TWO: THE GOA'ULD
(Before the release of Cronos, Season Eight.)
Ba'al could not believe his luck, really. Not only had he inherited – well, stolen, to be correct- the vast majority of Anubis' forces, but he'd also found himself with a Tau'ri prisoner. And not just any Tau'ri, but a member of the SGC, one who was rumoured to have given medical aid to Apophis, and who had held Nirtti at gunpoint. Not that either of the system lords had readily admitted to either of these events, but the gossip that ran through the Goa'uld was generally correct when it came to information about the Tau'ri.
The only problem was, at hard as Ba'al had tried to get information out of the woman, he was convinced that she knew nothing of value. She knew no iris code, or any of the system overrides. She knew no strategic information, and nothing about how the Tau'ri had overpowered and defeated Anubis. As a source of information, she was basically worthless. The only reason she was even alive was for his entertainment.
Of course, now that he knew the Tau'ri had something he wanted, he was more than willing to offer a trade. Using the Asgard technology that Anubis had stolen from Thor's mind, Ba'al was able to transmit a hologram to appear in front of the iris at the SGC.
General Jack O'Neill, Lieutenant Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, surrounded by a security team, stood in front of the hologram, staring up at the Goa'uld in distaste.
"I wish to negotiate a trade, O'Neill," Ba'al boasted.
"And I wish to negotiate you gruesome horrible death, but y'know…we can't have everything we want," O'Neill replied.
Carter shifted uneasily, knowing that the new General of the SGC was less than diplomatic whenever they dealt with Ba'al. Then again, seeing as how he'd been tortured by Ba'al, there was good reason, but still, Carter was not entirely comfortable with the situation.
Ba'al smirked, his expression as confident and arrogant as ever.
"You give me the damaged Ancient power source you have in your possession, and I shall release my prisoner to you," Ba'al said, not even bothering to rise to O'Neill's baiting of him.
"Why would we care about any of your prisoners?" O'Neill asked.
"She is one of your soldiers," Ba'al replied. "And your first rule of business is well known throughout the Goa'uld. 'Never leave a man behind'. Unless of course that negates your women-folk."
Carter bristled at the term women-folk, but turned and went up to the control room, opening up the personnel files and running a search on the names of soldiers who had been listed as MIA. Only two names of female personnel came to the screen and Sam felt her heart jump. She stood and went back to the Gate room, whispering the two names into O'Neill's ear. She watched as he flinched in reaction, his eyes narrowing.
"Prove it," O'Neill demanded. "Prove that you have any of our soldiers."
They watched the hologram as Ba'al reached into his cloak, pulling out familiar dogtags.
"Fraiser, Janet. Major. USAF. 11-921-2325-349. A beautiful woman, which my Jaffa can attest to," Ba'al informed them.
Daniel and Sam both flinched at the implication, while Teal'c and O'Neill remained still.
"Now, do we have a deal?" Ba'al asked.
O'Neill wondered for the hundredth time why on earth anyone in the Pentagon thought he was cut out for this position of command.
"Deal."
------------------------
"Anyone else feel like we're walking into a trap?" Daniel asked quietly.
No one answered him, but the uncomfortable glances between O'Neill and Sam said it all.
"Don't worry about it Danny," O'Neill reassured him. "SG's 5 and 6 have got our backs."
So far, the terms of trade had been met by the Goa'uld. The designated meeting place was a neutral and open location, where it would be impossible to hide extra forces. O'Neill and Ba'al had agreed to meet with no more than twelve people total, thirteen with Janet. The addendum had happened when Daniel quickly realised that Ba'al would use the opportunity to renege on his agreement as soon as Janet was back in their care. They would have thirteen members of SGC personnel when Janet was returned to them, so the thirteenth member was added to the terms of trade.
By the stunned look on Ba'al's face when that addendum had been brought up, O'Neill had never been more grateful for Daniel's experience in wordplays and negotiations.
Both sides were armed to the teeth, ready for anything. There was no trust between the groups, and O'Neill was ready to kill Ba'al just on principle.
"So?" O'Neill said, in lieu of a proper greeting.
"So eagre," Ba'al taunted. "No time for pleasantries I see."
"Where's the Doc?" O'Neill asked impatiently.
Ba'al stepped to the side, allowing two Jaffa to step forward, dragging a half-conscious prisoner between them.
SG's 5, 6 and 1 straightened, unable to believe the sight in front of them. Even though they'd been told that Ba'al had Doctor Fraiser as his prisoner, they hadn't been holding out much hope. To see her alive, even in the beaten and bloody condition she was in was something of a miracle.
"Are you ready to go home, 'Doc'?" Ba'al asked, bringing his palm up to stroke Janet's cheek, the cool metal of the hand device making her flinch in remembered agony.
O'Neill put a calming hand on Sam's arm when the Colonel had moved to step forward. She shot a glance at him and barely managed to relax when she saw O'Neill shake his head. Now was not the time to play hero, not when they were so close to getting their CMO back.
Major Paul Wagner, the 2IC of SG-5 stepped forward, the case containing the Ancient power device, or the ZPM as it was commonly referred to at the SGC, in front of him. He looked to O'Neill who nodded his permission, and Wagner moved to stand in the middle of the two groups. Wagner was unarmed, and nervous as hell. He'd volunteered for this though, and he had no intention of backing out now.
Wagner opened the case, allowing the Goa'uld to see the ZPM that rested in the cushioned case. At Ba'al's nod, Wagner closed the case and put it on the ground.
The two Jaffa holding Janet began moving forward, and Major Wagner tried to keep his breathing steady. Another two minutes and this would all be over. He kept his head high as the two armed Jaffa escorted their prisoner forward. At the last moment, the Jaffa released her, sending her stumbling to the ground. Wagner immediately reached for her, hoisting her into his arms, grimacing at how light the woman was.
He began backing away with Janet in his arms, unable to turn his back on the enemy. When he felt a hand reach out to steady him, he sighed in relief, grateful to be surrounded by his armed team.
The two Jaffa picked up the case and walked away, not even bothering to keep their eyes on their enemy.
"Carter, dial us outta here," O'Neill ordered.
Sam nodded, and moved to the DHD, inputting the co-ordinates and keeping her back turned as she keyed in SG-1's IDC. The gate kawooshed to life, and Major Wagner was the first one through, followed by the rest of SG-5, then SG-6. SG-1 and O'Neill were the last ones through, entering with their backs to the gate, so that the Goa'uld could spring no surprises.
When they were back in the SGC, O'Neill ordered for the iris to be closed, and the gate was shut down.
A medical team was already surrounding their former CMO, a hushed silence in the gate room making the place seem unfamiliar and more than a little eerie.
"Let's get her to the infirmary," O'Neill ordered, taking a moment to consider the irony of the situation. It was usually himself being surrounded by medics, and Fraiser the one giving that same order.
"So," Daniel began, a playful smile on his face, one of the first the team had seen since Janet's death, "who gets to tell Doctor Brightman she's not the CMO anymore?"