Jack and Sam reported back to the SGC and after a quick debrief in Hammond's office things were set in motion.

The CO had been as surprised as SG-1 was about Keelah's heritage. "I take it that means Keelah will be remaining on her home planet?"

"That topic, sir, has been neatly avoided."

"I think His Majesty has assumed she's staying," Sam interjected. "And Keelah's been a little overwhelmed by everything that's happened. There really hasn't been any time to discuss it. Keelah did ask if we could be discreet about who we told." The blonde's hand waved around the office indicating one of the reasons they were conducting the debrief in the less formal setting.

Hammond nodded in understanding as the ringing of his phone interrupted them. In a few seconds he was replacing the receiver back in its cradle. "The tretonin is on its way from the warehouse. It's lucky that we have replenished our stockpile just this week. There should be more than enough to carry them through until the labs on the planet can create more."

"Sir, which teams were you planning on sending to help excavate the ore?"

The general sensed there was a specific reason for his 2IC to ask. "Normally I would send SG-14 and 19." He listed the teams who specialized in combat engineering. "However, due to the confidentiality required for anything to do with the quorite, I was going to send SG-5, because they already know about it. The fewer people in the loop the better." At Jack's nod of agreement he asked, "Who would you suggest for the second team?"

"Well, sir, Corfy would like to meet the friends Keelah has made here. And since SG-2 were basically the reason for her rescue and they've taken quite a liking to her, they'd be my choice."

Hammond studied the man sitting before him. They were logical and sound reasons. And besides SG-1, there was no other team that he trusted more than SG-2. His gut, which was never wrong, was telling him there was another reason...well, that and the fact that Jack had actually given those 'legit' reasons and hadn't disguised them in one of his telltale quips. But he gave his approval. "They were scheduled to ship out on a recon within the hour. I'll have another team rescheduled for that mission."

"Nice," Jack grinned, trying not to look too eager when Hammond called his assistant in to organize the reassignment. "Oh, you're invited too, sir. They're planning a little feast in honor of Keelah's return."

"As much as I'd like too, the man who has been temporarily assigned to replace Senator Kinsey on the Intelligence Oversight Advisory will be arriving in later this afternoon. I don't expect to get out of here before midnight."

"Another politician?" Jack grimaced.

"A civilian, I don't have the details. His packet hasn't arrived yet." Hammond paused, "Which reminds me, what about Mr Kinsey?" Though his trial hadn't taken place yet, Hammond refused to refer to the man as 'senator' any longer.

"That is up for debate at the moment, sir," Sam reported. "His Majesty knows that Kinsey was responsible for Uneg's release. He's deciding if he wants to hold him accountable according to their laws."

"What is their justice system like?"

Hammond considered the options. On Earth, given the secrecy of the SGC program and all it entailed, there was always the slim possibility that with a good enough lawyer Kinsey could cut a deal. And yet... "I think you'll find the President will want Kinsey to be brought back here. He's our responsibility."

Jack heaved a sigh. "We figured that, sir. Daniel's already trying to convince them to hand him over to us."

"Will this be a make or break factor in the tradeoff for the quorite?"

"I doubt it," Jack shrugged. "As long as Kinsey is brought to justice I think Corfy and Xa'bella will be happy."

"I'll confer with the President and have an answer before you leave." Hammond paused. "What about Miles Johnson's body?"

"There's been tiny, little hitch." Jack shifted a little uncomfortably at the mention of the senator's aide who had become the host to Uneg. "Some of the Seekers didn't react well to finding out their god was nothing more than a snake in a human puppet. They kinda zatted him into oblivion."

"I see," Hammond sighed then gave a small shrug. "It's probably for the best. It's not like we could have released his body anyway."

Sam nodded in agreement. The naquadah in the man's body would have raised questions should the man's family request an independent autopsy. "Is he officially going to remain as missing? Or will his family be allowed closure?"

"That's also for the President to decide."

Janet, dressed in her off-world gear and med kit in hand, knocked on the open door. "Sir, I and my team are ready to go. We're just waiting for the tretonin." She had sat in on the first part of the meeting and was up to date on what the premier team had accomplished in the space of the morning.

"It should be here within fifteen minutes," Hammond replied, gesturing for her to enter. "Doctor, do you think it will take long to modify the tretonin?"

She shook her head. "Hopefully we won't have to make any adjustments. I've been conducting simulations since Sam identified the anomalies in the symbiote we have. I wanted to be prepared to offer the tretonin to the Jaffa if we found them and convinced them to renounce the Goa'uld." She flashed Jack and Sam a smile. "Didn't think it would happen so soon, but tests indicate the ore affects just the symbiote rather than the Jaffa, so it should work as is. Everything points to the fact that after the initial high dosage regime to restore the immune system, only a smaller daily dose will be needed to maintain it. But only by testing it on a patient will we know for sure."

"Well, Doc," Jack grinned, "you're about to have ten thousand guinea pigs to try it out on."

Kinsey stared at the bars surrounding him as though his glare alone would somehow melt the solid iron. How had it come to this? Caged like an animal. He could have been President. He could have controlled not only the United States of America, the greatest nation ever to exist on Earth in his opinion, but the SGC, the gateway to the universe. His dreams of leading the nation, the world, into a new era were ruined. He'd had a lot of time to think, in between bouts of torture when the only thing he was capable of focusing on was the agony. It was all because of one man. Part of a clandestine group of benefactors, a man he'd only met in the shadows, who'd played on his most base desires, convincing him that the only way to end the threat of the Goa'uld was to have a Goa'uld on their side. They had even provided the Canopic jar with the trapped symbiote inside. Kinsey had kept to himself his reservations about the possibility of turning the Goa'uld into an ally, for he had seen a different opportunity.

