Spoiler for Divide and Conquer, season 4. I have altered some details resulting from that episode.
40
"Sam. I'm so very sorry." Jack and Sam have gone directly to General Hammond's office when they arrive at the SGC. The general gets to his feet and comes around his desk when he sees who it is.
"Thank you, sir." She has held back her tears until now, hanging on to Jack's conviction that there is not enough proof of her father's death as yet to give up hope. But the General's sympathy causes her eyes to fill, and what she intends to say clogs in her throat. She turns to Jack in a silent plea.
He moves closer to her side, not touching, but clearly supporting. "Sir, we'd like to hear the message from the Tok'ra."
"Of course," Hammond says, his gaze going from one to the other. "Let's go down to the control room."
"Thank you, sir." Taking Sam's arm, Jack follows the General out through the briefing room and down the stairs. Glancing down at Sam's face, he sees that she has herself back in hand, as she unobtrusively wipes her eyes with her hand and straightens her shoulders.
Sergeant Harriman and the SA at the tech station look up as they enter the control room. "Sergeant, could you please put up this morning's communication from the Tok'ra on the monitor," Hammond says.
"Yes, sir."
"This came in at 0855 this morning," Hammond says.
They turn toward the wall screen as the sergeant manipulates the controls. The screen comes to life with static, which resolves itself quickly into the face of an unfamiliar Tok'ra female.
"I am Tiersha, representing the Tok'ra High Council. Am I speaking with General Hammond of the Taur'i?" It is the host who is talking.
The General's voice comes from off the screen. "I'm General Hammond, commander of this base."
"General, it is my duty to bring you sad news, both for the Taur'i and the Tok'ra. Our most respected elder, Selmak, is dead, along with her host, the one you call Jacob Carter."
"Jacob?" Hammond's voice stumbles on the name, then recovers. "Please tell me what happened?"
"Fourteen of your hours ago we received a report from Jacob of the unfortunate results of his attempt to incite war between Apophis and Heru'ur. He was deeply concerned for the safety of our operative, Leara, aboard Apophis' mothership; he felt that Leara's secrecy had been compromised and wished to attempt to remove her from Apophis' ship. At the time, we assured him that Leara's life monitor was still active, and showed no change indicating alarm."
"Excuse me," Hammond broke in. "Life monitor?"
"Every Tok'ra operative is implanted with a transmitter, through which the symbiote can broadcast subsonic communication," Tiersha explains. "It is a technology the Tok'ra developed as a means by which to receive reports from our covert agents. It also sends a constant signal indicating that the agent is alive, and the state of his health. Even without direct communication, we can deduce from the readings a great deal about the wearer's condition—whether he is being tortured, for instance."
"I see," Hammond says. "Go on."
"As I said, Leara's signal was benign. However, shortly thereafter, her symbiote, Kerlin, reported that suspicion was being directed toward them. When we relayed this to Jacob, he insisted we allow him to go in and try to recover Leara. Permission was granted. Five hours later, Jacob reported that he was in proximity to Apophis' ship, and would be out of communication while he attempted to contact Leara and bring her aboard his ship. He was cloaking in order to be able to move in closer. A message from Kerlin soon after indicated that contact had been made, and the recovery was underway. However, within an hour there was a sudden spike in Leara's life readings, indicating severe distress. Shortly thereafter the monitor ceased transmitting. She was dead."
"And Jacob?" Hammond asks.
"We have heard no more from Jacob," Tiersha replies. "As I believe you are aware, each Tok'ra operative is trained in a method of suicide which assures no regeneration, and is under oath to take his own life should he be captured by the Goa'uld. The abruptness with which Leara's life readings terminated indicated that this is what has happened. Selmak was also trained for such an eventuality, and would have undoubtedly made the same decision."
"I see," Hammond says after a moment. "I offer my sympathy to the Tok'ra on the loss of Selmak, and Leara."
"And we to the Taur'i for the loss of Jacob." Tiersha bows her head, and when she raises it and speaks again, it is with the resonating voice of her symbiote. "I am Nellen. In her compassion for the Taur'i, Tiersha has revealed to you the existence of technology which would have been best kept secret. It is most imperative that this knowledge be kept under the highest security. Is this understood?"
"It will be treated as such," Hammond assures her.
"Very well. This transmission is ended." The image vanishes into static.
"Another Tok'ra charmer," Jack remarks sarcastically.
