Chapter Six
"Nnnrrgh." Daniel hitched in his bed, twitching from side to side. Instantly, Sam and Jack were on their feet, skidding to his bedside. Teal'c stood by the head of the bed.
"Daniel. Hey, come on. Look at us here." Jack ducked down, eye level with Daniel.
The archaeologist coughed and dragged himself back to consciousness. Jack gave him a tight smile and sat back. Daniel looked around at Teal'c and Sam hovering over him.
"Hey." He croaked.
Sam smoothed his hair back away from his face. "Hey, yourself. How are you doing?"
Daniel's eyebrows lifted and he gave the question some thought. "It was amazing, Sam." He got to his elbows and started to shimmy backwards, making Fraiser's machines squawk in protest. The doctor herself entered the room at a trot with one of the nurses hot on her heels. She slowed as she spied Daniel awake and alert.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. Looked like a barrel of monkeys." O'Neill said dryly.
"No. No, Jack. I saw Apsu and Omoroca. I- I- I was Myomis!" Daniel's fingers spread, tapping his chest.
Jack and Sam exchanged glances. "Uh, Myomis?"
"Yeah!" Daniel's eyes were wide with excitement. Janet made frustrated noises as she tried to keep him still and keep all the various lines, tubes and needles in place. "Well, I was surprised that it was Myomis. It's really only some obscure Catholic encyclopaedia that actually refer to him- me- Myomis as, well, Myomis."
He twisted to look at the colonel. "Jack! I saw him! I saw Nem. He was- he was Apsu. He's my…" His speech started to slow and he shook his head. "My father and…" Daniel frowned and touched his hand to his forehead, pausing in his speech. Fraiser's sharp eyes did not miss the gesture.
"Doctor Jackson, your blood pressure is far too high and your fever is going up again." Daniel waved her off absently, trying to marshal his thoughts. Janet craned her neck and looked at the displays. "Doctor Jackson, I'm serious. I need you to relax here, or I will have to sedate you."
This made Jack's head jerk up and he frowned deeply. He squinted at the monitors, but they made as much sense to him as Daniel's precious squiggles.
"No." Daniel's voice was softer now, but no less insistent. "No. This is important." He put his hand up, effectively shushing them. "I know this. Unh!" He made a frustrated noise and clenched his fist. "I just need a little more. Just a little more. Ah!" This time, the noise was pain, not frustration and Daniel pressed his fists to his temples.
"Daniel Jackson." Teal'c's large hand touched the man's shoulder. "Your answers appear to be found in your dreams. It would be prudent at this time to rest, and contemplate this issue. No further progress can be made if you overtax your mind." He guided Daniel back against the cushions.
Jack looked sideways in time to see Doctor Fraiser empty a syringe into Daniel's IV line. He grimaced, but nodded.
Daniel settled back grudgingly. "No, I have to know." The archaeologist pleaded, too late to stop the numbing sedatives flowing through his veins. His head lolled back against the pillows and his eyes closed. As he dropped off, he murmured, "What fate Omoroca?"
- - - - -
Jack sat back in his chair at the briefing table and stared at the painted wood. General Hammond, Sam and Teal'c were at their places around the table. They silently waited the arrival of Doctor Fraiser.
With a clicking of heels, the doctor entered the room. "I apologise for the delay. I needed to finish some last checks on Doctor Jackson."
Hammond nodded. "Understood, Doctor. Please, have a seat." Janet slipped into one of the high-backed leather chairs. "Now, Doctor, what can you tell us?"
Janet drew a breath and gave her head a sharp shake. "Well, sir, I have to say that this is unlike anything we've had to deal with so far." She flipped open Daniel's file. "Basically, Daniel's serotonin levels are out of balance." She held up a hand to forestall O'Neill's outburst. "As far as I can tell, it's not the result of any foreign substance being introduced into his system. It's all naturally created. The serotonin levels are influenced, in part, by proper sleep."
"You mean he just needs a good night's sleep?"
"Well, Colonel, it's a little more complicated than that. His brain is, essentially, locked on over-drive."
Jack made a face, but it was Hammond that asked the next question. "What's the long term prognosis, Doctor?"
Janet shook her head. "I can't say, sir. He is having intense dreams, nightmares, but he isn't reaching a true REM dream state. It's as if he's being subjected to an extreme flashback, not dreaming at all. He may be sleeping, but he's not resting."
Sam sat up straighter. "The human body can't function without some sort of REM-state rest."
Janet nodded reluctantly. "That's true. Doctor Jackson operates naturally with only minimal rest, his system may be able to cope with this better in the short term, but long term, this will have severe effects. He will likely become irritated, absent-minded, distracted and difficult to reason with."
"So, no change." Jack muttered with a grin that vanished as quick as it appeared. Ill-timed humour was his defence in difficult times.
"That's just the start, sir." Janet supplied helpfully. "Continued interruptions in the sleep cycle can result in depression, and anger. Some animal studies suggest an impact on the immune system and the inability to fight off disease. These dreams may also be causing a dissociative state. You heard him in the infirmary. He referred to himself as this… Myomis and the alien Nem as his father."
"What is the nature of these 'flashbacks'?" The General asked.
Jack stepped in. "Well, he'd been having dreams that he says may have been some sort of genetic memory." He leaned back in his chair, combing his fingers through his hair with one hand.
"Sirs, we looked at Daniel's papers." Sam folded her hands together as she spoke. "I'm going to need a little more time to figure out the mythological elements of Daniel's research, but the gist of it is that Daniel believes that Nem's device has put him in touch with the memories of someone close to Nem and possibly Omoroca at the time of Omoroca's death at the hands of the Goa'uld Belus. Daniel believes that he is seeing the events as they unfolded over four thousand years ago."
Hammond shook his head. "How we deal with, or even begin to treat something like that?"
Janet looked at the assembled members of SG1 and spoke up, somewhat hesitantly. "Sir, I'd like to have Doctor Mackenzie's assistance with this. There may be a course of treatment that could help stabilise Daniel's serotonin levels. Perhaps hypnotism, such as was used on Captain Carter, could help fight the effects of Nem's machine."
"You mentioned that Doctor Jackson was not sleeping well. Could you administer something to assist with this?"
Janet made a little face and tilted her head, before giving it a sharp shake. "I wouldn't recommend it, sir. Sleeping pills often interfere with REM sleep. That's why they are not recommended for long-term usage."
"Perhaps the being called Nem may be able to give us guidance in this matter." Teal'c spoke up.
Hammond sighed. "Alright. Captain Carter, I want you to tell me what you can of these Babylonian myths. Report back in one hour with anything you have. As for Oannes, I want SG1 ready to go at 0800 tomorrow morning. Understood?"
"Sir!" Came the prompt reply.
- - - - -
Sam groaned and leaned back in her chair. "I can't believe this stuff! How does Daniel find anything in this maze?"
Teal'c lifted an eyebrow. "What is the problem, Captain Carter?"
"Well, alright, this is really Daniel's forte, not mine, but according to Daniel's notes, the Omoroca character was also known as Tiamat. Now, I'm trying to find information about her and look… she's also known as Tiamut, Tavthe, Tehôm… um… Thavatth, Tauthe, Tiawath… here's Tiwawat, Tamtu, and then Thalatth… Good God, can't these people just name something and stick with it?" She sighed. "Do you know anything about these Goa'uld?"
