(SG-Fan, thank you. Vinnet, thanks. Yes, part of the reason for the beginning was to remind people who Cordesh was. It was also to show that the host on the show is the same host in this fiction.)

Part 2, Plans

Cordesh was summoned back after twenty minutes.

Apophis could have saved time and had me stand outside the room while he researched me, Cordesh thought.

I dread his words. This walk will give us time to prepare.

Cordesh entered the room and kneeled.

It appears Teal'c is back, Nelay'en thought.

Cordesh allowed his attention to focus on what Nelay'en was referring to and saw that a large Jaffa marked with the gold symbol was in the room. So that's Teal'c. Either his mind's hope was playing tricks or Teal'c seemed distracted.

Let's hope you are right.

Apophis was grinning. He liked seeing other Goa'uld bow to him and allowed it a little longer before speaking. "Odeth, you may rise."

Cordesh rose.

Apophis dismissed the rest of the Jaffa and turned his fully attention to Cordesh.

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

Meanwhile, Teal'c had been distracted and was thankful that Apophis hadn't noticed. He was also annoyed. He was allowed leave for time to visit his newborn son but had to return. His friend and mentor approached. "What is his name?"

Teal'c looked to Bra'tac and smiled. "Ry'ac."

"A good name for a warrior."

Teal'c checked to see they were alone and lowered his voice. "Perhaps he will grow to be a free Jaffa."

Bra'tac did not think this possible but chose not argue with Teal'c at this time. "Perhaps." He looked to the closed door. "What is your opinion of Odeth?"

"His origin is unknown. I do not believe he came from one of Apophis' Jaffa."

Bra'tac made a short nod. "Which has me wondering where he came from. I suppose it does not matter much. He is a Goa'uld, and that is all we need to know." He left, as Apophis had given him a job to tend to.

Teal'c remained standing outside the door, waiting for Apophis to call him back in.

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

"Must you always argue with the Council?" Martouf asked as he watched Jolinar pace their quarters.

"We need to take more action," Jolinar insisted.

Lantash took control. "Jolinar, we know how you feel about this." He walked over and took the hands of his loves. "The kind of action you are speaking of can get several people killed." His hands moves up her arms. "It could get you killed. We cannot bear the thought of losing you."

"Perhaps you are not willing, but Rosha and I are, as would anyone who moved to strike again the System Lords. It is a great risk but imagine if we won? Lantash..." She pulled away to take his hands in her own. "We have been fighting the Goa'uld the same way for centries. We isolate ourselves-"

"So that the Goa'uld have a hard time finding us, and so we are unknown."

"What good is being unknown going to be when we are all dead? What encouragement will we have brought when no one will have known we fought back, that..." Jolinar sighed and released his hands. "That someone fought back." Her fists clenched, and she allowed Rosha to take control. Her tone was softer, but just as strong. "Lantash, we isolate ourselves from our enemy, but we are also isolating ourselves from possible allies. We are not the only ones who fight the Goa'uld, but the others who do also fight alone. We would be stronger if we worked together."

Martouf was given control again. "The Council disagrees. They believe-"

"We know. It's too great of a risk." She turned away and sat down. "Martouf, you and I will never see the end of the Goa'uld, even if we do manage to live hundred more years." She looked up to her husbands. "However, Jolinar fears that she will also never see the end. She fears the Tok'ra will be gone long before the Goa'uld are stopped...if they are stopped."

Martouf sat down by her, and put his arm around her lower back. "We fear you are correct, but we hope you are wrong."

:.:.:August 1986:.:.:

Cordesh worked for Apophis for five months without incident. He tapped in a report for the Tok'ra and sent it through.

I believe Teal'c's thoughts have been of his son,Nelay'en thought. However, that may change as his son grows older. We must be very careful.

I know. Cordesh erased all evidence of his message. I do not think Bra'tac suspects us though. I do not think he has any idea we are Tok'ra.

