Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

Chapter 1

Don’t let him see you squirm.

Cassandra Fraiser stilled the urge to shift in the uncomfortable chair and tried to return General Landry’s penetrating gaze with the same easy confidence as Vala Mal Doran sat next to her. After a brief moment of stand-off, Cassie’s eyes flickered to the wide internal window behind the General. The familiar Stargate in the gate room below gleamed dully. She wondered how it was possible to simultaneously love and hate the inanimate object so passionately.

‘You want to what?’ Landry asked brusquely, regaining her attention. His brow rose as though in disbelief although Cassie figured it was more for effect than a real response. He clasped his hands on top of the polished surface of the conference room table.

‘Leave.’ Vala repeated, flicking her dark hair over one shoulder. ‘As soon as possible.’ She flashed a false smile at the SGC commander.

Landry stared at her for a beat before he shifted his gaze back to Cassie. ‘Miss Fraiser, Colonel Carter…’

‘Sam’s not here.’ Cassie interrupted him sharply. The ache in her heart sharpened like a knife twisting. ‘That’s kind of the point.’

He hid his flinch at the stark boldness of her statement well but not before she caught the shadow of it in his eyes as they dropped to the table. She knew he was as frustrated as she was at the disappearance of SG1. It was supposed to have been a milk-run, a non-event of a mission…

‘We’ll be gone a few weeks.’

Cassie winced at the crackling line that distorted Sam’s voice. ‘And by we?’ She prompted, picking up the large mug Daniel had gotten her for Christmas proclaiming her a ‘Coffee Lover Extraordinaire.’

‘SG1.’ Sam replied.

‘You’re not assigned to SG1.’ Cassie pulled a face at the cold bitter dregs in the mug and dumped them down the kitchen sink in the tiny apartment that she shared with her friend, Kelly.

‘I’ll always be a part of the team according to Cam.’ Sam sounded overly cheery.

Cassie rolled her eyes. She knew Sam was pissed about the political delay that had seen her own ship, The Phoenix, put on hold while The Tzu Sun was completed to satisfy the Chinese government. Sam was being shuffled from one temporary assignment to another in the interim.

‘So, are you, Daniel and Teal’c planning to drive Cam and Vala batty with your stories of the old days?’ Cassie teased.

‘Actually, Jack, Daniel, Teal’c and I are planning to drive Cam batty with stories of the old days.’ Sam said brightly.

‘Jack’s going with you?’ Cassie’s lips started to twitch as she imagined Jack’s glee; he really missed going through the wormhole on a regular basis since he’d become Head of Homeworld Security.

‘Oh yeah.’

Cassie’s lips turned into a full scale smirk at the fond mix of amusement and exasperation in Sam’s reply. Jack was probably driving them all nuts on some level and yet she knew they would all love having him along. She frowned suddenly as she replayed the list of names in her head. ‘Is Vala not going with you?’

‘She has some kind of chicken pox.’ Sam murmured.

Meaning it wasn’t chicken pox but some kind of alien disease. Cassie winced in silent sympathy with Vala’s plight.

‘Carolyn won’t sign off on her.’ Sam continued. ‘We met these people when Vala was…you know, away…’

Meaning lost in another galaxy, Cassie supplied.

‘…so she’s not really on the invite list. Jack’s only going because he signed the original treaty.’

‘Poor Vala.’ Cassie said, turning her attention to making a fresh pot of coffee. She wrinkled her nose as she gathered up the old filter and tossed it in the garbage.

‘How are things with you?’

Cassie tensed at the sudden switch in subject, slamming the new filter into place with more force than necessary. ‘I’m fine, Sam.’

‘You and Will were dating a long time.’ Sam said mildly, evidently ignoring Cassie’s unspoken plea that she didn’t want to talk about her recent break-up.

‘I haven’t fallen off the wagon if that’s what you mean.’ Cassie snapped angrily.

There was a tense pause.

Cassie closed her eyes and took a breath. ‘Sorry.’ It wasn’t as though Sam didn’t have cause to worry, Cassie reminded herself. The day Cassie and her childhood sweetheart Dominic had parted ways, Cassie had wrapped her car around a tree in a drunken stupor. The drink had been a guilty comfort in the wake of her mother’s death on a battlefield and somehow in a very short year had become an addiction. Sam had supported her while she’d gotten sober.

Sam sighed heavily and Cassie knew she was struggling with what to say to make everything better; the break-up, the alcoholism. ‘I love you, you know that.’

Cassie slumped back against the kitchen counter. ‘I love you too.’

Three weeks later, Landry had called with the news that SG1 were missing.

Five weeks later, Vala had shown up at Cassie’s door, looking pale and drawn with shadows under her eyes. SG1 were officially being declared MIA and the active search discontinued. It had been Cassie who’d come up with the insane idea of going after SG1 themselves.

‘I understand you’re disappointed with the decision regarding SG1,’ Landry began carefully, ‘but leaving isn’t the answer.’

‘You called off the search because of the IOA.’ The words came out colder than Cassie had meant them as though blasted by the cool air from the air-conditioning that penetrated Cassie’s smart grey pants suit.

Landry shot Vala a look of annoyance, blaming her correctly for telling Cassie. ‘I called off the search because there was nowhere else to look.’ He corrected briskly. ‘Vala, you were on the Odyssey when they scanned Cartegia; SG1 aren’t being held by the Cartegians.’

‘You can’t believe their claim that SG1 simply disappeared.’ Vala started to argue.

‘The Cartegians showed us the new treaty with Jack’s signature,’ Landry said, speaking over her, ‘and they’ve been loyal allies. They have no reason to lie to us. They believed we’d picked them up early for some reason without informing them. And let’s not forget that they’re a medieval society which doesn’t have the technology to hide something from us.’

Vala’s mouth thinned into a straight line. She hadn’t been allowed on Cartegia to question the locals.

‘You and I know that the likely explanation is the Lucian Alliance grabbed them from the planet.’ Landry said. ‘They could be anywhere but one place we know they’re not is Cartegia.’ He stabbed the table forcefully with his finger. ‘Officially, I can’t continue the search but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep our eyes and ears open unofficially and as soon as we have any leads we will follow them up.’

Cassie waved a hand to attract his attention. ‘Vala and I aren’t from Earth. We can leave and continue searching whether the IOA wants it or not. Teal’c did the same thing when the rest of the team was captured by Hathor and Uncle George, I mean General Hammond, had to call off the search.’

Landry’s expression cleared as he realised their intent but Cassie could see he was reformulating his strategy. She’d spent too much time with the various members of SG1 not to recognise the look. He didn’t disappoint her.

He turned to her with a solicitous concern. ‘I can appreciate your determination but we’re talking about a potentially dangerous situation and you’re not trained.’

Cassie held his gaze squarely; she’d had the same argument with Vala. ‘General, I’m young and fit. I speak fluent Goa’uld; I know more than most people about self-defence, and I know SG1 better than anyone else in the galaxy.’ Her eyes slid to the woman beside her. ‘I’m also not going alone. Vala has years of off-world experience.’

Landry shot another annoyed look at Vala who raised her hands in supplication.

‘Don’t look at me,’ Vala exclaimed brightly, ‘this is all her idea. She insisted that either I go along with her or she’d find a way to do it herself.’ She tossed Cassie her ‘I told you’ look.

Cassie sighed and ignored it. There was nothing left for her on Earth and if the positions were reversed, she knew all of SG1 would do the same for her.

‘What about your studies?’ Landry asked. ‘Jack tells me you’re almost a qualified teacher, right?’ His statement left no uncertainty that Jack had boasted about Cassie to him probably on several occasions.

‘I asked the same question.’ Vala grinned at Cassie.

‘I’ve taken a personal leave of absence.’ Cassie said stiffly. The college had been very understanding. They knew Sam, who was her legal contact, was in the Air Force and had assumed she’d gone MIA in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The General huffed out a breath. He pursed his lips as he considered their request. ‘I can’t give you a GDO.’

‘We know.’ Vala said evenly. ‘When we find the others we’ll follow protocol and head for one of the off-world bases or an ally.’

‘And I can’t guarantee you back-up if you run into trouble.’ Landry continued.

Cassie smiled grimly but nodded.

‘However, if you insist on doing this, I can give you some supplies.’ He conceded.

‘Thank you, General.’ Cassie felt her shoulders unknot a little before they tensed back up at the realisation that it was really happening; she was going to leave Earth and search for her family.

‘You do realise Jack is going to kill me when he finds out I let you leave.’ Landry laughed but his eyes were serious.

‘If Samantha doesn’t do it first.’ Vala added sweetly.

Landry’s eyebrows shot up but he smirked back at the former thief. ‘What do you think they’re going to do to you?’

Vala opened her mouth to reply and shut it again. Her fingers tapped the wooden table restlessly. ‘You may have a point.’

Cassie grimaced at the by-play; they could remember she was in the room. ‘When can we leave?’

‘There’s a team scheduled for departure to the Gamma site at thirteen hundred.’ Landry informed them. ‘You can go through with them.’ He regarded them thoughtfully. ‘Any ideas about your first move?’

‘We’re going to Hak’tyl.’ Vala informed him. She had smoothed her mobile face into an impassivity of which Teal’c would have been proud. ‘We’re hoping to secure a transport.’ She continued. ‘Make our way from there to Cartegia.’

Landry nodded and stood up. ‘You should gather your gear. I’ll see you in the gate room.’ He departed into his office, closing the door with a dull thud.

Vala jerked her head towards the exit and Cassie followed her out. They walked the corridors in silence to Vala’s quarters.

Vala closed the door behind them and gave a dramatic sigh. ‘Well, that went well.’

‘He’s letting us go.’ Cassie wondered why it felt like she was arguing rather than agreeing.

‘It’s not too late to change your mind.’ Vala said dryly.

Cassie raised an eyebrow and didn’t reply.

‘We should change.’ Vala gestured at Cassie’s outfit.

Cassie nodded. She reached for the large duffel bag she had stowed by the door and pointed at the bathroom. Vala nodded and Cassie escaped into the small room, shutting the door behind her.

The functional room was cluttered with colourful bottles of gel, soap and perfume. They added vibrancy to the grey walls and bright white units. The room reminded her of department stores and the weird mix of perfumes that were sprayed all over the beauty counters.

Cassie briefly made use of the facilities before she stripped her pant suit off, leaving it in the laundry basket in the corner; she wouldn’t need it again. She dressed quickly in a pair of khaki cargo pants. She pulled on a heavy cotton shirt over her white tank top. She completed the outfit with a brown leather bomber jacket and matching hiking boots before she tied her auburn hair back into a ponytail and pulled on a worn green olive cap.

She caught sight of herself in the tiny mirror above the sink and stopped. She looked scared; pale. She licked her lips, more aware than she would have liked of the tempting urge to find some kind of alcoholic Dutch courage.

You can do this, Cassie told herself briskly. They need you to find them. If Sam could stay with you in a bunker, if they can all protect you from Nirrti, you can walk through the wormhole and find them.

Only it wasn’t that simple.

The last time she’d walked through a wormhole had been an emergency evacuation to the Alpha site, she couldn’t remember why. She’d walked through with her Mom, Doctor Janet Fraiser; the woman who had adopted her after SG1 had rescued her from Hanka. After her mother had died, Cassie had refused to be evacuated any more. She hadn’t wanted to ever see the Stargate or the SGC again. She’d even refused to come to her Mom’s memorial. Sam had reluctantly agreed to her decision, Cassie thought sadly.

A sharp rap on the door had Cassie jerking out of her thoughts. She opened the door and stared at Vala. The brunette had changed into skin-tight leather pants and a halter-neck bustiere under a leather blazer; thigh high boots completed the outfit.

‘What?’ asked Vala, looking down at herself with a frown. ‘Is there a stain or a rip?’

‘No,’ Cassie remarked, ‘you just…you look great.’

Vala smiled and swept her eyes over Cassie’s outfit. She lifted an arched eyebrow. ‘That’s what you’re wearing?’

‘Yes.’ Cassie frowned as Vala had done previously. ‘What’s the matter with it?’

‘Absolutely nothing.’ Vala’s suddenly wide and guileless eyes said otherwise. ‘I mean, if you like that…’ she waved a hand at Cassie, ‘kind of thing.’

Cassie glared at her.

Vala smiled sheepishly. ‘You could change your mind.’

And Cassie knew she wasn’t talking about the clothes. ‘I’m not going to.’ Cassie said firmly. She had made her decision.

Vala picked up a bag and opened the door. ‘Then, let’s go.’

Cassie hoisted her own duffel. Her breath seemed to quicken with every step on the way to the gate room. Fear coiled around her belly; skittered down her spine. She could hear the grinding sound of the Stargate spinning as they neared the gate room; the thuds of military issue combat boots along the concrete floor; the babble of activity as the team waiting prepared to move out.

Sergeant Siler moved to intercept them at the gate room door. He held up a hand. ‘I have orders to issue you both with weapons.’ He motioned towards one of his people and picked up two zats. He handed one of them to Cassie who wondered where she was supposed to put it. She settled for the side pocket of her duffel bag.

Vala tucked hers into an inside pocket of the blazer. ‘Thank you, Siler.’

‘There’s also this.’ Siler handed them a large black back-pack. Supplies, Cassie deduced as Vala took hold of it.

Siler nodded at them briskly. ‘Good luck.’ He moved out of the way and Cassie stepped into the gate room.

‘Ladies.’ Dave Dixon called out a greeting. ‘I hear you’re joining us on this jaunt to the Gamma site.’

‘We are, indeed.’ Vala answered back, saving Cassie from the effort of making conversation.

The wormhole exploded out furiously; a splash of white and blue that looked for a moment like nothing more than a violent gush of water suspended in air and Cassie froze, her eyes widening in remembered surprise. It’s so beautiful, she thought awestruck. It was quickly sucked back into the shimmering pool that filled the Stargate and the moment passed.

Cassie’s head filled with memories; of stepping through that first time with Sam holding her hand; the noise and terror, the strange alien environment of the SGC so claustrophobic and grey compared to the bright Hankan fields.

‘Ready?’ Vala asked quietly.

Cassie nodded. She turned back to the control room and saw Landry stood silently behind the ubiquitous Walter. She turned back; the room was half empty, Dixon and his team already gone; Vala half-way up the metal ramp. Cassie strode forward, ignoring the trembling that attacked her legs and the way her chest tightened with worry. Just a step, Cassie thought determinedly. It was just a step.

The wormhole swallowed Vala and Cassie paused in front of the event horizon. She could feel the pull; the graze of the electricity across her skin. There was no-one to hold her hand this time; no Mom, no Sam. Just her. She was alone and she had to find the courage. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and stepped into the wormhole.

Chapter 2

‘You OK, kid?’ Dixon placed a hand on her shoulder as Cassie sat down shakily on the steps.

She nodded, suppressing the urge to hurl the meagre lunch she’d managed to eat. She couldn’t remember feeling this sick the last time she’d walked through the Stargate.

Dixon grinned at her sympathetically. ‘It gets better.’

‘That’s so reassuring.’ Cassie quipped. He held out his hand to her and she grasped it allowing him to pull her upright and off the steps.

They headed down to the DHD and Vala handed her some water. Cassie gratefully took a hesitant sip, washing the metallic taste that lingered in her mouth. She looked around the camp with interest; the grey buildings to the left that constituted the base, the training grounds to the right. A runaway stretched out in the far distance, a 302 taking flight into the clear blue sky.

Dixon swept his cap off and crumpled it in one hand. ‘OK. I understand you ladies want to go to Hak’tyl?’ He gestured at Captain Kellog to begin dialling.

‘That’s right.’ Vala agreed brightly. Her eyes gave away her bravado.

‘Look,’ Dixon stared at the ground for a moment before he looked back up at the two of them, ‘we all know why you’re going and most of us wish we were going with you.’ He gestured with his cap at Vala. ‘You know the schedules for the SG teams for the next month. You need any of us; you call and we’ll be there.’

Cassie swallowed hard around the lump in her throat as the sincere offer of help triggered a rush of emotion. She looked away to hide her tears, blinking furiously to clear her vision.

‘Thank you.’ Vala replied.

