Chapter 29 - Expectations
Meeting with the Tok'ra Council was always an interesting experience for Sam. They did not assemble in an actual chamber, and rarely all at once, so the briefings could take place anywhere. This time, though, they had taken the time for most of them to assemble and in a relatively private chamber. They had also provided a seat for Sam and Jolinar, instead of how things usually went with them standing in front of the seated Council.
"Jolinar," began Garshaw as they all took their places. "This meeting is mostly concerning the Tauri, so we will be speaking firstly to your host."
"As I assumed," said Jolinar, bowing her head and letting Sam come forward.
Garshaw nodded to her fellow Council-members. As always, they were well prepared.
Ren'al spoke first. "Samantha, your time among us was intended to be temporary until a new host for Jolinar could be found and you could return to your people. However, when that became prolonged, we allowed that you meet with delegates of your world to arrange some way for you to contact them once your time among us was over. As it is now, though, you seem to wish for something more than this—an alliance, I believe, were your words. We agreed at the time, but as your mission approaches we shall need a definition of what shall happen during it."
"Understood," said Sam, nodding.
"What would be the purpose of forming an alliance instead of a treaty with your world?" asked Thoran.
"Of all the races out there, we are the only one that we know of that is actively seeking the downfall of the Goa'uld," said Sam. She had prepared too. "If we were working together, surely we could accomplish more than each on our own."
"But have you not seen that our tactics are not yours?" continued Thoran. "If you could convince your people to work as we do, following careful procedures to make sure that the balance is not tipped too soon, I would understand your wish for an alliance."
"Is it the methods that matter?" asked Sam, not surprised yet by anything. Jolinar and her own experiences had made her expect these kinds of arguments. "If we were allies, the information we could share would be enough to justify it, wouldn't it?"
"We are not hastening to share all our knowledge when it may be discovered by the Goa'uld," said Ren'al. "Unless it is very basic information, the alliance would not give you much. And what would you give us in return?"
"My world is in contact with many others now, and we are continually searching out new technologies and information," said Sam.
"Such as?" asked Ren'al, eyes opening wider in questioning.
"We have found records of an ancient alliance of four Great Races once united against the Goa'uld," said Sam. "And the nanite technology of a Goa'uld experiment, as well as Asgard technology that detects and destroys Goa'uld."
"And have you mastered these technologies and information?" asked Ren'al.
"Not that I know of," said Sam slowly. "But in your hands, would the process not be faster?"
"And when this information is transferred from world to world, what is to keep us from being discovered by the Goa'uld if your world is infiltrated?" asked Garshaw, her hands clasped together and resting on the table before her.
"You could decide the security parameters yourself," said Sam. "I know that the government would be willing to jump through many hoops to achieve this."
"Do you?" asked Garshaw. "From your earlier reports, it seemed that your world still thought of us as Goa'uld."
"They don't know any better yet," said Sam. "I'm sure I can convince them eventually. But it is what happens then that we are here to talk about."
"Not necessarily," said Garshaw. "You, Samantha, were given a rare opportunity to learn about us. How long will the rest of your people take to come to a similar understanding? Will it ever come? Their prejudice seems great."
Sam bit her lip. "It will take time," she admitted. "But think of the position they are in. It was only two years ago that we discovered alien life existed; the people who would be making these decisions are those whose minds have already been opened wider than they ever thought. One step further is not so far."
"That is possibly true," conceded Garshaw with a slight nod. "Samantha, it is not that we do not see any benefit in joining with your world, but the risks for us are many and the benefits seem very small. It would be more in our style to have a kind of treaty, but where only urgent information was shared."
"And what of your greatest need, for hosts?" asked Sam.
"You are certain that your people can overcome their prejudice so completely?" asked Garshaw doubtfully.
"Eventually, yes," said Sam. "But they will need some kind of proof, which I believe that both myself and Sha're will provide the basis for. After that, a full disclosure of all you are willing to part with should gain their trust fully. Then, it is just a matter of exposure."
The Council-members looked to each other, and then Per'sus spoke.
"It would be foolish of us not to do what we can to achieve these benefits, for they are a very real possibility," he said. "As long as we do not compromise ourselves in the process."
The others nodded, although a younger council-member on the end seemed reluctant.
*Delek,* murmured Jolinar as she caught Sam's observation.
