Teal'c and the other members of the SG team made their way along the tunnel. They carried flashlights and started using them approximately half a mile into the tunnel. The lighting in here didn't seem to be working and the surface was little with debris that made their footing treacherous. The Jaffa led the way with the others following at five foot intervals.

Major Tucker had taken the rear and kept sweeping the area for any signs of trouble fro behind them. So fat nothing moved, except them as they followed the path taken by Carter and Jackson. He knew Carter, she'd been one of his staunchest supporters when he'd decided to join the SGC. His reputation had nearly cost him the chance to be on a team, let alone lead one, but he'd made it. Now he not only had the respect of others, but also respected what he knew about the SG teams and the people behind Stargate Operations.

"Major Tucker, I believe you will need to use your C4 if we are to continue," Teal'c said and panned the flashlight over the barrier that was blocking their way. "Can you arrange it so that there is no more damage to the tunnels?"

"I'll need to take a look at what it's made up of and judge the depth of the barrier, but I'm pretty damn sure I can take care of it," Tucker said.

"Indeed," Teal'c said and looked around as Tucker and Malone checked out the obstruction and began to set up the explosives. He hoped they were as good as their team leader seemed to think, otherwise they could end up bringing the whole place down on top of them.

"Teal'c we should move back," Tucker told him and made sure Malone and Jonson knew they were ready to hit the button and set of the C4. They moved back down the tunnel as Malone made sure everything was set to go.

"Fire in the hole," Malone said, using an old quote from a movie he'd watched as a kid. The resulting explosion was deafening and the four people held their hands to their ears as dust and debris reigned down on them.

Once the noise died down and the dust settled they moved into the open and checked to see if they'd dislodged the debris enough to push their way through. Their appeared to be a narrow opening and Malone worked with Tucker to remove enough of the barrier to allow them to crawl through to the other side.

"We should keep moving," Teal'c told them and sought out the safest route once they were through the destroyed section of the tunnel.

SG1SG1SG1SG1

The creatures hovering above them reacted to something only they could hear. Their wind caused by their outstretched wings spoke of their agitation as Layonna tried to get between Carter and Mitchell.

Carter could see the creatures clearly and something about them told her they would not allow Layonna hurt Mitchell. The woman had shown a hint of fear when they circled lower and let out a screeching wail that echoed through the surrounding deadwood. It hurt her ears, but she reached for Mitchell and ignored the other woman's warnings.

"You should go back where you belong before they kill you," Layonna told them.

"I don't think that's true, Layonna," Jackson said and joined Carter at Mitchell's side. "I believe you're the one who should be afraid. These creatures don't seem to be hostile."

"You are wrong, Dr. Jackson, these creatures are hostile and now that the Talosians are changing there will be more of them. They can help make Colonel Mitchell's transformation easier. Is that not better than seeing him suffer like this?"

"Colonel Mitchell was never meant to be part of this," Jackson snapped.

"Whether he was, or not, no longer matters. Look at his body and see how it has changed. He will be able to fly once these changes are complete. Do you really want to stop him from achieving something all people wish for?" Layonna asked.

"What about what he wants?" Carter snarled and glared at the woman.

"What he wants does not matter. He was chosen like the others and therefore must complete the Chagris and become one of the winged serpents who protect this realm."

"What is the Chagris?" Jackson asked.

"It describes the changes taking place in Colonel Mitchell's body and mind. When it is complete and he is whole he will soar and protect my kind and see that the Talosians rebuild and replenish themselves for the next harvest."

"You make it sound like you're growing crops, but what you're doing is called kidnapping and forcing people to change into the serpents," Carter told her and clung to Mitchell as his body shook with the force of an internal war.

"The Talosians were born for this. You cannot change their destiny any more than you can change what is happening to Colonel Mitchell," Layonna said.

"Even if that was true, Colonel Mitchell is not a Talosian and should not be forced to do this," Jackson told her.

"No one should!" Carter spat, as Mitchell latched onto her right arm, his body convulsing with the changes his body was undergoing.

"Sam...make...make it stop."

"We will, Cam, just hang on a little longer," Carter told him. "Daniel, we're going to need to carry him!"

"I know, but it'll be hard getting him through the tunnel," Jackson said and looked around.

"Perhaps we could help," a small Talosian offered.

Carter looked at the creature whose transformation was nearly complete. The long flowing dark hair looked spiked, while the eyes were a deep blue like the depths of the ocean. The arms were scaled and a thin translucent webbing ran from them to the body. The fingers of both hands were elongated and ended in pointed talons. The legs were shortened and bent at an odd angle, while it stood on the balls of what had once been feet.

"I am Shanisia, daughter of Janolia. I have chosen to accept my changes, but Colonel Mitchell was not and if you can help him we would be in your debt," the young Talosian said.

"Your mother is worried about you, Shanisia," Jackson told the child.

"Tell her I have accepted and embraced my destiny, but I will never forget her. If I am able I will cross the threshold to find her when I can," Shanisia said.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Shanisia?" Carter asked.

"Yes, the others of the Mastyque are not like Layonna. They allow us to choose our path and they make the changes easier for us," the Talosian said and looked at the angry woman who had brought them here. "The others fear her, but I do not. I have chosen to be here and I will help the others decide what they wish to do. If they choose to return home I will help them just as I helped my mother. Just like I will help you with Colonel Mitchell."

"You cannot remove him from this realm or he will die," Layonna snapped.

"That's not true, Layonna," Jackson said. "There were at least two dozen Talosians who returned to their world. My people are helping them now."

