Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or themes in this story that are affiliated with the television series Stargate Sg-1 or Stargate Atlantis or the movie Stargate. Or any other show…Witness if you will…squat (in reference to owning anything)

"In the meantime, let's discuss what we're going to do next. Jacob. Martouf." General Hammond was saying when the Tok'ra arrived. It had been nearly two days since Daniel, Jack and River had returned to the SGC. Though she had been hit by staff-fire, the young girl seemed to be in decent health. Daniel had left her in the infirmary; Dr. Frasier insisted that she be checked over once more. Jack had been shot as well, but he was worse off. The blast had gone deep into his torso, requiring surgery to repair the damage. But, as always, he turned out to be fine.

Daniel, Teal'c, and Sam now sat in the briefing room ready to hear a report from the Tok'ra. Jacob Carter walked into the room with Martouf, taking a seat next to his daughter.

"George, nice to see you again." He said. Jacob dropped his head and Selmak spoke. "We have some disturbing news."

"Disturbing you say?" Jack asked. "Sorry I'm late General. Old Doc Frasier insisted she change my bandages."

"How's the battle wound Jack?" Jacob was referring to the staff-blast that had destroyed both the invisibility device and the corner of Jack's spleen.

"It only hurts when I breathe. So…disturbing news?"

"We have the results of the tests we ran on River." Selmak nodded and one of the other Tok'ra pulled out a small projection device. It flashed on the table and an image of a human body appeared.

"What are we looking at?" The General asked.

"This is an image of River's body. We took these scans while she was at the Tok'ra base in order to better understand her ability. Since Nirrti has altered her physically to create the ability, we knew we would be able to see the alterations and perhaps even use the knowledge of the Hak'tar to our own advantage. What we found however…" He let the image explain.

"What is that?" Sam exclaimed quietly. River's cranium had been enlarged in the viewer to show what Nirrti had done to her. The tumor was color-coded white against the green of her brain and her blue eyes. White lines twisted their way through the back of her eyes and gathered in a mass connecting different parts of her brain.

"These tendrils," Lantash indicated the white lines. "are likely the cause of her elevated sensory perceptions."

"The tumor also connects the amygdala, frontal lobe, and optic nerve." Selmak added.

"The frontal lobe is the most advanced piece of the brain," Dr. Frasier explained aloud. "Many reports of telepathy on earth center on studying that lobe."

"What about the amygdala and optic nerve?" Janet and Sam were in their own world of understanding now, leaving the others to stare blankly at the hologram.

"The amygdala is an emotional processor, it probably helps to keep River's thoughts and feelings separate from those of the second mind. But the optic nerve, I'm not sure."

"We believe that is the conduit through which the energy that makes up our thoughts is forced." Selmak explained. Martouf leaned back in his chair, looking miserable and irate.

"When River was inside my mind in Heru-ur's palace, she communicated to me how much of a struggle it was to use her abilities. Now we know why…the tumor grows each time she accesses another's thoughts, causing her great pain."

"And it now seems that any further use of her telepathy could cause the tumor to grow out of control and kill her."

"Well, this is good news." Daniel said suddenly. Jack looked at him like he'd just shot someone.

"What?"

"Well, it's a brain tumor right? We take tumors out of patients all the time. Don't you see? This means we can help her."

"That is why we have come." Selmak said. "The Tok'ra council originally decided to destroy Heru-ur's advantage over the system lords, and we stand by that conclusion. Removing the tumor will accomplish this goal."

"I'm lost. How?" Jack asked. Jacob responded this time.

"The tumor is what lets her read minds, Jack. No more tumor, nor more telepathy." Jack was about to reply, but the intercom cut him off.

"Warning: Unscheduled off-world activation. Warning:"