There probably isn't any demand for a Jacob story without SG-1. But I don't really care -(laughs). I was curious how his first mission went and figured that maybe someone else would be too. Also, those of us at the Sam/Daniel Rebellion are getting together a little gift basket for Carmen Argenziano, to thank him for doing such a good job bringing Jacob to life, and to thank him for making comments favorable to a Sam/Daniel pairing. But noromos don't worry-no ship of any variety in this story. : )

Italics represent the internal dialogue between Jacob and Selmak. Notes at end.

Jacob knew that he was dreaming. He stood alone on a barren landscape, smoke rising from the bodies of those mowed down by staff weapons. His intelligence about Ra's plan had come too late, and he knew he would find no survivors. He closed his eyes against the sight, and when he opened them again he was awake and on a narrow cot.

He blinked as he took in the luminescent blue walls and ceiling, and his own earth-toned clothing. The last few days he had been disoriented in his first waking moments; his limbs not aching, his breathing unobstructed, and the thoughts of another alongside his own. This was not the first time one of Selmak's dreams had bled into his own. He could see why host and symbiote rarely slept at the same time—it was just too confusing. But so far he'd been unable to fall asleep when his body was still moving and interacting with others. Selmak had promised the ability would come with time.

Jacob tied on his boots and got up, stretching and reveling in the absence of arthritis. Selmak was lightly dozing—Jacob didn't know how he knew that, but he did. He wandered into the nearest common room and got himself something to eat. He paused when saw several grupna fruit, which he hated but which Selmak loved. In the end he took two but he definitely wasn't going to start making a habit of it. He smiled at Selmak's pleased murmur when the smell woke her up.

It was strange, he thought, how readily he'd become accustomed to sharing his body.

Strange is relative, child.

Eat your grupna, Jacob ordered her.

Just my luck to get a military man, set on ordering me around, she grumbled, but her tone was fond. Jacob sent a smile back to her.

He wasn't sure how the communication between them worked exactly, though he knew that Selmak had access to every part of his brain, including where the brain interpreted sounds. In the hands of another Tok'ra—and certainly the Goa'uld he'd been learning about—such power would be terrifying, but he knew Selmak more completely than he had ever known anyone, even his wife. He knew Selmak well enough to trust her unconditionally, a fact that was still surprising after being a cynic for so long.

In the first day or so after the blending, Jacob had been reluctant to relinquish control to his companion, and Selmak had been amazingly patient with him. Looking back that short time, Jacob cringed remembering how defensive and paranoid he'd been.

Yes, you were. But that's understandable. Usually we have the time to let new hosts grow accustomed to us.

Instead, in the frenzy of moving to the new base, Selmak had given Jacob constant instructions on what to say; what to do and how to do it, never coming forward. In fact, the other Tok'ra had begun to fear she was somehow injured or being suppressed, and she was forced to ask for Jacob's permission to come forward and reassure them. Idiots, she commented suddenly, breaking into his thoughts. If I was hurt, how did I heal you? How did you learn the names of the council? Hmm?

Just then, another Tok'ra entered the room, a pudgy woman with cheeks round from smiling. "Selmak, Jacob, high suns," she said.

"Ngagnon, Yima," Jacob returned. Yima, the host, rarely spoke, preferring to let her symbiote speak for her. Jacob couldn't understand that mentality and didn't think he'd ever adopt it, but knew that many hosts agreed with Yima. "High suns," was the traditional greeting on Yima's home planet, which had a whopping four suns (Yima's people lived on a chain of islands near the planet's northern pole). Ngagnon had adopted the saying a few days after her blending.

"Did you sleep well?" Ngagnon asked.

"Except for Selmak's dreams, yes."

And your snoring. Jacob quickly coughed to hide his laugh, but he doubted Ngagnon was fooled.

Meals were usually quiet, at least on the outside, because host and symbiote often conversed. Today Selmak asked several questions about his military career, fascinated by what she saw as extremely low technology. It occurred to Jacob at one point that he was freely sharing heavily classified information, but in truth he didn't really worry about it, not when Selmak had so much classified knowledge of her own that she shared readily.

Eventually Ngagnon said as though she'd just remembered, "Selmak? The council wants to see you."

Jacob wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. He knew through Selmak that they couldn't afford to be idle for long, and he partly felt like some activity would finally make this whole experience seem more real.

On the other hand, the thought of doing what amounted to field work again was pretty daunting, even if he did feel better than he had in years. After all, a week ago he had been retired and on his deathbed. Jacob also had to be honest with himself—Selmak wouldn't let him be otherwise—he was afraid. In Selmak's nightmares he had seen what the Goa'uld were capable of. Certainly people on Earth could delight in cruelty, but they didn't have the technology the Goa'uld did. Just the thought of certain people he'd seen in the course of his career with the control of a sarcophagus made him tremble. He was glad of Selmak's quiet support and knew she would be the one in charge for most of the mission.

But for now, in the quiet Tok'ra tunnel, Jacob silently asked for control during the meeting, surprised by how relieved he was when Selmak agreed without hesitation. In his head he knew he could trust her, but it seemed his gut instinct would need a little more time.

When he entered the Council Chamber Jacob nodded to all the Tok'ra present but said only, "Garshaw."

She smiled at him but he knew she'd rather be speaking to Selmak. "Selmak. We are pleased to have you among us once again."

Following Selmak's directions, Jacob sat near the head of the table. The "Glad to be here," was his own. Martouf/Lantash smiled a little at that, but no one else did.

Without further preamble Garshaw said, "A few hours ago we received a distress call from Yayook, the operative you placed on Halkidiki."

It was no effort to think, "Halkidiki. Base planet of Hermes, vassal-lord to Chronus."

Garshaw continued, "The distress call followed all proper channels and asked for direction. It is the recommendation of the rest of the council that you go to assess the situation, render assistance, and if necessary, extract Yayook. Despite your recent blending, you are a logical choice through your intimate knowledge of Yayook's infiltration and your host's unknown face. Do you accept?"

The last question was largely a formality, but Selmak asked him, "What do we do, Jacob? Are you ready for a mission?" knowing the answer already.

"We accept," Jacob said.