SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

There were voices speaking somewhere. Noisy voices. Jack huffed out a breath in annoyance. Just once, he wished the neighbours would keep it down at the home. He was exhausted and his head ached. Jack groped for a pillow to pull over his head and gripped cold hard metal instead. His eyes snapped open.

"This one is conscious, Felate."

Jack's eyes snapped over to the speaker and saw a pretty young woman with a red stripe through her blonde hair wearing a one piece leasure suit in dark green. She was holding something that looked a lot like a hand device over him. She gave him a small hesitant smile before stepping away from his bed … platform.

Jack sat up. He was in a cell – judging by the pale blue shimmer in front of him. And the bed really was just a metal platform. Jack did a quick double take at his oh-so-youthful hands. Yup, he really had gotten younger and if that was true then all of the rest of it probably was too – including the fact that they had been shot for doing absolutely nothing. That put these people right up there beside the Ori and the Goa'uld in his mind. No-one in their right minds went out and shot unarmed harmless people – with one of them obviously an unconscious boy needing help - just because they happened to be unexpected visitors.

The pretty woman beside him shook her head at him and tucked her device into a pocket. "We are not a violent people," she murmured softly to him.

Jack gave her a doubtful glance and swung his legs over the side of the platform. He couldn't see much around him. Just a plain room. The woman stepped back and a man stepped through the shimmer as if it didn't exist and came to stand beside her. He was about forty five or so with several colours decorating his hair – and making him look slightly silly.

"Nice fashion statement," said Jack with what he hoped was a genuine enough looking smile.

The man considered Jack blandly for a long moment. "I am Felate on this world. It means in your language something akin to councellor and leader – although I believe the concept is only approximate."

Jack nodded his head. "The name's Jack. And I take it that you picked up our language from that little doohickey that that girl was holding … right before she shot us."

The man nodded his head thoughtfully. "Your level of technology is more advanced than we assumed from your clothing and the few instruments that you had with you, if you can recognise such a device. I wish to know from whence you came?"

Jack rubbed at his aching forehead giving himself a moment to get up to speed. "We came through the Stargate, but I think I heard that girl call it the Astria Porta you know … right before she shot us for doing absolutely nothing by the way. I take it that you guys speak Ancient?"

The man's eyebrows rose into his colourful fairline. "You know of us as the Ancients or the Alteran's. From where do you originate?"

Jack titled his head at the guy and took his time standing up as he gathered his thoughts. "I'd like to know where my friends are before I answer any more questions if you don't mind. Daniel was still unconscious when your people attacked us. I'd want to know that they're all okay."

The man frowned at him and considered him for a moment. He spent another longer moment sharing a glance with the woman before turning back to him. "You and your people invaded our world. We have a right to defend ourselves and therefore a right to know the reason for your incursion. My people followed standard security procedures. You were rendered unconscious with a simple stun gun so that we could isolated you and see if you carried any diseases or weapons. The boy was after all unconscious and according to Commander Fife – he appeared unwell. Furthermore, I do not need your spoken answers. "Kie here can take the answers to my questions directly from your mind if she so chose."

Jask felt his own eyebrows rise as he took a glance at the pretty young woman.

"I'm telepathic," she murmured, with another quick smile. She glanced back at the Felate and dropped her gaze.

Jack thought he heard her say: "Sorry," but he hadn't seen her lips move. He blinked his eyes in confusion.

"We're from a little planet called Earth. Now, can I see my friends?"

"Soon. I still have several questions. I know nothing of a place called Earth, but I will have my people search the data bases. You appear non-violent, judging by the lack of weaponry carried by you and your people. And you carry the gene of our own people within you, which allows you partial citizenship here should you so choose. You name your other companions as 'friends' though. They are not linked to you by marriage or by other means?"

"Careful …" came the thought into Jack's mind.

Jack blinked again and only just managed to save himself from glancing at Kie.

Jack rubbed at his eyes. "You don't have anything for a headache do you?"

Kie stepped forward. "Perhaps you are still recovering from the effects of the stunner and from your rejuvenation. You should rest for a time before answering more questions."

Jack watched anger flash across the face of the Felate. Jack stepped back to sit on the edge of the platform thing again, making a bit of a show of weakness. The woman – Kie, could probably see right through him but for some reason she was helping him for the moment, though Jack would trust that help as far as he could throw it. Jack rubbed at his eyes again. He'd have to be careful of his thoughts as well then. Not easy. But this wasn't his first trip 'round the galaxy.

"I'd rest a whole lot better if I knew what happened to my friends," said Jack. "By now you should know that we're not carrying any nasty diseases – well, not anything that can be passed along anyways. Daniel has cancer, but it's not contagious."

The Felate shared a glance with Kie and Jack sighed. Since they could probably pick his thoughts anyway he might as well say what he was thinking. "Look, we came here because we didn't have any other choice. And since you guys don't seem all that friendly or that civilised – we'd like to go home again now, if you don't mind. So how about you take me back to my friends and send us back through the Gate. I'm sure we could find a dozen Gate addresses that would suit us."

The Felate raised an eyebrow at him. "You refuse your right to citizenship, then?"

"Well, I don't take all that kindly to people who shoot unarmed and injured people first and ask questions later, so yeah, we'll get out of your all too colourful hair."

Kie approached him with her little hand device again. "I will do what I can to ease your pain, but rest is what you require foremost."

The Felate stepped back towards the barrier and paused. "I have just one more question before you take your rest."

"Take great care," whispered Kie's voice in Jack's mind.

Jack quirked a questioning brow at the Felate.

"These companions of yours. Are they simply friends or are there closer ties amongst you."

"Don't answer that."

Jack shook his head and winced. "Really I need some rest here first. Can we continue this interrogation thing later? My head hurts too much for me to think straight."

The Felate frowned at him and shot Kie another glance. "As you are unwell, I shall seek my answers from your companions. Some of them should be conscious soon and ready for questioning."

Feeling a lot better although still not back to full strength yet. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. R&R please