The soft sobbing was an annoying intrusion into Jack O’Neill’s slowly growing awareness. The sound grated, tugged at the corners of his mind, and dragged him unwillingly out of a comfortable worry-free void. Irritated, and wishing to cling to just a few more moments of blissful oblivion, he tried to block out the unwanted noise.

His consciousness teetered on the edge darkness; he happily prepared himself for the long slow slide that would take him away from everything again, content to let the mysterious origin of the pitiful mewling remain a mystery for the time being.

A louder noise assaulted his ears, yanking him back to reality.

Someone was retching.

His eyes flew open and he blinked back tears at the brightness of the light. A blurry green shape slowly resolved itself into an arm as his eyes adjusted.

Green jacket. SGC patch.

Other details came to him in a rush. He was stretched out flat on his stomach, cheek resting on a cool smooth surface that seemed to give just slightly. He had a raging headache and his mouth felt like it was stuffed full of cotton. He pushed himself up and the room shifted. He locked his elbows and waited for the dizziness to pass. His stomach did a few flip-flops and he wondered if he was going to be joining the fun with whomever it was currently being violently ill somewhere behind him.

“Carter?” he rasped. He twisted slightly to take the weight off of his arms and sat up. She was non-responsive.

Gassed, he remembered. Kedic’s ship! He reached with one hand to feel for a pulse at her throat and was momentarily relieved to find it strong and steady.

“Colonel Jack?” called a low feminine voice.

Jack twisted his head to the left to face the speaker. She was sitting against the wall, leaning into a young man’s shoulder. The girl’s eyes were red and puffy and she as she sat up straight. Several tightly woven braids escaped the pins that held them in a complex arrangement on top of her head. She absentmindedly tucked them behind her ear with one hand. Jack noticed, however, that her other hand remained entwined with the boy’s and suddenly he recognized the pair.

Jack let his fingers drop from Carter’s throat. “Espeth?”

The girl nodded.

“Raynar, what happened?” he continued. “How much time has passed? Has Kedic or any of his people spoken with you?”

The boy simply shook his head.

Jack scrubbed a hand across his gritty eyes and squinted at his wrist.

His watch was gone.

Everything was gone.

“Your equipment was removed before we awoke, Colonel,” a new voice informed him. He spun and found Mahlia wiping another girl’s face with a strip of cloth. “I do not know how much time has passed since you were taken. None of the Honored Ones,” she nearly spat the title, “have come to speak with us.”

The other girl groaned softly and suddenly doubled over, clutching her stomach. She began retching again. Mahlia supported her, slipping her arm around her shoulders and rubbing her back until the girl was quiet again.

Jack lurched to his feet, swaying slightly on unsteady legs. He quickly surveyed the room. The Chosen, those that had planned to stay at the temple and the few who had been delaying the final decision, were sprawled in various states of consciousness around the room.

Jack’s nose wrinkled at the smell. Apparently, the nausea was not limited to only the one girl. His stomach rolled again. He breathed deeply through his mouth until the queasiness passed.

“Colonel, are you well?” Gareth rose to his feet and threaded his way through the prone bodies, pausing only briefly to squeeze Mahlia’s shoulder.

Jack nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“Many of us have felt ill,” the boy explained. Jack did think Gareth was looking a little green around the gills, but he didn’t comment. I’m probably not looking so hot myself. “Allieth was the last of us to awaken,” Gareth said, nodding at the girl who was now lying with her head in Mahlia’s lap. “We tried to rouse you but we could not.”

“It’s the sedative,” Jack told him. “Give it some time to clear your system and the sickness will pass.”

“Will you free us now, Colonel Jack?” Espeth asked.

Free them? Hadn’t she noticed he was in no better position than they were?

Jack turned away from her and moved to the closed doorway. Although he was certain it was useless, he poked and prodded at the control panel.

As he’d expected, nothing happened.

“Mahlia has told us that you have sent for more of your people,” said a young man sitting against the wall near the door. .

“Marlan, I have explained that the Colonel’s people were still making the journey to the temple. They were still many hours away when we were forced to sleep.”

Jack didn’t turn away from his inspection of the panel. He placed his palm flat against the wall at a spot just above the control mechanism and frowned.

“But surely they will come!” Marlan insisted. “The other two will be looking for them.”

Jack lifted his other hand and placed it at a lower spot on the wall, spreading his fingers wide. He paused there, hands pressed against the wall, for a long moment.

“Surely they will come,” Marlan repeated.

Jack pushed away from the wall and crossed the room. Again, he pressed his palms against the smooth surface and held them there for a long moment.

“When they can not find them, they will come looking!”

Jack let his hands drop and turned to face the young people staring up at him.

“They’ll look,” he said slowly. “But there’s nothing for them to find.”

Mahlia closed her eyes and bent her head. Gareth’s face paled and his shoulders slumped. Marlan simply looked at Jack with a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

“Your sky boat,” Jack said. He waved a hand at the ceiling. “It’s living up to its name.”

