Chapter Four.

The trip to the Menara System was as quiet as it could be with 35 men on a Teltac. Some men were silent, others wrote, whilst others sighed and stared at the stars and savored what could be the last hours of their lives. Teal'c sat at the pilot controls, stoic as ever, showing no trace of stress or worry.

"Colonel O'Neill, we are coming up on Anubis's fleet."

"Okay Teal'c put us on the opposite side of the planet to Anubis." Jack walked into the Main cargo bay. "Okay folks, back up from the rings those not on the welcome committee."
The teams beamed their committees on to the ships and one by one they radioed the all clear. Finally twenty minutes later they were half way through beaming full teams.

Each team beamed over, separated into two teams and dispersed as planned. Some secondary teams had an easy task managing to elude Anubis's Jaffa, others became entrenched in fire fights and had to fall back to the ring rooms, hoping primary teams made it to the engine cores.

Of SG-1, Teal'c and Jack remained on board their Teltac, tying each team's actions together with their plan, parts of teams 7 and 14 had died and partly succeeded. Teams 5 and 12 had already finished as were 7 other teams within a half an hour of beam in. An hour later and all that were alive had returned. Some had injuries from fire-fights and therefore looked more rag-tag than they had when they had started. Others still carried the same look that they had transporting over.

The Tok'ra dealt with the situation differently. Though they were stoic and serious, they apparently, as Jack watched, drank to both celebrate success in battle and the passing of the dead. In all the teams had lost 20 members and it was felt keenly between all involved
in the Tok'ra/Tau'ri alliance. They now each understood the other much more than they had previously

"Sam, how did things go over there?" Jack said crouching down to her as she sat in semi-stunned shock.

"As well as could be expected, I guess. There were a few Jaffa on the way to the engine room. Daniel was injured. One of the Tok'ra was also injured; he felt he was expendable so provided cover whilst we ran for the engine room. He killed the Jaffa, but he was hurt so badly we had to leave him. When we returned, he had killed himself. There had been a battle, it was obvious he had done so to prevent his capture, with inevitable torture and possible use as a host." Tears flowed silent and unchecked on her face. Jack patted her on her back, knowing exactly how she felt.

The others had similar tales, there were few teams without serious injuries one way or another. Not all had lost members, and each faction had been surprised by the others generosity in battle. Friendships had been forged and the alliance sealed in the blood of
the dead.

They had moved quite a distance from the fleet of Anubis's ship, they had wanted to see them blow-up and get a definitive count of destroyed and damaged. They had all rigged the C4/Naquadah bombs to go off at the same time. The explosions had proved to be rather impressive as 15 ships exploded into giant balls of orange and white. Jack sat back
against the wall and dreamt of retirement, one that would actually last.

They knew there were still some motherships left. It left a worry in the back of the minds of the members of the battle worn SG-1. They had to find the lost city. It added to the pressure, if there was some kind of weapon of the ancients they could use on Anubis's ships, it would definitely finish off the motherships.

Days passed and all teams were put on standby. Daniel got sewn up for what felt like the millionth time, only this time he was longing for the soothing touch of Janet Frasier. Life was lived by all, but for all there was sombreness in the air. A person would walk down the hall, only to turn a corner and remember a conversation with a crewman only to realise that now, that crewman was no longer alive, and instead of that memory bringing about happiness, that memory now only brought poignancy.

Sam holed up in her lab, her way of dealing with the trauma of battle. Jack, after a day, was going stir crazy. General Hammond was talking of joining the Tok'ra council in a special civilian capacity. Teal'c continued life as normal. He studied the human response to the
death of so many of their comrades.

A few weeks after the battle and a week after the Tok'ra settled the majority of people on their new homeworld, Anaria, they called a meeting. The new alliance was approved and discussions with world leaders were underway.

"We welcome you to Anaria, SG-1 and General Hammond, please follow us." Grand Master Garshaw beckoned them and smiling they followed.

Once more they found themselves in the cool, blue tunnels of the Tok'ra. Walking through they found each passageway familiar. Each silently marvelled. Finally they emerged into a high tech briefing room. A long clear crystal table inlayed with holographic images dominated the room at the table were flowing crystal chairs and a few people already waiting.

"We have much to discuss." Anise mentioned with delighted glee, the scientist in her creeping out.

Suddenly Sam was back at the gate room holding Martouf's head in he arms. Pain crept across her features and her heart sped up. Shaking her head she brushed the thought away.

"Major Carter, Are you okay?" Anise said, tact obviously not her specialty.

"I'm fine." It was a curt answer, but she didn't care. If Anise, in Sam's opinion, had done her job, Martouf wouldn't have died such a horrific death.

