Location: SGC Briefing Room

  POV: Marina Karssen

  Rina stared down at the table in front of her, tapping a restless finger on its surface while primarily Jack and Samantha filled Hammond in on the recent events.

  Why the hell did I even agree to this?

  As if she didn’t know that Hammond was virtually guaranteed to agree with the most military-minded member of the group: Jack.

  He’s probably betting on that.

  She aimed a glare at O’Niell, who was just finishing up his report.

  “These people just lost one of their own,” Jack reiterated, “If we start poking around or pointing fingers, it’s not gonna end well.”

  “Yes, ‘cause I’m sure it’ll be so much better if we just disappear right after one of them turns up dead,” Rina snapped.

  Hammond raised his hand, wordlessly requesting silence. His expression was somber.

  “I understand your concerns, Colonel,” he told Jack.

  And there it is.

  Rina slumped back in her seat, just barely managing to keep her rage in check.

  “All due respect, General,” Daniel cut in hastily, “If we don’t at least share what we know, whoever did this could victimize more—”

  “If you’ll let me finish, Dr. Jackson,” the General insisted, his tone firm but gentle.

  With clear reluctance, Daniel complied. Hammond laid his hands on the table, folding them solemnly.

  “I agree with you and Miss Karssen.”

  Marina blinked.

  “You what?”

  “I think it’s best in this case if we demonstrate that we’re willing and ready to help in whatever way we can,” Hammond explained, “But you’ll have to proceed with caution. If any of you get even the slightest hint that you’re not wanted there, I want you to pull out immediately. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jack and Samantha chorused.

  Teal’c and Daniel each offered a nod. Though Rina was still too stunned to even react.

  “All right. You’re dismissed.”

  SG-1 collectively pushed to their feet and filed out the door, Rina lagging in the rear with her hands shoved in her pockets and her eyes fixed on her boots.

  Well, I wasn’t expecting that…

  “Karssen.”

  She glanced up to find O’Niell hanging back for her.

  “You know we’re all on the same side here, right?” he asked quietly.

  That sounds familiar, Rina thought, recalling Daniel’s earlier words.

  It made her wonder again just how much influence he’d had in her induction to the team.

  It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is we’re going back to Saanvi’s world, and we’re going to help. So there’s no point in risking Jack or the others thinking I’m anything but a team player.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I know,” she answered with a nod before promptly slipping past him.

  Location: P3R-527

  Jack instructed Carter and Teal’c to stay put at the gate, saying he’d radio them if they were needed. The rest of them made for the village, trudging along in total silence.

  The village appeared empty and quiet when they arrived. After several minutes of only the soft tread of their own footsteps to break the silence, Jack spoke.

  “Well, this is a little eerie.”

  “Where is everyone?” Rina asked worriedly.

  “Well, this could be part of a mourning ritual,” Daniel suggested.

  Marina pursed her lips.

  “Maybe we should split up? We can find Saanvi and the others faster that way and we’ll be less likely to bother anyone else.”

  Jack paused, turning back to consider Rina for a moment.

  “Okay. Not a bad idea,” he relented.

  “I’ll find Saanvi,” Rina volunteered quickly, turning on her heel and starting off in the direction of Saanvi’s home.

  “Whoa, hey!” Jack protested, halting Rina in her tracks.

  She threw a questioning glance back at him.

  “Just…make sure you break the news gently,” he warned.

  Rina felt a spark of frustration.

  “Yeah, I’m not an asshole,” she snapped, starting off again.

  After an awkward silence, Jack called after her, “Right. We’ll go find Aisha then.”

  Rina didn’t bother to reply. She kept a steady pace until she reached her destination, though as she stepped up to the entrance, she hesitated.

  “Saanvi?” she called softly.

  There was no answer. She gingerly poked her head inside, calling again.

  “Saanvi? Hello?”

  She saw and heard nothing. Then the bead curtain across from her rustled and Saanvi appeared, looking strikingly different from when Rina had last seen her. She was dressed all in white, the only exception being the red and gold of her amulet hanging around her neck.

  “Rina?” Saanvi’s surprise was evident. “I thought you had returned to your world.”

  “Yeah, we did,” Rina said quietly, stepping into the cozy home and pointing behind her. “We didn’t see anyone out there. What’s going on?”

  “When one of our tribe is lost, we confine ourselves to our homes and offer up prayer until sunrise,” the matriarch explained.

  “Oh…um, should I leave?”

  “No,” Saanvi said firmly, stepping forward and clasping Rina’s hands in hers.

  Rina looked down at their joined hands, a hard knot forming at the back of her throat.

  “You must tell me why you are here,” Saanvi pressed.

  Marina nodded, swallowing thickly.

  “There’s something you need to know, about Elil.”