"No, I do not," Came Teal'c's succinct reply. At Sam's raised eyebrow, he continued, holding up another paper. "It appears as though Apsu, who was also known as Apason, Absu, Abzu, Apzu…"
"I got it, Teal'c."
"Indeed. Apsu was the being we encountered by the name of Nem. In the story of Tiamat's death, they claim that Apsu was betrayed by the god Ea, who was also known as Aa, Ae, Aos, Enki…"
"Still got it, Teal'c."
"Indeed. Ea was the grandson of Tiamat and Apsu. This appears to mean that he was one of the beings known as Oannes."
"So where does Myomis fit in?"
"It was difficult to find the correct information. Myomis is not a particularly common translation of the name. Moumis and Momis," He enunciated carefully to differentiate the names, "Were also used, but the most common form of the being's name was Mummu."
"Mummu?"
"Yes."
"Oh, the Colonel will love that. Wait… I've seen that name."
"In reading the translations of the Enuma Elish, it appears as though Myomis was the first born son of Apsu and Tiamat… or as we know them, Nem and Omoroca."
"So Daniel thinks he's Nem's son?"
"Daniel Jackson appears to believe he has the memories of Nem's son."
"What happened to Myomis in the story?"
"He was betrayed by the Goa'uld Ea and imprisoned. Nothing more is said of his fate."
"And you know nothing about these Goa'uld?"
"Captain Carter, the Tau'ri Stargate was buried not long after the time of Omoroca. The name 'Marduk' is known to me, but none of the other Goa'uld have left their mark upon history."
"Well, it looks like Marduk, or Belus was the head honcho." Teal'c cocked his head at Carter's phrasing. "Uh… main deity in the pantheon." She checked her watch. "Alright. General Hammond is expecting his briefing in ten minutes. Let's hope this makes some sense to him."
Teal'c responded with a simple nod of his head.
- - - - -
"This is certainly an interesting story." The general shook his head. Sam had managed to cobble together a rough lineage of important Babylonian deities. Daniel's notes had helped point them in the right direction to the important players.
"So, let me see if I got this." Said Jack. "Nem is Apsu." He painstakingly formed the unfamiliar name. "Omoroca is Tiamat. Daniel is," He snickered softly. "Mummu."
"He prefers 'Myomis', sir." Carter interrupted.
"Yeah… wonder why? Anyway… Myomis is Apsu and Tiamat's son. He was imprisoned by Ea… his nephew. That right? Anyone else I should know about?"
"Belus." Teal'c spoke, his deep voice lending drama to the word.
"Belus?"
"It was Belus who slew Omoroca."
"He was persuaded by the other gods to kill Tiamat."
"Why?"
"Well, according to the Enuma Elish story, he was granted the position of, sort of a, well, head god." Carter shrugged.
"And Belus is?" O'Neill braced himself for more convolutions in the story.
"Belus is the Goa'uld also known as Marduk."
"And Teal'c knows Marduk." Carter put in.
"Indeed. He was mentioned by Kendra on the world known as Cimmeria." The Jaffa nodded his head as he spoke.
Jack grinned, a sharp smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Thor's Hammer. Great. Charming family our Daniel's found for himself."
"There's more, sir. Marduk was the son of Ea, Nem's great-grandson."
"This is worse than Shakespeare!" The colonel tossed the papers on the briefing table.
"Captain, if I understand the briefing you just gave, Omoroca was killed by Belus over four thousand years ago. Doctor Jackson said so himself. Why would these memories be surfacing if Doctor Jackson already knows the answer to his question?" Hammond shook his head.
"Perhaps Daniel Jackson's earlier answers were wrong."
"Care to explain that, Teal'c?" Jack looked up.
"It is simple, O'Neill. Daniel Jackson spoke the words 'What fate Omoroca'. It appears that, at least in his mind, Omoroca's true fate may yet be in question."
"That might be it, Teal'c. If he runs this dream sequence through, then perhaps he'll somehow pull himself out of these memories." Sam postulated.
"It's possible, Captain." Janet shook her head. "But to be honest, it looks more like he's getting lost in them."
No one really wanted to contemplate that for long. "Colonel, have you managed to contact the author of this 'Santorini' paper?" The general brought up another option.
Jack grimaced. "Daniel was using a free email provider. I used Daniel's account and emailed him, but all I got back was an automated message saying that he was out of the office until tomorrow."
Hammond gave the matter some quick thought. "If we need to, we can look up some information on this Doctor Rothman. Perhaps we can find a home or work number. Right now, let's concentrate on what we do know and determine how best to help Doctor Jackson."
- - - - -
Myomis pulled at his chains until his wrists were raw and bleeding, cursing his nephew and his traitorous kind. They had devoted their lives to the destruction of the Goa'uld, and now the beasts had won.
He looked up at the sound of the prison doors opening. Myomis shook his head, keeping his long, black hair out of his blue eyes. Hissing through sharp white teeth, he cursed, as Ea opened the door and entered the cell.
"Uncle." The younger Oannes said. His blue skin acted as an effective camouflage, hiding him in the shadows.
"Ea." Myomis spat. "What have you done?"
Myomis stood up straight as Ea's eyes glowed an unholy yellow. He was pushed back against the stone wall as his nephew's taloned hand found his throat, digging in to the lightly scaled skin.
"What have I done, oh blessed uncle?" Ea's breath rasped. Like Apsu, Ea had a stocky body, and fish-like features. His wide mouth sometimes distorted his speech. "I have saved this family from the machinations of our traitorous elders."
"It is you and the younger ones who are traitors. We eldest know this and remember!"
"Silence!" Myomis's head bounced off of the stone wall as Ea slammed him backwards. The older being flushed a dark blue with anger. Ea continued. "Do you know what the humans of this world call me? I am a God… the God of Wisdom. They believe that I know everything."
"And you believe them?" Myomis said scornfully. "We are here to teach them. I am surprised that you are now taking your guidance from them instead."
"Still your words, Uncle, else I shall be forced to teach you a painful lesson."
"Foolish child." Myomis could not contain his anger. "You have doomed your family and you have doomed these humans. They will be nothing more than slaves for your foul passenger. You have debased our name and shattered our pledge to the people of this world."
Ea gave an incoherent roar and held up a hand. Myomis grimaced as a brilliant yellow light flared up and struck his forehead. "I am a God!" Ea rasped, sharp scales flaring dramatically. "From me and those like me will come the history of this world." Myomis cried out softly, slumping in his chains as Ea placed the hand device directly against his skin. Ea grinned, showing rows of shark-like teeth. Myomis convulsed and then went still, blue blood spilling from his nose and eyes.
Ea withdrew the hand device and tilted back his unconscious uncle's face. He leaned in close and whispered, "And I shall be sure, dear Uncle, that our world and our history shall know nothing of you save for your betrayal of your family." He released Myomis, allowing the captive's head to drop to his chest.
- - - - -
Chapter Seven
The members of SG1 rested fitfully, keeping vigil on their archaeologist. Any thoughts of returning to Oannes had been put on hold, pending changes in Daniel's condition. Fraiser wasn't willing to give him a go for gate travel, and the other members of the team were not willing to leave him until he had stabilized.
"Hunh!" Daniel's body convulsed in the infirmary bed, hands thrown out at his sides.
Janet raced for her machines, punching buttons and reading the wildly spiking lines.
Jack threw himself across Daniel's chest, trying to stop the man from hurting himself. "Janet?"