Mahlia opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her expression hardened.

“We travel to Ipet-isut,” she said.

Jack nodded.

Espeth whimpered and buried her face against Raynar’s chest. Her shoulders shook as she wept softly. Raynar bent his head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Colonel, I am sorry you and Major Carter have been forced to share in our fate,” Mahlia said. “It is a cruel chance that you must also endure this experience when it was your arrival that helped us realize the consequences of our role as Chosen.”

Jack sighed and slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor next to the still unconscious Carter.

“Not chance,” he growled. “Not chance at all.”

* * * * *

General Hammond blinked in surprise as the wormhole disengaged with only two members of SG-1 heading down the ramp.

“Dr. Jackson, where are Colonel O’Neill and Major Carter?”

Hammond watched as the young man paused at the end of the ramp and removed his boonie hat. Daniel looked up towards the observation window and for a moment – just a moment – Hammond wanted to take back his question.

Surely Daniel would not be so calm if…

“Gone.”

Gone?

The general frowned and looked at Teal’c for confirmation. The big man nodded slightly. Daniel looked from Hammond to Teal’c and back again. “They went aboard the ship,” he continued. “Jack radioed that it was a trap and the signal went dead. We couldn’t get an answer,” he explained. “Then the ship took off.”

“Are you saying the Goa’uld-”

“No, General Hammond,” Teal’c said. “The ship was not of Goa’uld design. I do not believe there is any connection to the System Lords and O’Neill shared this belief.”

“Then who?”

“We have returned to attempt to determine their identity and location, General Hammond.”

“Gentlemen, meet me in the briefing room immediately,” Hammond ordered, cutting off the microphone without waiting for either man respond. “Sergeant, close the iris.”

“Yes, sir,” Davis answered.

Hammond turned and was nearly out of the door before the announcement rang out over the intercom, “Closing the iris.”

* * * * *

“Why do they not come?” Gareth slammed his fist against the door. “How long must we wait?”

Jack shrugged, not bothering to uncross his arms. He lifted his head to watch the young man resume his pacing.

“Don’t get so worked up,” Jack advised. “It doesn’t help.”

Gareth spun on his heel, turning towards the colonel, his face pulled into a scowl. He stepped closer to the man on the floor. “I do not understand you,” he said.

Jack tilted his head back to meet the younger man’s gaze. “Worked up,” he repeated. “You know… get excited? Off balance? Emotional?”

“Your words I understand,” Gareth replied. “I do not understand your lack of anger.”

“Did I say I wasn’t angry?”

Gareth silently stared at him for a long moment before nodding slowly. Jack didn’t say anything as the boy sat down next to Mahlia again.

“What will you do when they come?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Jack admitted. “There are a lot of things to consider,” he added, glancing around the room at the other young Chosen. “We don’t really know what we are dealing with yet.”

Carter stirred slightly and Jack sat up.

“Carter?”

She moaned, rolling from her side onto her back, her eyes still closed.

Jack placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. “Hey… Carter.”

Her eyes opened but quickly closed again.

“Major!”

“Sir?”

She’s still out of it. Jack shook her again. “Carter, wake up.”

“Sir… they took the gear.”

How could she know? Jack look at Gareth.

“As Mahlia said… your things were gone when we awoke.”

“I tried to stop them.” Carter coughed and her hand went to her stomach. Her face twisted and she gagged.

“Breathe, Carter. Whatever they used on us is making you sick. It’ll pass.”

She moaned again, gagging and Jack saw her throat working to swallow.

“Ah… too late! On your side. Now!” He pushed and rolled her over onto her side again as she began to retch. Her body jerked as the spasms rocked her and she gasped for breath in the short pauses.

“We’re not on the planet.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand only to double over again.

“I know. You couldn’t have done anything, Major.”

“Teal’c and Daniel?”

“Not here,” Jack assured her, his voice pitched low so only she could hear him. “But I don’t know if that does us any good. The minute this ship took off, our options became seriously limited.”

“The Tok’ra or the Asgard-”

Carter coughed and gagged again as another wave of nausea overwhelmed her.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jack said.

“But, sir…”

“Later, Carter. You’re in no condition and we have an audience. I’d rather not get their hopes up for a long shot.”

Carter lifted her head and looked around the room at the Chosen who were slowly stirring to life again.

“Understood, Colonel,” she said, nodding, before groaning and doubling over once again. Jack winced in sympathy as she clutched at her stomach. She braced herself with one hand on the floor and Jack could see her muscles trembling with the effort to stay upright.

“Carter?”

A weak groan was the only answer.

Jack shifted his position until he was able to slip his arms around her back and supported her weight as her body convulsed and twitched uncontrollably. This is way beyond anything the sick Chosen experienced, he realized. He could feel her heart pounding and her skin felt clammy to his touch. Her eyes were unfocused and she was gasping for breath.

