We want to take a moment to say a HUGE thank you to guest reviewer ena, who's recently caught up on the story and took the time to send us feedback on almost every chapter. Sadly we can't reply to your reviews individually via the site, but THANK YOU for your kind words! It was great to see your reactions as you went through the story, and we're all really happy you're enjoying it :).

And of course, my thanks to the rest of the team, who are still sticking with this despite being super busy with real life (sigh), and to all of your readers and reviewers out there keeping us motivated to keep at it! I'd also like to give a special shout-out of encouragement to everyone doing NaNoWriMo these days :).

Okay done, onto the new episode!

Episode synopsis: The leader of a faction that is quickly gaining popularity among the Jaffa tries to have Teal'c ousted from the Jaffa Council, and he must travel to Chulak to deal with the fallout. Amidst civil strife, hidden agendas and an unreasonable antagonism toward outsiders, however, Teal'c is unsure that he wishes to defend his position on the Council at all, as he has lost confidence that his people are capable of standing united as a nation.

Common Ground, part 1

" – just sayin', I don't see what's wrong with the iris." Mitchell took a bite of his roast beef sandwich, giving Sam a slightly disgruntled look, as though she were personally going after every bit of SGC tradition that he valued. "It's been working just fine for eleven years…and like my grandma says, if it ain't broke…"

The blonde's shoulders slumped in an exasperated sigh. For two months she had managed to keep her side project a secret, but spending most of her waking hours in the company of the same four people inevitably meant that nothing stayed secret for long. After the blackout she had started putting longer hours in, meeting with Landry about it slightly more often, and of course within days the rest of the team was onto her.

That wouldn't have been a problem, if not for the fact that a secret shared between half a dozen people on a confined military base wasn't much of a secret at all. By now, everyone knew that Landry had asked her to improve security around the stargate, and with information embellished as it circulated, the rumours of her "security enhancements" were growing more and more extraordinary.

Sitting across from Cam at the cafeteria table, Teal'c cocked his head. "In fact, Colonel Mitchell, the iris could stand significant improvement."

"For one, it'd be nice if anyone dialling in to your lovely little planet didn't risk slamming into it and being obliterated…" Vala took a sip of water, and shrugged at the colonel's scandalized expression.

"There are failsafe measures in place to prevent that."

"Uhm, actually… no there aren't." Daniel grimaced at the thought. "We're mostly just relying on the fact that there aren't enough advanced races out there who would know or want to dial Earth, and the ones who do, know about the iris…"

"There you go. That's a … measure." Cam cleared his throat. "In any case, we should figure out a better caller ID before we consider getting rid of the whole thing."

"I'm not doing anything to the iris," Sam reassured him for the third time. "I'm just working on a jamming field strong enough to block the gate's naquadah signature..." …and make their base less of a target in case the Odyssey and its spectacular technologies ever fell in the wrong hands. "Replacing the iris with a force field was just an idea mentioned in passing and it probably won't happen any time soon…"

At first, Sam had thought Landry was showing exaggerated caution when he'd asked her to discreetly figure out a way to protect the stargate (and the SGC) from the Odyssey's abilities. Then someone had tried to sneak onto the ship mid-blackout to steal its security codes . And by the time SG-1 had caught Athena trying to extract information from an old Asgard text, and found out that the former System Lord Camulus was still alive and currently on Earth, Sam was ready to fully admit that the General had ample reason to be concerned.

"I can't imagine why anyone would try to steal a stargate," Vala picked up the last French fry on her plate. "What would they even do with it? The energy cost of powering it would be enormous, and it wouldn't even work once they got too far out of orbit."

"I think the concern is that they'd take it so that we can't use it…for instance to evacuate the base," Daniel pointed out, "if say, a ship with highly advanced weaponry suddenly opened fire on Cheyenne Mountain."

Vala remained unconvinced as she pulled her dessert plate closer. She missed Teal'c's suddenly alert expression. "If General Landry is concerned about the DC conspirators using the Odyssey against us, wouldn't it make more sense to enhance security on the ship? You know, so no one can actually take it in the first place?" She adopted an expert air as she surveyed the assortment of baked goodies on the plate. "I'd be glad to lend my expertise on that matter."

