Jack O'Neill awoke to an unending panic just beneath the surface of his thoughts. His body was aware it was under siege, possessed, and at every unguarded moment it made him afraid for his sanity, his individuality, his autonomy. This time, though, he didn't at once try to run, try to throw up the foreign presence. He let his heart skip and cry bloody murder, let himself nearly hyperventilate in fright, but managed with great effort to hold his body still so that he rose from sleep afraid but outwardly doing quite well to look like he was in control.

–But I feel your fear, Colonel O'Neill, I am in here, not out there.–

Jack felt a cold chill run up his spine to hear the symbiote's ghostly words in his mind. He clenched his eyes shut futilely. He didn't give the Tok'ra the courtesy of a direct response, just let it patter around with the incomplete, rude thoughts that were flickering in his brain.

Jack opened his eyes again and proceeded to look around the small cave where the Tok'ra had directed him the night before. It was sparsely furnished but had enough of what was necessary. There was a small pallet on the floor to sleep on, stores of water and even some half-way decent food to eat. Jack had eaten without any prodding but when it came time for rest Jack had balked. He was in enemy territory, he shouldn't take the luxury of sleep.

–I can hear and see while you are sleeping, Colonel O'Neill, you will be safe to rest, and if you are sleeping I can heal you more quickly,– the Tok'ra had intoned. Eventually Jack had crawled into the bedroll for a few hours sleep, not because he trusted the snake in his head but merely because he had a snake in his head he figured things couldn't get much worse. If a Jaffa patrol snuck up on him in the middle of the night and decided to roast him for dinner it would be one way to solve the snake in his brain problem.

Jack was almost surprised to wake up, having fully expected to meet his end while he let his guard down during the night.

–I am sorry that you are disappointed to still live,– the Tok'ra chimed in with a stirring of bitterness.

'My, aren't you pissy in the morning,' he snarled back, then pushed the bed pallet cover off him and slowly sat up. He stopped at once and looked down at his chest. The numbness that had before replaced the fiery pain was gone now as well, and upon inspection of his bare torso he could see unbroken, unmarred skin. The only sign he might have been seriously injured was a bright red discoloration, like a bad sunburn where he used to be charred. He touched it in fascination, amazed to think that yesterday he'd been near death and today he could hardly tell he hadn't just fallen asleep on the beach.

–You're welcome,– the Tok'ra replied, his tone more amused and patient than annoyed or put off.

Frowning, Jack kicked away the rest of the blanket and looked around the cave with the benefit of dawn's light coming through the entrance to light the previously shadowed corners. It was smaller than it had appeared in the dark, little more than an alcove carved into the stone face of the mountainside.

–We have much to do,– the Tok'ra pressed to Jack's wandering thoughts.

Jack, bristling at what nearly sounded like an order, snapped, 'What makes you think I'm going to help you kill this Montu guy, anyway?'

The Tok'ra was furious, Jack could feel it. Not at Jack or even at his obstinate behavior but absolutely loathsome at the very mention of Montu. Jack shifted closer to one of the walls of the cave to press the cool stone against his back as the snake damn near rattled his hatred within the confines of Jack's cranium.

–Montu must die.–

Jack scratched at his temple and glowered at the internal monologue, 'Look, I'm all for killing the Goa'uld, but don't drag me into your personal vendetta. I expect to go home and for you to find someone else to jump into. End of story, thank you for your business, don't call us, we'll call you, period.'

There was no answer from the Tok'ra. The snake remained quiet, like a stalking predator lying in wait, then a brusque, –How do you intend to get home, Colonel O'Neill? I know of the Tau'ri defenses... you cannot merely dial your planet and step through the Chappa'ai, you would be killed by the... the 'iris'. Your device to transmit the code was either taken from your body when your people thought you dead or destroyed in the battle. How have you chosen to overcome this detail?–

Jack clenched his jaw, bitter at the thought, 'I haven't figured that part out yet, but confidence is high.'

Jack was creeped out to feel like something inside his head was smiling at him.

–Colonel O'Neill... I have a proposition for you.–

'Dealing snakes, there has to be some warning from a biblical text about this.'