Cassie could hear the catch in Vala’s voice; she had also been moved by Dixon’s words.

‘Bring ’em home.’ Dixon ordered. He tapped Cassie on the arm. ‘And you: make sure you come back alive because I am not having SG1 tear me a new one for letting you go off to find them, you got that?’

Cassie rolled her eyes. What was with everyone thinking they were letting her do this? It had been her decision. But she didn’t argue, nodding instead.

The wormhole erupted again and Cassie looked at it in trepidation remembering the sickening journey she had just undertaken.

‘Colonel Dixon is right. It does get better with practice.’ Vala assured her.

‘Yeah,’ Cassie muttered, ‘right.’ She fell into step beside the other woman and stepped back through the Stargate. The journey was as dizzyingly terrifying as the last but Cassie was pleased to step out on the other side a shade less nauseous than before.

Two of the Hak’tyl warriors pointed their staff weapons at them. ‘State your business.’

‘We’re here to see Rya’c, son of Teal’c.’ Vala said formally.

‘You are Vala Mal Doran.’ The left guard shifted her staff weapon to a vertical position and nodded at her companion to do the same. ‘We have met.’

‘That’s right,’ Vala smiled tightly, ‘Tya’na, correct?’

‘Correct.’ Tya’na pointed toward the path. ‘Rya’c is in the village. We will contact Ishta and tell her of your arrival.’ She removed a small Goa’uld communication ball from a pouch on her belt.

Cassie kept the hard pace Vala set as they walked to the village and Cassie was quickly pleased that she kept in shape. The former thief had warned Cassie after their initial discussion that Cassie would need to keep up off-world and Vala was being true to her word. The path was heavily wooded and narrow it made it difficult for anyone to approach the settlement without warning. Cassie noticed something that looked like a rabbit dart through the undergrowth.

‘They’re baagts.’ Vala commented unexpectedly.

Vala sounded as though she was taking an afternoon stroll around a park, Cassie thought sourly. ‘Baagts?’ She winced at her own breathlessness. She guessed her jogging around her neighbourhood hadn’t exactly prepared her for treks through alien forests.

‘They thrive in these types of planets where the gravity is a touch stronger than normal.’ Vala said.

‘The gravity?’ Cassie hadn’t noticed anything different.

‘You’re probably finding it difficult to walk at this pace because your body is so attuned to Earth gravity.’ Vala said conversationally. ‘Most planets are close enough that you can’t tell the difference but with some the difference is shaded just enough to make things seem harder than they would be if we were doing the same thing on Earth.’

‘Great.’ Cassie said dryly. ‘So if you knew this why are you trying to set a new world record for speed-walking?’

‘I wanted to make sure you’d keep up.’ Vala slowed her pace and stopped. She handed Cassie the water flask again.

Cassie took the water and gulped back a healthy amount before handing it back. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘We’re not going to get very far if you don’t trust me to hold up my end.’

‘It’s not about trust,’ began Vala, waving the water bottle.

Cassie raised an eyebrow in a fair imitation of Teal’c.

‘OK,’ Vala clarified, ‘it is about trust but…’ she stopped and sighed heavily. ‘I’m used to working alone.’

‘You were part of SG1.’ Cassie argued.

‘Yes, and look how that’s turned out.’ Vala retorted. She turned away to hide the devastation on her face but Cassie glimpsed it anyway.

‘Vala.’ Cassie struggled to find the words. What could she say? They’d both lost a family when SG1 had disappeared. She took a step toward the older woman and placed a hand on her arm. ‘We’re going to find them.’

Vala sniffed, giving away evidence of tears that she hadn’t been able to hold back.

‘I know them and I know they’ve survived somehow because that’s what they do.’ Cassie squeezed Vala’s arm gently.

Vala looked at her, searchingly. ‘I guess that’s what we do too.’

Cassie hadn’t thought of it that way but she nodded. ‘We’re going to find them.’ She repeated.

Vala pulled a surprised Cassie into her arms for a quick hug. ‘I just…miss them.’ The words were whispered quietly as though Vala was confessing some big sin.

‘Me too.’ Cassie murmured.

Vala pulled away abruptly, swiped under her eyes and breathed in deeply. ‘Now, tell me honestly,’ she paused for effect and then waved at her face, ‘did my mascara run?’

Cassie’s lips quirked upward. ‘You look fine.’

Vala gestured at the bags. ‘Come on. We should make a move.’

The rest of the walk was made in silence but at a much better pace. They reached the settlement and Cassie took a moment to drink in the sight of Hak’tyl. It had become one of the most popular Jaffa settlements since the end of the Ori war according to Teal’c and she could see why. There was an order in the structures; the dusty pathways were clean and tidy. The small streets were bustling with people who were well-dressed. It was a society that was cared for; one which took pride in itself. Several of the Jaffa greeted them with a nod and a smile as Cassie and Vala made their way to the Council building at the centre.

Rya’c met them on the steps of the small structure. He wore a simple outfit of leather leggings and a brown canvas tunic belted at the waist with a leather belt which had a knife sheath attached. His hair was short; shaved close to the skull. Cassie smiled at him, genuinely happy to see him; they had met a few times over the years.

‘Rya’c.’ Cassie bounded up the last few steps.

‘Cassandra Fraiser.’ Rya’c’s dark eyes were warm as they regarded her but they sobered quickly. ‘You bring news of my father? Have SG1 been found?’

‘Not exactly.’ Vala suggested. ‘Perhaps we should continue this inside with Ishta. She should be waiting for us.’

‘Of course.’ Rya’c turned and motioned for them to follow. ‘This way.’ He strode up the steps and both women hurried to keep up with him.

Ishta had kept the government seat of Hak’tyl simple and elegant. Cassie admired the restrained decor and sleek lines as they were shown straight through to what was clearly a reception room for visitors. The decor was plain but the room was bright with sunshine.

Vala dropped the bags she carried and flopped onto the wide upholstered bench by the door. ‘Oh, that’s good.’

Cassie placed her own bag on the floor and rotated her shoulder gingerly.

Rya’c turned to them eagerly but before he could speak Ishta swept into the room. Her dress was similar to Rya’c’s and only softened by a more feminine cut to the tunic and Ishta’s own womanly body and appearance; her blonde hair flowed down her back.

She gave Cassie a brief glance; they had only met once that Cassie could recall. Ishta rarely left the SGC base when she visited Earth and her visits had been rarer since Teal’c had aged in a time dilation bubble. Cassie wondered at that but Teal’c had always kept his own counsel on the matter of his love life.

Ishta’s attention moved to Vala. ‘There is news of Teal’c?’

Vala stood slowly. ‘The SGC thinks it’s probable that SG1 have been captured by the Lucian Alliance.’

Ishta glowered unhappily and whirled away, heading for the tall windows. ‘Juka path!’

Cassie’s eyes widened as she translated in her head and came up with snivelling excrement.

‘Yes,’ Vala said mildly, ‘but I rather think the Alliance is a convenient explanation that someone was hoping we’d accept.’

Rya’c stared at her. ‘You believe there is another explanation?’

‘I don’t know.’ Vala admitted, her frustration shining from her eyes. ‘But I’d prefer to question the Cartegians myself.’

Rya’c’s gaze swept over her and Cassie. Cassie could see him take in their attire and come to the right conclusion. ‘You are going after them.’

‘Yes.’ Cassie said. ‘We’re not waiting.’

Ishta turned back to them, her surprise evident. ‘You have left the SGC?’

‘Left Earth.’ Vala agreed cheerily. ‘Striking out on our own.’

Cassie couldn’t help notice that Ishta looked at them as though they were mad.

‘Is this wise?’ Ishta asked carefully.

‘Probably not.’ Vala admitted. ‘But the SGC has had to call off the official search so…’

Ishta’s expression softened. ‘You have not given up on finding them.’

‘Never.’ Cassie raised her chin as Ishta’s knowing gaze swept over her.

‘You are a child…’ Ishta began.

‘I’m an adult.’ Cassie interrupted her. ‘Some of your own warriors are younger than I.’

‘But they are trained as warriors.’ Ishta rejoined.

She began circling Cassie as though challenging her to a fight. Cassie really hoped that wasn’t the case, she was really tired after the walk, but knowing Teal’c, it was very probable Ishta was going to test her abilities in some way.

‘I’ve been trained.’ Cassie replied shortly, tensing. She had grown up as the child of SG1. Every single member had been her trainer in some way.

‘Very well.’ Ishta suddenly dropped into a crouch and swept her leg out to connect with Cassie’s, knocking them out from under her.

Cassie landed on her butt and rolled as Teal’c had taught her, coming up into a fighter’s stance, fists in front of her face just in time to parry Ishta’s first blow. Cassie ducked the second, leaned away to avoid a third and drove her own fist into Ishta’s midriff with enough force to send the leader of the Hak’tyl back a few paces. Cassie was stunned enough at her brief success that she missed Ishta’s leg flashing out; it caught her shoulder and had Cassie tumbling off balance again to the floor.

Ishta offered her a hand and Cassie took it as she scrambled up from the floor.

‘You have some skill.’ Ishta looked at Cassie thoughtfully. ‘But you should always be prepared for a counter-attack.’

Cassie willed her heartbeat back to normal. So she had been tested but she had also passed. Vala winked at her across the room.

‘Finding Teal’c and the others is a noble quest.’ Ishta said. ‘I regret that I cannot join you but I have duties here.’

Rya’c straightened. ‘I will go with them.’

Ishta looked at him with fondness. ‘Your father would be expect nothing less.’

Rya’c nodded.

‘Actually, we didn’t really come to recruit help,’ Vala said urgently, ‘I mean, we came to request help just not that kind of help,’ she noticed Rya’c’s glower, ‘not that you’re not welcome to join us, it’s just…not the help we were after.’ She winced.

‘What help do you require?’ Ishta asked.

‘A ship.’ Cassie jumped in. ‘Cartegia is only accessible by ship.’

‘And supplies.’ Vala added. ‘The SGC provided us with zats and enough food for a few days but it would good to have as much as you could spare.’

‘Weapons and food I can provide to you,’ Ishta agreed, ‘but I have no ships to spare. There are none currently on Hak’tyl and those we have are many days from returning.’

Vala sat back down with a thump and turned to Rya’c. ‘What about Bra’tac or one of the other Jaffa settlements?’

Rya’c frowned and crossed his arms over his tunic. ‘Master Bra’tac is on a pilgrimage and nobody knows of his current location. Rak’nor may have a ship but he leads many settlements. It may take some time to locate him.’

There was silence while they all processed the lack of transport. Cassie sat down on a nearby chair and rubbed her neck tiredly. It would be ironic if they couldn’t secure some kind of transport. All they needed was a cargo ship. A memory stirred; a visit from an old friend and stories of the Ori Resistance…she was certain there had been mention of a ship.

‘I guess I could explore one of my old contacts but he is a long shot and may not have gotten out of prison yet.’ Vala mused out loud.

‘Or maybe we try someone not in prison.’ Cassie said.

They all looked at her with various degrees of bemusement.

‘Who?’ Vala asked impatiently when Cassie remained silent.

Cassie allowed herself a small smile. ‘Jonas Quinn.’

Chapter 3

The corridors of the Langaran Congress bore the scars of weapons’ fire. The wood panelling was gouged and splintered in places. Cassie shuddered, remembering Jonas’s light-hearted stories of the Ori Resistance. It was clear that he had down-played the danger and terror of the Ori occupation. She wondered if he had down-played it with Sam or Daniel – or whether it was just her. She was beginning to get irritated at the idea of everyone protecting her.

The guard marched onwards taking them out of the Congress building where the Stargate was located and across a small square. The second building was smaller. It only took them a moment to reach Jonas’s office.

‘Wait here.’ The guard said politely. ‘I will fetch Professor Quinn.’

Vala threw herself into a chair. ‘This is cosy.’

Rya’c looked over at Cassie checking with her that Vala was joking given the palatial size of the office. Four wide windows let in a wash of golden sunlight that skipped over the plain wood floor turning it a burnished copper colour. The room smelled of books, dust and a faint hint of lemon polish. Every other wall was covered floor to ceiling with shelves, all filled with books or artefacts. There was a large desk over by the far wall where more books were stacked. Two benches were covered in old manuscripts and oddities.

Cassie strolled over to take a look. She picked up a battered metal bowl and examined it intently. It was very old, Cassie mused; Byzantine in style. She wondered where it had been found.

Jonas burst through the open doorway; Cassie barely had time to take note of the brown pants and green over-shirt that he wore before he was across the room and sweeping her into a hug.

‘Cassie!’ Jonas spun her around before setting her down and taking a step back from her, leaving his hands cupping her shoulders as her own hands moved to gently clasp his arms. ‘You look great!’

She felt her cheeks warm at his compliment. ‘You too.’ He did look good; he looked better than the last time she’d seen him. He’d put on some weight, grown his hair back to the length that he had sported during his time on Earth. She shifted moving away from his hold. ‘You remember Vala?’

‘I do.’ Jonas gave her a wave.

‘And Rya’c.’ Cassie completed the introductions.

‘Rya’c?’ Jonas’s eyebrows shot up. He walked back across the office to offer his arm and Rya’c clasped his forearm strongly. ‘It’s been a long time! I barely recognised you.’ His eyes ran over the Jaffa. ‘Your Dad said you’d grown into a fine young man.’

‘Thank you.’ Rya’c smiled at him tightly. ‘It is good to see you again.’

‘So,’ Jonas broke away from Rya’c and whirled back around, striding back across the room to perch on the edge of his desk, ‘what’s going on? How much trouble are SG1 in?’

Vala pushed herself out of the chair and walked over to him, hands in the back pockets of her pants. ‘What makes you think they’re in trouble?’

Jonas absently picked up a round fruit from his desk and rubbed it against his shirt. ‘Well, you’re all here and they’re not.’

‘They’ve been declared MIA.’ Cassie confided. She sat beside him on the desk and folded her arms over her chest. ‘They went for some treaty mission with an ally…’

‘Cartegia.’ Vala supplied.

‘And didn’t come back.’ Cassie saw Jonas’s expression sharpen with interest and concern.

He held up both his hands. ‘From the beginning.’

Cassie smiled at him; she bet he was a hit with his students.

‘Well, the beginning is Cartegia.’ Vala said, beginning to pace. ‘You probably remember them from the alliance briefings you may have received during the Ori war.’

‘I do.’ Jonas answered.

‘They requested a new alliance treaty a few months ago, and Earth saw no reason to protest.’ Cassie inserted as Vala stopped pacing as she reached the window and stared out into the Langaran sunshine.

‘SG1 took the mission.’ Jonas surmised. ‘But not you.’ He pointed at Vala.

Vala shrugged. ‘I wasn’t officially invited but I would have been with them except I contracted a virus from a Julloi child the week before.’

‘You can only get to Cartegia by ship so the Apollo took them when they were making a run to Atlantis – it’s kind of on the way.’ Cassie added.

‘SG1 was scheduled to be picked up by the Odyssey three days later. I was on the Odyssey waiting to surprise them.’ Vala spun back around. ‘They claim that SG1 was there until the morning of the third day. Apparently they didn’t show for breakfast at which point someone went looking and found their rooms empty and their belongings gone. They assumed our people had been beamed away early and they hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye. The Cartegians produced the treaty as evidence that they had been there and the treaty had been signed.’

‘The SGC believes it’s the Lucian Alliance.’ Cassie said.

‘And you?’ Jonas asked, nudging Cassie’s knee with his own.

Vala pinned a bright smile on her face. ‘I’d like to speak to the Cartegians.’

‘You didn’t speak to them before?’ Jonas inquired.

‘I was prevented from going down to the planet.’ Vala admitted. ‘There might have been a small,’ she waved her hand and pinched two fingers together leaving a small space in between them, ‘miniscule chance that I might have infected the population with the virus. Apparently, Carolyn discovered that everyone on Earth has a natural immunity which was why I was allowed on the Odyssey to pick up SG1, but not humans on other planets.’

All three of them looked at her.

‘Oh, I’m fine now.’ Vala assured them swiftly. ‘Completely cured.’

‘If the Cartegians are lying, we will find out.’ Rya’c spoke up for the first time. There was a glint in his eye that reminded Cassie of his father.