Before the doctor could respond, Jack found himself airborne, pushed away by Daniel. He stumbled backwards and crashed into another hospital bed, losing his footing and sitting down abruptly. Sam stumbled backward, clutching a shoulder, and then Daniel was sitting up. He roared at them in some unknown language as he tried to free himself from the grip of the medical devices.
"Daniel!" Jack barked as he painfully found his feet. "Daniel, snap out of it."
Janet winced as Daniel tugged the IV right out of his arm and blood began to trickle down his pale flesh. In two shaky steps, he was out of the bed and up against the wall, his hands out before him, warding off the others. The man was still barking strange statements to his friends and co-workers but quick glances revealed that nobody understood what he was talking about.
Sam's head jerked up as she made out the world 'Goa'uld' in a particularly ominous growl and realisation dawned. She shook her head, and made slashing motions with her hands. "No. Goa'uld, no!"
Daniel stopped yelling and frowned. He shook his head, flipping his long hair out of his eyes. He pointed at Sam. "Goa'uld!"
Sam's head swung from side to side, exaggerated as much as she was able, hoping he would understand the body-language of the negative even if he did not understand the word. "No. No. Goa'uld, no!" She pointed, hoping this word would sink through. "Tau'ri."
Daniel's frown grew deeper and he bared his teeth, making a little hissing noise through them. "Tau'ri?"
Carter smiled, nodding. "Tau'ri." She waved to everyone gathered. "Tau'ri. No Goa'uld." She pointed to herself. "Samantha." Daniel's head lifted. He pondered the word. Sam repeated it, pointing at her chest. "Samantha." She pointed at O'Neill. "Jack." Daniel's eyes narrowed. He was beginning to understand this. Sam motioned for Doctor Fraiser to come forward. "Janet." Sam bit her lip, worried. This would be the hard one. She pointed to Daniel's side, out of his direct field of vision. "Teal'c."
Daniel turned and went rigid, anger and fear evident on his face. "Jaffa!"
"Sholva." The large man said evenly.
Daniel tilted his head, looking sidelong at the Jaffa. One could almost see his mind working frantically. "Jaffa sholva?"
Teal'c spoke a few more words in his native language. Daniel frowned. This was evidently not a language he understood well, but he obviously got the gist of it. He nodded.
"He understands Goa'uld." Carter whispered, amending her words in an instant. "Uh, well... he understands some Goa'uld."
"Of course he does." Jack grated. "That's Daniel."
Carter grimaced. "Sir..."
She was stopped as Daniel turned back to her. He pointed in her direction and spoke. "Samantha." His pronunciation was heavily accented, but the name was recognisable. Carter nodded and smiled. He pointed to the Colonel and then the doctor. "Jack. Janet." He turned. "Teal'c."
When it was obvious that he'd gotten the names right, he nodded and a small smile curled up the corner of his mouth. He pointed his finger to his chest.
"Myomis."
"Carter." O'Neill's voice was soft, trying not to startle Daniel… Myomis. "Carter, get somebody down to the Linguistics lab. See if anyone there can speak-" He waved his hand. "Babylonian?" Janet motioned for one of the nurses to make the call to the linguistics staff.
Myomis turned to look at O'Neill, perhaps recognising the last word. Jack frowned. Despite the face and body, the whole stance of the man was completely different. He had to look hard to see anything of Daniel. Myomis stood tall, his shoulders back. He met everyone's gaze evenly, no shirking, no looking other places, no looking down. He may be dressed in hospital scrubs in a strange location and surrounded by potentially hostile people, but he was every inch in control.
Carter nodded at Jack's suggestion. "It's Akkadian, sir."
"What?" O'Neill's eyebrows went up. "Like the French-Canadians?"
"Uh... those were Acadians, sir, with a 'c'. Myomis is Akkadian, two 'k's."
"So, French won't cut it."
Carter allowed herself a small smile and shook her head. "No, sir."
Myomis tilted his head, looking at Carter. Janet stepped up. "Captain, he seems to trust you. Can you get him to sit down on the bed? I need to monitor his blood pressure."
Carter shrugged. "I think trust is fairly relative at this point. Let's see." She walked around Myomis. The man's bright eyes followed her every movement, but he did not move. "Myomis." Sam said his name softly.
"Samantha." He spoke equally softly. His voice was deeper than Daniel's normal tones.
She patted the bed. "Come. Sit." He frowned. She waved her hand, gesturing for him to join her. "Come."
"Come." He repeated her gesture.
Sam smiled. "No. You come. Myomis, come."
Myomis's eyebrow lifted. "Myomis..." He pointed to his chest and then started walking toward Carter. "Come?"
Sam's answering smile was bright. "Right!"
Jack shifted. "Oh, don't get so happy, Carter." He muttered. "Am I the only one worried about Daniel?"
Carter looked reproachfully at him. "Colonel, this is Daniel, just… Well, sir, nothing like this has ever happened before." She turned back to Daniel. "Myomis. Sit."
"Come on, Daniel... you know us. You understand this. Come, sit, heel... stay." Jack muttered. He caught Myomis's quick look in his direction before the man turned back to Sam.
Sam pulled herself up on the bunk. It was raised up, so she had to give a little hop. Myomis cocked his head as Sam patted the mattress next to her. "Come, Myomis. Sit."
Myomis came and stood before Sam. She slid off the bunk, meaning to show him 'sit' again. As she went to jump up, Myomis's hands circled her waist, and he lifted her up onto the bed. Sam's smile disappeared, replaced with uncertainty.
Myomis smiled, backing off and then hopping up on the bunk beside her. "Myomis, sit."
Sam cleared her throat and slid off the bed. She motioned Janet forward. Perhaps Myomis would allow them to check Daniel's body. She put a hand up, stopping him as he started to get off the bed. Janet stepped around her and touched Myomis's arm. She tugged it forward.
Myomis frowned, but allowed her. She wrapped the pressure cuff around his upper arm and started to inflate it. This made the frown deepen, and Myomis started to pull away. Sam touched his other arm and shook her head. He stopped pulling away, but was not happy. He started questioning Sam, speaking in the strange language again.
Sam shook her head. She couldn't understand anything. Finally, Myomis held up his hand, turning it from back to front and shaking it.
"I think fish-boy just noticed that he isn't a fish boy anymore." Jack drawled.
Everyone looked up at the clattering sound of footsteps. An airman came jogging in with an older man following behind. The man was juggling several thick books and notepads. Jack turned to greet him.
"Doctor?"
"Haller, sir."
"You speak Akkadian?"
The man smoothed back his greying hair and nodded. "I understand some of the language." He looked nonplussed. "But Doctor Jackson is our resident expert. If he's here..."
He trailed off as Daniel/Myomis spoke to him. Haller's mouth opened and closed several times, and then stammered a reply.
Myomis immediately perked up. He stood up and walked quickly over to Haller, forcing Janet to hastily pull off the pressure cuff, or be dragged along behind. Words spilled rapidly out of Myomis's mouth. Haller backed up a little and held up his hands. "Hold it, hold it." He spoke slowly at the man.
Jack and Sam edged forward. "Haller, what's he saying?"
"He's- He's asking questions. Where is he? Who are we? Why does he-? I think he asked why he looks different? Colonel?" Haller asked the last plaintively, not understanding.
Jack waved his hands. "Later, Haller. Right now, tell him he's with the Tau'ri. We fight the Goa'uld." The anthropologist nodded and translated, pausing once to flip open a reference book. Myomis spun back to Jack, speaking to him.
Haller hummed and hawed as he had to look up two words. "Alright, I think I got that. He wants to know who is in charge here."
