Patefactio (Revelation)

Chapter 1

"What do you mean, 'I'll get used to it'?" Vala's words tumbled out as she exited the gate.

"Oh, I generally get the blame when something goes wrong," Daniel said resignedly, scanning the area surrounding the gate.

"Daniel, that's not true," Sam countered.

"Now, Sam, ya gotta admit, he has had his fair share of misfortune."

"Thanks, Mitchell."

"Don't forget, I've read all of SG-1's mission reports and, ya know, an awfully high percentage of them were FUBAR."

"That doesn't mean they were all my fault."

"Your file doesn't lie."

"Good reading, was it?"

"Jackson, only you could make dying an art form."

"I haven't died that many times."

"Shall we review?"

"Thanks, I'll skip that trip down memory lane."

Vala was grinning. "Oh, I'd like to hear about it."

"No, you wouldn't," Daniel stated casting a glare in her direction.

"We'll talk later," Cam said with a wink.

"Oh, goody." Vala bounced down the steps, giving Daniel a smirk as she passed.

"Village is this way, two clicks." Sam pointed down the dirt path that led away from the gate, suppressing a smile as she headed in that direction.

Teal'c waited for Daniel and Vala to follow before taking up the rear position next to Cam.

"You've been mighty quiet on the subject, Teal'c," Cam said looking across at his teammate. "I bet you've got the scoop on all of Jackson's deaths."

"If you mean do I know the details, then you are correct," Teal'c responded flatly.

"Well?"

Teal'c cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, but made no reply.

Vala had obviously heard because she turned, walking backwards as she spoke. "C'mon, Muscles, I want to know all the juicy details."

"Vala," Daniel warned.

"You are correct in thinking I was present at several of Daniel Jackson's deaths; however, you would be wrong if you believe I would share those intimate details with you. That is for Daniel Jackson to relate."

"Thank you, Teal'c," Daniel replied with a self-satisfied grin. Turning his attention back to the path they were on, he hurried to catch up to Sam.

With the discussion effectively ended, Cam shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.

A short distance down the path, Teal'c stopped, his gaze scanning the surrounding forest.

"Carter, Jackson," Cam whispered.

Tuning in on Teal'c's alert stance, everyone brought their weapons up in unison.

"What is it?" Sam whispered.

"We are being watched."

"How many?" Cam kept his voice low as he scanned the trees, straining to see what had caught Teal'c's attention.

"I am unsure but I believe at least six."

"I think we should lower our weapons and let them know we're not a threat." Daniel locked gazes with Cam.

"You may be used to this dyin' bit, but I'd rather not experience it first hand."

Rolling his eyes, Daniel lowered his weapon and called out, "My name is Daniel Jackson. We're explorers from Earth--we mean you no harm."

Several seconds ticked by and then a figure appeared at the edge of the trees. The person was clad in earth tones--brown, green and tan--that blended with the forest. A deep green hat covered all but a lock of blonde hair topping a face partially obscured by a crossbow aimed in their direction.

"Drop your weapons."

"Uh, I don't think so," Cam replied. It was going to take more than a guy with a crossbow to make him give up his weapon.

Daniel laid his P-90 on the ground and rose slowly, holding his hands at shoulder height, palms out, to show they were empty.

"Jackson!" Cam hissed. Apparently, his teammate didn't feel the same way.

One by one, more natives appeared from between the trees until they were surrounded by a dozen archers all aiming crossbows at SG-1.

The first man spoke again. "Are you followers of Origin?"

Cam exchanged a look with Sam as he gripped his weapon tighter, knowing she was thinking the same thing: how long would they be dealing with the fallout from the Ori's attempt to convert their galaxy?

"No, we're just explorers," Daniel reiterated. "We don't follow Origin. Do you?"

Ah, now there was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. Cam waited for the answer, mentally planning how to get them out of here with minimal loss of life if the situation turned sour.

The man sneered and spat on the ground, his answer obvious. "If you are not here to convert us, what do you want?"

"We are interested in a cultural exchange. We wish to learn about your people and possibly establish trade."

Several of the other natives glanced between themselves, a few murmuring to each other.

"You do not bring a Prior to instruct us?"

Daniel glanced back at his teammates briefly before replying. "No. We were at war with the Ori but we defeated them."

This brought another round of murmurs from the group of natives.

"Careful, Jackson." Cam cautioned, hoping he wasn't giving out too much information.

Daniel didn't hesitate as he continued. "Has a Prior already visited your world?"

The man didn't lower his bow, but he appeared to relax, taking an almost haughty stance. "Yes. A Prior and his followers visited our village and attempted to coerce us into following Origin."

"Coerce?"

"Many of our people fell ill. The Prior said that only our faith in Origin would save them."

"What happened?" Daniel asked.

The man narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing each member of SG-1. "How do I know you have not been sent to find out what happened to the Prior? You do not look like the Prior and his followers, but that does not mean you are not believers. You may be trying to deceive us."

"I assure you," Daniel placated, "I'm speaking the truth. We do not follow Origin and there is no Prior among us."

"Well, not anymore." Vala leaned close to Daniel and whispered, "It's a good thing they didn't see you a few months ago, Daniel."

In the stillness of the forest, the whisper was amplified, carrying her offhand comment to the ears of the natives.

"What does she mean?" the native spokesman demanded. "Do not try to deceive us!"