‘And how do you propose to find out?’ Jonas asked pointedly, tossing the fruit he held from one hand to the other.

Cassie and Vala exchanged a guilty look.

‘We may not have all the details quite worked out yet.’ Vala allowed, walking back over to rejoin them.

Which was something of an understatement, Cassie thought wryly. They hadn’t thought any of the details out exactly.

‘Well, I’m in.’ Jonas said firmly.

Cassie darted an amused glance at Vala.

‘I believe they are about to tell you that they did not come to seek your assistance on the actual mission.’ Rya’c said dryly.

Cassie wondered with chagrin, why she and Vala hadn’t considered that the others would want to join them in searching for SG1. Possibly because, as with the plan, they hadn’t really thought much further than leaving Earth and securing transport to Cartegia.

‘Not that your presence wouldn’t be appreciated, Jonas, but surely you have duties?’ Vala jumped in quickly.

‘Nothing more important than helping you find SG1.’ Jonas looked at her. ‘So if you didn’t come here for me to join you specifically…’

‘We require a ship.’ Rya’c explained, emphasising his own involvement in the rescue in a subtle but firm way that Cassie knew he’d inherited from his father. ‘Ishta has none to spare and it may take days before we secure one from our various contacts.’

‘I remembered you telling me of a Goa’uld cargo ship that you used in the Resistance.’ Cassie said.

Jonas turned and smiled at her. ‘That’s right. She’s pretty beaten up though.’

‘But it flies?’ Vala questioned urgently.

‘It flies. But if you want it, I definitely come as part of the deal.’ Jonas slipped off the desk and handed Cassie the fruit. ‘Try it; it’s delicious. Kind of a cross between a lemon and an apple.’ He started to walk away to the door. ‘I’ll make the arrangements.’

‘I should return Hak’tyl and confirm we will be leaving from here.’ Rya’c said. ‘I will need to say goodbye to Karyn and collect our supplies.’

‘Sure.’ Jonas motioned for him to follow. ‘We’ll stop by the Stargate on our way back.’

The two men left.

‘That was unexpected.’ Vala said, breaking the silence.

‘Really?’ Cassie examined the fruit with a frown and placed it back on the desk. ‘I think we should have expected it. Jonas was with the team for a year. He loves them as much as we do. Plus he did lead the Resistance here during the Ori occupation, and he has tons of knowledge and…’

Vala held up a hand to stop the spill of words. ‘And Rya’c is Teal’c’s son and a trained warrior, I know.’ She sighed. ‘I guess the more the merrier. They can help with the plan.’

‘What plan?’ Cassie said dryly.

Vala winked at her. ‘Which is exactly why they can help.’

Chapter 4

The sky was blue above her head. She could smell the dirt and the perfume of the grass as she crouched down hiding, shaking in fear; her heart pounding.

She had been late; she didn’t know what had happened but she’d woken up in the forest and she had been late and everyone was dead…

Everyone but the monsters walking around in the strange clothing and she was scared, so scared…she tried to hide but they found her. One was talking to her and she sounded friendly; monsters couldn’t be friendly could they?

She scurried backwards as one approached; it was a dark man with a gold symbol on his face and he held out his hand…

And suddenly, there was a blue puddle in front of her and she was alone but she knew she had to walk through it. Had to stretch out her hand again and trust that she would find Teal’c reaching back…

Cassie came abruptly awake.

Clearly, her life had taken a turn into the surreal, Cassie mused as she stared up at the ceiling of the Goa’uld ship. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in the make-shift bed, wriggling so that she could rest against the wall. She glanced around the rest of the hold. Vala was fast asleep up against the neighbouring wall. Muted voices drifted through the open doorway from the cock-pit.

She checked her watch and was surprised to realise that she had slept for ten whole hours. Maybe it wasn’t so surprising, Cassie thought wryly; the day before had been long and tiring, and it had been the climax of weeks of worry about SG1. It felt good though to be finally doing something.

She shoved the sleeping-bag off as quietly as she could to avoid waking Vala, grabbed her bag and headed for the onboard facilities to freshen-up. She grimaced at the cramped space and wondered how SG1 had ever coped on the long journeys they had sometimes made. Vala had predicted they had another day of travel before they reached Cartegia and Cassie wasn’t looking forward to it.

She washed and changed into a clean t-shirt before dragging on a sweater to keep warm. The ship’s interior was cool; she guessed the Goa’uld were not concerned with keeping warm. She headed back into the hold and stowed her stuff. She nodded at Rya’c with a shy smile as he made his way over to his bundle of blankets. She smoothed her hands down her jeans and walked into the cockpit to join Jonas.

Jonas looked up from the controls to smile at her as Cassie slipped into the passenger seat. ‘Hey.’

‘Hey, yourself.’ Cassie was pleased they finally had a moment alone to catch up. She motioned at him. ‘I didn’t realise you could fly one of these.’

‘I had to learn during the occupation.’ Jonas explained with a shrug. ‘I can keep us flying in a straight line for a couple of hours while Rya’c and Vala get some rest.’

‘I feel kind of useless.’ Cassie admitted. As much as she had defended her right to search for SG1 and her abilities, she knew she was the least experienced person on board.

Jonas offered her a half-smile. ‘I felt the same when I started out with SG1.’ He shifted his hands slightly. ‘You should have seen me on the first mission. Jack wouldn’t let me do anything, and then we got attacked and I froze. If it hadn’t been for Teal’c I would have been toast.’

‘Really?’ Cassie leaned back in her chair and crossed her hands over her belly. ‘I thought you saved everyone’s lives by swimming through freezing water and getting the power rerouted so you could all escape from the glider bay.’ The light streaming outside was almost hypnotic.

‘That was later.’ Jonas said.

‘Later the same day.’ Cassie remarked with a soft laugh, glancing over at him.

Jonas shrugged. ‘I still felt way out of my depth.’

‘Well, you were at the bottom of the ocean.’ She teased.

Jonas looked over at her, his eyes shining with amusement. ‘Clever.’

Cassie smiled back. Her eyes were drawn to the distorted field of light in front of her. She shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.’

‘Why are you?’ Jonas asked bluntly.

She looked over at him sharply.

He grimaced as though regretting he had raised the subject and leaned over to adjust a dial on the console. He took his hands off the controls. ‘Autopilot.’ He explained. He swivelled in his chair to look at her. ‘I was talking to the others while you were asleep. Vala told me this was all your idea.’

Cassie felt the sudden urge to squirm under his intense gaze.

‘It’s not like SG1 haven’t gone missing before, Cassie.’ Jonas said softly. ‘They’ve always made it back without you doing this.’ He held her gaze. ‘How is this time different?’

Cassie turned away from him, unsettled by the question. What was different? She could barely remember a time of her life when she hadn’t waited for SG1 to return from some mission. It was a part of her normality. But it was different this time, Cassie mused. She just wasn’t sure that she knew why. Maybe it would actually help to talk about it.

‘Cassie.’ Jonas gently prompted.

She wet her lips. ‘The day I was told they were missing,’ she began, ‘it was the ten year anniversary of when SG1 found me.’

‘Ten years? Really?’ Jonas asked.

Cassie nodded, staring out into the field of light. ‘You know I can’t really remember much about that day; about my family dying or seeing that. Mom said to me once that my mind had blocked it out but…I remember feeling so incredibly scared. And I remember Sam talking to me but I thought she was a monster. And I remember Teal’c…stretching out his hand to me.’ She shifted in her seat, leaning forward. ‘I walked through the Stargate for the first time that day.’

‘And you think finding out on the anniversary was some kind of sign?’ Jonas realised.

‘I’ve dreamed about it.’ Cassie continued as though he hadn’t spoken. ‘I’ve dreamed about the day SG1 found me ever since I found out they were missing.’ She looked at him finally and was unsurprised to see him gazing back at her compassionately; taking her seriously. ‘I know it probably doesn’t mean anything; that it’s probably just nothing more than my fears about them festering away in my subconscious – psychology 101, right? – but…’

‘But it feels like it means something.’ Jonas said.

Cassie nodded. She rubbed her upper arms trying to get warm. ‘I can’t help thinking maybe it means that I’m supposed to find them this time.’ She tried a smile. ‘Weird, huh?’

‘Not so weird; I mean I used to see the future.’ Jonas pointed out.

His acceptance of her warmed her and she let out a small breath. ‘You miss your power?’ Cassie asked, interestedly.

Jonas nodded and waved at her. ‘You?’

‘Sure.’ Cassie admitted. ‘It was kind of fun being able to move stuff with my mind.’ And scary. In hindsight, it had definitely not been a good idea.

‘Well, at least we both survived what Nirrti did to us.’ Jonas said, stretching his arms out above his head.

Cassie shuddered imperceptibly at the name of the Goa’uld who had killed her home-world. She was just glad Nirrti was dead. A memory came back to her; a half-remembered overheard conversation between the members of SG1 and her Mom. She bit her lip. ‘Didn’t she try to seduce you?’

Jonas shot her a look. ‘Thank you for reminding me.’

She held up a hand in surrender.

They sat quietly for a while watching the light show as the ship travelled through space.

‘So what happened to whatshisface?’ Jonas asked eventually. He hazarded a guess at the name. ‘Bill?’

‘Will,’ Cassie corrected, ‘and don’t even make like you don’t remember his name.’ Jonas had a fantastic memory. ‘We broke up.’ It seemed like a life-time before. It still stung though. The realisation that she hadn’t been enough for him; that he had someone else. How stupid she’d felt.

‘Sorry.’ Jonas said. ‘Should I be offering to punch him?’

She sighed, hearing the sincerity in his voice. ‘I already took care of that.’ The splash of blood on Will’s split lip flashed in her mind with satisfaction. ‘What about you?’ She waved at him. ‘You must have women falling all over you; the hero of the Resistance and all.’

‘Uh, no.’ Jonas shook his head with a laugh.

‘Seriously?’ Cassie frowned. ‘But why not? I mean, you’re not exactly ugly.’ There had been a time when she’d had the most massive crush on him. Something she think he knew but thankfully never brought up. She had been young and a teenager, Cassie thought breezily, and her words stood: Jonas was an attractive man. She ignored the flutter in her stomach that signalled agreement. She was just getting out of a bad relationship; it wasn’t going to improve things if she restarted a crush on a man whom she believed only saw her as a pesky little sister.

He shot her an amused look. ‘Thank you.’ He said dryly.

Cassie flushed slightly. ‘You know what I mean.’

‘For the record being the hero of the Resistance isn’t all that great.’ Jonas said it with enough feeling that Cassie winced.

‘Sorry.’

‘Not your fault.’ Jonas grimaced. ‘It’s just been…difficult since the war ended.’ There was a wealth of feeling in the words; a tangle of emotion Cassie couldn’t quite work out, all coming from an experience she had been spared. Earth had been lucky.

Cassie pulled her feet up onto the seat and hugged her knees. ‘I was surprised you decided not to stand for election as leader.’

‘I wouldn’t have been elected.’ Jonas said succinctly.

‘Why not?’ Cassie gestured at him. ‘I would have thought you’d be a shoo-in after leading the Resistance.’

Jonas shook his head sadly. ‘For every person who thinks I’m a hero for leading the Resistance, there’s another who looks at me and sees the reminder that they believed in a False God.’ He sighed. ‘Viyul is a good leader. She was part of the Resistance but she only came over after her brother was killed by the Ori soldiers for some minor blasphemy. Up until that point she’d been willing to follow Origin. She understands both sides.’

‘You sound like a fan.’ Cassie commented.

‘I am.’ Jonas admitted.

‘Really?’ Cassie teased.

Jonas sighed dramatically in mock protest. ‘She’s married, Cassie, and, getting back to the subject, I don’t mind not being leader. I really didn’t want to lead the Resistance.’

‘So are you enjoying being a professor?’ Cassie asked, thinking of her own plans to teach. She had thought she had chosen something that she could do and enjoy but she was wondering if she had simply chosen it because it was so normal and she really wasn’t normal at all. Maybe, Cassie considered with sudden insight, she was still hiding in the grass, trying not to be discovered by the Earthlings.

‘It’s OK.’ Jonas said. ‘We have a lot to rebuild since the occupation ended. If I’m needed to teach then…’ he shrugged.

‘You don’t sound too keen.’ Cassie commented, thinking of her own revelation. She wondered if Jonas was hiding too.

Jonas glanced over at her. ‘There’s talk of us starting our own Stargate programme. If that happens, I’d prefer…’

‘To go through the Stargate.’ Cassie completed before he could.

Jonas gave a rueful smile. ‘Crazy I know but…’ he sighed, ‘I miss it. I miss going to new worlds, just,’ he waved a hand at the streaming light in front of them, ‘being out here, discovering new things.’ He gazed out sadly. ‘Don’t get me wrong; I love Langara but sometimes, especially after everything that’s happened, I wish I could just leave.’

Cassie stared at him; his words echoing in her head as an idea formed.

‘What?’ Jonas asked as he took in her expression.

Cassie grinned. ‘I think I have a plan on how to approach the Cartegians.’

Chapter 5

Vala tugged on the high-collared coat Cassie wore and frowned. ‘It’s very plain.’

Cassie rolled her eyes at Jonas who grinned as he adjusted his own cuffs. ‘Langaran fashion is plain.’

‘Well, it fits.’ Vala proclaimed with a sniff. ‘This might just work.’

Cassie nodded. She smoothed a hand over the fabric and mentally thanked their luck that Vala wasn’t a bad seamstress. The former thief had managed to make the changes required to Jonas’s spare clothing to fit Cassie.

The engines died and left the hold in sudden silence.

‘Are we ready?’ Cassie asked, hoping that the others would ignore the way her voice shook, betraying her nerves.

Rya’c walked through from the cockpit. He already wore the Jaffa armour complete with staff weapon. ‘I have secured the ship.’

Vala checked on the knife strapped to her thigh and took a deep breath. ‘Then I believe we are ready to do this.’

‘Are you sure we still need to talk to them?’ Jonas inquired. ‘The planetary scans came back negative. We know SG1 are definitely not on Cartegia.’

‘But I would bet money that the Cartegians know where they are.’ Vala rejoined passionately. Her mobile mouth set in a stubborn line that broked no disagreement would be tolerated.

‘OK,’ Jonas held up a hand, ‘just checking.’

They grabbed their packs and left the cargo ship and as they cleared the immediate area, Jonas turned and pressed something he held. The cargo ship wobbled and disappeared.

‘Cloaking device.’ Jonas held up the remote.

Vala nodded approvingly.

They had landed in a forest clearing to the North of the main settlement and headed to the forest path that would take them into the town. Rya’c led the way with Jonas just behind him; Cassie was sandwiched between him and Vala, who protected their rear.

Cassie breathed in the scent of wood. It reminded her of apples and cider, with a faint undertone of pine. She felt the wind on her face and revelled in the sting as it brushed her skin and made her eyes water. It felt good after the stifling cargo ship atmosphere. She hoped they wouldn’t have to spend that much time on the ship in their search.

Her eyes fell to the ground and she realised she could see the faint tracks of wooden wheels and horse shoes. Evidently Cartegia had horses, or something similar to horses to help provide transport.

The town-walls appeared in the distance; grey stone rising up out of the forest floor like some Disney fairy-tale. She drank in the sight of the turrets; the narrow windows. She felt her chest tighten uncomfortably and realised she was holding her breath.

A buzz of excitement ran through her; fizzing through her blood. Adrenaline, Cassie determined. It was just adrenaline. Her mouth went dry as they approached the wide wooden gate and the Cartegian guards.

‘Hold!’ The senior guard stepped out in front of them. ‘Identify!’

Rya’c gripped his staff weapon tightly but Jonas placed a hand on his shoulder and stepped forward.

‘We are travellers from another world, Langara.’ Jonas smiled widely. ‘We’re archaeologists, exploring the history of other planets in our galaxy. We’d like to speak to your leaders if possible.’

The guard looked them over cautiously and Cassie tried to project a serene, unconcerned image. They were just archaeologists; just travellers without any other purpose.

‘This one is Jaffa.’ The guard snarled, gesturing at Rya’c, ‘and this one also carries weapons.’

