As the klaxon sounded, General Hammond headed toward Sergeant Harriman. He leaned over the man's shoulder to see the computer monitor. "Who is it, Sergeant?"

"It looks like SG-1's IDC, sir." Harriman looked for Hammond's reaction.

Hammond relaxed visibly. "Open the iris." He turned his attention to the Gate room, and waited for Colonel O'Neill and Doctor Jackson to come through. When they did, he thought they looked upset. Colonel O'Neill looked downright angry. Hammond made his way down the stairs.

"What happened, Colonel?" he asked.

O'Neill shook his head. "Bad news, sir. Might put a kink in getting Carter and Teal'c back as soon as we hoped. The Gould are going to attack the Yetri."

Hammond's eyes widened. "Are you sure? How do you know?"

"I caught one using a communication sphere, talking to Cronus," O'Neill said.

Hammond sighed. "Briefing room in an hour. We'll discuss our options then."

O'Neill nodded. "Will do, sir. Come on Daniel, I need food."

Doctor Jackson followed him, nodding to Hammond.

After they left, Hammond stood staring at the Stargate for a minute. Of all the times for Major Carter and Teal'c to disappear. The Goa'uld were attacking a peaceful people, and the SGC's own people were missing. He sighed. Well. He would just make sure the Yetri were safe, so that the SGC could bring home the rest of SG-1.

S-G-C-S-G-C

"Major Carter? Are you all right?" Darrow asked. His voice sounded concerned for her, and he looked at her anxiously.

Carter jerked her head up, and blinked. "What? Oh, Darrow, I'm sorry." She smiled at him reassuringly. "I just zoned out, I guess. We've been staring at these same plans for hours. I just can't seem to absorb any more right now."

Darrow nodded in understanding. He stood and stretched. "Why don't we take a break, for now? The celebration is tonight. We can start again tomorrow."

Carter smiled ruefully. "I think that's a good idea, actually." She stood, and stretched. She rolled her neck, and winced as it popped loudly. "Well. That feels better."

Darrow's eyes squinted in what she was coming to recognize as his own quiet brand of laughter. A smile spread across his face as he said, "I have an idea, Colonel. I think Teal'c would be interested, as well."

Carter looked at him curiously. "What is it?"

"I believe you would enjoy seeing the village prepare for the celebration. The whole town helps, and it's just as much fun as the festival itself."

Carter smiled. "So... it's like the party before the party."

Darrow's eyes squinted again, before laughing out loud. "Yes. That would be a good description!" He laughed again. "Shall we? Where has Teal'c gone?"

"I think he went with Yokan."

Darrow headed for the door. "I know where he is, then. Yokan will have gotten him to help, by now."

Carter was puzzled at his lack of expansion, but as he was already through the door, decided to follow and see what he meant, for herself.

Carter stopped dead in her tracks when she saw how Teal'c was 'helping'. She started to laugh.

Teal'c was sitting in the middle of a crowd of Yetri youngsters. Several sat on his lap, and another was rubbing at the tattoo on his forehead. Teal'c seemed to be enjoying himself, oddly enough.

Carter turned questioning eyes onto Darrow.

He squinted. "None of the chaile have ever seen a Jaffa, before. They are very curious." He coughed. "And it seemed many of their parents have taken advantage of that."

Carter looked again, and grinned. The children's parents seemed to have taken the opportunity presented by the newcomer to leave the children there, so that they could finish preparing for the celebration.

She ambled over to Teal'c, wading through the sparkling – literally – faces of the Yetri children to reach him.

"Having fun?", she joked.

Teal'c smiled. "Indeed. They remind me of Rya'c, when he was young."

Carter smiled again, as one of the children latched onto her leg. She made room for herself to sit beside Teal'c. Two of the Yetri children immediately climbed into her lap.

One of them appeared to be several years older than the other. She touched Carter's face, lightly. Then she smiled, her large white teeth gleaming in the light filtering through the trees.

She touched tip of her forefinger to her nose, and said, "Nak."

Carter caught on, and touched her own nose, and said it in English.

The little girl grinned delightedly, and touched her eyes. "Yak."

Carter tugged on the child's shining black braid.

The girl pulled lightly at Carter's blonde hair. "Val".

The game continued, for a while, as twilight fell over the village.

Soon the children's parents were beckoning them home. When they had left, Carter and Teal'c stood and stretched. Carter turned to see Kowalski approaching.

Kowalski waved in greeting. "You guys seen where you're staying, yet?"

Carter shook her head. "No, not yet."

"Come on. You're next door to my team." He headed toward the center of town.

Carter looked at Teal'c. "Okay, then." Teal'c tilted his head in a nod.

"Tell me what happened, Colonel," General Hammond ordered as he sat.

O'Neill sighed, and leaned on his elbows on the briefing room table.

"I was helping Dr. Lee's people move stuff into the lab, when I saw one of the Yetri going toward the woods. I'm not sure why I decided to follow him. Just thought I should. I tailed him to a clearing, where he was already using the sphere thing. I saw Cronus's face in it, and he told the guy to keep us from finding Carter and Teal'c. He wants us separated, so the Yetri will be easy pickings for him."

"Why does he want to attack the Yetri?" Hammond asked.

Daniel piped in, "Why do Goa'uld ever attack anyone? Cronus wants more territory, more power. And the Yetri have some pretty impressive technology. I'm sure Cronus would love to get his hands on it."

O'Neill blew out a breath. "We just have to keep him away from the Yetri. General, they're peaceful people. And they won't defend themselves. I want to volunteer to stay there for a while, see what we can do."

Hammond leaned back, and sighed. "Colonel, I appreciate what you're saying, but I don't know if we have the resources to keep the Gould away from their planet. And I don't know if I like the idea of losing our own people while fighting for others."

O'Neill leaned forward. "General, Carter and Teal'c are in another reality. I know you want them back as much as I do, and the Yetri are our way of getting them back. If we don't protect these people, we may never see our people again."

Hammond sighed again, and nodded. "All right. I'll get teams two, four, and nine together. You'll leave at 0800."

O'Neill sat back in relief. "Thank you, sir."

Hammond stood and turned toward his office. "You're welcome. Dismissed."

Glossary:

Chaile..........children

Nak..........nose

Yak..........eye

Val..........hair

A/N: I wish I could say I can post more often now, but I'm in the middle of moving. Not fun. Anyway, the next chapter will be longer. Just don't know when I'll have the time to write it.