Chapter 47 - Requests
The second session of the Tok'ra Council moved much more quickly through the information. As expected, the vote was eventually in favor of removing Quetesh from power as soon as could be achieved. After that, the impacts for the domains of each leader present were brought up and addressed, and after nearly another hour of discussion, the real issue was finally brought to the table.
It was immediately clear that there were very few free resources available to the Tok'ra. This was no surprise, and as soon as the issue of which operatives should be sent, Sam and Jolinar were finally called on again.
"As we saw on our mission, the clearest point of access is Dorieth," Jolinar explained. "Quetesh's plans seem to converge there, and the activity and turnover is ideal for a mission that requires quick and deep penetration into enemy territory."
"That would be as a Jaffa," Ren'al clarified.
Jolinar nodded. "Samantha and I are prepared to take on this role to its completion."
There were some surprised looks around the table. "Do you think this wise, given your previous interaction with Quetesh?" Garshaw questioned.
"In our short mission, we had the good fortune to achieve a level of trust among the people of Dorieth," Jolinar explained, channeling Sam's easy way of stating things as facts. "It would not be easy for a new operative to do so, nor is it a position that would highlight past mistakes. Quetesh would not recognize this host, nor is she likely to guess when we are posing as a Jaffa. We are uniquely qualified for this mission."
"And you realize the extent and scope of this task?" Garshaw asked, tone heavy.
"We do," Jolinar answered.
"I see no reason to disturb this good fortune," said Thoran. "Then Jolinar, Samantha, you will receive further instructions shortly on what your first steps should be, but you may return to Dorieth at whatever time seems most necessary. We will be in contact with future developments."
Jolinar nodded, inwardly exuberant with Sam. Neither suspected that this would totally fail, but this fell in line with all their hopes, and while Sam was ready to praise intuition, Jolinar for once felt indebted to luck.
She and Sam excused themselves as the last minor issues were irrelevant to their situation. Martouf and Lantash were waiting, quietly expectant.
"Quetesh will be eliminated," Jolinar said, granting them a smile.
"That is very good," said Martouf, face lighting up.
"Do not rejoice for us yet," she cautioned back. "Samantha and I were in a unique and valuable situation, and felt obliged to volunteer for primary infiltration."
Martouf's face half fell, and Jolinar was not surprised. "What then?" he asked with a sigh. There was a weariness to his face that had rarely been a stranger since Sam had first met him.
"It is our last urgent task, I am certain," Jolinar said, the ache deep in her chest filling Sam's sensations just as fully. "And then—and then things will come to a head." Things. Everything that had happened in the past three months, the change and turmoil and compromises, and it would all be brought to the table at the end of this. The limbo of Jolinar and Sam, of her relationship with Martouf and Lantash, and of Sam's continuing relationship with them all. It would be a long time in coming.
Martouf closed his eyes, holding the weariness there for a moment, then opened them with a quiet smile. "You are determined, as always."
"I intend to make things right," she said, stepping closer to a point where she was looking up at their face. "Whatever it takes. We will do what is necessary, but in order."
Martouf's hand strayed to the crook of her elbow, brushing softly through the fabric and forcing a spike in Jolinar's self control and focus. He frowned. "This mission, it is not mere coincidence."
Jolinar took all efforts not to tense or flinch at the sudden change of the subject of her thoughts. "Hm?"
"Your old enemy, a new enemy to Samantha and Sha're, and the news coming to you and giving you the opportunity to be the ideal operative," he said, face unreadable even as Jolinar tried with all her piercing intuition. "I cannot see what small actions tie them all together, but I would feel more comfortable if I could."
"My love, I do not even try to do that," Jolinar said, sighing. "There is not enough time in the world to think so much over each action."
"Lantash does not wish to agree," Martouf answered, the heaviness being once again pushed away from his face and replaced with softer, lighter emotions. He bent to press a soft kiss on her forehead, slipping his arm around her waist. "Come, you look well worn from talking and staid council meetings. We can find something else to do until they retire at last."