Vala winked at the guard who did a double-take at her audacity.

‘Apologies; Ry and Val are our travelling companions. They have their own interest in historical research and we have found greater numbers provide us all with protection.’ Jonas explained.

Cassie wondered at his calm and unruffled ease; at the way he skirted over Rya’c’s and Vala’s names which they had decided would need to be changed just in case SG1 had mentioned them to anyone on Cartegia.

‘Only my wife, Cassandra, and I are from Langara.’ Jonas continued.

The guard pressed his lips together and looked them over again. His eyes lingered on Vala but he eventually nodded. ‘You will need to speak to the Council.’ He motioned at one of the other guards. ‘Take them directly to see Councillor Goy.’

Jonas smiled broadly again. ‘Thank you.’

Cassie allowed herself the luxury of looking around with unhidden glee. She was meant to be an archaeologist interested in new cultures and new worlds. It wouldn’t be strange for her to marvel at the town with its small houses; the paved pathways and wide gutters. The smell of horse manure and fresh hay mingled with baking and spices that assaulted her senses. The Cartegians looked at them with curiosity but didn’t approach, and Cassie looked on unashamedly staring at their medieval dress.

The Council building was in the centre of the town and they skirted the open market with its bustle of people yelling and shouting, before they made their way up shallow steps, through the front door and into the large entry room. To one side was a large doorway that clearly led to a meeting hall of some kind, perhaps an assembly room. The guard waved a greeting at another and headed for a smaller door on the other side. It led to a narrow staircase but the wood was highly polished and the walls adorned with portraits of Council members. Cassie held onto the banister tightly as they made their way up. The upper floor was busy with people; her ears caught the end of an argument about a boar and a discussion about a new viaduct before they stopped in front of one door and the guard rapped sharply.

‘Enter.’ The voice boomed out and the guard pushed the door open.

Cassie’s eyes darted around the cramped room; an old tattered tapestry covered one wall, portraits another. Goy was a large man in a maroon-coloured robe with a gigantic gold medallion hanging around his neck; the mark of his office, Cassie assumed. He sat behind an impressive desk.

Goy looked up. His large, florid features briefly registered surprise before he waved a hand at the guard who tried stumblingly to introduce them. ‘Leave us!’

The young guard fled.

‘Perhaps I could trouble you to introduce yourselves.’ Goy remarked, his green eyes narrowing on them with undisguised interest.

Jonas quickly made the introductions and offered their cover story once again.

‘So, you’re exploring the galaxy.’ Goy clasped his pudgy hands together. ‘Why Cartegia? What could we have that could possibly interest you?’

Jonas smiled widely again. ‘I’ve always wanted to study a society that was seeded by this Ancient called Merlin, one that hasn’t been impacted by the Goa’uld and without a Stargate. It’s fascinating to me; the opposite of my own history.’

‘I see.’

‘And, of course, our planets have a common ally,’ Jonas added smoothly, ‘the Tau’ri?’

Goy’s expression didn’t alter but he sat back in his chair. ‘Then you will know of the disappearance of some of their number from our planet.’

Cassie tensed at the unexpected mention of SG1.

‘Yes,’ Jonas admitted easily, ‘unfortunate.’ He shook his head and made a regretful sigh. ‘The Lucian Alliance are becoming a problem for us all but I rather doubt we would be of interest to them.’

Cassie held her breath as she kept her eyes on Goy.

The Councillor snorted, but Cassie saw his shoulders drop an inch. Evidently Jonas’s reply had assured him that they believed the story of the Lucian Alliance which meant that Goy knew something, didn’t it? She schooled herself not to jump to conclusions. Maybe Goy was just relieved that losing SG1 hadn’t ruined Cartegia’s reputation as a safe place.

‘You may have leave to explore.’ Goy declared. ‘You will find the inn in the market place to be clean and of good repair. I would encourage you to speak to our librarian, Dumace.’

‘Thank you.’ Jonas stood and bowed. ‘We appreciate your hospitality.’

Goy smiled. ‘You are most welcome, and before you depart I would be interested in talking with you more on Langara and how our planets may become better acquainted.’

Jonas smiled again.

Vala held her tongue until they left the Council building. ‘He knows something.’

‘I agree.’ Rya’c said.

They both spoke in undertones that couldn’t be heard by the people they passed but Jonas shot them a warning look.

‘Maybe, maybe not.’ Jonas said quietly.

‘I agree with Jonas.’ Cassie said. ‘I think he may have just been relieved we weren’t scared away by stories of others getting abducted from the planet.’

‘Let’s get to the inn and find some rooms where we can talk.’ Jonas suggested firmly.

Vala harrumphed but fell into step beside Cassie. It occured to Cassie that the other woman was subtly guarding her and Cassie couldn’t bring herself to be annoyed about it. There was suddenly a cold lump of fear sitting in her belly.

The inn was busy but the cheerful woman in charge of accommodation saw to them quickly, escorting them to the three rooms they hired. It didn’t take much for Vala to coax the information from their escort that the rooms were the same rooms where SG1 had resided; how empty they had been since because the locals were superstitious and had taken to believing if they slept in them, they would be taken in the middle of the night like the visitors from Earth. Cassie was fairly certain that Vala could have had Ama’s whole life story from her if a call from below hadn’t forced their escort back downstairs.

Ostensibly, the middle room was supposed to be the marital bedroom of Cassie and Jonas, and Cassie couldn’t help flushing when they dumped their bags by the wide bed. The cover story had seemed like a good idea when Vala had suggested it; a married woman would be viewed as taken and unavailable on Cartegia, reducing the risk of someone taking an interest in her.

Be an adult, Cassie instructed herself. She could share a bed with Jonas and be fine with it. She’d shared beds platonically with male friends before. She looked around the rest of the room. The furniture was solid but plain; a wardrobe, a bedside table, desk and single chair. Shelves above the desk were mostly empty; one held an empty vase, another three half-burned candles, dripping wax frozen along their sides. A faded picture of what looked like a landscape took pride of place on the wall above the bed.

Vala sat on the edge of the bed and bounced. She settled back and viewed them seriously. ‘Goy knows something.’ She said repeating her statement.

Jonas shook his head. ‘We don’t know that.’

‘Yes, we do.’ Vala contradicted him forcefully as she jumped up. ‘He was too relieved when you mentioned the Lucian Alliance.’

‘He might have been worried that the planet’s reputation was destroyed when SG1 went missing from here.’ Jonas argued back, equally as passionately. ‘We don’t know enough to make that judgement.’

‘Well, I say he’s a suspect.’ Vala placed her hands on her hips.

‘You’re jumping to conclusions without evidence.’ Jonas rejoined.

‘Guys…’ Cassie tried to interrupt but they ignored her.

Vala glared at Jonas. ‘I don’t recall you being in charge of this mission.’

‘We agreed I would take the lead…’ Jonas began.

‘With the Council and the guards because it made sense for the cover story!’ Vala corrected, throwing up her hands. ‘You’re not in charge in charge!’

‘Indeed.’ Rya’c asserted.

All of them spun to look at the Jaffa.

Rya’c raised an eyebrow, reminding Cassie so much of his father that her breath caught. ‘I believe this mission was Cassandra Fraiser’s idea.’

The others turned in a smooth synchronised move to look at Cassie.

‘Me?’ Cassie blurted out. She was so not the leader of their group.

‘You’re it.’ Vala said dryly, smiling.

‘We’re a team.’ Cassie shot back furiously even as she rubbed her hands nervously on her tunic. ‘And besides, I agree with both of you. I think Goy could know something but we need to know more.’

Her words seemed to calm the group.

Jonas sat down on a nearby chair, nodding in agreement.

‘I believe Cassandra Fraiser is correct.’ Rya’c said.

Vala pursed her lips thoughtfully. ‘It’s going to be getting him to talk that will be tricky.’ She pointed out. ‘If he does know something he won’t give it up easily.’

‘Why don’t I send a message to Goy asking him to a private dinner to discuss closer relations between Langara and Cartegia.’ Jonas suggested.

Cassie pointed at him. ‘That’s a good idea. I think he might let something slip to you.’

‘I could use my charms to get him to talk.’ Vala suggested. ‘I’m sure they’re just as effective as Jonas.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Cassie said dryly, ‘but I was thinking you would be better talking with Ama. You had her in the palm of your hand earlier.’

‘She was most eager to talk.’ Rya’c noted, clasping his hands behind his back. ‘I believe given the right opportunity she would provide us with a great deal of information.’

‘That I agree with.’ Vala muttered. ‘OK,’ she nodded enthusiastically, ‘I’ll focus on Ama.’ She winked at Cassie.

Cassie rolled her eyes and breathed out gently. ‘OK, then. Let’s get it organised. The sooner we find out something, the sooner we find SG1.’

Chapter 6

Cassie checked her watch and sighed impatiently at the irrefutable fact that it had only moved on five minutes from the last time she had looked at it. Jonas had left for his dinner with Goy three hours before, accompanied by Rya’c who was acting as back-up in case Goy reacted badly. Vala had slipped down to the bar an hour earlier after sharing a simple meal with Cassie in their rooms. It was frustrating to be left but Cassie knew a married woman wouldn’t be seen as belonging in a rowdy bar without her husband on Cartegia.

Her mouth went dry at the idea of sipping down a beer. She grimaced and shook away the longing that curdled in her belly. She couldn’t afford to get drunk and make some kind of slip that would blow their cover story out of the water; the mission was too important. Of course, more to the point, she just couldn’t afford to get drunk.

She lurched off the bed, determined to do something; anything. Ama had told them the rooms had been used by SG1, Cassie mused; perhaps she should search them.

‘Right, Cassie,’ she muttered to herself, ‘because it’s not like the Cartegians haven’t already looked through the rooms or SG3 when they beamed down to search for SG1.’

But hadn’t she told Landry that nobody knew SG1 better than she did? Think, Cassie, she encouraged herself.

If the Lucian Alliance had grabbed SG1, or even if they hadn’t, someone on Cartegia had to have known something. SG1 were the best; they had to have suspected something. And, Cassie thought excitedly, if they suspected something maybe they had left some clue behind in case something happened to them.

So if she was SG1 and wanted to leave a clue where would she leave it? Cassie glanced around as though the walls could offer her a suggestion. The problem was that it would depend on who left the clue and it wasn’t somewhere obvious otherwise it would have already been found.

She started in Vala’s room with the closet, examining the panels for hidden compartments. None appeared; the closet and its drawers were empty except for a few of the strange items that Vala had stowed and which Cassie decided she didn’t need to examine too closely. The desk was the same. There were no loose floorboards; nothing under the two twin beds; under the mattresses. She knew Sam kept things stowed on the top of her closet and she fetched a stool. The top of closet yielded nothing but dust and a sneeze.

Cassie moved onto the room she was sharing with Jonas. She searched as thoroughly as she had done in the first room and when it too yielded nothing, she stood in the centre, hands on hips, feeling disappointed. She was certain SG1 would have done something.

Her eyes caught on the desk. She had checked the drawer but a memory tickled her mind; she had lost her passport and Sam had suggested checking to see if it had fallen at the back of the drawer. Cassie slid the drawer fully out and reached into the space behind it. Her fingers brushed against a small slip of paper. She opened it up and smoothed it out. It was a note.

Col. Carter, you are in danger; you and your people should leave. A friend.

Cassie’s heart started to beat madly. Sam had been warned by somebody. Somebody on Cartegia. Which meant SG1 had known something was going to happen as she had thought. She sat down on the bed abruptly.

When had Sam received it? The first night? The second night? SG1 had been unable to leave; they’d had nowhere to go. She could imagine them discussing the situation. Was it because someone opposed the new treaty or for some other reason? And why Sam? Why had they singled Sam out in the note? It would have worried the guys. As much as they knew Sam could take of herself, they would have been worried – just as they had been the whole time Sam had been out in Atlantis.

Sam had hidden the note purposefully. Cassie was sure of that. It had been left behind as a clue to what had happened. And if there was one clue, it was possible that there was more.

Cassie tucked the note in her pocket and strode into the third room with renewed purpose. She searched the usual places and came up empty. She chewed her lips as she stood in the centre of the room and gazed around.

OK, who else in the team was most likely to leave a clue?

That was easy: Daniel.

He was the one who always had paper with him. The one who could write in any language he wanted to disguise the message. So where would Daniel have hidden something in the room? Her eyes caught on the bookshelf. It had a couple of books for the guests. Her gaze narrowed on them. She hurried over and rifled through them; the note was tucked away into the second book as though left behind like a book-mark.

It was written in Ancient. Cassie frowned. Why hadn’t Daniel used Goa’uld? Because it was the Lucian Alliance behind it all, or for some other reason? She shook her head.

A sound drifted through the connecting door to the middle room and made her freeze.

Cassie held her breath. It had sounded like the door being unlocked. She bit her lip. Jonas had insisted she lock herself into the room and even Vala had told her not to open the door to anyone but one of them. They had no idea who was responsible for SG1 and…she halted her chaotic thoughts.

She closed the book, replacing the note inside of it. She kept hold of it as she tiptoed to the connecting door and peeked into the middle room. She winced at the sight of the open desk drawer and the wide open closet. It seemed too evident to Cassie’s mind that she had been looking for something.

The door began to open.

Cassie grasped the book tightly. Maybe she could knock someone out with it. Or throw it at them.

The door was almost fully open.

Cassie took a step forward into the middle room; her heart raced furiously…

A foot appeared…

She took another step forward, and raised the book, holding her breath…

A maid entered. She caught sight of Cassie poised to attack her, gave a cry of alarm and dropped her bundle of towels.

Cassie lowered the book immediately. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She placed a hand over her mouth and tried to catch her breath. ‘It’s just…you startled me.’

The maid, a young woman about the same age as Cassie, waved her away as she stooped to help her pick up the fallen items. ‘It was my fault, madam. I forgot to knock. Ama is always reminding me.’ She gathered up the towels. ‘I’ll get you fresh.’ Her eyes strayed to the open desk drawer and on to the closet.

‘I was looking for parchment.’ Cassie explained quickly.

‘We don’t keep any for guests, madam. But the market it will have it tomorrow.’ The maid said politely. She gave a small curtsy and left.

Cassie breathed a sigh of relief. She retrieved the key from the bedside table and locked the door again. She collapsed on her bed, holding the book to her chest. She couldn’t help jumping when there was a soft knock at the door. She slid off the bed and hurried over to unlock the door again.

Cassie’s eyes widened at Vala. The former thief was holding a stack of towels but beyond that she had skinned the knuckles on her right hand. ‘You OK?’ She ushered the older woman into the room.

‘What?’ Vala looked at Cassie questioningly.

Cassie motioned at the hand.

‘Oh, that!’ Vala waved away her concern. ‘It’s nothing.’ She placed the towels on the bed. ‘I met the maid, Saki, in the corridor; she said these were for us.’ She absently reached into her jacket pocket and drew out a Goa’uld healing device.

Cassie shuddered at the sight of it; the memory of Nirrti stood over her flickering through her head like a bad movie.

‘You could probably do this.’ Vala mused out loud as she fingered the device. ‘You have some naquadah in your blood, right?’

‘Not a lot.’ Cassie knew the naquadah in her body was minor compared to Sam’s or Vala’s. Hers had been artificially added to create a bomb whereas Sam’s and Vala’s naquadah were the result of their experiences as hosts to a symbiote. ‘I’m not sure it would work.’

‘Try it.’ Vala tossed her the device.

Cassie frowned. It was heavier than she had expected. She slipped it onto her hand, the crystal lying snugly in her palm. It would be useful if she could use it; if SG1 was injured, Cassie would be able to help Vala heal them.

‘Focus your mind on the device.’ Vala instructed. ‘Remember something that has meaning to you; you need a strong emotion to power the device.’

Cassie held the device over Vala’s injured hand and closed her eyes. She remembered the dream she’d had; of Teal’c and his hand stretching out to her…

The device hummed in her hand and Cassie opened her eyes, briefly catching a glimpse of warm amber light before her amazement cut off the previous emotion and killed the device.

Vala flexed her healed hand and grinned. ‘You’re much better than Samantha.’

‘What happened?’ Cassie asked pointedly, handing her the device. She walked over and clambered back onto the bed; sitting up against the pillows.

