* * * * * *
Hagar shied away from the painful barrier around him before doggedly pushing through it, mentally screaming as he felt connections click into place.
Finally he looked out of his own eyes, moving his body around Lucas' brainstem until he was able to reinsert himself properly, taking back control.
He started to reach out for Lucas, but stopped himself.
He would wait until the pain lessened from the zigzagging signals Lucas' brain was shooting through both of their bodies.
When he could concentrate, he'd try to find his host.
He opened his host's eyes to look at the rain he still could smell, but couldn't hear.
He tried to hear anything at all and realized that while he could smell, his vision was blurring just a bit and his hearing...his hearing was nonexistent.
He watched the rain hit and slide down the windows, feeling very trapped as his ears strained to hear something...anything at all.
He turned his head to see what was around him and caught the surprised expression on Dr. Jackson's face as their eyes met.
Dr. Jackson began speaking, but Hagar's head felt like it was going to explode and he couldn't concentrate enough to read the archaeologist's lips.
* * * * * *
Terry could've kicked something in frustration.
Three dragons had hatched from rocks the visiting team had been sitting on around the campfire and apparently the dragons hanging around had thought it was hilarious.
That or they had decided there was no need for them to sit on the eggs since they had these stupid humans to do it for them.
Nora's comments when more and more dragons brought their eggs and left them in an ever thicker circle around the fire had gone unappreciated when one of the baby dragons had sneezed all over Harris as its first act in its new world.
And now, of course, the kicker...his medical doctor was missing...
Of all the idiotic situations...
He watched as the last chevron engaged and everyone stood back as a brand-new UAV burst through the event horizon and started its search for the sleeping doctor.
* * * * * *
Martouf stood at the window in the briefing room, watching as the UAV was shot through the Chaapa'ai.
Annoyance was too small a word for what he and Lantash were wholeheartedly agreeing on at the moment.
He knew that Garshaw had no desire to stay here except for the chance to see Col. O'Neill again, but as soon as Jacob arrived, the General would be forced to allow them to go after SG-1.
*They need to be made aware that the implants are dissolving.*
*You cannot be certain of that.*
*Dr. Warner's theories are most convincing.*
*I do not believe brain damage will result.*
*We know nothing of the Goa'uld inside the airman that General Hammond described.*
*We have not had a Tok'ra movement here in many generations.*
*Perhaps some remained from when our last incursion on this world...*
*Descendants of Isis?*
*She did disappear after leading the rebellion to remove Ra and Apophis from this world.*
*Selmac said she was gravely ill.*
*We should speak with Qesir and see if she knows anything from her studies of her father's records.*
*Heru'hur became suspicious before she could access the main archive on Tenra, but you're right...she may know of something.*
*It will be good to have a Tok'ra queen again.*
*Perhaps...only if the Tau'ri can bring forth more willing hosts to house her children as they mature.*
*The Tollan did promise to help us construct units that would serve as well or better than Jaffa so that none would be needed if we ever found a way to reproduce ourselves.*
*I am aware of this.*
*Then why do you doubt?*
*I do not want to become like the Goa'uld...in any way. I do not think we should consider procreation until we have the ability to defend a world securely where the children would be raised. Tok'ra children would become as hunted as mutants.*
*If there are descendants of Isis here, they must have a queen to procreate.*
*Perhaps Isis survived?*
*If so, our cause may have just regained the leadership necessary to remove the System Lords completely and replace them with a joint government of races.*
*You have lofty hopes.*
*Perhaps.*
Martouf sighed as images of Jolinar, her eyes alive with fire flashed through Lantash's mind.
*I know. I want her here, too.*
* * * * * *
Garshaw watched closely as the young Tau'ri in a metal chair was ushered into the hospital room.
The trip from the SGC to the Academy hospital had been eventful.
Qesir had become more restless with each passing moment and was obviously nervous now that she was to meet her potential host.
Dr. Warren had explained that the two girls that had volunteered would die soon.
They had brain tumors and were very weak, but were of above intelligence and had proven themselves to be courageous time and time again in their decisions since being hospitalized.
This first one had a cloth wrapped around her head and looked incredibly tired.
Garshaw couldn't help but worry about whether Qesir would be able to heal them.
The girl had been told about the Tok'ra and had agreed to meet them.
Garshaw had no doubt that the government of this part of the world would continue to keep its silence about the Chaapa'ai so as not to lose the power it gave them.
That meant that if this girl did not choose to or was refused by Qesir, she would likely be killed or separated from others until she was dead naturally in order to keep the secret.