For a moment, Jolinar forgot about the hidden agendas, forgot about the frustration at being away from those she loved, and merely bathed in her own quiet love as it flowed forth. They walked side by side towards the mess hall, her arm matching his as it sat around his waist, leaning into each other with a closeness that couldn't be learned. And Sam forgot everything that it all meant, and let all the complications melt away into the river of love that Jolinar felt free to share with her.
ooooooo
After all the briefing and mission reports and documentation, Daniel finally realized that he was glad for the new policies. The more time passed, the more he saw just how close the Salish spirits had come to being a threat to the SGC for no other reason than that his government could be idiotic. As much as they needed exploration, they did not need to destroy hopes of betterment before they even manifested. No, they wouldn't get any trinium from PXY-887. But they also wouldn't disappear in a flash.
Mckay was still improving, and SG-1 itself would be going on a check-up mission to the Land of Light in another couple days, leaving Daniel with little to do around the base for the time being. Just for variety's sake, he gathered up his notes on the Salish spirits and headed for Mckay's lab to ask him about scientific possibilities.
He was halfway down the hall when he was hailed from behind. "Jackson!" The clipped voice was female, and one he happened to recognize. Turning, eyebrows raised, he saw Clare Tobias, head of the engineering department. Young, blonde, military, and incredibly smart, she reminded him almost painfully of a Samantha Carter—just for facts, not theory.
"Yes?" he answered to her hail.
She was in a lab coat over BDU pants and t-shirt, but didn't look like she had science on your mind. "C'mere, I need to talk to you." She beckoned with a hand to her lab across the hall.
Daniel had no idea what it meant, but he followed. He'd hardly ever talked to the woman, but Mckay had, and as usual it wasn't resounding praise, even though Daniel knew that that meant nothing.
"I need a favor," she said, hands thrust comfortably in her coat pockets. "You're good at convincing people, and I have someone who needs to be convinced."
Daniel glanced around. "Why are we talking about it here?"
"Oh, it's a surprise," Clare continued. "See—are you close to Dr. Mckay?"
"Well, it's not like we go out to dinner or anything," Daniel answered, confused but able to answer the questions anyway.
"Just as long as you aren't best friends," Clare said. "Okay, so, he's not that popular with a lot of the science department here. Most of us think it's good when he gets taken down a few pegs."
Daniel nodded, keeping track so far.
"So, when we were supposed to be recruiting new blood for the place, we thought we'd push his buttons if we could. Did you know he has a sister?" Off Daniel's surprised look, she carried on. "Yes, well, they don't seem to get along too well, but she's an astrophysicist so we thought we'd get her here and have someone who could rip a hole in him."
Daniel frowned.
"Yeah, I know," Clare said with a sigh. "See, that was before he went and almost died. We don't have any ideas about revenge or jokes now, but the problem is—his sister's a damn good scientist. I mean, really good. As good as him, if not better. We really do want to bring her in now, but the problem is that she completely rebuffed our first recruiters. She's got a bit of a civilian complex."
"And so you want me to talk to her?" Daniel guessed, thinking things over as she paused.
"That's it," said Clare brightly. "And we'd like it to be a surprise for him. You can say no, of course; she's Canadian, so it'd be a bit of a ways to go. But I assure you, her past record is amazing, and if we can get her now while she's in her prime...there's no telling the kind of things she might do here."
Daniel nodded slowly to himself. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Jackson!" Clare finished. "Jean Miller's her married name, if you do decide to take a look."
Daniel nodded a farewell, and walked back to his lab, his own hands in his pockets. Two geniuses in the same family...he wondered if they didn't seem that close because they were too similar, or too different. And he hoped the latter. He wasn't quite open-minded enough to willingly recruit another Mckay.
ooooooo
As soon as the Council finally broke up, there was an almost instant mass exodus. The meeting had been quickly called, and the leaders wouldn't linger. One who did, however, was Malek. Sam was surprised to hear that he wanted to speak with Selmak and Jolinar on the subject of weaponry. Jolinar, she understood, but she had no idea that Selmak had any specialty in that area.