Mahlia sank down on her knees next to him.

“Colonel O’Neill? Major Carter does not seem to be recovering as well as the rest of us,” the Mahlia said.

“I know!” Jack snapped and the girl recoiled slightly but quickly straightened again, her mouth set in a firm line. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I think they had to put her under again. She’s got more of that crap in her system than any of the rest of us,” he explained.

“Perhaps they can help her,” Mahlia suggested.

“It’s more of a question of will they help,” Jack replied. Kedic won’t be offering anything without a price. “Right now all we can do is to try to make her comfortable.”

Mahlia nodded.

Although she’d long since emptied the contents of her stomach, Carter was still heaving. She clutched at her stomach, her face contorting in pain with every dry heave.

“It hurts,” she groaned.

“Your stomach muscles are cramping. You have to try to relax,” Jack told her. “It’ll pass eventually,” he promised.

“Water?”

“Sorry, no beverage carts on this flight.”

“I suppose…” Another spasm doubled her over but it didn’t seem to last as long as the previous ones and she continued, “I suppose a few aspirin are out of the question?”

“They took everything,” Jack told her. “Head hurt?” he asked. The ache in his head had lessened but only slightly.

She nodded and tried to pull herself upright.

Jack helped her sit up, but she didn’t seem to be able to do more than lean into him. At least she’s not getting sick still, he told himself. She didn’t look good at all. Her eyes were half closed and her face was a pallid gray. Her hair was damp with sweat and her mouth hung open slightly. She still struggled to draw a full breath.

“Carter, you should lie down,” he suggested.

She didn’t protest as he eased her back down onto the floor. Her eyes drifted shut and her breathing seemed to even out. Jack relaxed a bit and tried not wonder about just what Kedic’s price would be when he finally made an appearance.

* * * * *

Jack’s eyes snapped open as the door panel swooshed open.

Kedic stood in the open doorway, flanked on either side by a man and woman who were each holding a small cylindrical canister.

“I trust you will not do anything rash.” Kedic said. A few of the Chosen rose to their feet, but Jack never moved.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Jack said.

“That is good.” Kedic smiled. “An increased amount of the drugs in your systems results in… unpleasant side effects.” His gaze shifted slightly, rested briefly on the still sleeping Carter, and returned to Jack. “It is unfortunate that its use was a necessity. Never before have we had to take such measures with our guests.”

“Guests?” Jack asked. “Is that what we are” Kedic didn’t answer. “Okay, I tell ya what,” Jack continued. “You just turn this ship around and let me take these folks back home and we’ll forget the whole thing. How’s that sound?”

“Impossible, Colonel. After all, I do have certain obligations that must be met.”

Jack nodded. What? I’m supposed to feel sorry for you? He braced one hand against the wall behind him and slowly stood up. “Do they include getting these people outta here?” He waved one hand at the featureless room that had become their prison, his eyes never leaving Kedic’s. “As charming as the accommodations are, I’m betting you can do better. Or were you planning to deliver the cargo sick, dehydrated, and smelly?”

“The circumstances required certain precautions. If I may have your assurance that nothing untoward will occur, then perhaps arrangements might be made to make everyone more comfortable.”

“Untoward?” Jack asked, taking a small step forward. “You might have to lay out the parameters for me. Is there an untowardness scale or something?”

“The parameters are very simple, Colonel. Your continued good behavior ensures my continued good will and patience. Certain decisions on your part will result in particular consequences.”

“I think I understand,” Jack said. “But just to clarify… let’s say, hypothetically of course, that I decided to break your neck. What would happen?”

The woman in the doorway paled and Jack heard her sudden intake of breath. Her companion stepped forward, raising the small tube he held in his hand and pointing it at Jack.

“Carys, stop.” Kedic’s command was quiet, and he had not even flinched that Jack could see. The flunky at the door went still, but he didn’t back away or lower his hand. “Hypothetically, Colonel, if you were to attempt such a thing then one of the Chosen would join your companion in her illness or, given the severity of such an action, perhaps Major Carter would suddenly have more to deal with than a queasy stomach.”

Jack silently regarded the man that stood before him. Kedic was trying to play him. I won’t give you the satisfaction you bastard. They were laying out the boundaries – preparing for the game ahead of them. Jack wasn’t ready to risk it all. Not now. Not here. “Now see, that’s just not fair,” he said finally. “You’d make them pay for something I did?”

“It may not be fair,” Kedic replied, “but in your case, I suspect, it is highly effective.” He gaze traveled around the room as he studied each of the Chosen in turn. As his glance fell on Mahlia, he smiled again. “It has been my experience that self-sacrifice and martyrdom are less appealing when such actions result in harm to someone other than the martyr.” Kedic turned to face Jack again, his smile vanishing. “Enough of this,” he said. “You will each go to where you are directed. You will be allowed the opportunity to clean up, given appropriate attire, and receive nourishment. We will not reach Ipet-isu for several of your days. How you complete this journey is a decision each of you must make for yourselves.”