"I think they're doing both," Sam clarified. "Improving the jamming field around the gate – and the base in general – was due to happen anyway, now that we have ships equipped with Asgard beaming technology. Knowing about the DC conspiracy just moved it to a higher priority…"

Teal'c was still studying Vala's dessert proceedings intently. His expression grew more sober still when she picked a slice of pumpkin bread and transferred it to her plate.

"Does anyone else find it ironic," Mitchell asked wryly, "that we never actually had to worry about Asgard technology being used against us… until they gave it to us?"

Daniel cringed. "Yeah…we try not to think about that too much."

"If you ask me, your leaders are far too fond of their little collection of advanced technologies." Vala broke off a piece of pumpkin bread. "There is a lot to be said for diversifying your – "

She trailed off abruptly; the hand holding the piece of bread had been halfway to her mouth, when Teal'c had gently caught her wrist from the next seat.

" –uhm…investments…?"

When her eyebrows rose in expectant surprise, the Jaffa merely offered a pleasant smile:

"I do not believe you would enjoy this particular dessert."

Vala gave a puzzled little frown. "But I've never even tried…" her features dissolved into shock as she realized what was going on, "…it."

She stared at the pumpkin bread. Teal'c was maintaining his agreeable smile. The rest of the team had also been startled into silence.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you telling me…" She didn't even know how to put it. "Muscles… are you saying…"

Having released her hand, Teal'c simply motioned to the dessert plate. "I am merely suggesting that you try a different seasonal flavour. "

The stunned silence stretched on as they all tried to process what Teal'c had seemingly just done. It was probably the strongest effect that a piece of pumpkin bread had ever had on a group of people. Before they got a chance to move past the shock, however, the alarm klaxon went off:

"Unscheduled offworld activation!"

There was a brief moment of indecision, as none of them (save for Teal'c) wanted to abandon the current conversation. But with the siren blaring in their ears, the unscheduled activation took priority. Mitchell had already pushed his chair back and was half-way up when he suddenly pulled himself short with a visible effort.

It had only been the previous week that General Landry had reminded them in great detail (well, technically, he had reminded the whole base – but most of SG-1 felt that they had particularly deserved it) of the required protocol surrounding unscheduled gate activations. Each SGC member had a particular status and position, and the protocol sheets outlined very clearly where each of them should go in the event of any number of emergency situations. Landry had insisted that they reacquaint themselves with the standard procedures… and try actually employing them for a change.

In short, he had basically told them to quit rushing over to the control room every time the gate began to dial. The word 'nosy' had been left unspoken.

The colonel sighed in disgruntlement. "Guess if they need our help, Walter will let us know…"

Daniel made a half-hearted move to head back to his office, then gave up. Sam followed his example, and did not go back to her lab.

Technically, protocol did require that they relocate to a post where they could be easily contacted… but Daniel knew that Master Sergeant and Chief Wizard Walter Harriman would be able to track them down even if they decided to spend the day hiding behind the canned goods shelf in a supply closet. So it truly made no difference whether they stayed in the cafeteria or filed back to their offices in an orderly fashion.

Especially not when what all of them really wanted to do was rush into the control room and see who was causing the unscheduled activation.

Vala bit her lips. "Maybe just this one last time…?"

Cam gave her a dry glance.

The alarm suddenly stopped – a sign that an IDC had been received and recognized.

They exchanged another look.

It was probably nothing. No crisis. Maybe just a team returning early. For normal, non-dangerous reasons. Or some of their allies saying hi. Off-world sites checking in, a scheduling error, a team dialling to request that additional materials be sent through…

…Daniel surreptitiously checked his watch. The alarm had been silent for almost a minute now; in theory, going to the control room when there was no longer an alarm didn't contravene protocol…

He was just about to act on that when the door to the cafeteria slid open to reveal Walter. The Chief Master Sergeant instantly zeroed in on them, and made a beeline for their table.

"Yes!" Vala narrowed her eyes at their ostensibly disapproving reactions to her joyful half-whisper. "Oh, you know you were all thinking it."

After a quick greeting to the rest of them, Walter turned to Teal'c. "Rak'nor just came through from Chulak. He's waiting with the General in the briefing rom."