"Then so shall it be," said Garshaw, nodding to Sam. "We shall compose the details of this treaty later, but first we must, as Per'sus said, ensure that we are not compromised by it. How shall this meeting be set up? And Jolinar, here your input will be most appreciated, as you are the only one other than Samantha to have observed the tactics of the Tauri."
ooooooo
Daniel was relieved to finally get his second wind, just as the sun on this world dipped towards setting. As far as his body and mind were concerned, it was well past midnight and he hadn't brought any coffee. He had, however, discovered that frequent radio calls from Jack and Janet about Mckay's condition were as good as any shot of espresso.
He was currently kneeling by the tower, jotting down in his own shorthand the words as he translated them. Jordan was standing around the other side, doing the same even as he paused to bounce an idea of Daniel. This would have been an amazing opportunity, translating this alien message in a language they had barely discovered, but all the two men could feel was stress. Janet had radioed them twice asking for any information they found, and Jack had been calling every twenty minutes or so to give reports. It didn't look good.
As far as Janet could tell, Mckay's body was being overrun by the toxins from the Venus Fly Tree (as Jack so eloquently put it). It was a relatively small amount, but according to Janet it seemed to be extremely potent. And not only was it beginning to break down Mckay's hand for the tree to digest, the toxin waiting in the rest of his body seemed to be acting as a marker for further food once the tree got that far. Mckay's body was reacting as if it was a disease, sending him into a high fever that only aggravated the toxin's symptoms of disorientation and dulled sensory response.
"I guess it makes sense now why T can't find any other signs of animal life on this planet," commented Jack at the end of his message, his voice too weary and worried to hold any irony.
"How do you suppose the trees survived?" asked Daniel.
"I noticed that earlier, actually," said Jordan, turning his head to speak into Daniel's radio. "There are no reproductive systems visible on these trees, and their root systems and branching method of growth seem to indicate the usual tree growth. Perhaps they need meat to reproduce?"
"Eww," said Jack shortly. "Let's not dwell."
"Well, you'll be glad to hear that our supposition was partly correct," continued Daniel. "This text is detailing the former occupation of this planet."
"But let me guess, you haven't gotten to the good part," said Jack.
"Not yet," said Daniel.
"O'Neill out, then," finished Jack.
Daniel continued, working his way clockwise around the pillar. The language was remarkably like a form of Roman Latin, and it was inscribed in a similar fashion. Not only that, but the way of detailing history was eerily similar to the ancient Greek and Roman historians like Thucydides, all fact and no mythology. It was something rare in the galaxy, Daniel had found.
According to the text they had translated so far (some of the beginning and some half-way through), there had been a settlement of an advanced race on this planet, not because they needed a new world but because they wanted to study the plant life here. There was a word that Jordan and Daniel had tag-teamed on for fifteen minutes before deciding that the closest translation might be "terraform", and that was almost enough to distract Daniel. As it was, he concentrated on the explicit meaning, not the interesting implications.
Jordan had dealt with the introduction, relating to Daniel this basic history and the phrase "all has not been a complete disaster". That was hopeful, but Jordan's part of the tower went on to describe scientific experiments with the atmosphere.
"Oh, this might be something," said Daniel.
"Yes?" asked Jordan, pausing to look down.
"Well, after they had to leave the planet—why, I haven't figured out yet—they left this behind in case it was feasible to return," said Daniel, pausing to let his mind catch up with what he had translated so far.
"Not as a warning?" asked Jordan.
"No, but it looks like they thought of that. Just at a glance, the next section has many of the signs for numerals," said Daniel. "Times? Formulas? We can only hope it's not dates."
"Hmm," Jordan agreed, going back to his work. After a moment's pause he said, "Daniel, are your allergies affecting you at the moment?"
"No," said Daniel. "I take regular antihistamines on missions. Why?"
"It's that godawful smell," said Jordan. "From the trees—and if I wasn't entirely terrified of them it would be effectively alluring."
Daniel sniffed. "I suppose I blocked it out."
"Wait—Daniel? Did your part say anything about experiments?"
"About them leaving the planet?" asked Daniel. "Um, I don't think so. Something about failure, but nothing specific. Yours mentioned disaster, correct?"
"It did, and now it just made a mention of—well, I think the word is "manipulation" but I can't translate the two words around it."
"Manipulation, science, disaster," muttered Daniel. "Genetic?"
