Thank you for reviewing!
7/22/06: A/N: This is chapter four, five, and six combined.
Carter stared at her, sure she misheard. "You can… ascend me… what?"
"I can help you," she promised earnestly, "Ascension is-"
"Who are you?" Sam demanded, looking at her. Was Sari an Ancient?
"I am Sari, first daughter of the Anza."
"Anza?" Sam questioned.
The girl hesitated, "I believe you would say leader."
"Where are your people?"
"They are far away," Sari said quietly. "On the other side of this world."
"How come you're over here?"
"The chappa'ai was activated. I was sent to see who it was." Sari was quiet. "We have not had visitors in many years."
"How'd you get here so fast?"
Sari hesitated. "Not now- sleep. I will talk later."
Å
"Unscheduled off-world activation!"
The General looked over the technicians shoulder at the screen, both hoping an I.D.C would come through… and that, even though it was impossible, it'd be Sam's.
Something hit the iris… and again, and again…
"Sir, we still don't have a code!"
Jack nodded, staring at the Stargate. Daniel and Teal'c hurried in.
"Who is it?" the archeologist demanded.
"It's SG-6," Walter cried as a code finally appeared on the screen.
"Open it," Jack ordered, "And shut the blast doors!" he added as staff blasts began filling the room. A few moments later, the gate deactivated. SG-6 was miraculously unscathed; Jack sent them to the infirmary and looked around ruefully.
"That's the third paint job in a mon-"
"Unscheduled off-world activation!"
Jack looked up, "Who's knockin'?"
"It's the Tok'ra, sir."
"Open it," Jack said almost reluctantly. The Tok'ra seemed to be nothin' but trouble.
The iris opened and two figures stepped through.
"The Tok'ra High Council is reconsidering your request," was the first thing Jacob said as he stepped through.
"Why?" Jack asked suspiciously
Jacob gave him a pained look. "Can't we ever do anything without having an ulterior moment? My daughter is on that planet."
Jack raised an eyebrow as he gestured to Freya. Jacob sighed.
"Okay… that and it appears Niyana has valuable technology."
"Niyana?" Daniel asked curiously.
"The planet on which Colonel Carter is stranded on," Freya said, stepping off of the ramp.
"Freya," Jack greeted, "it's… been a long time."
Freya inclined her head. "It is nice to see you again, General O'Neill." she extended her hand.
He suddenly thought of how she had greeted him when they thought he was a zay'tarc. "Uh… yeah…" he dropped her hand. "So, you're gonna let us borrow a ship?"
Selmac took over. "A operative of ours is near the vicinity."
"Near?"
"Five hundred light years or so."
"That's almost a month," Daniel said glumly.
"Yes."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Jack asked crossing his arms.
"Selmac stood up for me- reminded them of all you guys have done for them. Plus, as I've said, Niyana is said to possess technology that could defeat the Goa'uld."
"The Goa'uld would have been there long ago if a race possessed such technology," Teal'c said slowly.
"The Tok'ra aren't sure why the Goa'uld haven't been there yet," Anise replied, "but we've decided we should try and acquire this technology. Our operative has orders to fly the ship to the planet, to try and locate Colonel Carter… and any weapons that they may find."
"I'd like to go," Daniel said, looking at Jack.
"As would I."
Jack shook his head. "Kids, I need you here."
Daniel began to protest, "Jack, I-"
"No but's. Teal'c, you have that rebel Jaffa thing, and Daniel, aren't you suppose to meet with that Nake guy?"
"Namka," Daniel automatically corrected, "And anyone can take my place!"
Jack shook his head. "I can't let you go, I'm sorry."
Å
Carter swallowed the last bit of water and felt her pain dull. Whatever the young woman was putting in her water, definitely helped manage the pain. Setting the cup down, she looked around for Sari but didn't see her. "Sari?" she called. "Are you here?"
"I am here, Samantha." Sari entered the room. "How may I be of service?"
Sam studied her. She seemed uneasy. "Is something the matter?"
Sari bit her lip. "I… I… I was not going to tell you this, but my brother persuaded me that you should know."
"Know what?" Carter inquired.
"You could, possibly, be healed another way."
"How?"
When she first learned she was to die, she hadn't felt anything. Now… hope filled her. She could live… and maybe, somehow, she could find her way home. "How?"
Sari looked down. "We do not know. Exactly."
"What does that mean?"
"The former occupants of this world left behind a temple, filled with many wondrous devices… one even said to bring the dead back to life."
"What's the problem then?" Sam asked, "bring me to this temple."
"We can not."
Carter groaned, "Why not?"
"It is lost to us," she reluctantly said.
"Of course it is," muttered Carter.
"Legend says that one must complete many tests," Sari informed her, "if we even found the temple… my people are not advanced enough to complete them."
"Tests?" Bewildered, she pulled herself into a sitting position, "what kind of tests?"
