.
These Tauri were too concerned by human rights, and free will for his liking. Though there were times when those beliefs could be helpful.
A dark smile touched his lips as he removed a small device from the box, dark against his host's pale skin. They could indeed be very helpful.
Daniel sighed resting his head in his hands as he sat down heavily, wary after the past few days events. The Tok'ra's behaviour was seemingly, just another part of the run of bad luck he was experiencing at the moment, one that seemed to be showing no signs of letting up. It wasn't often that he actually felt his age, but for once he felt every year of it.
The new Tok'ra, Lin'Al's, belief that he was playing a game had annoyed him more due to the fact it just worked to finalise his image of the Tok'ra as arrogant, ignorant, stuck up nobles, who believed they had every right to do what they wanted to do, while everyone else should look to them for guidance. They claimed to be so very different from their old brethren the Goa'uld, they took voluntary hosts etc, yet they were still so like them in their manner. They were basically another side of the Goa'ulds, the less ambitious side that didn't expect to be worshipped, just obeyed.
But then, at times, the Tauri, modern as it was had it's moments, both sides doing what was best for them, not for them both. Bias would always exist, and it would always effect people, whether they had millennia to learn how to live, or just a few decades. It was that one bitter truth that existed in the universe, one denied by so many, and identified by so few.
Tilting his head to one side he stared at his picture of Sha're, his most recent love, the reason why he hadn't vanished once more upon his return from Abydos, a decision that he had never regretted before, but maybe, just maybe, he wondered if fate would have been kinder, had he made a different choice.
Jo entered the briefing room, imaging the worst, not knowing what the members of the SGC she was about to meet had heard about her. It was the same every time she met people for the first time these days, those first few awkward moments as they identified whether you're a threat to them or not. Power came with it disadvantages for those that took it honestly, and dishonestly, either way it had it's ups and downs that had to be rode, after all what didn't kill you was sure to make you stronger, or something like that. Jo didn't know who had come up with that saying, but she was sure that they hadn't quite been thinking straight when they came up with it. After all, just because it doesn't kill you, doesn't mean it couldn't still break you.
Glancing around the room she took in the five individuals with care, noting the first impression away for future reference as they were introduced to her one by one. Major General George Hammond, the base commander, a tall, heavy built, balding older man, with pale blue eyes that held warmth, humour and wisdom, and a slightly Texan accented voice.
Doctor/Major Janet Fraiser, the base's chief medical officer, a petite auburn haired woman in her thirties with warm, reassuring, yet strong, fawn eyes.
Colonel Jonathon/Jack O'Neill, second in command, leader of SG-1, ex-black ops, tall and athletic, greying brown hair, brown eyes that hinted of wry humour and sarcasm, softening his otherwise stiff attitude, Jo had no doubt as she looked at him, that she would trust the man with her own life, if the situation were to call for it.
Doctor/Major Samantha Carter, second in command of SG-1 and a scientist, blonde hair cropped short out of her face, cornflower blue eyes full of intelligence and self-knowledge, taller than a lot of other woman and slim.
And finally Teal'c, Jaffa and ex-first prime of the false god Apophis, solidly built and doubtless a worthy opponent in any man's book, Jo guessed that he held honour and loyalty close to his heart, believing in what was right, his warm brown eyes, while almost empty of expression only added to the impression.
Smiling she nodded for them to sit down, aware of their examination of her own appearance, not caring what they thought about what they saw. She had come for a reason, she had little time to waste for the time being on long speeches of introduction, there would be time for full introductions later.
"The situation as I understand it, is that the fourth member of SG-1, Doctor Daniel Jackson, Alastair, is an immortal and all of Earth's allies have been informed of this fact. The Tok'ra, of whom Jacob Carter is now a member, reacted to this by requesting his presence at their base for as long as they feel necessary due to the threat he represents as long as he is in the field, and for research purposes.