He'd planned to gather as much intel from the parasite as possible and use that intel as he saw fit, not as Hammond and his lackeys SG-1 decided. Had even assembled his own unit made up of former NID agents and ex-SEALS, with the odd mercenary to round it off, intending to send them on a mission to bring back solid technology and weapons, maybe even kill a Goa'uld. All in the effort to show the President that there were others who could do the job and do it better with more tangible results than Hammond and Co. Nine years of war against the Goa'uld, following Hammond's reckless ways, had put Earth on the brink of destruction or slavery countless times and had caused more problems than benefits. How can the President not see that? Instead of replacing the base commander and sidelining the team who seemed to be involved, if not the cause, in every imminent threat, he had thrown his full support behind them and rewarded them time and time again!

The murmur of voices in the next cell intruded on the former senator's silent rant bringing him back to reality. What did it matter now? His opinion no longer held any sway. Thanks to Jackson's and the alien's undoubtedly detailed recount of his abduction and the circumstances surrounding it, he'd been irreversibly discredited, branded a traitor. And then there was the evidence O'Neill had stolen with the help of Maybourne. He'd been sitting on that for years, using it as leverage to keep Hammond as the SGC commander. Now there was no reason to keep it hidden and O'Neill would probably be the first in line to testify at his trial. He glanced around his current 'accommodation'. That is if there would be a trial. Soon after he regained consciousness, he'd overheard the guards talking. The King of this backwards planet wanted to hold him accountable for Uneg's takeover attempt. How can I be blamed for that? I was chained to a wall and tortured in ways I never knew possible. I've suffered more than any of the wretched people here! I'm the victim!

But apparently the King didn't see it that way. And with SG-1 whispering in his ear he doubted the King would change his mind. There was already talk of execution or life imprisonment. Either way, whether he remained here or taken back to Earth, he was, to put it simply, royally fucked. He supposed, more than a little bitterly, that he should be grateful for the robe he'd been given to replace that scrap of a loincloth and for the porridge like food they'd shoved through the bars.

There has to be a way out of this! He clambered to his feet and began pacing. If he could get back to Earth, back to his own kind, surely he'd be able to call in a few markers. He'd helped many in Washington, covered up many instances that would have tarnished the government if the truth had come out...and...and there was the group who had instigated this whole fiasco with Uneg... He broke that thought off. Who am I kidding? They'd chosen him because he'd been a public figure who was popular with the masses, to give credibility to their future plans. Now they wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. And he had no doubt that any evidence of their association with him would by now have been destroyed. It was what he would have done in their position.

Slowly he drew in a shaky breath. It was finally hitting him that he was truly alone. Even during his torturous captivity of the last two weeks he'd had a reserve of hope hidden deep within his heart. Hope that he would be rescued, if only to be brought back for trial. As much as he despised the bleeding heart attitude of SG-1, he had relied on it, for he knew they would feel obliged to take on his rescue mission. But now that they had, that hope had fizzled out and there was nothing left to hope for except a life behind bars over death.

The realization nearly brought him to his knees and he leaned against the wall, using it to slide down so that he didn't fall flat on his face. Tendrils of fear began to trickle down his back, and he pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them to try to hide the sudden trembling assaulting his body. His fear was rapidly turning into panic and he tried to take deep even breaths to control it, but it continued to grow.

Almost to the point of hyperventilating, a low groan from the next cell penetrated his hearing. Eager to focus on anything other than the wash of panic consuming him, he forced his eyes to the man. He was one of a dozen or so Seekers who he vaguely recalled the guards calling 'troublemakers'. His comrades were huddled together conferring in whispers and hadn't heard his groan. He was lying on his side, lengthways against the adjoining bars of Kinsey's cell, his gaze glazed as he clutched at his lower abdomen.

Kinsey cautiously scuttled closer, more as a distraction for himself than for any concern for the Seeker's well being. "What's wrong with you?"

"The blessing of my god," he gasped, "is condemned because these heretics have slain the almighty god Uneg."

Kinsey raised an eyebrow. The man was obviously delirious for his words made no sense... His heart sped up when through the man's splayed fingers there was distinct movement beneath the shirt.

The Seeker weakly tried to push the 'bump' back down. "Stay, blessed one, do not leave me..." His soft begging slurred to silence and his eyes drifted shut, lapsing into unconsciousness.

Kinsey was filled with a morbid sense of curiosity. He edged closer and shifted so that his back was facing the guards, shielding his hands. After darting a quick look at the other Seekers then a glance over his shoulder at the guards to make sure no one was watching, he warily reached through the bars and lifted the shirt. Poked lightly at the cross section of the Jaffa pouch. For a moment nothing happened then slowly the flaps of skin were pushed outwards. What emerged was not like any of the pictures or live symbiotes he'd seen. It was a sickly grey color mottled with streaks of black and cream. He'd been present when his assistant, who'd volunteered for the task, was implanted with Uneg. The fins on either side of this one's gaping maw looked fully developed, though it was small by comparison to Uneg. A soft hiss, rather than a high pitched keening came from its mouth and the beady red eyes seemed to focus on Kinsey.

He felt a literal jolt rush through him as the symbiote pinned him with its stare and it drunkenly spilled out onto the floor. Clearly it was disorientated, lacking the fluid confidence of a Goa'uld, like it had no concept of what it should do. Kinsey knew he should kill it or at least call for the guard. Yet with the fear and panic and frantic need to escape still running riot in him, he saw something in the writhing Goa'uld's eyes. Whether it was a delusion brought on by his own feelings or not, he saw the desperate need to survive and a helplessness of not knowing how.

"You there, what are you doing?"

Without allowing himself to think, he snatched up the dwarfed symbiote, hiding it in the folds of his robe and scrambled back, taking up his previous position against the wall. "Nothing. That man is unconscious."