Hank Landry noticed with a pang of sadness the tense and wary air that surrounded all of SG-1 as they walked into his briefing room to greet Rak'nor. It wasn't that long ago that the Jaffa were welcomed to the SGC with enthusiasm, relief, camaraderie… then the situation had changed and these days, each visit portended increasingly ominous news.

It wasn't Rak'nor's fault, of course, nor his intention to always be the carrier of bad news… yet nonetheless things had worked out that way, and now they were all instinctively apprehensive at the sight of him.

Landry felt bad for Teal'c most of all, torn between his responsibilities to his own people, and to the SGC, forced to juggle twice the amount of work and pressure, and lately for very little reward. Whatever new course the Jaffa were plotting, it spelled nothing goof for their relations with the Tau'ri. The General imagined that it must have become increasingly difficult for Teal'c to observe the slow dissolution of an alliance that he had worked over a decade to bring about.

If it were up to him, Landry would have liked nothing better than to fix things, make whatever overtures were necessary and once again strengthen relations with the Jaffa. But from what little he knew of their latest exploits, their whole nation was struggling to find a common path amongst themselves, and any understanding with outsiders was unlikely to happen until they did. And until that time, Landry knew they could probably expect no goodwill from the Jaffa, and he would have to keep a wary eye out for the consequences of their growing volatility and antagonism…

So it was with a bitter sort of resignation that he settled to hear Rak'nor's latest news:

"The High Council has left Dar Eshkalon and taken temporary residence on Chulak," the younger Jaffa was saying, "while we continue to search for a permanent Jaffa home world. Opinions are divided on what planet would be most suitable…" He sighed. "Abandoning Dakara has saved many lives, but it has created further strife within the Council, as its members cannot agree on where the Jaffa Nation should settle."

"Sorry if I'm missing something here," Cam's brow was furrowed in puzzlement, "but why do you need a new homeworld at all? What's wrong with Chulak? Or any of the other planets colonized by Jaffa?"

Rak'nor looked to Teal'c, deferring to him for a response.

"It is the belief of many," Teal'c explained, "that in order for the numerous Jaffa factions to unite in one successful nation, there must be a safe haven for them to congregate in. A territory recognized as belonging to all Jaffa…" His lips pursed slightly as he continued, "…and no outsiders."

"It makes sense," Daniel supported, "if you're trying to form a nation, you want to have a place to do it that's just your own… But why not pick Chulak, or Dar Eshkalon, or...another Jaffa world?"

"For two reasons," replied Teal'c. "One is that most Jaffa worlds have suffered greatly during the Ori war, and before that during the fight against the System Lords. Two of our planets have been completely obliterated in the Ori's attempts to form a supergate," (there were sympathetic nods around the table as they all remembered witnessing the first such attempt on the planet Kallana) "and several others heavily attacked. In truth, there are few worlds left that would be able to support a large number of Jaffa, or the infrastructure necessary for developing a free society."

Rak'nor dipped his head in silent, grim agreement. "Every day there are new reports of refugee ships, troubled colonies, countless villages and temples under duress." He sighed. "There is too much to be done, and resources are stretched thin."

"Chulak is one of the few worlds that has emerged relatively intact , despite being the first place invaded by the Ori – much like Earth, countless have fought tirelessly to defend and preserve it. However…" Teal'c's lips pursed ever so slightly, "for political reasons, the High Council is opposed to settling there."

Cam's eyebrows arched in surprise. He could maybe understand the Jaffa's attitude toward Earth, but…"Now they don't like Chulak?"

Rak'nor shot Teal'c an apologetic look as he clarified: "Many Jaffa wish for the new home world to not be strongly associated with any individual faction. The Jaffa of Chulak, where the rebellion against the Goa'uld first started, are already powerful…" he trailed off, not knowing how to further explain the Council's objections to his own native planet; Teal'c picked up:

"As you had the opportunity to witness on Dakara, there is still much internal struggle between the different factions," he explained succinctly. "Establishing the Jaffa Nation capital in any of their territories would be seen as giving undue influence to one group over the others."