Hammond shoots him a mildly reproachful look, and turns more gently to Sam. "That's what we got, Major. I'm sorry."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate your letting us see it," she says.
"Yes, sir," Jack adds. "But, it seems to me that the evidence for Jacob's death is entirely circumstantial. He didn't have one of those monitors—Teresa would have mentioned it. So there's no actual proof that he's dead."
"Tiersha," Sam corrects automatically.
Hammond squeezes the bridge of his nose. "You're suggesting that Jacob might have been captured and may still be alive."
"I'm just sayin' it's too soon to give up. And definitely a mistake to simply take the Tok'ra's word about this. You know how good they are at keeping things to themselves."
Hammond glances from him to Sam and sees hope and pleading in her eyes. He sighs and looks back at Jack. "What do you have in mind?"
"Get in touch with the High Council. We need to talk to them again, find out what we can. I know we don't have any real friends there, but just pointing out the lack of proof may get us some information."
"Lantash," Sam says, looking at Jack. "He might help us."
"What? I thought he was still in that recovery thingy." Jack frowns.
Two months earlier, when the Tok'ra host, Martouf, was proven to be a zet'arc, an assassin bent on killing the President of the United States, and was subsequently killed by Teal'c and Carter, his symbiote Lantash was recovered by the Tok'ra. However, Lantash was too weak to blend again immediately, so he was placed in a special chamber to regain his strength. Jack has no idea how long it would take the symbiote to recover.
"He may be still in the nurture chamber—but we can ask," she says. "If he has a new host, maybe he'll be willing to talk with us."
Both she and Jack turn to look at General Hammond.
"I'll put in a call to the Tok'ra High Council," the General says. "Meanwhile, think about what other steps we can take."
"Yes, sir," the two voices echo each other.
Hammond turns to Walter to set the communication in motion.
"Let's go find Daniel and Teal'c," Jack suggests to Sam. "Maybe they'll have some ideas." He stands aside for her to precede him out of the control room.
41
Lantash's new host is called Fradeen, and he agrees to speak with SG-1 when they contact the Tok'ra later that day. A few hours later, Fradeen and two companions arrive through the stargate. O'Neill, Carter, and General Hammond meet them and escort them upstairs to the conference room, where Daniel and Teal'c join them.
"My symbiote Lantash is still recovering from the unfortunate loss of his previous host, Martouf," Fradeen explains. "He is not yet strong enough to participate actively in this meeting. However, he can convey to me the answers to any questions you may have for him." Fradeen is a tall, dark-skinned man in early middle age. He has a quiet, calm demeanor.
"We appreciate Lantash's condition, and wish him a speedy recovery," General Hammond replies. "Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill would like to ask some questions."
"Yes." Fradeen faces Sam and a faint smile touches his features. "Lantash remembers Major Carter well. She was most highly regarded by Martouf, and is a good friend to the Tok'ra."
His words almost brings tears to Sam's eyes, as she is the one who fired the fatal shot at Martouf. She swallows hard, and forces herself to focus on the problem at hand. "Thank you," she says. "We'd like to know anything you can tell us about my father, Jacob, and Selmak."
There is a slight pause before Fradeen speaks. "We understand that they were lost in an attempt to rescue Leara and her symbiote, Kerlin, from Apophis' ship."
"They didn't have one of those monitor things," Jack puts in. "There's no proof that they died."
"True," Fradeen agrees. "But the training for all the Tok'ra is the same—should they be captured they are obligated to commit mak'lahr."
"Still, there's no proof," Jack says stubbornly.
One of the companion Tok'ra, Sina, speaks up. "All Tok'ra are sworn to this action."
"Lantash says Selmak would have resisted this path as long as possible," Fradeen say. The other Tok'ra turn startled eyes toward him.
Sina bows her head and her host, Ha'mara speaks. "I also believe Jacob and Selmak would have been reluctant to choose death." She turns to Sam. "I know your father, Jacob, well. We have talked of the Tau'ri reverence for life. I believe he would strive to live."
"So," Jack says. "Let's assume that Jacob at least did not kill himself. What are the other possibilities?"
Those around the table glance at each other.
"They could have been captured and imprisoned by Apophis or one of his allies," the third Tok'ra host, Gwynna suggests.
"And they would be tortured," Fradeen says.
"Yes," Gwynna's symbiote, Kelmaa agrees. "At which time they would have chosen mak'lahr."