The Tok'ra continued undeterred, –I know the current location of the Tok'ra base. Help me kill Montu and I will take us there; I can acquire a new host, and you may return home using the iris code transmitter your people provided to the Tok'ra council.–

Jack thought for a long moment. He took his time and made the snake wait, just to see how patient it could be, making a fair go at annoying the symbiote. The snake was unfortunately right, Jack was as good as stranded on this planet because his GDO transmitter was gone; he wasn't particularly interested in the idea of becoming radiation particles on the backside of the iris.

'What if I refuse?'

–Then we shall remain here for a very long time as one.–

Jack cringed at the idea... trapped on a planet with only a snake in his head for company. He was starting to feel manipulated and he didn't like it one bit, his ire began rising on principle.

–Do not think I wish to do this,– the Tok'ra said calmly, –it is not my desire to force your cooperation, but I have dedicated forty years of my life and the life of my previous host to the destruction of this Goa'uld. You cannot underestimate my wish to see him pay for the crimes he has committed. This is the best chance the Tok'ra have had yet to strike directly against Montu, despite the blunder yesterday that cost so many lives. I will do anything to see him fall.–

'Anything including taking over my body like I was just a tool to you? Sounds Goa'uldish to me, snakey.'

The Tok'ra was hurt by that, and Jack was startled to learn they could have their feelings hurt. –If I were willing to stoop to those measures I would not be negotiating with you, Colonel O'Neill. I won't use you like the Goa'uld would, even if it means Montu escapes and slaughters hundreds of thousands of people. I will, however, never forget your allowing it to happen.–

Jack rubbed at his forehead; he was starting to feel decidedly schizophrenic.

–I am asking for your help, Colonel O'Neill. Please. Tell me you do not also desire revenge for your companions who have died at Montu's hands.–

Jack thought of the human bodies on that field, SGC personnel, and his anger boiled over.

'All right, you have a deal. I help you get this guy, you get me back to Earth sans the extra personality.'

The Tok'ra's relief bled over into Jack's consciousness as the symbiote answered, –I give you my oath. Now... we don't have much time, and there are some things that must be done.–

Jack got to his feet, forced to remain bent at an awkward angle to avoid the low ceiling, 'All right, tell me what you want me to do.'

Jack found himself back on the battlefield where yesterday he'd lain dying. It was untouched from last he saw it, the bodies still scattered in haphazard disarray, the air still thick with the smell of death. Jack looked over the scene, trying to remain detached. It was not the first battlefield he had seen, not even the first span of corpses he'd seen, and there were times he'd looked upon the bodies of people much closer to him than those that now represented the force of the SGC.

Jack blinked. In his mind he saw another field, one he didn't recognize and yet knew down to the smallest detail. There were Tok'ra slain, dead by the dozens on the shores of a lake. The water lapped at their bodies, it carried wisps of blood out with the tide, and there was a maelstrom of grief, sadness, rage.

Stepping back, Jack shook his head to clear his vision and once again looked at the battle zone HE knew, the one that he recognized from yesterday.

"What the..?" he began to question.

The Tok'ra came back, apologetic, –I am sorry, Colonel O'Neill, my mind wandered.–

'That's what happens when your mind wanders? Well, do me a favor and keep your eye on the ball, huh?'

–I could ask you to do the same.–

'Excuse me?'

The Tok'ra was silent for a moment before answering carefully, –Your thoughts have wandered many times since I joined with you... you are more assassin than the Tok'ra believe.–

Jack tensed, 'Stay out of my memories and I'll stay out of yours, okay?'

The Tok'ra did not respond to Jack's spurious remark, instead urged, –My former host is to the left.–

Jack mentally narrowed his gaze at the Tok'ra then started across the field toward the burned body that yesterday he had mistaken for a Goa'uld. Half-way there his eye caught a flash of olive drab and he stopped. He found himself looking down at the motionless form of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas of SG-9. Jack knelt beside the body as he loked down at the lifeless, cold stare in the lieutenant colonel's green eyes. There was cool detachment from the event, a disconnection from the reality of this body once having been a person. He'd seen too many die to feel the crush of another's mortality, beyond being crippled, desensitized to its effects... besides, Thomas was not someone he'd known well. He was a good soldier, but not a friend. He shouldn't have died, certainly not like this, but better him than Sam, Daniel, or Teal'c.

Jack stood back and continued toward the Goa'uld body, stopping when he reached the burned black form. It was another enemy shape to him, but from the creature in his mind a great sadness raked through his consciousness, making Jack mourn by association the person at his feet that he did not know.