  “Elil?” Saanvi’s eyes widened. “What is it?”

  Rina drew a shaky breath.

  “Before he…jumped, he told us someone—someone raped him.”

  Saanvi furrowed her brows in confusion.

  “I do not know what you mean…”

  Rina’s stomach twisted.

  How do I explain this?

  “Um, someone forced him to…to—”

  She pulled her hands free from Saanvi’s, running them over her face. She could feel herself trembling.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice wavering, “It-it means someone was hurting him. That’s why he killed himself. Somebody pushed him to it. And we’re here to help find who did it.”

  Saanvi pulled away, pressing a hand over her mouth in shock.

  Rina felt her chest draw painfully tight, but she pressed on, “You said Elil had a brother. We need to talk to him. And Aisha. Elil worked for her, right? They must know something.”

  Saanvi shook her head, her hand falling to her side.

  “We cannot disturb Jai. He is preparing Elil’s body. And I cannot neglect this time of prayer. It is my duty as a matriarch to help guide Elil’s soul in his journey to a new life.”

  Elil’s soul would probably have an easier time moving on if his rapist wasn’t still running around free, Rina thought angrily, but she kept the words to herself.

  Instead, she nodded.

  “Yeah, I get it. I’ll go then.”

  “Wait.” Saanvi caught Rina’s hand once more in hers. “Please. Pray with me.”

  Rina’s lips parted in surprise.

  “I’m…I’m not religious.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I don’t really believe in anything.”

  Saanvi’s forehead creased slightly.

  “That cannot be true. Someone who does not believe in anything would not show so much care for a man she did not know.” Saanvi pulled gently at Rina’s hand. “She would not care for the truth, or for what is just.”

  Rina was about to protest that anyone who had watched a man jump to his death would be doing the same as she was doing now. Then she remembered what it’d taken to even be there in that moment—the arguing, the deliberating.

  Hammond could have just as easily ordered us to never set foot here again.

  Rina breathed deeply.

  “Okay,” she relented, giving in to Saanvi’s gentle pull.

  POV: Daniel Jackson

  Aisha, now dressed in solid white and unadorned with jewelry, did not look pleased to find Daniel and Jack standing in her doorway. Her appearance was strangely unkempt, her hair noticeably ruffled and her clothing creased.

  “You have returned again,” she noted stiffly, sounding oddly out of breath.

  “Yes. We apologize for interrupting your time of mourning,” Daniel said, “But we have important information regarding Elil.”

  A flash of surprise crossed Aisha’s face, though it was quickly overtaken by a more guarded expression.

  “Important? Why did you not share this before?”

  “Listen,” Jack interrupted, his tone gentle, “We know seeing Elil’s body must’ve been a shock. We just wanted to give you some time to—”

  He paused, looking to Daniel as though he expected his help. Daniel stared at him in disbelief.

  What are you doing?

  “—some time to process before we shared some of the details of his death,” Jack finished.

  At any other time, Daniel might have been impressed with how tactful and eloquently Jack had spoken. But right now he was too busy feeling angry.

  “That is very thoughtful,” Aisha said, though the words sounded forced, “Will you tell me these ‘details’ now?”

  Jack glanced around.

  “Well, we’d hoped to talk to all three of—”

  “That will not be possible,” Aisha cut him off, “We are required to confine ourselves to our own homes during this time of mourning. I will pass this news to the others at a more suitable time.”

  “Actually, we’ve already sent one of our team to talk to Saanvi,” Jack explained, “We were just hoping you could give us an idea of where to find Indira.”

  There was silence for a heartbeat.

  Then, after absentmindedly smoothing her hands over her robes, Aisha repeated, “As I said, I will pass this on at a more suitable time.”

  Forcing down his lingering irritation at Jack to focus on the task at hand, Daniel spoke up, “Maybe we should step inside?”

  Aisha pressed her lips into a thin line, saying nothing. Then abruptly, she turned on her heel, retreating back into her home. After a second of hesitation, Daniel and Jack followed, slowing as soon as they saw the state of the residence. Items had been strewn across the floor, tapestries torn down, ornaments unceremoniously dumped in a heap.

  “Please do not pay any mind to the mess,” Aisha said, “I was merely searching for something I’d lost.”

  “Well, do you need help?” Daniel offered.

  “No,” Aisha snapped, catching him off guard.

  Jack shot Daniel a sidelong look.

  “No,” Aisha said again, much more softly, “You are here to speak to me about Elil. Please, do so.”

  Daniel nodded, taking a second to compose himself. Out of the three matriarchs, Aisha had been the closest to Elil, and clearly she wasn’t handling the loss well at all.

  Knowing the truth will probably just make her more upset.

  But she deserved to know, perhaps even more than the others.

