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Teal'c stood beside the metal platform in his cell and contemplated the force-field. The Felate had stepped through the field as if it had not existed. Given the level of technology that these people obviously had, Teal'c was debating whether the force-field was merely an illusion or whether the Felate carried some device that allowed him to pass through the field unharmed.
Logically, the latter scenario held more merit. But, as far as his heart was concerned, he wished that the first scenario were true. He wanted to find his friends; he was anxious to know what had befallen them.
The Felate had wanted answers to some peculiar and irrelevant questions and Teal'c could not help but worry as to the motives behind such questions. As always, when being questioned by an unknown species, Teal'c had refrained from giving any answers at all and had simply observed the Felate's agitation. The Felate had given up on him all too soon, but his insistence on knowing the relationships amongst the team had worried him. There was something else as well. Something about the way that the Felate moved – as if he were unaccustomed to his own body. Perhaps it was simply the way the man handled himself, but Teal'c did not think so. He filed the speculation away for the time being.
Teal'c frowned at the force-field once again. He had had enough of prisons and cages over his many years. Now that he appeared to have regained much of his youthful strength and vitality, he had discovered an impatience within him. A reluctance to once again live a life struggling against oppression; an impatience with fighting for his freedom and for the freedom of those he cared for. Perhaps he had lived amongst humans for too long but he craved a quieter life now. One in which he could enjoy simple human friendships and the enjoyable tasks of life without having to fight to achieve them.
Teal'c pushed aside his thoughts and reached out a hand to the force-field. It stung unpleasantly against his hand and was as unyielding as stone. Much as he hated to, he would have to wait and hope that his friends were safe.
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Sam glared at the Felate.
"What are you so stubborn?" The Felate glared back at her. "I've asked a simple, harmless question regarding your relationship to your so called friends. Why is that such a difficult question to answer?"
"Why are you so insistent on knowing?" countered Sam quietly. "What possible relevance has it got to this situation?"
The Felate stared at a space passed her shoulder and refused to answer. "We already know that you are not the child's biological mother, neither are your 'friends' biologically related to the child. I simply wish to know if you have any cultural attachments to one another. Are you 'married' to any of these friends? Was this child perhaps far older before he was rejuvenated? Is he your husband?"
Sam shook her head. "I won't answer your questions until I see all of my friends. I doubt that any of us will answer such an irrelevant question without knowing what your motives are in the first place."
The Felate ran a hand through his coulourful hair and with one last glare at her he simply stepped back through the force-field.
Sam took in a slow calming breath of air. So this had something to do with Daniel. Sam chewed at her lip thoughtfully. She wished she knew what was going on. So far she had established that the Felate was prepared to grant Jack a partial citizenship because of his Ancient gene. That probably meant that these people were direct descendants of the Ancient's themselves. Maybe they wanted to know if Jack's citizenship rights extended to others in the group because of marriage or other cultural links – but then why had the Felate focussed so much on Daniel?
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Jack was finally getting used to having a new improved body. He was going through a series of push ups and stretches with a stupid grin plastered across his face the entire time. Every move was easy and pain free. He felt fit and healthy – if a tad hungry. Actually, he felt fantastic. The hardest thing of all was shaking the habit of wanting to compensate for his bad knee – and his arthritis, his back, his eyes and … yeah, it felt great to be young again.
Jack pulled up in front of the force-field again. He could see through it without any trouble. His nose got a little tingly if he got too close to it but it was definately impenetrable - for him at least. He wondered what sort of doohickey the Felate had on him that allowed him to pass freely – and if he could lift it next time the man decided to visit.
Jack got within tingle range of the force-field and looked as far down the hall beyond the force-field as he could. There was no-one in sight. He stepped back and ran his hands down the walls beside the force-field looking for a panel that he could pry open or something. If he could get out of this cell and find the others, he'd feel a whole lot better. He didn't get the impression that these people were violent – but they were up to something with all of their questions – and Jack was guessing that it couldn't be good.
The hairs on the back of his neck started to stiffen and Jack stepped back scanning the cell warily. There was a faint sizzling sound from what Jack had guessed were the security monitors built into the ceiling. He watched as the two round discs darkened and went dead.
On the floor beside the sleeping platform one of the smaller crystal healing rocks began to shimmer into existence.
Jack watched it form with raised eyebrows. It glowed faintly and a trendil of light stretched toward the forcefield and writing began to form in front of it.
"Concerned friends?"
Jack's eyebrows wiggled in surprise. The writing faded away and he looked back at the rock. "Ahhh – that would be yes."
"Take you unseen? Protect the Daniel one."
Jack stared at it, and then back at the writing appearing in front of the forcefield. "Daniel needs help?"
"Felate must not have the Daniel."
Jack crouched down beside the crystal. "I can't help him if I'm stuck in this cell. And I need to help all of my team. Do you know if they need help as well?"
"Can take you unseen if willing. Must protect the Daniel."
Jack nodded impatiently. "Yeah I'm willing. How do we do this?"
"Take this one onto your hand."
Jack scooped up the rock surprised to find that it pulsed with warmth. He was looking at his hand holding the rock thingy – and then it faded away – along with his hand. Jack yelped. In seconds the rest of him had faded and he was the invisible man. Now he knew what the rock had meant by the 'unseen' bit. "Sam is never going to believe this," Jack murmured. His voice sounded odd – like he was talking under water.
He stepped over to the force-field cautiously and waited for the tingle effect. Nothing happened and Jack stepped quickly through.
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Huge apologies for being so late with this update. I was getting better but pushed myself too much trying to catch up on all of the things I should have done when I got the flu. As a result I had another brush with pnemonia - but only on one side thankfully. I'm improving and have written this chapter from my bed - after a zillion alterations. Hope you enjoy.