The note of dissatisfaction in his tone made it plain what he thought of that opinion. His thoughts drifted for a moment to the thousands of refugees roaming the galaxy in barely-working ships as they waited for a place to settle, or the inhabitants of hundreds of Jaffa settlements struggling in their reconstruction efforts – all while the High Council engaged in subtle power plays, unwarranted isolationist tendencies and an irrational antagonism toward races that should have been their allies.

Colonel Mitchell seemed to pick up those thoughts. "I don't suppose they'd let us offer any help…" he glanced to the General, who nodded and extended the offer:

"As you know, we're already doing our best to help other worlds recover after the Ori invasion. We don't have a lot of options," (the IOA may have taken a step back, but he was still disguising half of their humanitarian efforts under the 'diplomatic' heading) "but there are several planets out there whose residents have agreed to take on refugees and provide materials and supplies to aid restoration efforts… I'm sure they'd be more than happy to work with the Jaffa…"

Of course, Teal'c did already know all that. But the Jaffa wanted nothing to do with Earth anymore, and no matter how much he tried to persuade them otherwise, he was but one voice in a highly unfriendly environment.

"Thank you, General Landry." Teal'c lowered his head in silent appreciation, then looked to Rak'nor. "If we provide a list of the worlds who have offered their assistance, perhaps the High Council will agree to contact their leaders…"

…as long as there was no mention of the Tau'ri, was the unspoken end to that idea. Landry suppressed a dissatisfied glare at the younger Jaffa, and once again reminded himself that this sudden unjustified resentment was neither Rak'nor's doing nor his inclination. He was simply in the unfortunate position of having to convey the High Council's opinions.

And by the looks of it, was none too comfortable doing it. "Of course. Any help with our own reconstruction efforts would be welcome…" He swallowed hard, and seemed almost distressed as he met Teal'c's eyes again. "But I think, Teal'c, that perhaps you should be the one to present the idea to the High Council, rather than trusting me to do it…"

The older Jaffa had been maintaining a carefully calm a expression, but at this he could not help a scowl. "Is your voice on the Council not awarded the proper respect?" he demanded. "The High Council knows very well that, as my proxy, you have my complete support for all the decisions you make. If they do not treat your vote accordingly, Rak'nor, I would like to know of it."

Rak'nor fidgeted in his seat. "It is not that, Teal'c… I am… heard, on the Council, and most of the others treat my vote just as they would yours."

"Most. Who among them does not?"

But the other Jaffa shook his head and refused to answer. "This is not about my position on the High Council, Teal'c. I fear I am not making myself understood." He took a deep breath, and squared his shoulders. "It is known and accepted that I serve as your voice on the Council... and indeed, my decisions have begun to be questioned or disregarded lately, but," he held up both hands to stop Teal'c's protest, "it is not as a slight to me that that is being done. Teal'c, I fear that there is a motion to oust you from the High Council… and I am here to beg you to come to Chulak and make sure that does not happen."

"Are you sure you don't want us to come along? I can be really quiet."

The rest of SG-1 and General Landry had accompanied him to the gate room, where Rak'nor was already waiting by the open wormhole. Teal'c had changed from his SGC uniform into the more traditional Jaffa robes; the edges of his lowered hood rolled forward as he bowed his head in appreciation of Vala's offer.

"That will not be necessary."

In fact, they all knew, in this case 'unnecessary' was a euphemism for 'unwise'. The last time the Tau'ri had shown up on a Jaffa world there had very nearly been bloodshed (more than nearly, if one counted Sam's knocking out one of Latal's cronies with shovel), and Dakara had almost been lost.

"Take care, big guy. Call us if you need us." For Teal'c's benefit, Cam suppressed his profound unease at the idea of letting him go alone. "Or if you don't need us. Just… call. You know how I worry."

Daniel gave him a funny sideways glance. It didn't happen often, but sometimes Mitchell really channelled their previous SG-1 leader.

"I will keep you informed as long as the situation requires my continued presence on Chulak, Colonel Mitchell."

"Good luck." Daniel had already said it on the way over, but he figured another iteration didn't hurt. "Give our best to Bra'tac."

Teal'c dipped his head in acknowledgement.

Sam had to clasp her hands behind her back to fight the urge to give him a hug. It irritated her beyond measure that he had to go prove anything to the High Council. The fact that they weren't allowed to go with him made it a hundred times worse.

