* * * * * *
Greg shielded his eyes as he watched his CO fly involuntarily in the wrong direction.
Not even almost toward the Gate.
Not good.
He had no idea what the dragon was going to do to the major or where he was taking him, but it was a sure bet Gorowitz would be about as thrilled as a stomped ant when he finally stopped.
A flurry of activity behind him had Greg spinning to look and make sure he wasn't about to pull a Superman, too.
Rocks were being tossed into the hole at random and Syla was yelling at them, trying to get them to stop.
Great.
They'd have to bring heavy equipment to re-dig Nora's body out.
He suddenly realized Syla was actually jumping into the dragons' path.
Greg dodged two heaving dragons and pulled Syla off to the side, out of danger.
"We can't let them do this!!"
"We can't stop them and jumping in front of the rocks is just stupid. Don't ever do that again!."
"Greg, her body!"
"She's dead! She's not here to see this anyway. We'll just dig it back out after we get back to the SGC. If nothing else, we'll have an official SGC memorial service for her...she'll get full military honors. She died in the line of duty, saving a native."
"She's dead. I saw her body, but I still expect her to come around the corner with a snide remark or one of those grins that lets you know your boots have been introduced to that smelly shaving cream..."
Greg rolled his eyes, tightening his arms around his teammate.
He'd never lost anyone before.
He had a happy family, none of which had ever been in the military.
His grandparents had already been dead when he was born and his parents were happily enjoying retirement.
This was new and he didn't blame Syla a bit for losing it, but she was gonna have to pull it together.
He wasn't sure what to feel and so he decided to just take each item as it happened and see how things went.
"Why?"
"Huh?'
Syla looked up at the surprise in Greg's face.
"Why did she die?"
"Oh! I guess...it was her time."
"Oh what a stupid answer!"
Syla glared at him before sitting down on the ground, not caring that he was dragged into an awkward position when he didn't let go of her fast enough.
"Sulking's not gonna bring her back or change the situation so how about we get things ready for when the major hikes back?"
"There's no telling where he is..."
"No, but as long as we stay with these, we'll eventually see him and I think if we run fast enough, we'll get to the Gate next time we're that close."
Syla pictured them fleeing nice, grief-stricken dragons and smiled a bit, not even trying to control the trickle of tears down her cheeks.
"I hate this. I can't do anything about it and I hate it."
"Where's a sarcophagus when you need one?"
Syla choked, the sob making her throat feel like she'd swallowed stones.
She groaned when her nose started running and tried to find some tissues in her pack.
* * * * * *
"Does anyone have a phone we could use? Please?"
A very large man slipped around the front of the Bunny, holding out his cellphone.
Daniel reached up, smiling his thanks.
*You must prevent any from seeing the number.*
*Duh.*
*I am...not happy.*
*Happy? Jack's dead! How could you be...oh sheesh.*
*He was an adversary.*
*Jolinar, you weren't enemies. You shouldn't be surprised that you miss him.*
*I miss him being in pain. If he is as Samantha and I were, then he feels no more pain.*
*I'd really like to drop this now, if you don't mind.*
Jolinar quieted, trying to block her thoughts from her host.
She wasn't entirely successful and that was as confusing as her anticipation.
The walls between her and Daniel seemed to be breaking down.
*Perhaps as I regain a body, I separate from yours.*
*That doesn't fit. We're getting closer, not farther.*
Daniel tightened his arm around Janet, trying to fight his own anger at how stupid and useless the situation was.
He didn't know all that was going on with Jack and Janet, but this had to be killing...eh...hurting both of them badly.
*It was an appropriate word in that context*
*We try not to use puns like that. It's...bad.*
*Explain.*
*Later. Just...later.*
Janet sighed, leaning into Daniel's embrace, uncaring of who saw her crying.
They didn't know who she was or that she was a doctor.
Just a semi-hysterical woman sitting on the ground, covered in blood.