"That would be me." General Hammond's voice sounded from the doorway. Everyone looked up. "What on God's green Earth is going on here?" He said.
"Sir." Carter stepped forward. "Daniel was suffering from some sort of convulsions. When he opened his eyes, he was-" She pointed at Myomis. "He's calling himself Myomis."
"The Oannes being that Doctor Jackson was studying?" Myomis looked over at the familiar word. He stepped toward Hammond. Haller came forward, to facilitate introductions. The General sighed as he looked up and down at the man he knew as Daniel. "I am General George Hammond." Haller translated. Myomis leaned over to Haller and said something to him. Haller referred once to his books and then asked Myomis a question. He got a curt nod in return.
"General, he wants you to repeat what you just said." Hammond frowned but allowed it.
"I am General George Hammond."
Myomis lifted his head and closed his eyes. He nodded and replied. "I... am... Myomis. I am... Oannes." He nodded at the last. Hammond's eyebrows shot up.
Myomis put a hand to his forehead. Jack moved forward. "Does he have a headache?" Haller put the question to Myomis with the aid of gestures. He received a small nod in return. "Okay." Jack took Myomis, no, dammit, Daniel, by the arm and led him to the bed. "Okay, sit."
Myomis's hand made a fist and he pressed it tightly to his temple. "Jack?" The colonel held up the younger man, hands on his shoulders.
"I'm here, Daniel."
But it was not Daniel who whispered the strange words in Jack's ear as Haller leaned close to hear. O'Neill looked at Haller. The scientist made a face and shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't-" He shrugged. "Reveal fate Omoroca?"
Jack helped Daniel lean backwards as the younger man's body went limp.
- - - - -
"So, what the hell was that?" Jack gestured widely, the hand that had been mussing his hair flying out to point at Daniel, once again unconscious on the bed.
Janet shook her head. "His dissociative states are getting more pronounced. He was fully integrated into this Myomis character. Voice, stance, personality. It was a profound break from Doctor Jackson's normal persona."
"Are you saying he's going nuts?" Jack barked.
"Sir, I think there may be more to it than that." Carter crossed her arms and looked sideways at Daniel. "What if he was actually Myomis?"
"Captain." Fraiser began, a note of warning in her voice.
Carter put up her hands. "No, think about it. Read Daniel's mission report for his time with Nem. He quoted Nem as saying that the-" She reached over to the pile of papers. Daniel's half-written, point-form mission report was in there. "Here it is. He said 'The memory of your history, your race, is within you. Beneath the surface'." She waved the report. "He highlighted two or three quotes like that. Think about what Nem did to our memories. We fought him. Daniel allowed him free rein to do whatever he needed to do. What if somehow, Nem was able to pull all those memories, ideas encoded in Daniel's DNA, up to the surface?"
General Hammond shook his head. "The results would be..." He trailed off.
"He's still Daniel." Jack said, touching the sleeping man's shoulder.
"Of course he's Daniel, with Daniel's thoughts. But, sir, think about it. If you woke up in another man's body with all your memories intact, who would you be?"
"Myomis, if he ever existed, is dead, Carter."
Sam's mouth twisted. "Not to Daniel, sir."
- - - - -
Myomis coughed, wincing as the sound ricocheted through his aching skull. Someone had entered his cell. He tried to pull his head up, but could not quite manage it.
Strong hands gripped his chin and jerked his head upward. He grunted at the harshness of the move, but showed no other signs of pain, keeping his eyes closed.
"You cannot hide from me, great-uncle." A smooth voice insinuated itself behind his headache, making him frown.
Reluctantly, Myomis opened his eyes. A young Oannes stood before him. "Belus." He croaked. This child of Ea took after Omoroca. He and Myomis could be mistaken for brothers. Both possessed the brilliant blue eyes and pale green skin of their common ancestor. Belus's hair was a blue black, as opposed to Myomis's true black, and the younger Oannes lacked his great- uncle's scattering of scales across throat and chest.
"Where is Omoroca?" Belus asked, picking at his blunt fingernails as if the question was unimportant.
Myomis laughed. "Well... I have seen nothing but these four walls for some time. My mother is no doubt safe and-" He was cut off as a backhand from Belus hurled him sideways. The chains brought him up short and he hung his head.
"Do not think me a fool!" The younger Oannes spat at his captive. "My father has killed your father." Myomis's head jerked up and Belus's expression turned to a gloat. "Oh, yes. Mighty Apsu has been taken into the watery deep."
Myomis drove a fist forward, brought up short by the chains. "Fool!" He roared. "He was better than all of you!"
Belus slammed a clenched fist into Myomis's chest, and then held the older Oannes by the throat. "Where is your mother?" Myomis curled up his lip and received another fierce backhand for his defiance. "Your mother has hidden herself from us. We will find her and destroy her."
"She was the only one that ever felt you were worth saving." Myomis forced the words out.
"She betrayed us all. I have spoken with the others. They fear that weak female. They think her powers are too mighty to counter. I shall show them the truth. If I destroy her, I will become the king of all gods. My name will be spoken with reverence, and the wretched beings of this planet will bow down before me."
"You will be the king of a ruined world. The people will not allow you to rule for long."
The Goa'uld looked at him contemptuously. "These Tau'ri are weak. They will be easily overcome. Already they acknowledge me as a God."
"And what will you do for them arrogant child?" Myomis asked wearily. "A god must be able to perform for his people, or his people will choose more accommodating deities. You and your kind have never walked among them as Apsu, Omoroca and I have. They welcome our knowledge, but they do not see us as deities."
Belus chuckled. "Because you are too foolish to see the possibilities before your very eyes. You are weak. You harbour misplaced affection for those creatures in your thoughts." The Goa'uld leaned forward. "For one in particular, yes?"
Myomis's fist drove forward again, opening more wounds on his bruised flesh, but he could not reach Belus. "You will not harm her!" He growled, gem-blue eyes glittering dangerously.
Belus moved forward, hurling Myomis to the wall, pressing up against him. "Tell me of Omoroca. Where does she hide?" Myomis spat insults at the Goa'uld. Belus released him and stepped back, gesturing to his Jaffa guards. "Take him. Bind him well. We shall ascend to the surface and you will watch as I destroy this palace and all who dwell within. If Omoroca wishes to hide from me, I shall simply have to tear down the walls of her home around her."
Myomis struggled, taking one Jaffa by surprise and managing to throw him off. The others pounded him to the ground as he reached for Belus. Myomis cried out weakly as the continued abuse overwhelmed him. When he finally slumped and was still, Belus came and crouched before him, running a finger across his great-uncle's bloody face. "I am a God." He whispered, touching Myomis's blood to his lips with a smile.
As the Jaffa lifted him, broken bones shifted and tortured flesh protested. Myomis groaned softly and dropped into oblivion.
- - - - -
Daniel shifted in his bed. A full six hours had elapsed from the time he- Myomis had collapsed in the infirmary. It was night. The infirmary lights were turned down low. Jack was curled up in a hard, plastic chair next to Daniel's bed. Sam was stretched out on a bed next to him. Teal'c sat on the floor, meditating. Janet had left SG1 alone, but she was nearby in her office, open books scattered across her desk as she napped lightly in her chair.
Sam watched him as he quietly sat upright, testing his sore limbs. The convulsions had been severe. He probably felt like he had pulled every muscle in his body. He ran his hands over his arms and chest. Lines snaked out of his hospital scrubs and over to machines. Someone had replaced the IV line.