Kedic turned and began to walk through the doorway.

“She needs medical attention,” Jack called after him. Kedic paused, and turned again to face Jack. “It’s already more than a queasy stomach. Even if you did dose her twice with that stuff, you can’t tell me this is normal.”

“She will be seen to, Colonel. Provided that you cooperate, of course.” Kedic turned away began walking away. Without bothering to glance back he added, “Carys and Lian will direct you to where you are to go. I will send someone to check on your major.”

Kedic vanished out of Jack’s line of sight and the woman, Lian, stepped into the doorway. “This section of the ship has been secured for your use.” Her voice was firm and her gaze swept over the Chosen as she spoke, but her eyes never seemed to rest on Jack. “You will be provided with appropriate clothing and there are several areas where you may all refresh yourselves. Food is being prepared and will be available shortly.”

“You don’t expect me to leave her here, do you?” Jack barked. Lian took a small step backwards and her eyes widened.

“I, uh… no. There are sleeping quarters.” She backed away another step, her knuckles nearly white from the pressure of her grip on the tube she held in her hand. “Carys will show you where to take her.” Carys took his cue and stepped to the left, placing himself between Lian and Jack. Some of the tension left her body and she took a deep breath. “The rest of you will follow me,” she ordered.

Some of the Chosen milled about but nobody moved to leave. Mahlia regarded Jack with a steady gaze and he gave a slight, nearly imperceptible nod. It was enough for Mahlia and she followed Lian out of the room. The remaining Chosen trailed after her, all except for Gareth.

“Do you require assistance, Colonel?”

“No,” Jack replied. “I can manage. You’d better go on.” The young man nodded but made no move to follow Mahlia and the others. “Go on,” Jack said again and this time Gareth turned and left the room.

Carys remained, waiting silently at the door, the silver tube still in his hand.

Jack ignored him and knelt down next to Carter. “Wake up.” She shifted slightly, but her eyes remained closed. “Hey, Carter, wake up,” he said more forcibly this time. He squeezed her arm and her eyes fluttered open. Jack tugged her into a sitting position.

“Sir?”

“We gotta move,” he told her. “How’s the head?” he asked. He stood and pulled her upright with him.

“Still hurts,” she told him. She swayed slightly. Jack pulled her tightly against his side, keeping one arm around her to keep her steady. “I think I’m going to be sick again.”

Jack steered her toward the door.

“Not on my boots, Major. That’s an order.” They reached Carys at the door. “Where?” Jack asked. Carys simply pointed at a door across the hall and to the left. Jack tugged Carter in the correct direction, grateful they only had a short way to go.

Carys reached the doorway first and stood in front of it. He watched as Jack struggled to help Carter stay on her feet but made no move to help. “Carter,” he said, as they pushed their way past the man. “If you really are going to be sick again, it’s okay if you get his boots.” Carys stepped back quickly and Jack laughed as he and Carter stepped through the doorway into the room beyond.

* * * * *

Jack pulled off his boots and let each one drop with a soft thunk onto the floor. It was bad enough giving up his uniform but it was almost the last straw to lose the boots as well, but it had made clear enough, even for Jack, that he had no choice.

At least Carter’s being seen to, he thought. He glared at the “shoes” he’d been handed. How am I supposed to know which is which? They looked identical – no obvious left or right. He picked one up. It was light and supple. Not much more than a slipper, he realized; although it did have a thin sort of sole.

Better than going barefoot, I guess. He slipped it on his right foot. It was loose. He closed the v-shaped flap on the top of the shoe.

The shoe… shifted. The seam of the flap vanished and Jack felt the material tighten around his foot.

“What the hell?” Jack flexed his foot. The looseness was gone- it was a perfect fit. He tugged at tiny v-shaped notch left in the top of the flap and it parted, loosening again. He watched closely as he closed the flap again but couldn’t see how it worked. The material just seemed to flow together to conform to his foot. Carter’s gonna get a kick out of this, he thought. If she’s in any shape to get a kick out of anything.

He shoved the remaining shoe onto his left foot, ignoring the novelty this time, and gathered up his clothes. He ran a hand under around the high-necked collar of his shirt, checking to make sure his dog tags were well-hidden.

Jack stepped into the corridor nearly running into Carys who was waiting for him.

“Did I not say we would have clothing that would fit you?” Carys asked, eyeing Jack up and down. He held his hands out and Jack hesitated, frowning, before quickly thrusting his discarded BDUs and boots into the man’s hands.

Jack shrugged and tilted his head to eye his current get up carefully. “I don’t know,” he said, making a show of tugging at his sleeves and smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from the cobalt blue fabric. “Do you really think this works? I’m not sure the color is quite me, ya know?”

“It is the color all Chosen wear.”

“Now see, there ya go. Aside from the fact that it’s better to be a trendsetter rather than a trend follower, I’m not one of the Chosen.”