"I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding," she said encouragingly. "I can't imagine the High Council really forgetting how valuable your input is…" She could imagine them wilfully ignoring that, but did not say it out loud. "They probably just need a reminder."

"Perhaps," he said cryptically. It was not hard to see that he, himself, was disillusioned at the prospect of defending his right to have a vote in the future of the Jaffa Nation.

"Either way Teal'c," The General gave his own nod of support, "we'll all be here when you get back. Good luck."

And with that, Teal'c thanked them all again, Rak'nor too nodded his goodbye, and the two stepped through the stargate. The wormhole blinked out of existence a few seconds later, leaving a grim, concerned silence behind.

Vala crossed her arms and turned to the rest of them with an upset huff. "We should've pushed that Latal into a sinkhole when we had the chance."

No matter how much time passed, Chulak would never stop feeling like home.

Teal'c stepped out of the wormhole and took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp air and the scent of the surrounding pine forest. His eyes took in the shrine stones placed in a spiral pattern around the stargate, and he found himself glad that the Jaffa had re-set them after the Ori had been driven away. The stones, the cleared area around the gate and the sounds and smells of the mountain forest were a familiar welcome whenever he returned to Chulak, and an important part of why his birth planet always held a special pull.

As he swept his gaze across the area, he saved a moment for thoughts of all the loved ones he had met on Chulak, and lost. His parents. Drey'auc. Shaun'auc. His friends Kol'na and Maz'rai and many others. So many of them fighters against the Goa'uld, who had never lived to see the hard-earned freedom of the Jaffa Nation. In their memory he would always keep fighting for the peace and welfare of all Jaffa.

A wave of sudden bitterness surprised him, and his moment of peaceful contemplation shattered as he recalled the reason for his return to Chulak. So many years of fighting, and now he was reduced to having to defend his loyalties and actions, and in his ancestral home no less. The bitterness swelled in his chest.

"Teal'c!" A joyful, familiar voice was a welcome disruption from his dark thoughts, and Teal'c once again felt the warmth of homecoming surge through him. "Tek ma'tek! It is so good to see you again!"

Bra'tac grasped his arm in an enthusiastic greeting, and Teal'c found himself smiling. "Tek matte, Bra'tac."

"I hope you will not hold it against me that I do not leave you any time to peacefully reacquaint yourself with our beautiful planet," Bra'tac joked. "But I found myself too eager for your arrival to simply wait in the city."

Teal'c dipped his head, his arms still gripping his old master's. "I am honoured." He looked up, and met the other man's eyes. "It is good to see you, old friend."

"Ah, I don't know that I'm the old one anymore," Bra'tac nodded to the streak of white in Teal'c's hair. "I had heard about it, but until just now I did not believe it."

As usual uncomfortable to discuss his experience on the Odyssey, Teal'c merely nodded. "It is true."

The other Jaffa's humorous expression disappeared, replaced by a more serious mien. "Then it is I who is honoured, that you would still call me friend after so long." His voice was low, grave. "You have grown stronger and wiser, and I am glad that you did not forget this old man."

"Never," Teal'c said simply. "You are my oldest friend. I would as soon forget myself, or my own blood."

Bra'tac's face lit up with a smile. "Tak mal tiak, i'mer." He briefly clasped a hand on the other's shoulder. "Welcome back. It is truly a joy to see you."

As they stepped back from one another, Bra'tac turned to the third Jaffa, who had so far waited in respectful silence. "Rak'nor. Tek ma tek. Forgive me if I seemed to ignore you."

The younger Jaffa bowed in acknowledgment of the apology, and to signal that it was not needed.

"Master Bra'tac." As the three began to make their way to the Chulak capital a few miles away, Teal'c decided to discuss the issue that troubled him. "I understand there is doubt among the Council as to whether or not I should continue to have a say." He met his old master's suddenly dour gaze.

"It is a foul business, Teal'c," he shook his head, "and nothing you deserve. It goes without saying that I spoke most firmly against any slights to your person, but," he sighed, "there are many voices speaking for the Jaffa nowadays, and rarely are they in agreement…"

"I would like to know the reasons of my detractors for casting doubt on my loyalty to the Jaffa people. Is this solely a consequence of my association with the Tau'ri?" He pushed a branch out of the way so they could pass. "What are the accusations brought against me?"