Judging by the eyebrow raise, Selmak was equally surprised. "Oh?"
"One of my scientists has been conducting studies on the efficiency of the power modules," Malek explained, pulling one of the small finger-guns from a pocket in his robe. "And as a result, he traced back some trends to former models. He is convinced that the closer he gets to the older design, the better and more accurate it gets, but at the moment he is embroiled in the middle of the spectrum where nothing works. We can only compare his work to current models, so we hoped for your opinion on how close it is to the originals."
"Of course," said Selmak. "I cannot assure you that my memories are not tinged, but you do not care for that, I suppose."
"More likely, I have no other choice," said Malek with a twisted smile. "And Jolinar, perhaps you would like to assess the more practical options?"
Sam would have grinned if Jolinar had not. New technology and new weaponry in one item brought joy to both their hearts. With Martouf and Lantash as observers, the others made their way to a makeshift firing range deep in the Tok'ra base.
Selmak had the first go, and Sam watched with interest as her dad moved with a grace of motion she hadn't ever seen, certainly not in the past decade, bringing up her last good memories of her father that Jolinar paid quiet but close attention to. And Sam didn't seem to mind. After all, her dad was fully Tok'ra now, and his past would be open to them all; who was Sam to hold back a few precious memories out of a need for privacy that she had already let go in compromise.
When Selmak had little to comment on other than "It stirs up memories, but does not strike a solid chord on any particular one," Malek turned the weapon over to Jolinar. There was a gleam in his eye, and Sam felt Jolinar match it. He knew what was coming, and he wasn't alone. They all stepped back, giving Jolinar the most area on the range. Sam felt her muscles start to tense up in anticipation, and Jolinar started to think in ways that Sam knew. No math calculations, at least not in Sam's terms, but the quick strategy flashes were in a language they both understood.
Jolinar fired off a few practice shots, feeling the weight and pull of the weapon. The power was stable, and there wasn't much of a jerk. And then, Jolinar started her routine. Up, down, out and in, she moved both arm and body quickly as she let the energy streams tear into the wall of the range. Angle after angle, position after position, she was nominally testing the weapon's range itself—but no one in her head or in the room was under any illusion. This was an indulgence of power, and it thrilled her.
"You have been commissioning deficient workmanship, Malek," she said after a few minutes, after the shots that fizzled or arced became more frequent.
"It's but a work in progress," he said, smiling and coming up to take it.
~Can I get a turn?~ Sam asked, curious.
"A moment, Malek," said Jolinar. "My host wishes her chance."
Malek's eyebrows scarcely rose, and he stepped back to stand by Martouf and Lantash once again.
"I used to use hand weapons almost exclusively," Sam said once in control, with a smile and a nod to Malek. "Not these kind, but I'm thinking it won't be too hard an adjustment."
Even seeing Jolinar's thoughts, feeling her movements, Sam hadn't experienced the true firing of this weapon. Now, active in her own body again, she felt the difference. Jolinar was thinking about the idiosyncrasies just as much, but there was something else present. Sam's stance shifted, and she readjusted the weapon on her hand.
She took a deep breath, let it out, and then sent off a few rounds in a cluster at the center of the wall. A smile crept onto her face. Oh, she liked this. Visualizing the human-shaped targets of her old range, she sent the next few shots down to the area she imagined as a chest. One shot arced off, nicking an imaginary arm. She paused, remembering how it felt. Sending off another few shots, she felt the jerk of the tiny weapon, feeling the rhythm of the power surges. Just before the last shot, she felt a slight swirl to the surge, and flicked her hand just fractions of an inch. The shot curved around and landed right in the center of the imaginary head.
~That couldn't have been all me,~ she thought to Jolinar, astonished.
*The control, no, but the ideas were firmly yours.*
"Impressive, Sam." This time it was Jacob's voice, not Selmak's. She turned around, feeling just a little exhilarated.
"You handled these kinds of weapons before joining the Tok'ra?" Malek asked, surprise clear on his face.