“Kedic insisted-”

“Of course he did. Look, I’m not trying to be untoward or anything but as fashion statements go this is definitely a fashion don’t.”

The clothes were simple enough, even though they were made of some lightweight synthetic fabric. Plain cut pants - no pockets of course - which were, despite what Carys had said about the fit, a little on the short side. It may not have the proverbial stripes, Jack thought, but I know a prisoner’s uniform when I see one.

“Is your doc still with Carter?” Jack asked. Carys blinked at him and Jack sighed. “Your doctor, healer, medic… whatever you call him.”

“Yes.”

Jack nodded and stepped around the man to head back down the corridor and the room he’d left Carter in earlier. He hadn’t been exactly thrilled with the prospect of leaving her alone with the dour faced man that had arrived, announcing he was there to ‘examine the woman’ and that her treatment would not begin until Jack had cooperated by changing into the same clothes the rest of the Chosen were already wearing – Kedic’s orders. But Mahlia had been there, softly assuring Jack that she would remain. Apparently that didn’t contradict Kedic’s orders as the doctor had simply hmmphed his approval, muttering something about how her virtue would remain intact. At the time, Jack had wished Carter had been awake to hear him. Her reaction would have been unforgettable.

Still, he’d put up with the damnable man if he could get her on her feet again.

The man in question was just stepping out into the corridor, fumbling with the strap of his bag. Jack moved to block his way, earning himself a glare when sourpuss looked up from the bag.

“How is she?” Jack demanded.

“She will recover in time,” the doctor said. “It is simply the effects of the gas.”

Jack glanced over the man’s shoulder and saw Mahlia helping Carter take a sip from a small cup. They’d managed to get her into one of the uniforms as well, the feminine version – nearly identical except the pant legs were more of a divided skirt, loose and flowing. The doctor started to go around him and Jack sidestepped to block his way again. Mahlia whispered something and Carter nodded. Mahlia took the empty cup from her fingers and helped ease her down onto one of the beds.

“I know that,” Jack said. “How long will she be sick? Did you give her anything?”

“I have no way of determining how long she will remain in this condition. The use of that particular agent is extremely rare. If you had not incited rebellion among the Chosen such measures would not have been necessary.”

“Yeah, we should have just let you fly away with them when they didn’t want to go. After all, it wasn’t our problem was it?”

“If you had done so, then you would not be here and your companion would not be ill,” the man said smugly. “Her condition is not my doing.”

“Maybe so,” Jack agreed. “But her recovery will be. Did you give her anything?”

“There is little I can give her that will not interact with what she already has in her system.” Jack frowned and he felt the muscles in his face tighten. “I did give her something for the nausea,” the doctor added quickly. “Her body simply needs time to absorb the chemicals. As I said, the illness will pass… given time.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“I see no reason why it shouldn’t,” the man protested, turning away. “You allow worry for your woman to fill your head with extreme possibilities. She will-”

Jack’s grip on his arm spun him back around.

“Not so extreme,” Jack said. “She’s…,” he hesitated, unsure if revealing the information put her in any further danger. “Her body chemistry is different. It may explain these effects.” He decided not to go into details. No sense in giving them too much information. If her condition doesn’t improve…

“Perhaps,” the man agreed. He glanced down at Jack’s hand still wrapped tightly around his arm. Jack abruptly let go of him and the doc rubbed at his arm. “I do not have the proper facilities aboard to run more specific tests,” he explained, stepping away from Jack. “When we reach Orana I assure you she will be fine if she has not already recovered. She will receive the best of care.”

“Orana? You mean Ipet-isut, don’t you?” Jack asked.

“Yes. Yes, of course. I must go,” he insisted. “Kedic asked that I inform him of the woman’s condition.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Allow the woman to rest. Her illness should pass.” Without looking at Jack, he slid past and walked up the corridor. Carys fell in beside him. “You!” The doctor nearly spat the word at the younger man. “You did nothing!”

“He would not have harmed you,” Carys said. He glanced over his shoulder and nodded at Jack, a hint of a smile curving his lips.

“Kedic will hear of this,” the doctor proclaimed. Carys opened the door panel.

“Of that, I have no doubt,” Carys answered. He followed the doctor through and the door whooshed shut.

Before the sound had faded, Jack was already stepping into the room. He looked down at Carter. She was lying on her side, eyes closed. She still looked pale and sweaty but the spasms seemed to have ended.

“How is she?” he asked Mahlia.

“I’ll be fine, sir.” Carter’s eyes opened. “We should talk.”

“She should be resting,” Mahlia said.

“Carter?” Jack crouched down until he was eye-level with her. “How are you feeling?”

“Almost human,” she replied.

“Colonel, if you will excuse me? I’d like to join the others,” Mahlia requested.

“Sure,” Jack replied. “Thanks,” he added.

Mahlia nodded and stepped out of the room.