Her mouth pursed with distaste, but she had done similar things when she felt they were necessary, so she said nothing of it.
Yousef was conversing with Qesir about Qesirs's current host and Garshaw stopped her preoccupation to listen.
"She still does not wish to speak with anyone and she will not forgive me."
"She knows too much about us to simply be allowed to leave."
Qesir glared at Yousef, knowing it was true, but hating it all the same.
"She does not deserve this fate."
"No human does."
Finally the door was closed and the girl spoke, her voice weak and slightly shaky.
"I'm Amy. Can we talk about this?"
Qesir walked up to her and knelt on the ground so they were of even height.
"I am Qesir. You are a child, but because of your disease, your life will be cut short. I offer you the chance to continue living and to fight for the freedom of your world and other worlds from the System Lords that currently rule them."
Amy sighed.
"I was sure this was a joke or something that my brother had set up, but I don't see anyone laughing."
Qesir's eyes flashed and Amy sucked in a breath only to choke and start coughing.
Pain deepened tiny lines around Amy's eyes and Qesir touched the smooth head underneath the fabric hat.
"You have no hair?"
"When this first started, it all fell out. I had really long brown hair. I loved it."
Qesir smiled.
"I will see if I cannot bring that hair back."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"What do I have to do? What will happen?"
"I will leave this host, enter through your mouth and push through the back of your throat. From there I will attach myself to your brainstem and heal your body. Because of how ill you are, it will take quite a while and we will have to be completely still until I am finished or I could be shaken loose and we could both die."
Amy took a shuddering breath, trying not to start coughing again.
"I'm scared, but I'll do it."
Qesir smiled.
"I agree. I approve of her courage."
Amy was gently lifted to the bed and laid flat.
George looked at the women and then at Dr. Warren.
"I need to get back to the base. You have this under control?"
"Yes, sir. It'll mostly be a waiting game according to the Tok'ra."
"Call me the moment anything happens, good or otherwise."
"Yes, sir."
George nodded to Garshaw and Qesir, smiling reassuringly at Amy before leaving.
He needed to get in touch with SG-1 and let them know what was going on.
* * * * * *
Graham Simmons stood outside the infirmary, waiting for SG-9 to leave the doorway.
He watched Martouf approach from the other end of the corridor and noticed one of the nurses also waiting to enter the infirmary flinch when he walked by.
"Sir, can I help you?"
The Tok'ra paused when Graham addressed him and he looked like he was going to say something.
Then he closed his mouth, smiled a polite smile and murmured a "No Thanks" under his breath before continuing down the corridor looking as if he really wasn't sure where he was going.
Graham shrugged a bit and turned back to the man he'd noticed earlier.
He wasn't new, but he had been sick recently and had only just returned to duty that morning.
He had been acting strangely all day.
Graham only knew because he'd been stuck out here waiting for the latest gossip on SG-13 that someone had collected for him to leave with Sgt. Siler in the Commissary after lunch.
Standard drop, but still...something was really odd about not seeing or hearing something about SG-1 either on world or off.
He couldn't wait until they were back and everything was normal again.
* * * * * *
Tesaf watched Martouf walk by, releasing his breath when the Tok'ra had passed and was intercepted by Lt. Simmons.
His host was making him ill and he wasn't sure how long he could wait before checking on the latest results in the lab on 16.
He had the blood samples Angela had managed to gather before she died and he needed to get them to the lab as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, he kept running into that blasted Tok'ra.
It was only a matter of time before he was sensed if his hunch was right.
He had to be able to avoid him or risk putting the entire set up in jeopardy.
His hand unconsciously patted the pocket where twenty-nine vials of labeled blood rested.
* * * * * *
Jolinar watched with amusement as Janet and Amber finally ran swiftly but carefully past O'Neill and Cassandra.
The door opened and they piled into the middle seat, laughing and talking at once while shaking.
Her eyes kept moving back to the Goa'uld as he repeatedly touched his ears.
That he was deaf was obvious.
Her contempt for him made Daniel uncomfortable even though he now understood how pathetic it was that Hagar had attempted a healing of that magnitude in a moving vehicle.
He should have asked for them to stop or he should have waited.
She had no sympathy for his plight.
Jolinar turned to watch O'Neill and Cassandra fly into the vehicle, spraying everyone with water.
Jolinar quickly covered Daniel's bag with a nearby jacket to keep his books from getting wet, glaring at O'Neill for his immature behavior.
Janet smacked Jack's backside as he slipped past, spluttering her reprimand for soaking her further.
His indignant chuckle made Sam grin, enjoying the levity the moment had promoted in the back of the Voyager.