Janet was in the middle of her second briefing of hospital staff in four hours, regarding the procedure of removing the prim'tas and the possible side effects of introducing the tretonin to the Seekers. Thanks to a dose of the language pill, which all of the SGC personnel had been given upon arrival, communicating the medical information was easy. She had run some preliminary tests on a half a dozen Seekers who were eager for the conversion to happen ASAP. They had been horrified to learn that their 'god' was nothing more than 'snake' and they had to be convinced not to rip the prim'tas from their bodies there and then. The tests had confirmed her theory regarding the tretonin's suitability and the first round of removals had taken place. Her staff was monitoring the converted Seekers, teaching the nurses 'on the job' and so far there hadn't been any signs of the Seeker's bodies rejecting the serum.

It had been a whirlwind afternoon. When she and the other SGC personnel had stepped through the wormhole they had been greeted by the King himself, with a unit of guards to assist with all the equipment and supplies they had brought with them. Despite her and the SG teams' protests that they could carry their own gear, the King had waved their protests away and had the guards relieve them of their packs. And that was only the start of the 'royal treatment'. They were taken directly to the castle and given rooms that were obviously reserved for visiting dignitaries. Servants seemed to be everywhere they looked, their sole purpose to provide anything they wanted. Then they were escorted up to the Royal residence that had become a temporary central command.

Daniel was helping the King draft an announcement to the people, deciding how much to reveal of the current events, while at the same time ensuring that the Seekers who decided to renounce Uneg, wouldn't be alienated by the general population. Teal'c was in discussion with Gerino and a few other key guards giving a more in depth description of the physical enhancements the prim'tas gave to a Jaffa, so they would know how to deal with any troublemakers. Jack and Abner were leaning over a schematic of the monastery sans the recently rediscovered Goa'uld chambers, contemplating using the structure as a compound to keep them isolated from the general population. The Queen and Sam held the undivided attention of a small group of medical staff, telling them what they could of the Seekers condition and to prepare the hospital to be filled to capacity for the near future. Annika and Keelah were sitting off to one side playing with the Princess. The little girl had become almost hysterical when it was suggested she leave the room, the trauma of being forcibly taken by the Goa'uld too fresh in her mind to be away from her parents, even if they were just across the hall from her room. With her nanny suffering a concussion, Keelah and Annika had volunteered to keep her occupied and free from underfoot. At the doctor's and SG teams' arrival, the strategy sessions were put on hold briefly for introductions and Janet had barely a chance to smile before being absorbed into the medical group. A short time later the doctor was being given a quick tour of their medical facilities, and she and her team were ready to conduct the first tests for the safe removal of the prim'tas.

A nurse hurried in, her gaze going straight to Janet. "We have a problem. One of the Seekers is having convulsions and we can't stop them."

The CMO immediately hurried from the room, pulling out a sterile pouch containing a pair of latex gloves stashed in her pocket. "How long has he been convulsing?"

"Five minutes. None of the muscle inhibitors, yours or ours, are working." The nurse kept pace with the diminutive woman's quick pace.

"How much tretonin has he been given?" she asked, needing to know if he'd already been given too much of the serum to re-implant the symbiote. Was a tad surprised when the nurse led her away from the assigned ward where the Seekers were being treated to what served as the equivalent of the emergency room.

"None. He was brought in by two guards unconscious."

Janet raised an eyebrow at the reply as they rounded the corner, her gloves snapping into place.

The Seeker had a sea of medical staff trying to hold him down to stop him from bucking off the bed.

Penlight in hand, Janet strode towards the man, taking in his grey complexion and the sweat that had broken out on his brow. One of the nurses managed to hold his head steady for her as she examined his eyes, which were fully dilated. "Before he joined the Seekers, does anyone know if he had a history of seizures?"

A nurse shook her head. "We grew up together. He was perfectly healthy."

"You're sure?" Janet yanked the man's shirt up, examining the symbiote pouch as best she could between the man's violent jerking. She barely heard the woman's reply, her attention becoming focused on a residue of mucus on his skin and on the waist of his trousers. It was possible the convulsions were strong enough to cause some of it to seep out, but... She plunged a hand into the sack. All she felt was the gooeyness of the protective fluid. "We need to re-implant the symbiote."

"We never had a chance to remove it."

The doctor's head shot up. "What?"

"We were just beginning the exam when he started the convulsions. We didn't touch his...um...pouch."

Janet reefed her head around to the guards who were standing off to one side watching with concern. "Where did this man come from?" The wariness in her tone was noted by all.

"The prison block," one of the guards replied.

"And there was no symbiote on the floor around him?"

Both men shook their heads.

Janet stepped back, yanking one glove off and reached for her radio at her waist. "Give him ten cc's of tretonin immediately." She raised the radio and spoke into it. "General O'Neill, we have a situation. One of the Seekers from the prison had a symbiote mature. The Goa'uld is missing. I repeat, the Goa'uld is missing."

Corfy glanced up from what he hoped would be the final draft of his announcement, which he planned to give before sunset in the castle square. "Would Annika not be more comfortable in a bed? I can have a cot brought in if you do not wish to be separated."

Daniel shook his head. "Believe me when I say that she's in the best possible position." Tenderly he brushed a stray lock of hair from his wife's cheek. She was curled up on the couch beside him with her head resting on his thigh, sound asleep. It was an ongoing learning process with her abilities. He knew Jack had already filed away in his head that using her astral abilities were now only good for short spurts.

"She is quite extraordinary."

"I think so." Daniel was unaware of how much his love for her came through with those three little words.

"I do not just mean her...mental abilities." The King cleared his throat with a touch of embarrassment. "I did not react...well...to the revelation over my sister's abduction. She defended 'Bella without thought...I do not know of many who would deliberately deflect that rage such as I was feeling onto themselves for someone she barely knew."

"She didn't want you to do something you'd regret. She reacts on instinct, personal safety rarely plays a part."

"Now that's the pot calling the kettle black," Annika's voice was slightly groggy as she roused, though her amusement was clear. She stretched her arm up to caress the back of Daniel's neck. "Actually that could be embroidered on all our patches."

"True," Daniel conceded, leaning down to place a kiss to her lips. "Have a nice nap?"

