The Ascension
Chapter 1
Dr. Daniel Jackson had no longer a physical body to cling to, or friends who could help him. When he got infected by radiation he knew his days were coming to an end, and that he would die soon, and no one could do anything about it.
From his bed and under the bandages he saw General Hammond stoically accepting what was happening in front of his eyes; Dr. Frasier feeling frustrated and disappointed with herself for not being able to do more for him; Teal'c, although he never showed his feelings, could barely maintain the mental strength that characterized him when he was watching his good friend dying; Sam, the skeptical but great friend, that she was still holding his hand knowing nothing could be done; Jacob Carter, member of the Tok'ra, who did all he could for him; and Jack O'Neill, his great friend and companion on many adventures.
All of them were crying their way seeing the impending loss of Daniel Jackson, a strong and young man who was facing his death without actually being prepared for it. He was not religious, not even when his wife was taken as a host and murdered later, and he did not expect either to see a paradise on the other side where he could meet with her again. No, for Daniel existed only darkness, death, the end.
"There must be something else we can do for him," Sam muttered to his father. "I can not believe this happening."
"Sam, we have tried…" Jacob began saying.
"It's Daniel!" She snapped frustrated.
The young man listened the anguished words of his friend and he felt guilty for making her suffer like that. If he could, if there were a way to save himself, he'd do it, but there was nothing he could do to change things. Even Jacob, using Selmak's knowledge, couldn't save him, and if there was a chance to keep him alive, however remote, he'd never be the same Daniel Jackson they had known.
"Colonel, we can't let him die." Sam begged to O'Neill.
Jack looked away from his friend to look at her. "I don't want him to leave, Carter, but it is no longer in our hands," and turned away to Frasier, who nodded negatively. "Daniel, if you can hear me, I'm so sorry…"
SG-1
"Jack!" The man shouted trying to communicate with him. "Jack, listen to me! Please, does anybody hear me?"
"They can't hear you anymore." A sweet female voice startled him, and as he turned around he was face to face with a young woman with long blond hair, turquoise eyes, and the palest and glowing skin he had ever seen. "I'm sorry, but they can't help you any longer."
"Who are you?"
She walked toward him but Daniel didn't move; somehow he knew she wouldn't hurt him. "Someone who is here to give you a second chance, at least if you want it. Death is not the end, Daniel, just another option."
"How do you know my name?"
Showing him a smile she began speaking. "I know much more than your name. I know you are a smart and brave man, capable of anything to help others, and you have proven it countless times. That's why I came to you with a proposal, because I know you are one of the most generous human beings that exist, and you could do a lot more if you accept what I propose to you."
"I don't even know your name."
"Sasha. Sasha Velkan." A curious name, or at least it was for Daniel. "Listen, there is not much time but you can still be the owner of your destiny."
"How?"
"Tell them to let you go, and then you'll have another opportunity." The doctor shook his head in disbelief because it was too weird. "Daniel, you have to understand that I am not here to hurt you, quite the opposite, I just want to help you go beyond what you might imagine. Give up your human life, the people you love it's hard, but think about how much useful you could be for them if you had the ability to do so. That is what I'm proposing to you, and I am breaking a lot of rules for it."
"Rules? What rules?! Who are you, what are you?!" Sasha understood his anger and didn't say a word. "This is ridiculous, I must…I must be dreaming, but it's okay. I'll wake up and everything will be fine." He closed his eyes, squeezing them hard, but when he opened them a few seconds later he realized nothing had changed. The beautiful woman remained motionless in front of him, and the Stargate room was completely empty and silent. "It's not a dream, is it? What happened…what happened to me with radiation…it was all real."
"I'm afraid so."
"So…I'm dying, and you…whatever you are, you have come to…give me a second opportunity?" She nodded. "Why? And how? Will I return to be who I was? Will I ever see my friends again?"
"These are questions I can not answer, only you can. But you must know something, if you decide to accept my offer, to turn into who I am, you will not be able to keep living amongst humans. You will be an ascended being, and you will watch your friends but not interact with them."
"How can I make such a decision in just a few minutes?" Shaking his head he walked up the ramp toward the Stargate. "It's ridiculous, I…I can't do it."
"Then you will die."
Daniel looked at her and shrugged. "Maybe it's the best. If my time has come I guess…"
"You do not understand, Daniel," she interrupted, "it is not your time. What has happened to you has only accelerated the process, so that's why I have come to you. You have the courage to see beyond, to accept the power that others might not comprehend."
"So…how do I do it? I don't think it's gonna be enough with a simple yes."
"No, it's not that simple." Sasha sat beside him and they both looked at each other. "You must find the will to communicate with one of them. Let him know you want to start another path, one unknown that will take you to discover yourself."
SG-1
When Daniel opened his eyes there was no sign of the Stargate room or Sasha Velkan. He was in the infirmary again, seeing himself in one of the beds, and surrounded by friends. Vital signs were weak, and they'd cease at any moment, indicating that his death was already a fact.
Walking among them he watched their sad faces and watery eyes, and felt sorry for them. He did not wish to cause them more suffering, so posing his hand on Jack's shoulder, he took him to the place where he had met Sasha moments before.
"Daniel? What happened? Where are we?"
"I'm not even sure, but you must listen. You have to let me go. Tell Jacob to stop." O'Neill did not get it and began shaking his head. "No, he's helping you. I'm sure he can do it and then Frasier will take care of…"
"Jack, please." He cut him off. "This is what I want."
"And what is "this"? 'Cause I see nothing, there's nothing, Daniel." The young doctor felt very guilty and wanted to give him an explanation to reassure him, but he didn't know what to say. "We can't let you die."
"Jack, you must. Please, tell Jacob that's enough; I know he's only trying to help, but it's just delaying what is coming, and if he doesn't stop then I couldn't go on."
Jack sighed heavily. "And what is it exactly, Daniel? What is so important that you're willing to give up your life? Tell me, what is this incredible journey you're so anxious to start?"
"I don't know. But I guess that's part of the deal, knowing nothing of what is about to happen. I must do it, Jack, I feel I have to, and I know you to talk for me and tell them what I really want."
SG-1
O'Neill returned to reality, at least where he had been before he met Daniel, and saw that Jacob continued healing Daniel with the manual artifact.
"Jacob, stop." He whispered.
Everyone present looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "Excuse me?" The member of the Tok'ra question was like a bucket of cold water, because everybody believed they had just imagined the words, until Jack spoke again, louder this time. "It's what he wants. Let him go."
Jacob Carter glanced around looking for another option, but receiving none, he responded to Jack as he kept healing the young man. "I can't do that. If I stop he will die."
"Do it. Daniel wants you to."
After a few seconds Jacob stopped using the device, and just moments later Daniel Jackson's vitals began falling until the cardiac monitor showed only a flat line.
"Colonel?" Frasier was terrified, and her medical condition pushed her to do everything she could for her patient, but receiving no reply she just froze.
SG-1
Daniel sighed in relief as he felt a huge weight had been lifted off, and smiled at his friend.
"Thank you."
Jack said nothing, only watched him walking on the ramp to the Stargate. His colleague was leaving and he couldn't do anything about it. "We shall meet again?"
Daniel turned and began nodding. "I don't know." And he laughed. "Goodbye, Jack. Thanks for everything."
"Goodbye."