Authors Note: I wrote this story years ago for a challenge listed on the old Heliopolis website. I never did get around to posting it. The new site doesn't seem to list the challenges going back that far--at least, I couldn't find them. Therefore, since I've been posting other stories on this site, I decided to post it here, instead. I can't remember all the details of the challenge but the story was to have a digsite in the desert, an unusual desert tribe, one detail I can't remember and one detail I will leave a note about when I get to that point in the story. It will have more of an element of surprise that way. I will be posting the story in chapters as there are some places that I want to do some editing or even a little additional writing. To give you an idea how old this story is, I wrote it when Stargate SG-1 was either in their fourth or fifth season.

Legacy of Secrets

Two figures, clothed similar to the ancient Egyptians, crouched low on a hillside overlooking a digsite below. Hidden by the shadows of the setting sun, the elder of the two pulled out something that resembled a pair of binoculars but of obviously advanced technology. Watching the two men working at the digsite, he turned to his younger companion and said, "You were correct. Prince Jaconeel has returned. We must take him back with us. Kaldaron will want to speak with him. You have the drug?"

"Yes," nodded his companion.

"Good. Then, let's take him. And remember, Prince Jaconeel must not be harmed.

- - -

At the digsite, Jack O'Neill stood near the campfire, stirring something in a pan. Daniel Jackson was seated on the ground about a hundred yards away, studying some artifacts. "Daniel, time to eat!" Jack called.

Daniel glanced up from the artifacts he was studying. "Be there in a minute!" Daniel called back.

"Daniel, I know your minutes! You can study your rocks later! Now, come on before it gets cold!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm coming!"

Jack saw Daniel's lantern move upward as Daniel started to rise. Deciding that Daniel was finally on the way, Jack leaned over the campfire and began dishing up their food. While he was thus engaged, he didn't notice the two figures slipping up from behind until it was too late. He was grabbed from behind and a syringe plunged into his arm before he had a chance to respond. The drug took effect almost immediately and he collapsed into his captor's arms.

Approaching the campfire, Daniel noticed what was going on. Daniel realized he had also been spotted, so he entered the camp. "Leave him alone," he ordered the man who held Jack in his arms.

"You stay out of this," the man ordered back.

The second man had slipped into the shadows before Daniel arrived. Believing that the man in front of him was the only danger, Daniel tried to placate him by saying, "Okay, just let me put this lantern down. Then, we'll talk about this. Okay?" The man kept his eyes on Daniel, as Daniel placed the lantern on the ground near the campfire. As he was taking his hand away from the lantern, Daniel suddenly grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it into the kidnapper's eyes. The man dropped Jack and instantly reached towards his eyes. Daniel ran forward to attack while the man was momentarily blinded. Just before Daniel had reached his goal, however, a rock was thrown from behind, striking the back of his head. Daniel fell to the ground beside Jack.

"You okay?" the second kidnapper asked, as he approached the first.

"I will be as soon as I get this sand out of my eyes," he answered.

The second kidnapper searched the camp until he found a canteen filled with water. He returned carrying it and some rope that he'd discovered during the search. "Here," he said, offering the water. "This should help. I also found some rope we can use to restrain the troublesome one. What shall we do with him?"

"He was following Prince Jaconeel's orders. Then, he risked his life to save the prince. Therefore, he must be a servant. Kaldaron would want him taken, as well. Just make sure he's well-restrained so he won't give us any more trouble."

While the second man was binding Daniel's hands and feet, the first man, now able to see, left the camp and returned with three horses. The two men lay both Daniel and Jack across one horse's back and tied them in place. Then, they each mounted one of the remaining horses and rode out of camp into the desert, the second man leading the horse which carried Daniel and Jack.