Daniel drew up his knees and put his hands over his face, looking as if he were thinking madly.
"Daniel?" Daniel's first instinct was to look at the figure asleep in the chair, but the voice had definitely been female. Wary blue eyes sought out Carter as she eased out of her bed and stepped to his side. She sat on the edge of his bed, and smoothed his long bangs out of his eyes. He smiled softly. "How are you feeling, Daniel?" He cocked his head forward, contemplating. "Do you want me to get Janet?" Sam asked.
Daniel's head came up, and he gave a peculiar little shake, flipping his hair out of his eyes. Sam flinched. She had seen that gesture once before.
"Samantha." The word was whispered, heavily accented.
Her body slumped a little. She had been hoping. "Myomis."
He spoke gently to her in his native language. She shook her head. The only word she had understood was 'Daniel'. He made a little noise and then moved his hands, making circles around his face and touching his chest. "Daniel?"
Sam pulled back for a moment. She and Janet had a long talk about this. If Daniel was delusional, they couldn't afford to reinforce that delusion. If, on the other hand, he was actually Myomis, well, they might need his help. She found herself nodding agreement before she'd even finished thinking things through.
"Yes. Daniel's body." She looked around. Ah, there. She found a small mirror among Janet's infirmary supplies and handed it to Myomis. The man took it hesitantly, taking two long breaths before holding the mirror up in the dim light. Myomis's hand flew up to his face, touching his cheeks and forehead unbelievingly. He hissed a long breath through his teeth, and put the mirror face down on the bed.
"Belus." The whisper was harsh. He ran his long fingers through his hair. "Belus."
"No." Sam shook her head. "Daniel." She took the mirror and held it up. Myomis winced away from it. She put her hand under his chin and drew him back. "Daniel." She repeated more forcefully.
Myomis sighed and looked back at the mirror. This time he relaxed and his shoulders slumped. Whatever he saw, it wasn't as bad as he thought. With Sam holding the mirror, he leaned forward, pulling down on his lower eyelids to reveal more of the blue colour. He pointed to his eyes and looked at Sam. "Belus."
"Belus's eyes?"
"Aaaiesss?" He tried.
"Eyes."
He nodded. "Belus eyes."
He opened his mouth and touched the blunt, white teeth. "Belus."
"Belus's teeth."
The Oannes ran his fingers along his jaw line and over his nose. He smiled. "Myomis." He then ducked down and took a closer look at his hair and eyebrows, touching his cheekbones and lips. He frowned. "No Myomis. No Belus."
"Daniel." Sam's voice was husky with emotion. It finally dawned on her that she might be losing Daniel, just after getting him back.
A slight movement made her look up. Jack and Teal'c were awake, both watching her with Daniel. Jack's expression was bleak. He looked lost and frustrated, and angry. Still, he made no move to interfere.
Daniel- Myomis was trying to catch Sam's attention, making signs on his bed, drawing shapes with his forefinger on the sheets. She put up her hand, signalling him to wait, and went to Janet's desk. She woke the doctor and asked her for supplies. Janet gave her a pad of lined paper and a pen. She brought it back to him. He took it and started writing strange symbols on it, passing it to her when he was done.
She shook her head. The lines, arrows and boxes were unlike anything she had ever seen. Perhaps Haller could help in the morning. Myomis made a little frustrated sound. He shook his hands, like he had pins and needles and then tried again.
He drew a straight line, and half a sun. A sunrise. Then, another straight line and a full sun high in the sky. Midday. Next, another straight line and half sun. Sunset. Finally, a straight line and stars. Night. He drew a line between them, joining them, and then some complicated symbols. He pointed to the symbols and pronounced the word.
Sam cocked her head and then nodded, understanding. "Day. It's a 'day'."
"Day."
She nodded to him. Myomis drew some more complicated symbols along another straight line. He pointed to one. "Apsu." Further down the line. "Myomis." Then further down, "Ea." And further still. "Belus." He extended the line and handed her the pen. "Samantha? Daniel? Day?"
"What the?" Jack whispered. Myomis made another frustrated growl.
"I think he wants to know how much time has passed, sir."
"Time?"
"Yes, sir. The Oannes were a sophisticated race. Daniel made mention of Omoroca descending from a 'heavenly egg'. They could have arrived by space ship. He took the pen without question, he must have seen something like this before." She looked at her CO and shook her head at the strangeness of it all. "The Oannes lived in Babylon, but they weren't Babylonian. They probably weren't even from Earth and they definitely weren't human. Even at that time, their technology probably was more advanced than ours is today. Myomis probably can see that we're not the same people he knew 4,000 years ago."
She took the pen. "Let's see if you know the seasons." She made a rough approximation of the four seasons, hoping that even in Babylon, they knew what winter was. Eventually, with a lot of pointing, she made him understand the word 'year'. Then, they needed a quick lesson on the numbering system and how to write numbers correctly. Myomis was a quick study. Of course, Daniel had mentioned that Nem had picked up English very quickly, but Sam had assumed that was some Oannes technology. Perhaps Myomis and the Oannes were natural linguists, or somehow, Myomis was making use of Daniel's skills.
Whatever the case, in only an hour, she had taught him the basics of reading and the numeral system. He was not to be dissuaded though. He pointed back to his chart. "Myomis. Daniel. Years? One? Ten?"
Sam pursed her lips. Janet was at Myomis's bedside now, watching his monitoring devices. Daniel's temperature was going down, but his blood pressure remained too high. At Janet's okay, she flipped over to a new page and wrote out 'Myomis' and 'Daniel' in English with a line between. She hesitated again, and wrote '4,000' underneath the line.
Myomis gasped. "Day?"
Sam winced and shook her head. "Years."
Myomis reeled backwards in his bed, hands flying to his forehead. "Year?" He rasped. "Year?" Janet edged forward as some of the machines started to complain. She popped a syringe and inserted it in to the IV line. Myomis didn't notice, too overwhelmed trying to assimilate this new knowledge. He started speaking again, rapid-fire, hands flailing. Sam grabbed one arm, Jack took the other. Sam made soft noises, trying to calm him down, while Jack rubbed his shoulder.
He kept repeating one word to them, looking plaintively at them. Sam frowned. Teal'c stood up and joined his team-mates as they tried to calm the distressed man. Teal'c spoke to Myomis in Goa'uld, but the man simply wrinkled his forehead, perplexed. His Goa'uld was evidently not that good. He turned back to Sam, a drowning man seeking refuge.
Myomis formed some of the few words he did know. He pounded his fists against his chest, touched his palms to his face. "Daniel." He clenched his fists to his temples. "Myomis." He repeated the gestures, adding a word in Akkadian. "Daniel? Myomis?"
Teal'c spoke in Goa'uld. Myomis pointed to him with a soft exclamation. He could not remember the Goa'uld word to say it, but recognised it when he heard it.
"I believe Myomis wishes to know how he came to be in Daniel Jackson's body."
Sam looked between the Jaffa and the Oannes in her friend's body. "God, how do we explain that?"
It was Jack that ended up trying. He stood up and pushed Myomis back onto his pillows. Myomis resisted, frowning in a very Daniel Jackson-like way, but after a brief struggle, he allowed himself to be lowered back. This would only work if Myomis knew about Nem's mind machine all those years ago. If not, they'd have one confused fish-boy on their hands in a moment.