Jack turned his attention back to Carter. “So… almost human means what? Normal?” he teased.

“Think of the worst hangover you’ve ever had and triple it.”

“I don’t know,” Jack smiled. “I’ve had some pretty nasty ones.”

“Trust me; this is worse. But it’s better than it was earlier.” Carter swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up slowly.

“Mahlia’s right. You should rest,” he protested, standing up.

“Have you found out anything yet?” she asked, ignoring the suggestion.

Jack sighed. She’s not going to even try to rest until we talk. Determined to keep it short, he sat down beside her.

“Not much,” he admitted. “The planet we’re headed toward is called Orana. Mr. Bedside Manner did let that much slip.”

“That doesn’t tell us much, does it?”

“Not really. Apparently it’s gonna take us a few days to get there.”

“Sir, that probably means this ship doesn’t have a hyperdrive. If Daniel and Teal’c can contact the Tok’ra or the Asgard-”

“They have to find us first,” he reminded her. “And for all we know the ship does have a hyperdrive and we’re on our way to the next galaxy.”

“I don’t know, sir. The tech I’ve seen so far is pretty straightforward.” Jack nearly laughed at her. Only Carter would describe a damned spaceship as run of the mill, he thought.

“Just wait,” he cautioned her. “You haven’t seen everything yet.”

“I haven’t?”

“Nope,” he said, unable to resist drawing out the suspense. Maybe it will take her mind off of the situation. “You’re still barefoot.”

“What?”

“Where are the shoes they gave you?” he asked.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded, as he leaned backwards to peer over the other side of the bed.

“Shoes,” he repeated. He spotted them on the floor and grabbed them. “Here,” he said, sitting back up and handing them over to her, “try these on.”

Carter looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Trust me. Try them on.”

“Sir, my head hurts.”

“Carter! Put the shoes on.”

“Alright! Sir, are sure you’re okay?”

Jack smirked at her. “Very funny,” he said. “Put them on.”

He watched Carter slip her foot into one of the shoes.

“Now squeeze those two flaps together,” he instructed.

“Here?” she asked.

Jack nodded, watching her face as she closed the gap.

“Oh my!”

“Told ya!” Jack grinned at her expression as she opened then again closed the flaps. She picked up the other shoe and slipped her hand inside, closing the flap with her free hand.

“That’s incredible!”

“Yeah, what do you think Nike would pay to get their hands on it?”

“Forget about Nike, sir. The engineers at Nellis would probably kill you for it. Do you know what this is?” she asked, holding up her hand still encased in the footwear.

“A shoe?” Jack retorted. “You know, Carter. I figured someone as smart as you would know that shoes belong on your feet.”

“Nanotechnology, sir!”

“You mean those damned things that nearly had me retiring in Florida?”

“Well, yes. Maybe these aren’t as advanced... I mean those were manipulating your cellular structure…but it’s definitely nanotechnology.”

“Isn’t that what they’re designed to do?” Jack asked. “Go into your body and… do stuff? Look what they did to the children on Orban.”

“That’s just one application, sir. Even on Earth the potential for this type of technology is almost beyond our imaginations.”

“Now you’re making my head hurt,” Jack said.

“Sorry, sir.”

“Yeah, sure you are. So, you think you’re up for something to eat? You can play with the shoes later.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m not sure my stomach can handle anything yet.”

“Tell ya what,” Jack said, rising to his feet again. “You stay here. I’ll go see what I can find and bring it back. Nothing too heavy, I promise.”

“Sure, sir.”

Jack nodded. “Be right back.”

* * * * *

“General?”

Hammond looked up from the report he was reading and waved the doctor in.

“Good morning, Dr. Fraiser. Have a seat.”

“Thank you, sir,” she answered, passing him yet another folder. He took it from her and dropped in on the already growing pile of similar folders sitting on the corner of his desk.

“It’s thin today,” he commented. “Things must be fairly quiet.” She smiled briefly but it seemed to him it lacked its usual luster.

“Yes, sir. I should be releasing Major Feretti and his team later today. Provided, of course, they can manage to keep something down besides a half a bowl of chicken broth,” she explained.

He couldn’t help it. He laughed.

“Jack’s never going to let Lou live this one down,” he said. He wished the colonel was here to pester and annoy his ailing friend with good-natured jests about the wisdom of sampling the local cuisine during a mission.

“The major has already said that, sir.” Fraiser shifted. “And he’s also talked about requesting to be part of the team that returns to P3X-539,” she added.

“There won’t be much to do I’m afraid except sit and watch Dr. Jackson and his team study a lot of historical records.”

“Is there any word from the Tok’ra yet, General?”

“Jacob is on a mission. They are ‘looking into the matter’ but don’t have anything to tell us as of yet.”

“There’s no way to reach him?” Fraiser asked. “Don’t they realize she is his daughter?”

“I spoke with Per’sus—”

“The High Councilor himself?” Fraiser’s eyes widened.

