Chapter 13

"Hello."

"Hello. Who are you? How did you get on this base?"

"Who am I? My name is Cassandra. What's yours?"

"Jacob Carter."

"Your Sam's Dad."

"Yes. What are you doing here? Who are your parents?"

"My family was killed… by a goa'uld name Nirti,.Jack and SG1 found me and brought me to earth." Jacob look at her in shock.

"You're from another planet?"

"Yes. The goa'uld killed everyone from my planet, except for me. She used me to try and kill everyone from Earth."

"What? How?" Jacob was shocked from what he was hearing.

"She planted a bomb in me, close to my heart. When I came through the gate it was activated. If I was close to the gate again it would explode." She walked up the ramp until she was standing in the ring itself and turned around and looked at him.

"Half of Earth would have been destroyed. They were able to get me away from the gate. I was in the care of a nasty group called the NID until over a week ago when Sam rescued me from them."

"What happened to the bomb? Did they take it out of you?"

"No, over time it broke down and absorbed into my body. So, it is now safe for me to come here."

"OK. What happened with the NID?" Cassie walked down until she stopped at the top of the steps and looked at Jacob.

"They tortured me. They were making me show them how to use goa'uld devices."

"Sam said that the symbiotes have naquadah in them and that they can activate the devices?"

"Yes. I've also got naquadah in me because of the bomb." Jacob nodded.

"So can you activate the devices?"

"Sometimes, but it tires me out."

"You said you were tortured by the NID?"

"Yes. If I didn't do what they wanted me to do, they would take away food, drink, and they hit me. They always were taking blood from me for testing."

She showed him her arms where the mark was. Jacob was shocked by what he saw.

"Have you heard of the tok'ra?"

"I was told about them. Have you meet them?"

"Yes. They are kind. They healed me and they are friends of SG1. But I'll tell you one thing, Jack sometimes puts his foot in his mouth when it comes to them." Jacob laughed.

"When doesn't he put his foot in his mouth?"

"Good point. So now you know what Sam does here. Are you happy for her?"

"Yes. Yes I am." Then he looked sad.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm ill. Sam wanted me to become a tok'ra so the symbiote can heal me."

"Are you dying?"

"Yes."

"Well, Sam knows what's best. I think she wants you around to see your grandchildren grow up and I know you and Sam still have got a lot of catching up to do. From what I've been told about the tok'ra, I think it is a good thing for both them and Earth."

"You think so?"

"Yes. I even spoke to them. I was afraid of them at first, but now I'm not. At least I get a chance to talk to both symbiote and host. The goa'uld are different."

"You sure are smart for a kid your age."

"That's what Jack said. I'm just like Teal'c. We are still learning Earth culture. We are learning together with his family."

"OK. So, have you learn much?"

"Yep. I know I've still got a lot to learn. Some of the personnel have been helping me learn and catch up with school studies while I'm not at school."

"So, you're going to school now?"

"Yes, and learning everyday. It's good to have help with my studies, like math, sciences, and different languages. Things like that."

"That's good to know."

"Jacob, you should be asking yourself, do you want to be around to see your grandchildren grow-up, including the baby Sam is carrying and if she has any more in later years. Also ask yourself about helping to fight this war and helping to protect your family even if your on another planet. I think with the tok'ra and the SGC combined, we've got a better chance of winning this war. Sam told me you were at war years ago. That is nothing compared to what is going on out in the galaxy. The choice is yours."

"I know that Cassie, but I don't know. It's all too much."

"Well, to help make up your mind, why don't you go through the gate and meet the tok'ra. Sam told me that the host is still alive. Perhaps talking to the host might help you decide."

"You've been hanging around here to long."

"Well, as I said, the choice is yours." Then she walked down the steps and towards the doors.

Jacob watched her leave. Then he turned to look at the gate thinking about what Cassie said. Sam and Jack were looking down from the briefing room watching what was going on. They saw Cassie walk into talk with Jacob, then walk out a few minutes later.

They watched Jacob for the next half-hour. Then they saw him leave the room. So Jack and Sam returned to their seats and waited.

"What do you think your Dad will do, Sam?"

"I don't know. Daniel's got to remember all of this is a shock to him."

"I guest your right."

"I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

"Don't worry Sam. Whatever Dad decides to do, it will be his choice."

"True."

A few minutes later, Jacob walked into the room. They all looked at him. He looked at Sam.

"I still haven't decided yet, but there is one thing I would like to do before I make up my mind."

"What's that Dad?"

"Cassie said that the host is still alive."

"Yes."

"So the symbiote is still inside her?"

"Yes, until another host is found." Jacob nodded.