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

"I do not think Odeth is who he claims to be," Bra'tac stated to Teal'c.

Teal'c's eyes looked towards Bra'tac, but he did not move his head. "Do you think he is Tok'ra?"

"Perhaps...if they exist."

To them the Tok'ra were rumors and legend that Apophis denied. Bra'tac had heard of them through Jaffa who served other Goa'uld, who, if the rumors were true, confirmed the existance of the Tok'ra. Bra'tac could not be sure, but he felt Apophis was lying about the Tok'ra being a myth. Tok'ra were said to live in tunnels underground, and Apophis had ordered Bra'tac to search for tunnels numerous times. Bra'tac had never been given a reason to search for these tunnels.

"If he is Tok'ra," Teal'c started, "then I wish him well on his mission." The idea that a group of symbiotes worked together to bring down the System Lords was encouraging to Teal'c. The idea that some symbiotes only took willing hosts was fasinating.

"As do I."

Teal'c glanced to the time and saw he needed to leave. "I am needed in battle." He was to lead in a battle against Ra's forces. He turned fully to his friend and bowed his head slightly in farewell. "Master Bra'tac."

"I wish you victory," Bra'tac responded, hoping Teal'c would survive the battle. He watched his friend depart, and then began working on recalibrating some of the scans on the ship. He heard someone come into the room and turned to see Shak'l.

"Master Bra'tac," Shak'l said as he entered, though his eyes searched for Teal'c. "Teal'c has left?"

"Aye."

"Then I must speak with you." There was urgency in his voice. "I do not believe Odeth is who he claims to be."

"Do you realize who you are questioning?" Bra'tac said, hoping to bring doubt in Shak'l's mind.

"I do." Shak'l brought up a device to write on. "I had been asked to download messages and found one that was coded. When I went back to search for it in the computer, I discovered it had been deleted.

Bra'tac took the device and saw that it had been decoded. It was clearly a report about Apophis. "Anyone could have sent this out."

"It was deleted by Odeth."

Bra'tac looked at the message. "Thank you for bringing this to me."

"Master Bra'tac, though I know it is not normal, I would like to be there when you inform Apophis." Shak'l grinned in pride.

Bra'tac felt regret and guilt. Reporting this to Apophis would be the end of Odeth, whoever he really was. He'd be condemming a man who fought the Goa'uld the same way he did. However, if he did not report it, Shak'l would, and Apophis would learn that Bra'tac had been informed. It would be the end of him. Worse, it could make Apophis suspicious of Teal'c, who had a wife and son. He went over his options, pretending to consider Shak'l's request. Finally, he answered, "I believe as you made the discovery, you should be the one to inform Apophis."

Shak'l was most surprised by this answer. "You would allow me such an honor?"

"Yes. I will make sure Odeth has not figured out he is discovered."

Shak'l bowed slightly. "Thank you, Master Bra'tac." He left quickly.

Bra'tac waited for Shak'l to leave, then hurried to a Jaffa he knew had worked with Odeth recently. "Where is Odeth?"

"I believe in his quarters."

Bra'tac nodded, and headed in that direction, hoping the Jaffa was correct. Odeth's only chance was to be warned. Beyond that, there was nothing Bra'tac could do to save him. Apophis might be suspious, but Bra'tac was confident with the reason he would give. The big problem was Odeth's quarters were on the opposite side of where he was, and even in a hurry, it took fifteen minutes. He entered the room without knocking...and saw that Odeth was not there.

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

Cordesh had left his quarters just five minutes earlier and had taken a hall different than the one Bra'tac used to come. He was about to start working on one of the consoles when Apophis summoned him.

He entered the throne and bowed his head.

Something is wrong, Nelay'en thought.

Cordesh saw his host was correct. There was more Jaffa in here than normal, and Apophis looked angry.

"You were foolish to think you could betray me," Apophis declared. Though he knew whoever it was that stood before him was Tok'ra, making it sound like "Odeth's" actions against him were recent sounded better.

