Daniel's plan was to learn sign language with Ana'lyss. So far it wasn't going well. He had chosen a conversational course on video, but unfortunately hadn't exercised enough foresight to connect the VCR before going to get the girl from the infirmary. It was difficult connecting the cables with one arm. Finally, he succeeded, only to have the VCR jam, destroying the tape.
Daniel ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. "No problem. This is fine," he said. "We'll just...start with something else." Ana'lyss stared at him curiously for a moment, then snatched up the VCR and hurled it across the room.
Daniel stared at the broken equipment lying on the floor. He started laughing, and he couldn't stop. "You're very perceptive," he said breathlessly. "Come on, let's go do something else."
Daniel knew a Lieutenant about the same size as Ana'lyss who thought he was cute. He would pour on the charm and see if she'd help with the clothing situation. But before they could find her, alarms sounded indicating an unscheduled off-world activation. Daniel, Ana'lyss in hand, headed for the 'gate room.
Daniel arrived just in time to see General Hammond welcoming Anise.
"Dr. Jackson," Anise greeted him as he entered, "I am pleased to see you well. It is the understanding of the Tok'ra that members of your team have been injured."
"How did you..." Daniel began.
"There was a Tok'ra operative on the planet," Anise explained. "News of the four strangers who took the last Kishnath spread far."
"Oh, yes," Daniel said, recalling his manners, "Anise, allow me to introduce Ana'lyss.'' He glanced at Ana'lyss, who was already gazing affectionately at Anise. She scuffed her toe against the floor and peeked up at Anise with puppy dog eyes.
Anise, looking somewhat amused, nodded to the girl in greeting. "I have information to share with you," she told Daniel and the General, "but first I should like to see Major Carter. We understand she was one of the injured, and her father wishes me to ascertain her condition and convey his regret at being unable to come himself."
"Certainly," the General answered, "Dr. Jackson will escort you."
As Daniel led the two women from the 'gate room, he found he was now being addressed by Anise's host, Freya. "If you are well, Dr. Jackson, then am I correct in assuming that Colonel O'Neill was injured?"
"Yes," Daniel replied, childishly disinclined to volunteering any further information. Behind his back, Ana'lyss stuck out her tongue at Freya.
They entered the infirmary to find Sam exasperatedly trying to read despite Jack's loud attempts to divert her attention. "For crying out loud, you don't even care if I drop dead, do you?" he fussed at her.
"Daniel,'' Sam cried out as she saw him, "can you please explain to the Colonel that you cannot die from boredom!"
"I brought visitors," Daniel offered conciliatorily.
"If you really want to help me out, go find the warden and tell her I want a parole hearing," Jack snarled.
Ana'lyss made a broad gesture of rolling her eyes. Daniel politely responded that he would go find Janet if it would help Jack chill out. Turning to Freya, he asked "Would you mind?" as he gently transferred Ana'lyss to her arm.
"Not at all," she replied as though Daniel left her with a choice. He hurried away toward Janet's office. "Major Carter," Freya continued, "your father sends his love and greetings. He wanted to come to you when he heard you were injured, but he is unable to come at this time."
"Please tell him I'm going to be just fine. I'll be out of here in no time," Sam said with a smile.
"I should be outta here already," Jack yelled.
"Hello, Colonel O'Neill," Freya said. There was something a bit too friendly in her tone that made Sam take notice. And Jack suddenly seemed to mellow.
"How are you, Freya?" he asked with a studied civility.
"I am good. I'm glad to see your injuries are not substantial," Freya replied, moving closer.
"Actually, it's pretty serious. I'll probably be in here a while yet," Jack said nervously, "maybe days. How long will you be staying?"
"Only a few hours, I imagine," Freya told him with a secretive smile that Sam liked even less then her tone. Freya and Jack stared at one another.
Daniel and Janet arrived just in time to see Ana'lyss release Freya's arm, and walk over to Jack's bedside. His focus was on Freya, so Jack didn't notice her until she leaned in and kissed him. "Not again," Jack hollered, pushing her away. Ana'lyss stumbled back. Sam reached out and grabbed hold of her.
"Again?" Daniel repeated curiously.
"What is with you?" Sam muttered at the girl, pulling her down on the edge of the bed and holding her there.
"I'm afraid that was my fault," said Freya. "The girl is a Kishnath, a Revealer."
"What exactly does that mean?" Janet interjected.
"I believe humans would refer to her as an empath." Freya clarified. "She is able to sense other people's emotions. As a Revealer, however, she has been trained to expose deception. She is yet too young to differentiate between willful deception and discretion."
"So you're saying she's acting out the things we feel but try to hide," Daniel asked, reflecting on recent events unhappily.
"Precisely," Freya answered, not entirely unembarrassed herself.
"Really!" Jack said mirthfully, staring at Sam.
"Really!" Sam shot back, turning to glare at Freya.
Ana'lyss slipped from Sam's loosened grasp and charged at Freya, slapping her face before Freya managed to catch both her wrists. Ana'lyss paused, closed her eyes a moment, then wrenched her arms from Freya's hold, charging back at Sam. Daniel caught her by the waist and held her back until she stopped kicking and clawing in Sam's direction, resuming her usual placid demeanor.
"Enough," Anise snapped. "This is why I have come. The girl cannot stay here. You are too volatile to create a safe environment for her." Daniel distractedly passed Ana'lyss off to Janet. Crossing his arms, he devoted his full attention to Anise.
"Oh, right," Jack said suspiciously. "And I'm sure you've got only her interests at heart. How did you know she was here in the first place?"
"We were seeking her long before you arrived on her homeworld. We want to help her," Anise replied, "and, yes, she would be of assistance to us as well. We intend to offer her a symbiote."
"Of course you do," Jack snarled. "That's the Tok'ra answer to everything."
"Jack, would you just hear her out?" Daniel interjected testily.
Ana'lyss lunged at the Tok'ra again, but Dr. Frasier was prepared. She knew exactly how much Daniel's infatuation with Anise got under her skin, and she hung onto Ana'lyss with all her strength. "How do you feel you can help her?" Janet asked while they struggled, trying to redirect her emotions in a safer vein.
Anise looked at her with a raised eyebrow for a moment. "Her people communicated through a sort of telepathy," she explained. "As the last of her kind, she is essentially locked in her own mind. Blending provides her best hope for meaningful communication, not only with her symbiote, but through the symbiote's knowledge of written forms of communication."
"What's in it for you?" Jack asked.
"We hope she will help us to detect Goa'uld infiltrators among our ranks. A symbiote can help her to learn to interpret the sensations she experiences and understand true intentions."
Jack looked around, judging the expressions of the others. Sam caught his eye. "It sounds reasonable, Sir," she said.
"Daniel? Janet?" He sought their opinions as well. They both nodded in assent. "Fine, fine. Then take these... ladies to the General. Let him know we're in agreement."
Janet came back a short time later. She kept her voice low, as the Colonel appeared to be sleeping. She filled Sam in on what had transpired. "General Hammond would only agree once he knew Ana'lyss understood. Daniel taught her to nod yes or no, and she did seem to understand what Anise said," Janet related.
"So she's going?" Sam asked.
"They are both going," Janet said for emphasis. "I hope she will learn a better way to communicate."
"Because she certainly won't learn anything from Freya about dressing properly," Sam said dryly.
"Good riddance," Janet whispered.
"It's a shame," Jack said. Sam and Janet's heads whipped around to find he was watching them with an impish look. "Just when I was beginning to enjoy having her around."