"Not particularly," she explained. "They were projectile guns, just a whole lot more advanced than that sounds. We needed to conserve ammunition, so I worked a lot on my aim, and thankfully those principles carry over."
"Mm," said Malek, looking thoughtful.
Sam slipped the weapon off, feeling how it had become slightly warm, and handed it back to him. "That was fun," she said.
"I shall have to keep this in mind the next time I return here," said Malek. Off Sam's slightly confused look, he continued. "Jolinar does not use these weapons usually, as you've probably noticed; I came to her not as an expert, but as someone who I knew would give me an honest assessment untinged by expertise."
"Well, I'm no expert either," said Sam, smiling.
"I should not have expected that on your first outing," Malek answered with a dry half-chuckle. "I am sure that both your feedback will be greatly appreciated."
Selmak snorted.
"Oh, and yours as well," said Malek, turning to walk back to the others, Sam following.
"You miss carrying weapons," Martouf commented, nodding towards Sam.
"Maybe a little," she said.
"It is that, or else there is another reason for this unprecedented exuberance," he answered, smile spreading. "What has you so cheered?"
Sam sighed, but it wasn't in weariness. "It's maybe a little hard to explain," she said. In the slight pause, Jolinar could no more articulate such emotions than she ever had before, and Sam had to give her best shot. "I think this mission will go well."
"And your others did not?" Martouf asked.
"It wasn't the same," she said simply, and smiled a last smile.
"I suppose it does not matter," he finished, as Malek and Selmak were already leaving the range. "Although," he added in a tone low enough for only them to hear, "Lantash believes it might be pride at being a slightly better shot than Jolinar."
Sam bit back a laugh, and Jolinar was reluctantly amused. Tomorrow, things were going to get worrisome again, they knew for sure. But with luck on their side, and the simple joy of firing weapons just behind her, they felt refreshed. And with Sam's father, Selmak, Martouf, Lantash, even Malek, she and Jolinar didn't feel alone either. Two such rare feelings reminded them that things could get a lot worse.
ooooooo
Malek left a couple hours later, and Martouf sighed and said that he and Lantash had other duties to attend to. Sam wanted to ask Selmak a little more about the Council's deliberations, but that didn't take long either, and it was early afternoon when Jolinar pointed out that they had to make bigger preparations for this upcoming mission than before.
Before anything else, Jolinar wanted to eat again, and so Sam started taking them up the tunnels to the mess hall. They passed near their quarters, and just a few feet beyond they were halted by a voice.
"Sa'm?"
Neither Sam nor Jolinar had the reflex to control the instant tensing of all their muscles, and the relaxation of before began to fade quickly away. "Sha're," Sam said, turning around.
But she didn't look imposing. All awkward and tense memories melted away from them as they looked at her face. She wasn't holding Shifu, but stood with hands loosely clasped before her. Head high, hair pulled back so that they could see all the lines and dark circles that had shown up since the ill-fated meeting. But there was neither pride nor weariness in her eyes, only pain and desperation.
"I am sorry, Sa'm," she began, voice almost steady. "I should not have stayed away."
Sam unconsciously took a step closer, her gaze soft. "It's nothing" she assured quietly, not knowing how to continue.
"It is," Sha're objected, but taking a slight step towards her. "I thought I did not want to see you again, because—" Her voice trailed off for a second.
"Because I did something before you were ready," Sam filled in for her.
"I behaved in poor fashion, putting the blame on you for doing something that I would have had to do," Sha're continued, voice rising in volume and hurry. "And I am sorry, I did not mean to, and I need you to forgive me."
"Of course, it's nothing," Sam said again without hesitation. Her brow furrowed at Sha're's worn and nervous face. "Don't worry, Sha're, really."
"It is not only your words I need," Sha're said, taking a deep breath. "I need—I cannot stay here with Shifu. I cannot live like this." She paused, fingers brushing away a loose tear from one eye. "Please, Sa'm, I need you to get us home to Dan'yel. I do not know if it is possible, and I do not care what happens afterwards, but...please," she ended, voice losing its strength just on the last word.