Bra'tac thought for a long moment before answering. "There are no accusations, Teal'c. Nothing forthright was brought against you… there have been but cursory comments, small gestures… alarming only to those who would read past the surface." A twig cracked under his foot. "I did not think to call you yet, until we knew more, but Rak'nor disagreed. As your proxy, it was his decision to make."

The younger Jaffa looked slightly uncomfortable. "I felt it more prudent to act first," he explained. "Rather than give Latal and his supporters the opportunity to do so. Better to confront the problem openly, than let it build."

"So it is Latal who speaks against me?" Teal'c could not say he was surprised; the former servant of Cronus had made his feelings plain last time they had met on Dakara. "Then his antagonism is caused by my association with the Tau'ri... whom he unreasonably hates."

"It is not so plain as that," Bra'tac warned. "Latal is perhaps the loudest and least guarded in his opinions, but even his intentions are not clear… and those of others, even less. As I said, Teal'c, there has been no open suggestion to exclude you from the Council, and so we do not know what will come of this." He sighed. "Truth be told, my friend, I do not know that this entire affair is not a dish cooked for another meal..."

Rak'nor frowned in puzzlement, but Teal'c understood the meaning perfectly.

"You believe there is an ulterior reason for driving me out of the High Council?"

Bra'tac shook his head. "I do not know what to believe. But as you have seen, our people are in turmoil because the leaders we have chosen for ourselves find it difficult to work together. There are side alliances that should not exist in a unified council. Votes are counted well before they are taken." He sighed. "And you, my friend… you do not fit into this, because you are not here. You cannot be counted ahead of time. Whatever Rak'nor's vote in your name, you always hold the power to change it."

"I have never done so."

"But you can," the older Jaffa countered, "and that is enough to keep them uneasy."

Teal'c walked the next few steps in silence. "I do not understand," he admitted at least. "What plans could the Council have that I would disapprove of, that you or Rak'nor would not oppose as well? And how would one vote matter, in any case?"

The two others exchanged a quick look, which did not go unnoticed. For the first time Teal'c felt a distance between him and them – as though they were privy of some understanding that he was missing. Bra'tac saw the hint of irritation in his expression, and tempered:

"Do not feel bad for not understanding yet, Teal'c. It is something that one only notices with practice." He was using his teaching voice, and that above all immediately erased any traces of resentment that Teal'c may have been feeling. "There are no plans in the Council, no great coalition that would conspire to oust you so they may have complete control; you are right, on most matters your vote would be the same as mine and Rak'nor's, and probably that of others as well. The problem is more subtle than that… and I'm afraid," he finished, "that we might have to watch more of it unfold before we truly begin to understand it."

They walked the last stretch in relative silence, pondering the situation and preparing for whatever might await them once they confronted the rest of the High Council. Within a few minutes, they began to see the walls of the capital city of Chulak – blackened and damaged by the Ori attacks, but most of them still standing. The city inside the walls was being restored, and many temporary wood and straw huts had popped up along the blackened stones, housing displaced citizens, workers and refugees who had come to Chulak after their own planets had been attacked or destroyed. There were more people than Teal'c had ever seen around his old home, and many of them still looked impoverished and bedraggled, not unlike when Chulak had been under the rule of the Goa'uld. The general atmosphere, however, was markedly different – a lighter air had replaced the bleakness and tension, and there were loud, carefree voices and open laughter. Teal'c was taken aback at the contrast; never before had he been so forcefully reminded, all at once, of both what the war had cost them, and what it had earned them.

A young boy spotted his First Prime mark, and his eyes widened before his face broke into an excited grin. Within seconds a whole group of them were grinning and pointing and talking over each other with enthusiastic shrieks, and more than a few adult Jaffa nodded their own (more sedate) greetings as the three walked by.

The High Council had set camp in a few majestic tents a few hundred yards outside the walls – a signal to others, Teal'c imagined, that they were only there temporarily. As he approached with Bra'tac and Rak'nor, a different kind of excitement seem to run through the camp as news of his arrival spread. A few seconds later, the other Council members began to emerge; Teal'c steeled himself for battle.