Jordan looked down at Daniel, the filtered light carving deep shadows in his face. "Oh dear, Daniel."
"It's genetic, isn't it?" sighed Daniel, Jordan's words confirming his unconscious suspicions.
"That would fit quite accurately," said Jordan.
"So this race might have been messing with the wildlife and threw things out of balance," said Daniel. He sighed, dropping his head to his chest. "That's—great."
"Just be grateful they seemed to have time to learn from their mistake," said Jordan.
"Yes, but we may not," said Daniel, looking up with renewed focus. "I don't think you'll find anything helpful that far up—try on the other side, about the same level I'm at."
"Right," said Jordan, squatting down. "Ooh, knees, forgot about them." He sat down completely with a slight thump, crossed his legs, and lay his notepad in his lap.
Daniel smiled a tight smile. This was what the mission should have been about—him and his teacher and mentor, experiencing a new world together with banter and intellectual stimulation. Not fighting to save a life, that was never the plan. Jordan had been caught in the SG-1 curse, apparently.
ooooooo
"We will have to be unarmed, of course," commented Jolinar, as she and the Council ironed out the details of the treaty mission.
"Completely?" asked Delek suspiciously. "And risk capture?"
"They would be cautious of any such tactic—no weapons whatsoever, if we are to look benign," said Jolinar.
"Fighting is not our way either," said Ren'al, looking down the row towards Delek. He sat back, a slight noise coming from behind his firmly shut lips.
"I assume the moon has a ring platform," continued Jolinar.
"Indeed, not very far from the Chappa'ai," said Garshaw with a nod. "We had the area scouted."
"Then if there is any need, a tel'tak in orbit will be as quick a retreat as any," said Jolinar. "If this meeting was at all leaked, also, there would be room for all to go in safety."
"The most recent ship to become available was kept aside just for this purpose," said Thoran.
"Good, good," said Jolinar, then looked to Garshaw. "If the Tauri agree to this treaty, should a signal be sent to bring you to attend the signing of it?"
"Is that necessary?" the High Councilor asked.
"These Tauri seem very intent on maintaining high levels of protocol," said Jolinar. "Your authority as our leader would do much to convince and persuade them."
Garshaw frowned. "Jolinar, what is your level of trust with these people? You seem wary of their intelligence to understand the situation."
"Not so," said Jolinar. "But I do not underestimate the caution of those once burned, however open they may be."
Sam, who had only spoken up about tactics briefly, saw what Jolinar was avoiding discussing and asked for control again. After she opened her eyes, she turned to Garshaw. "There is one thing that Jolinar has not said."
"Yes?" asked Garshaw, eyebrows rising.
Sam took a deep breath. "It is possible that a misunderstanding might confound our first attempt. What happened on Abydos has likely reached them, and without understanding the circumstances, the coincidence of our arrival and the attack on a previously peaceful planet may look like malice. It—it wouldn't seem unlikely."
"You do not trust them to come in peace?" asked Garshaw, not committing to a tone.
Sam slightly chewed the inside of her lip. "No, I trust that they won't try to attack unprovoked. But they may bring weapons, and they may be on edge to use them."
"That is of little issue as far as we are concerned," spoke up Delek again. "Take a shield, and it will not matter, as long as you stand near the rings."
"Remember, Delek, that Sha're will be with us," said Jolinar. "It will be difficult to both remain under the protection of the shield without inviting suspicion."
~They wouldn't shoot her,~ said Sam. ~Not Sha're. Remember that her situation is different than mine.~
"I stand corrected on one point," spoke up Jolinar. "It will not be necessary to shield her, or so my host believes."
"I am glad to hear it, considering all I have been told about these Tauri," said Garshaw. "And if that is so, then I see no reason for the Council not to approve the safety measures of this mission. As soon as you wish to depart, the tel'tak will be waiting."
Jolinar bowed slightly to the Council, and they all rose.
~That went much more quickly than I expected,~ commented Sam.