“I was rather insistent,” Hammond admitted. “But not even Per’sus knows exactly where Jacob is located. They’re digging into their records to see if they have any information about 539’s system.”

“And this Khonsu?”

“They don’t have much.” Hammond shrugged. “He was a relatively minor Goa’uld who dropped off the radar centuries ago. Teal’c and Daniel insist we aren’t dealing with a Goa’uld anyway.”

“Can’t they at least send a ship?”

“They don’t have one close.” He held up a hand to forestall her next question. “We haven’t been able to reach the Asgard as of yet. I assume they are busy trying to deal with the Replicator situation in their home galaxy.”

“So we just wait?”

“It’s all we can do for now. You can tell Major Feretti his team is at the top of the list to accompany Daniel and Teal’c back to 539. Maybe they can piece together more information from the temple records.”

“Yes, sir. He’ll be pleased to hear it.”

“Just do us all a favor, Doctor.”

“Sir?”

“Don’t tell him until they are ready to be released. I doubt they’ll be much help in their current condition.”

“No, sir. I’ll let you know as soon as they are fit for duty.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Fraiser stood and quickly left his office.

Hammond turned his attention back to the morning’s reports.

* * * * *

“Carys! Open up!” Jack pounded on the door with one fist. “I know you’re out there! Open the damn door!”

“Colonel, this does not help.”

Jack rounded on Gareth and snapped, “It helps me!”

“Does it?” asked Mahlia, moving to stand beside Gareth. “You counseled us to have patience. Will you not now follow your own advice?”

“After three days in this tin can? No!”

“You know Carys will come with the meal soon.”

“Yes, and that’s all he’ll come with,” Jack muttered. What good would it do? She can’t eat it anyway.

“Perhaps Major Carter will feel well enough to eat this time.”

“She’s barely kept anything at all down. Why should it be any different now?”

“Our journey should be ending soon. Have they not promised to heal her when we arrive?”

“What about right now?” Jack pushed his way past her and walked back down the corridor.

The door slid open behind him and he checked his stride. He turned to see Carys pushing the now familiar cart loaded with their next meal. The door slid shut behind him as he crossed the threshold.

“Where is he?” Jack asked. “You said you’d bring him.”

“I said I’d try,” Carys answered. “He’s done everything he can for her until we reach Ipet-isu. In truth, she will fair better there. Edron’s skills are marginal in even the best situations.”

“Then why was he assigned to this mission?”

Carys laughed. “You are not the first to ask that question.” He reached Jack and stopped pushing the cart. “There really is very little he could do for her that he has not already tried. But I did arrange for something,” he said. He lifted the cover from a small bowl of nearly translucent liquid. “I don’t care for it myself – it’s rather tasteless,” he explained. “But maybe her stomach will accept it.”

Jack didn’t speak as Carys replaced the cover.

“She’s asleep now,” said Mahlia. “But I’m sure she’ll appreciate it when she wakes. I’ll take this now and set it up.” Carys stepped back and let Mahlia roll the cart away. Gareth followed her leaving the two men facing each other in the corridor.

“Why?” Jack asked. Why do you care?

“Her illness was not intentional.”

“Our abduction was.”

“He didn’t ask my opinion.”

“Kedic?”

Carys didn’t answer.

“If he had asked, what would you have told him?”

“To leave well enough alone. You complicate matters.”

You have no idea.

Carys smiled. “But Kedic enjoys a challenge. Too much so, perhaps.”

“So why hasn’t he come himself?”

“He sees no need. There will be time for that when we reach our destination.”

“And when will that be?”

“Soon,” Carys said. “Very soon. I must go now.”

Jack watched him go before joining Mahlia and the others in the room that was serving as their de facto dining room.

They ate in almost total silence in stark contrast to the meals they’d shared back on the planet. In only a few short days their lives had been uprooted and everything they thought they’d understood about their world had been pulled apart.

It’s just the beginning. Their time in the temple hasn’t prepared them for whatever is waiting at Orana.

He didn’t want to take responsibility for them but he had it. He’d had it from the moment he’d made them question their beliefs. He’d accepted it when he’d promised them he wouldn’t let Khonsu take them against their wishes.

He’d had a plan.

The plan had gone to shit in a big way.

And the shit was just getting deeper.

“Were you just going to let me sleep through the meal?”

“What are you doing up?” Carter leaned against the door. She looked tired and washed-out. Her face was all angles and hollows; her eyes deeply shadowed with dark circles that only accentuated her pallor. Her hair was limp, lusterless, and still damp with sweat.

“I’m tired of sleeping.”

“Well sit down before you fall over.”

Carter shuffled over and slumped into a seat next to Jack. Her gaze flitted across the table and the various dishes and platters arranged on it.

“Think you can eat?”

“No.”

“Carys brought you something.” Jack pulled the bowl of soup closer to Carter. “I don’t think it’s chicken noodle but stranger things have happened.”

