"It's not the first time that's happened," Jacob said into the silence that permeated the room after the hologram showing the destroyed mother ship was turned off. "We know of three others."

"And there are undoubtedly more," Pia added. "Minor system lords that we have no operatives with."

"Whoever it's been, Anubis is definitely building up a large army of followers," Losand said.

"Which makes him a threat to us," Daniel said.

The Tok'ra all nodded.

"What have your people been able to find out about this guy?" Jack asked, gesturing for Jaffer to move slightly when Pia made a subtle move to stand nearer to Ian. The big lab rumbled deep in his chest and shifted position to sit beside Ian, placing his considerable bulk between the cadet and the Tok'ra. Pia glanced at the large dog and moved back to her original position, not ready to make a scene or risk the unknown equation of the formidable dog.

Ian glanced at Jack just for a moment, relieved at the help but not exactly sure why Jack had done it. After all, last time he'd been pretty amused by the way Pia had acted around Ian, and there wasn't really anything different about this time.

Jack winked, looking amused, but returned his attention to Jacob, who was answering the question.

"Not a lot, really, I'm afraid." Jacob gave Pia a look that plainly told her to leave Ian alone, and continued. "Our operatives aren't really able to get a foot in the door. This Anubis guy is pretty anti social and the few Tok'ra on the ships that have been overtaken are only in minor positions and unable to get too much intel yet."

"So you don't have all that much to tell us?" Jack asked.

"No."

"Forewarned is forearmed," Teal'c said. "The more information you can give us now, the better we can prepare both our people."

Ian glanced at the others, Teal'c's words reminding him of what Dotty – the alternate reality Dotty – had told them when she'd appeared in the SGC to heal him, and to give a few warnings. She'd said several things that day, but the most important was…

"Something's coming…" he said, more to himself than anything – although the others all looked at him.

"What?" Daniel asked.

"That's what Dotty said, remember? That she was in our reality to-"

"Excuse the interruption…"

Everyone in the room turned to look, and saw another Tok'ra standing there – with the two Marines and one Air Force Lieutenant that made up the rest of SG-6 standing behind her. Judging from the serious expressions and the way they weren't looking around, impressed by the tunnels or the secret hideaway they were in, Jack knew whatever had brought them here was serious.

The leader of SG-6 – a Major named Olsen – stepped past the woman who had guided them to SG-1, unwilling to waste any time.

"Sir, General Hammond sent us."

"What's wrong?"

"Doctor Fraiser needs Cadet Brooks. Right away."

"What? Why?"

"With respect, sir, it's an emergency."

Not to mention, Olsen didn't know what kind of clearance the Tok'ra had to hear anything about what was going on at the SGC.

"Something wrong with his folks?" Jacob asked, concerned. He knew Ian's parents, after all, and was great friends with them – especially Nathan.

"No, sir. A medical emergency."

Which told Jack and the others what he was talking about. And they knew it had to be an emergency, or Hammond wouldn't have sent for him. Jack looked over at Ian, gesturing with his hand.

"Go."

"But we are not finished here," Pia objected.

"Ian's finished," Jack said, reaching over slapping Ian's shoulder. "Take Jaffer, too."

Just to make sure he made it home safe.

Ian looked like he might have objected, but he didn't. Instead, he nodded, and headed for the doorway of the room, followed by Jaffer and Olsen. Instantly the others surrounded him in a protective miniature phalanx. They didn't really trust the Tok'ra all that much, either, after all, and their instructions from Hammond had been to deliver Ian to the SGC safely. Given what had happened to him the last time he'd met with the Tok'ra – and they all knew that story – they weren't going to take any chances.

"What's going on, guys?" Ian asked as soon as they cleared the room and headed back towards the entrance to the tunnels, led by the same woman who had brought SG-6 there.

"Doctor Fraiser needs you," Olsen answered, moving just a little to allow Jaffer the spot directly to the right of Ian. "SG-4 took some serious hits."

It was fairly obvious that he wasn't sure what Ian was supposed to be doing about that, but Olsen – andmany others – had had their own suspicions about Ian Brooks the last few months, and there were several rumors (well hidden from the brass) that there was something strange going on with him. Some of those rumors even mentioned that Ian had done something to heal Jack O'Niell. Since you didn't get to worki in a top secret facility by asking a whole bunch of questions, the men didn't ask - and hadn't asked.

Ian didn't say anything else, and didn't ask any more questions. He knew what she needed – and why she'd sent for him – and didn't need to know anything else until he spoke to Fraiser.

OOOOOOOOO

Jacob looked at Jack, curiously.

"What was that all about?"

Jack shrugged.

"You know as much as I do."

"Why would Doctor Fraiser need Ian to help her with a medical emergency, Jack?"

It wasn't that Jacob was suspicious or anything, but he knew Ian – had known him much longer than Jack had – and he knew Ian wasn't any better at doctoring people than he was at flying spaceships. Or had any desire to do either.

"I don't know, Jacob," Jack told him. "Maybe it's for a blood transfusion."

"Or maybe you know something and you're not telling?"

"What kind of ally would I be if I didn't tell you everything I know?" Jack asked him blandly.

Jacob frowned, but before he could say anything else, Losand interrupted.

"What was Cadet Brooks saying about this Dotty person?"

Daniel turned to him.

"We were warned that something might be coming. A battle, maybe, or something worse…"

"Warned by who?" Pia asked, forgetting Ian's abrupt departure with this new information.

"A friend of ours," Jack said, evasively. The last thing he wanted to get into was Dotty and the Ancients. For several reasons.

"What kind of battle?" Jacob asked, visibly annoyed at Jack's response.

"A big one from the sounds of things…" Daniel answered.

"And one that sounds like it might be right up this Anubis guy's alley," Jack added.