`For many people, the sight, even the thought, of a snake causes feelings of strong dislike. Snakes are repugnant to most of us, which may be exactly why God used a ``serpent,`` or snake, as a symbol of Satan. We should naturally regard him as extremely repulsive.  Snake Satan is the greatest loser of all eternity. He was at one time an obedient, close servant of God - magnificent in appearance and position (Ezekiel 28:12-15). But he threw it all away through his rebellion, and was cast down to the earth (Ezekiel 28:16-17).  No one influenced Satan to sin the way that he now influences humans. Satan is an original. He decided solely by himself, he made the deliberate choice, to go from good to bad. See Could Satan Repent?  Satan is the Christian's greatest enemy, the most serious danger to one's eternal life. We need not live in fear of him however. Despite his now being much more powerful, we ultimately have the upper hand over him and all of his demons. We have the power of God's Holy Spirit to guide and protect us. See Why Demons Are Afraid Of You.  Satan's greatest weapon against us now is deception. Much of the world today cannot tell right from wrong, whether in matters of religion, or simple everyday life. So often what is wicked and despicable is actually glorified, while what is good and decent is sometimes viewed as somehow wrong or foolish. Satan is the ultimate expert at covering truth with lies and misconceptions. See What Does Satan Look Like?  The good news is that Satan has already lost. The Life, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ has seen to that. The day is not far off when Satan is going to get all that is coming to him.  Fact Finder: What will be Satan's fate for all eternity? Revelation 20:10 As the rain poured down, it fell upon the roaring fires that were consuming everything within their reach, creating monstrous clouds of black smoke. The once lively village had been reduced to scattered lifeless forms and rubble.  Jacob Carter scowled at the destruction that had clearly been caused by one Goa'uld or another. The majority of the carcasses held wounds from a staff weapon blast, and foot prints could be found in the sandy soil.  The planet, Shara'lor, was at one point being utilized as a mining planet, and indigenous people as slaves. Evidently the Goa'uld had exhausted the planet's natural resources, and felt the need to destroy the members of the civilization who didn't meet the requirements to become hosts.  ``Jacob! We've found a survivor, however, she may not live much longer!``  Jacob followed the sound of Martouf's voice to the perimeter of the village where the trees became dense and nearly blocked out the sun entirely. On the ground, before Martouf and Nial, lay a young woman donned in lavender silks and red furs.  Jacob knelt beside the trembling form and checked her pulse: racing. If he listened closely, he could hear a wheezing that originated in the young woman's chest; her breathing was erratic and she gasped for any air she could catch. It was clear that the she was an asthmatic, it was equally clear that she would die without help.  Right about then, her chest was probably feeling as if an iron band was contracting around it. The wheezing was growing louder, her short gasps were rapid and extremely difficult. The wheezing caused a coughing fit, and between spasms, she struggled for air. When it was over, she was weak from the exertion, and her breathing had grown worse.  ``What's wrong with her?``  ``She's got something called asthma, and unless we do something soon, she's not going to live much longer.``  Martouf wasn't sure what to do, he was by no means knowledgeable of Tau'ri illnesses, consequently he had no idea as to how to cure them. Other than a blending.  ``Martouf, it's been determined that Ulrica will pass on shortly, leaving Thalan in need of a host.``  ``I thought the same, however...`` Martouf's voice trailed off, and he didn't really need to finish his sentence, for Jacob knew what he was thinking. This young girl might not be a willing host, and if that was a case...  ``Can you hear me?``  At the sound of Jacob's voice being directed at her, the young woman turned to look at him with the most stunning brown eyes. They were large and soulful, their color almost bordering on black. They showed her fright, and they pleaded with him for help.  ``We can save you, but in order for us to do that, you'll have to be blended... You'll have to share your physical body with another being, you understand? You'd be sharing your body... This being would be in your head, and you'd be able to hear it, but you'd be cured.