Sam swallowed. Sha're wanted to go to Earth. Jolinar's mind was faster, thinking about the mission and how it would consume their time, worrying that they would have to deny Sha're entirely. "What do you mean?" Sam asked allowed, buying a little time.
"You took us from Abydos," Sha're explained, voice hesitant. "In a ship. I know that you cannot go back, Sa'm, not yet, but if you just take me there..."
"By ship," Sam grabbed onto, thinking, collating. ~Wait...~
*The hyperdrive journey would be too long, there are no ships near to Earth in distance.*
~But how long are we talking about? A couple days?~
*No, weeks.*
~That can't be right; how could Apophis make it to Earth in less than a day?~
*The newest forms of hyperdrive are not widespread yet.*
~You're sure?~ Sam didn't need to follow up on her prompt. Just as she had thought of it, Jolinar carried it onward, and soon one person was in both their minds. Reyfa and Dru'ri. Neither Sam nor Jolinar had kept up with burgeoning technology among the Tok'ra; who knew what was possible.
"Sa'm?" asked Sha're hesitantly.
"Sha're, I can't promise anything," said Sam, reaching out to take her friend's hand, looking straight into her weary eyes. "But I think you may have something."
Sha're's eyes were too tired to light up, but Sam saw the faint glow of hope. "Yes?"
"We will try," Sam said, nodding. She looked down, then back up to Sha're. "Are you okay? Have you talked to Larys or Dorin?"
"I will be fine if I may get home," Sha're said with a weak smile. "Thank you, Sa'm." Sam let her hand drop, and Sha're turned to leave.
~Earth. She wants to go back to Earth.~ As she watched Sha're trudging back to wherever she and Shifu were staying, Sam realized exactly what she had been talking about.
*And you?* Jolinar knew the answer before Sam said it.
~Can't. Don't want to, not now. It would be pointless, worse than pointless. But I didn't think; I'm not used to thinking of things in terms of ships and hyperspace. With the Stargate closed off to us, I didn't think about anything else.~
Jolinar paused for a moment, thinking too fast for Sam to catch anything in particular. She seemed to light up with an idea. *This could be as useful as anything. If it is possible to adapt the hyperdrive to a tel'tac or al'kesh, then we may fly to Earth. Your SGC facility was underground, and so we can fly cloaked to a spot just outside. We will not be seen, and Sha're and Shifu may be ringed down, and we can be gone before they try to fire.*
Sam caught on quickly. ~And after the Abydonians are rescued, perhaps by then they will trust Sha're's word about us.~
*Precisely.*
Sam felt a twinge of fear. ~And if they do catch us, somehow?~
*I do not see it happening,* Jolinar assured. *We will be safe, and so will Sha're once they determine that we were not deceiving them about her.*
~It's bold.~
*But you don't care.*
~At this point, no. It's Sha're, and she deserves this. And maybe it'll give us a chance to—to stop the cycle of betrayal. That's really all I care about anymore.~
With a new plan suddenly on their mind, Jolinar knew that this plan would take at least a couple days, and Sam knew it would take more planning and permission. They needed to talk to Reyfa and Dru'ri, then to the Council if it was at all possible, and then get this all into motion. And somewhere along the line, they had the most important thing of the moment for them both, to stop Quetesh from destroying all the Tok'ra had worked for and to fix their mistakes once and for all.
The peace of earlier in the day had gone, but the optimism had not. Sam was hopeful, and Jolinar wouldn't have countered that even if she could. Things were possible, probable maybe, it was just going to take a lot of work and time. Thankfully, they seemed to have that.
—
Author's Notes: Thank you so much everyone for your feedback! I'm glad to see that you're mostly enjoying it, but I also appreciate the critiques. If you have any specific issues, I'll be happy to try to address them. Just a couple notes, though, about the overall plot and genre—for many reasons, the two sides will not be fully meeting for a while. Also, while there is action in this story, it's not an action story. It's a character story, with action. There will be more coming up, but I'm warning you now, it's not the main focus.