"Seven days." He waved his hands over his shoulder, trying to indicate that the time had passed. Daniel." Jack waved his hands across the slim body in the bed. He put his hands up. "Nem's, Apsu's." Comprehension was slowly dawning in Myomis's eyes. Jack pointed back down to Myomis. "Daniel." He pointed at himself, waggling his fingers under his chin like Nem's tentacles and drawing a raspy breath. "Nem." He gave another rasping breath to hammer home that he was impersonating the blue creature that had done this to Daniel.
He looked around and found a towel, folding it and laying it across Myomis's forehead. He reiterated that Myomis was playing the role of Daniel, while he was playing Nem. He picked up a cup, holding it against the wall. His own memories of Nem's memory device were fuzzy, but this seemed familiar. With one hand holding Myomis by the chin, immobilizing his head, Jack slid the cup down the wall and made a humming noise. He moved his hand to Myomis's forehead and gripped tightly, until he saw the man wince. "Nem... Daniel." He watched the other man intently. "Come on, man, get it!"
Myomis started to nod under Jack's hands. He brought his own fingers up and pulled Jack's hand off of his face. He spoke rapidly to the older man, but his features spoke understanding.
"Good God, sir, I think he got it!" Carter said, eyebrows up and more than a little surprised.
"Indeed, O'Neill, it seems you possess a talent for communication."
Jack tried to shrug off their words, giving a half smile. "Ah, you know. I'm a guy. We strong, silent types learn how to talk without talking. It's part of our mystique." He trailed off and willed everyone to return their attention to Daniel.
The other man had taken up Sam's notepad, and was frantically scribbling cuneiform over it. Sam cleared her throat, trying to get his attention. With his free hand, Myomis made a little slashing motion, cutting her off. She exchanged looks with O'Neill as that free hand crept up to Myomis's temple and the man's writing slowed momentarily. A headache was coming on.
Jack dropped into his chair. From there, his face was level with Myomis's. He could see the other man's grimace. He had started to sweat. Fraiser made concerned clucking noises as she observed the medical equipment. Myomis hunched over and his pen pressed into the paper hard enough to rip through the first sheet. With a conscious effort, he pulled back and sat up. His head dropped back. His lips were parted, and Sam could see that he was literally biting his tongue to hold back any pained expressions.
He closed his eyes and pushed the paper in her direction. She took it and his hands dropped back to the bed. Janet bustled O'Neill out of the way, and injected something into Myomis's IV. The Oannes forced a word out between gritted teeth.
"Haller."
Sam looked at the paper. A message for Haller to translate. Myomis gave a small groan and listed sideways, into Jack's startled arms. He was utterly limp as the colonel gently placed him back into the bed.
- - - - -
Myomis groaned. Belus's Jaffa held him tightly. His hands had been wrenched up and tied behind his back, brutally tight. He stumbled as he walked, the Jaffa cuffing and shaking him when he fell out of line.
He blinked as they exited the fortress, out into the evening air. The brilliance of weapon fire hurt his eyes. It took him a moment to clear his head and try to focus. Winged craft were screaming out of the night sky, explosions shaking the earth around him. In the distance, he could hear the sounds of combat, and the high-pitched cries of the few humans in the palace fleeing for their lives. He fell to his knees, and this time the Jaffa let him stay there. Tears sprang to the Oannes' eyes as he saw his family's home crumble, and the strong walls fall.
He ducked his head as a stray staff weapon bolt threw up sharp rocks and earth. The war drew closer. The Jaffa surrounding him leapt into action. Myomis squinted. Now, he could see his mother's warriors springing to battle. Most bore the stylized scorpion armour that was Omoroca's emblem. A number of others had the armour of the enemy Jaffa with deep blue robes underneath. These were the warriors who had deserted their Goa'uld masters to serve Omoroca. The Oannes woman had no time to provide them with scorpion armour, so they used their former masters' shields against them.
It gave the battlefield a surreal look, as if a dozen breeds of monsters were fighting, trying to repel the invading forces. With his guards distracted, Myomis staggered to his feet and fled into the evening, away from the town and the fortress. He was no coward but he needed weapons and he needed to find his mother. If nothing else, if all else fell, he wanted to protect her.
He turned a corner along the outside walls, and slammed into an armoured chest. He winced as he fell backwards and skinned the flesh from his hands. He sagged a little as he recognised the scorpion guards. Pulling a knife, the guard captain freed him from his bonds. He caught the Oannes as Myomis listed.
"My Lord! We thought you gone, or dead." The guard frowned as his eyes and strong hands roved over Myomis's damaged skin. "We have searched for you for many days. Who did this to you?" The captain's angry gaze flared until it seemed it would melt steel. He looked around, as if the guilty party might suddenly appear.
"I am well, Nedu. Do not worry." Myomis coughed, blood on Nedu's sleeve making him a liar. "My father?" Myomis silently begged Nedu for an optimistic answer. The guard grimaced and shook his head. Neither he nor Nedu said anything more.
Myomis looked up into the deep brown eyes of the guard captain, his own blue eyes wide with pain and exhaustion. The two had been friends for years, and Myomis trusted him with his life. Now, he would have to trust him with the most important things in his life. "Nedu." He pulled himself upright, gripping the man's shoulder with his one good arm. "Nedu, Lamashtu, and my sons. See to them. Hide them."
Nedu dropped to one knee. "My Lord." His voice rasped. "What of you?"
Myomis shook his head. "I must find Belus. I must stop him."
"We will stop him, my Lord." Nedu rose again and gripped Myomis's arm tightly. The guard was a warrior of old. It was not his way to leave a battle, or turn aside and leave a friend in peril.
"Nedu, my friend, please. You must guide Lamashtu through the seven gates to safety. I will go with Ennugigi. We will hunt down Ea and Belus." Nedu grimaced and Myomis tried again. "Nedu... Pl-"
The guard waved him off before he could finish the thought, his voice turning kind and worried. "Of course, Myomis. I will see to them." He touched his hand to the cheek of the Oannes. "Ennugigi, guard him well."
"Anything else would be unthinkable." The sturdy guardian intoned. Ennugigi, one of the seven chief scorpion guards of the Oannes, was a former Jaffa of the Goa'uld. He had turned from his traitorous masters and joined the Oannes. Belus had called him a "sholva", a Goa'uld word that meant 'traitor'. Ennugigi had taken it as a mark of honour.
Nedu and Myomis clasped forearms in the manner of warriors. The guard captain nodded and began to walk away. "Nedu." Myomis called. The older warrior turned back to him. "I will try to find my mother. If she has been injured, I will place her in the chamber of healing. I trust you to keep the remainder of my family safe." His blue eyes bored into Nedu's.
The warrior placed his fist to his chest. "I will guard them well, my Lord."
Myomis smiled. "I know you will." He meant it. "Ennugigi, let us proceed."
The two groups parted company. Nedu travelled with only one warrior to guard him as they sought out Myomis's wife and children. Lamashtu had been in the service of Anu, nephew of Myomis. She was a fearsome warrior, and intelligent as the day was long. Only Nedu and Ennugigi knew that Myomis was the father of her children. Lamashtu had never told her master, Anu, of her divided loyalties. In fact, she had been a trusted advisor, often passing along the information to her husband. Anu believed that Lamashtu's children were fathered by one of the guards and therefore had no interest in them. This would soon change.
Myomis and Ennugigi picked their way toward the volcano. Omoroca had hidden in the myriad tunnels in the mountain. Only Myomis and Apsu knew them well enough to find her.