  “Before he died,” Daniel began quietly, “Elil told me something. He told me that someone…had taken advantage of him, in the worst possible way; that someone had used his own body against him. Not just once but…for a long time. And that’s why he did this. That’s why he—that’s why he killed himself.”

  All the blood seemed to drain from Aisha’s face.

  “Taken advantage of him? He said all these things?”

  “Yes.”

  Aisha’s hands tremored. She turned away.

  “This is a serious accusation.”

  “Yes, it is,” Daniel said softly, “Which is why we’re here to help in whatever way we can—whatever way you’ll let us—so we can find who did this to Elil. He deserves justice.”

  There was another stretch of silence. Then Aisha turned to face them once more, her expression cold and hard.

  “And why should I believe you?” she demanded, “You are still strangers to us. You may travel across stars, but it does not make your words truth.”

  Daniel raised his hands in an attempt to placate her.

  “Look, I know this is painful, and I know it’s hard for you to trust us right now, but if you’ll just let us show you…we want the same thing you do. Trust me. Let us help.”

  Aisha’s breathing quickened, signalling a barely restrained anger.

  “Leave,” she snapped, “You will leave and let me mourn in peace.”

  Her words hit Daniel with a crushing finality. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then, with a sullen nod, he dragged himself from Aisha’s home.

  “Well, that didn’t exactly go well,” Jack sighed.

  “Did you really have to lie to her?” Daniel asked wearily, “We could’ve told her the truth.”

  “Daniel, how do you think it would’ve sounded if we’d told her we spent the last hour trying to decide whether we should even tell them about this?” Jack countered.

  Daniel looked away, feeling his earlier anger return.

  “No, you’re right. It probably would’ve sounded exactly like it is.”

  “Don’t start this with me,” Jack said, sounding just as weary as Daniel himself had a moment ago, “I get that this is important to you, Daniel, but I’m not the enemy.”

  Daniel sighed, his anger deflating.

  “I know,” he admitted.

  “Well, Karssen doesn’t,” Jack pointed out sharply, “And I have enough to deal with just trying to keep her in line.” He threw up his hand in a hopeless gesture. “And now I have to tell her that we’re done here—again.”

  “We can’t just give up, Jack,” Daniel protested weakly.

  “You heard Hammond’s orders. We get even the slightest sign we’re not welcome and we pull out,” Jack reiterated firmly.

  “We can’t know for sure that the others will react the same way Aisha did unless we try,” Daniel insisted desperately, “Come on. Let’s at least just see how Rina’s getting along with Saanvi first. If she feels the same way, then we’ll leave. Please, Jack.”

  O’Niell hesitated, then mercifully caved.

  “Fine. But if Hammond gives me an earful for this, I’m blaming the whole thing on you.”

  “Yeah, fair enough.”

  POV: Marina Karssen

  Rina’s eyes flew open at the sound of Jack’s voice calling her name from outside.

  “Karssen? You in there?”

  She glanced at Saanvi kneeling across from her on the prayer mat, then scrambled to her feet, pushing past the bead curtain and heading for the door. Saanvi was right on her heels.

  “What? What’s going on? Did you talk to Aisha?” Rina asked as soon as her feet crossed the threshold.

  “Yeah, we did,” Daniel answered, sounding subdued.

  “And?” Rina pressed.

  “And she ran us out of her home,” Jack finished.

  Saanvi sighed, “I am not surprised. I fear this is all too much for her.”

  Sympathy welled within Rina.

  I hope we’re not just making things worse. She paused, stubbornly shaking away her doubt. No. O’Niell was wrong. This could never be worse than letting a rapist go free.

  “So she didn’t offer any clues? Nothing about who could’ve done this?” Rina asked.

  “No, ‘fraid not,” Jack answered.

  There goes possibly one of our best leads…

  “So now what? We can’t talk to Elil’s brother Jai until hours from now.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  “You are all welcome to join me in prayer,” Saanvi offered graciously.

  Daniel nodded.

  “Yes, thank you, we’d appreciate that.”

  He gave Rina and Jack an expectant look. Rina hesitated.

  “I’ll join you in a minute,” she said.

  “I’ll let Carter and Teal’c know we’re going to be a while,” Jack said, sounding resigned as he reached for his radio.

  Saanvi and Daniel filed into the matriarch’s home, leaving Rina alone with O’Niell. Switching on his radio, Jack briefly explained the situation to Carter, telling her to relay news of the delay to Stargate Command.

  “Yes, sir,” Carter answered.

  Jack flicked off his radio, quietly staring at the village surroundings for a moment before turning to Rina.

  “You not going in?” he asked.

  Rina shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

  “No. Not yet anyway. You?”

  “No,” Jack answered with uncharacteristic seriousness, “Call me a skeptic, but I don’t think prayer’s going to help anything.”

