Thanks to all of you who gave me your ideas and suggestions! You gave me a lot to think about. Here's the next chapter. They're a little shorter this week as I've been tired and busy. I'm away for the long weekend so may not have a chance to update for a while.

Daniel stood slowly, not wanting to feel at a disadvantage as the Goa'uld advanced into the room. He wondered how much the intruder had heard.

"Kraneas!" Daniel exclaimed as he recognized the 'slave'. Still dressed in his servants clothes, the only indication of who Kraneas really was came as a result of the glowing eyes and deep timbered voice.

"Yes, it is I." Suddenly he spoke in a normal voice and was once again nothing more than a slave.

"You should be careful", he continued. Anyone could have come in without your knowing."

"It appears as if someone did." Teal'c spoke for the first time.

"Yes, but I am on your side."

"Are you really?" asked Daniel. "How do we know that for a fact?"

"Well, if I were Goa'uld I would have called the Jaffa to take you. Or I would have told them along time ago who you really were. I simply waited to make sure I could trust you before coming to speak with you."

"How do we know we can trust you?"

"I guess you do not. All I can tell you is that I am Tokra. When I first heard you speak of 'Shayan' I guessed. I have heard Selmac speak of you many times. I also know of the 'Shol'va'. I have come to see if I may offer my assistance."

"Well, that would be much appreciated. But how is it that you're here?"

"I have been here for a long time in the service of my Master, Gro'Mal." He gave a small smile. "I have learned much useful information while with Ba'al's army."

"What about Gro'Mal, is he Tokra as well?" Kraneas laughed, and then looked disdainful. "No, he is Jaffa. However he sympathizes with the Free Jaffa. He would have left to go to them but I convinced him he could do more good here, helping me to stay undercover. He can be counted on however."

Both Daniel and Teal'c were impressed. It was not often that they heard of any kind of a partnership between a Jaffa and a Tokra.

"But why are you pretending to be a slave. Wouldn't it serve you better to have come as a Goa'uld?"

"Ba'al is suspicious of all those that serve him, other Goa'uld especially. No one notices a slave, however. I am able to see and hear things and yet am considered invisible. It is useful."

Nodding in acceptance of what Kraneas had told them, Teal'c then got directly to the point.

"We need to get onto Ba'al's ship and save a comrade. Can you help us?"

It was only a short time later that two Jaffa and a slave could be seen escorting a human woman to the clearing where the rings would touch down. One of the Jaffa walked over and spoke to the one controlling access to Ba'al's ship.

"We are here to take the woman to My Lord Ba'al." Gro'Mal spoke gruffly but decisively.

"What woman?"

"Fool! The woman he had us find. She is important to our God. You must call the rings so we may take her." The guard looked at Gro'Mal suspiciously and then over to the woman. He could see that the other Jaffa was Tro'han, the one who had captured the human male.

"I will call My Lord Ka'treg and he can decide."

"Yes. That is a good plan." Teal'c spoke up softly. "We are under orders from Ka'treg. You saw that he has taken me into his service. He will like the fact that you ignore his trusted servant and have wakened him. He will be pleased." The guard began to look hesitant. It was true – Ka'treg was pleased with Tro'han who had shown his loyalty to him and to Ba'al.

"All right. I will call the rings. Get prepared." The two Jaffa and two humans walked into the circle. The woman was looking suitably terrified by her upcoming ordeal. The guard laughed to himself. He would not want to be in the humans' place for anything.

Teal'c, Gro'Mal, Kraneas and Sam were ringed onto the ship. It was short work to zap the two guards who were in the ring room. Neither of them were expecting anything other than Ba'al's faithful Jaffa to arrive.

"We have to find the Colonel Teal'c. Can you do that while I set these?" She held up some crude looking pieces of metal and wire. She had had to piece them together on their spaceship but she prayed that how they looked weren't an indication of how well they would operate.

"I will find him, do not worry. Will you be safe?"

"I'll take Gro'Mal with me. He can be my 'guard' if we are seen. Let's meet back here in one hour. If I'm not here but you have the Colonel, just go Teal'c. You have to get him to safety."

"You know he will refuse to leave if you are not with us?"

"Well, best thing is don't tell him – or simply make him leave. Come on, we're wasting time. Let's go."

The Cell

Jack woke up but was no longer in the sarcophagus. He was grateful that he'd slept through the transfer to the room. He was afraid he would have started screaming if he'd woken up in it again.

He slowly began to become aware, trying to determine how he felt. Each time he'd woken in the sarcophagus in the past he'd always felt good – at least physically. It seemed to revive him and fill him with energy. This time the feeling was very different.

Oh, he could tell that the staff wound had been healed. That, at least, was a relief. That was all that was better, though. He noticed almost immediately that he was freezing cold. He was also weak, dizzy and ached all over. He'd hoped he would feel somewhat better after his time in the 'magic box'; if anything he felt worse.

"The sarcophagus rids your body of the medicine. That is why you are feeling so bad." A much hated voice came to him from the other corner of what he assumed was a cell. He slowly lifted his head and, sure enough, there sat the creep, D'jindra.