Teal'c's eyes twinkled lightly as he made room for his wet seatmates.
Janet turned forward to speak to Jolinar and realized the airman was awake.
She vaulted out of her seat, ignoring Jolinar's echoing growl as she dragged a bag out of the space between the front bucket seats and proceeded to check the Goa'uld's vitals and responses.
*What is it?*
*He's deaf. Whether it's temporary or permanent, I can't even hazard a guess.*
*Can he speak?*
*I don't know. He's not answering my questions, so maybe. He is aware of us, though and he can see so that's a step in the right direction.*
*Are you going to move him back?*
*No, I'll stay here where I can watch him, Jack and Amber. The rain won't have helped Amber's period at all.*
Sam smiled a bit.
*At least I don't have to deal with that anymore.*
*Umm...I believe it's every woman's right and privilege to experience the full joys that come with being able to give birth. I promise, I'll let you be in charge during my next cycle, just so you don't miss out.*
Sam's wry look made Janet grin and she quickly controlled it when she saw that it had startled the Goa'uld.
"Are you finished?"
Janet glanced at Jolinar, noting her annoyance.
"Yes. As soon as the rain stops, we need to get out of these clothes."
"Why do you not remove them now rather than tempt sickness?"
Janet stared at Jolinar, realizing she was completely serious.
"Modesty."
Jolinar rolled her eyes just as Janet knew she would and didn't say another thing, simply reaching and turning on the Voyager.
"We are on a schedule...I will attempt to make up the lost time."
"Just don't get us pulled over."
Jolinar glanced back at O'Neill before turning forward again, a small smile curving her mouth.
Janet sighed and took her seat, passing out towels she had bought inside and had managed to keep dry in the plastic bag on the dash to the vehicle.
"Get as dry as possible."
Jack grinned and started drying Cassie's hair.
* * * * * *
Misheille rounded the rink, the sound of her roller blades blending with the others that had joined her.
*Watch that boy. He's looking at you that way.*
Mish grinned at the boy in question, encouraging him.
Onar pushed for her to be more careful, already having had to take over during two midnight attempts by older boys on his host, but she was unable to believe she could be hurt.
Not only did she really not grasp the concept of death, even after seeing it happen to others, she believed that because he was there with her, she had an added level of immunity.
Onar feared for her, hoping her belief would change from maturity and not from experience teaching her otherwise.
Arlin had come, but was still very uncomfortable with letting Peri have control so he was a bit awkward on his skates as he passed them.
He'd fallen twice already, his face burning.
Mish had almost gone to him, but Onar's prodding had born fruits there at least and she skated on by as if she hadn't even noticed his fall, chatting with him easily when they were near enough to do so.
His gratitude had grown with her continued silence and Onar enjoyed her surprise that he'd been right.
They were celebrating Mish's completion of the summer course she'd been taking.
Her computer skills had grown exponentially with each day and Onar couldn't help the pride he felt even though it embarrassed her when he spoke of her intelligence with Tesaf and his father.
They were still worried that Hagar hadn't called anyone, but they assumed he simply wasn't able to get away to do it without alerting someone to who it was he was calling.
They'd be meeting their father later in the month.
If Hagar had still not checked in, they would take more aggressive action.
* * * * * *
Jack raised his arm above Cassie to tap Teal'c on the shoulder and Cassie scrunched up her nose.
"What?"
"The rain musta washed off your deordorant cuz you...Aaaaaa!!!"
Jack's fingers were in her ribs and behind her knees where she went insane from the tickling.
Her squeals continued until he finally slowed down, seeing the glacially evil looks he was getting from Jolinar because of the racket distracting her while she drove...not to mention making the car shake.
Cassie gasped at pinched her nose at him, making it clear he still smelled and he started tickling her again, knowing it was what she wanted.
Teal'c smiled slightly as he got a lap full of squirming Cassie as she yelled over and over just how bad O'Neill smelled.
She was a courageous child and reached underneath her to aid O'Neill with a spot on her back he'd found by accident a short time before.
Cassie squealed, her foot kicking O'Neill and Teal'c quickly removed his hand, removing all expression from his face as he checked the unconsciou Colonel.
Cassie stared at the footprint on the side of Jack's head and froze.
Janet's eyes rolled upward in exasperation and she closed them until she could calmly tend to her patient.
Sam was rolling on the floor and if Janet wasn't actually worried about the Colonel's health, she'd join her.
"We are in West Memphis."
Janet acknowledged Jolinar's statement and set about reviving the Colonel.
* * * * * *