Cam watched the man's relaxed demeanor vanish as he took a firmer grip on his crossbow. The rest of the natives followed suit and Cam was sure he and his teammates each had several arrows pointed at vital parts of their bodies. He made a mental note to himself to strangle Vala later.

"Don't pay any attention to her," Cam said trying to sound nonchalant. "She can be a bit—"

"Crazy?" Daniel supplied, glaring at Vala who had the good sense to keep her mouth shut and not add to the deterioration of the situation.

"Not the word I had in mind, but it'll do," Cam replied.

"They lie!" Another native stepped forward and stood next to the first man. "I lost my son to the plague and I will not allow another Prior to harm my family. Kill them, Averill, kill them now!"

"There will be no killing, at least, not until it is proven they are lying, Morven."

"Pah! You would allow more strangers into our village. Have you learned nothing?" the man seethed.

Cam watched as the man appeared to turn away, but instead, he whirled around, crossbow taking deadly aim as he let an arrow fly. As if in slow motion, Averill reached for Morven's arm, while in front of him, Jackson turned and put an arm out as though to protect Vala from the whizzing projectile.

"Jackson!" Cam warned even as he held his own fire, aware that Averill had grabbed Morven's bow.

The warning was slower than the speeding dart, and Cam watched helplessly as it embedded itself in the back of Daniel's right shoulder.

"Uhhh," Daniel ground out as he pitched forward, Vala attempting to take his weight as he fell.

"Daniel!" Sam shifted her gaze from the threat surrounding them to take in the damage to her teammate's body as Vala cradled it.

Teal'c moved to put himself between Daniel and the man who had shot him, his own weapon sweeping back and forth as if daring another native to try something.

"Help him, Carter," Cam said, keeping his own weapon trained on the leader, Averill.

As Sam bent to tend to Daniel, the native leader approached, crossbow held in one hand, its tip pointed downward. He raised his other hand as if to hold off their bullets. "What Morven did is wrong, but we must know the truth. Drop your weapons and accompany us to our village."

"Sorry," Cam replied curtly. "We don't take too kindly to our people being shot. We'll just head back to the 'gate and go home."

"I am sorry, also," Averill stated, "but I cannot allow that."

As his bow came up again, another wave of natives appeared from the trees, doubling the size of the group surrounding them. Cam decided his plan to get out with a minimal loss of life was about to be revised.

"Don't." The voice was so faint, Cam almost didn't hear it. Knowing what was coming, he steeled himself to resist Jackson's argument.

"I'm not crazy about goin' to their tea party, Jackson. Besides, you need to be in the infirmary."

In his peripheral vision, Cam saw Sam and Vala trying to hold Daniel still. He lay on his stomach, head resting on Sam's folded jacket, arrow still protruding from his shoulder. Unable to see what was happening, he obviously was able to follow the conversation.

"We need . . . to prove . . . that we're not . . . followers of . . . Origin." Daniel panted between words ground out through clenched teeth.

"They'll just have to take our word for it," Cam countered.

"Also . . . need to find out . . . what happened . . . to their . . . Prior."

Damn. Jackson was right and he knew it. Cam knew it, too. But having an injured team member took precedence. Glancing around at the armed natives, he wondered just how much luck they'd have making it back to the gate in one piece, dragging an injured Jackson with them.

Cam addressed Averill. "Will you help our friend?"

"Yes, we will care for him. But you must give up your weapons."

Cam looked first at Teal'c. The Jaffa's jaw twitched in restrained anger, but he tipped his head to Cam, indicating his willingness to follow his team leader. He shifted his gaze to Sam and Vala who were trying to comfort Jackson.

"Sam?"

He knew she understood he was asking for her assessment, not just of Daniel, but of the entire situation. "The arrow needs to come out but I think it's too risky to do it here. Daniel's not going to be able to make it back to the gate on his own, so I think we're going to have to trust these people to hear us out."

"Thanks . . . Sam." Daniel's breathing was starting to sound raspy.

She ran a hand over Daniel's cheek and let it rest on the back of his neck. Cam turned his attention to Vala who was worrying her lower lip with her teeth, eyes moist with tears waiting to fall. He wanted to lay into her, but now wasn't the time. Oh, but they were gonna have a talk when they got back, a talk about keeping your mouth shut in tense situations.

Turning back to Averill, Cam nodded his head and then unclipped his P-90 and placed it on the ground. The rest of his team followed suit and quickly found themselves being patted down for weapons. When the natives were done, they pulled out rope and began tying their prisoners' hands.

"This really isn't necessary," Cam pointed out, which was a waste of breath just like he knew it would be.

"Until the truth has been discerned, it will be necessary," Averill replied.

Vala had to be pulled away from Daniel, the tears no longer held back.

"Do not worry," another man told her, "we will treat his injury when we arrive at our village."

Cam and his teammates watched as the natives hastily dragged some branches over, lashed them together, spread a cloth over it and tied it off. Gently, they lifted Daniel and placed him face down on it. Men took hold of each corner and slowly lifted it, a soft groan the only sound Daniel made as they began walking down the path.

Surrounded by crossbow-carrying natives, SG-1 was urged to follow. Cam shook his head, silently berating himself for adding to the list of missions that had gone FUBAR. O'Neill's gonna have my butt for this.

TBC