Summary: SG1 stumbles across an important alliance formed by the Ancients with an unknown race, and must find a way to prevent advanced technology from falling into Goa'uld hands.
Category: Action/Adventure, Angst, Crossovers, Drama, Humor, Series, Smarm, Other
Crossover: other (not listed)
Season: Season 4
Pairing: Team
Rating: 13+
Warnings: adult themes, language, minor language, violence
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.

Author's Notes: This project would simply not be possible without the support and insight of Dena. Despite an obscene course load and projects of her own, she beta edited this behemoth and gave me direction I would've never thought of on my own. A link to her collected works is included under my favorites. If I may suggest a good read, please go there and have a look around. To my new readers…please let me know what you think! It's my first SG fan fic, I'd love some constructive feedback.

-------P3X-454 SG1 Base Camp, Mid-morning Day5------

Sunrise burst across the heavens, tracing delicate gossamer fingers of tangerine, pink and buttercream through an atmosphere that had taken on an impossible shade of baby blue. It reflected and dazzled, bouncing off millions of tiny ice crystals gathered on whispery branches of immense fir trees. The air was chill with an early winter crispness that fogged the breath of three people crouched on the forest floor below.

"This day just keeps getting better and better." Colonel Jack O'Neill groused sarcastically, as he once again flattened himself against the cold, pebble laden ground of their tree carpeted overlook. With a barely audible sigh, he turned to the mahogany complexioned man lying to his right and passed over the pair of micro-binoculars he had just been gazing through. "Do you recognize them?"

Teal'c accepted the offered device, and carefully nestled it against his eyes. Even with his symbiont enhanced vision, he had great difficulty making out any detail of the armor clad figures some two miles away. "They are too distant for me to recognize their armor configuration or brands, O'Neill." he replied back in calm, measured tones then fell silent as he regarded the distant horizon.

"Just keep an eye on them will you, and let me know what you make out." Jack had grown use to his friend's nature, and thought nothing of the burly warrior's prolonged bouts of quietism. Teal'c had been raised as a soldier, practically taught from birth to economize his speech and movements as a matter of self discipline. At first, O'Neill had found it unnerving, but as they learned more about each other he was continually surprised how easily Teal'c could express himself without uttering a single word.

"Colonel," the voice of Major Samantha Carter broke into Jack's thoughts, and he turned to face the attractive blond officer who had taken up position at his left flank "I'm getting some pretty unusual energy readings from that Jaffa party." She frowned at the cell-phone sized meter she was holding in her hands "They're searching for something with a high powered scanner. My readings are off the scale."

"Would that something be us?" A dozen Jaffa never being a good sign, O'Neill's hand instinctively strayed to his sidearm.

"I don't think so, sir, not unless they're looking for the power signature from our naqada reactor, and it's not up and running right now." Carter fiddled with her meter, seemingly oblivious to the approaching troops. "Give me a minute. If I can narrow it down to the specific EM band they're searching, I can give you a better idea of what they're looking for."

"They're still a good hike away, but I'm not taking any chances. I'll give you two. If it's going to take any longer, it's not worth knowing. Got it?" Jack knew any intelligence SG-1 brought back concerning Goa'uld activities was considered of utmost importance, but he wasn't about to take any unnecessary risks.

"Yes…." Sam's reply was cut short as her gaze locked on a point just over the Colonel's shoulder. Her blue eyes sparkled curiously first, then clouded with worry "Colonel, something's wrong with Teal'c."

O'Neill whipped around to find the Jaffa had crushed his binoculars like an empty soda can, and the device now lay in a twisted mass of plastic at his side. What shocked him most, though, was the expression of abject fear Teal'c wore stamped across his broad features. Jack had seen his friend surprised, concerned and even uncomfortable, but he had never witnessed anything that inspired so much as a hint of terror in Apophis's former First Prime. Suddenly, the feeling of unease he had been experiencing ever since he had caught sight of the distant enemy patrol deepened. The hand that had been drifting towards his weapon, now closed firmly around its stock.

"Teal'c?"

The Jaffa finally stirred and turned his haunted gaze back to his companions "We must leave this place. Now."

"Teal'c, what's wrong? What did you see?" Sam asked, concern evident in her normally smooth voice.

"Hem ka Sobk." Teal'c replied, shuddering as the words left his mouth.

"God bless you." Jack replied automatically, as he rose to his knees and brushed himself off. He turned towards his friend "What's a hemorrhoid sobe – thingy?"

"Oh my God." Carter blanched as her subconscious brought up memories that were not her own "Are you sure?"

"I saw the mark with my own eyes." Teal'c replied solemnly. "Their armor is that of the crocodile god." he gripped his staff-weapon tightly in apprehension.

"Oh my God." Sam repeated again, stunned.

Jack knew something more disturbing than approaching enemy troops had spooked both Carter and Teal'c, but his desire to figure out exactly what that something was before it marched on top of them prevented him from being subtle "For crying out loud! Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"The Jaffa you saw O'Neill, serve a Goa'uld named Sobk. He is a minor System Lord formally in the service of Ra." Teal'c answered calmer "He is called Rager, and is known as The Fiend Who Tears Up Hearts among those he conquers."

Jack winced "So, not a guy we want to meet. That tears up hearts bit sounds a little ominous."

"There's more, sir," Carter piped up "I had a flashback to one of Jolinar's memories. She doesn't recall a specific encounter with Sobk, but there are several references to him, or it, in Tok'ra legend. The word 'nak' keeps repeating its self over and over again." Sam looked at O'Neill in worry "I think it's a form of cannibalism, sir"

"Major Carter is correct." Teal'c affirmed grimly "To a Jaffa, the act of nak carries greater spiritual weight than mere cannibalism alone. To devour your enemy is to devour his soul. It is for this reason that Sobk's warriors ritually file their teeth into points so that they may devour their enemies in battle."

"I want us ready to move out in five," Jack ordered decisively "we are not equipped to fight a troop of insane Hannibal Lectors armed with staff weapons. This planet isn't even supposed to be on the damn Abydos cartouche. Carter keep your eyes on that scanner, I want to know what they're looking for."

He swept the area, taking a mental account of everyone and everything until he reached one untended bedroll. Jack sighed in exasperation and spared a quick glance at his watch before stalking over to his own neatly stowed gear. "What the hell is taking Daniel so long? He left to get the rest of his stuff a half hour ago."

"Daniel Jackson returned to the temple ruins we explored last night. He mentioned that he wished to obtain another rubbing of the carvings we found, and would join us shortly." Teal'c offered by way of explanation "The Sobk Guards appear to be heading in this direction, shall I go retrieve him before they draw closer?"

"Oh for Pete's…no, I'll go. Secure the rest of our gear and keep a look out for those croc guards. " Jack pulled the bill of his cap lower over his neatly cropped salt and pepper hair as he hoisted his backpack over one shoulder.

"I'll be back after I wring Daniel's neck." O'Neill mumbled under his breath as he tightened his straps and headed off into the forest in search of their errant archeologist.