  Rina watched him thoughtfully.

  “I guess that’s something we agree on.”

  Jack said nothing, just looked at her for a spell, then turned away.

  As it turned out, prayer wasn’t the only part of the tribe’s mourning ritual; it was apparently also meant to be accompanied by fasting. As the lunch hour rolled past, Rina’s growling stomach finally got the better of her and she retreated from Saanvi’s house with numerous apologies to devour an energy bar she’d stored away in her jacket pocket. Jack, who had propped himself up against the outer wall, tipped up the cap he’d pulled down over his eyes.

  “Well, you lasted longer than I thought,” he jested.

  Rina aimed a side eye at him while stretching out her sore limbs.

  “Why are you still here? Why not head back to Stargate Command, get a proper meal, proper sleep, and then come back for us tomorrow?”

  Jack pulled the cap back over his eyes.

  “You don’t leave your team behind, Karssen.”

  There’s this ‘team’ thing again.

  Rina said nothing further, opting to finish her stretching and her snack and then return to the grueling prayer ritual.

  For every time she felt ready to keel over or lose her mind, she looked across at Daniel and Saanvi—both seeming as tranquil as a quiet lake. She thought of how much her just being there meant to Saanvi, and she thought of Elil. Each time, it was enough to buffer her resolve and get her through the next hour or so. Though once they reached the night hours, staying awake proved impossible. Her chin inevitably sank to her chest and she drifted off into a deep sleep, waking with a start several hours later to find herself laid out on Saanvi’s bed.

  Shit, Rina thought as she noted the now sunlit house, How late is it?

  She launched herself off the bed and pushed past the beaded curtain, looking for any signs of life. She found Daniel, Jack, and Saanvi—who was now dressed in simplistic brown robes—all kneeling around a light assortment of food.

  “How long did I sleep?” she blurted, “Did anyone else sleep?”

  Saanvi glanced at Daniel with an almost cheeky smile.

  “A little,” she said.

  Daniel seemed too tired to catch the dig at him, and Rina couldn’t bring herself to share in the amusement.

  “I’m so sorry, Saanvi,” she apologized hastily.

  The matriarch pushed to her feet, laying a gentle hand on Rina’s arm.

  “Please do not think less of yourself, Rina. I know you are not accustomed to our ways. I could not have asked for more than what you gave.”

  Rina’s guilt eased a little.

  “So…how did I end up on the bed?” she asked.

  “Oh, well, Saanvi and I put you there after you passed out,” Daniel answered through a yawn.

  “Come, sit,” Saanvi told Rina, gesturing to the assortment of edibles, “This is the only meal we will be allowed for this day. We will be performing the Antyesti of Elil’s body when the sun reaches its peak.”

  “Antyesti…that’s cremation, right?” Daniel guessed, “Where you burn the body?”

  Saanvi nodded.

  “Will we be able to talk to Jai at all?” Rina asked, sitting cross-legged next to Daniel and wincing at the ache in her muscles.

  “He will likely be leading the preparation for the Antyesti now, but if he is willing to speak with you, then you may.”

  Worry seized Marina.

  And if he’s not willing? What do we do then? She mentally paused, rubbing at her still tired eyes. No, no, stop thinking like that. If he doesn’t want to help, then we’ll figure something else out.

  Really, what was even the likelihood of him refusing to help? Wouldn’t anyone jump at the chance to find someone responsible for hurting their family?

  No…not anyone, Rina thought as her parents’ faces flashed through her mind.

  She grabbed for something that looked like dried fruit, nibbling at it half-heartedly.

  “Saanvi, do you know what Elil and Jai’s relationship was like?” she asked.

  “No. In truth, I did not know the family very well,” Saanvi admitted, her tone apologetic, “Why do you ask?”

  “Just wondering.”

  She continued nibbling at her dried fruit, turning her attention to Daniel.

  “So how’d you stay awake so long?” she asked.

  “Oh, uh—” Daniel cleared his throat, keeping his eyes fixed on his breakfast. “I didn’t really feel much like sleeping, so…”

  He trailed off. Rina felt a pang of concern. Was he as stuck in his own head as she was in hers?

  The sooner we find who did this to Elil, the better.

  After the meagre meal was over, Saanvi led them a ways outside the village, skirting along the forest edge and picking up any sizable branches she spotted on the way. After a brief hesitation, Rina and Daniel started to follow suit, leaving their arms half full of branches by the time they reached their destination.

  By the look of it, a few of the villagers had started building a large pyre, expertly stacking each log and branch into a sturdy mass. It was well away from the trees, of course, and judging by how the grass around the structure had evidently been burned away, it wasn’t the first time the tribe had conducted their funeral rites in that location.