Carter stared at it.

“I don’t know, sir.”

“You should at least try. You’ve really only managed to keep liquids down anyway. Think of it as a twofer,” he said. “Two for one. You re-hydrate and you get something in you besides water.”

He held out a spoon.

Carter looked at it like it might turn into a live snake at any moment.

“I don’t do airplane noises as well as Daniel. It wouldn’t be pretty. Don’t make me embarrass us both.”

She smiled and took the spoon out of his hand.

“Dad always did bombing runs.”

“That explains a lot.”

Carter dipped the spoon and brought it slowly to her mouth. She swallowed and waited for a long moment before lowering the spoon again.

“So far so good,” she said.

“How’s it taste?”

“Like wet cardboard.”

“Don’t knock it,” Jack said. “It’s better than nothing.”

Jack picked at his own meal as Carter tried to eat. Mahlia poured her water and insisted that she also try to drink at least a half a glass. Carter managed that much and maybe a quarter of the soup before she pushed it away.

“That’s enough. I think I’d better quit while I’m ahead.”

“But you’ve hardly eaten,” Mahlia protested.

“If she keeps it down it’s more than she’s had in nearly two days,” Jack said. “It’s enough for now.”

Mahlia nodded. “Very well. Do you wish to rest again, Major Carter?”

“No, not yet. I’d like to stay here for awhile.”

“Don’t overdo it,” Jack warned.

“Not long, I promise.”

Jack nodded. It was actually a relief to have her up and awake.

“Have you found out anything new?” she asked.

“Not much. We’ve only seen Carys. He tells me we’ll be there soon but won’t give specifics. He keeps telling me they’ll be able to help you when we get there.”

“How?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe a different doc? Carys doesn’t think much of the one they have on board.”

Jack felt the change before he realized what it meant.

The low vibration made his stomach tingle and he saw Carter place a hand on her belly.

“I feel it too,” he told her.

“What is it?” Gareth asked.

“The engines,” Carter answered. The vibration stopped.

“False alarm?”

“I don’t think so, sir. Probably a short burn to get us lined up for reentry into an atmosphere.”

“What does that mean?” Espeth asked.

“It means our little trip is over. We’re there.”

* * * * *

Carys seemed unsurprised to find them all waiting in the corridor.

Jack wasn’t at all surprised to find that he had plenty of back-up – half a dozen obviously armed men waited in the next corridor.

“We’re here to take you to your new quarters. There’s nowhere for you to go. Don’t do anything –”

“Untoward?” Jack asked.

“Exactly,” Carys agreed. “Can she walk?”

“I’ll manage,” Carter said.

“Kedic ordered me to escort you to our medical facility.” He looked at Jack and added, “Only you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“He was very specific. There is no choice.”

“I’ll be fine, sir.”

“I don’t like it.”

“He’s right. I don’t have a choice.”

Carys gestured for them to follow and the additional guards fell in around them all as they walked through the ship. They were making their way to the same hatchway through which he and Carter had boarded. There was no sign of anyone else.

“Where’s Kedic?” Jack asked.

“Making arrangements for your arrival. There is much to do.”

They reached the outer door and Carys keyed it open. Bright sunlight flooded in and Jack’s eyes watered. Carys stepped onto the ramp and they followed.

Jack stopped about halfway down and spun to take in the sight of the many gleaming steel and glass spires that surrounded them. They were on what appeared to be landing platform; it jutted out from the side of the building ahead of them – one of the many tall towers that surrounded them. Jack could see the tops of other buildings below them as well as great drifts of clouds.

The girl, Allieth, cried out and fell to her knees, weeping. She covered her face with her hands and rocked back and forth.

A small craft buzzed overhead, all dark glass and metal and sporting something that looked suspiciously like a gun barrel on one side.

“Still think their tech is pretty straightforward, Carter?”

“It’s more than I expected, that’s for sure.”

And way more than the Chosen could possibly have imagined.

“We must go,” Carys said. “Bring her.” He pointed at Allieth and one of the extra guards hauled her up by the arm. She wailed even louder.

“Hey!” Jack took a step forward but another guard blocked his path. “You could have warned them,” he shouted at Carys.

“They would not have understood. It is always this way.”

It’s just another way to control them. What better way to show them just how far away from their old lives they are now?

“Why?” Jack asked. “Why bring them here?”

“They serve a purpose.”

“What purpose? What can they possibly do for your people?”

“Come. I must see you to your quarters and Major Carter to the medical facility.” Carys turned and walked away. The guard holding Allieth followed – pulling the stumbling girl behind him. The remaining guards herded the stunned Chosen down the ramp.

“No choice, sir,” Carter said.

Crap. He looked around the platform again. She was right. There were no other options. Unless we want to fling ourselves off this thing there’s nowhere to go.

He fell into step behind Gareth and Mahlia. Carter positioned herself at his side.

They crossed the wide expanse of the platform and entered the building through the open double bay doors.