Behind the dark side of Tartarus' moon, a Tel'tak sat hidden. Its power levels at minimal to further reduce the chance of detection. Onboard, only a dim green light allowed it's passengers to see what they were doing. Teal'c stood at the control pedestal in the center of the bridge while Bra'tac and Sam occupied the two seats in front. This left Kennedy impatiently pacing back and forth near the back. Jacob was late in contacting them and the worry they were all feeling manifested when Sam spoke out. "Come on dad." she urged even though she knew there was no way for him to hear her.
"The array has yet to be shut down. We are helpless to act. Even if we were to attempt secure communication ---" Bra'tac warned the Major.
"We would have to leave our position from the dark side of this moon making us visible to their sensors." Sam understood.
Bra'tac nodded sympathetically.
Kennedy stopped her pacing and turned to the group's direction to ask. "There's nothing else we can do?"
"There is not." Teal'c answered stoically without diverting his attention.
"So we just wait."
"Indeed."
*** *** ***
Jack loaded a magazine into his P-90 and hooked it to the sling he wore across his chest as he walked toward the edge of the jungle. That's when he noticed Willow move into a cross-legged position on the ground and take a meditative pose. "Aradia, goddess of the lost, the forest is ---"
Realization dawned on what she was about to do and Jack hurriedly moved to stop her. "Hey!" he harshly whispered coming to the witch's side. "What do you think you're doin'?"
"Getting ready to find our lost friends. What else." Willow didn't whisper.
"Not in front of Burke you don't." he looked over his shoulder to make sure the man in question wasn't in earshot and saw that he was still at the back of his jeep tying an army green bandana on his head, so Jack turned back to the girl. "I don't want him knowing anything about your --- special abilities. UNDERSTAND."
"It's the fastest and easiest way to find them." Willow argued. Besides, what's he gon'na do about it?"
"That's not the point! He doesn't have clearance to know and anyway, we don't need any Hocus Pocus to track Daniel. We can follow their GPS. locators."
"Do you really think they still have their GPS locators?" Burke's voice came from behind the Colonel. Apparently he had heard the last bit of Jack's rant.
Jack turned around to see the C.I.A. operative walk up from behind him decked out in full combat gear carrying his own rifle with a M203 grenade launcher mounted under the barrel and a few of the explosive projectiles strapped to the right side of his vest. "It's the only thing we have to go on so---."
"I told you. I know how to find your guys." Burke interrupted.
"Let's get one thing straight, both of you," Jack took a few determined steps toward the other man, then turned back and made eye contact with Willow, who was standing now, to make sure she understood that he was talking to her too. "I'm the one in command here and I say we track the GPS signals. Does everybody get that?" He said sternly.
Burke and Willow both looked at each other silently asking if it was worth it to object.
"O.k. fine Jack, have it your way. You're the one that said you were on a clock but hey," He shrugged like he didn't care. "If you're willing to risk leaving your friend in those rebel's hands longer than you have to ---. Well I guess letting your friends hang out to dry has got to be a habit with you." Burke accused with a touch of malice.
Jack's face flushed with anger but he resisted the urge to hit the heavy-set man.
"That's it! Both of you!" Willow seethed through gritted teeth and stomped toward them. "Put a cork in it! At least until we finish doing what we came here to do! If the two of you can't put your personal problems aside, tell me now because I am NOT going to referee the two of you. And if I have to listen to any more of this crap I'm going to get angry. And trust me, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." She threatened with the all to familiar quote looking sternly at both men.
"The lady's right." The heavier man admitted. "Whad'ya say Jack? Truce?"
Jack considered it for a few seconds then caught the look Willow threw him. "Yeah, truce."
"Good. Now this is how we're going to do this." Willow dictated. "Since Burke knows the terrain and where the bad guys like to hang out we'll follow him." Jack opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off before he could get the first word out. "Do you want me to do it my way?" She threatened.
Jack closed his mouth but the look he gave the witch let her know he didn't like it.
"Who are you lady? And what's your way?" Burke had to ask.
"Never you mind." Jack shot. "That's classified."
Willow gave Jack a look that conveyed the lameness of that excuse before addressing both men. "Now can we go already?" and started toward the jungle.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Burke asked the woman's back.
Willow stopped and turned around. "I don't think so." She paused to run through her mental checklist.
"Weapons. Or are you planning to throw rocks at these guys?"
"I don't need a gun. Besides both of you have one, that should be enough. Now do you want to lead the way?"