  “Jai!” Saavi called as they drew nearer, adding something in her native tongue.

  A tall figure turned toward them, Rina immediately recognizing him as the villager she’d seen Aisha arguing with before.

  So it wasn’t just a coincidence that he sounded like Elil.

  The other villagers stopped what they were doing, turning vacant stares on the newcomers. The unfriendly atmosphere made Rina hang back a little, but Saanvi seemed undeterred.

  “Please, take this,” she said, offering her armful of branches, “We gathered these for the Antyesti.”

  Slowly, Jai accepted the gift, his gaze bypassing Saanvi to settle on Rina, Daniel, and Jack.

  “You are the strangers from another world,” he said, “Why are you here?”

  Saanvi laid a gentle hand on his arm.

  “They wish to speak to you about why your brother is dead.”

  Something in Jai’s dark eyes suddenly hardened. Turning his head, he called to the other villagers in his native tongue, prompting them to step forward and collect the remaining firewood from Rina and Daniel. Then Jai faced the pyre again, loading his armful of branches onto it.

  “I know why my brother is dead,” he said grimly.

  Rina glanced hastily at Saanvi, Daniel, and Jack, finding her own surprise reflected in their faces.

  “Wait, did he tell you?” Daniel asked quickly.

  “Or perhaps Matriarch Aisha?” Saanvi suggested.

  Jai widened his eyes in surprise.

  “Matriarch Aisha?” he echoed, “She knows it was Elil? Then why has she not—” He cut short, falling silent for a few seconds. “What is this about?”

  Jack cleared his throat.

  “We might want to take this somewhere more private.”

  “Yes. Come, Jai,” Saanvi urged, gently pulling at Jai’s arm.

  The five of them collectively moved out of earshot of the other villagers, Jai hardly waiting till they’d all stopped before impatiently prompting for an answer.

  “Jai.” Daniel paused, wetting his lips. “The truth is someone was taking advantage of your brother, for some time. They used his body against him until he felt he couldn’t take it anymore…and he killed himself.”

  Shock and anger burned in Jai’s eyes. Rina heard Saanvi gasp softly.

  I wish I could’ve done a better job of explaining to her, Rina thought guiltily.

  “You know who did this?” Jai demanded hotly.

  “No,” Jack admitted, “But that’s what we’re trying to find out.”

  “Yes, and we need your help,” Daniel pleaded, “Is there anyone you can think of who might’ve been capable of this? Someone your brother was uncomfortable around? Anything at all?”

  Rina saw the muscles in Jai’s face grow tense.

  “My brother and I did not share good will. We spoke very little.” Jai cast an almost imperceptible glance at Saanvi. “Why not ask this of Matriarch Aisha?”

  “Matriarch Aisha was too distressed to speak with them,” Saanvi explained gently.

  Jai glanced again at Saanvi, a strange light in his eyes. A quiet suspicion started to form in Rina’s mind.

  “What did you mean ‘she knows it was Elil’?” Marina asked, stepping forward, “What do you think Aisha knows?”

  “I misunderstood,” Jai answered stiffly, “If I confused you, I am sorry.”

  Rina shared a puzzled look with Daniel.

  “You were talking to Aisha yesterday,” she pressed, “What was that about?”

  Jai clenched his jaw, staying silent for a moment.

  “I cannot help you.”

  POV: Daniel Jackson

  Daniel watched in growing dismay as Jai turned his back on them, his tired mind struggling to offer a response.

  Saanvi reached for Jai, imploring, “Jai, please…”

  Jai yanked his arm away just as her fingers brushed him.

  “No!” he snapped, “I must prepare for my brother’s Antyesti.”

  “Jai,” Daniel said, his mind finally kicking into gear, “You might be the only chance for your brother to get justice. Now you might not have been close while he was alive, but that doesn’t make you any less family. Please. Elil needs this.”

  For a moment, Jai didn’t move, silence weighing heavily on the group until at last he broke it.

  “I cannot help you,” he said again.

  Raising his voice, he called to the other villagers in his native tongue, telling them he’d be heading into the forest to gather more wood for the pyre. Daniel barely heard the words. His hopes were smouldering, his exhaustion seeming to worsen with the blow.

  “I am sorry we could not find any answers,” Saanvi apologized as Jai strode off, “Aisha and Jai are lost in their grief…”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Rina drag her fingers through her hair, clearly stressed. Jack gave Saanvi a somber a nod.

  “Thanks for the help, Saanvi.”

  The matriarch furrowed her brows thoughtfully.

  “Perhaps if we—”

  Saanvi cut short at the sound of someone calling her name, the four of them promptly turning to face the source. Indira was approaching from the direction of the village, her clothing—like Saanvi’s—now changed to a simple brown. Daniel absentmindedly checked it off as another of their culture’s practices.