Myomis cursed as he was hurled roughly from his feet by a hard tremor. He looked up at the death gliders pounding mercilessly on the volcano. The fortress was all but destroyed now, only pockets of soldiers left to fight. The few townsfolk left had mostly been killed. They did not know of the gates to the mainland, and could therefore escape only by boats. The small craft were easily picked off by death gliders.
The volcanic crater had all but collapsed. Myomis shook his head. This would only speed up the destructive process. The sides of the volcano had already begin to bulge in the last few weeks. All of the attacks were sure to cause an eruption. They must hurry.
"My Lord!" Ennugigi spoke quickly, pointing. Myomis's heart caught in his throat. Omoroca was on the surface, fleeing the battle. He ran toward her, ignoring the flaring pains of his wounds, Ennugigi on his heels.
"Mother!" He cried, and she changed her course to intercept Myomis and Ennugigi. The Oannes grabbed his mother up in a tight hug, while Ennugigi stood guard over them.
"My good son, are you well?" Omoroca was devastated by the injuries done to her son by his own family.
"I will be well, mother. We must flee. Belus seeks your life."
"I know, my son. He wishes to conquer all. I fear he has succeeded."
"We will fight him, mother, but this place is no longer safe. Come, we must leave. We can take the seven gates to the safety of the mainland." Myomis took his mother's hand and began to guide her away. He turned back as she pulled on his hand.
"Myomis, what of Lamashtu?"
The Oannes smiled. "Nedu will find her. He has promised me that she will be safe."
Omoroca gave a rare smile in return. "Then she will be so. Nedu is stronger than any man I know."
Together, the trio picked their way toward the shoreline. They would need to descend the cliffs to the caves. These caves led to an underground passage which travelled to the mainland. From there, they could escape and plot their revenge.
At last, they stood on the paths to the caves. They had avoided the guards and minions of Belus by lying low in the low shrubs and brush. Ennugigi had killed a half dozen of Belus's Jaffa, suffering only a minor wound to the leg in the process. They were now only a short walk to a path that wound down to the cliff face to the beach. From there, they would walk to the caves. Myomis stood on the edge of the precipice, looking down and trying to determine the closest cave entrance. Omoroca helped to bind Ennugigi's wound.
They were caught completely unaware as Belus descended from the sky in the strange metal rings of the Goa'uld. With a simple gesture, he struck Myomis with a mighty energy bolt, hurling the Oannes man off of the cliff, into the scalding water below. Ennugigi was thrown a great distance by a second blast, only to be struck again as he rose. The brave warrior fell, unconscious.
Omoroca screamed for her son, and her guard and then turned to face her great-grandson. Fury etched her features and she drew herself up. This time, she would not run.
"And against the gods my fathers thou hast contrived thy wicked plan. Let then thy host be equipped, let thy weapons be girded on! Stand! I and thou, let us join battle!" Belus roared the ceremonial words of challenge as he and Omoroca readied themselves.
On the shoreline, Myomis dragged himself to consciousness, seared by the water. A volcanic vent had opened near by and the water was approaching the boiling point. Already thick plumes of mist were rising from the surface of the sea, making it difficult to see any distance.
The combatants stumbled as, behind them, the huge volcanic eruption began. The crater blew apart, forming a massive caldera. Gouts of black ash flew into the sky and superheated air rolled down the hillside, killing all in its path. Omoroca and Belus were far enough away that the terrible and deadly clouds would not reach them, but even so, they broke off their battle for a brief moment to stare in wonder at the death throes of the island. Giant streams of magma were thrown into the air by the eruption, looking as if the volcano were spewing shooting stars into the sky.
At the base of the cliffs, Myomis reached the shore, and tried to force himself upright. The volcanic eruption had caused a massive lightning storm to form. Strong winds were buffeting the waves, spraying him with the hot water. He coughed harshly, his body nearing the limits of its ability to function. He drew strength from his anger and despair. His mother and Ennugigi were at the top of the cliff. He knew that he had to reach them and stop Belus, though it might cost him his life. Hunched over, he made his way laboriously up the path to the top of the cliff. Reaching the top, he dropped to his hands and knees, suddenly unable to catch his breath.
The death gliders swooped out of the sky again, decimating the village and fortress, raining death like lightning bolts upon the soldiers helpless on the field of battle. Omoroca screamed as her troops fell. Belus simply laughed at her rage.
Myomis threw himself sideways as a death glider roared over his position, energy bolts exploding almost at his feet. He screamed as it jolted his broken bones. Blood ran thickly out of his mouth and down his chin. He dug his fingers into the soil as a massive earthquake made the ground heave and pitch. He could still see his mother battling the Goa'uld, Belus. Omoroca fought with the energy devices of the Oannes. It was these devices that the Goa'uld had adapted to make their hand devices. He silently cheered as she threw Belus across a clearing, nearly over the cliff's edge.
The Goa'uld caught himself at the last moment, straightening up with fury writ large across his face. A secondary quake threw Omoroca off her feet. Myomis screamed as Belus took advantage of this momentary weakness and used a staff weapon, discarded by some fallen Jaffa, to blast his nemesis. Omoroca spun as the weapon opened a huge hole in her belly and she crumpled to the ground.
Another explosion threw all of the fighters from their feet. The caldera enlarged, ash and magma spilling out onto the flanks of the volcano. It looked like the mountain had been torn asunder, heaving in its death throes, blood spilling across violated flesh. Belus had truly defeated them.
Belus was slow to gain his feet. The battle with Omoroca had weakened and wounded him. Myomis managed to scramble forward the last few feet and tackled the Goa'uld, driving him to the ground. Again and again he struck, snapping the younger man's head back, splashing blood in the air.
Belus's fist caught Myomis in the throat, and the Oannes arched backward. In that split second of weakness, Belus brought up his hand device and unleashed his wrath upon his great-uncle. Myomis howled as the brilliant golden light crashed into his skull, tearing his mind apart. He knelt at the Goa'uld's feet, helpless as his life ebbed away, blood dripping from his nose and ears.
He slumped to the ground as the light disappeared and Belus collapsed backwards. Ennugigi had awoken and found his staff weapon, dealing a blow to Belus every bit as devastating as the blow the Goa'uld had given Omoroca. Belus cried out and crawled to his knees. He slammed down a button on his hand device and the great rings crashed down upon him, bearing him away to safety.
Ennugigi stood and watched helplessly as the great ship hovered overhead. Either arrogance or malice held Belus's hand and the Goa'uld pulled away, leaving Ennugigi to watch Omoroca and Myomis die as the volcano slipped into the sea.
The large man had no such plans. He put his head back and roared defiantly at the skies. He made his way to Omoroca, gathering the tall woman in his arms. On legs made unsteady by wounds and by the heaving of the dying volcano, he picked his way to Myomis.
The younger Oannes moaned piteously as Ennugigi nudged his shoulder with a booted foot. "My Lord!" He called harshly, making Omoroca twitch in his arms. "We must depart. Can you stand, my Lord?"
Myomis groaned and rolled over on to his belly, stifling his cry of pain. He reached deep within and found hitherto unknown reserves of strength, pulling himself to his knees. Eyes closed, he gripped Ennugigi's arm and made it to his feet. He bowed his head and coughed wetly, spitting blood on the earth.
"Can you walk, my Lord?" Ennugigi asked as gently as he could.
Myomis gave a little smile. "I am well, Ennugigi. Thank you. Please, lead the way." Myomis made a weak fillip with his fingers. Ennugigi, solid and sombre, merely raised an eyebrow before picking his way down to the path, Myomis stumbling along behind.
