Five months later, and Daniel was aboard a Goa'uld mothership, disguised as Yu's lok'taur(?). Both Jacob and Selmak had done much to allay his misgivings, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that something would go wrong. This was usually the gut feeling he subconsiously got whenever he was about to touch something that would try to blow him to kingdom come, or something very, very bad.

He was presently waiting in the meeting room with Yu and several other System Lords. He knew they were all impatiently waiting for the final System Lord to arrive, and he, too, wished they would get there soon.

Suddenly, a slave walked in. He was greeted with silence. "My Lords," he announced, "the final guest has arrived."

Daniel got his "ring" out just as Osiris strode in. Surprised, Daniel moved to get out of Osiris's line of vision.

"Welcome, Osiris," Ba'al said. He showed no emotion over the other Goa'uld's entrance.

"I thank you for honoring my request," replied Osiris.

One of the System Lords--Olokun, Daniel remembered--opened his mouth to speak. Before any sound came out, someone disturbingly familiar spoke, "What? No welcoming party for me? Zeus won't be pleased about that when I report it to him."

Osiris moved and Daniel was able to confirm, without a doubt, who the speaker was:

Sam.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam was leaning casually against the opening to the summit chamber, attired in a teal tunic and earth-brown breeches. She barely concealed a gasp of amazement when she saw Daniel standing behind Yu. To prevent herself from making any slips that might reveal her friend--she still considered Daniel her friend, as he was not a part of her being left behind; and she figured that Daniel's situation wasn't like hers, where he was really serving a System Lord--Sam forced her gaze to evenly sweep over the surprised System Lords.

"This summit is for System Lords only," Osiris snarled.

"Am I not considered one?" Sam gasped in mock surprise. "I'm here to represent Zeus. Last I looked, a System Lord was allowed to send his second-in-command."

"Only the Goa'uld are allowed to participate in a summit," Ba'al argued.

Sam allowed her eyes to flicker to Daniel for a moment. His face was a still mask but she saw a myriad of emotions warring in his eyes.

"And technically I can be here since I am the second of Zeus's command," Sam replied calmly.

"Jarren?" she head Yu mutter, holding out his hand for a drink. Obediently, Daniel gave it to him, his face hidden.

"Second-in-command or leader of the harem?" Osiris asked. "Last I looked, concubines weren't allowed to be here. Lok'taur or other."

"I am not a slutty concubine," hissed Sam, her eyes narrowing.

"Both of you, silence," Ba'al growled. "We will accept both of you as System Lords, for this summit only."

Ignoring Sam, Osiris turned to Ba'al. "I think you'll find I have much to offer. Shall we proceed?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the summit broke for a short break, Daniel rushed to his part of Yu's quarters. Jacob had to know Sam was here and aparently serving a System Lord. Rumaging, he found the communication device and said, "Jacob?"

"Daniel, what's the delay?" Jacob asked. "Everyone should be there by now."

"Yeah, we got a full house. There's just a couple of problems." Daniel debated whether he should tell Jacob about Sam or Sarah first. Not wanting to stay silent for too long, Daniel blurted, "Sarah's here." Instantly, he wanted to smack himself. Jacob needed to hear about his daughter right away. At least, according to the others, Sam wasn't really a Goa'uld so the poison shouldn't affect her. He still found it disturbing if not impossible that Sam would willingly serve the Goa'uld. Either that, or she was undercover.

"Sarah? You mean Osiris? Did she recognize you? What's the other problem?"

"I don't know if she recognised me," Daniel answered. "Look, the--" The door to his quarters opened. Hiding the device, Daniel turned to see Osiris.

"Daniel Jackson. You're a rather long way from home aren't you?" Osiris smiled. The door closed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam was trying to get to Yu's servants' quarters. Instinct--and common sense--told her that's where Daniel would be. Stopping outside the door, she heared voices from within. Her heart skipped a beat and a dark pit formed in the bottom of her stomach when Osiris's voice wafted through the hard metal.

She opened the door and saw the snake-head advancing on Daniel, something glinting in his hand. Sam bluffed, "Ya know, Osiris, there aren't supposed to be any weapons here." Osiris whirled around and Daniel's eyes widened in shock. "I'm not well versed in the Egyptian god imposter's politics, but I believe no weapons are allowed in any kind of peace talks."