  “Saanvi,” Indira echoed as she reached them, “I wish to speak with you.”

  Saanvi gave SG-1 an apologetic look.

  “We’ll give you some privacy,” Jack said understandingly, gesturing for Rina and Daniel to follow him.

  “No,” Indira insisted, “I wish to speak with you as well.”

  A wary look passed between Rina and Jack. Daniel couldn’t help but feel apprehensive as well.

  “What is on your mind, Indira?” Saanvi asked.

  “Aisha spoke with me,” Indira answered after a pause, “She was greatly upset.” She turned her gaze on Daniel. “She told me you spoke to her in her home, and she shared your words with me. I am sure you meant well, but to accuse one of our people of doing such a foul thing to Elil—”

  She shook her head, leaving the rest unspoken. Daniel took a step forward, his brows furrowing.

  “I don’t think you understand,” he said, “Elil told us what happened, it’s—it’s not just something we made up.”

  “And yet, we only have your word on that,” Indira pointed out.

  “What reason would we have to be dishonest?” Daniel countered.

  Again, Indira paused, gazing off into the distance for a moment.

  “Indira, please,” Saanvi said softly, “They would not lie to us.”

  Indira pressed her lips together, slowly fixing her eyes back on Daniel.

  “Perhaps you misunderstood Elil,” she suggested.

  Frustration bubbled inside Daniel.

  “I-I didn’t misunderstand, I know—”

  The words stuck in his throat. He felt so tired. But he needed to be heard. Elil needed to be heard.

  Indira cut him off before he could try again.

  “Perhaps it would be best if you all returned to your own world,” she said, “For some time, at the least.”

  A stunned silence followed.

  “You’re right,” Jack agreed soberly, “It’s for the best.”

  Indira nodded in solemn appreciation. Daniel turned to face Jack, Jack meeting his gaze stolidly.

  Daniel could read clearly enough the words Jack didn’t say: You know Hammond’s orders. I gave you as much slack as I could. Now it’s time to go.

  Any resistance Daniel had left in him crumbled instantly at that look.

  Jack’s right. We can’t keep pushing.

  Daniel slid his fingers behind his glasses, rubbing at his weary eyes.

  I guess I wasn’t the best voice for Elil…

  POV: Marina Karssen

  “I hope this matter does not mean our friendship is lost,” Indira said.

  “Yeah, I hope so too,” Jack admitted.

  Then, with a final nod, Indira turned and made her way back toward the village, Rina watching her retreating back in disbelief.

  “Saanvi,” Marina said hastily, turning to face the matriarch, “You have to—”

  “Karssen,” Jack cut her off sternly, “That’s enough. It’s time for us to go.”

  Rina met Jack’s eye with a rising fury.

  “I wasn’t talking to you, jackass!”

  “Please,” Saanvi interrupted gently, “Do not fight each other. I will speak to Indira and Aisha. I will help them understand that you can be trusted, and that Elil’s words cannot be ignored.”

  “We appreciate that, Saanvi,” Daniel said softly, “But all that matters is that you find justice for Elil. And it’s clear we’ll only be getting in the way of that if we stay so…Jack’s right. It’s best if we leave.”

  Rina stared at him in shock.

  He can’t be serious. He’s just giving up?

  The look of disappointment on Saanvi’s face was unmistakable.

  “If…if that is what you truly feel is best, I will not speak any further on it. I am only sorry to see you go.”

  She glanced over the team, her eyes coming to settle on Rina. Rina held her gaze, wordlessly offering an apology.

  “Hopefully, we’ll be able to return soon,” Daniel said, though he sounded drained rather than hopeful.

  “I pray that you will,” Saanvi replied.

  “I wish we could do more,” Rina added, aiming a pointed look at Jack before returning her focus to Saanvi, “I really do.”

  Saanvi clasped Rina’s hands briefly in hers, uttering something in her own tongue before stepping back and making her way slowly toward her tribal home. Rina watched her for a moment before turning to Daniel.

  “What did she say?” she asked.

  “Hmm? Oh, some kind of blessing,” Daniel answered distractedly.

  He looks terrible, Rina thought, feeling a pang of concern.

  “Come on,” Jack urged, striking up a brisk pace toward the forest, “Let’s go.”

  Feeling her earlier fury returning, Rina fell into step beside him.

  “I hope you’re fucking happy now,” she hissed.

  Jack abruptly stopped, the muscles in his face drawing taut for a heartbeat.

  “No, Karssen,” he said, turning to face her with a clearly restrained expression, “I’m not happy.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he started off again, his pace quicker than before. Rina lengthened her own stride, catching up with Jack just as they passed the treeline.

  “Really? You’re not?” she pressed, “‘Cause it seemed like this is what you wanted from the beginning.”

