"Who was that girl?" Jacob rather than Selmak asked as they walked down the corridor to the infirmary.
"I'm sorry about that. Ms. Rosenberg's never met a Tok'ra before." Hammond apologized. "In fact, until two days ago she'd never even met a goa'uld either."
"How'd she even know about Selmak?"
"Apparently she has the ability to detect symbiotes. She also knew that Teal'c wasn't human the first time she saw him even though he doesn't carry one anymore. You probably felt like that Ashrak she encountered." Sam explained to her father.
"What Ashrak?" Jacob was starting to worry.
"That's how we discovered her, an Ashrak managed to get on the planet and went after one of our refugees but he had a run in with Willow." Jack filled in.
"She obviously survived."
"Oh, Yeah, SHE survived but HE didn't." Jack clarified.
"Are you telling me that she killed an Ashrak? By herself?" Jacob couldn't believe it.
"Willow Rosenberg appears to make a formidable opponent." Teal'c stated.
"So I assume you've recruited her." Jacob's statement was more of a question.
"Actually we were still in negotiations when you arrived. She apparently had a bad experience with another military unit in the past and has some reservations about joining us." Hammond told him.
"What about the agent you rescued, who is it?" Jacob changed the subject as they neared the infirmary.
"We don't know. He hasn't regained consciousness yet." Frasier spoke up. "I'm assuming that the host is too injured and the Symbiote is too busy healing the injuries to talk." The Doctor led them inside a room where a nurse was checking the patient's vitals. "Any change?" she asked the nurse
"His blood pressure and pulse rate are slightly stronger but he's still out." The nurse reported.
"Good I'll take it from here." Frasier said taking the chart from the nurse; who walked away to tend to other patients.
Jacob stepped closer to get a better look at the patient. "His name is Eru. The host is called Dalan. They were on a mission aboard Khandouf's mothership." Selmak identified.
"Never heard of him." Hammond mentioned.
"He's a young, minor goa'uld who has recently taken advantage of the System Lords' preoccupation with Annubus to make a few bold attempts at grabbing some power. I can only assume their cover was blown." Selmak filled in.
Everyone looked toward the door as Daniel and Willow came into the room.
Willow walked up to Selmak with a very guilty look on her face. "Ah listen, I want to apologize for what I said earlier. Daniel explained the difference between the Tok'ra and Goa'uld and I'm sorry for saying that you were one of them. The Goa'uld I mean. I'm new to all this and you do give off the same vibe."
"That's quite understandable. I hear that your first encounter with an alien wasn't a pleasant one. Tell me. How did you manage to defeat an Ashrak by yourself?" Selmak was curious to find out.
The witch glanced at the other people in the room hoping for a clue as to how she should answer. All she received was blank stares until Jack waved a go ahead. "I broke his neck then set his body on fire." She stated with a shrug.
Selmak reared back slightly at the simple answer and the rather blasé delivery then looked at the others for a confirmation. The expression on the officers' faces was all he needed.
"Ah, hello. Did everybody forget about the injured man in the bed?" Jack's question brought everyone back to the reason they were all there.
"Of course not." This time Jacob spoke. "Do you still have that healing device?"
*** *** ***
Selmak stood beside the bed as he slipped the healing device over his right hand. Then holding it palm down over the injured man he placed his left hand over the right one and closed his eyes.
Willow watched, along with everyone else, fascinated as a golden energy emanated from the device and then entered the patient's body. Out of curiosity she reached out with her senses to examine the energy being used but was careful not to interfere with that energy. She was only half surprised to discover the energy was not mystically based. The thing that did surprise her was that it was the same type of energy she had felt from the weapons earlier.
Jack looked over at the witch, noticing her expression of mild concentration, and nudged Sam with his elbow. "What do you think she's doing?" he whispered when her attention turned to him.
Sam looked over at the woman. "I don't know." she whispered back but continued to watch her carefully.
Then Jack nudged Daniel who was standing between him and the witch. When Daniel turned to him Jack simply nodded toward Willow. Then asked in another hushed tone, "What is she doing?" as the archeologist turned toward the woman in question.
"I don't know." Daniel whispered back with a shrug.
Jack quietly "humphed" then walked around Daniel and once behind Willow he bent down slightly, placing his mouth next to her ear. Again he whispered his question. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to understand the energy he's using." She whispered back without taking her eyes off Selmak.