"What are you doing here?" he asked his second least favorite alien.

"Ba'al wanted me here to look after you."

"Really? Does he know it's your fault I'm sick in the first place?"

"Yes. That is why I am charged with keeping you alive until they capture the woman."

"Ain't gonna happen."

"What? Keeping you alive or finding the woman?"

"Probably both although the keeping alive part would be kinda nice. No, I meant he'll never capture Carter. She's much too smart for Ba'al."

"She was not too smart for my Lord Matsya."

"Well, that was a surprise. Hey, speaking of slimy sons of bitches, where is Matzo? I haven't seen him for a while. Off on vacation or something is he?"

D'jindra sneered. This human was pathetic. He could not understand why Ba'al was so desperate for a child from this one. "He is where no one will find him."

"Running scared is he? Well, I think he'd better be careful. Ba'al will find him eventually and then 'sayonara Matzo' – and you …. hopefully." Jack stopped talking, the effort of keeping up his 'idiot' demeanor becoming too much for him.

"Are you weak and cold?" the hated voice spoke softly. He gave a small 'grunt' in reply.

"Do you want some of the medicine? It will make you feel better."

"Up to you Ginny." He heard the other man slide over to him. As D'jindra drew near Jack realized he's been hurt pretty badly himself. Ba'al hadn't seen fit to stick him in the sarcophagus either. He wondered what the System Lord's plan was for the little guy?

"Here, you must take this." He held out a dropper of the medicine. Jack closed his eyes and opened his mouth. He assumed the stuff was safe. He wouldn't want to be in D'jindra's shoes if he disobeyed Ba'al.

It took a few minutes – longer this time than before – but he slowly began to feel better. Eventually he could even push himself up so at least he was no longer lying on the hard floor.

"You are feeling better?"

"Yeah. I guess. So, what do you think Ba'al's gonna do with you? I can't see him keeping you."

"Even if he did I would not serve him. My master is Lord Matsya. He is the creator of life and my soul is his."

"Creator of life? You're got to be kidding. He's nothing but a slave master. He doesn't create anything. He kidnaps people and then forces them to have children, whom he later steals. He's nothing but a two-bit criminal."

"You will not speak so of my God." D'jindra was angry. If he had been stronger he would have struck out at the human.

"God? Ha! That's a laugh. Do you honestly believe these parasites are gods? Well, I guess it doesn't really matter. You're a goner anyway."

D'jindra looked over at the human whom he had so callously harmed. Although he hated this one, he also knew he was correct. His days were numbered unless he could figure out how to get out of here and return to Matsya.

He had been shocked, and upset, when Lord Matsya had ordered him to stay behind. The Goa'uld figured it would be better to have a few stay. They could tell Lord Ba'al that Matsya had been gone a long time and that they were simply custodians of the planet.

It was supposed to have been easy.

Instead, he'd been tortured and others killed. He would never betray his god, although he felt himself betrayed. He simply wanted things to return to the way they had been. He looked again at the ill man sitting across from him. He couldn't understand him. All he had had to do was have relations with the woman until she was pregnant. It was something most of the men enjoyed. Why had he resisted? What was it that made him refuse to take a beautiful woman to his bed?

"Why?" he asked quietly.

"Why what?" Jack was looking up at the ceiling and didn't look down to answer.

"Why did you not take the woman? It would have been easier for you."

There was a long pause until finally he answered. "No. No it wouldn't."

D'jindra sat quietly, not understanding.

"You see", Jack continued, no longer really aware of the man with him. "I could not live with myself if I'd hurt her. I'd rather die." He sat, his eyes closed, thinking of their too brief time together. He hoped he hadn't hurt her. Had he thrown her … love …. back in her face. If she did love him maybe his stopping things between them had been cruel.

He sighed and opened his eyes. D'jindra was still watching him. He was one who would never understand the meaning of sacrifice or helping the other.

They sat there in silence for a long time, neither having anything to say to the other one. As Jack rested, trying not to think about what was coming, he again heard the sound of Jaffa boots. Damn! It had been a short reprieve.

As the door opened he took a deep breath. He prayed he could get through what was next without disgracing himself.

"O'Neill!" He looked up, startled and overjoyed at hearing that voice.

"Teal'c! What the hell are you doing here?"

"We have come to get you out. Can you stand?"

"Yeah, I think so." Jack slowly made it to his feet. Thank goodness the creep had given him the medicine. "Let's go."

"What about this one?" Teal'c gestured towards D'jindra.

"Please, take me with you." The man cried in fear. If Ba'al returned and the human was gone he could expect a long and painful death.

"Uh Teal'c? What do you think?"

"I do not see a reason to take him."

"No, I guess not." Jack walked slowly to the door. "On the other hand, he might be able to tell us where the slaves are." He turned to D'jindra who looked back in anger. The little man knew that that was the price of his freedom.

"I will tell you, but only if you promise not to harm my Lord Matsya." He hissed.

"Well, I can't say as I can promise that." Jack answered, "but I can promise you one thing. If Ba'al come and you're here – well, let's just say you'll have a long and unpleasant life ahead of you."

