(Pagan Twylight, thanks.

Stef, thank you. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Ilaaris, thanks. Yeah, Martouf and Lantash don't have the best time in my stories. I'm surprise no one commented on what I did to Kiron.)

Part 4, Solutions

Lantash, where are you?

I'm here.

As he felt tears threaten, Martouf asked Lantash to take over. Lantash did so quickly, and Martouf's face suddenly turned emotionless. Martouf?

Yes?

Do you want to see if we can see Samantha again? Lantash asked, already knowing the answer.

Yes.

"Jacob, can you contact Samantha?"

Jacob remembered he had promised them both that last time they saw her would not be the last time. "Yes. I've already spoken to Malek about that. For this, he and the rest of the council has agreed to allow her to come. I am going to get her now."

"Thank you, Jacob."

Jacob nodded and left. He hurried through the tunnels, both for Martouf/Lantash's sake and to see his daughter sooner. He wished it hadn't taken this long to convince the council that Samantha knowing an outpost wasn't a threat. Once up on the surface he quickly made his way to the stargate. He dialed in to his planet and used the GDO code for the Tok'ra.

They'll be surprised to hear from us, Selmak thought as they went through the stargate.

They were greeted with guns, which didn't much surprise either Jacob or Selmak. He waited for the usual "stand down!" and despite the circumstances, smiled when he saw Sam come out to the gateroom. "Dad."

Jacob then felt guilty for smiling. He hadn't come with good news. "Sam-"

"Dad, we need to talk."

"Martouf is sick," Jacob said. He knew she might be angry if she hadn't been told right away. He was surprised when she actually smiled to what he said. "Sam, did you hear me?"

"Then he's still alive." She even looked relieved. "Dad-"

"Samantha," called out the voice of Martouf.

Jacob looked up, and was surprised to see what appeared to be Martouf and another Sam. By their appearance he quickly recognized them to be the alt-Goa'ulds he had met almost four months ago.

Sam nodded and then stepped back from her father. "Dad, they need to scan you."

"What?"

"We need to make sure you are who you claim to be," alt-Selmak said. "You will understand soon."

What is going on? Jacob thought.

I don't know, Selmak thought. Just let them scan us and be done with it.

Jacob nodded lightly and approached alt-Selmak, who started scanning him.

Sam watched, and she felt worried. If this wasn't her father then what had become of her father? She began to feel more worried when the scan was taking longer than normal.

Alt-Selmak put the device away into a pocket after she was done. "It is Selmak. However, I am getting a lot of interference."

Sam smiled briefly but needed to explain right away. "Dad, you remember them?"

Jacob looked to them. "Yes. I am a bit surprised to see you two again."

"One of the Tok'ra from their universe, Lantash, got through the mirror."

Jacob looked to his daughter. "Sarcophagus?" He knew alt-Lantash had been killed.

"Yeah, and we believe alternate Lantash is posing as a Tok'ra among you."

Damn, Jacob thought while Selmak's mind went over a few more colorful words.

"He also seems to be working for Bastet in our universe."

To this news, Selmak quickly took over. "Did he take over one of our hosts?"

Alt-Martouf answered, "As far as we know he has only taken over someone new in our universe. However, figuring out who is missing could take years."

Alt-Selmak continued. "Also, the interference I got from scanning you is a certain chemical only on a few certain planets. It's harmless to a person, but it blocks the readings. If your base is one of those planets then I won't be able to go over there and scan everyone."

Selmak frowned. "We just moved planets. I don't think that is a coincidence, and I don't think we'll be able to move every Tok'ra to another planet for a scanning."

"Lantash would probably escape if you tried," alt-Martouf said. "There is another idea, but I don't think you will like it."

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

"You want to what?"

Selmak knew this idea wouldn't be well taken. "The drug won't cause any harm, Malek."

"It directly affects the symbiote."

"We'll only be asleep for an hour at most."

"Leaving us vulnerable," Aldwin said quickly. "If what they say is true, why can we not use the za'tarc detector?"

To this, alt-Selmak answer, "The Tok'ra in our universe have found a way around that."

"Perhaps your za'tarc detector, but ours may be of different design. Even if that is the case, this other, Lantash you say, he cannot know everything about us. A few good questions should work in finding him."

"Unless she has taken over one of your hosts, and now can gain information from that host," alt-Selmak pointed out.

"He," Selmak started, and then glanced to her other self as she corrected, "she may very well just do that if we don't act quickly."

"I don't like that drug," Kela'an said. "I am more concerned for my host than myself. However, I think right now finding out who this other Lantash is pretending to be is more important than how we feel. Malek, you must realize that."

He turned to Kela'an. "The last time encounter I had with these Goa'uld I was shot, kidnapped, drugged, shot again, and kidnapped again. As far as I am concerned they are no different than the Goa'uld in our universe."

Alt-Jolinar took control. "That is offensive."

"That is how I feel."

"And you are acting like a Tok'ra from our universe. Perhaps we should start with you."

His eyes flared. "I will not be insulted by a Goa'uld."

Selmak frowned. This was starting to head no where. "Why don't we use the za'tarc detectors," she held out a hand when she saw the alt-Goa'ulds starting to speak, "but if that doesn't work, then we use the drug."

Aldwin looked to Selmak. "What about Martouf and Lantash? We tell them to trust no one until we figure out who it is? Being that they need medical care, I don't think that would work very well."

"They could go to Earth."

"Can you be sure that whatever is affecting them won't spread to the Tau'ri?"

Selmak frowned. It was probably poison, but she couldn't be sure. "They could go to Kiron with-"

"They can't," alt-Jolinar said.

Selmak turned to him. "Why not?"

"It seems Bastet found the signs on Kiron and got pissed."

All realizing what that meant, everyone either mentally or physically winced.

Selmak felt sad, and wondered how Martouf would take this news. It's a beautiful planet, and Bastet keeps wrecking it. She wondered how bad it was now. Her thoughts were intterupted by the sound of Malek's voice.

"We will use the za'tarc detector, starting with those in this room. Selmak, since we know you actually are who you say you are you will conduct the testing. If that doesn't work we will consider using the drug." He looked to the alt-Goa'ulds. "Everyone will be tested."

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

Sam was leaving what was going to be Martouf's temporary quarters. O'Neill had agreed to allow Martouf/Lantash here until the Tok'ra figured out who was who. She hurried out when she heard the alarm of an unscheduled incoming wormhole. She went into the control room.

The technician, Walter, looked to her. "Receiving the Tok'ra signal."

"Open the iris."

She headed down, and was a little surprised to see Malek come through. "Malek."

He looked tired and a bit dirty. "Samantha, thank you for letting me through."

"Do you have news from the Tok'ra?" He looked worried, and it made her worry about Martouf.

"That is why I came here. I lost contact with them. They have changed planets."

She frowned. "Malek, they moved three days ago. How did you lose contact with them?"

He smiled a bit. "You can contact them then?"

Sam was realizing..."Malek, when did you lose contact with them?"

"Nearly four weeks ago."

To be continued...

Tok'ra Character Key
Amb-Malek's host.
Drack/Kela'an-Tok'ra who went through the mirror to "Universe 4."
Gete-Aldwin's host.
Kilso-Head Healer, symbiote
Jaki-The new cook, symbiote