"Ailana, I think it best we go to the humans and to Aeolius to attempt to make Jack and Sam understand what has happened."
"oh Aidan! I never meant… what if they never trust us?" Ailana was still crying.
"They have to.. I believe that whatever Aeolius has planned for us, requires the trust of these two humans. And if his task is not carried out, we could be like this forever, which is something I believe they would not want."
OOOO
General Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c proceeded towards the room in which Aidan and Ailana were residing in. The debriefing was short but it was thought best to get some rest before talking with the man behind everything involved even though the doctor believed he did not have much time left. Hammond and the unaffected members of SG-1 had been going non stop since this business had begun.
As they entered the room they saw Ailana in tears hugging Aidan. Daniel noted that Hammond stiffened as he realized that the position that Jack and Sam were in would be considered fraternizing.
" Is everything all right? Asked Daniel, as the two separated from the embrace.
" Your friend Jack O'Neill has awakened for a moment and was angered to the point that he fell unconscious again. We did not mean to do harm." Aidan felt it best to keep the true reason as to why Jack had been angered a secret between the for of them. 'Ailana, speak nothing of our joining to their friends. It is probably best that they work this out themselves for the moment.'
' I agree. For a man to have that much anger…'
" O'Neill probably believed that he had become a host to a Go'auld." said Teal'c.
" Yes, he did not allow myself to explain much. That is why it is imperative that we see Aeolius. They are awakening soon and he could explain everything."
" He also may know how to separate our consciousness from your friends minds." added Ailana. " Aeolius is a dedicated scientist. He shall know what to do." She looked back to Aidan and took his hand.
" After our debriefing we have also come to the same conclusion that your friend is the key to this mystery." Said Teal'c. " But we believe he is slowly dying."
Aidan looked alarmed at this. " Take us to him, we may be able to help!"
Hammond, still confused about this whole mess, simply nodded.
O O O O
Doctor Fraiser stood next to the bed of the elderly alien man. His wings had retracted in one his brief moments of consciousness. She also knew that he was the man responsible for the sudden changes in her friends. Janet was about to check the vitals of the man when suddenly he grabbed her hand.
" Where..am I?" he asked weakly.
"Sir, you're in the infirmary. We sent teams to recover our missing members and found you unconscious. We brought you back through the stargate…" Janet was cut off by the entrance of SG-1 and the General.
"Doctor, is he awake?"
"Yes he just recently awoke." Jante looked at Sam who was clinging to Jack, which reminded her that the people in front of her were not her friends. She stepped aside and looked to Aeolius who was smiling.
"Aidan, Ailana, my friends…" Aidan immediately went to his side and placed his hands on Aeolius chest. Everyone was startled to see that the hands of Jack O'Neill were glowing slightly.
"What are you doing?" Daniel asked.
"Aidan is attempting to help Aeolius. We are able to manipulate our energy for healing and such." explained Ailana.
Aidan stopped, and frowned. Then there was a brief moment of silence, which Daniel took to mean that they were communicating telepathically. He was still unnerved that aliens were using his friends as hosts, much like the Go'auld but was interested in learning about the culture.
Ailana then suddenly had tears in her eyes and Aidan wrapped his arm around her for comfort. Aidan turned and said, " He is indeed dying. He has used up all his own energy and can no longer be placed in stasis."
"I agree sir," piped in Janet, " From what I can tell, Aeolius is dying of old age. If we are to learn anything, we should hurry."
Hammond nodded and addressed Aeolius. " I need to know what you've done to my people. Is it reversible?"
Aeolius looked up and took a deep breath. He glanced at Aidan and Ailana and then turned his attention back to Hammond.
"You have no need to fear, it is not permanent. I had no choice really. You were the first visitors that ever came to our world since the destruction of our people so I took the chance. They need to finish something that I never had the courage or strength to do…" He sagged slightly, already exhausted but continued.
" Your friends were changed to make Aidan's and Ailana's transition more comfortable. These changes however will be permanent unless you have the technology to change it yourself as I do not believe I will be able to reverse it in the future. But moreimportantly, I need to know what you remember before waking up in Jack's body Aidan."
Aidan pondered for a moment, which Daniel found amusing to see such a serious look on Jack's face, and said, " Only that the aliens from the attack on the Ritesof the Naming, came back and attacked us. We were dying when you came and took us to your lab."
"Then you have no memory…"
" Of what Aeolius? What job demanded you to survive for so long? To do this?" cried Ailana.
"Our friend," he spat the words with disdain, " Airon betrayed us. He became a host willingly to an alien known as Remus."
At the mention of that name, Teal'c eyes widened with surprise. " Remus is a powerful Go'auld, feared by many as it is rumoured that he has great power. Most of the System Lords believe him to be insane."
Hammond turned his head sharply and exclaimed "insane? As in worse?" Teal'c nodded and allowed Aeolius to continue but Aidan was stirring in anger.
"How could he do this? He was our closest friend. Why?" Ailana clasped his arm and thought to him ' Aidan, Aeolius is weak. Let him continue.'
" Only your abililities can stop him. You must seek him out and kill him."
"Aeolius! War is not our way!" exclaimed Ailana.
"You must! Remus is not the one in control. I knew of this when I saw him after the blending. He controls the parasite. He has been quiet for some time but soon he'll attack innocent people."
Hammond turned to Teal'c. " Is this true?"
" Indeed, Remus has been known to suddenly go out and attack for no reason. Once he attacks and defeats the people, he simply destroys the planet and leaves. Nobody understood the reasoning behind doing such a thing but perhaps, if the Go'auld is not in control, the host is simply mad."
Aeolius continued. " Use the experiences of the people you inhabit. Once they awaken fully, your memories will be theirs and vice versa. Their experiences as warriors will aid you on your quest. Once you were called the Chosen Ones to save our people, now you are avengers to find peace for our people."
Aidan thought for a moment and addressed him. " I will do this for you, my friend. Already Jack has awakened briefly. I can see he is a seasoned fighter with much darkness. But I will only do it if Jack agrees." Ailana nodded, " I will do it for our people and to help Airon. Maybe we can help him. But only if sam agrees."
"How long do we have Aeolius?"
" Two weeks. Then afterwards, you will join us in the Great Beyond…" Aeolius grimaced in pain and then sagged on the bed. Janet quickly went to his side, checking his vitals.
" He is in a coma. It won't be much time."
Aidan nodded. He looked at Ailana and then both had a startled look on their face.
"What's wrong?" asked Daniel.
"Your friends are awake and shouting insults and threatening us. I believe it best to let them speak."
Then after a moment,
"Sir, I believe we're comprom…." Sam's rational statement was cut off by one cranky Colonel shouting,
"What the hell is going on here?"
TBC
A/N: Sorry for the really long delay. The dig I went on was for two months and then my internet was gone for awhile. I started writing it out by hand so when I got back up I could type it. Enjoy, I personally think this is the weakest chapter but it basically sets up the story. Jack and Sam romance will come later!