"Tek matte, Teal'c." Tolok, the oldest Council member and a former servant of Heru'ur, was the first to reach them. "Welcome."

Teal'c returned the greeting and a slight bow. He then did the same for Kal'el, the representative of the Hak'tyl movement who had followed just behind Tolok, and she smiled her welcome.

The pleasant part of the greetings was soon over, however.

"Teal'c." The former leader of Kallana, Latal, reached the growing group, and offered a saccharine smile. "What brings you here?"

Despite his resolution to proceed with calm, Teal'c's visage instantly turned frosty. "I was unaware I needed a reason to visit with the High Council. Or for that matter, my home planet."

"Not at all." Latal maintained his smile. "It's just that we see you so rarely, it is always a surprise."

Tolok shot him a disapproving glare, but Teal'c surprised even himself with his sudden lack of patience:

"If you have any reproaches to make to me, Latal," he said without further overtures, "I would request that you do so openly. It is why I have come."

Murmurs broke out among the present Jaffa, and Kal'el joined Tolok in scowling at the Kallanan leader.

"You have only just arrived," she tried to allay matters, "and we are glad to see you. Let us –"

He dipped his head in acknowledgment of her efforts, but did not let her finish. "I have been informed that my loyalty to the Jaffa and this Council is being called into question. It is not a fact that I wish to take lightly." He felt himself growing angrier as he spoke the words, and forced his tone to remain low, composed. "So I am here to respond directly to any accusations."

Tolok shook his head. "No one is making any accusations, I assure you."

Teal'c fixed Latal with a stern gaze. Cronus's former Jaffa harboured the very expression of puzzled innocence. Teal'c's nostrils flared. "To speak against Rak'nor's right to a voice in the Council, or disrespect his decisions, is in fact to speak against me."

Yat'yir, Gerak's former right hand, stepped forward. "Teal'c, please. There's hardly a need for hostilities. We can adjourn to the main tent and discuss your situation in a civilized manner."

His pleasant smile did not fool Teal'c, who raised an eyebrow. "I was unaware that I had a 'situation' to be discussed."

"Clearly not," Yat'yir countered softly, "or else you would not be here."

He may have thought he was making a clever point, but instead he only stirred Teal'c's anger.

"I am not here to acknowledge the existence of any problem on my part," he spoke with icy slowness. "It has been brought to my attention that some of you wish to remove me from the Council; I came here to request that that most displeasing rumour be addressed. Do not," he warned, "mistake that for a recognition of the validity of any imputations."

Many of the other Jaffa exchanged worried glances; most of them had never seen Teal'c angry, nor did they wish to do so. Those few who had witnessed him in a rare moment of true anger, meanwhile, certainly did not wish to see it again.

Teal'c spoke with cold, measured words. "If the Council is displeased with my views or my actions, I would like to hear it. If they believe my counsel no longer serves the interests of the Free Jaffa Nation, I would like to hear that. Otherwise," his unforgiving gaze swept over them all, "I request an explanation as to why my position is being questioned, and what reasons any of you might have for wishing that I leave it."

His declaration was met with a moment of silence; Rak'nor took the opportunity to position himself at Teal'c's side in a silent show of support. Bra'tac stayed a small distance away, so as to not draw a line between himself and the rest of the Council, and he maintained a neutral expression. But the dangerous glint in his eye whenever his gaze landed on Latal or Yat'yir made plain the feelings that his diplomatic stance obscured.

Finally it was Latal who reacted first.

"You think we want to drive you out of the Council?" He looked scandalized at the suggestion. "Not at all! I'm sorry you have been so misled, Teal'c. Yes, I will admit that I may have been careless with my words to Rak'nor, but my meaning was quite the opposite." He took a deep breath and his arms spread in a welcoming gesture. " You are one of the wisest among us, and a brother to all Jaffa. It is not that we wish you to leave the Council, Teal'c. On the contrary – we were hoping you would concede to join us on a permanent basis, once and for all!"

Goa'uld translation: Tak mal tiak, i'mer - approximately 'You too are hard to forget, my friend'

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