Chapter 10 – The Tok'ra
The first day of their flight to the Tok'ra Homeworld, Jack was able to fly the tel'tak for his whole eight-hour shift. The second day of their flight, Jack's shoulder had become infected and his fever had him only semi-lucid during his usual shift. Aeryn and Crichton decided to spit his shift between them and let him rest. He was still eating and drinking water, at least. On the third day of their flight, about halfway through the day, Jack lost his lucidity. His fever had reached high enough that Crichton and Aeryn were using damp cloths to try and bring it down.
"John, try to get some rest. When we get there you will have to carry him," Aeryn said in a calming voice. "I can fly and land us."
"O…okay," Crichton said uncertainly. He had never been very good with the ill. Injured, yes. But ill, not so much.
Aeryn was surprised at how easy it was to fly the tel'tak. There were very little commands needed to understand the controls and the ship practically flew itself. As she approached the targeted planet, she noticed a sprawling complex not too far from one of the feared Hellmouths. Stargate, Jack called them. I need to change my thinking.
The planet was a desert planet. It wasn't too warm for her. She should be alright as long as she didn't stay out in the heat too long. She braced herself. Her new life awaited.
She landed the small ship in an open field not too far from some of the complex buildings. She waited long enough to see some people, Sebacian, or human, leave the building and approach the ship.
"John, we are about to receive company," Aeryn called out.
"Alright," Crichton called back followed by a grunt. He appeared in the cargo bay doorway with Jack on his shoulder, "Jack could really stand to lose some weight."
She gave him a weak smile and headed for the exit. The outside heat blasted her, but it wasn't as bad as she guessed.
"For what reason have you come to the Tok'ra?" asked the first one to approach them.
John stepped forward, "We were told to come here by Earth. Jack needs help."
"The Tau'ri have been our allies for many years." The man stepped forward to get a good look at the injured Jack. "Delek, get a stretcher. It's General O'Neill. Hurry." Another man standing in the back ran back to the complex.
"General?" Crichton asked with eyes wide open.
"I am Malek. Come this way," the first man stated as he led them back towards the complex.
Aeryn almost froze in place as she first heard the dual tone voice. Her fear clawed at her from her childhood. But she knew Jack and Jack didn't consider these Tok'ra to be the ancient evil of her people. She moved with Crichton and was certain that she would not leave either man alone with these people.
The man named Delek returned with a floating bed, "Place him on here. We will transport him to a room for treatment."
Crichton gently placed Jack down on the bed. The ugly staff blast was now visible to all. "That looks like a staff blast. Infected." Delek raised a tool to his brow and nodded. "High temperature, systemic infection, but not too bad."
"Lead on, Delek," Malek said. "I will notify the Tau'ri that they have arrived." He turned and left. The others dispersed.
Delek grabbed an edge of the bed and led it towards the building, through a door, and down a hall into a room. Once there, the pulled out a small round device and held it over Jack's shoulder. It started to glow and hum.
As they both watched, the flesh beneath the device began to smooth out and turn from an angry burn to scarred flesh. Finally, Delek moved the device over to Jack's body and then finally up to his head. The device then shut down. Delek slumped in fatigue.
"It is done. He is now in a healing sleep," Delek stated. "I must rest myself." Delek nodded to both of them and then left them alone in the room with Jack.
Aeryn immediately felt his forehead. It was now cool to the touch, "His fever was gone."
Crichton went over to a sink and wet a wash cloth. Then he started cleaning the wound. Underneath was healed skin. "Wow. That is frelling amazing," Crichton stated. "These people are frelling amazing. Wonder why Jack doesn't like them? And when is he a frelling General?"
Aeryn kept her own counsel about the nature of the Tok'ra. They shared too many similarities to the legends of the Sebacian ancient evil for her to dismiss out right. But the ancient evil would not heal for any reason, nor would it have allies. Jack had said that the ancient evil was extinct or nearly so.
Therefore, these must not be the ancient evil.
SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG
