33

Second Childhood

"You want us to put the entire planet in jeopardy to give asylum to a Goa'uld?"

Hammond sighed. He had known it wasn't going to be easy, but somehow, he was going to make this happen. "I realize that it is a totally unprecedented request, sir, but it goes against my grain to relegate someone who has done us no harm to a lifetime, in fact, several lifetimes, of slavery and torture. Evree asked for our protection, and she hasn't done anything to betray our trust."

"Yet." The man in the expensively tailored suit had introduced himself to Hammond only as Curtis. No indication if it was his first or last name, and no mention of what, if any, military rank he held. But he knew too much about what was going on not to be official. "The subject hasn't even been in your care a full twenty-four hours, General. And while I've never met a Goa'uld personally, I've read all the reports. More than once."

"Well, I've read the reports, written a lot of them, and met Goa'uld," Hammond replied. "And, I've met Evree. Even if she proves unable to give us any tactically useful information, the opportunity to study her could increase our understanding of the Goa'uld by an order of magnitude." The general realized that was probably a gross exaggeration, but in this instance, he was prepared to lay it on with a trowel.

Curtis picked up Hammond's written recommendation. "The final decision isn't mine, General, but I have to tell you that your vehemence notwithstanding, I am going to advise against it." He shook his head. "Risk the fate of the entire planet? For a Goa'uld?"

"We're in the process of assessing whether or not Ahriman can back up his threat," Hammond informed him. "Once we have an answer, we'll take steps to see that he is neutralized, preferably on a permanent basis."

"I wish I could show your optimism, General Hammond," Curtis replied. "And, in the interests of fairness, that information will go in my report." He paused a moment. "Well, just one thing left before I go. I'd like to meet with the subject of the inquiry."

"The subject's name is Evree," Hammond corrected him. "And she's not currently available." Hammond thought it the better part of discretion not to tell Curtis that Evree wasn't on the base.

"She's a prisoner," Curtis stated. "So how can she not be available?"

"She sought asylum," Hammond said firmly. "So, I believe that means that she is in protective custody."

Curtis caught on to what Hammond was trying not to tell him. "Am I to understand that there's a Goa'uld out roaming the streets to menace the public?"

&&&&&&

O'Neill watched as Evree swung past him, silky waves of hair trailing behind her. For someone who had never had a childhood, Evree was entranced by the playground, and most especially the swings.

"Evree." Daniel was finding it difficult to carry on a conversation with someone who was continually changing their distance from him, and had to raise his voice just to make sure that she heard him when she was on the backswing. "You said that Ahriman didn't allow you regular use of the sarcophagus."

"That's correct," Evree agreed. "This is wonderful. This must be what it feels like to fly."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right," Daniel conceded, trying to conceal his impatience. "How long was it after you stopped using the sarcophagus that you started feeling empathy with your host?"

Evree's brow wrinkled in thought, but it didn't stop her from continuing to swing. "It was a long time ago," she said apologetically. "I really don't recall for certain. I am sorry if that doesn't help you Daniel. But could you explain the significance to me?"

Daniel glanced at O'Neill, who shrugged and nodded. "I was once in a situation where I used a sarcophagus on a regular basis," he explained. "And it wasn't long before there came to be a marked change in my personality."

"Really?" Evree seemed completely surprised by the revelation. "I had not realized that there were psychological side effects."

"That's because all Goa'uld use them on a regular basis," Daniel answered. "And the behavior you get is the behavior that you expect. If you took someone, say like me, and saw the transformation, there would be no doubt in your mind."

"So you think that part of the reason that I began to feel more connected to Draylea is that my emotions were no longer clouded by the use of a sarcophagus?" Evree suggested.

"Exactly," Daniel replied. "Are you sure you can't give me some kind of estimate on the time elapsed?"

"I am truly sorry, Daniel." Well, there was a marked note of regret in her voice. "But all I can say is that it was not a long time. Less than two months, I think, but more than one."

"I don't suppose that you could narrow it down any from that?" Jackson asked hopefully.

"For crying out loud, Daniel," Jack interrupted. "It happened before your grandparents were born. I think she's doing good remembering that much."