"I would like to meet the host. I would like to go through the gate and meet the host and symbiote. If that is OK." He looked at the three tok'ra.

"Yes. It is OK."

"Jack, I would like for you to come with me."

"Sir, permission to take SG1 with me?"

"Granted. Colonel, get SG1 to gear up and I'll find some BDU's for Jacob."

"Thanks, Sir." Then they all stood up and Jack and Teal'c walked to the door.

"Coming Dad?"

"Sure thing Jack."

"I'll wait for you down in the gate room Dad."

"Sure thing kiddo." Then he followed Jack out the door.

Ten minutes later SG1 and Jacob walked into the gate room. When the stargate started moving, Sam looked at her father. He walked up to her.

"Whatever you decide to do Dad, you know I'll support you."

"I know kiddo."

They both hugged as Sam looked at Jack. When they pulled apart, they looked at the stargate just as the wormhole was formed.

"Incredible."

"Yes, it is Dad." He looked at Sam.

"See you when I return."

"I'll be here." They both hugged. Then Jack gave Sam a kiss before they followed the tok'ra up the ramp.

"Remember what I said." Jack said.

"Yes." They walked through the gate to the other side and then the gate shut down.

Sam walked back to her lab and tried to do some work while waiting.

When Jacob stepped onto the planet, he looked around and followed the others. Jack was next to him so he could keep an eye on him just in case something happened to him.

When they stood together, the rings took them to the underground tunnel.

"Wow!" Jacob said, when he looked around.

"Cool, ey Dad?"

"I'll say." They followed the tok'ra down to where the sick tok'ra was.

Jacob talked to both symbiote and host for a short while until the host was starting to get weaker. They all noticed it. Jacob looked at the host and thought about what Sam said about them being a dying race... everything. He looked at Jack, then to the tok'ra.

"I'll do it. I'll be come Selmac's host."

"Are you sure?"

"What have I got to lose? What do I do?"

The tok'ra got everything set up and Jacob laid down next to the host. The tok'ra managed to roll the host onto her side facing Jacob.

"OK. What do I do now?" he asked.

"Kiss me."

Jacob lean forward and opened his mouth. Just as he did, Selmac leaped out of it's old host's mouth and into Jacob's mouth. The host closed her eyes for the last time. Jacob rolled onto his back and turned his head.

"Good-bye my friend." Selmac said. Then he closed his eyes.

The tok'ra took the body away while the others waited. Jack checked Jacob's pulse every ten minutes to see it was still going strong. Three hours later, Jacob opened his eyes and groaned as he put his hand on his head. Jack walked over to him.

"Dad, are you OK?"

"Yeah, to much information."

"Oh, so your OK besides the headache?"

"Yeah." He sat and swung his legs over the side of the bed while he rested there for a minute.

"How's Selmac?"

"Good. She's resting."

"OK." Then the tok'ra walked in and over to them.

"How are you Selmac?"

"She resting. She was weak when she entered into me."

"We understand. We will let you go home for a few days. Selmac can return when it is time."

"Sure, thanks." Then he got up from the bed.

"Holly Hannah! No more arthritis!" He moved his hands and bent his knees while smiling.

"That's good to know Dad." Jack said smiling.

A few minutes later, they stepped onto the ramp and the gate close down behind them. They walked down to where Sam and Hammond were waiting.

"Dad, how did it go?"

"Good. It's going to take time to get use to having another voice in my head." Sam looked at him.

"You blended?"

"Yes, and the tok'ra's name is Selmac. She is one of the oldest and wisest among the tok'ra."

"That's good to know Dad."

"Dad will be staying for few days while Selmac regains her strength, and while Dad gets used to having her in his head, before going to be with the tok'ra."

"OK, well, in that case, SG1 and Colonel Carter, you all have the next four days off. See you all on Monday."

"Yes Sir."

Then they all walked out of the gate room talking. Jacob spent the weekend with Jack and Sam, while the boys were at Sara's place. Both Jack and Sam were able to talk to Selmac on Saturday and Sunday before the boys returned. Selmac asked them a lot of questions. They were able to answer most of them.

Over the week while on base, Selmac spoke to Daniel to find out more about Ra and about where he was when he was on Earth. Daniel even went to Abydos to show Jacob and Selmac what he found there and he was able to translate for them. When they returned to the SGC, they were still talking.

Jack was with Sam in her lab. She was looking at a device that an SG team brought back while Jack was catching up with his memos. He pulled Sam away for their lunch and afternoon snack.

Jacob and Selmac were on earth for two weeks before they told them it was time. They understood. He spoke to the boys' two days before he left. They understood and would be looking forward to seeing him again. Just after Jacob left, SG1 started going on missions again.