*For me as well,* commented Jolinar as she left the chamber. *I am not sure what it indicates. That they are not fully committed to this mission, or that something else occupies their thoughts.*
~Or maybe they just don't think it's that complicated,~ said Sam. ~It's not sneaking into a Goa'uld base, after all.~
*True, true,* said Jolinar. *Still, it is plain that some of the Council only granted their consent so as not to disturb the flow of proceedings.*
~To be honest, I think I know where they're coming from,~ said Sam. ~I never really thought about how Earth would look to an advanced race, but especially for you...we look like a danger to your entire way of life.~
*You may understand them, but that does not make them entirely accurate,* said Jolinar. *The treaty has firm benefits, not least of which the possibility that we may save people of your world and at the same time save our own. Even if it is a rare occurrence, it would save months and even years of effort on our part.*
~Said like someone who carefully measures time,~ said Sam.
ooooooo
"Daniel..."
"Just a second, Jack, really!" said Daniel, barely waiting until after he pressed the button on the radio to talk.
"You have something, then," Jack's tone was cautiously hopeful.
"The something," said Daniel. "Send Dixon—we need to get this out of here and to someone who will understand chemistry."
"On his way," said Jack.
"I have the dosage on this side," called Jordan from across the tower.
"And I have the formulas," said Daniel. He marked the last character on his notepad and stood up, brushing the underbrush from the seat of his pants.
"Got it!" finished Jordan. Daniel put a hand down to help him up. "We can do this, right?" he asked.
"I don't know, I'm not a chemist," said Daniel. "But Dr. Frasier...she's had to do things like this before. I trust her."
"Here, let's get as far as we can before your Dixon comes through," said Jordan, pushing along the part of the path that was somewhat open.
A few minutes later, and Dixon came almost charging though. "It gets easier your fifth time," he commented. "Come on guys; Mckay's losing it."
Dixon was right; they sped through the forest, Dixon dodging and pushing the dangerous branches out of the way with almost reckless abandon, Jordan and Daniel following with their notebooks close to their chests. Now that he was moving, Daniel felt the sickly sweet smell of the trees overwhelm his senses, and he almost felt ready to sneeze. Not because he was allergic, but because that scent didn't belong in his nostrils. No wonder Mckay had been overcome.
They escaped the trees at last, taking a deep breath of the open, unscented air. The sun was at its hottest, the brown-yellow grass crisp and paired with the spongey moss under their feet. It looked eerie in light of what they had learned, an experiment with nature that took over its newly-formed world. Daniel had a few seconds for his mind to dart off on that train of thought, and then was back where it all had started.
Mckay was losing it—Daniel felt a sick feeling in his stomach at the sight of the scientist. His skin was pale and damp, all the blood in his body seemingly centered on his face, and even his twitching seemed lethargic. Janet had him hooked up to one of the small boxes she had brought through the gate, and the readings were worse than erratic. She quickly rose to her feet as Daniel and Jordan came up.
Jordan, a little out of breath, handed his notebook to Daniel and leaned forward, resting his hands on his thighs and breathing deeply.
"Please tell me you have something simple," Janet said quietly.
"You'll have to tell me, I'm not exactly sure," said Daniel honestly. "This is what we have." He opened the notebooks and held them down where Janet could see.
"How confident are you with these translations?" Janet asked.
"Well, they've mostly been corroborated between us, but this is a brand new language," said Daniel.
Janet took a deep breath and took one notebook from Daniel. "Okay, let's sit down and look over this. I'm afraid that these names are not going to be medical terms I'm familiar with, but we'll see."
Daniel sat down next to her, holding the other notebook. Jack and Dixon stood, for the first time looking as if their guns had no use here, while Teal'c took up vigil by Mckay and the beeping machine. Jordan, having caught his breath, stood behind them.
"I don't think they're the names of chemicals or drugs," commented Daniel, as Janet's eyebrows rose further as she read. "They look more like the names of plants, maybe even descriptions."
"I can see that," said Janet, nodding. "But," she continued, shaking her head a little, "Teal'c reported to me that he has found nothing but trees in this area other than the grass."
"Perhaps these plants no longer exist?" asked Daniel.
Janet nodded shortly. "There is nothing medical about this list that I can see—until you find the plants, I can't tell you anything you couldn't already figure out."
"Right," said Daniel.
"So, what are we looking for?" asked Jack as Daniel helped Janet up and back to Mckay's side.
"Well, now that I have a better idea of context...it looks like this race used a similar way to ours of categorizing plants using descriptors of their qualities, including some physical ones," said Daniel, looking over his notes again. "The ironic thing is, instead of using an equivalent of Latin, their entire language is an equivalent of Latin."
"The most important item seems to be the 'something-something tri-leafed tubular yellow' plant," said Jordan.
"Something-something?" asked Jack.
