Chapter 2
The briefing lasted only an hour. There wasn't much information to be shared. A picture of Avedra and Neja were shown to familiarize the team, although it was entirely possible Neja had jumped bodies by then. A walkthrough of the complex was conducted on the mapping device Freya had given them. That information was weak at best, as well.
Even the complex, Anise had surmised, was probably changed since the last reconnaissance mission. There was no guarantee that the complex layout in the mapping device was accurate.
All in all, though, the mission seemed to be a straight shot in and out – at least it did to Carter. They were to avoid a firefight if possible and get Avedra back. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less. Of course, avoiding being killed would be an added bonus above all else. SG-1 would have a thirty-six hour gate window if the link with the shuttle was missed. After that, all bets were off for a rescue party. They would be on their own, left to make it to a safe world any way they could.
"Your father sends his greetings," Freya said to Carter as they walked slowly down the hall.
Sam smiled. "I was hoping he would have come with you. It's been a while since we've seen each another," she said, zipping up her equipment vest.
"Jacob is most valuable to us," she said. "He's become quite an asset to our cause, and he's very respected among my people."
"Well, the whole thing seems to be working out better than I had hoped. I was worried he wouldn't fit in so well."
Freya stopped. "Why would you think that?"
Sam pushed her hands into her pockets. "Nothing against my father, but the whole arrangement was pretty odd. I wasn't sure he'd take to it because it all happened so fast."
Freya grinned broadly. "Selmac and he are a good match. They're very much alike."
She smiled, too, and began walking again. "Yeah, I noticed." She was quiet for a moment as they made their way down the hall. "Look, it got tense back in the briefing, and I apologize if we came off a little hostile. We've all been pretty strung out here lately. A lot of missions and not enough sleep, you know?"
Freya shook her head. "There is no need to apologize, Major Carter. Colonel O'Neill's concerns are valid. Jacob warned me that our wish to see the grid left intact might not be received well."
"I guess we're just used to doing the complete package when it comes to stuff like this. To leave something like that standing when we have the chance to destroy it - " She hesitated. "Well, it's not the way Colonel O'Neill likes to do things."
Freya's expression changed to one of frustration. "The Tok'ra do not wish the grid to remain a threat any more than your people do. It is our wish that it will be destroyed, but not before we learn of its potential. I hope he appreciates that."
Sam nodded. "I'm sure he'll follow through on our orders, but I don't blame him for being concerned. Something that powerful is very threatening, especially to us since we lack the technology of the Tollan or the Tok'ra."
"The Tok'ra agree it has a deadly potential, which is why we will do everything within our power to understand it and destroy it. You do not actually believe the Tok'ra would allow something so harmful to remain in operation, do you?"
"Of course not, Freya, but I can't help thinking we're playing with fire with this one. There just aren't enough assurances that this grid will be taken out of operation." She grimaced. "I don't even want to think of what will happen if Neja gets it working."
"Then we must work together to ensure that never becomes a reality," she said with a tone Carter found irritating and superior.
Carter smiled, covering an inner wince. Just what did Freya think SG-1 was about, anyway? Earth may not have had the technology of the Tok'ra, but she would put the tenacity of the "Tau'ri" and the United States Air Force up against any thing out there. Maybe O'Neill was completely justified in his disdain of the Tok'ra. He had put in far more years and had shed far more blood for the preservation of freedom than could ever be asked of any one individual. His experience, she knew, was telling him better.
Teal'c suddenly appeared around the corner of the corridor leading to the embarkation room. He bowed his head slightly, then concentrated his attention on Sam. "Major Carter," he said, "your presence is required in the gate room."
Sam nodded. "On our way." She held out her hand, directing Freya toward the gate room doors. She lingered back a few steps, trying to get her nerves under control. She was glad to see that Teal'c had engaged Freya in some semblance of conversation. It gave Sam time to calm down, to get her mind in gear to go back to work.
As she turned into the doorway of the gate room, she caught sight of O'Neill in the briefing room, the reflection of the room lights on the glass distorting his face slightly. He peered down at her and paid even closer attention to Freya. She felt like a bug in a jar under her commander's watchful eye. She knew Jack was not fond in the least of Anise, but Freya was something else. She couldn't decide if Jack actually liked Freya or just found her more palatable than the symbiote. In any case, Sam knew O'Neill didn't trust either entity.