"I will not allow you to take him!"

"Why?" Carter asked angrily. "You have enough Talosians who choose to stay, so why do you need Mitchell?"

"I do not need to explain to you!"

"She feeds on his life force," Shanisia explained. "She is not like the others. During her life she has fought to turn back to the old ways. The ways that divided my people. When the rift between the two realms opened, Layonna's people found that they could harness the life force of the Talosians, but only if their was fear. Layonna is one of the oldest of the Mastyque, but the others are changing and no longer wish to follow her ways. She still has some power, but as each of us changes she loses control. Colonel Mitchell is unable to stop her from draining him and forcing the changes she began when she invaded his dreams during your first trip to Talosia."

"I promise you he will not survive if you take him from this realm," Layonna snapped.

"I...I'll take my chances," Mitchell ground out.

"Don't be foolish, Colonel Mitchell, can you not feel how much stronger these changes will make you?"

"I don't want this!" Mitchell spat.

"He is not Talosian, Layonna."

"And you are no longer Talosian either, Shanisia. You have embraced your destiny."

"Yes, I have, but it is my choice. I could fight this, but it is what I want. My brother has decided he does not want to become a serpent in this realm and wishes to go home. We have spoken with the others and those who wish to return will be allowed."

"You cannot do that!" Layonna snarled.

"Yes, I can. You will no longer stop the ritual from being done properly, Layonna. From the time you were allowed to feel the power and draw of this realm you have manipulated every other creature that resides in this realm. It will no longer be allowed," Shanisia said and felt the strength of the others surrounding her as she spoke freely.

"You are just a creature of the skies and have no right to speak with me about things you know nothing about. You are but a child."

"I was a child of Talosia, but here I have absorbed everything the others wish me to know. You have tried to destroy who we are and by doing so you have brought our numbers so low we are in danger of becoming extinct. The others of your kind have no desire to see my kind destroyed..."

"I do not wish to destroy your kind. I simply do what I must to ensure the two realms are kept apart. Sending Colonel Mitchell back would upset the balance."

"No it would not. He was never meant to be a part of this. The elders have spoken of your ways and they do not understand why you wish to change someone against their wishes."

"It has always been our way," Layonna snapped.

"No, it has not," Shanisia said, interpreting what the silver winged creature beside her was saying.

"I do not know why I am listening to you! I am willing to let Colonel Carter and Dr. Jackson return to the other realm, but Colonel Mitchell stays here and completes his transformation."

"No way in hell is he staying here!" Carter snarled and made sure she stayed between Mitchell and Layonna as the winged serpents circled high overhead.

"It is my right as leader of my kind to choose a mate. I have chosen..."

"That right is only for the leader of your kind, Layonna," Shanisia warned.

"I am the leader of my kind."

"Not anymore. They have chosen to elect a new leader...one who will help cultivate the alliance between our realms and give the Talosians a chance to choose how they wish to live. We are going to return Colonel Mitchell, Colonel Carter, and Dr. Jackson and hope that they are able to stop what you have done. If not, and Colonel Mitchell wishes then he may return to us, but that will also be his choice, not yours, Layonna."

"You do not have the right or the power..."

"No, but between us we do and with the others of your kind we will make sure you hurt no one else," Shanisia warned and turned to the creature standing beside her. The low squeaks, followed quickly by several harmonic repetitions from deep in the serpent's throat was enough to feel it's anger. "The elders say I am to take Colonel Mitchell and the others who do not wish to stay and guide the back to Talosia. You are to remain here, Layonna, and are never to cross the threshold again."

"You cannot stop me."

Carter saw the smile form on Shanisia's changing features and realized Layonna had more than met her match. She reached down to help Jackson pick Mitchell up off the ground, but stood aside as the changing Talosian easily scooped him into her winged arms. She was shocked when she saw a large group of Talosians, some changing, while other untouched come out of the shadows and follow Shanisia.

SG1SG1SG1SG1

Dr. Carolyn Lam finished taking the last of the blood sample from the Talosians and packed them in the sterile case she'd brought with her. She needed answers quickly if what she'd been told about the changes was right. She'd taken several samples from the Talosian who hadn't survived and examined him thoroughly. There were physical changes that told her something had messed with his DNA, but again she'd need the lab to give her the answers she needed.

Carolyn watched as Janolia walked amongst her people, talking softly to them and getting them to cooperate with her. She had no doubt the Talosians would have been less cooperative if not for the strong woman before her. Janolia's two children, Shanisia and Darishik were amongst the missing, but the woman was trying hard not to think about them.

"Dr. Lam, would you like some coffee? It is not as good as on your world, but it is strong," Janolia told her.

"Thank you, I would love a cup," Lam answered and walked toward the circle of people near the statue. She accepted the cup of strong coffee and watched the Talosians who seemed to be so lost. She felt as if she was looking at the last surviving members of a nearly extinct race and hoped the other were able to find a solution to bring the Talosians home.

"They are worried, Dr. Lam," Janolia observed of her people.

"Understandable, given the circumstances. I know you must be worried about your family."

"I am. Shanisia is strong willed, Darishik is like his father and will not understand what is happening to him. He will want to be home with me."

"Colonel Carter and the others will do everything they can to make that happen."

"I know, and I have seen your people at work. They are stronger than they appear and I hope they bring back colonel Mitchell and my people."

"I hope so too, Janolia," Lam said with a heavy sigh as she looked toward the building and darkness began to descend upon them.

TBC