Is there anything extra I should be aware of besides those basic facts and the sheet of, surprising limited conditions presented by the Tok'ra at the last meeting on this matter?" She watched their expressions noting the surprise and slight respect.
"Very little, besides the fact the two Tok'ra representatives have refused to hear anymore, unless it be our acceptance of their terms." General Hammond answered her calming and Jo nodded slowly.
"Are they aware of my presence?"
The general nodded, "I had their 'guards' inform them just after you arrived."
Jo held back a swear word, she had hoped that they hadn't been informed, planning to use the extra time that would have given her to fully plan out her plan of attack, plus, if they hadn't known about her arrival there wouldn't have been any worry of them appearing and formally requesting to leave, and so ending the alliance, as she had a feeling they would, considering the manner of her entrance to the talks. "That could be a problem, depending on how they see the sudden addition of a senator to your side of the negations." Jo was very aware of their gazes on her as she quickly mentally reconfigured her plans to allow for the extra information. "As it stands the Pentagon is not entirely willing to submit to their demands, even with the alliance hanging in the balance, during the time it has been in existence we have given much more than we have received. As such I had planned to request an amount of leniency in order to please both sides, but it seems unlikely they would agree to much if anything at all." Glancing around she met each one of their gazes. "You are all much more experienced in situations such as these, perhaps you have some suggestions?"
Lin'Al stepped away from the now still body of the younger Tok'ra, casting his eyes over her to make sure the device hadn't left any outward sigh, nodding happily when he saw it hadn't. It was unfortunate that she had woken up when he had started his work, it meant that due to her struggles the damage was much more intensive than he had planned, not that it mattered. He placed the device back into it's case, and then carefully hid it in his bag. Standing up he moved to stand over the inert body, yelling for help as he pretended to search for any sign of an injury. The device was an upgrade of the ashrak device, designed to injure rather than straight up kill the subject, but it had only been tested once before. But Anise would not be much of a lose to the Tok'ra, there were other diplomats and scientists within their member who could easily fill her place, his only regret came from his attraction to Freya, but even that he could ignore.
The Tok'ra had waited too long for something to come along that might offer what they needed to finally defeat the Goa'uld to give it up to the foolish young Tauri and their beliefs. Far too long.
Daniel ran down the corridor towards the VIP suites the sound of the medical emergency alarm still sounding out from the speakers. He slowed as silence fell suddenly, confused by the sudden feeling of dread that had built up in the pit of his stomach. He glanced around the empty corridor as he continued on his way, determined to check whether the med team had arrived or not. No matter how he felt about the Tok'ra he was not about to watch one of them die if he could help it.
Turning the final corner, he froze blue eyes flicking from one guard to the other as he moved towards them, squatting to check for injuries while keeping an eye out for whoever had knocked out both of the guards, and taken out the alarm. Checking for pulses, he nodded silently relived to find both strong and regular. Closing a hand over one of the forgotten pistols he stood, removing the safety as he moved towards the open doorway of the VIP room, looking around warily. Blue eyes fell on Anise's body as soon as he crossed the threshold, he frowned looking for any sign of Lin'Al.
Crossing the room, he carefully checked Anise for a pulse frowning at the heat coming off her body and the weak thready pulse. There had been nothing wrong with the Tok'ra woman before, Janet had checked. He straightened knowing what that meant, the Tok'ra had a back up plan for if the talks failed, and Lin'Al had willingly injured one of his own as part of that plan. He looked around before finally spotting the holdall the male Tok'ra had brought through the 'Gate with him. Kneeling next to it, he opened it carefully with one hand, keeping the gun ready in the other, he reached in and rooted around in search of anything unusual. His hand brushed cool metal and he quickly pulled the small case out, flipping it open too reveal it's contents. He stared at the small hand device, his blood running cold as the sound of another gun being readied to fire behind him interrupted the otherwise silent room. Daniel closed his eyes, dropping his head between his shoulders, knowing instantly who it was.
Lin'Al.