The Goa'uld's eyes glowed briefly. "Well then, if you want to make peace with servants, be my guest."

"Get out before I report you to the others," Sam growled.

Osiris left with a mockingly knowing smile. Sam watched him leave. Her gaze going back to Daniel, she saw his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Look, I'm not going to betray you," Sam said. "I don't stab my friends in the back."

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Daniel hissed.

Sam winced. "If you want to. Can a take a guess at what you're doing here?" At his dubious expression, Sam said, "Considering I'm low on the food chain in there, I had plenty of time to think."

"Fine," Daniel shrugged.

"If it makes you feel any better, I won't even tell Zeus about you infiltrating the summit. Very clever, by the way. I'll give the Tok'ra points for that." Sam motioned to a chair. "Mind if I sit?" He shrugged and she sat down, while he remained standing. "I've been sitting down the whole time; you haven't. It's your place here, so you're welcome to sit." He didn't move. "Okay then. The Tok'ra wanted someone to act as lok'taur to Yu so they sent you. I have no clue what they want you here for, but I'll guess that it's some form of sabotage.

"In being here, you also need some way to communicate with a nearby Tok'ra ship. You have a communication device here somewhere." Sam studied his face to see if she was close. His thoughts and emotions were well guarded. "Go ahead, talk with my dad or whoever's on the ship. I won't stop you. In fact, I may even help you report. I hate all of them as much as I ever did, but because of Jolinar, I can't hate the Tok'ra. Therefore, I'm more willing to side with them in a n arguement. I only ask in return that they leave Zeus alone. We were not amused by the Tok'ra's assassination attempt."

"What?" Daniel asked. "No one tried to kill you, did they?"

"No," Sam admitted. "They were after Zeus." She stood up, unable to remain sitting. Biting her lip, she met Daniel's eyes. "I missed you," she murmured.

Daniel blinked, aparently taken aback. "We-we all missed you too."

"I'm sure," Sam shrugged. "Then that explains why I was left behind."

"What?" Daniel asked again.

"Back on the planet, I saw you get shot and I thought you were dead. It distracted me long enough for me to get killed by a staff blast. I was left behind. It was Zeus that came for me. Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c never even made an attempt to go back and get me." The familiar rage at her friends' desertion welled up. Sam forced it back down. It wasn't Daniel's fault; she had no reason to take her fight out on him.

"Daniel?" a hesitant voice whispered from behind Daniel's back.

Reluctantly, Daniel brought a small communication device into sight. "I'm here," he sighed.

"What was the other problem with the summit?" her father asked. Sam guessed this conversation had been interrupted by Osiris.

She motioned Daniel give the device to her. Despite obvious misgivings, he did so.

"I'm probably the other problem," she said into it.

The other end was silent. Then, "Who is this?"

"Doctor Jackson obviously forgot to mention Zeus's second-in-command, Maia, was attending," she responded, somewhat annoyed her own father didn't even recognize her voice.

"Daniel, what is a queen doing talking to a Tok'ra?" Jacob demanded to know. "No one was supposed to know about this."

"She guessed it," Daniel answered. "That and...despite what my instinct should be, it's telling me we can trust her."

"Oh? Dare I asked why?" Jacob snarled.

"Because, Dad," Sam said, "it's me." She knew it was too late, thanks to her seeing Daniel, to stay hidden, so she figured it was alright for at least her father to know she was okay.

"Sammy?" Jacob whispered. "You're Maia? Zeus's new queen? How? Why haven't you done more to destroy the Tok'ra if you're sided with the Goa'uld now?"

"Because, as I have told Daniel, thanks to Jolinar, if any conflict should arise, I would be more willing to help the Tok'ra than with the Goa'uld," Sam replied quietly.

"And yet Malek tells me you tried to kill him," Selmak said matter-of-factly.

"He succeeded in killing Zeus. At least, temporarily," Sam answered venomously. "You know what? Daniel"--she tossed Daniel his little device--"You finish your report. I have nothing I want to say."

Sam left the servants' quarters and went back to her own quarters to prepare for the second half of the summit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that it probably wasn't the harrowing reunion some were hoping for, but Sam has more issues for conflict. I'm presently working with getting them down. With any luck, I can be done with this by the end of this month. End of March at the absolute latest.