Burke looked to Jack for confirmation of the redhead's claim. Jack simply nodded the affirmative. "Well alright then, if you would follow me please, we will start the tour. Along the way, you will notice ---."
*** *** ***
Aboard the Tel'tak, Kennedy laced her fingers behind her head and reared back in frustration. "Argh, what is taking so long?"
"So many things could have gone wrong. He is so stubborn."
"Major Carter, perhaps it is time to consider ---." A beep stopped Teal'c mid sentence.
Bra'tac chuckled with relief. "The sensor array is powered down." He informed them and Teal'c touched the control crystal, which powered up the small ship before the old jaffa continued. "No doubt your father's stubbornness." He grinned at the blonde who smiled back.
As the ship moved out of it's hiding place, Sam used the tok'ra-designed communicator to speak to her father. "Dad, we're on the way."
"Good. When you touch down, proceed to the exhaust port assemblage. I think I found a way to get you in." came his reply through the device.
"Copy." Sam replied then glanced over to Bra'tac who nodded at the suggestion.
"Looks like this party might pick up after all." Kennedy happily declared.
*** *** ***
"Well this is a strange place to put a well." Burke thought out loud as they gazed at a square water-filled hole that was cut into the ground and edged with mortared rock.
"I don't think it's really a well." Willow disagreed.
"Standard U.S. military boot tread all around. Somebody make a wish?" Burke cracked and dropped a penny into the water.
"At least we know they were here." Jack commented and started to look around for any more sign of the missing pair.
"Here's some more prints. They're different from the others." Willow noticed.
"This is probably where they were grabbed." Jack theorized.
"Looky here." Jack and Willow both turned at hearing Burke's voice. "I told you tracking the GPS locators was a waste of time." He gloated and held up the items in question. "Now aren't you glad you brought me along?"
"Burke." Willow broke in stopping the burly man's gloat. "Point made. Can we just follow their trail now?"
"What's with you and this Dr. Jackson? He your boyfriend or somethin'?" The man asked as he took the lead following the trail of Daniel and his kidnappers while the other two rescuers fell in behind him.
"Burke!" Jack warned
"No he's not my boyfriend. In fact I just met the guy before he came down here." The witch explained. "Besides he isn't my type."
"And what is your type? It wouldn't happen to be the older teddy bear type would it?"
"No."
"Then what is? Come on I haf'ta know?"
"Actually I'm a breast girl." She answered calmly then smiled at herself when both men nearly tripped at hearing her reply and stopped to look at each other then at her in surprise.
Burke started laughing and continued walking still laughing.
*** *** ***
Inside Anubus' multi-storied domed base, Jacob removed his helmet, hood and breastplate before beginning to manipulate the control panel for the exhaust port doors. When he hit the right sequence the door slid open creating an 'X'-shaped opening, allowing a gust of exhaust to escape. Teal'c was the first one to step through against the wind, zat gun in hand, Sam followed with her customized MP-5 then Kennedy with Scarlet.
"What happened?" Sam immediately asked.
"I fooled the exhaust port into thinking it needed to purge the system."
"I mean with the sensor array." The woman clarified.
"I got held up." The tok'ra tilted his head. "You weren't worried about me were you?" He asked sarcastically and received a cold glare from his daughter before continuing. "Help me get this off" he referred to the rest of his armor.
"Why not keep it on. You might need it." Kennedy suggested.
"Black's really not my color." He joked with a smile.
*** *** ***
Willow followed her two companions who both walked a few steps ahead. Her senses were open and alert to everything around them. She could vaguely hear Burke explain the excuses the rebels used to justify their actions then something registered on her senses. "Ah, guys." She interrupted the lecture and the two men stopped to look at her. "Somebody's up ahead. They're hurt." She answered their questioning looks.
"Where?" Jack turned back around and surveyed the area intently
"A couple hundred yards straight ahead."
Burke didn't know how the redhead knew this but he followed Jack's quick but cautious pace until the Colonel saw something and used a hand signal tell him to stop. He stayed low while Jack stepped up on a large rock next to a tree and used it for cover as looked for possible danger.
Jack motioned for Burke to move up and the man moved several steps to Jack's right and took a position behind another tree. Then Jack moved past him to yet another tree before signaling his ex-partner to move forward.
They came upon the prone figure of a young man lying on his back at the base of a tree. "Well this wasn't on the tour. At least we know we're on the right track." Burke cracked as he squatted into a defensive position to cover Jack who knelt down to check for a pulse. The instant his fingers touched the guy's neck, the young man swiveled his head and looked at him causing the both men to jump back with a startled cry almost colliding into Willow who had casually walked up behind them.