*It's understandable.*
*I don't want to talk about it anymore. My mind hurts...bruised. I just want, I don't know...complete oblivion. I don't want to feel anything. Take over.*
*I can't! Janet...no!*
Daniel heard the gasp from a child nearby, and looked up to see that many gazes were now fixated on Janet.
"Hey. What's going on?"
Janet whispered back and Daniel's eyes widened when he heard the echo and his hushed reply was fierce.
"Sam! Are you nuts? Did you cover your eyes? No, obviously not since everyone's staring at you."
"Shut up. I didn't do it. I never do it. Janet didn't think, she's just...going crazy in here."
"Tell her..."
"Nothing. I'm not saying a word. If she's enough out of it to do this, to take these risks, then I'm not taking the chance on getting kicked out by accident..."
Sam broke off at Daniel's look.
"Jack's umm...not happy."
Daniel winced as Jack's head went right on through his chest and into Sam.
*That would not be a pleasant view.*
*Well, considering what he did to Sam after she died, I'm really oh...ugh...forgot...*
*It was not pleasant.*
*Yes, well...whenever you'd like to stop reliving it...*
*The man has moved. Readjust yourself accordingly. He is trying to see the defender key. I believe he is...*
*Shh...I never remember all the numbers when someone talks to me.*
Jack gagged, disgusted with how he was beginning to recognize who was who from how their anatomy differed.
He looked around, noting those who were on phones and those who had pulled out cameras and were just snapping away.
This was not good...
"Carter, did you experiment on getting around with other people?"
"No, sir. Just all of you."
Jack winced when he heard the echo and saw people starting to get closer.
Sirens in the distance made him sigh.
At least with non-civilians, they would be able to get back according to the SGC's chain of command.
* * * * * *
Hagar observed the crowd, frantic inside his mind.
He turned, watching Cassandra cry out with every new person that shoved his or her face against the window.
This was a zoo.
He'd have very little time to get information out of Corvores now.
He'd have to make his move as soon as possible.
The only way to do that was to get himself together.
He closed his host's eyes so that none would see them flash too brightly and he began viciously destroying and re-connecting his small tentacles, trying to find the one that was causing the problems.
* * * * * *
"...and so we'll provide food to you every third week to help keep you from having to scrounge when not in battle and then only being privy to the field rations your warrior members have with them."
"Thank you, General Hammond. That will help offset some of the fragile alliances we have been forced to make for food."
"As to the material for uniforms..."
"We do have two worlds that generously donate the material we use and another that makes the actual clothing from them. We are not able to specify our preferences as this time and labor is given freely."
"I think we can find a streamlined uniform for your people. If you were to deliver the fabric to us, I'm sure we could cut down on the heavier designs, giving you small symbols of rank that wouldn't weigh you down while moving from planet to planet."
"This could work..."
"Incoming Traveler. I repeat. Incoming Traveler."
Yousef ran into the Control room with the General, hoping as he did that the incoming traveler was Jacob.
*They may have more appropriate clothing for our female Tok'ra as well.*
*I like the clothing made for us, though I do wish there were enough of the other uniforms for us.*
*I still believe we should be allowed to choose whether to wear these...dresses.*
*Unfortunately, I do not believe any of our male Tok'ra would be as willing to wear them when the rest of the uniforms have been passed out. This Tau'ri suggestion may work for us as well.*
*I miss being in battle.*
*We will leave when Jacob arrives.*
*Yes. He has been a most wonderful addition to our ranks. He will bring our Tok'ra home.*
*We must find a way to bring Jolinar back to us. She is so very badly missed.*
*I miss her too.*
*Perhaps we could procure some of the lighter-colored clothing their females wear before we leave?*
*They will wish trade.*
*For the chance to stop wearing this, I will find something to trade.*
"Tok'ra IDC, sir."
"Open the iris."
Yousef smiled as Jacob stepped onto the ramp.
She walked with the General into the Gate room, already organizing the information he would need in her mind for optimum efficiency.
* * * * * *