"How does one check the momentum of this device?" Evree demanded, suddenly and urgently.

"Try dragging your feet on the ground," Daniel answered distractedly. Then, the immediacy of her tones reached him. "Is something wrong, Evree?"

"There are two of your lesser warriors are coming this way," Evree informed them, planting her feet too firmly, too suddenly, pitching herself out of the swing. She would have fallen flat on her face if O'Neill hadn't caught her.

"Lesser warriors?" Daniel queried.

"Try enlisted men," Jack supplied. He followed the direction of Evree's gaze. "I can see military personnel headed this way, but I can't tell rank from this distance." He looked at the Goa'uld questioningly.

"They carry themselves differently than you do," Evree elaborated. "They are more.., rigid. Less relaxed."

"I wonder why they've tracked us down," Daniel mused aloud.

"Well, why don't we go ask?" Jack suggested. He looked at Evree. "I think we've probably had enough fun today anyway."

&&&&&&

"We have covered the entire planet with a tight grid, twice," Teal'c said unnecessarily. "If Ahriman had a weapon there capable of destroying the Earth, we would have discovered it."

"Which suggests that either he's bluffing..," Sam murmured.

"Or, he's got the weapon on another planet or a ship," Jacob finished for her. "Did we find anything that was actually useful, or was this whole trip a complete waste of time?"

"It has served to confirm more of Evree's story," Teal'c responded. "Such as the fact that the planet is indeed possessed of a small supply of naquadah."

"But, as she said, not enough for anyone to want to start a war over," Sam added. "Except for the large fortification, which I would assume to be Ahriman's headquarters, the place is fairly sparsely settled and at a low level of technology."

"A typical Goa'uld run planet, in other words," Jacob remarked. "Damn. I was sure that we were going to find something."

"And upon what did you base this surety?" Teal'c inquired.

"I felt it in my bones," Jacob replied.

&&&&&&

The two enlisted men caught sight of O'Neill, halted abruptly and saluted.

Jack returned the gesture lazily. "What can we do for you boys?" he asked. "And try to keep it brief."

"We have orders from General Hammond to bring the three of you back to SGC," one of them replied.

"Well, that was brief," Daniel conceded. "But it doesn't explain why he wants us back so badly that he'd send an armed guard after us."

"Okay," Jack grumbled. "Give us the long version."

"All I know, sir, is that some government official came to speak with the general and that he nearly burst a blood vessel when he found out that she..," He glanced pointedly at Evree. "Wasn't on base."

O'Neill tossed a set of keys to Daniel. "Why don't you drive my car back?" he suggested. "Evree and I will allow ourselves to be chauffeured." Before Daniel could question the way that Jack had divided them, he explained. "I promised the general that I wouldn't let Evree out of my sight."

As they walked towards the car with the enlisted men following close behind, Evree said, "I hope that our outing will not cause trouble for you, O'Neill."

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Just some government suit with a burr up his ass," he said off-handedly. "There was absolutely no reason why you had to be kept locked up. You're not even a prisoner. At least, not exactly."

"Although I would gladly be rather than return to Ahriman," Evree responded fervently. "I do not wish to be the source of difficulties for you, O'Neill."

"If it wasn't you, it would be something else," Jack replied wearily. "They do say that no good deed goes unpunished."

Evree was still puzzling over that one as Jack handed her into the waiting vehicle.

&&&&&&&

Curtis paced around Evree like she was a zoo exhibit, taking in every detail. He did not speak to her, but carried on his inspection in silence.

Hammond and O'Neill stood nearby, not liking it, but not willing to make waves just yet. But it was an option that they were holding in reserve.

While Curtis was checking out Evree, she was returning the favor. This one, she decided was a predator. She was well familiar with the species. He was more given to stalking his prey than with open confrontations. That was the difference between such as he and a warrior such as.., such as O'Neill, for instance. She was profoundly unimpressed. She gave Curtis an ingenuous look, radiating an air of helplessness.

Curtis was impressed in spite of himself. He had just recently been promoted to his current position, and it was his first encounter with an alien. At first, she had seemed to be no more than a human woman, small, fragile and attractive. But when he noticed her studying him as intently as he was studying her, he began to revise his initial impression. But when he saw the little girl lost look on her face, it threw him for a loop. But only for a moment.