"Yep." Annika felt reenergized. There's something to be said for 'power naps', she thought, as long as Daniel is my pillow and his arms my blanket. "How long was I out?"

"A couple of hours."

She sat up, sliding closer to Daniel and his arm automatically dropped around her shoulder. "Um...I would keep the involvement of Xa'bella's father quiet, especially from Teal'c."

Corfy's eyes widened. "You didn't tell your teammates?"

The psychic shook her head. "Not the specifics. It would have just complicated the issue. And in case you didn't notice, Teal'c's a tad protective of Keelah. He would have reacted like you."

"I would not ask you to keep secrets from your family."

"It's not my secret to tell," she shrugged. "If Keelah wants Teal'c to know, I'll recommend to her that she wait." A wry grin twisted her mouth. "Preferably until he's on the other side of the galaxy."

"I do not know what to make of him," Corfy admitted.

"Teal'c is contradictorily complex and simple to understand," Annika said slowly. "All you really need to know is that he has one of the purest souls I have ever had the privilege to meet. He is constantly haunted by what he was forced to do as First Prime and he's made it his mission in life to try to atone for it."

"But what I think you're wanting to know," Daniel added, "is that he would never hurt Keelah. He'd die first. He'll protect and defend her with his life. I have personally witnessed him issue a challenge to a person who is a strong ally and personal friend of his, for a comment Teal'c took as a slur against Keelah."

"Really?"

"Really," Daniel nodded. "I wish you could have seen Keelah when she first came to the SGC, so you could compare how she is now. We've seen her blossom from a scared, unsure slave who shrank away from everyone, into the strong woman you see today. And that is primarily due to Teal'c."

Corfy's expression became thoughtful.

The Jacksons remained quiet, giving him a chance to process the information.

Daniel made a cosmetic adjustment to the speech. Noticing his wife's eyes skimming over it, he passed it to her. "Any insight of how it's going to go over?"

Still snuggled in his embrace she read the speech more slowly. Rather than see images in a traditional vision, the paper developed its own aura. "They'll accept what's said. But they'll have questions once it sinks in." She read it again. There was only one real hedging that she could see and that was to do with the Seekers' involvement. Instead of describing their role as 'misguided Jaffa' they had been written in as victims. Which, she supposed, technically they were. There was, however, one glaring omission of the day's events. She lifted her eyes to the King. "You're not mentioning Keelah's return?"

"Not yet." He shook his head. "I don't want to tarnish such a joyous occasion with what has transpired today. The Goa'uld situation is my responsibility and should be dealt with as a separate matter."

"It sounds like you're preparing an excuse for you to step down as King." Annika could feel Daniel's frustration at the man's words, though she knew it wouldn't be showing on his face. Wondered how many times Daniel had tried to convince him otherwise while she was asleep.

"Not an excuse as such...but a viable reason for Keelah to take her rightful place should she choose."

"Surely you don't blame yourself for what's happened?" Annika raised an eyebrow.

"How can I not?" Corfy shrugged, the gesture revealing just how much guilt he was feeling. "A significant number of my people were brainwashed into believing in this Goa'uld. That they were so easily led down that path, I have failed in my duty to provide nurture and care, a stable environment for my people."

"You have a prison, right?" Daniel interjected.

Corfy nodded, perplexed by the question.

"Do you blame yourself for every crime that is committed?"

"No, of course not."

"The same principle applies." Daniel took a breath, launching into 'lecture mode'. "The lure of what a Goa'uld offers is very persuasive. I'm not talking of the tyranny, but the ideal. People want something or someone to believe in, whether it be science, the monarchy, or a way of life. The Goa'uld take advantage of that and they are experts. They know how to play on human weaknesses, it's why they impersonate gods. Even when they're not physically present they ensure there are enough reminders of their godliness for them to be remembered and worshipped. We've come across countless planets who have worshipped a god for thousands of years after they'd been abandoned. From what we saw from Annika's vision of the Goa'uld queen, the quorite played a part in the memory loss of the Jaffa who were left here to enforce Uneg's position, but the Seekers...or rather their ancestors...have actually done an extraordinary thing. They took Uneg 'the god' and changed it into a concept that became all about personal enlightenment, into their own type of religion. They changed it into having faith in themselves rather than in a particular being. When those texts were found, you said it yourself, their beliefs were shattered. And when Uneg turned up, proclaiming to be that god, they turned to him to replace that faith."

When Daniel paused for breath, Annika jumped in. "You look at your decision and think you made a mistake, but you're only human. The people will forgive you...if they even see anything to forgive. One of the highest ideals you strive to enforce is the freedom of choice, and you fought for that. The Seekers also made their own choice and thanks to this," she held up the speech, "it will show they were manipulated into that choice. The only blame here can be laid at the feet of the Goa'uld."

The couple wasn't sure how convincing they were and didn't have a chance to find out, for at that moment their radios crackled to life and Janet's urgent voice came through. Immediately they jumped to their feet, reaching for their guns, waiting for their orders.

There was no hesitation in Jack's response. "We're two streets away from the castle. Daniel, Casper, you still up top?"

"Yes, Jack," Daniel replied.

"Be our eyes," he ordered, quickening his pace, while studying each and every person he passed.

He, Sam and Teal'c had just done a walk through of the old part of the town where the cobbles made of the quorite were located, with Keelah and Gerino acting as their guides. SG-2 and 5 with a unit of King's Guards had remained to get started on the removal.

"Ferretti, Harper..."

"On our way." Ferretti's voice echoed back. "ETA two minutes."

The Jacksons ran out onto the balcony which gave them a bird's eye view of the courtyard below, including the entrance to the cell block, which is where Daniel first focused on, looking for anyone trying to leave, then extended outwards for anyone acting suspiciously. Annika began scanning the crowd, looking for a dual aura, which was more difficult than usual. With the alkesh still parked in the middle, the servants and guards going about their business were forced to walk close together, their auras blending in with the people in close proximity. Given the state of mind of the Goa'uld queen, she didn't expect to see the traditional 'evil' glow and instead looked for any indication of auras with a glow of a dimwitted or insane mind.

