A week later.

The Tok'ra had met with first secretary Kori and he had introduced them to several members of the government. It had taken a whole week to get to speak to someone from the Department of Defense. They had just returned from this meeting, during which they had attempted to convince the officials that a very real threat existed. It had been difficult as they could not tell who they really were - only that they were travellers from another world. They had attempted to convince the officials that this had given them opportunity to hear certain rumours - rumours that had been confirmed during their travels to other planets.

It had not gone as well as they had hoped. There was only one who believed them enough to talk the others into letting the Tok'ra meet with representatives of the military and the air force. To let members of the armed forces hear the story and evaluate the potential threat. The meeting would take place in one week - it was not possible to find a time before that.

"A week from now - there is already at most 3 weeks before Nephthys arrives. Are these people fools?" Lantash sounded exasperated.

"They do not know we are anything but traders from Toven, who just happened to come across information about a planned invasion. I believe we are lucky they will meet with us at all." Thoran said.

"That is true." Lantash conceded. "Perhaps we were wrong to conceal our identity."

"Perhaps so. We will have to give some consideration to whether or not we should reveal our true nature to some of their representatives. However, there is also the risk they might believe us to be another faction of the Goa'uld, wishing to lure them in and take over this world ourselves."

"They cannot believe that! They have traded with our people for centuries!" Malek pointed out.

"We have no way of knowing what they will believe. While revealing our identity may convince them that we indeed have genuine information about the Goa'uld, it will most likely also make them suspicious. It will be obvious to them that biologically we are the same species." Zarin said.

"...and they may not feel any great love and trust towards beings who to them are the same as their old, evil gods. I see your point." Lantash sighed.

"Be that as it may. We have a week to consider our approach. For now, we need to get ready. We do not want to be late for the dinner first secretary Kori is hosting for us at his house, tonight."

-
One day earlier.

The young man looked distractedly at the landscape outside the window, as the maglev - the magnetic monorail - zoomed past it. He was on his way home from the university to spend the summer vacation with his parents and sister. Five whole weeks back home. He was looking forward to seeing his family and friends - and to walk in the local forests and hills again. He had missed it all.

Lost in his own thoughts, the 4 hour trip home to Kiva felt very short. Soon they announced his stop. Collecting his bags he got off the maglev. He had not taken many steps before he spotted his mother. Waving at her, he ran to her.

"Mother," he dropped his luggage and hugged her. "I missed you!"

"I have missed you too, my dear," she hugged him back. "Come...your father and sister are waiting for us at home - they have dinner ready..."

"Sounds good - I'm starving!"

"You're always starving..." she smiled, "...it is good to have you home."

"It is good to be home...has anything interesting happened while I have been gone?"

"Hmmm...not much which I have not told you of before...traders from Toven are visiting our planet. Your father has been meeting with them."

"Really? From Toven - another planet! Did they come through the Ring of the Gods...the chaapa'ai? Do you think I could meet them? There is so much I would like to ask them!"

"Calm down," his mother laughed at his enthusiasm. "Yes...I would imagine they came through the Ring of the Gods. Perhaps you will get to ask them about Toven. Your father has invited them to a dinner tomorrow, at our house."

"Wow! That's...that's great!" he said excitedly. "People from another world...do you think they would show me how to use the chaapa'ai? I..."

"No! You will not ask them about it - and you will not go near it...it is bad luck!"

"Mother! You cannot mean that! It's superstition. My professor says it is just a piece of technology - not magical in any way. She believes it should be studied and used by our people."

"It would only bring problems - superstition or not...and we would risk the wrath - and return - of the evil gods of old."

The young man shook his head and decided not to pursue the matter further. He changed the subject as they stepped into the trolley which would take them to their local bus-stop. "So, mother...you said dinner was waiting for us. What are we having?"

-
The evening of the next day.

First secretary Kori and his wife Aldis had prepared a number of local delicacies for their foreign guests who had just arrived. Kori welcomed them and showed them into the house, introducing them to the two other guests. They were the chairman of the Defense committee, Sholnek, and Legate Sokkolf - an old classmate of Kori's and the commander of the local military district. Hopefully, if he would only believe the truth and realise there was a very real danger of attack, he would be able to convince some of the planet's other military leaders. After the introductions they all sat down at the table.

"Welcome everyone...and a special welcome to our Toven friends...Jena Zarin, I remember meeting you 10 years ago, when I was just a junior secretary. I must say, time has been good to you - you do not look a day older." Kori smiled. He then looked over at his wife, and at his two children. "You have all met Aldis, my lovely wife, but my children are here tonight as well. My daughter Svala, and my son Atli...he is home on vacation from the university, where he has already studied the natural sciences for a year, despite being only 17! Not even old enough to take his adult name yet, and already a young scholar..." Kori smiled proudly at his son, who looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. Why did his father have to talk about him? "One day he will become a famous scientist, of that I am sure!"

The foreigners smiled kindly at Atli, especially the young woman named Jena, who sat next to him. She seemed to have taken an interest in him.

