by Geonn Cannon
“I suppose that’s true.” Sam noticed that once again, Lokelani hadn’t answered her question. “So it’s inevitable. But soon…?”
“You would know better than I do,” Lokelani said with her enigmatic smile. “You’ve been out in the universe while I have only hearsay.”
Sam said, “I have to admit, before I was sentenced to Viaxeiro, I’d never even heard of it. Maybe the Overseers are immune to changes in power.”
Lokelani said, “We can only hope, because life under a bootheel is occasionally better than trying to survive without order.”
“I should probably go. Vala’s probably wondering where I am.” Sam put her glass down on the table and stood up. “Thank you for the conversation and the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Lokelani stood as well. “I hope you do. If you should need assistance in finding a place to sleep, or if you simply wish to talk more, my door is always open. I hope the two of us can become very good friends, Sri Fraiser.”
“Me too.”
She held out her hand. Lokelani gripped her forearm in a manner that reminded Sam of how the Jaffa greeted one another. Sam gripped Lokelani’s arm as well, and as soon as their bare skin made contact Sam felt something buzzing inside her. It felt like pins and needles but in a distinctly unnatural swirling pattern, as if a swarm of miniscule bees had been injected into her veins. She masked her reaction to it, but Lokelani tilted her head to one side.
“There’s something…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. “I apologize. I had a momentary lapse of… no, I’m sorry.”
“No apologies necessary.” Sam dropped her hand. “I’ll be around.”
“I’m very glad to hear it.”
Sam allowed herself to be escorted from the house, letting out her breath only when the door was closed behind her. Though her heart was pounding, she was careful not to run just in case Lokelani or one of her guards were watching from the window. She didn’t want to give any indication of what she’d felt. She had to find Vala, Tanis, and Shein. She still wasn’t onboard with the whole plan, but one very big piece had just been confirmed.
Lokelani Kiir was, without a doubt, the host of a Goa’uld symbiote.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TEAL’C AND DR. LAM arrived on Far Scythia not long before Odai’s contacts were due to arrive. Cam greeted them at the gate and tried not to smile when he saw Carolyn’s outfit. She wore a short cloak over a cotton blouse, brown leather pants, and a pair of knee-high boots. Teal’c was in a sleeveless jerkin, his tattoo concealed by a flat cap pulled low over his brow, and a heavy shawl around his neck and draped over one shoulder. He assumed the rest of their gear was in the satchel hanging off Teal’c’s shoulder.
“Teal’c,” Cam said. “Glad to see you up and around.”
“I am fortunate Dr. Lam is able to see reason.”
Carolyn glared at him, then reached over and knocked on his chest. It made a heavy, hollow sound. “I made sure he was assigned an undercover outfit which could conceal Kevlar. It’s called a compromise. You didn’t outsmart me, Teal’c.”
“Why don’t we all just agree to disagree about who won?” Cam finally allowed himself a smile. “Good to see you off-world, Doc.”
“You say one thing about this outfit, and I’m taking Teal’c home.”
Cam held up his hands in surrender and then motioned for them to follow. “Wish I had been there to see how you talked General Landry into letting you tag along on this one.”
“No, you really don’t,” Carolyn said. “I finally convinced him that Teal’c’s welfare was only part of why I was needed. We don’t know what Carter and Vala have been through in this prison. They were probably zatted or drugged for the transport to the prison. And now they could be getting tortured for all we know. The general agreed… reluctantly… that it would be good to have a doctor on-hand when you pick them up. And if that doctor happens to be a woman, when you’re going to a women’s prison…”
“Good call,” Cam said. “And you’re right on time. Daniel’s with Odai right now, and he just radioed to say his friends are due any minute. Hopefully they won’t hit traffic.”
As Cam led them through the crowded streets, a small vessel shaped vaguely like a horse with two thrusters instead of saddlebags rose into the sky from where it had been berthed. It angled back toward the city and put on a burst of speed that picked up dust and shook the windows of every building in the area. Carolyn dropped into a protective crouch, one hand over her head, and watched as the ship angled up into the clouds.