"Oh."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What's that?"
"Why are we whispering?"
Jack straightened up, but Selmak cut off any retort he had. "I have done all I can." He informed everyone.
"It was enough." The patient's host spoke. "However I must be the one to do the talking to allow Eru to finish the healing."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief before Dalan continued. "Are we on Earth?"
"Yes. You don't remember?" Frasier asked concerned as she started to check his vitals.
"I remember crashing, and the Tau'ri finding me, then being chased by jaffa. The last thing I remember is going through the Chappa'ai."
"Well you made it to Earth. You're in our infirmary now." The doctor told him.
"What happened? How was your cover blown?" Jacob wanted to know.
"It wasn't." Dalan paused to gauge everyone's confused looks then continued, "The mission was going according to plan but then we were attacked. I was lucky enough to be near the glider bay and managed to escape."
"Attacked by who?" Selmak asked.
"It was Osiris. She crippled the mothership then boarded. I think they pursued me so vigorously because they did not want anyone to know what happened."
"If Osiris led the attack that means that Annubus was behind it. But why would he bother attacking Khandouf. This guy couldn't have been that much of a threat to him." Hammond theorized.
"Since when does a goa'uld need a reason for anything they do?" Jack piped in.
"No, the General's right. Annubus doesn't make any move without a good reason." Sam backed up.
"But why bother crippling the ship and boarding it? Any of Annubus' ships are easily capable of blowing the whole ship into dust. Why such a high risk maneuver?" Daniel wondered.
"That's a good point. But, again Annubus must have a reason." Sam said.
"Which means that we need to know what that reason is." Jacob announced.
Willow, who had been silently listening, had an idea. "Maybe he was looking for something."
Everyone turned to the witch at hearing her voice.
"What makes you think that?" Hammond asked.
For a second Willow felt like she did back in high school when the other kids would stare at her for answering the teacher's question and almost withered under the sudden attention but didn't. "Listen. I don't know anything about this Annubus guy, but it seems to me that a good reason not to blow up a ship is if there's something on it you want."
"Willow Rosenberg may indeed be correct." Teal'c statement reminded everyone that he was in the room.
"If she's right, we should get back to our base and start learning all we can about Khandouf's activities and anything unusual he might have possessed. How long before they are fit to travel?" Jacob asked the doctor.
"Well his vitals are good but I'd like for him to wait and make sure the internal damage is completely healed before he leaves." Frasier answered.
"I can assure you that all serious injuries are healed doctor." The symbiote spoke.
"I think that answers that." Jack cracked.
*** *** ***
Willow watched from the control room as the wormhole engaged causing a water-like substance to burst out from the center of the stargate toward the glass barrier separating it from the onlookers before it drew back into a calm field. "Does it always do that?" she asked.
"Only when you turn it on." Jack answered sarcastically.
The Wicca just watched as the two Tok'ra walked up the ramp and disappeared into the event horizon. "How does it work?"
"You'll have to ask Carter that. But don't say I didn't warn you when she starts all that geek talk."
"What about geek talk?" Sam asked just coming up the stairs in time to hear the tail end of Jack's remark.
"Oh nothing, Willow was just asking how the stargate worked." Jack explained.
"Oh, well, the stargate is able to use the ---" Sam started to explain.
"Carter!" Jack warned through gritted teeth. "Don't we have a ship to find?" He changed the subject.
"That's alright we can talk on the drive." Willow told Sam.
"What drive?" Jack sounded clueless.
"I told you I needed some supplies and since that Ashrak guy was in Denver I'm guessing that his ship is too so wouldn't it make sense to do the spell there."
"She has a point. Well, about the ship being in the Denver area anyway, Sir" Sam spoke up.
"Fine, you and Daniel take Ms. Rosenberg back to Denver. The Colonel and Teal'c will lead the recovery team. If you are successful at locating the ship call it's position to them so they can secure the area." The General who had been silent until now ordered. Then turned to the witch, "You said you'd need something that belonged to the Ashrak. Will the knife be enough? I'm afraid I can't allow something as advanced as a ribbon device leave the base."
"The knife is fine. The rest of the stuff I'll have to buy when we get there." Willow explained then turned to Sam and Daniel. "So make sure you bring some cash with you. Magic supplies aren't cheap."