"Nothing yet," Annika reported.

"Entering the courtyard now."

The couple saw the rest of their team enter and Jack gave the signal for them to split up each taking one side of the courtyard. They had their guns out, but so as not to cause panic kept them lowered. Gerino remained behind, organizing a group of his men to guard the entrance, preventing anyone from leaving.

"The alkesh is blocking the right view of the yard," Daniel informed. Beneath the covered archway, he saw movement and he squinted to see into the shadows. Two of the King's Guards were carrying a third man on a stretcher. It was difficult to tell from where they had emerged. "Jack, two o'clock, guards with a stretcher." He placed a hand to Annika's shoulder to draw her attention from the other side of the yard.

She swung her head around only to see the guard bringing up the rear, walk behind the alkesh, blocking her vision. "We lost visual, but they should be heading right for you."

"Roger that." Jack took in a glance that Sam and Teal'c quickened their pace before they disappeared behind the alkesh to circle around the back to block the guards from doubling back. He felt a hint of pride when he saw Keelah, who was two feet away from him, tighten her grip on her nine mil, her mind totally focused on the new threat, following the basic training they had shown her. "Closing in now."

Kinsey examined the deformed symbiote in his grasp. It wasn't very strong in his opinion. Uneg had writhed with power as it was being transferred to his aide, he had seen that in the way its head and tail had thrashed. This creature he now held was obviously weak by comparison as it suffocated in the air. An inkling of an idea formed. If it were so physically frail, then logically its mind would be too. Its control over a host would be less than a normal Goa'uld...especially for someone as headstrong and determined as himself. Even at half strength a Goa'uld would make a host stronger than any human, right? A strength he needed. If he used the symbiote to enhance his strength, he could overpower the guards and escape. Then once he had left this planet behind, he could exert his will and force the symbiote out. Or better yet, he could control the Goa'uld. All symbiotes had genetic memory...he would have all that knowledge transferred to his mind. He could use that. He could bring his original plan into play...using himself as the 'source of information' to infiltrate the Goa'uld. Surely that would be enough of an 'apple' for his trial to be swept under the table.

The symbiote was growing weaker by the second as it struggled to breathe. He quickly ran through his head what he knew of how a symbiote implanted itself. Back of the neck, throat or ear canal were the options of choice. Vaguely he recalled the Tok'ra went in via the throat because it was apparently less traumatic for the host. He didn't give himself a chance to think. With a trembling hand he raised the symbiote and opened his mouth wide. Sucking in a deep breath he shoved the head of the symbiote to the back of his mouth. It thrashed weakly and Kinsey started to gag but he pushed it in deeper. His own airways became blocked. He held his breath as long as he could. Come on! What's wrong with the stupid thing? Just when he thought he'd have to abandon his scheme, or at least try one of the other methods of implantation, he felt the symbiote jerk within his mouth. He felt a sharp pain as the pincers on the symbiote's maw snapped around the soft flesh of the back of his throat. He started choking as it wriggled, pushing harder, and then an explosion of pure agony ripped through him. It was so strong that he couldn't even muster a scream. In that instant he knew he had made a horrible mistake and he frantically pulled at the symbiote's tail to yank it out. But the slippery tail slid through his fingers and it burrowed into him. Abject terror spread through him as he felt it squirm deeper and deeper, gaining strength as it sucked in the life giving nutrients of his blood.

Hazy images started to flash before Kinsey's eyes and he realized they were coming from the symbiote. He could see that it didn't know what it was doing, that it was instinct drawing it to his brain stem, but it lacked the know-how to minimize the trauma. Every wriggle was like a knife cutting through him. The first brush against his brain paralyzed him with terror. Then when it pierced the soft tissue, forcing the melding of their minds it released Kinsey's vocal chords. A blood-curdling howl ripped from his throat and his body started convulsing from the clumsy, excruciating takeover of the symbiote.

The King's Guards and the Seekers in the other cell were startled by the sudden scream. The guards hesitated. They had orders to keep the prisoner isolated and to not approach him. Had been warned not to fall for any tricks to convince them of his innocence. While they were still deciding what to do, the prisoner's next convulsion was so strong it seized his entire body. When the muscles relaxed the man's body went limp and he sank into unconsciousness. A trickle of blood spilled from his lips, yet what convinced the guards that it wasn't a trick and he needed medical attention was the quick spread of yellow wetness staining the man's robe. Surely even a desperate man wouldn't humiliate himself by urinating on himself, plus there were traces of blood seeping through. They made quick work of opening the cell. While one fetched a stretcher, two entered cautiously. Crouching down, one placed his fingers to Kinsey's throat testing for a pulse.

"His pulse is erratic." He opened one of Kinsey's eyelids. "Pupils fully dilated." He glanced down at the blood stained urine. "He's not faking. We have to get him to the hospital."

The other guard nodded in agreement, helping to lift Kinsey onto the stretcher. "The infirmary is closer."

"But his people's doctor is at the hospital. Better that she treat him."

The guard didn't question the logic. They had many humanoid visitors to the planet and he knew from past experience that while they may look the same as their own people, each race had their own genetic quirks.

Within moments the guards were carrying Kinsey out. Working their way through the crowd, neither was aware that the prisoner had begun to regain consciousness before they had even left the cellblock.

The former senator remained perfectly still, not because he was biding his time to make his escape. Escape for the moment was the last thing on his mind. He dared not move in case it stirred the being he could feel inhabiting his mind. His head pounded in agony with every heartbeat of the symbiote wrapped around his brainstem. There was a lessening of the darkness through his eyelids and he knew that they were now outside. A new sensation started to spread through him. A steady pulse, it was like a craving. There was something out here that his body was yearning for. Slowly he opened his eyes. Beyond the people passing by, his gaze landed on the gold sheeting of the alkesh. In his mind he heard a rasping hiss that said just one word. Naquadah.