She noticed Hammond sliding into view next to O'Neill. They exchanged words she could not hear as they observed the preparations being made in the gate room. O'Neill still looked upset, and she could just imagine Hammond's low voice bringing his second in command under control with words only commanding officers seemed to know.
Daniel caught her attention, walking toward her with water rations. She accepted them, managing a smile even though Daniel was paying more attention to Freya. Everyone seemed to pay more attention to the Tok'ra when they were around for some reason. Then again, everyone paid a lot of attention to her, too, after her experience with Jolinar. The difference was that she felt like she was caught in a freak show while the Tok'ra enjoyed the fame that accompanies great freedom fighters.
O'Neill entered the gate room, slipping into his equipment vest and covering up with his cap. His walk was almost arrogant, but Sam felt he had earned that right. He had also earned the right to not be thrilled with assignments that didn't meet his high expectations of preparation. He had taken every opportunity to voice his opinion about the intelligence gathering inadequacies exhibited by the Tok'ra for the mission they now faced. Hammond, in turn, slapped down every one of his complaints, stating quite clearly that O'Neill's objections had been noted but would go no further than the limits of the briefing room. What she knew her commanding officer couldn't say was that he blamed the Tok'ra for the loss of a team member. To have said that would have been politically incorrect and would have damaged the precarious relationship being forged between Earth and the leaders of the rebellion.
"We should be going soon," Freya said.
Jack grimaced. "Yeah, time's a-wastin'." His voice was dull and flat.
"I will accompany you to the shuttle, then leave you in the hands of Car'met, the pilot who will be taking you to Beman."
He smiled sardonically. "Can't wait."
Sam donned her cap and harnessed up her rifle, watching as the chevrons of the gate swirled and clicked into place. Then the center of the gate ring exploded in a blue light that lashed out before being sucked back inside itself. The group headed for the gate. Once Hammond had give them a go, Daniel and Teal'c led the way, followed by Freya and Sam. Jack hung back a few steps. Sam could feel his tension even with her back turned. There was no use in looking back. She knew what she would see – Jack's scowl and stony face silently cursing that he had to be a part of all this.
And to her disliking, she couldn't have agreed more. They were walking into a dead zone. The water was bad and the soil was bad. If Neja didn't kill them, the environment just might. Freya had assured them more than once that they should be all right as long as they didn't drink the water or eat the dirt in copious amounts. Carter had no intention of eating dirt in copious amounts, but the idea that most inhabitants on the planet had died of disease left an unsettling feeling in her stomach. She was sure it made the others uneasy, as well, although no one really voiced their concern. All except O'Neill, of course. He just could not accept Tok'ra advice on the whole no matter how much supporting evidence there was. Some might have called it bitching for the sake of bitching. Sam knew it was to ensure the survival of the team in the most hostile of environments.
The sounds of boots clanking on the metal ramp bounced off the event horizon of the gate, itself a shimmering wall of a blue liquid-like surface. Teal'c and Daniel vanished into the meniscus of the gate, followed Freya. Then it was her turn, only she struggled in making her body move forward into the gate. It was the first time she had been on the ramp since P3X324. She stopped just short of entering, eventually looking back at O'Neill.
His brow raised, he asked, "Problem, Major?" His scowl was gone. This time, it was genuine concern on his face.
Hell yes, there is, she thought. But she was at a loss how to put it into words. Even if she could, she feared it would cast doubt on her readiness to go on mission again. There was no way she was going to let apprehension conquer her. Not even her nightmares were going to stand in the way. Jolinar would not interfere with her duty, memories of Martouf would not distract her, and Jack's imposing psychological questions would not inhibit her ability to do her job.
"No, sir. Rarin' to go." The lie rolled easily off her lips.
He looked at her decisively for a moment, their eyes locking. Certain truths passed between them during that split second, but Jack said nothing. He merely nodded that she should take that step through the gate that would begin the first day of the rest of her life.