``  The girl's eyes widened, and when she went to speak, another coughing fit began. It couldn't have even been called a cough, it was more of a painful hack that was slowly taking it's toll on her body. When it finally died down, she nodded vigorously at Jacob, but made no attempt to speak.  ``Jacob, not to contradict your judgment, but... Do we know for certain that she is trustworthy?``  Martouf had a point, but when Jacob looked down upon the young woman, he made his decision instantly. Her breathing was becoming increasingly shallower, and the itchy wheeze was causing her to cough again, which only made it worse. She was young, maybe sixteen or seventeen, and she certainly didn't deserve to die so early. They would take the risks and bring her back for a blending.  *'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-'.'-*  Jacob was seated by the bed on which Thalan's new host rested. She was peaceful now, breathing deeply and smoothly. The blending had been a perfect success; a few hours had passed since Thalan entered the young woman, and she would soon wake. Martouf remained with Jacob for most of the time after the blending, but he had been called away a few minutes previous.  The young woman had long black hair, and when she opened her eyes just before the blending, they had been the color of kohl. Her skin was an olive complexion that had been darkened a bit from the sun. She was fairly tall, at least 5'9, and thin, but muscular. Almost reminded him of an amazon woman from some movie he had seen several years preceding his blending.  The clothing she wore gave her a tribal appearance. Lavender silks embroidered with flowers wrapped around her lithe form to create a dress. The sleeveless coat made from reddish-brown fur indicated that her people were hunters. Her jewelry consisted of large hoop earrings with colorful beads, several necklaces of all lengths and colors and quite a few bangles. Feathers and beads had been added into a few tiny braids in her black hair.  Jacob's silent reverie was shattered by a shrill scream and the young woman's swift movement from the bed to the entranceway, where she was met by two Tok'ra guards. She had a crazed look in her eyes, terror elicited by the feeling of Thalan's memories, emotions, experiences and everything else merging with her own.  ``It's okay, don't worry, we're not going to hurt you. Just calm down and take a deep breath. Now, what's your name?``  The young woman looked as if she was going to scream again, but her legs gave out beneath her before she had a chance. Jacob caught her just in time, but as soon as she regained her strength she clawed at his arms.  ``Something's wrong with me! What have you done?!`` She demanded when Jacob pushed her away from him and stood up. He silently wished that Thalan would take control, but he knew the reason his friend was refraining from that action. Thalan knew that if she forced control on this frightened woman, there wouldn't be much hope at reasoning with her.  ``Calm down and I'll explain everything. But you have to *calm down*.``  ``Something's wrong, something's terribly, terribly wrong. There are memories and emotions and knowledge that is not my own. I... Oh, shit! Make it stop! Something's inside of me, I can sense it! Take it out! ``  ``Will you please just calm down and *listen* to me?``  She quieted and looked at the older man expectantly.  ``What's your name?``  ``Skyla Konrad.``  Two names. A first and a last. Not many civilizations had two names, other than those on Earth anyway. Konrad didn't sound 'alien'; it was, in fact, the name of someone he had gone to high school with.  ``Okay Skyla, you've been blended, and...``  ``Blended? Blended! What do you mean blended? As in with another human being?``  ``No, not another human, with a symbiote, a Tok'ra. The blending saved your life, and trust me, it has many advantages, I speak from personal experience. Besides, you consented back on that planet. I told you that you'd have to share your body.``  ``I don't care about the advantages! And do you really think that I was capable of coherent thought back on that planet?`` she paused, and seemed to be listening to something Jacob couldn't hear. She was listening to Thalan perhaps. ``Make it go away! Make it stop! There's a bloody voice and it's speaking to me! Make it stop!``  'Bloody'? Jacob doubted that many civilizations off of Earth used the term 'bloody'. He doubted *any* off-worlders used it. And a few moments earlier, she had used 'shit', which was definitely not something he heard everyday off-world. And her accent, it was almost British.  ``I can't make it go away, that could possibly kill you. Listen to that voice; that voice is Thalan, and you'll most likely be with her for 