"Well, certain scientific terms will take a while to figure out," explained Daniel. "But let's focus on tri-leafed and yellow."
"And tubular," put in Jack.
"Tubular meaning stem, maybe?" Jordan threw out.
"Or root," put in Dixon. "Are we looking at a tree or the grass?"
"Both," said Jack firmly, standing up straight and gripping his weapon tighter. "Dixon, you and I will look in the forest. Daniel and the doctor, grass and moss."
"And Teal'c, sir?" asked Dixon.
"He may be needed elsewhere," said Jack, looking Teal'c in the eye.
"Thank you, Colonel," said Janet.
Teal'c bowed his head. "I am unfamiliar with examining vegetation in any circumstance."
"Get to it," said Jack snappily.
ooooooo
~We only have three days left now,~ commented Sam as she and Jolinar stopped to eat.
*There is no point in returning to the planet until negotiations are finished,* said Jolinar. *It is well that we integrated ourselves only so far.*
~Will it be suspicious on our part?~ asked Sam. ~A week of absence?~
*For which we can claim business to our god that is above mere Jaffa concern; it is not entirely uncommon.*
~Hmm, just thinking about how long this negotiation may take,~ said Sam. ~Sha're will not be able to bring Shifu for safety's sake, but who will take care of him here, especially in his current state?~
Jolinar paused for a minute. *While we wait, we should meet with Dorin and Larys to see what they have available to help with that.*
~And perhaps pay a visit to Selmak and Saroosh,~ suggested Sam.
Jolinar paused again, but only for a second. *Perhaps.*
ooooooo
Daniel's heart began to race, and he quickly beeped to Jack over the radio.
"Found something, Daniel?"
"I think," he answered, looking again at the plant in his hand. "I think we're limiting our definitions to how Earth biological labels work, as well as the vocabulary."
"An amazing feat, considering that some of us don't really know the Earth forms," opined Jack.
"The roots of this kind of grass are solid, but their structure is as if they're wrapping around a—a tube of dirt," explained Daniel quickly. "It took me a while to see, but I had a feeling something was up."
"So what do we do over here, then?" asked Jack.
"Well, if I'm reading this correctly, we need two more plants, one with 'green-shingle' and one with 'long-tower'."
"Oh yes, that makes so much sense, Daniel."
"My first thought was that green-shingle meant leaves from the canopy, but now I'm not so sure," said Daniel.
"Hey Jackson, what about these saplings we've seen with the green stuff on the bark?" called Dixon.
"Exactly!" said Daniel. "Shingle's not the right word, or else we just have too narrow a description."
"Right, so we just need long-tower," said Jack. "That'll be a piece of cake."
Daniel put his radio back. All they had to do was keep an open mind—and despite his words, Daniel could hear in Jack's voice that he was willing to do that. It was his team at risk.
"Shit, damn!" came Dixon over the radio again.
"What is it, Dixon?" answered Jack swiftly.
"I'm bit, sir, about fifty yards west of your position," said Dixon, his tone tight. "God! I can't move—got my shoulder. Before—anything—I need you to get the green stuff and give it to the doctor."
"On my way, Dixon," said Jack.
Daniel's face tensed, and he looked to Jordan to make sure that he wasn't anywhere near the trees. Dixon would be fine if they could help Mckay, but Daniel didn't want his professor leaving this mission with anything worse than a scare. He looked down at his notes again, frowning.
"Daniel, look at this!" Jordan called from a little ways off, and Daniel looked up. Moving quickly for his age, he came over to Daniel, something in his hand. "Look," he said, holding it out to Daniel.
It was a rock, orangeish and strangely formed.
"They're a few inches beneath the surface, all over," said Jordan. Daniel noted now that his hands were covered in a sandy dirt. "I know we assumed plants, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to dig deeper after you found that root."
Daniel's mind clicked as he saw the flat base of the rock and the spires that grew upward, almost like a tower. It wasn't a rock, it was a mineral deposit of some kind, seeping down from the dirt in columns until it hit some layer that forced it to stop. "That's it, that's the long-tower," said Daniel, face brightening. "Jack," he called into his radio. "We got it!"
"I'm almost there," said Jack. Sure enough, a minute later, and Jack was coming across the field at a quick pace.
Daniel quickly gathered the three things and ran over to Janet, who was putting a blanket over Mckay.