Vala sprawled across the foot of the bed and shrugged. ‘One of the drunks got a little too frisky. I punched him.’ She smiled. ‘Ama hit him with a pot.’

Cassie blinked, unsure whether to believe her. ‘Really?’

‘Have the boys checked in?’ Vala asked, changing the subject.

‘Not yet.’ Cassie’s lips tightened. She was worried about them. If Goy did know something and got suspicious…

‘Shall I wait until they arrive?’ Vala yawned and made a gesture of apology before she covered her mouth with the back of one hand.

‘We’ll both wait.’ Cassie said, revealing the notes she’d found and waving them at Vala.

‘What are those?’ Vala plucked them out of Cassie’s hands and her eyes widened as she read the note Cassie had found addressed to Sam. ‘They were in trouble.’

‘Can you read the other note?’ Cassie asked. ‘I can’t read Ancient.’

Vala wrinkled her nose as she concentrated and her fingers traced over Daniel’s handwritten words with an air of reverence. ‘He’s using an old variant.’ She said eventually. ‘I can’t make out much more than there’s some danger to do with a dragon.’

‘A dragon?’ Cassie frowned. ‘Are you certain?’

‘Yes.’ Vala sighed. ‘Maybe Jonas will be able to translate more.’ As though her words had conjured him up there was another knock on the door. ‘Looks like we won’t have to wait long.’ She quipped, handing Cassie the notes before she went to open the door.

The four of them all settled cross-legged on the bed to debrief.

‘Well, Vala was right about Goy knowing something.’ Jonas allowed when Cassie motioned for him to begin.

Vala smiled smugly. She examined her fingernails studiously. ‘A less generous person than I might say I told you so.’

Jonas’s lips twitched. ‘I was also right. Goy isn’t involved either.’

‘What do you mean?’ Cassie asked confused. She pushed her auburn hair back behind her shoulder and tried to surreptitiously hide her tiredness.

‘Perhaps it would be helpful to begin at the beginning.’ Rya’c remarked. The Jaffa looked the most alert of all of them.

Jonas nodded. ‘Goy and I made the usual political niceties during the meal; exchanged cultural stories – that kind of thing. We were relaxing over something which tasted like coffee but wasn’t when he started to ask me about how we’re dealing with the extreme religious groups on Langara who are continuing to follow Origin.’

‘Jonas Quinn had mentioned them before.’ Rya’c inserted.

‘I asked Goy why he wanted to know.’ Jonas explained. He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘He made some rambling explanation about an old religious sect that Cartegia has; he called it the Cult of Dragon.’

Cassie and Vala exchanged a sharp look.

‘I believe he suspects this Cult to be responsible for the disappearance of my father and the others.’ Rya’c added. ‘He kept referring to them as harmless but it was evident that he did not believe it.’

‘We think Goy latched onto the Lucian Alliance as a suspect because Earth suggested it given the nature of SG1’s disappearance but he still suspects this Cult was involved somehow.’ Jonas concluded. ‘But as he’s clearly not part of the Cult himself…’

‘He wasn’t involved in whatever happened. So he suspects but he doesn’t know.’ Vala sighed. She gestured at Cassie. ‘We might have something to corroborate the Cult of the Dragon angle.’

Cassie handed Jonas the notes, briefly explaining her search and findings.

Jonas’s brow creased as he read the note. ‘This is the same Ancient that was on the tablet about the Lost City.’ He sighed. ‘The SGC has a translation program which would be better but I can make out the gist.’

‘Which is?’ Vala asked impatiently.

‘Well, I think the first line is ‘if you’re reading this we’re in trouble…”

They all smiled.

Jonas smoothed the note out on the bed in front of him. ‘He mentions the Cult of Dragon have targeted Sam as some kind of important figure in their religious prophecy.’

‘That explains the other note.’ Cassie said. ‘It was clear whoever wrote it believed Sam was in danger.’

‘He says here that our assumptions about the history of Cartegia are wrong; that there is a manuscript in the library which will tell us more.’ Jonas sighed. ‘That’s it.’

‘According to Ama,’ Vala jumped in, ‘SG1 retired for the night at around eleven local time and their rooms were found empty at seven the next morning when Saki went up to fetch them for the breakfast they had ordered. Ama said that she didn’t hear a thing and mentioned how awful it was that there was technology out there which had the ability to spirit people away. There was no sign or evidence of a fight.’

‘My father would not have allowed himself to be taken without a fight!’ Rya’c responded hotly.

Jonas gave a nod of agreement. ‘I can’t see it either so this Cult must have had some way of subduing SG1.’

‘Maybe they drugged them.’ Cassie suggested.

‘Or maybe they have technology the rest of Cartegia doesn’t have access to like the Asgard beaming technology.’ Vala suggested.

‘I hate to say it but it could be possible the Cult killed them.’ Jonas hazarded.

Rya’c glowered and Cassie felt her heart stop for a moment at the suggestion. No, she thought determinedly; they were alive. They had to be.

‘But their bodies would have been picked up by the Odyssey, or at least their transponders.’ Vala argued, clearly unwilling to believe SG1 were dead.

‘What else did Ama say?’ Cassie asked.

Vala sighed. ‘Not much else; how nice SG1 were and how terrible it was that they were missing.’ She tapped her boot absently. ‘How she had warned Samantha that walking on the mountain would bring her bad luck.’

‘The mountain? You mean the one behind the town?’ Jonas clarified.

Vala tilted her head thoughtfully. ‘Samantha told me before she left that the reason why the SGC allied with Cartegia in the first place was because the initial surveys found traces of naquadah running through the mountain range.’

‘But naquadah isn’t part of the alliance treaty?’ Jonas clarified.

Vala shook her head. ‘The Cartegians refused to allow any geological survey teams on the mountain. Sam was hoping to take a closer look on the pretext of an innocent hike.’ She frowned. ‘Daniel also said he was looking forward to spending time in the library; that’s probably where he came across the information about the Dragon.’

‘Sounds like we have a couple of leads.’ Cassie commented.

‘I suggest we start at the library.’ Jonas waved at her with the notes. ‘The more we know the better prepared we’ll be for whatever’s on that mountain.’

‘Then that’s the plan for tomorrow.’ Cassie said, glancing around to get nods of agreement from Vala and Rya’c. ‘We start with the library and see what we can find out about the real history of Cartegia and this Cult of the Dragon.’

Chapter 7

Cassie’s eyes snapped open, leaving the nightmare behind. She stifled the cry in her throat before it could escape and wake the man lying next to her in the bed. Her body trembled with the memory of her nightmare and Cassie forced herself to take deep breaths; trying to shake the fear that filled her. She glanced tentatively over her shoulder and saw Jonas stretched out on his back, one hand tucked behind his head and the other lying relaxed over the covers on the flat canvas of his belly. He was fast asleep.

She turned her head cautiously; careful not to wake him. It had been a little awkward climbing into bed with him the night before even if she knew it had been to maintain their cover. Jonas had been a complete gentleman about it and had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. She had spent an hour in the darkness with her mind spinning and the craving for a drink, to take the edge of her unrest, crawling through her.

Her eyes adjusted to the near dark and she realised from the pale light creeping in the various cracks and gaps in the shutters that it must be early morning on Cartegia. Sounds filtered into her awareness; bird song, a creak somewhere above them. There was a soft thud from Rya’c’s room and Cassie deduced he was awake. Jonas emitted a soft snore and her lips twitched.

The urge to move; to get some air filled her up and she slipped out of the bed, careful not to disturb Jonas. She padded out of the bedroom and across the hall to the communal bathroom. She changed quickly into an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, securing her auburn hair into a ponytail. She opened the bathroom door and found herself face to face with Rya’c.

He raised an eyebrow. ‘You are going somewhere?’ His voice was low but reproving.

Cassie tried to shake off the feeling that she had been caught about to do something wrong. ‘For a run.’ She whispered.

‘I will come with you.’ Rya’c said firmly. His dark eyes twinkled. ‘We are travelling together for protection, are we not?’

Cassie rolled her eyes but acquiesced. Even without SG1s disappearance, going for a run alone on a strange planet possibly hadn’t been her best idea. She silently signalled that she was just returning her bag to her room. Rya’c answered as silently, gesturing to show her he would remain waiting for her outside. Inside the bedroom, she took a few moments to scribble a message for Jonas so he wouldn’t freak at finding them gone. Within minutes, she and Rya’c were outside of the inn, stretching, before they set off at a fair pace.

They headed back through the town and through the guard gate with a wave to the sleepy soldier on duty. Their footsteps pounded on the ground, kicking up small clouds of dust. Cassie gripped her water bottle tighter as her lungs began to burn; her muscles protesting at the incline as she led Rya’c toward the East and the path that would take them to the mountain.

Sweat slicked over her body as it warmed despite the brisk breeze that stung her eyes and sent her ponytail flying like a red banner behind her. She was grateful as her mind quietened and her thoughts focused only on the run; on breathing; on putting one foot in front of the other.

Eventually, she slowed and stopped, dropping to sit on a large boulder on the side of the path. Rya’c stopped with her. He barely looked out of breath; a thin film of sweat clung to his skin though and she noted that he took a long draught from the water flask that he had secured to his belt.

She followed his example before capping the bottle and raising her face up to the sky. The early morning sun beat down on her but she could feel the chill of the breeze through her thin clothing, congealing the sweat on her skin. She breathed in the scent of wood and grass; dirt and dust. Her mind felt clearer; devoid of the fog of her nightmare.

The last time Sam had visited her they had gone running; two circuits of the parkland by Cassie’s apartment. They’d stopped for ice-cream on the way home and talked about Sam’s plans after the abrupt end to her time in Atlantis; what a tool Richard Woolsey was; how happy Cassie was with Will and his easy laugh and cocky smile. It didn’t hurt so much to think of him, Cassie realised with a start. His loss was like a minor bee sting compared to SG1 being missing. She had to find them.

Rya’c stopped abruptly. He had walked further up the path they had been following. ‘I have found something.’

Cassie struggled to her feet and winced at the fatigue in her limbs. The run back was not going to be pleasant. She tried not to limp as she made her way to where Rya’c had stopped. ‘What is it?’

‘Here.’ Rya’c pointed towards the ground.

Cassie frowned at the mess of footprints. ‘I don’t know what I’m looking at.’

‘This path is well-travelled.’ Rya’c said. ‘There are many footprints.’ He crouched and pointed to a set. ‘These are consistent with Cartegian footwear.’

‘I thought the Cartegians believe walking on the mountain is bad luck?’ Cassie mused out loud.

Rya’c smiled and moved his finger to another smudge in the dirt. ‘These are prints made by Tau’ri issued boots.’ He explained. ‘I saw some on the path earlier but these…they are going off the track and behind those bushes as though they were hiding.’

She followed him into the undergrowth.

His fingers grazed the edges of another bush further off track. ‘They went this way.’

They walked a little distance.

‘Here.’ Rya’c said. ‘And here.’

‘They were following the path on a parallel course.’ Cassie realised.

‘But out of sight.’ Rya’c frowned.

They looked at each other sharply.

‘We thought they had been taken from the rooms.’ Cassie stated urgently. ‘But what if they left the rooms voluntarily because they were investigating?’

‘I believe you are correct.’ Rya’c agreed excitedly. ‘The footprints are consistent with a hunter stalking its prey.’ He made to move further up the trail.

Cassie reached out and caught his arm, absently noting the firm muscle under Rya’c’s skin. ‘We should get back.’

‘But we could find them!’ He gestured at the trail. ‘We can follow their footprints and…’

‘And what?’ Cassie broke in. ‘We have no idea what we’re going to find and the research in the library might help forewarn us. Whatever happened to SG1, they knew that research and they still went missing. We definitely need it before we go haring off after them.’

Rya’c scowled and jerked his hand away. ‘We should…’

‘Rya’c,’ Cassie placed her hands on her hips and shook her head, ‘we’ll come back, I promise, but whatever this is, it was dangerous enough that SG1 went missing because of it. We need to go back, do the research and come back with Jonas and Vala as back-up.’

The young Jaffa glowered unhappily and strode away, back to the boulder where she had rested. He sat down and stared at the ground.

Cassie made her way to him cautiously. ‘Rya’c.’

‘You are right.’ Rya’c sighed heavily, turning back to look at her. ‘I know you are right. It’s just…my father.’

She softened at the evident worry in his eyes. She wondered at how expressive he was compared to Teal’c who rarely gave away what he was feeling and thinking.

‘His tretonin would not have lasted this long.’ Rya’c noted.

‘They would have packed spare.’ Cassie reassured him as she sat beside him and placed squeezed his shoulder. ‘Just like Vala and I did. He’ll be OK.’

Rya’c nodded slowly. ‘I know you are worried about him too.’

‘I’m worried about all of them.’ Cassie confessed, trying hard to keep her voice steady. ‘They’re all I have left.’

‘Not all.’ Rya’c said softly.

She looked at him questioningly.

‘Are we not family, Cassandra Fraiser?’ Rya’c smiled at her surprise. ‘My father considers you as a daughter of his house and that makes you my sister.’

Cassie couldn’t speak; she had no idea what to say.

‘You will always have a place with Karyn and I.’ Rya’c promised.

‘That’s…’ Cassie felt tears prick the back of her eyes and she shook her head as though to shake them away. ‘That’s just…I can’t believe you’d do that for me.’

‘I know we do not know each other well but I believe you would do the same for me or Karyn.’ Rya’c said. ‘Or for Vala Mal Doran and Jonas Quinn.’

And she would. Cassie placed her hand on his arm and smiled at him tremulously. ‘Perhaps we should get to know each other better.’

‘I would like that.’ Rya’c said.

The wind brushed over them again and Cassie shivered.

‘We should return.’ Rya’c stood and offered her his hand.

She took it and he pulled her to her feet. She began her stretches again, warming up for the run back. She followed Rya’c’s glance back towards the bushes.

‘We’ll be back.’ She promised.

Rya’c lifted an eyebrow. ‘Indeed.’

Chapter 8

The library building was on the other side of town. It was barely signposted and it had taken them almost half the morning to find it. Dumace, the librarian, was an old, tall, thin man with pale skin who looked like he hadn’t seen the outside for centuries. His grand-daughter, Kitana, a pretty girl with dark hair and eyes, showed them around the books and set them up in a small room.

Jonas was completely in his element. Rya’c looked as though he would rather be back on the mountain. Vala looked as though she would rather be anywhere else. The former thief sat on the table perusing one book with a sulky expression.

Cassie could appreciate their viewpoint but something told her the research was good intel and they needed it; they needed every advantage they could get. She leafed through another book and discarded it. It was incredibly boring though especially as they had to be circumspect and try and find the manuscript Daniel had talked about without actually asking for the manuscript.

‘This is boring.’ Vala said, unknowingly agreeing with Cassie’s train of thought. ‘We’ve been at this for hours and we haven’t found anything.’

Cassie sent her a chiding look.

Rya’c got to his feet. ‘I believe I should make a patrol.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Vala jumped down from the bench, throwing the book she held back on the pile beside her.

Cassie and Jonas exchanged rueful looks as they left.

‘The Cartegians have a fascinating history.’ Jonas commented. ‘But I haven’t been able to find anything from before the first Council was established.’

‘Keep reading.’ Cassie handed him her book. ‘I’ll see if there’s anything else.’ She got to her feet and wandered down to the aisle Kitana had insisted held all their historical documents. She let her fingers brush over one bound book after another.

Daniel had said manuscript in the note. Perhaps it wasn’t a book but a parchment of some kind, Cassie mused. She turned the corner to head down the next aisle and almost bumped into Kitana.

‘You are searching for something?’ Kitana asked politely.

Cassie smiled at her, desperately hoping her nerves didn’t show on her face. ‘Yes.’ She hid her hands behind her back. ‘Jonas, uh, my husband,’ she blushed slightly, ‘is really interested in old history, particularly how human populations became established on planets. The books are very informative about the establishment of your civilised society but…’

‘But you wish to study the time when we were not quite so civilised?’ Kitana smiled at her.

‘If there are any documents relating to the period that would be most helpful.’ Cassie said.