Unsure, but knowing he did not want to experience any more torture, D'jindra finally agreed.

"I will tell you. Just let us leave this place." He then walked over and followed Jack.

As they exited the small cell, Jack could see what looked like a servant standing guard.

"Who's this?" he whispered to Teal'c.

"Kraneas. He is Tokra and he is helping us. Come, we must make haste before it is discovered you are gone." He began walking quickly, gesturing for the others to follow.

Jack tried moving as quickly as he could, using every bit of adrenaline his body could manufacture. He knew he was still holding them up but there was nothing more he could do.

As they walked through the corridors of Ba'al's ship Jack again marveled at his team. He'd long ago lost count of the times he'd been rescued – or had been the rescuer. SG1 had truly had a guardian angel (or maybe this time a guardian Jaffa, O'Neill laughed to himself.)

"Come, we must go this way." Teal'c pointed down another corridor. How the hell could he tell the difference? All the corridors looked exactly the same to him. As he pondered this he suddenly began to wonder about the rest of his team.

"Teal'c" he called softly. "Daniel? Sam?" Teal'c looked at him briefly.

"Samantha Carter is laying down a diversion. She will meet us in the ring room. Daniel awaits us on the planet."

"What! You mean to tell me Carter is here? On the ship."

"I do."

"No! Damnit Teal'c, why did you let her come? It's too dangerous. It's what Ba'al wanted. He wants us both. God, let's get out of here."

Teal'c glanced in surprise at the Colonel. He'd never heard such a note of – panic – in O'Neill's voice before. His weakness, plus his previous experience at Ba'al's hand must make it painful for him to be here. Added to that was his love of Major Carter and Teal'c understood how difficult this must be.

"We are almost there O'Neill, do not worry."

"Oh, he should worry, Sholv'a." Ba'al stepped out from a side room, followed by three Jaffa with their staff weapons trained on the escaping prisoners and their companions.

Jack could hear D'jindra moan, knowing that his life was now forfeit.

"So, you wanted to leave O'Neill? I am crushed. After all I have done for you you were just planning to go without wishing me goodbye?"

"Oh hey, if you want a goodbye I'm happy to oblige. See ya snakehead. So long, farewell and ciao baby. Can we go now?"

"I am sorry O'Neill. I must ask you to stay a while longer. Jaffa", he turned to his guards. "Escort these ones to a cell and make sure they do not escape. I will take O'Neill with me. We have unfinished business."

Jack could feel a shudder move through him. He would have liked to believe it was the illness but the part of him which would never allow him to lie to himself admitted it was fear that caused it.

Ba'al gestured for him to precede him – a stately gesture which added a touch of the macabre to the whole scene. Jack paused, debating whether to try something or not. He knew it would be useless but it was still better than simply giving in.

"There is no point O'Neill", Ba'al knew exactly what he was thinking. "You do not need to worry – I know how foolishly courageous you are – at least for now. You have nothing to prove to me and you know there is no hope of escape." The Jaffa had, by this time, escorted Teal'c and the servant away and they could no longer be seen. With a deep breath Jack decided to preserve what little energy he had left and simply turned to go where the Goa'uld pointed.

His only hope, as he started to walk, was that the effects of the drugs he had been given would kill him soon.

They walked for almost five minutes until he was told to stop. Ba'al opened a small, unobtrusive door. The moment Jack walked into the room he recognized it for what it was – a torture chamber.

Gulping, he tried to speak, but nothing came out but a soft choking sound. He tried again, not wanting to let his nemesis know how badly all this affected him.

"What's this for?" he asked, gesturing to the room. "You don't really need to do this you know. I don't have any information to give you. I thought you wanted me simply to breed little hosts?"

"Oh yes, but I thought we could have some fun in the meantime." He walked over to a consol, much like the one Jack had seen before, another time, another torture chamber. "Do you remember these O'Neill?" Ba'al reached down and lifted up one of the serrated daggers Jack remembered all too well. "These are exceptional weapons. I had them made for special occasions like this." He walked over to Jack and looked him up and down. Taking the dagger he drew it softly, slowly down Jack's cheek, just drawing blood. "Pity you are so weak. You probably won't last very long." He turned and walked to the chair in front of the console.

"Once I find the woman and you – what was the word – 'Mai'thun' with her we will have much more time to play." Ba'al reached down again and drew something else out. It was a strange, egg shaped object made of some kind of shiny black metal. As far as Jack could tell there wasn't any kind of control mechanism on it. Ba'al, however pointed it at him and the next think Jack knew he was writhing in pain on the floor.

He couldn't catch his breath. He could feel the veins in his head begin to pop out, throbbing in time to his erratically pounding heart. Soon, however, he could feel the beats begin to slow down from the lack of oxygen. The pressure inside him was building. He had the eerie sensation that he might explode at any moment. As things began to get dark, and the beats of his heart grew fainter and slower, his second to last thought was that he hoped this was it; that Ba'al could not raise him again. His very last thought, before succumbing to darkness and death, was simple; Sam.