*Jena - this young man could potentially be an excellent host. It is too bad the Goa'uld are coming. We need more time to evaluate him. To determine if he might be interested and, if so, to teach him what it means to be Tok'ra.*

*Yes, I agree. It is an unfortunate fact that we always need more hosts. Currently there is no one waiting for a symbiote. It is a dangerous situation. If someone should be badly injured...*

*I know. Perhaps we should talk with the young man - see what we can learn. Maybe there will be time to come back and tell him more, before Nephthys arrives.*

*Or maybe we succeed in rallying this world's military forces and they defeat her. Is that not why we are here? Do you already believe our mission has failed?*

*No...no, not quite yet...but it is going far too slow. It will be another week before we meet with their military leaders. Even if they allow themselves to be convinced quickly - which I doubt - there will be 1, at most 2 weeks before Nephthys arrives. There is barely enough time to prepare their forces.*

*I fear you are correct...but I hope you are not. This world has come very far - and they actually have a chance...to let that chance pass...to see them turned into slaves again...*

*Yes, it will not be a pleasant thing...Jena, that is for the future. Now we shall focus on young Atli, and see if he could perhaps be a potential host.*

*Agreed.* Jena turned her focus outward again and smiled at Atli.

"So my young friend... your father tells me that you are a brilliant student at the university."

Atli blushed, but did not say anything. He tried desperately to keep his eyes from her cleavage, but failed miserably to the point were he did not notice her smile as she watched him struggle.

Jena leaned forward causing Atli's pulse to increase even further. "How much have you learned about other cultures - on other planets, that is? Do they teach you about the chaapa'ai?"

"Not very much." He quickly glanced at the beautiful woman beside him, then shyly looked away, again flushing slightly. "We...we know of other worlds...that they are inhabited...like...like your world, but nothing more specific. We do not use the chaapa'ai. In the old times, the evil, so-called 'gods' came through the chaapa'ai - many people still fear it and that we might anger these 'gods' and bring them and their wrath on us if we should ever use it - or even just go near it." He glanced at her again, trying to determine how she reacted to what he had said.

"...but you do not believe so?"

"No. I believe we should study it, learn to use it. Idon't believe the so-called 'gods' were truly gods," he stated proudly, then gave his mother a quick look. She seemed somewhat disapproving.

*Good - this may be to our advantage, Zarin.*

*Yes, he does not believe the Goa'uld are gods - but how would he react to actually meeting one - or in this case, a Tok'ra? Would he be fearful and think us gods, when faced with the reality?*

*This we cannot know. Let us talk with him some more - and hope we get a chance to one day ask him to become a host.*

"You are quite correct, young Atli," Jena patted his shoulder in a friendly manner, "there is nothing supernatural about the chaapa'ai - it is merely a useful piece of transportation technology. No more magical than your 'maglev's' - just much more advanced. Your 'evil gods' were just people who had learned to use it - as well as a few other pieces of technology - to fool others into fearing them and serving them," she smiled at him.

Atli's mother sent Jena a disapproving look. What did this...this tart think she was doing? Not only were she dressed in a very revealing dress - she also seemed to enjoy parading her charms in front of Atli - and she was reinforcing Atli's dangerous ideas about the Ring of the Gods! Why had Kori invited this woman? He seemed to have a vivid recollection of her beauty, and he kept complimenting her...she would keep an eye on that woman - she would not be allowed to corrupt her young son!

After dinner, Kori and his guests retreated to another room. Kori was convinced the Toven traders had brought important and correct information. He had met Jena Zarin before, and he both liked and trusted her. Hopefully, his old classmate Sokkolf could be convinced of the danger - and maybe even talk to his colleagues and superiors. Chairman Sholnek seemed unconvinced, but at least he was not totally rejecting the idea offhand.

-
Later that evening.

The Tok'ra had just returned to their room at the guesthouse. The dinner and the subsequent discussions with Kori, Sholnek, and Legate Sokkolf had turned out well. While Sholnek remained skeptical, he had promised to talk to the other members of the Defense Committee and arrange a meeting with the Defense Minister.

"This was a good evening," Malek said. "Sokkolf seems willing to do his best to convince the rest of the military that the threat is real. He will be present when we meet with their military leaders next week."

"Yes, and we may well persuade some of them, but I doubt enough will listen unless we reveal ourselves, and maybe not even then." Lantash said.

"Considering the superstition still existing about the Goa'uld I do not think that would be wise," Zarin observed. "Still, I believe we may be able to convince some of them, but I fear it will not be quickly enough."

Lantash nodded, agreeing with her. "You spent quite some time talking to that young man - Atli. Did you learn anything useful, or were you merely enjoying his shy adoration?" he grinned.

Zarin rolled her eyes, but ignored his teasing. "We were evaluating his host-potential. He is very young, but quite intelligent and rational. He even seems to have some diplomatic abilities already. He does not believe the Goa'uld are gods, nor does he fear the chaapa'ai like so many others on this world. If we do succeed in saving this planet from Nephthys, then we should stay in contact. I believe he may one day be willing to volunteer as host."

"Let us hope so. Lately it has become even more difficult to find voluntary hosts." Malek observed.