They sat down, each sorting the files out into an order to make a presentation. The Tok'ra this time would be first to begin.

"We, using data that Dr. Jackson provided to us, have researched both the landmass and the geological records. We have found no evidence of a large island or, as legend suggests, another continent. It does not seem likely that it was reabsorbed by Earth therefore, we must conclude that Earth and Atlantis are two separate planetary entities." One long haired man stated. An older looking man stood up and said, sounding excited he explained. "However, my team did discover something exciting at you Antarctic gate site." He pushed a button and a holographic display of Antarctica, as a small landmass, green and not ice covered, showed up.

"There was activity there and there is something left there that we can not extrapolate data on. This is how it looked back then." A base appeared on the displays. "You may yet find a way out of your quandary. There may be Atlantan technology under the ice." He sat down
looking at the Tau'ri with a smile.

"Okay we are saved. Erm, how'd we get to the base? It's under a good mile of ice! What do we use a giant hairdryer!" Jack exclaimed sarcastically.

"We propose using a modified Teltac and blowing plasma. Or a portable plasma machine, it will be a lot slower though to excavate using one " The Tok'ra scientists said amenably.

"Sir you weren't far off with your hairdryer analogy. Plasma is super charged and extraordinarily hot gas." Jack looked at Sam and just goggled at her.

"There are so many jokes…"

"I'd use portable plasma dispersers; we need to keep this vaguely quiet from some of the countries of our world." Sam said taking charge of the situation.

"That is unfortunate for you to have to do. We do understand though." Garshaw said standing up, "We will formalise all the plans of the excavation with Daniel, if that is possible."

Daniel simply nodded his agreement. Sam gathered up everything they could, including some copies of the images of the holograms the Tok'ra had placed with a written transcript version of the presentation.

"We appreciate that you came general. You could have left this to your underlings." Anise said, looking at Sam."

"No, these folks aren't my underlings; they understand more about the Stargate and such than I ever will. I am here for a more diplomatic reason. I am retiring from the SGC, but I don't wish to spend the rest of my life doing nothing after all I have been through in the past few years. I believe I could best serve as a bridge between the politicians and military." General Hammond said to the stunned looks of SG-1 and the approving looks of the Tok'ra.

"We will have to discuss it with our council, but I do not think they will disapprove." Garshaw said smiling at the soon-to-be-former-general.

"Okay folks we will have to be getting back to Earth. Thank you for helping us, and for having us. Jack, c'mon." The General said placing his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Oh, kay."

"Were you serious General?" Daniel asked as they walked down the ramp back on Earth. "Are you really leaving?" They'd been there before, never at such a critical juncture. Nor so apparently at his own hand either.

"Yes Daniel, this time I really am retiring. I need to be more than just a General, and I think I will enjoy working with the Tok'ra in an intermediary capacity." He was quiet and optimistic and everything he hadn't been in the past when considering retirement.

Jack was the last down the ramp and the most solemn. The end of an era had just been announced, and he hated it. Looking at the room, he thought of another general in the boss's chair, he just couldn't get past the chilled feeling he would get at the thought. Gone was the fun joking he'd had. Kinsey and his cronies were likely to put some idiot, by the book man into power who would kill all alliances. He dreaded it.

"Okay folks, you can get some down time whilst our archaeological teams go over the possibilities outlined by the Tok'ra." General Hammond said to a team that felt like family to him.

"The NID aren't behind this are they?" Jack said suddenly.

"No, it's just a choice I had to make." George said feeling paternal towards Jack, the military wonder who had never grown up.

Jack wandered off of the ramp and headed to his quarters. Slumping down on his bunk he placed his head in his hands, finally he allowed the sounds of battle that had been slowly encroaching upon him overtake and surround him he had fought it for a while but dealing
with it all was no longer something he could put off. The sounds of war echoed in his ears. No matter what torture the Goa'uld devised nothing would be worse than infiltrating battles and nor would be the memories. They had lost a Tok'ra and it was with downtime he would
allow the emotional fallout to hit him. He had been in charge, these people had died on his watch and for some reason or another, he always paid for it emotionally.

Daniel walked to his office and began looking at the artefacts he had been given or had excavated himself over the years of his career. He sat with one non-descript artefact marvelling at the strange twists and turns his life had taken.

Sam had taken off for a shower before going to her office, feeling the water sluicing down her body she relaxed her muscles, the heat warming her body and soothing aches she let her mind drift. She day-dreamed of herself on a sunset beach, Martouf wrapped his arms around her naked torso. She leant back as his grip tightened and he laid kisses down her back. She heard the slam of a locker door and was rudely brought back to reality and a brief sense of loneliness enveloped her in its icy embrace. She stepped out of the shower wrapping a towel around her herself and walked to her locker, slowly dressing.