Kitana seemed to hesitate before she picked up her skirts. ‘Come with me.’ She swept down one aisle and then another before stopping in a small alcove. ‘We have few documents before the foundation of the Council.’ She glanced at Cassie before climbing up a short ladder to fumble through scrolls on the top shelf. ‘You are only the second to request such documents.’

Daniel has been the first, thought Cassie.

‘If there is someone else on Cartegia who has studied them we would love to discuss their conclusions.’ Cassie said out loud.

‘Unfortunately he was also an off-worlder.’ Kitana sighed heavily. ‘He was a scholar though as was the woman with him; one could see it in their eyes. A shame.’

‘A shame?’ Cassie questioned before she could catch back her words.

‘They went missing with others of their kind.’ Kitana informed her.

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to prompt her. ‘You mean the Tau’ri.’

Kitana stuffed three scrolls under her arm and came back down the ladder. She handed them to Cassie solemnly. ‘We were all saddened by their disappearance.’

Cassie attempted a smile and raised the scrolls she held. ‘Thank you.’ A shiver skated down Cassie’s spine as she watched Kitana walk away. She turned on her heel and headed back to Jonas.

‘There you are. I was getting worried.’ Jonas said as she placed the scrolls carefully in front of him before closing the door.

Cassie shot him a look. ‘Kitana gave me these. They document the Cartegians before the foundation of the Council.’

Jonas lit up like a kid at Christmas. He reached for them eagerly but with reverence as she sat down. He rolled out the first one and frowned.

Cassie looked at the parchment and froze. ‘That’s Goa’uld.’

‘A very old dialect.’ Jonas agreed seriously. ‘Interesting.’

‘But didn’t Vala say the SGC thought Cartegia was settled by Merlin.’ Cassie said.

‘That was what everyone assumed.’ Jonas murmured. ‘Obviously they were wrong.’

They shared a look, acknowledging Daniel’s note and his words warning that their assumptions about the planet had been wrong.

‘OK, but it would be unusual for a Goa’uld to transport a medieval society from Earth, right?’ Cassie argued.

Jonas nodded enthusiastically. ‘There’s only one other known instance; a planet SG1 came across, I think in their second or third year, which was settled by Sokar. He’s the one that took on the persona of the Devil.’

Cassie cast her mind back. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’

‘Yes, his mothership was destroyed when Netu exploded.’ Jonas read the scroll, his fingers poised millimetres from the inked words. ‘This is saying the symbol of this Goa’uld was a Dragon.’ His brow creased in thought. ‘There is some evidence that Sokar originally had the form of an Unas that might explain it.’

‘Unas?’ Cassie asked. She couldn’t remember SG1 or her Mom mentioning Unas but then she knew they’d kept some things from her to protect her.

‘Sentient humanoid lizards.’ Jonas kept his eyes on the parchment. ‘They’re very big and fierce; practically indestructible. They’re native to the Goa’uld home-world and we think they were the first hosts.’

Indestructible lizards? Cassie gave a sigh. ‘Why would the Goa’uld want to change hosts to humans then if the Unas were so great?’

Jonas glanced up. ‘That’s a very good question.’

‘And the answer?’

He flashed a smile at her. ‘Daniel believed it might have had something to do with how advanced the Unas were at the time from an evolutionary perspective. But really: we have no idea.’

Cassie couldn’t help smiling back at him.

The moment was broken by a knock on the door. Jonas and Cassie scrambled to move the scrolls but stopped as Vala and Rya’c walked back into the room, closing the door behind them.

‘Snack.’ Vala declared setting out a picnic of sorts on the table of fruit, bread and something that looked like cheese.

Cassie’s mouth watered. They had all skipped lunch intent on their research.

Rya’c gestured at the scrolls as Jonas rolled the first one out again. ‘You have found something?’

‘That’s Goa’uld!’ Vala exclaimed.

‘Yes.’ Jonas pointed at the parchment even as he picked up a piece of fruit and popped it in his mouth. ‘This is fascinating. Apparently, the people of Cartegia were taken from their home by the Goa’uld…’

‘Who we think is Sokar.’ Cassie inserted, accepting a hunk of bread.

‘They were taken to the Land of the Dragons to serve their new God. Each day they would be taken through a portal to mine the naquadah in the mountains. Many days passed until one day, the Goa’uld ordered them to stay in the mines. Much time passed. Eventually one slave ventured out and found that they had been abandoned. The Goa’uld and the guards were gone. They found the key to the portal but it wouldn’t work for them.’

‘Key?’ Vala questioned, climbing up to sit on the table, her feet on a chair.

Jonas turned the parchment round and showed them the picture; a round jewelled object that had been placed onto the column of a familiar DHD.

‘I have heard stories from Master Bra’tac about these devices.’ Rya’c said around a mouthful of food. ‘They were used to prevent slaves from escaping through the chappa’ai by rendering it inactive or locked to one address. It is thought that they were all destroyed.’

‘Makes sense.’ Jonas commented. ‘They say the key did not glow for them as it had done for their God.’

‘So it was activated by naquadah.’ Vala theorised.

Jonas reached for the second scroll. ‘Explains why some people may have thought someone in particular was important.’

Cassie shoved her hair back over her shoulder as she translated Jonas’s guarded words; he thought it explained why Sam was important to the Cult of the Dragon. She exchanged a look with Vala; both of them had naquadah in their blood too. In theory, they would be able to activate the lock too.

‘Locking the Stargate would also explain why the SGC believed there was no Stargate here and why nobody has been able to travel here that way.’ Jonas mused as he began reading the second scroll.

Vala jumped down and moved to read over his shoulder. ‘So, this is all about the Cult of the Dragon.’

‘It’s telling the story of the days after the abandonment.’ Jonas corrected absently. ‘The miners came across another group in the temple holding the portal; one who believed they had been cast out by their God but that he would one day return and reclaim them…’

‘The Cult of the Dragon.’ Vala pointed out with some exasperation.

‘But the miners believed they had been freed.’ Jonas continued as though she hadn’t spoken. ‘There was a minor war and the Cult was defeated. The leader swore one day she would return with the power to lead the Cult back to the Land of the Dragons through the portal to show their God that they were deserving of his mercy.’

‘Well, that explains a lot.’ Vala murmured.

‘Alwren the First became the leader…and according to the books I read earlier his grandson became a tyrant, was overthrown and the Council established.’ Jonas concluded.

‘And their history before the foundation was all but buried.’ Cassie sighed.

Jonas nodded. He reached for the final scroll. Vala shoved him trying to get a closer look and there was a small tussle before Jonas’s glare had her subsiding.

‘Interesting.’ Jonas commented as he spread out the scroll. ‘This is the prophecy of the Cult of the Dragon.’

‘And?’ Vala prompted impatiently.

Jonas’s eyebrows rose. ‘Interesting.’

‘You say interesting one more time I will hurt you.’ Vala smiled but her eyes were deadly serious.

Jonas cleared his throat. ‘This scroll details Alwren outlawing the Cult of the Dragon by giving the members of that religious order as wives to his soldiers as gifts.’

‘They were women?’ Vala’s eyes widened.

‘Priestesses.’ Jonas explained.

‘That’s not good.’ Vala grimaced. ‘Many of the priestesses are as dangerous as the Jaffa warriors.’ She waved at Rya’c. ‘Look at Ishta.’

‘She is Jaffa.’ Rya’c pointed out. ‘I have never heard of human Priestesses.’

‘They were definitely human.’ Jonas sighed. ‘Who knows why the Goa’uld…’ he stopped suddenly. He pushed the scroll away and reached for the first scroll. ‘OK, I made a mistake.’

‘What kind of a mistake?’ Cassie beat Vala to the question.

‘It’s not a male Goa’uld.’ Jonas said. He looked over at her. ‘It’s a queen.’

Vala flinched almost imperceptibly. ‘Great. A queen.’ She sighed. ‘But that would explain the Priestesses.’

They all looked at her.

‘They’re not priestesses.’ Vala explained. ‘Qetesh kept a group of young human girls in her entourage just in case she needed a new host. It’s likely this…queen did the same.’

‘Wouldn’t they be grateful not to become a host though?’ Cassie questioned.

It was Rya’c who answered. ‘They are told it is an honour to be chosen. They are kept in luxury and treated well. For some they truly believe that becoming a host is to become a God.’

‘They don’t realise it’s a living death.’ Vala added soberly.

‘Great.’ Cassie sighed.

‘I think the Goa’uld could be the goddess Tiamat.’ Jonas tapped the table. ‘On Earth she’s a Babylonian goddess associated with a leviathan, a five-headed sea dragon.’

‘Lovely.’ Cassie remarked.

A dull scrape outside the door had all of them turning swiftly.

Rya’c pulled his knife and gestured for them to be silent. He padded to the door silently and opened it. There was nobody there.

‘Perhaps it’s time we left.’ Vala suggested.

‘Good idea.’ Jonas said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

‘I’ll take the scrolls back.’ Cassie offered.

‘I will go with you.’ Rya’c said.

Cassie gathered them up and started back through the maze of aisles. She was almost at the alcove when Dumace appeared from nowhere.

‘Where did you get these?’ Dumace yanked the scrolls from her arms.

Rya’c stepped forward but Cassie held up her hand. ‘Your grand-daughter Kitana gave them to me.’ She replied.

Dumace’s eyes widened and for a moment she thought she saw fear flicker across his wrinkled face. ‘These scrolls are cursed. You should leave.’

‘We were just on our way back to the inn.’ Cassie said agreeably.

‘No!’ Dumace’s hand shot out.

Before the librarian could touch Cassie, Rya’c yanked her out of reach, placing her behind him.

Dumace glowered. ‘You must leave Cartegia!’ He hurried away before they could reply.

Cassie willed her heartbeat back to normal and turned to Rya’c. ‘Let’s get back to the others.’

Chapter 9

The decision to leave the inn and head for the ship was made without much discussion. It was as though Dumace’s warning combined with uncovering the secrets of Cartegia had them all on edge. They stopped by to pick up their few belongings and Jonas arranged to send a message of farewell to Goy while Vala paid for the accommodation.

The walk back to the ship was made in silence. They were all nervous. Even Rya’c cast anxious looks back down the trail as they hurried along the path in the gathering gloom of the twilight. None of them could shake the sense that they were being watched.

Rya’c cleared his throat as they stepped inside. ‘I believe we should take the ship into orbit.’

Nobody argued.

It was only when they were airborne, ascending through the lilac sky dotted with the faint hint of stars that Cassie breathed a sigh of relief in the passenger seat. Rya’c stood just behind her and she turned to smile at him.

Jonas leaned a shoulder against the back wall and folded his arms. ‘I guess we know why SG1 aren’t on this planet anymore.’

‘We do?’ Vala questioned as she established an orbit and set the ship on autopilot.

‘They must have gone through the Stargate.’ Jonas said. ‘If Rya’c is right and the lock only enabled one address to be dialled, perhaps they went through to the Land of Dragons. Only something went wrong on the other side – maybe it doesn’t have a working DHD or maybe they’ve been taken hostage by this Goa’uld except…’

‘What?’ Cassie prompted.

Jonas lifted a shoulder. ‘It doesn’t make sense. I mean, let’s assume for the moment that SG1 discovered what we have discovered about Cartegia, what do you think their next move would be?’

‘The Council.’ Vala suggested promptly, swivelling round in her chair and clasping her hands together. ‘Apart from the obvious benefit of being to travel by Stargate, it gave them an opening to talk about the naquadah mining.’

‘But a delicate discussion given their history.’ Jonas said.

‘The Council wouldn’t have agreed to it though.’ Cassie said out loud.

The others looked at her bemused.

‘Think about it.’ Cassie said, gesturing. ‘The Council knows the Cult of the Dragon believe reopening the portal – the Stargate – will bring about the return of the Goa’uld. Even if SG1 reassured them the Goa’uld are toast these days, what would you do?’

‘Refuse to let anyone near the chappa’ai.’ Rya’c answered with confidence. ‘It is what I would do.’

‘Maybe they didn’t get a chance to talk to the Council. Perhaps someone in the Cult realised that SG1 knew how to make the Stargate work,’ Vala continued excitedly, ‘and asked for their help.’

‘My father would not have assisted worshippers of the Goa’uld.’ Rya’c said forcefully.

‘Good point.’ Cassie agreed. ‘I can’t see SG1 agreeing to help people try and reinstate the rule of a Goa’uld.’

Vala snapped her fingers. ‘If I was leading this Cult, I would have lured them up there by threatening to hurt someone and forced Samantha to open the portal.’

‘That makes sense.’ Cassie nodded. ‘That I can see.’

‘There would have been a fight…’ Jonas mused.

‘And they escaped through the chappa’ai.’ Rya’c finished.

‘It’s a theory.’ Vala murmured.

Cassie leaned back in the passenger chair and tapped her thigh with her hand. ‘We need to go through the Cartegian Stargate.’

‘No, we need the gate address.’ Jonas corrected. ‘We would be safer taking the cargo ship.’

‘I hate to say this but I agree with Jonas.’ Vala said. ‘It’s too risky just to step through the gate. We have no idea what’s on the other side and we’d end up in the same position as the others.’

‘My father may not have the time for us to make a long journey by cargo ship.’ Rya’c argued, bristling.

Cassie nodded. ‘Maybe we should split up. Two of us go through the Stargate to find SG1 and help them. Two of us travel by cargo ship to affect a rescue.’

‘I don’t know…’ Jonas rubbed a hand through his hair. ‘I don’t like the idea of splitting up.’

‘Rya’c’s right.’ Cassie insisted. There was a need for urgency. ‘Even if Teal’c and the rest of SG1 had extra supplies of his tretonin, he’s probably near to the end of that supply. And what if one of them is hurt or injured? We need to give them assistance now.’ She gestured. ‘But I agree that the ship is probably required for a rescue.’

Jonas nodded signalling his acquiescence.

‘Well, there is just one small problem with your plan, darling.’ Vala said impishly.

Cassie looked at her inquiringly.

‘The gate address.’ Vala reminded her. ‘We don’t have it. Not to mention we have no idea where the portal actually is on Cartegia.’

Jonas allowed a small grin. ‘She has a point.’

Cassie smiled ruefully. ‘Yeah, she has a point.’

‘We could follow the trail we found when we stopped on the path this morning.’ Rya’c said. ‘That should lead us to the chappa’ai.’

‘He’s right.’ Cassie said.

Jonas grimaced. ‘I don’t like the idea of any of us going back down to the planet. It’s very likely we captured the attention of the Cult ourselves.’

Cassie wasn’t keen on the idea herself. She could feel the sense of dread that had accompanied them on the walk back to the cargo ship. ‘Can we find the Stargate with the sensors on the ship?’

Vala frowned and turned back to the controls. ‘We can try.’

Rya’c moved to stand behind Vala. ‘Perhaps you should try that…’

‘Yes, yes,’ Vala waved him away, ‘this isn’t my first cargo ship.’

Jonas and Cassie exchanged an amused look.

‘Nothing.’ Vala sighed dramatically. ‘The naquadah in the mountain is causing the sensors to go all screwy.’

‘Is that a technical term?’ Jonas teased as he walked forward to stand beside Cassie.

Vala stuck her tongue out at him. ‘If the Stargate is located on the mountain, we’re not going to find it with the sensors.’

‘We might be able to find the temple if we fly over the mountain and make a visual survey.’ Rya’c suggested. ‘We can remain cloaked.’

Vala pushed out of the pilot’s chair and offered it to the Jaffa.

Rya’c inclined his head momentarily in thanks but quickly moved into the vacated seat. An instant later, the cargo ship was dipping smoothly back into the atmosphere and through the upper layers of cloud.

Cassie held her breath as they made their first pass of the mountain. All of them were peering out of the window hoping for a sign of something that would scream “temple.” There was nothing on their first pass and Cassie felt her stomach lurch in disappointment. Rya’c turned around and made a second pass from a different angle; the tension in his body giving away his own concern.

‘There!’ Vala pointed to a long crevasse. ‘It’s an entrance.’

Rya’c carefully turned the cargo ship and flew through the narrow opening.

‘Definitely not natural.’ Jonas remarked, his eyes wide with wonder as they took in the sheer lines of the walls.