Jack tries to contain his frustration. He wants options that leave Jacob alive. "No. We're assuming Jacob didn't do that. After all, the Goa'uld want them alive, to get information from them. Could they remove Selmak in order to get to Jacob?"
"The Goa'uld do not know how," Kelmaa says. "An attempt at extraction would kill both host and symbiote."
"Jolinar left Carter," Jack points out.
Fradeen nods. "True. A symbiote can leave the host voluntarily. However, removing one against its will is an extremely delicate procedure."
"So Jacob and Selmak are still blended, and they are still alive," Jack states with conviction.
Fradeen grows still for a moment, and then smiles faintly. "Lantash says it is good to see you have not changed, Colonel O'Neill. He says your stubbornness—the persistence of the Taur'i—is known to accomplish things where logic and reason fail."
Jack looks a bit nonplussed at this. Hammond covers a chuckle with a cough, and Daniel visibly suppresses a grin. "Yeah. Whatever," Jack says, recovering. "The thing is, Freddy, we don't..."
"...leave people behind," Fradeen finishes the sentence. "Yes, Colonel. From Lantash, I am well aware of that."
Jack leans forward. "Then you know we won't give up until we find Jacob or see real proof that he's dead. Is there any information you can give us—any way that you can help us?"
Sina bows her head briefly, and Ha'mara speaks again. "We can alert our operatives to pass on anything they hear which may be pertinent. I personally will check all incoming reports for relevant intelligence." She hesitates a moment. "Sina is less inclined to think this will be helpful. However, I agree with you that everything possible should be done to determine Jacob's fate." She turns a sympathetic glance toward Sam.
Sam nods. "Thank you very much."
"I would be gratified to find that you and your colleagues are correct, Major Carter, and that your father is alive. Jacob is a friend."
The three Tok'ra rise, and the others get to their feet also. "We will inform you of anything we learn which may offer a clue," Fradeen says.
"We appreciate your help," General Hammond tells them. "Thank you for coming."
42
The guard is changing on the prison level of the mothership. Six Jaffa march noisily in step, wheeling sharply around a corner to the station where their counterparts wait to be relieved. From their confinement, the prisoners can hear the sharp commands as the leader assigns each man to his post.
The cell is dim and small, its floor cold and hard. These conditions do not concern Leara of the Tok'ra, who is aching from her last session with Apophis' torture master. She thinks her left shoulder might be fractured and she can feel bruises and burns all over her body from the pain stick that was used. When she finally passed out this time, they dragged her back to the cell, where she awakened about an hour ago to find Jacob gone again. They have been taking them alternately for their torture.
It has been over thirty-six hours since they were captured, and the wound in her upper chest where they have torn out the life monitor is still seeping blood. The Jaffa First Prime who hacked it out took great pleasure in her agony, and in grinding the transmitter under his heel. The destruction of her monitor will have been interpreted by the Tok'ra as her death by her own hand. There will be no rescue attempt from her people.
Despite her pain and torture, Leara's greatest worry is for her symbiote, Kerlin. She has not been able to rouse him since the first massive dose of drugs that the Jaffa forced her to drink. Initially, the dose had made her ill, but that soon passed. However, Kerlin was left comatose, and continual smaller draughts of the drug have kept him that way. With Kerlin in a coma, she no longer has access to his healing power. She assumes Selmak is in the same state, since Jacob was given the same drug. Somewhere the Goa'uld have found a substance that sedates the symbiote without doing undue harm to the host.
The implications of such a drug are greatly disturbing. Its existence seriously compromises any Tok'ra operations against the Goa'uld, since the host without a symbiote is much weaker and more susceptible to torture, and has no recourse to the mak'lahr. It also means there is someone else out there who possesses the substance—the Goa'uld would not develop such a thing, they steal it or buy it or force others to give it to them—and what those others might do with it is anyone's guess.
In addition, it is a serious blow that the Goa'uld know about the life monitor, and where to find it. This has been the technology the Tok'ra have depended on for communications during their covert operations
The door slides open and two Jaffa drag Jacob's unconscious body into the cell. Leara tenses, expecting to be taken out, but they merely drop Jacob and leave. She crawls over to Jacob's side. Horrified by his condition, she seeks and finds the weak pulse at his throat. She tries to gently arrange his limbs into a more comfortable position, then lies down beside him and closes her eyes, certain that the Jaffa will come back for her soon.