"He's going into cardiogenic shock," she said without looking up. "I'm not going to be able to help much longer."
"We have what we need," said Daniel, shuffling the ingredients to one hand so he could open up Jordan's notebook. "And here's the proportions. It looks like it makes a powder, or a paste."
"Thank god," said Janet, reaching up for them. "Get the mortar and pestle from that bag, Teal'c."
Daniel was slightly put off by the idea of a medical doctor carrying a mortar and pestle, but Janet did have a strange occupation. After casting quick glance at the page, he ripped off a piece of the root and handed it to her.
"This going to be enough?" asked Jack, watching as Daniel frowned at the fungi.
"I hope so," murmured Daniel, handing it all to Janet. Last of all, he broke a few pieces of the mineral deposit.
It was mostly dry, and crumbled into a fine dust after a few stirs of the pestle. Janet mixed it up, then looked to Daniel. "Dr. Jackson?"
"I'm looking." Daniel flipped through the last two pages, making sure he knew what he was doing. "Okay, just sprinkle it over the wound near the branch until you get a reaction."
"Are you sure?" Janet asked, giving him a firm glance.
"It won't hurt him," said Daniel, shaking his head.
Mckay's vitals were flickering out. Janet took a deep breath and sprinkled the green-brown dust on what was still visible of Mckay's hand. It dissolved into the blood and fluid on the wound, and the branch trembled. Encouraged, Janet sprinkled a little more. The mouth of the branch opened wide, dropping Mckay's arm like a stone and causing Janet to gasp and leap back half a foot.
"Get him out of there!" ordered Jack, stepping forward. In a couple seconds he and Teal'c had dragged Mckay's limp body a few feet away.
Janet had her radio out. "I need my medical team ready, code red." Tucking it back in its holder, she turned to Mckay. "He's not out of this by a long shot. I have to hope this will make a difference." She looked at her mortar, but seemed relieved at how much was still left.
"I'll take some to Dixon," said Jack. Janet nodded and pinched some of it into a small container.
"Teal'c, I need your and Dr Jackson's help in getting Dr. Mckay onto this stretcher," said Janet, covering Mckay's hand in a fine film of the dust. His heart-rate was rising from the near-flatline of before, and his uninjured hand began to twitch.
"Daniel?" Jordan was quietly watching the proceedings.
"We can handle it from here," said Daniel, putting a hand on his arm. "Take the guns and go through the gate—tell them what you know. We'll be there in a minute."
Jordan nodded and quickly gathered up the useless articles they had dropped. With Teal'c's help, Daniel rolled Mckay's body heavily onto the stretcher, wincing as he did so. As Janet moved the wires out of the way and picked up the box, they stood at either end and picked him up.
"Colonel, how is Major Dixon?" called Janet through the radio.
"He'll be fine—we'll be there in a minute," said Jack. "Go through the gate! If these trees get vicious, I don't want us all screwed."
"Okay, that's our orders," said Janet crisply.
Teal'c took the lead, walking backwards with the stretcher poles in his hands as he was carrying nothing more than hollow bamboo rods. Daniel had to move swiftly to keep up, and even Janet, only carrying her medical supplies, was moving at a near jog. A few more feet, though, and they were through the wormhole. Daniel didn't even cast a backwards glance.
"Get this man to the infirmary at once!" called Janet as soon as they were through.
Two medical assistants rushed forward to take the stretcher from Daniel and Teal'c and get it on the cart, leaving the two to stand in the room. Jordan stood to one side, arms crossed nervously. Wordlessly, Daniel cast him a glance. He nodded, almost unfazed.
They didn't have to wait long before Jack stumbled through the gate, carrying a pale and bleeding Dixon, but also a Dixon who could walk with support. Another set of nurses took him from Jack's hands, but Dixon was still awake enough to protest that he didn't need that much help.
Behind them, the gate shut down. Jack, Teal'c, Daniel, and Jordan stood in the gateroom, some breathing heavily, some trying to release their tension, all unsure of what came next. Up from the control room, Hammond spoke into the mic.
"Stand down."
There was a moment of silence, and then Jack managed to sum up everyone's thoughts.
"Well, screw that planet!"
—
Author's Notes: As you might have guessed from the last chapter, this is the first meeting of SG-1 and the Ancients in this AU. It's still mostly a mystery to SG-1, but more will be explained in upcoming chapters.