The passage opened out suddenly into an enormous cavern and there, in the centre was the temple. Two huge stone dragons stood guard at the entrance.

‘There are life signs in the cavern.’ Rya’c noted, frowning.

‘The Cult?’ theorised Jonas.

‘I don’t see who else it would be.’ Vala agreed.

Cassie sighed. No doubt the cult made regular trips to the temple. It explained the Cartegian footprints she and Rya’c had seen on the mountain. ‘The Stargate is in the temple, isn’t it?’

They all nodded.

‘So there’s no way in there without alerting the Cult to our presence.’ Cassie felt frustration bubble up inside her. To be so close…

Rya’c shifted, drawing their attention. ‘There is one possibility.’ He looked meaningfully at Jonas and Vala.

‘What?’ asked Cassie, frowning.

‘Of course.’ Vala crowed, rubbing her hands with delight.

‘What?’ Cassie asked again.

‘You’re right. I don’t know why we didn’t think about it before.’ Jonas said ruefully.

Cassie glowered at them all. ‘If I have to ask what one more time…’

‘Do you know how like Jack you sound?’ Jonas inquired, grinning.

‘Jonas!’ Cassie barked impatiently.

Vala laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Before you kill him, Cassie, we’re talking about rings.’

Jonas nodded. ‘If there’s a temple, it’s likely it has rings.’

Rya’c had already turned back to the controls. ‘I am checking.’ He gave a nod. ‘I have located the rings in the temple.’

Vala rubbed her hands. ‘Then what are we waiting for?’

‘The life signs are only outside the temple?’ Cassie checked.

Rya’c inclined his head.

‘OK, then.’ Cassie held up her hand. ‘We should decide who’s going and who will be the cavalry.’

‘I’m going, obviously.’

‘I’m going.’

‘I am going.’

All three of the others spoke at once.

‘OK, well, this could get messy.’ Vala said unhappily. ‘We can’t all go.’

‘Teal’c is my father.’ Rya’c stated firmly. ‘I should go through the chappa’ai.’

‘He’s right.’ Cassie agreed. ‘Plus Rya’c’s probably the best tracker amongst us. He’ll be able to find them on the other side.’

Nobody argued with that.

‘Then I go through with him.’ Vala insisted before Jonas could speak. ‘The lock needs someone with naquadah in their blood to work and I can heal anyone injured on the other side.’

‘I have naquadah in my blood too.’ Cassie forced herself to meet Vala’s eyes. ‘And I can’t take a turn flying this cargo ship to the rescue; you can.’

‘Cassie’s right.’ Jonas said quietly. ‘If we want to get to this planet as fast as we can by cargo ship, it’s going to take two pilots flying her continuously.’ He paused, turning to capture Cassie’s gaze. Concern swam in his eyes. ‘I can’t say I’m thrilled about sending the two of you alone through the Stargate though.’

‘Rya’c’s a trained warrior.’ Cassie reassured him. ‘And if everything goes well, we’ll be with SG1.’

Jonas gave a faint nod but he didn’t look away and the concern that tensed his jaw didn’t abate.

‘I don’t like this.’ Vala declared with a huff.

They all looked at her.

‘Well, I don’t.’ Vala retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. ‘I might accept it but I don’t have to like it.’

‘You should ring down with us.’ Cassie suggested. ‘Just in case I don’t have enough naquadah to make it work and you’ll need to make a note of the Stargate address so you and Jonas can come riding to the rescue.’

Vala sniffed. ‘Well, I do like riding to the rescue.’

Cassie smiled and stood up to envelope the other woman in a brief hug. ‘We should get some supplies together.’ She said, stepping back.

Jonas slid into the pilot’s seat as Rya’c moved out to make preparations for departure with Vala and Cassie.

Cassie changed into more comfortable clothing; her jeans and a checked shirt went on under her jacket. She packed the backpack carefully with provisions, blankets, and the first aid kit. Rya’c was doing the same on the other side of the hold.

Vala crouched beside and handed her a small pouch. ‘Take this.’

Cassie took it and carefully peeked inside; it was the Goa’uld healing device. She nodded briskly and packed it carefully away into her jacket pocket. She picked up the zat and looked over to Rya’c. ‘Ready?’

Rya’c slung his pack over his shoulder and hoisted his staff weapon. ‘I am ready.’

‘Wait.’ Jonas appeared and dug into his own pack. He brought out something that looked like a communicator. He tossed it at Vala who caught it. ‘You just need to open it and talk. Contact me when you’re ready to be ringed back.’

Cassie took her position in the rings; back to back with Vala and Rya’c to form a triangle that covered their positions.

Jonas gave them a wave goodbye. ‘Good luck.’

The rings descended and Cassie held her breath as a white light surrounded her. Her stomach dropped away as though she was riding a rollercoaster plummeting into nothing, before suddenly there was ground beneath her feet and the sound of the rings disappearing.

She raised her zat and blinked the flash of the bright light away from her eyes. They had ringed into the centre of the temple. Someone had been inside; there were torches burning on the walls but Cassie could see no-one. The Stargate was in front of her; yellow light bouncing off its silver metal. There was evidence of a fight; she could shell casings in front of the gate; scorch marks along the walls. SG1 had been there.

‘Clear.’ Vala reported.

‘Me too.’ Cassie said.

‘I see no-one.’ Rya’c confirmed.

They all remained frozen.

‘OK,’ Vala said, ‘we should do this.’

‘And quickly.’ Cassie added. ‘Someone’s been in here recently.’

‘DHD is in front of me.’ Vala said and moved. ‘Cassie, you activate the lock. Rya’c and I will cover you.’

Cassie hurried over to the DHD as Rya’c and Vala took opposite sides of the room. It looked normal except for the lock. It looked very much as it had done in the drawing; an oval-shaped amber affixed to the column of the DHD.

‘Do I just touch it?’ Cassie asked tentatively.

Vala motioned at her. ‘Go ahead.’

Cassie flexed her hand. It was just touching a lock. Just putting her palm on it to turn it on to activate the Stargate and find SG1. She flexed her hand again.

‘Cassie.’ Vala called over her shoulder. ‘I hate to hurry you but: get a move on!’

Cassie rolled her eyes but took a deep breath and placed her hand over the oval crystal.

Nothing happened.

Maybe it was like the healing device, Cassie considered tiredly. Maybe she needed to think about something.

She closed her eyes and pictured her dream; Teal’c reaching out his hand to her…Sam holding her in the bunker…

She opened her eyes.

Nothing.

‘I don’t think it’s working for me.’ Cassie called out.

Vala indicated that they should swap. Cassie hurried over, taking position behind the statue and looking down the corridor to the temple doorway.

She glanced back at Vala crouched beside the DHD. ‘Vala?’

Vala harrumphed. ‘It’s not working for me either.’

‘Someone is coming.’ Rya’c said urgently.

‘We should leave.’ Cassie said despondently. They could regroup on the cargo ship.

They ran back to the rings.

Vala opened the communicator. ‘Jonas…’

A shot sizzled over their heads and they all ducked.

Cassie fumbled with the zat, trying to get it open so she could fire it. Beside her, Rya’c and Vala were competently firing back. A shot from a staff weapon smacked into the floor in front of her and Cassie gave a startled cry.

‘Cease!’ A woman’s voice shouted out. ‘We have you surrounded and we will kill you.’

Vala glanced at Cassie who nodded.

‘OK.’ Vala shouted back. ‘We’re putting the weapons down!’

The shots stopped.

Rya’c frowned as he lowered the staff weapon. ‘I do not think this is a good idea.’

Vala shook her head and placed her zat on the ground. ‘Neither do I but we don’t have too many options.’

Cassie gently placed the zat down and slowly stood up. She stiffened as she recognised the women coming towards them. ‘Kitana?’

The librarian’s grand-daughter had changed from her medieval dress into black leggings and tunic. A black bandeau covered her hair. She looked like a medieval ninja. A group of similarly looking young women gathered just behind Kitana providing her with support. Cassie recognised one of them immediately as Saki, the maid from the inn.

Kitana held the staff weapon as though she had been using it all her life. ‘I knew you were not who you said you were! Saki said she believed you knew the Tau’ri!’

‘You’re not exactly just a librarian’s granddaughter either.’ Cassie said dryly. Anger stirred despite their precarious position. There was no doubt in her mind that Kitana had played a part in SG1 going missing; was responsible for the worry and hurt that had made Cassie feel like total crap for weeks.

Vala cleared her throat. ‘Perhaps we should all take a moment to take a deep breath and…’

Kitana glared at her.

‘You’re part of the Cult.’ Cassie stated.

‘I lead the Dragons.’ Kitana’s chin rose proudly.

‘What happened to our friends?’ Vala asked forcefully. ‘You know, don’t you?’

Kitana scowled. Her dark eyes flashed with anger. ‘They betrayed me.’

‘You mean they worked out your little scheme to get off this planet.’ Cassie corrected.

‘You have no idea.’ Kitana sneered. ‘Our ancestors were the most cherished of our God. They were to be her next vessel. The humans despoiled them; raped them; imprisoned them in marriages.’

Cassie felt a twinge of sympathy.

‘Believe me,’ Vala began, ‘I understand your anger at what happened to your ancestors.’

‘Not just to them!’ Kitana snapped. ‘We are still chattel. Your Tau’ri friends do not care! They only want the naquadah.’

‘Admittedly,’ Vala grabbed Cassie’s arm before she could say anything, ‘the Tau’ri may seem that they are only concerned with their own agenda but they care. They care more than most.’

‘If you had talked to them,’ Rya’c added, ‘they would have listened to you.’

‘He’s right.’ Cassie said. ‘They would have taken it to the Council or they would have offered you sanctuary. But instead you tried to trick them into taking you off world.’

Kitana smiled humourlessly. ‘You would have done the same in my place.’

Cassie glared at her.

‘And now you will help us leave and so we may find our God.’ Saki stepped up beside her leader; the meek maid persona completely dropped, revealing a fierce young woman in its place.

‘She is a False God.’ Rya’c said strongly.

Vala patted his shoulder. ‘Your father would be so proud of you.’

‘She is our Queen.’ Kitana shot back. ‘You are merely Jaffa.’

‘A Free Jaffa who bows to no False God!’ Rya’c said passionately.

‘Your God abandoned you.’ Cassie pointed out calmly. ‘Why do you even want to be reunited with her?’

‘She is our God.’ Kitana asked angrily.

Vala and Cassie exchanged a look before Vala turned back to her with a shrug.

‘Well, yes, actually,’ Vala said, ‘that was our thought on why.’

‘You will activate the lock. One of you must have the ability.’ She reached towards her neck and lifted a triangular object made of naquadah. ‘Every lock has a key.’

‘You don’t seriously expect us to help you.’ Cassie looked at Kitana askance.

Vala held up a finger. ‘Would you excuse us just for a moment?’ Without waiting for an answer and ignoring the weapons pointed at them, Vala pulled Cassie and Rya’c into a huddle.

‘What are you doing?’ hissed Cassie.

Vala’s eyes slid to the communicator which was still in her hand and open. Cassie’s eyes widened; Jonas could hear everything. Rya’c nodded cautiously to acknowledge he’d also seen it.

‘I think we should help them activate the Stargate.’ Vala said without any further preamble. ‘It’s what we want. It’s what they want.’

‘Vala, even if I feel some sympathy for what their ancestors went through, what they’re going through, I don’t think…’

‘I will not assist those who worship the Goa’uld.’ Rya’c whispered, cutting in and making Cassie’s point for her.

‘Here me out.’ Vala said, glancing again at the communicator. ‘I activate the Stargate on the condition that you two go through first. Perhaps they’ll follow; perhaps something, say the rings, will get in the way.’ Her eyes flitted towards the floor and the mark of the rings and back up to Rya’c and Cassie. If the rings activated, they would take Vala out of the line of fire and would delay the Cult from following them.

‘Sounds like a plan.’ Cassie said.

Rya’c nodded sharply.

Vala turned back to Kitana with a broad smile on her face. ‘We’re willing to make a deal.’

Kitana stiffened. ‘You are hardly in a position to bargain.’

If anything, Cassie thought with a flicker of amusement, Vala’s smile widened.

‘Look, we both want to get through the Stargate.’ Vala strode back towards Kitana, apparently heedless of the weapons.

The crowd of women around Kitana bristled.

‘You agree that my friends and I go through first.’ Vala said. ‘I’ll activate the lock.’

‘We could just kill your friends.’ Saki suggested.

‘You could,’ Vala agreed, still smiling, ‘but then I would probably get killed in the ensuing fight and the power that makes the lock work won’t work for you if I’m dead.’ Her smile widened as she stopped just in front of the DHD and trailed a finger along the edge. ‘So what will it be?’

Kitana glowered at Vala but she cast a look around her group and nodded. She lowered her weapon. ‘So be it.’

‘Get into position.’ Vala called out.

Rya’c picked up their weapons. He tossed one of the zats to Vala and dragged Cassie towards the Stargate and just off to the side. They would be able to dart through as soon as the wormhole stabilised.

Vala grinned at them confidently and gave a thumbs up, as Kitana apparently inserted her necklace piece into the oval crystal. Vala stooped and pressed her hand against it. The Stargate began to dial. Vala moved forward quickly to stand in the outline of the ring on the floor. Cassie could see she was watching which symbols lit up; memorising the address so that she and Jonas could follow.

Cassie readied herself as the last chevron locked and the wormhole erupted; Vala ducked to avoid the whoosh before it settled back into a puddle. The temple chamber was bathed in pale blue light.

Vala waved at Rya’c and Cassie. ‘Go!’

Rya’c went first; running into the wormhole without a backward glance. Cassie made to follow him; she hoisted her bag with one hand and the other clutched her zat nervously. She looked back over her shoulder at Vala.

Their eyes caught and Cassie saw Vala nod at her even as the former thief raised the communicator and turned back to the DHD, zat in hand. Vala was going to shoot the DHD before the rings took her back to the cargo ship, Cassie realised; prevent the Cult from following after them. A quick glance toward Kitana showed the Cult getting restless; they wouldn’t wait much longer.

Cassie turned back to the wormhole and hurried into the event horizon.

Chapter 10

Cassie stumbled out of the wormhole. She barely had time to register the stifling, oppressive blanket of warmth and the jungle of gigantic trees before Rya’c yanked her to the side to take cover behind a large white rock.

A harsh cry sounded out above their heads as the wormhole winked out. Cassie ducked instinctively and she realised belatedly that Rya’c had covered her with his own body. She peeked out to see a creature hovering in the air above them.

‘Oh my God!’ Cassie breathed out at the sight of the beast. It was massive with a red body the size of Jack’s truck, four legs that ended in feet with claws and a long serpentine tail that flicked angrily like a cat. There were two wings; broad and long that flapped, keeping the monster somehow airborne. It had a long neck and a lizard-like head had small horny growths; the mouth was wide and filled with sharp teeth. Its yellow eyes were pinned to Cassie and Rya’c. She felt the fizz of naquadah in her blood; the tingling sensation that spoke of the presence of the metallic element. She stilled in fear; was it a Goa’uld? Or what had Jonas called them…

‘Is that an Unas?’ Cassie asked urgently.

‘It is not.’ Rya’c replied grimly.

The beast opened its mouth and another cry left its mouth. If it wasn’t an Unas then maybe it was a real dragon, mused Cassie. Which was bad. Incredible, but bad.

‘We have to move!’ Rya’c said.

Cassie nodded. She doubted she would have the breath to speak; she was breathing too fast, fear tripping through her like a livewire.

Rya’c looked up at the dragon assessingly before he stood and fired his staff weapon at the creature. It evaded and Rya’c used the moment to pull Cassie up. He half-dragged her along as they dived into the trees, running through the undergrowth at full pelt. The shadow of the dragon fell over them and Cassie looked up to see it, flying; weaving in and out of the trees.

They ran harder.

She barely felt the soft scratches of the branches as they hit her or the burn in her lungs as she forced herself to keep running; to keep following Rya’c just ahead of her.