"You're good," he remarked grudgingly. "If I didn't know better, I might be suckered in by the sweetness and innocence routine there."

"I was merely trying to meet your expectations of me," Evree replied. "Do you not expect all Goa'uld to be duplicitous?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Curtis answered, not sure which direction the conversation was headed.

"Good," Evree said. "Goa'uld are duplicitous creatures. And I realize that I have no way to prove that I am not trying to deceive you. That you remain suspicious is indicative of the character of a natural born survivor. I have noted the Col. O'Neill has that in common with you."

"Hey, I don't have anything in common with him," Jack protested. On one hand it was true that he remained suspicious of Evree, but he didn't like being compared to the red tapeworm that was threatening to gum up the works. On one level, O'Neill knew that there had to be a chain of command and that with something like the Stargate project, the only possible entity to be at the top of that chain was the government. On the other hand, he wished they would just leave Stargate Command alone to do their job without any bureaucratic meddling.

"My apologies, O'Neill," Evree said quietly.

"I notice that you don't apologize to me," Curtis pointed out quickly, pouncing on it like a cat on a mouse.

"You were not offended," Evree responded. "Nor am I sure that I would care if you were. But I have to interact with Col. O'Neill on a regular basis, and I would like to be on the best of possible terms with him."

"Eye open to the main chance, huh?" If it weren't for the voice and the glowing eyes, Curtis would still swear that she was human. A smart, sharp-tongued bitch in the body of a china-doll, but human.

"I am a Goa'uld," Evree stated simply. "If I were not, you would not be here, would you?"

"Game, set and match," O'Neill remarked. "I think that one went to Evree."

&&&&&&

"Any suggestions?" Sam inquired. "I really hate to go back empty handed like this."

"But we have gathered information," Teal'c put in. "What irritates that it is not the information we were looking for. We don't know if Ahriman has a weapon with which he can carry out his threat. But if he does, the one thing we do know, is that it is not on this planet."

"I'd prefer something a little more concrete myself," Jacob grumbled. "It may be a long shot, but since we're in the neighborhood, do you want to check out the moons?"

"We might as well," Sam agreed. "It might be just a teensy bit embarrassing to find out that what we were looking for was so close and we didn't bother to take the time to check it out."

"If the weapon is not on the planet," Teal'c commented. "Then I very much doubt that it is on one of the moons." When the Carters looked at him askance, he qualified his remark. "But it would be very embarrassing if it were and we did not complete our surveillance."

&&&&&&

"That man is going to make you send me back, isn't he?" Evree didn't direct the question to either of the two men in particular, she just tossed it up in the air to see who would catch it.

"Whatever happens, Evree," Hammond stated. "We won't send you back to Ahriman. If worse comes to worst, we'll send you to a planet where you can survive and where Ahriman won't be able to find you."

The Goa'uld looked startled. "Would you be allowed to do so, General Hammond?" she queried. "If my request for asylum is denied, won't you be directed to send me back from whence I came?"

"We won't send you back there, Evree," Hammond said firmly. "Maybe we could get the Tok'ra to take you in."

"And maybe pigs will fly," Jack grumbled. "Come on, sir. Dealing with the Tok'ra is almost as bad as dealing with that Curtis guy."

Evree was still thinking about things while the exchange between O'Neill and Hammond went on, and she saw a flaw in General Hammond's back-up plan. "General," she began. "If you send me to another planet, I am sure that Ahriman will make good his threat to destroy your world." She considered further. "Knowing Ahriman, I would be very much surprised if he weren't planning to destroy you even if you were to turn me over to him."

"Believe it or not, Evree," Hammond said quietly. "I had considered that. You see, I do know a thing or two about Goa'uld myself. And it seems to me that a lot of them delight in destruction simply for destruction's sake."

"You are a wise man, General Hammond." Evree's tones were of unembellished admiration. "But if, as you say, worse comes to worst, I will not flee and leave you behind. Draylea and I will die with you."

"Very touching, if useless," Jack remarked. "But I hope you know that we're not planning on dying just yet."