Teal'c went to the commissary and picked up a tray full of food. The room was full of people, but in the corner of the room, in semi darkness was a table with no occupants. Teal'c moved to the table and sat down. With relish at being alive Teal'c began devouring his meal.

This had been a long time coming. Though they'd had time to grieve they had never allowed the actual effects of the battle to take hold. Jack certainly hadn't. Forced by General Hammond's announcement, Daniel had become introspective, and was thinking about his life and career. He realised the General's reasoning behind joining the Tok'ra. His career was his life. Daniel could say the same for himself.

The cup was placed on the metallic table, the room, dark as always except for the obvious computer lights and computer flat screens. Lt. Davis stared at the dial and wondered what god he had pissed off to be the idiot with a boring no-action-job such as his. He slumped in his chair and returned to his fantasy of Samantha Carter on a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition shoot.

Martouf stood looking at Sam's lab. He felt surrounded by Sam and her presence. Reaching out he toughed the edge of her computer, standing up he saw Sam walk into the room. "Your hair is wet." Ha stated and inwardly cringed, was that the best he could come up with?

"Yes, erm, what do…um, what are you doing here?" She faltered not knowing what to say.

"I think we need to talk," Martouf said softly.

Sam was worried, she'd heard that line a few times before and had said it herself a couple too, and it had always been the omen of ill tidings where she was concerned.

"I want to thank you."

Sam now was puzzled by that. "Thank me? What for?" Confusion coloured her voice.

"The day I ascended, I called your name, I knew you were going to use the zat'nicka'tel on me. I knew you would understand what I was asking. I was in so much pain. You wouldn't believe what being a Zatarc was like. Thank you."

"I hated myself for so long after I killed you," she whispered. "It was the hardest thing I ever did. I could see you in pain, I wanted to take it away and I couldn't do anything for you, but kill you." Sam looked at Martouf earnestly.

"I did not blame you for my demise then and I do not do so now. I blame the Goa'uld. They are living in the only manner they can, all things in nature live this way." Martouf smiled. "And the Tok'ra are the check and balance required, as are the Tau'ri."

"I can't believe the difference in you. You were all for killing Apophis and now you are all things are meant to be' I just can't get over this."

"Do not believe for a moment that I did not believe in my words then, nor do I not stand by them." Martouf looked into Samantha's eyes "Is this talk in the difference in me hiding or delaying conversation about our feelings for each other?"

Sam's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. Her heart leapt into her throat and she moved her mouth without sound coming out. Martouf lent on the counter-top and watched this usually articulate woman become a speechless wreck.

"Well I wasn't going to bring that up."

"Why?"

Because we can't do anything about any of the feelings we may or may not have." Sam grabbed her cup of coffee and drained it.

"Would it hurt you to acknowledge them in my presence?" Martouf enquired.

"I don't know."

"Well, although you may not realise it, you already have, when you
shouted at Malek."

"What?""

"I thought I had just made it clear." He had been sitting on the spiral stairs leading from the briefing room to the gate control room in the briefing room when she had yelled at Malek so many days ago she had forgotten.

"Oh."

"Yeah." Martouf dipped his head slightly."

"I love, loved you, I don't know what tense to use." Sam ran her hand through her hair.

"I am still alive, ascending just changes the rules of living a little." Martouf said amiably.

"Yes, but we can't have a relationship. For gods sake you're ascended!" She shouted frustrated.

"I am sorry. I thought this would help you."

"I'm seeing someone." Her voice was dull and devoid of happiness. Still Martouf looked like a little kid whose puppy had been kicked.

"Oh."

"Yeah." Sam thinned her lips and stared at Martouf. Neither looked especially happy.

"Are you happy?" Martouf said after a while.

"Sometimes I am happy … when I'm not thinking of you." She absently said.

They sat in the room in silence, Sam sitting in shock, Martouf knew better than to say anything. They both started when her lab's phone began ringing. A quizzical look flitted over Martouf's face.

"It's a communications device." Sam stated when she walked to the phone. "Carter … Yes … I'll be there."

She walked to her coffee cup and noticed Martouf had once again disappeared. She shrugged and wandered off.

General Hammond sat at the briefing room table looking at files; he'd thought this assignment would be one of the easier ones. Watch over an old base until retirement. Well it hadn't quite turned out like that, it was though the way that life always turned out.

One by one they each filed in, Jack nodded his respect, and Teal'c quickly bowed before taking his seat. Daniel walked in reading an archaeological file. "General." He said, not looking up. Sam walked in giving a hollow smile before greeting him with a quick "General" She sat down and once more continued thinking over her conversation with Martouf. She didn't realise that she had admitted her feelings to him though.