"Oh I am so glad that I'm not the one who has to explain those item on an expense report." Jack joked.
"Very well, just get it done. The sooner we find that ship the better." Hammond stated.
Everyone started to leave the control room when Willow suddenly stopped in her tracks almost causing Sam and Daniel to run into her from behind. "Incoming" she warned.
"She's right Sir. Unauthorized Offworld Activation." The Sergeant declared over the intercom.
"How does she do that?" Jack breathed.
Everyone watched as the guards took up their positions while the chevrons continued to lock until the wormhole engaged behind the iris.
"It's Bra'tac." The sergeant controlling the 'gate stated. "Opening the iris now."
The iris slid back and an elderly man came through the stargate. He was wearing a metal helmet that seemed to be molded around his head along with a metal collar that fit over his shoulders creating a breastplate. This Bra'tac, Willow presumed, stood at the top of the ramp holding his staff weapon at his side, taking in the sight of the crowded gateroom as the wormhole disengaged behind him.
"Stand down." Hammond ordered as sg-1 made their way to meet the old Jaffa.
Bra'tac walked down the ramp and the two Jaffa greeted each other by clasping each other's forearms. "It is good to see you old friend."
"It is good to see you as well." Bra'tac replied.
As the rest of the people gathered around them Bra'tac stated the purpose for his visit. " I have received word that the goa'uld Ramius and Tilgath are meeting to form an alliance." Then the elder jaffa turned to look directly at Hammond. "I was hoping you would allow Teal'c to accompany me to discover the reason for this alliance."
"Of course, is there anything else we can do to help?"
"Not as of yet but I thank you for the offer."
"Very well. If you give the coordinates to the control room you can go whenever you're ready."
"Ahem!" Willow cleared her throat as a way to ask for an introduction.
"And who is this young woman?" Bra'tac asked sizing the witch up.
"I'm Willow." She introduced herself with a smile and stuck her hand out to shake.
"Willow Rosenberg has proven herself as a powerful warrior by defeating an Ashrak single-handed." Teal'c gravely informed his mentor.
Bra'tac was impressed and it showed on his face.
"It is an honor to meet anyone who opposes the Goa'uld." The old jaffa stated and gripped her hand having been around the Tau'ri enough to recognize that custom.
"Well, Thank you."
"Bra'tac here is the leader of the Jaffa rebellion." Daniel added.
"A rebellion?" Willow wanted to know more.
"Many Jaffa have come to believe that the Goa'uld are false gods and now fight to free themselves." Bra'tac explained proudly.
"Well, Good for them!" Willow responded with equal enthusiasm.
"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.
"Ah, excuse me, I hate to break this up but I think we all have missions to go on." Jack butted in. "Do you think we can get to them before Christmas?"
"I guess you're right." Willow responded to Jack's reminder, then she faced the other visitor. "It was nice to meet you Bra'tac. And good luck."
"And to you as well."
*** *** ***
"Do you know where she's taking you exactly?" Jack asked his friends as they stood next to an elevator waiting for the witch to join them.
"Some sort of magic supply shop in the business district. You worried sir." Sam replied.
"It's not that I think that she'll pull anything, it's just that this is all new territory and we don't know what to expect."
"That's the way it is every time we go through the stargate. No matter how many M.A.L.P.s. or U.V.A.s we send first we never know what's really on the other side until we get there." Daniel pointed out.
"But this isn't some alien planet this is right here in our own backyard." Jack insisted.
"That's what makes this so exciting. We've been all over the galaxy and discovered a multitude of new civilizations but now we get to see one that's been existing right under our noses." Daniel giddily explained. "Think of the implications. We've always thought that the Goa'uld inspired all the legends of the supernatural. But what if some of them weren't. Now that we know Witches are real what else is out there? Werewolves, Vampires, Leprechauns, what about them?"
"Werewolves, Yes. Vampires, Yes. Leprechauns, No." Everyone looked toward the sound of Willow's voice and saw the witch approach them. Willow chuckled at the expressions on their faces. "We ready to go?" she asked before any of them could speak.
"Ah, yeah." Jack answered even though his mind was still processing her words.
The elevator opened, already occupied with two people, a man and a woman. The four stepped in and the door closed behind them.