Suddenly Kinsey felt his consciousness being shoved aside as the Goa'uld's survival instinct kicked in and it exerted its will. He struggled to maintain control, but he could feel the Goa'uld gaining strength from being in such close proximity of the ship and the trace amounts of naquadah coming from inside. With a cry of silent despair he found himself banished to be an observer in his own body.

"I have a visual," Sam reported, seeing through the throng of guards and servants to the men carrying the stretcher. She first focused on the guards, though she doubted that even in a bid to escape would a Goa'uld 'demean' itself to acting as a servant. There was no hint of wariness or deception on their faces. Her gaze dropped down to the man they were carrying and she did a double take. "Is that Kinsey?"

"It is," Teal'c confirmed having also locked on to their targets.

All of a sudden Kinsey rolled off the stretcher, disappearing into the throng of people.

Dual cries echoed through the radios. One came from Annika, who had been focused on the other side of the alkesh, waiting for the guards to reappear. Kinsey had moved as they had rounded the corner. Since the servants had shifted aside to let the guards with their 'prisoner' go by, she had clearly seen the distinct dual aura surrounding the man. The other came from Teal'c. As Kinsey had moved he had seen the flash of gold alight his eyes.

"Kinsey is the Goa'uld!"

"Where'd he go?" Jack had only caught a glimpse of the man's head before it had ducked out of sight.

The guards who'd raised the alarm at their prisoner's sudden escape, not knowing what he now was, had caused the civilians around them to panic and the sea of people made it difficult for anyone on the ground to see.

Daniel was practically hanging over the side of the balcony for a better view of the area. "Jack, he's about twenty feet ahead of you to your left."

"I see him!" Keelah exclaimed, raising her gun, then hesitated as a servant inadvertently crossed into her line of sight. "I can't get a shot."

Jack had followed where her gun was pointed and found himself with the same problem. "Anyone have a clean shot?"

To the general's frustration everyone reported in the negative, including the Jacksons from their perch above.

As the teams continued to close in, they saw the Goa'uld, who was unaware up until that point of their presence, catch sight of the uniforms that were so familiar to its host. Without pause it grabbed the closest fleeing person around the neck, yanking the unlucky servant in front of him acting as a human shield.

"My quarrel is not with you," the dual tone of the Goa'uld echoed out.

"You picked the wrong host," Jack snarled. "I'm just itching to put a bullet in Kinsey."

"You would not risk the life of this innocent." His grip tightened on the servant who was struggling to breathe, edging away as he spoke.

"I wouldn't bet your life on it," the general replied buying time, seeing Teal'c sneaking up behind the Goa'uld. Too late he realized where it was trying to go.

The Goa'uld, with the craving of the naquadah still thrumming through its body, sensed a new source of the ore drawing closer to him. Quick as a flash he shoved his hostage at the Jaffa and dove up the ramp of the alkesh, hitting the door control as he rolled passed.

Too far away to follow up the rapidly retracting ramp, shots immediately rang out as Jack and Keelah fired. Both managed to hit him, but he moved so quickly that they only clipped him. Sam chose a different target, firing in quick succession, aiming inside the alkesh at the control panel. Sparks flew as the door sealed tight.

"Carter, what did you hit?"

"Was hoping for the engine controls but got the weapons." Before she could get even close to the outside door release they heard the engines start to power up.

"Ah crap," Jack groused, watching helplessly as the ship began to rise.

"I have a clear shot of the engines, O'Neill." From this unique view of the rising ship, the engines were vulnerable to attack. In battle he had brought down many an alkesh in this manner, however this was not a usual battleground.

It took less than a second for Jack to weigh up the consequences. "Let him go." As much as he wanted to bring Kinsey and the Goa'uld down, he wouldn't do it at the expense of the safety of the civilians watching wide eyed around them.

"You guys have all the fun," Ferretti grumped, racing in to the courtyard with the rest of his team and SG-5, in time to see the alkesh become an ever decreasing dot in the sky, heading for the depths of space.

"The President is not going to like this," Sam commented.

"Yeah well, he's gonna have to get in line," Jack scowled. He so did not fancy the idea of having to chase Kinsey's ass across the galaxy.

"On the positive side, O'Neill," Teal'c said thoughtfully, "we now can shoot him on sight when we reacquire his location."

"Now that's a silver lining I hadn't considered," the general mused.

The Lord Captain hurried up with a frown. "Your Royal Highness, you should not have put yourself in harm's way like that."

Before Keelah could respond, Jack butted in. "Hey, buddy, Queenie was doing what she was trained to do. She's still wearing my team's patch. She's not yours yet ya' know."

Gerino was about to protest until he saw that all of the Tau'ri present seemed to close ranks around Keelah in an automatic protective gesture. He gave a single nod deferring his authority. "My apologies to you, General, and to you, Ma'am."

Keelah felt a rush of emotion. She had been unsure of how her friends would treat her now that her heritage had been revealed. And while after the initial shock they had appeared to take it in their stride, she hadn't been entirely sure if it had only been an act, especially with SG-2 and 5, whom she hadn't had a chance to spend any time with since their arrival. Their immediate defense of her told her that they still considered her one of them. Her eyes locked on Jack, who seeing the mix of emotion on her face, gave her a wink. "But my aim needs some work."

"You performed admirably for your first live moving target," Teal'c assured.

"In case you didn't notice Jack's aim needs some work too," Daniel drawled, entering the courtyard with Annika and Corfy in tow.

Jack rolled his eyes with a grimace. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in."

"Oh we plan too," Annika grinned. "You of all people missing the chance to shoot our favorite rat, it'll give us fodder for months."

"It is a pity we lost the alkesh," Teal'c sighed then shrugged. "To use a Tau'ri phrase, 'easy come, easy go'."

Sam nodded. "It's not like we've had much luck hanging on to many Goa'uld ships in the past. Why break our track record now?"