The Tok'ra filed in and as directed by General Hammond, began their presentation. "As we found out at Anaria, Antarctica had been an outpost some several million years ago. We believe they left some valuable technology, maybe even defensive technology."

Anise, who had been one of the last to enter the briefing room, mentioned, "Personally, I believe it may be a weapon, run from the energies of your actual planet."

"That is supposition Anise. You couldn't possibly know that."

"You are, of course, right, Major Carter." Anise said gritting her teeth.

"We'll have to find out just what those ancients have there though." Jack mentioned.

"If there is such a device in Antarctica, it would obviously be genetically operated, and encoded to them. Ancient technology tends not to be of the push button variety." Sam said.

"You are correct Samantha." A new voice added to the mix, all heads turned to the bottom of the table. Martouf stood there quietly "You do have a problem. There is no one here present with Ancient genetic encoding to access the Ancient weapons."

"But Thor said I had advanced genetics, and I have accessed their technology before."

"The Asgard removal of the Ancients knowledge and their subsequent manipulation of DNA to prevent the rapid aging of any clone will prevent you from using an Ancient weapon It manages to mask the specific DNA sequence used to activate certain sensitive' technologies of theirs. The specific sequence is rare in humans, but it can be found." Jack looked angry, he had never much cared for Martouf, and now his superiority complex was grating on him.

"Well Marty you haven't changed much in death have you." Jack said, Martouf looked in Jacks Direction and glared with just the slightest hint of annoyance and anger at him.

"Jack." General Hammond glowered. "That is enough."

"Sorry sir."

"Well how would we feasibly activate the ancient technology? We are, at present, against the clock and looking for people who have the sequence isn't something we can do against the clock." Sam said looking at the table.

"Repositories" Martouf said simply. The room, filled with people, became once more quiet as 10 sets of eyes stared at the ethereal person. "If Jack were to use the repository it would over rule the Asgard's genetic manipulations."

"The last repository a) almost killed Jack and b) was found to have had all of its energy depleted on further examination." Daniel said hitting his pen against his head thinking.

"But there may be one at the ruins we recently found." Sam said, inspired.

"I will go through it again …" Jack began.

"But …"

"No Daniel. I'll need someone who can translate Ancientese when I start saying stuff like cruvus." Jack said.

"Are you sure you want to do this Jack?" General Hammond interjected.

The Tok'ra looked at one another. It was apparent that these Tau'ri had experience of the ancients and their technology, and they seemed to have a very strong bond with the Asgard. It appeared the Tau'ri had managed to ally themselves with a couple races that could effectively wipe the Goa'uld out of existence, a somewhat unsettling thought.

"Well," the conversation among the Tau'ri continued unabated, "anyone with a snake in them the repo-thing won't work with. Daniel has to be here to translate me. Sam has to be here because she is the only one who can make sense out of what I am likely to be building, not to mention, don't go getting to many ideas Major, she can also relieve me of duty and take over." The Tok'ra looked at the greying man and was astounded at the lucidity of thought from a man they had always thought of as slightly stunted. They had clearly underestimated him.

"I can modify it."

"What?" Anise said in sudden response.

"As part of the Ascended, Martouf can modify the repository, so as not to create a harmful overload." Sam said as the pieces of the puzzle began falling together in her mind.

"Why?" Anise said. Eyes looked for a few moments and then decided to ignore the question, as no one thought the question had any merit.

"I can modify it to not damage or overload Colonel O'Neill's mind. He will get a small portion of the information, that information will be relevant to the continued survival of the Tau'ri race."

"How small?" Jack said jumping up out of his seat slightly worried. "I won't be needing a translator for the rest of my life will I?" Alarm tinged hi voice as it escalated in pitch.

"Well …" Martouf said deliberately baiting the Colonel.

"Martouf." Sam said in a warning tone, which reminded Martouf of the hundred or so times Jolinar or Rosha had done so when Martouf had teased them.

"No," He glared at Sam. "You won't need a translator."

"Well, that's that then. To the repository with us." Jack said rubbing his hands together gleefully. Martouf stared balefully; Sam grew pensive whilst Daniel and General Hammond felt as though something was going to go wrong. The Tok'ra were bemused by the humans reactions.

"Against my better judgment, this seems to be the only line of defense and our only logical course. Okay, it'll be a go at 1400 hours. Folks time to get ready, you're all dismissed."

They all left in separate directions, the Tok'ra off to Anaria, Sam to her lab to pick up equipment to measure energy at the repository, there was always more science to be found at one that worked. Daniel to his office to grab books on the Ancients language, Jack left for
the commissary remembering how hungry he had become the last time he encountered a repository.

Each member prepared alone and each was watched by Martouf before he ascended to the higher level where he currently resided in.