“Yeah, should’ve warned you about that,” Cam said. “They’ve been doing that all day. Odai said a lot of pilots like buzzing the town.”
Carolyn frowned. “I’m starting to rethink the whole ‘flying cars’ future I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Yeah, F-302s are much cooler,” Cam said.
Daniel was waiting with Odai outside his ship. The bounty hunter was holding a small black communication device, which he held up as Cam rejoined them.
“Kimo just radioed. They’re coming in for a landing right now.”
Cam tilted his head back and squinted into the sky. “You told them we’re with you, right? I only ask because SG-1 and the Tau’ri don’t always get the warmest reception.”
“They know,” Odai said.
A speck near the sun quickly grew into the size of his hand, descending until he could see sunlight glinting off the metal. It turned wide and dipped as it neared the docks.
“I can’t help but notice they seem to be going a mite fast,” Cam said.
“They are. They won’t be able to…” Odai growled. “They’re not landing.”
Daniel said, “So they’re not going to help us?”
“I didn’t say — ”
A beam shot out from underneath the ship and swept across the ground, taking up Teal’c, Carolyn, Cam, Daniel, and finally Odai.
~#~
For a moment, Cam was afraid he had gone blind. He blinked a few times and held up his hand in front of his face.
“ — that,” Odai finished. The word echoed off the walls of the cramped, dark room they suddenly found themselves in.
Daniel said, “Was that an Asgard transportation beam? I haven’t seen one like that since — ”
“Cimmeria,” Teal’c said.
“Right.” Daniel subtly patted his chest as if to make sure he was all in one piece. “It must be an old model, which would explain how they got their hands on it.” He also thought it sounded similar to how Wraith Darts culled victims. He wondered if there was some connection between the two technologies but he didn’t have time to ponder it as one segment of the wall behind them slid out of the way. Two women entered and the first, darker-skinned than her partner with short, spiked hair, aimed a finger at Daniel.
“You. Jackson?” He nodded, uncertain if he’d just singled himself out for execution. “Move over there. By the wall.”
Daniel glanced at the rest of the team. “We’re not here to cause any trouble, we just want — ”
“Just get by the wall,” the other woman said. Her brown hair was loose and messy, falling over one eye. It was hard to tell in the dim light if she was threatening him, but he didn’t want to take a chance.
“Okay.” He moved to where the first woman was pointing. He kept his hands up.
Odai said, “Kimo, what’s going on? What is this?”
“Hush,” the brunette said, moving to stand beside Daniel.
Kimo turned to face her partner and brought up both hands so that her fingers made a pair of sideways slashes. The dark-skinned woman - obviously Adamaris - aimed the small gray box and examined a screen on the back. She grinned and swept her finger over the glass. The box hummed, and a small holographic image of Daniel and Kimo appeared in the air.
“Perfect!” Kimo said.
“Is this really the best time to add to your collection?” Odai asked.
Kimo reached out and tapped the hologram. It sl
owly began turning. “I said hush, Ventrell. You ask us for help with the infamous SG-1, you have to know I’m going to get a freeze of the legend himself.”
“Legend?” Daniel said.
Cam said, “Legend,” but in a much different tone.
Teal’c remained silent.
“I wanted to get that out of the way before we got into the heavy stuff.” Kimo shut off the hologram, took the camera from Adamaris, and gave Odai her full attention. “Now, to business. What mess are you getting us into this time?”
Odai nodded at SG-1. “They’re looking for the Overseers.”
“Willingly?” Adamaris said.
“Apparently some of their friends got sent to Viaxeiro. They want to get them out.”
Kimo laughed and nodded her head. “Yes. Okay. Very good, Odai. Now whatever you really want from us is going to seem reasonable by comparison.” She laughed and shook her head before repeating, “Viaxeiro,” so derisively Cam thought about calling the whole thing off.