To those who didn't know the intricacies of SG-1's relationship, their teasing of their commanding officer would have been considered callous at the least or insubordination at worst. But they knew Jack would berate himself for missing that shot, blame himself for Kinsey getting away. By ribbing him in such a manner, bringing up all the possible 'faults', they were letting Jack know they wouldn't let him get away with it.

The general knew full well what they were doing and while he would still feel some guilt, he appreciated the effort. "We'll get him next time."

The King gave a headshake of bewilderment. "How can you be so...calm...and blasé after such an event?"

"Practice," Jack quipped.

"It's the SG-1 way, Corfy," Keelah linked her arm with her brother, recognizing the bafflement, for she had felt the same way when she had first experienced it on the day of her rescue. She glanced at SG-2 and 5 who appeared to be more put out that they had arrived too late to join in the action than Kinsey's becoming a Goa'uld and escaping. "It's the SGC way. You'll get used to it."

He raised his eyes to the sky to where the alkesh was last seen. "But he knows the location of this planet."

The general turned serious. "Casper, you feeling up to trying to put our new friend's mind at ease?"

The psychic nodded. "I'll need the stretcher he was being carried on." She paused, considering the last time she had touched the spiritual essence of a Goa'uld. "And a bucket."

The guards who had been transporting him immediately came forward when Corfy gestured to them, and a servant was quickly dispatched for the bucket.

Placing the stretcher on the ground in front of Annika, they bowed low to the King.

"We're sorry, Your Majesty, we didn't know what the prisoner had become..."

Corfy waved their apologies aside, recalling the earlier conversation where the question was raised about the lack of Goa'uld on the planet with so many of the prim'tas maturing over the centuries. There was no reason for them to think it would start happening now. "No one could have foreseen this happening."

"Damn," Sam muttered, something clicking in her head.

"Carter?"

She grimaced at her CO. "I just realized why there have been no other Goa'uld here."

"So share with the class." Jack could already see the self-recrimination on his fiancée's face for not thinking of whatever it was sooner.

Sam sighed. "Every citizen would have at least trace amounts of the quorite in their systems. Annika's vision of the Goa'uld queen showed that she couldn't re-take her host because the host had been exposed."

"Kinsey has had no direct contact with the ore, making him the only viable host on the planet," Teal'c finished the blonde's train of thought.

One by one Jack saw the rest of his team mimic Sam's frustration for not making the connection sooner. "Shake it off," he said quietly, displacing the blame like they had just done for him. "We all had the same intel and none of us connected the dots. As long as the Seekers still with juniors are kept isolated from any interplanetary visitors there won't be any more snakeheads created. And we will get Kinsey one way or another."

Reluctantly they all nodded.

"Do you want to go to a place a little more private?" Daniel asked Annika when the servant arrived with the bucket, wanting to spare his wife the embarrassment of throwing up in public.

Annika flashed her husband a smile at his thoughtfulness but shook her head. "The energy is stronger out here where it happened." Sitting down, she fished the memory device from her pocket. "And with this, I'm hoping I won't need it." It didn't surprise her when Daniel sat down behind her, wrapping his arms around her. She relaxed into his embrace, not trying to talk him out of helping her, knowing it would be a waste of breath. Instead she sent a grateful caress through their bond. "Thank you."

"Welcome," he whispered back, responding with a caress of his own. "Just let me know when you're ready to begin."

She nodded and closing her eyes she began to lead herself through a meditation to focus her psychic energy.

Corfy tilted his head curiously at the couple. From the way the rest of the Tau'ri didn't even bat an eye, he figured this 'ritual' was common. Keeping his voice low, he asked his sister, who still had her arm through his, for an explanation. Keelah quietly explained how Annika's abilities became stronger with the support of her husband and the unfortunate side effect she suffered from with her visions. He couldn't help but notice that the teams by unspoken agreement had circled the sitting couple and that Keelah had drawn him in a few steps to close in that ring. It took a moment for him to realize that they were shielding the psychic from view of the servants and guards who still remained in the courtyard. In his head he recalled all the other protective gestures he had witnessed throughout the day. Every one of them had seemed to be instinctual, whether it be a physical defense or a verbal one. "You were lucky to have been...found...by such a caring group of people."

"I count my blessings every day," Keelah replied, her gaze sweeping over her friends.

Finishing the meditation, Annika opened her eyes. "Okay, mirror, mirror on the wall..."

When her fingers touched the stretcher the image that formed in her head and was displayed holographically above her was bizarre to say the least. It started as a dark rain cloud that slowing began to spin. What was really odd, was that Annika wasn't getting any information about it, there were no emotions, or images of past, present, or future. The only thing she was sure of was that it wasn't a metaphorical vision as so often was the case where her mind made a comparison to interpret what her sixth sense was showing.

After a few seconds of silence when it became apparent she wasn't going to offer an interpretation, Jack asked, "Okay, I give up, what is it?"

"I don't know," Annika frowned. "I've never experienced a vision like this...there's nothing there for me to interpret..."

The cloud started to spiral down into a funnel, like a tornado touching ground. When it hit the 'ground' Annika had a series of words flash in her mind before the tornado dissipated and once again became the spinning cloud.

"It's the newly born Goa'uld's awareness...its mind and thoughts aren't fully functional yet, so the vision has no cohesion."

"So how do we access whatever is in that cloud?"

Annika was again going to respond to the general with, 'I don't know', when another tendril of the cloud spiraled down, this one with a distinct purple haze surrounding it, indicating it was Annika's subconscious at work. Her eyes took on a vacant stare and her voice became a monotone like she had fallen into a trance. "Ask questions. Lots of questions. If the information is there, the question will pull the answer out."

Heads bobbed up and down in understanding of this new vision process.

"Is the planet at threat?" Daniel asked softly in her ear. He deliberately refrained from mentioning Kinsey and the Goa'uld, trying out a question that wasn't too specific.