"I've been shot." The man simply stated.
Willow moved closer and knelt down at the man's side to check the injury while Jack and Burke took defensive positions to guard her.
"No, noo noooo." The young man winced when Willow tried to roll him over.
"You have been shot." Jack agreed slightly surprised.
"The injured man looked at Jack and said, "Si'."
"We'll get you some help." Willow promised. "Who are you?"
"Rogelio Duran."
"A rescue should be here in about an hour." Burke assured the man as he also knelt to cut the bonds that held Rogelio's wrists together
"I've been lying here for days, what's another hour."
"Who did this?" Jack asked.
"Malitos." Then he went into a rapid string of Spanish curses.
Jack stopped him with a wave. "Alright. We're looking for two scientists."
"Dr. Jackson?"
"Yeah."
"They have them. They went north. Across the border. Go."
"We're not going to leave you here." Burke told him
"Sure you can Senior. Help will be here soon. Don't worry; this is not the first time I have been shot." He bragged. "Save your friends. Please." At everyone's confused looks he offered an explanation. "They owe me lots of money."
"Ahhh" Jack and Burke said together. Willow just snorted
"Can we do anything to make you more comfortable?" Willow offered.
"Some water would be nice."
"Oh, sure." The witch removed her own canteen from her shoulder and set it next to the man.
"Gracias. Now go before it is to late."
"Alright, hang tight pal." Burke shoved a stick of gum in Rogelio's hand before rising to his feet.
The guide looked at what the American had given him as the group left. "I love American gum. Good guys." He released a happy breath.
*** *** ***
"As soon as I arrived I was met by one of Anubus' servants and taken to a lab to repair some damage to the suit. I couldn't leave to deactivate the sensor array until Anubus called him away to fix some malfunctioning probe." Jacob, now dressed in his usual tan tunic, explained the reason for taking so long as he led the way down a passageway.
"Wait. Are you saying that this Anubus guy is here, now?" Kennedy wanted to clarify.
"Yes."
Well alright!" The slayer was enthused. "Why don't we just go kill him and hey, problem solved."
"It's not that simple." Jacob argued. "Even if we were to get close enough to him, which is unlikely, we don't know if we can kill him and even if we did manage it, the chances of us getting out of here alive afterwards are virtually non-existent."
The slayer sighed. "You have a point about leaving." The slayer hated to admit. "But what do you mean? Why couldn't we kill him even if we had the chance?" Kennedy was afraid of the answer.
"Anubus isn't completely corporeal. He was once ascended. The others tried to send him back but they were only partially successful. Now he's trapped somewhere between two different planes of existence. He has to use some type of material to hold his form together." Sam tried to explain.
Ascended? You mean like a higher being?"
"Something like that." Sam studied the young woman trying to gauge her reaction to that information.
"But now he's stuck somewhere in between?"
"Yes, he wears a specially designed cloak to hold his essence together."
The Major's description sounded like one of the images from her dream. But Kennedy decided not to reveal that much about herself yet. Besides this wasn't the time for that conversation.
"Hold up." Jacob suddenly warned as they approached an entrance to another corridor. The group stopped and backed against the wall, Jacob and Sam on one side of the arch-shaped opening with Teal'c and Kennedy on the other, and kept quiet as one of the super soldiers passed by without noticing them. That's the third one I've seen." Jacob informed them.
"How many do you think Anubus has?" Sam asked her father as the group stepped into the new corridor with weapons raised, ready for trouble. Sam and Jacob covering the way the warrior was heading and Teal'c and Kennedy guarded the way the supersoldier had come
"There's no telling yet, I'm guessing only a handful. The lab I was in was made to service several."
"We hope it's just a handful." Kennedy reckoned before they continued their snooping.
*** *** ***
The quartet entered a room containing several, large, water-filled tanks.
"Don't tell me this guy has an aquarium. What, he keeps fish too?" The slayer asked bewildered.
"Symbiote holding tanks." Jacob provided a quick explanation.
"They're all empty." Sam noticed.
"This one is not." They heard Teal'c say from the right side of the room and walked up to the jaffa to see what he had discovered. There in front of them stood a single tank with a swollen snake-like creature inside.
"What is that?" The slayer asked disgustedly.
"A goa'uld queen." Jacob answered her.
"This is what we're really fighting? Why is it all swollen like that?" then it occurred to her. "Wait. Is---. Is she pregnant?"