  Again, Jack snapped to a halt.

  “For the love of god!” he shouted, “I am trying to be rational!”

  “You’re not being rational, you’re being selfish!” Rina screamed back, “All you care about is how this makes us look, how it affects us—affects you! You don’t give a flying fuck about—”

  “Listen!” another voice bellowed.

  Rina and Jack whirled toward the unknown speaker, staring in surprise at none other than Jai. Dropping an armful of branches to the ground, Jai gestured urgently for them to follow him.

  “Come!” he said, “I must speak with you!”

  Rina and Jack exchanged a confused look.

  “I thought you said you couldn’t help us,” Jack said, sounding almost wary.

  “I could not speak with you in front of a matriarch,” Jai insisted, “But I must show you something now. Come!”

  So that’s why he kept looking at Saanvi the way he did, Marina thought, It must have something to do with Aisha. He thinks she knows something—or he’s afraid she might find something out…but what?

  As Rina and Jack hesitated, Daniel suddenly slipped past them, following behind Jai as he eagerly led the way. He paused only to throw an expectant glance over his shoulder, his blue eyes full of a renewed resolve.

  “Well, are you coming or not?” he prompted.

  Rina and Jack exchanged one last look, then fell into line behind Daniel.

  “I’m still going to blame this whole thing on you, you know,” O’Niell told him, drawing a puzzled look from Rina.

  He didn’t explain.

  Jai led them to what appeared to be his home, quickly ushering them inside while keeping a sharp eye out—for the matriarchs, Rina assumed.

  “So what’s this about?” Jack asked impatiently.

  “You will see,” Jai said, slipping past them into another room before returning with a folded cloth in his hands. “I found this in my brother’s robes when I was preparing his body. Look.”

  He unfolded the cloth, revealing a stunning sight. It was a large diamond, nestled in silver attached to a chain. It shone brilliantly, casting specks of soft light across the ceiling. Rina felt her jaw go slack.

  “This is Matriarch Aisha’s ceremonial amulet,” Jai explained, his voice soft but urgent.

  Amulet? Like Saanvi’s amulet?

  Daniel seemed to be sharing the same line of thought.

  “Hang on, Saanvi had a necklace very similar to this,” he recalled, “She was wearing it last night—probably as part of her prayer ritual. But Aisha wasn’t wearing hers…because it was here the whole time.”

  “I’d guess that’s what she was looking for last night,” Jack pitched in.

  “What do you mean?” Rina asked.

  “She’d torn her whole house apart looking for something,” Daniel explained hastily before turning back to Jai. “So how did Elil get this?”

  He pointed to the diamond.

  “The only possible answer…is that he stole it,” Jai admitted, folding the cloth back over the amulet.

  “So this is what you were afraid of Aisha finding out about,” Marina realized, “This is why you thought Elil killed himself.”

  Jai nodded slowly, his expression conflicted.

  “I thought his guilt for his theft must have been so strong that it drove him to…” He hesitated, skipping forward. “But you told me the truth, and now…I am more confused than ever.”

  “So what were you and Aisha talking about yesterday?” Rina pressed.

  “She came to ask me where Elil might be. I did not know yet that he was gone. And…I became angry.”

  “Why?” Rina queried.

  “I should explain fully. Some time ago, Matriarch Aisha began to show a great interest in my brother, and I believed he became proud because of it. This is why we would no longer speak to each other. And this is why, when Matriarch Aisha asked me where my brother might be, I became angry. She made my brother a stranger to me and yet she thought I should know more than her!” Jai paused, taking a moment to calm himself before continuing. “I told her nothing, but in truth Elil came to me some nights before and asked to return to our family home. I would not let him. He was very upset. I asked him what was troubling him but he would not tell me. I wish now I had not turned him away…”

  “Look, Jai,” Daniel said gently, “What happened to Elil is not your fault. You can’t blame yourself.”

  Jai’s forehead creased.

  “Thank you. But I cannot help but feel guilt for what happened.”

  “I know what you mean,” Jack said quietly.

  Rina cast a glance at Jack, wondering what he meant. There was silence for a stretch.

  “Is there anything else you can tell us?” Daniel asked gently.

  Jai shook his head, tucking away the amulet in his robes.

  “No. There is nothing else I know of.”

  Dismay welled within Rina.

  It felt like we were finally close to getting answers…

  Instead, they were left with a puzzle that didn’t seem to fit together. The theft certainly didn’t make any sense. Rina’s gaze fixed on the spot in Jai’s robes that was currently hiding the diamond. She tried to picture it in Elil’s hands, and an image leapt to her mind of Elil’s grey-clad figure standing at the top of the cliff as light stabbed into Rina’s eyes.