The cloud funneled down.

"Danger exists everywhere."

Daniel flashed the others a grin, "Okay, not specific enough. Will Kinsey's Goa'uld be a threat to this planet?"

Another funnel.

"He won't come back here. The planet is safe from him."

"Can you elaborate on why?" Sam asked. While that would normally be enough of an answer for her team, she could see it wouldn't be enough of an assurance for the King.

Still speaking in a monotone, Annika replied, "He has Kinsey's memories. A pain in the ass for us," her arm lifted jerkily indicating the SG teams, "works to the advantage here."

"How so?" Teal'c prompted.

"Kinsey has read most of the mission reports. He knows any Goa'uld we encounter doesn't usually survive. He won't risk that. He's not going to go to any planet we have visited."

"Does he know about the quorite and its significance?" Sam asked.

"No. This planet is all the Goa'uld has known, it does not know it is different."

"But the Goa'uld queen knew," Sam frowned. "What about the genetic memory?"

"On some level Fido knew the ore was her downfall. She suppressed that knowledge from her spawn."

Teal'c considered the nature of the Goa'uld, particularly the lesser Goa'uld not powerful enough reign on their own. It was not uncommon for alliances to be formed for mutual protection. Took a moment to phrase his thought into a question. "What of the risk that the first Goa'uld Kinsey encounters will sense the ore's presence?"

"If he avoids contact for a moon cycle, what trace amounts of ore is in the symbiote will be expunged, replaced by the naquadah. If not, he will be killed."

Jack loved that second option. "So basically Kinsey's snake is going to become like any other Goa'uld once it tops up on the naquadah?"

"The longer it is exposed the more sentient it becomes. It will be a far from pleasant experience for Kinsey."

"So it wasn't a total loss," Jack gave a tight smile. "Where's he squirreling off to?"

The cloud remained still. Just when they thought that question would be a bust, another purple tinged tendril came down. "He doesn't even know. His main concern is to just get away."

"Does the snake have a name?" Daniel asked. He knew the Goa'uld was newly born, but a lot could be learned from a name, especially where the Goa'uld were concerned. In this case if the Goa'uld had chosen its own name from whatever genetic memory the queen had implanted or been assigned one by the queen, it could be a clue to where it could be going.

The cloud didn't move.

Teal'c realized the archaeologist's reason for asking the 'innocuous' question and tried a different angle. "How much of the genetic memory was the queen able to impart?"

"All, but it is knotted like a rope. Some will unravel of their own accord. Some are tied so tightly they will never be undone."

The cloud started to turn to a fog and in a few seconds had totally evaporated.

"Whoa." Annika gave her head a shake to get rid of the fogginess coating her mind. "That was just freaky. Sorry, I didn't get anything useful."

Sam wasn't the only one to raise an eyebrow. "You gave us what we needed to know."

The redhead blinked blankly at her team. "I remember a cloud. That's it."

"It was a very talkative cloud." Daniel felt a shiver run through her. Could feel how unsettled she was to have been used strictly as a conduit without any control. He was already pulling out a bottle of vanilla oil from his pocket when her hand went to her top pocket. "Here, My Angel."

Gratefully she let him tip some of the oil onto her hands and she rubbed it in to her hands and forehead. With the trance broken, the negative energy seemed to fold over her like a blanket. She swallowed, fighting down the bile that was bubbling in her stomach. Struggled to her feet despite the bucket that was within arms reach. If she were lucky she'd make it to the privacy of a bathroom. "Excuse me, I have to go throw up now."

"The servants quarters has the closest facilities," Corfy replied.

"Which way?" Daniel asked, helping to support his wife when she stumbled.

"I'll show them," Keelah replied, motioning for the couple to follow her.

Daniel found himself practically carrying Annika as they ran and they barely made it before contents of the psychic's stomach spewed out.

Keelah watched with concern as Daniel held Annika's hair clear. She knew this reaction was common but it didn't make it easy to see. Decided the best thing to do would be to give them some privacy. "Can you find your own way back to the residence?"

Daniel nodded, giving her a grateful smile. Patiently he waited for Annika to finish ridding herself of the negative energy. He could feel through their bond her usual 'embarrassment' of her body's reaction, but there was also a tendril of frightened frustration. When finally she stopped heaving and sat back, he took out another small bottle from his pocket and passed it over to her.

Her eyes widened at the travel sized bottle of mouthwash. "You think of everything."

"I try," he grinned then his eyes became serious. "That vision really freaked you out, didn't it?"

Annika slowly rinsed the wash in her mouth, delaying her answer. It was with great reluctance that she spat it down the drain and admitted, "I don't like this new development in my gift."

"You weren't aware of anything you said?"

She shook her head, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I can't control what comes through, I accepted that long ago. But I know when it's happening. This...it makes me feel like a pawn."

"Do you feel like you're being manipulated?"

She shrugged. "No, but then I didn't sense anything that the Nox did either."

"What if you tried to do a reading of the vision?" he suggested, searching for a way to put her mind at ease.

"That could work," she mulled the idea over. She reset the memory device that was still attached to her temple and started it over. To both their surprise they heard her responses though not the questions that were asked. Another shiver ran down her spine at her lifeless tone. "Is that how I sounded?"

"Yeah, you were in a fugue state," Daniel nodded. "But if it makes you feel any better, there was only calm being projected through our bond."

"Huh. Odd," she murmured, though it wasn't a response to Daniel's revelation. She had been studying the vision, concentrating on the word 'truth' to see if it would help focus what they were trying to determine. An aura was starting to take shape around the holographic display. The colors she saw were pure, without a hint of negativity or deception. "But it seems like my answers were real." She explained about the aura. She still wasn't happy about the new download method, but it made her feel a hell of a lot better to know that she would be able to determine if any future fugue visions were legit. "Thanks for the idea." She placed a tender kiss to his lips. "What would I do without you?"

He gave her a tight hug. "You will never have to find out."