"I do not know."
"Could I try?"
"But, as I've said, we are unaware of the Maga's precise location."
"Maga?" she questioned, "what-what is that?"
"The Temple of Trion," Sari explained, "Maga means Temple. The testing place."
"How'd you guys find it before?" Sam asked.
"It was centuries ago, Samantha. My father's father was not born… and he is old indeed."
Sam thought a moment; her face brightened. "Do you still have my stuff?"
Sari looked startled for a moment. "Yes, why?"
"Can you bring me my bag?"
"Of course, but-"
"Inside, there is a device I use to discover a certain mineral in the dirt. It's called Naquadah and it's used in many technologies-"
"And if it still works, you can use it to find the Maga," Sari finished for her.
"Right!" She paused for a second. "This is assuming they used Naquadah."
The girl shook her head. "Don't think negatively," she said reprovingly.
"Do you have a general idea where this temple is suppose to be?"
"There is a general area…" she swallowed hard. "It is big, Samantha."
"How big?" Carter asked, "as big as the forest surrounding the Stargate?"
"No, Samantha," Sari stopped and then continued gently, "It is as large as a hundred of those."
Å
"Daniel," Jack began cautiously, standing in the doorway of the archeologists lab. "Daniel?"
"Yes?" Daniel asked wearily, lifting up his head off of the tablet on which it rested.
"I'm sorry, I would let you go, but the President and the Joint Chiefs don't agree-"
"I understand, Jack," he interrupted. "Thank you for trying."
Jack eased into his lab slowly, "Daniel, is something going on between you and Sam?" he asked abruptly, not able to meet his friend's eyes.
Daniel's head shot up. "WHAT? Sam and me? Are you crazy? She's like my sister!"
"Dan-"
"Jack! I can't believe you would have thought that! I mean everyone knows-" he stopped and looked at the tablet; he wiped off a bit of drool and studied it more intently.
"What?" Jack asked curiously.
"Nothing," Daniel muttered, "it'd be pointless to say."
The two glared at each other for a moment before Jack asked him, "What about Pete? Shouldn't we contact him?'
Daniel stared at him "Pete Shanahan?"
"That's the one."
Daniel gave him an incredulous glance. "Jack... you do know they broke up over two months ago...right?"
"What?" Jack yelled loud enough to attract the attention of two SF's. He dismissed them curtly and continued, "Why didn't she tell me?" he asked more calmly.
Daniel scoffed. "Like what? "Sir, I broke up with Pete. Just thought you should know." "
"YES!"
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Jack, you are an idiot. Sam loved- loves you and you acted like it was a good thing for her to go out with Pete. You practically forced her to accept him-"
"Did not," he protested, stung by the unfairness.
"Did too."
"Did not."
"You did, Jack. She tried to tell you so many times that she had feelings for you… and you just continually stopped her. She finally gave up on you and went with Pete, hoping she'd finally have the normal lifestyle she wanted. "
Jack buried his head into his hands. "What am I going to do?" he whispered.
Daniel hesitated before saying quietly, "Marry her."
Jack's head shot up. "Daniel," he began warningly, "I-"
"General O'Neill," Siler interrupted, sticking his head in, "The Tok'ra want to return home."
Jack nodded and wordlessly left the lab.
ÅSam laid back, stunned by the news. "That big, huh?"
"I will go now to get my people to help- I will return shortly."
Her brow wrinkled. "Sari… how can you get to your people if they live on the other side of the planet?"
"We have our ways…" Sari suddenly smiled, "I promise- I will show you once you've recovered."
Sam nodded and watched the girl leave. "Good bye," she called after her. She dozed off and was startled when what seemed like seconds later, she opened her eyes and found nearly two dozen people in her room.
"Samantha, these are some of my people," Sari said proudly.
"Hi," she said softly.
They smiled and whispered among themselves. One of them stepped forward. "I'm Ten'ak," he said giving her a slight bow. "We will search for the Maga Tiron until we find it… I promise you, Colonel Carter."
She gave him a weak smile. "Thank you… and please, call me Sam."
He blushed. "We leave now… and we will not return until we find it."
Å
On Earth…Jack found Teal'c and Daniel in the commissary eating blue jello. "Thought you hated that stuff, Teal'c," Jack commented, dropping his tray next to him and eying the circle of blue jello goblets.
Teal'c turned to him. "We are honoring Major Carter's memory," he said evenly.
Jack studied him for a moment the shrugged. "I'll buy that." He pulled one of the goblets towards him and began eating.
An hour later…Jack glanced around the nearly empty commissary. Daniel had been there for an hour now, eating blue jello. That man was going to feel so sick tomorrow. "Want a beer?" he offered for the seventh time
Daniel looked down at his empty jello bowl then back at him. He shrugged. "Why not?"
Hope you liked it- please review!