They broke through the treeline and Rya’c suddenly gave a cry as he fell forward; the ground abruptly angling sharply downwards in a steep incline. Cassie made to grab him but, before her hand could reach him, Rya’c lost his footing and tumbled down, bouncing over the rough grassy ground. The dragon whirled in the air, ignoring the falling body and diving for Cassie, exposed in the open. She let go of the bag she was holding and tried to scramble back into the protection of the trees but it was too late.

The dragon stooped like an eagle diving for its prey and caught hold of her with its hind legs. Its wings beat powerfully as it rose back into the air.

Cassie tried to wriggle as it turned and began to fly. She didn’t realise she was screaming for it to let her go as she tried with one hand to prise herself free. She stopped when her eyes caught on the zat she was still holding with her other hand.

Without thinking she raised it, aiming for the underbelly of the beast and fired.

Blue lightening shot out and hit the dragon.

It gave a sharp cry, losing altitude abruptly and letting her go.

Cassie dropped out of the sky.

Wind buffeted her as she plummeted down, tugging at her clothes and at her hair…

The ground rushed up in a whirlwind of colour and speed…

She screamed and closed her eyes.

She hit a patch of trees.

The branches snapped as she fell through the canopy, breaking her fall, slowing her descent.

She landed on the grassy forest floor with a soft humpf; she lay there, stunned; the breath knocked out of her and every part of her hurting.

A moment later, the dragon landed some distance away from her; the earth shaking as it hit ground.

Cassie spat out dust and blood from her mouth. She struggled to sit up and yelped at the pain in her left arm; at the way her head swam with dizziness. She had held onto the zat, she realised with some bemusement. She had to move. She had to move while the dragon was out of it. She had no idea how long a zat shot would keep a dragon unconscious.

She scrambled to her feet and began as much of a run as she could manage, limping as the bruising on her legs and hips made itself known. She went further into the undergrowth. She hoped she was heading back towards the Stargate; back towards where she had seen Rya’c fall. They had to stay together; had to find SG1.

The forest started to thin out and Cassie stumbled onwards. She eventually realised she was slowing without thought or intent; her body telling her that it needed rest. She stopped abruptly, all but falling to the ground. She slumped against a tree, using it as a back-rest. She was breathing heavily; her clothes soaked through with sweat. She swiped at her brow and her face. She shrugged out of the leather jacket, wincing as the movement jarred her wrist. She hunted with her good hand and drew out the pouch Vala had given her. She opened it and took out the healing device.

She tried to calm her breathing; taking deep breaths before she positioned it over her wrist and thought of Sam holding her in the bunker; promising not to leave her…

Warmth hit her wrist and Cassie gave a sigh even as she fought to keep her focus on the strength and love she’d felt wrapped up in Sam’s embrace as a child.

The device winked out and she tested her wrist gingerly. It ached a little but it was OK. She carefully examined her head for any signs of an injury but nothing seemed particularly tender or egg-shaped. She had been lucky. She put the healing device back in the pouch but tied it instead to the belt on her jeans. She stripped her checked shirt off and tied it around her waist along with her jacket. Her vest top was a little on the skimpy side but it was too hot to wear anything on top of it. She would sell her soul for some water, Cassie thought wearily. Her water bottle was with the bag she had dropped; another reason to get up and get moving.

Cassie picked up the zat again and used the tree as leverage to get back to her feet. She ached everywhere and figured her body would be a multi-coloured hue of bruising by the next day. She glanced up at the sky. There were two suns beaming down at her from the cloudless azure expanse beyond the leafy trees. Two suns. That explained the heat.

She started walking.

Dragons. There were actual dragons. Cassie shook her head. She wondered if SG1 had known or if they had been surprised as she and Rya’c had been. Her heart skipped a beat.

Rya’c.

She hoped he was OK. He had fallen a long way down the hill but if she could fall out of the sky with minimal injuries, hopefully he had been able to survive his tumble with similar minor cuts and bruises. She didn’t really want to contemplate any other scenario.

She shivered slightly despite the heat.

Where were SG1?

Had they been attacked by the dragon when they had arrived? Were they hiding from it? Were there more dragons? Worry filled her. She and Rya’c had barely survived their encounter with the dragon but surely SG1 would have been fine? They were trained; used to dangerous situations…

Focus on your own survival, Cassie instructed herself tiredly. Find Rya’c. Find the bags.

She had no idea how long she had been walking before her ears caught on the sound of running water. The small stream was a welcome sight. She knew she should probably test the water; purify it but she knew she really had no other choice and she was so thirsty. Her throat was raw. She stooped and cupped her hands. The feel of the cold water against her skin was blissful. She eagerly brought the water to her mouth and drank greedily. She forced herself to sip, remembering from some TV show that sipping was better than gulping. She drank her fill before she bathed her face and neck, using her shirt to dry off.

A sound in the bushes further along the bank caught her attention. She froze. Her heart began to beat unsteadily.

She inched forward carefully. A flash of blue-green shimmied in between the blades of grass. Something was hiding.

Cassie felt her mouth dry up. She should turn around and walk away as fast as she could, Cassie told herself. But the memory of hiding in the grass with monsters surrounding her drifted through her thoughts and stilled her step.

‘Hey?’ She called out gently. ‘Is someone there?’

She took another step forward, trying to pretend that her breathing wasn’t fast and that her heart wasn’t beating out of her chest. She could do this, Cassie told herself briskly.

‘Hey?’ She tried again. ‘It’s OK.’

There was a rustle of grass as something moved again.

Cassie took another step forward and stretched out her hand as Teal’c had once done to her. ‘You can come out. I won’t hurt you. I promise.’

Another brief rustle and the grass parted. A miniature dragon crept forward on its belly a few steps before it sank completely to the ground. It was the size of a large dog; a baby. Green-blue whereas the monster who had attacked them at the Stargate had been a red-brown.

It whimpered.

Cassie could see the baby dragon had injured its wing. The delicate skin was ruptured along the edge of one bony structure. Her heart twisted with compassion. Was it an orphan? Or was it abandoned? Had it gotten lost from its parents? She should walk away, Cassie thought again. If its parents came looking for it…

She sighed.

It was a baby. And it needed help.

She drew out the Goa’uld healing device and took a step forward. ‘I’m going to make it all better. I promise. Just…just stay still.’ She positioned the device over the wing, watching to see if the dragon would attack, wary of the teeth that no doubt filled its mouth.

The amber light shot out and bathed the wing, mending the torn ligaments and skin; patching it back together. The light winked out and Cassie sat down heavily, blinking back the black dots in her vision.

‘OK.’ Cassie murmured out loud. ‘Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea what with the heat stroke and dehydration and hunger…not to mention the fall from the sky thanks to one of your grown-up friends. Did I mention falling out of the sky? I really didn’t think that one through.’

The dragon inched forward and bumped her arm with its head. A wash of emotion filled Cassie; worry and gratitude.

Was that the dragon? Did it have empathy?

Cassie looked at it. ‘You’re really cute but I don’t think Jack is going to let me keep you.’ She swayed a little. ‘I think I’m just going to pass out now.’

Her world went black.

Chapter 11

It was dark and cold.

Cassie pried her eyes open and gasped back the groan at the way her body protested her smallest movement. She glanced around, trying to see through the curtain of dark that reduced the jungle around her to nothing but shadows.

The young dragon had curled up next to her, its back plastered along the length of her own spine. It reminded her of the dog Jack had gotten for her when she had arrived on Earth; it had done the same thing on the rare occasions her Mom had let it sleep with her. The dragon was snoring. She eased away from it and licked her dry lips. She should get up and drink some of the water. There was an ache in her stomach that she dimly recognised as hunger.

Water, Cassie thought with some determination. A body could last days without food but would struggle without water. She half-staggered, half-walked to the edge of the stream and drank deeply.

A few moments later, she heard the dragon stir behind her. She stayed still, unsure how it would react. Would it remember her? Remember that she had healed it? Or would it consider her a threat. She watched as it stretched, arching its back and extending its wings before folding them carefully into its sides. It padded up beside her, seemingly ignoring her presence. It pushed its snout into the water and gulped back water like there was no tomorrow.

Cassie wrinkled her nose and reminded herself to drink upstream from where the dragon was slurping away.

She shivered violently. The temperature had dropped with the onset of night. She crawled back up the bank and untied her jacket and shirt. She wearily put the shirt back on over her vest, buttoning it up tightly. She curled up on the ground again and used the jacket as a blanket huddling under it. The dragon lumbered back to her and lay down behind her. A second later, a wing was extended out over her; another blanket of protection.

‘Thank you.’ Cassie murmured, nervously. She felt touched by the gesture and remembered the wave of emotion she had felt before she had passed out from exhaustion. Clearly the dragons were more than simple beasts. They appeared to be sentient creatures. Or maybe she was just reading too much into it. She wished Daniel was there to discuss it with her; he would know. Either way, the little dragon had obviously decided to stay with her; maybe it was grateful; maybe it thought Cassie was its mother. Cassie closed her eyes, determined not to worry about it until sunrise.

The thought of the next day made her stomach churn anxiously. She would have to continue to make her way back towards the Stargate and hope to meet up with Rya’c. She couldn’t stay by the stream forever even if it was a good source of water. Worry flooded through her again as she remembered how Rya’c’s body had tumbled away down the grassy hill. Was he OK? Was he injured? It had been a bad fall.

‘My father considers you as a daughter of his house and that makes you my sister…you will always have a place with Karyn and I.’

Rya’c’s words to her the day before echoed in her head. She had always known Teal’c considered her part of his family but she had never once considered what that meant for her relationship with Teal’c’s son, the bonds of family that tied them. She knew the Jaffa took their familial relationships seriously. She couldn’t deny that Rya’c’s simple acceptance of her as Teal’c’s daughter – as his some-kind-of-sister – warmed her.

Cassie had lost two brothers and a sister when Nirrti had cleansed Hanka. She barely remembered Jorin; he had been so much older than the rest of them. She mostly remembered warm brown eyes and strong arms lifting her into the sky and making her squeal; her mother’s soft voice admonishing Jorin for scaring her. Alandra had only been a few years older than Cassie; she’d had the same colour hair and eyes. Cassie remembered Allie telling her bedtime stories, huddled together under blankets in the bed they had shared. But her memories of Kip, her younger brother were strongest; with his sunny smile and pudgy hands that had always reached for hers. She had often looked after him for her mother; bathing him, sitting with him. Cassie brushed away the tears that spilled onto her cheeks.

She rarely talked about her siblings. She had barely mentioned them even to her Mom. As a child, the loss of Hanka and her previous existence had been too huge for her to grasp. She had mourned for her family but she had been surrounded by love; by her Mom and SG1.

They had given her a new family and while they could never replace that which she had lost, they had banished the loneliness, the deep fear of being all alone that had consumed her as she had hidden in the bushes.

Just as Rya’c with his simple words had banished the new fears that were bubbling away inside of her. She would always have him.

Just like she had Jonas and Vala.

She smiled. The two of them sparred like squabbling siblings, elbowing each other for room and uncertain of their place at the table. They didn’t realise there was space for both of them. She knew deep down that she would always have them in her life too. If the worst came to pass, she could return with Jonas to Langara or travel with Vala…

It surprised Cassie to realise that she couldn’t picture going back to Earth if they didn’t find SG1.

She shook the thought away.

They would find SG1: they would. SG! weren’t dead or gone. She would not believe it; she could not believe it.

Cassie shifted on the hard ground. The dragons had probably attacked SG1 but they had guns and training. They would have been much better prepared for it than she had been. She remembered her mindless panic when she had been in the grip of the dragon and it made her flush.

SG1 would be fine. She would find Rya’c in the morning and they would find SG1…it was a plan.

The dragon made a growly murmur as though in agreement and she felt a rush of confidence; of strength.

‘Thank you.’ She whispered into the darkness.

She barely slept despite her exhaustion. The ground was too hard; the air too cold, and her body too pained from the fall and the run. She was grateful to see the first weak rays of sunlight creeping through the sky, turning the dark to grey before the golden colours of morning seeped in and painted the sky; before the second sun rose and drenched the jungle, heating the air and creating a faint mist over the ground.

Cassie drank deeply, knowing that the water would have to suffice through the long walk back. The baby dragon bounded away and brought her back a branch adorned with bright blue berries. Cassie grimaced but she accepted it. She ate a couple, testing them and was surprised at the sweet juicy fruit. She was tempted to eat them all, her mouth watering at the idea, but she knew she had to see if her stomach revolted, if they were poisonous, before she ate any more.

‘Do you know the way back to the Stargate?’ Cassie asked the dragon seriously. It seemed to understand her and Cassie knew she could do with the help.

It gave a huff and bounded away downstream but, Cassie realised, in the direction she had been travelling the day before. Good, thought Cassie. If they stayed by the stream she’d have water. She also kept hold of the branch with the fruit and followed the dragon.

The walk helped to loosen her limbs and she began to breathe easier as the time passed. With no sign that the fruit had been bad, she ate some more.

The dragon stayed with her, occasionally bounding ahead to startle some poor creature out of the undergrowth or to chase its own tail. Cassie was reminded even more of her dog. Bobo had stayed with her until she’d moved away to college and ostensibly he lived with Jack. But with the hours Jack worked, Cassie figured the dog-carer Jack had hired to walk and feed him, probably spent more time with him. She’d spoken with the firm after Jack had been declared MIA and she had decided to leave to look for SG1; they had agreed to move Bobo to their kennels for the duration. Maybe when they all returned home, she should suggest to Jack that Bobo stayed with her. Her hours were regular and she didn’t think Kelly would mind…

The idea of returning sent a quiver through her.

Cassie frowned. Earth was her home. Heck, she’d spent most of the previous night wishing for her own comfortable bed with its great mattress and warm blankets. She’d greeted the morning sunlight with the fervent wish for her espresso machine.

But.

And there was a but…she suddenly couldn’t help wondering if what she really wanted to do was become a teacher. Apart from her own uncertainties that she had chosen the job because it would provide her with a veneer of normality, her ideas for her future seemed so…so small when she compared them to everything she had seen in the past couple of days, she thought whimsically. She was beginning to understand what Sam had meant when she had said she wasn’t destined for the white picket fence after the older woman had called off her engagement to a cop. Sam’s life was extraordinary; the trappings of normality couldn’t compete with it. Maybe it was the same restlessness that Jonas had talked about in his life too. He loved his homeworld but he wanted desperately to travel through the Stargate. Cassie was beginning to understand the compulsion.

Cassie sighed and picked off some more fruit from the branch; it was almost bare. After everything she had been through since she had walked through the Stargate in the SGC, if she found SG1 – when she found SG1, she couldn’t imagine just returning back to Earth and picking her life up where she had left off.

The dragon froze suddenly up ahead and Cassie did the same, slowly lowering herself into a crouch and getting the zat ready to fire. The dragon’s wings began to extend and Cassie realised it was doing it to protect her. She held her breath; her heart beating what was becoming a familiar tattoo of anticipation and fear.

Suddenly, a giant bird which reminded Cassie of an ostrich on steroids erupted from the undergrowth. It gave a squawk and beat its wing ferociously as it galloped toward them. The dragon sprang forward with a huff that Cassie knew it had meant as a battle cry.

She readied the zat but couldn’t hit the bird without hitting the dragon. The two creatures collided. The bird tried to stab at the dragon with its beak as it attempted to bite at its legs. Cassie realised the bird, or one like it, had probably been responsible for the little dragon’s injuries the day before.

A hand landed on her arm and Cassie jerked away, whirling in a panic and raising her zat.

Rya’c grabbed it from her before she could shoot. There was a bloody scratch over his forehead, a bruise that had blossomed on his cheek but otherwise he seemed uninjured. He handed her the zat and motioned to the forest beside them.

Cassie shook her head, unwilling to leave the dragon. It was still fighting with the oversized chicken. ‘No…’ If the dragon got hurt again, she would need to heal it…

‘We need to leave before they finish their fight.’ Rya’c hissed.

The bird suddenly gave a howl and darted back into the undergrowth, leaving the dragon victorious. It gave a yap of celebration and turned in the direction of Cassie eagerly.

Rya’c rose with his staff weapon armed.

Cassie reacted on pure instinct. ‘No!’ She threw herself in front of the dragon. ‘Don’t hurt it!’

Continued in One Small Step: Part 2