Daniel cleared his throat. Teal’c put his hands behind his back. Cam looked at Dr. Lam, who seemed to be distracted by the fact she was actually standing on an alien spaceship. Or maybe she was just wisely pretending to be distracted so she was less likely to be noticed. Either way, Kimo’s amusement quickly faded as no one rushed to correct her.
“You can’t be serious.”
Odai shrugged and gestured at SG-1. “Don’t look at me. It’s their insane idea. I’m only going along with it because I want the Tau’ri to owe me a debt.”
Adamaris said, “You realize they can’t owe you anything if they die on this mission.”
Odai began to answer, but then his features became quizzical. He looked at Daniel. “Damn it.”
“We’ll make good on our promise,” Cam said, “but first he has to make good on his. Can you, or can you not, take us to the people who run this prison?”
Kimo said, “Absolutely not.”
Adamaris said, “Technically yes.”
They looked at each other, then spoke again to switch answers.
Daniel sighed and dropped his chin onto his chest.
“We can,” Adamaris said. “But it would be ridiculous for us to agree. We have a contract with the Overseers. We bring them supplies, food stores, anything they need for their little prison. They pay us very handsomely for that service, and they also make us sign a very aggressive confidentiality waiver. If we violate it, they could send us to the prison.”
Kimo was shaking her head. “I can’t believe we wasted a whole day on this. Odai, next time you should be absolutely clear about what insanity you expect from us. It will save us all some trouble.”
Cam said, “There has to be something we can offer.”
Kimo held out her hands palm-up. “From what I hear, the Tau’ri can take care of themselves. Your home planet is self-sufficient. You don’t have any far-flung colonies to worry about. You don’t need anyone like us.”
“Perhaps the Tau’ri do not,” Teal’c said, “but the Free Jaffa Nation has great need of just such a service.”
Adamaris perked up. “The Jaffa…?”
“Jaffa won’t even talk to us,” Kimo said.
Teal’c removed his cap to reveal his tattoo. “You speak with one now.”
Kimo gasped. “The shol’va. I knew you were once a member of SG-1, but I thought… I’d heard you left them behind. Is it really you?”
Teal’c bowed in greeting. “There are a great many Jaffa worlds which struggle to provide for themselves in the wake of the Ori’s arrival in this galaxy. They would welcome any assistance in preventing famine. If I were able to witness you acting honorably to help those in need, I would gladly recommend you to the High Council.”
Kimo looked at Adamaris, who was showing the galaxy’s worst poker face. “Kee, think about it. This won’t make us rich, but it will certainly raise our profile. Higher paying jobs… picking and choosing our clients instead of being forced to work for anyone that can pay our bills. It’s a ticket to an existence we can be proud of.”
“What…” Kimo spoke cautiously. She obviously wasn’t fully convinced by her partner’s speech. “What exactly would be expected of us?”
“We’re not asking you to personally attack these Overseers yourself,” Cam said. He was clearly trying not to sound too eager, but it was clear Teal’c had gotten their foot in the door. “We just need to know where to find them. You get us there, we’ll do the dirty work ourselves.”
Kimo worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
Cam rushed to close the deal. “And as a bonus, we’ll give you a pair of Jackson’s glasses.”
“What?” Kimo’s eyes widened.
“What?” Daniel also said, but in a much different tone.
Cam lowered his voice. “Come on, I know you pack a spare on missions just in case.”
Daniel said, “For emergencies, in case this pair gets broken.”
“So don’t break them.”
“They aren’t exactly cheap.”
“Have Carter buy you some new ones as a thank-you for helping get her out of prison.”
Daniel didn’t have a response for that. He appeared to struggle to come up with something but, when he failed, his shoulders slumped and he nodded.
“Okay. Teal’c will put in a good word with the Jaffa, and I’ll… give you my glasses.”
Kimo stuck her hand out. Daniel opened a pouch on his jacket and took out his emergency pair of glasses. He hesitated - they really weren’t cheap - and then gave them to her. She unfolded the earpieces and put the glasses on, smiling proudly as she blinked at them through the lenses.