Jack frowned in annoyance, uncomfortable with the emotions saturating his brain, put there by an unwelcome guest. He almost waited for some remark from the snake since it seemed the symbiote couldn't manage to leave Jack alone for more than ten minutes, but instead echoing silence descended.

Jack bent down and removed the ribbon device from the corpse's hand. He tucked one finger of the contraption into his belt so it hung at his side. Standing back he waited for something from the snake, some direction, but still there was only sad silence, so Jack turned his face up toward the sun in an attempt to gauge the time of day.

'Hey... Tok'ra,' he finally relented to calling for the symbiote's attention.

–Yes, O'Neill?–

Jack was taken aback by the somberness in the Tok'ra's voice, the melancholy in the emotions Jack could feel from him. Unintentionally, an image of Major Carter popped into the colonel's mind. She was at the table in her lab, bent over something Jack could never in a million years hope to understand, taking the time to look up at him and laugh at one of his stupid jokes. He felt the same stomach flutter of self-satisfaction and pleasure that Sam's rare, sincere smiles could give him, and like a counter-agent it pushed away the sadness coming from the snake.

The Tok'ra at last spoke, his voice not as despondent, –You must trust in our arrangement for what must come next, Colonel O'Neill. I have to convince Montu that I am still his loyal advisor, that I have survived the battle by taking a new host and returned to continue my service to him. It is the only way we can be close enough to him to kill him.–

Jack sighed, 'Well, this is your area, so whatever you say.'

The Tok'ra hesitated, –For this deception to work I must take control, you do understand that.–

Jack cringed, 'Look, I just want to go home. If I've got to take a backseat to my own body then fine, but I'm telling you right now I'm not going to like it, so don't expect me to be in a good mood about it.'

–Never,– the Tok'ra replied, and Jack grew wary with the suspicion that the snake was laughing to himself.

Jack groaned to himself in surrender, 'So lead on, do your take over thing, let's get this over with.'

The Tok'ra's presence loomed, grew in his mind, but just as the panic reflex started to stir in Jack again that would evoke the feeling that he needed to flee from himself, the Tok'ra seemed to back away, becoming less dominating, –We have a distance yet to go before we reach Montu's hide-out, you may retain control until we are closer.–

'How generous of you,' Jack grumbled and started off toward the distant Goa'uld hide-away, a destination he just found in his mind when he chanced to look for it. He was hoping for silence from the snake, a little peace and quiet (which the symbiote seemed more than willing to provide) but not even two minutes into their hike Jack found himself asking, 'Who are you?'

The Tok'ra seemed a little surprised at the question, –My name is Aetom.–

'Well, Aetom, what was up with that thing back there? Why the hell was I SAD about that dead Tok'ra? I didn't even know the guy.'

Aetom hesitated before answering, –You were experiencing my grief for my former host. I'm sorry if it upset you. I am trying to shield myself from your thoughts because I know you do not like me here, but it is a demanding effort and some things get through.–

Jack wanted to be angry about that because it had been disconcerting, but Aetom's honesty made it hard to stay mad. Instead he settled on irritated, put upon by an uninvited visitor in his own body.

–Although I thank you for Major Carter.–

Jack's step faltered, 'What?!'

Aetom explained, –In my despair you showed me something that gives you happiness... it helped. Thank you.–

Jack was nearly aghast, 'That wasn't for you! I was just, well I had to do something to get rid of that bad mood you'd given me.'

Aetom urged Jack to keep walking while he answered, –Perhaps you did not realize what you were doing would comfort me. Even so, it... made me feel better.–

'Yeah, well, just don't start expecting it on regular basis.'

–Are the Tok'ra really so distasteful to you? Our two peoples have been allies for some time now, and it has been a beneficial relationship for both parties.–

'Look, this isn't the time for a philosophical debate. We're here to kill this Goa'uld so I can get you out of my head and go home. Let's just stick to that, keep it nice and simple.'

–If that is what you wish, Colonel O'Neill,– and Aetom's voice went silent as he seemingly backed away, as though going into some form of hibernation, which left Jack to trudge over an alien planet's surface with only his own thoughts for company. Considering his traveling companion as of yesterday, it was a solitude that he was going to take advantage of while he had the chance.