  The amulet…that’s what was reflecting the sun. Elil must have been holding it. But once we reached the top, he wasn’t. Maybe he saw us coming and then hid it in his clothes? But why bring it there at all?

  Another memory struck her, one of Saanvi elaborating the importance of her amulet. Then something clicked into place in Rina’s mind. In the background, she was vaguely aware of Jack saying something, but she was too steeped in her thoughts to make out the words. She recalled Elil’s frightened face as SG-1 was led through the village.

  But he wasn’t looking at us. He was looking at—

  “Karssen!” Jack called insistently.

  “It’s Aisha,” Rina blurted.

  “What?”

  “Aisha is the rapist.”

  “Whoa, hey, hang on—” Jack protested.

  “Saanvi told me they believe that their amulets can hold souls, so they place it next to their matriarchs when they die,” Rina barrelled ahead, turning to Daniel, “That’s why Elil took the diamond.”

  “Wait, what do you mean?” Daniel queried.

  Rina turned back to Jai.

  “Why would he want to come back home? To get away from Aisha. It makes sense!”

  “That’s a stretch,” Jack began, only to get cut off again.

  “What did Elil say right before he went off the cliff?” Rina prompted, whirling to face Daniel again.

  Realization dawned in Jackson’s eyes.

  “That he would never get justice in this life,” he echoed.

  “Exactly! He took the amulet so he could—well, so he could haunt his rapist!”

  “Now wait a minute!” Jack snapped, “We can’t just go jumping to conclusions! We need proof.”

  “You are right,” Jai said suddenly, drawing all eyes to him as he moved toward the exit.

  Rina noted that the diamond had returned to his hand, though it was still mostly covered by the cloth Jai had wrapped it in.

  “And I know exactly how to obtain this proof,” Jai said.

  Then, without another word, he darted outside.

  “Wait! Jai!” O’Niell shouted, racing after him.

  Rina exchanged a hasty look of alarm with Daniel before they both leapt to join the chase. Though it was less than a minute after they left Jai’s home that they slid to a halt, finding themselves faced with a quickly escalating spectacle.

  Jai was staring down Aisha as Jack tried to pull him away, Indira and Saanvi standing on either side of Aisha as they watched in surprise.

  What is he—

  “You!” Jai screamed, stabbing a finger at Aisha, “I know what you did to my brother! I know your perversion!”

  Oh, shit.

  Aisha only stared back with wide eyes.

  “Jai! Come on! That’s enough!” Jack snapped, still hauling at Jai’s arm.

  “What is this about?” Saanvi asked, bewildered.

  Rina watched with growing apprehension as a small crowd started to gather around them. Jai pulled free of Jack.

  “Look!” he yelled, holding up the diamond amulet for everyone to see.

  Aisha’s hand flew to her bare neck, her fingers tightening into a shaky fist.

  “That is my…” she began tremulously, her words quickly dying away.

  “Yes! You see?” Jai continued, “I found it on my brother’s body!”

  “What are you saying?” Aisha asked unsteadily.

  “He took it from you! For what you did to him! He planned to use it against you so you would suffer the hatred of his spirit forever!”

  Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.

  “No,” Aisha said, “I did nothing to Elil!”

  Her gaze flicked toward Jack, then to Rina and Daniel, her eyes that of an animal being hunted.

  “You,” she hissed suddenly, “You are the source of these lies! How dare you accuse me?!” She took a step forward, waving a hand wildly at the three of them. “You have brought nothing but misery since you came! Why should I not believe that you killed Elil—that you took him from us? What kind of dark spirits are you?!”

  She took another step forward as more gasps rose from the gathered spectators. Hastily, Saanvi and Indira both grabbed for her.

  “Aisha, please!” Saanvi cried.

  Rina felt the last of the blood draining from her face.

  Oh god, no…this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this!

  Jack slowly backed away from Jai toward where Rina and Daniel stood, swearing under his breath. Nearly every eye in the crowd was pinned on them. Aisha broke down into sobbing, Saanvi and Indira doing their best to soothe her. She slumped pitifully against the elder matriarch while Saanvi gently rubbed her back, though Saanvi’s eyes were fixed firmly upon SG-1. Exchanging a few quiet words with Indira, she pulled away from Aisha and made her way toward them, Rina feeling her stomach twist with each step Saanvi took.

  I think I fucked up.

  Saanvi came to a standstill in front of them, her eyes full of pain. Rina felt like her ribs were contracting, squeezing her heart and lungs mercilessly. Time stretched painfully as Saanvi said nothing, Aisha’s sobs and the crowd’s murmurs sounding almost deafening in the silence. Rina wished in that moment she could’ve been somewhere—anywhere but there.

  “I feel it may be best,” Saanvi said at last, “If you return to your world…and do not come back.”