“Wow. Foggy.”
Adamaris grinned at her. “Then I guess we have a deal. But I have to warn you. The Overseers don’t like surprises. It’s not going to be easy getting you into their station.”
“You just worry about getting us there,” Cam said. “We’ll focus on getting in.”
“Okay, then,” Adamaris said. “Come with me. I’ll show you where you can strap in.”
As they filed out of the room, Kimo fell into step next to Daniel. She had her hand out in front of her face to stare at her fingers.
“So why do you prefer to see things unclearly?”
“That’s-that’s not really how they work,” Daniel muttered.
Kimo and Adamaris led them to the cockpit. A padded bench ran along the back wall where the team could sit. Odai chose a seat far from the rest of SG-1. Cam strapped in beside Carolyn and noticed the tension in her shoulders.
“Nervous?”
“First time on a spaceship.”
“You’ve been on lots of spaceships.”
Carolyn said, “Our ships, a puddle jumper. This is a completely different thing.”
Cam tightened the strap across his chest. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s going to be smooth sailing all the way.”
Teal’c and Odai looked at each other, while Kimo and Adamaris twisted in their seats to look back at Cam.
“What?” he said.
“You’ve never been on one of these down-and-dirty smuggler ships before, have you?”
There was a hint of anxiety in Cam’s voice when he said, “Well, no…”
“I bet you’ve also never been on a ship that had seatbelts,” Daniel said.
“I… no…”
Kimo grinned in a way that made them all nervous. “Hold on, Tau’ri. You’re about to find out how we really fly out here on the edges.”
Carolyn grabbed the straps of her chest restraints with both hands. Cam did the same just as Kimo kicked off their autopilot and gave the ship a new burst of speed. The team was pushed back into the cushions, Cam, Carolyn, and Daniel’s feet lifting off the floor. Though he’d been in all kinds of ships and taken dozens if not hundreds of extremely rough rides, Cam hoped that whoever equipped the ship with seatbelts had also thought about putting in air-sick bags.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
VALA AND TANIS spotted
Sam in the crowd and hurried to catch up with her. Sam started to say where she’d been, but Tanis held up a hand to stop her. “Not out here. Back at the cold-water.” Sam agreed; she didn’t want anyone to overhear what she had to say. As far as she knew the Cai Thior were all wearing uniforms, but any of their fellow ‘condemned’ might be loyal enough to report anything that sounded like scheming.
Shein was at the small kitchenette preparing something that smelled like burning honey. She looked up as they filed inside but didn’t speak until the door was closed and secured.
“Looks like everyone’s back together.”
Tanis said, “Seems Carter got herself an invite to Lokelani’s inner sanctum.”
Shein smiled and came over to join them. “Did she give you the whole spiel?”
“She certainly had a lot to say, yeah,” Sam said. “But more importantly, I was able to confirm your theory. She is definitely a Goa’uld. I felt it when we shook hands.”
Vala perked up. “Fantastic! That certainly solves a few problems, doesn’t it?”
“Not really,” Sam said.
“Oh, come on! SG-1 is the leading Goa’uld killers of the galaxy.” Vala counted on her fingers. “Anubis, Apophis, at least seven Ba’als, Bynar, Cronus, Hathor, Nirrti, Ra, Tanith…”
Sam said, “Nirrti wasn’t us.”
“You were in the room.”
“Wait.” She tilted her head to the side. “Was that list alphabetized?”
“I have a lot of free time on the base,” Vala said sheepishly.
“No, I wasn’t judging,” Sam said. “I actually approve. But back to the point, the majority of those deaths happened in battle conditions. It was either them or us. We didn’t just roam the galaxy looking for Goa’uld to take out.”
Shein said, “The way I see it, you don’t have much of a choice. Either you get rid of Lokelani or you stay here for the rest of your days. Are you willing to do that?”
“I’m not willing to admit that’s the only way out of here. I have to believe there’s a way to escape without causing a riot.”