"My Lord, I do-"

Apophis tossed Cordesh's own message at him. He watched as Cordesh began to read it, and grinned when Cordesh recognized his own words. Though Cordesh made no visual response, his thoughts of surprise were predictable.

I hope he kills us quickly, Nelay'en thought.

I have not yet given up. Cordesh looked to Apophis. "What is this?"

"Your report."

"This is not mine."

"That we shall see."

So much for a quick death, Nelay'en added sadly.

Apophis lifted his hand, triggering the hand device. He forced the energy into the minds of Cordesh and his host. He smirked the entire time, watching as they stayed strong, but soon were on their knees. For several minutes he watched the face of pain and defiance, but finally they were killed. Apophis gracefully moved his hand back, and he looked at the body.

He wished either Teal'c or Bra'tac were here for this. However, Teal'c was in battle, and it seemed Bra'tac had ensured Odeth did not learn he was discovered. He dismissed all Jaffa but Shak'l. Shak'l was a good soldier. If Teal'c had not made First Prime, then Shak'l probably would have. Apophis turned to the Jaffa. "Put him into the second sarcophagus, and tell no one of this."

"Yes, my lord." Shak'l quickly did as he was told.

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

"The Council would never approve of such a plan," Martouf stated, looking at Jolinar firmly.

"I am not asking them for permission."

Both Lantash and Martouf had been afraid to get that response. "How do you plan to raise an army against the System Lords without Tok'ra?"

"Volunteers from planets that know the System Lords to be false gods."

Martouf's eyebrows raised. "They do not have the ability to fight."

"I will teach them."

"This will take years."

"A few years is shorter than a few centries, and it is certainly shorter than a few millennia."

"Jol-"

"Martouf," Jolinar interupted. "I am not asking for your approval. I am asking if you will help. Some of the Tok'ra have agreed to help me. We will ask a leave of absense to carry out our plan. The Council will not approve, but they will not stop us either. I know you do not agree with my ways, but I was hoping you would support me in this."

"What you plan is likely to get everyone involved killed."

"Then we will die with hope."

"It will not work. It is too bold. It is too upfront. I fear you will not learn this until you are dead."

Jolinar sighed. "If I die in the process, then perhaps we will have caused enough damage to send out a message to those who are too afraid to fight."

"I do not believe 'You will die if you fight' is a very good message." Martouf sighed. "However, if you are this determined to get yourself killed, then Lantash and I might as well get killed with you. We cannot live otherwise."

Jolinar almost squealed, though it was distorted, and hugged him tightly. "With both of us, we will succeed."

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

Teal'c returned from a victorious battle and found Bra'tac to inform him. He felt guilty for the Jaffa he had killed, but he had no choice. Overall, he was in a good mood. He had survived, and Apophis had told him before that if he won the battle he could visit his family. He was looking forward to going home to his wife and son. He found Bra'tac in his quarters on the ship and saw quickly that his mentor was not in a good mood. "What is wrong?"

"We were right about Odeth."

"Is that not a good thing?"

"Shak'l figured out the truth and informed Apophis. Odeth is dead."

Teal'c wasn't in a good mood anymore. A man against the System Lords had been killed, and that was a blow to everyone against the System Lords. "How?"

"Odeth sent out a message to those he works for. Shak'l happened to be downloading messages at the right time." Such bad timing. If Odeth had sent out his message a minute before or after, he would have gotten away with it.

"Then he was not working alone," Teal'c said. "Perhaps he was Tok'ra."

"We will never know."

:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:x:.:.:

Apophis entered a room few Jaffa knew of, and no one entered unless given permission. He looked to the sarcophagus that Cordesh had been put in. He had figured out the name of the Tok'ra from the message. His fingers ran over the sarcophagus, and he knew it would soon open to release Cordesh. He'd been considering what to do with the Tok'ra and decided to try something new.

He tapped at one of the control panels of the sarcophagus, locking Cordesh in.

To be continued...