Colonel Samantha Carter had been working at her computer console for almost 12 hours since Daniel and Anna had been taken when the need for sleep overcame her.

It was no surprise really, she had been awake for 38 hours straight. A large part of which she had spent trying to get the ships systems back on line. Jack had tried to persuade her to get some rest, but she had managed to fobbed him off. In the end he relented, knowing full well what she was like when she put her mind to something. He knew she wouldn't rest until she had everything up and running, especially when they were up against an enemy like the Furlings. So far her hard work had paid off, she had almost 90% of the systems running again, including the shielding to which she had made a few modifications trying to replicate the shielding that had been around Science Lab 1.

Sometime later she became aware of someone shaking her shoulder.

"You know, I'm fairly sure it wasn't designed as a pillow."

Raising her head, Sam could feel the imprint of the keyboard on her face. Turning she saw Vala.

"That's a new look." Vala's eyes glanced over Sam's face and hair, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I... must of felled asleep." Sam reached up, smoothing her hair back down, and running her hand over her face, feeling the indentations left behind from the keyboard. "Sorry."

"Well I assume you weren't laying your face on the keyboard because it felt good, unless of course there's something going on that I don't know about. I know you love computers but that would be a bit kinky, even for me." Seeing the faint blush on Sam's cheeks Vala could tell that she was embarrassed about being caught napping on the job, deciding that she better not tease her any more she held out the mug she was holding. "I brought you this."

"Oh... thanks." Sam reached out taking the mug in her hands. Now she felt even more embarrassed, here was Vala being kind by bringing her a drink, and she been caught sleeping. Bringing the mug to her mouth, she inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of apple and cinnamon with a hint of orange and something else... Whatever it was it smelled heavenly. Taking a small snip it tasted even better, sending a pleasing warmth through her body. Briefly shutting her eyes, she savored the taste. "Mmm... that's delicious."

"Secret ingredient," said Vala, sitting down in a chair next to Sam, "So, I've been thinking and I've got an idea."

Vala saw the slightly surprised look on Sam's face. "You know, I am more than just a pretty face," she said, giving her a smile before going serious, "Look, you and the others seem to forget I've survived on my own for most of my life. I've dealt with thieves, smugglers and mercenaries, as well as a variety of aliens. Not to mention being a Goa'uld host, and I don't need to tell you about the Ori."

"What's your point?" Sam guessed that Vala was going somewhere with this.

"My point is, I know how to think outside the circle."

Sam smiled. "You mean the box."

"The box, the circle, the whatever. It doesn't matter. What matters is getting Daniel and Anna back.... alive. So why don't we give the Furlings what they want."

"They've already taken what they wanted, Vala."

"No, they've taken what they think they want. When they realise that Daniel and Anna have no idea where the entity is, or even if there really is another one, what do you think their going to do to them. As General O'Neill would say 'their screwed' unless we can find a way of getting them back."

"I take it you've come up with something." Sam had to admit she was curious. Like all of them, she knew that Daniel and Anna were in a lot of danger, and from what Thor had told them about the Furlings, she knew that the chances of Daniel and Anna being let go once they realized that they were no use to them were pretty slim.

"The Furlings want knowledge. That's what the little gray... man said. So why don't we give them what they seek. We've got the entire Asgard database on this ship. It's got to be worth something to the Furlings, maybe a lot of something. Say the lives of 2 people..." Vala looked at Sam with an expected look on her face. "Well... say something."

"I'm sorry Vala, but I really don' think it's going to help. If the Furlings wanted the database they would of taken it." Sam hated to put a damper on things, she could tell that Vala really did want to help and had thought a lot about this.

"Well your right. They might of tried to have taken it, if they had known it was here. But what if they don't know it's here. I know they had a peek into our minds, but to be honest the Asgard database wasn't the foremost thought in my mind when they were having a nosy around. And I'm pretty sure it was the same for the others. I don't think they know it's here."

Sam had to admit that Vala had a point. And the more she thought about it, the more plausible it became. The Furlings had in all likelihood just been concentrating on finding the Entity, they wouldn't have looked for anything else. Having experienced mind probes herself she knew that often it was just memories that surfaced, and usually ones that were important, that had meaning to an individual. Daniel's ascension was a big part of him, so it was logical that the memory would of surfaced. Just as memories of the Entity would of surfaced for Anna. Both of these things would of gotten the attention of the Furlings.

Vala could tell by the expression on Sam's face that she was beginning to think that she had made a valid point. "I'm right, aren't I?"

In answer Sam turned her attention back to her console, tapping on the keys.

"What are you doing now?"

"Just give me a sec." Sam scanned through the data she had brought up, looking for something to confirm an idea.

"Well....!" Vala was getting impatient, and in frustration got up and walked around to the other side of the console, standing in front of Sam. "Sam, say something, please!"

"Mmm... here it is."

Sam's quickly read through what she had found. In the background she could hear Vala breathing heavily with frustration. After reading through it twice she looked up, a big smile on her face. "The Furlings never scanned us. They just hit us with that energy charge. Once we were dead in the water, they went after you on the Ancient ship. You were easy targets to them. They were probably confident they could find what they wanted to know from you without going after this ship. As far as they were concerned we weren't a threat."

"So...."

"So, you're right. At least probably right. They might know that some of the ship as Asgard technology, but the Asgard and the Furlings haven't been in contact for thousands of years. They really have no idea that the Asgard stored their entire knowledge on this ship, they probably don't even know that the Asgard are dead."

"Then that's a good thing. If they think the Asgard are still alive, they might back off bit. Or at least keep their distance until their ready. We could use that to our advantage. And if we have something that is very tempting to them, well... all the better."

"Perhaps. Though I'm sure sure that the Furlings wouldn't honor any deal made with them. Once they got what they wanted, they'd..."

"...kill us all. Already thought of that. We just have to come up with a way for that not to happen, then. In the meantime we've got something they'll want. So I think you need to find a way of protecting that database, so the Furlings can't come in here and take it, just in case they do ever figure out what we've got on board."

"Actually I think I might be able to do that. Just give me an hour or two." Sam looked back down at the console and began taping on the keys.

"Right, well since my work here is done, I think I'll go and tell Mitchell my idea. The poor boy could do with some good news, it might just put a smile on his face."

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