They were forced to jog the last few feet as the cliff face gave in, nearly on top of them, and buried the cave entrance. Myomis forced his aching body onward to the first gate, before collapsing, barely breathing. There was no sign of Nedu and Lamashtu. Myomis hoped beyond hope that they had escaped. The beach caves were, of course, not the only entranced to the underground. Perhaps his most loyal guardian and his wife might yet make it.
"How fares... my mother?" He forced out, between gasps.
Ennugigi looked up. He had torn his tunic to make bandages for Omoroca. Myomis had refused his aid, wrapping his arms around his damaged chest and retreating. "She is badly wounded, my Lord. It would be best if we could find a place for both of you to rest and heal."
Myomis waved his clawed hand. "I will be well. Take her through the gates. Find the chamber in the great hall on the mainland. It will keep her stable until we can heal her." He coughed, hiding the blood with a clenched fist. "Go. I will stay and await Nedu." His eyes met Ennugigi's briefly, before sliding away to examine the wall. "I am well."
"You are most clearly not well, my Lord." The Jaffa replied. He looked down the tunnel and back at Myomis. "It is quite possible that Nedu and Lamashtu have been captured or-"
"Do not." Myomis wheezed, painfully. If he thought like that, he'd give up and would quickly die.
Ennugigi bowed his head. "Of course. Shall we try to continue?"
Myomis crawled painfully up the wall, and followed the large Jaffa as he guided them through the gates. They walked for several hours, reaching the third gate, before Ennugigi turned and pressed Myomis against the wall. "Someone comes, my Lord." The trio receded into the shadows of a smaller side tunnel and waited as a small band approached.
Had he the strength, Myomis might have cried out with joy, but instead, all he could do was gasp and sag weakly against the rocky walls. The gasp was soft, but the trained ears of the captain of the guard caught it, and he put up an arm, stopping his charges.
"Who goes there?" He barked. He held a long staff weapon before him, primed and ready.
"Nedu!" Ennugigi called, emerging from the shadows, Omoroca still in his arms.
The captain's face nearly split in two with a wide and almost unheard of smile. The smile faded as he looked around. "Where is Myomis?"
"Here." The wounded Oannes rasped, too dizzy with relief to pull himself off the ground. His smile was as wide as Nedu's though.
"Myomis!" A female voice cried out, and a small, slim figure darted around Nedu and hurled herself at the seated man.
"Lamashtu." Myomis's voice broke with relief as he held his beautiful wife in his arms again. The woman had been nicknamed 'the demon' by her enemies. Her solid beauty masked a core of iron. She was smart and deadly, capable of defeating enemies many times her size. Myomis touched her cheek, looking deeply into her soft eyes.
She was a full human, an albino, with marble white hair and skin, and shocking blue eyes. It was a genetic anomaly that made her an outcast among the sturdy mocha skinned people of the region, and added to her unearthly allure. Myomis found her to be the single most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He could spend hours staring at their contrasting bodies. He loved watching the play of muscles under her white skin as his greenish hands rested on her cheek, her belly, her legs. His black hair was dark against her white blonde curls as he rested his cheek on her head.
He was not human, but he could almost pass for human... at least in the general shape of the species. His face was human enough, save for his sharp teeth and the fact that his eyes were a uniform blue colour, without any white in them. It was as great a surprise to him as to her when she became pregnant with their first child, which turned out to be the double blessing of twins. They had not questioned their good fortune too deeply, simply marvelled in it and in their love.
Her lips met his in a decidedly unchaste kiss. She was almost frantic with worry. "I thought you dead... gone." Tears glistened in her eyes.
"I waited for you." He whispered. They finally broke apart to allow the two children to approach. They flung themselves at their father with abandon. The boys were half Oannes, half human. They had their father's dark hair, and the dark skin of their mother's people. Their eyes were a brilliant sapphire blue, and they had neither claws nor scales.
Nedu allowed a brief moment of family bliss, before he knelt next to his lord and touched Myomis's hair with a calloused hand. "My Lord, we must go." Myomis looked up at him and nodded. His eyes conveyed his eternal thanks for Nedu's work in saving his wife and children.
The children backed away, and Lamashtu allowed Nedu to help her husband to his feet. "Damn this!" Nedu swore as he got a clearer look at Myomis's wounded body.
"We found Belus." Myomis whispered, leaning his head against Nedu's shoulder briefly. "He escaped."
Nedu's sure fingers touched the spreading burn on Myomis's forehead. "Damn him." He grated.
Myomis shook his head. "Please, we should leave. Omoroca needs to be placed in the healing chamber."
Together, they made their way through the endless tunnels to the mainland. Lamashtu went first, weapons at the ready. She killed four Jaffa that somehow wandered in to the tunnels. Myomis followed her, one arm over Nedu's shoulder, leaning on the sturdy man for strength. The children came behind their father, and Ennugigi was last, Omoroca cradled in his arms.
Faint tremors rocked the ground softly. They were far enough away now not to risk the terrible destruction that had decimated the island, and the palace was well-built and sheltered. Myomis was nearly unconscious on his feet when they arrived. Still, he refused to be treated first, Healing would take days, and Omoroca was his first concern. Lamashtu disagreed, but she respected her husband's wishes. They camped in the central chamber of the great hall. Nedu and Ennugigi searched the abandoned palace around them and found medical supplies and food.
Myomis fell into a fitful rest, bandages covering half his body. Nedu had splinted his broken bones, soothed his burns and bound his wounds. Lamashtu's lips had thinned as she beheld the terrible damage dealt to her husband. She and Nedu exchanged meaningful glances. Lamashtu swore to devote her life to the defeat of their enemies.
They awoke the next night to the horrible sound of footsteps echoing through the empty palace. Myomis gasped as he pulled himself to a seated position. Nedu had scouted and returned. There were dozens of Belus's Jaffa descending on their position.
The Oannes flailed out, grasping Nedu's arm. "Help me." He cried hoarsely. The guard gripped his arm and guided Myomis to his feet. Myomis pulled himself up to the healing chamber, with Omoroca inside. He pulled out two metal pieces from the lid of the chamber. It would put Omoroca in stasis, halting the healing process. If Belus and his Jaffa found them now, they would only have to wait until Omoroca would heal, and then the chamber would open on its own. Myomis could not risk his mother falling into the hands of his enemy. He gave one key to Ennugigi, one to Nedu. "Keep these safe. Ennugigi, guard Lamashtu. Nedu, keep my sons safe."
"No!" Lamashtu cried, understanding what Myomis intended. The Oannes silenced his wife's cry with a kiss, pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly.
He pulled back and touched his forehead to hers. "Lamashtu, you must. I can destroy the palace from here. This chamber will remain intact. I have food and water. I will make my way out later and meet up with you in the safety of the old palace. Ennugigi will guide you there. We will all return later, and free my mother, so you must keep the keys safe." He hated lying to his wife, but she would not leave otherwise.
He broke away and turned to the stasis chamber. He took one last piece from it, a golden piece of artwork in beautiful geometric patterns with a glass vial held in a delicate matrix. He placed the end of the vial against his arm, and hissed as a needle slid out from the piece and pierced his skin. The vial filled with his blue-hued blood. He placed the vial back on the surface of the compartment where a little of the blood was drawn into the machinery of the healing chamber.
He then gave the piece to Lamashtu. "Nedu will explain this when you are safe, but it is important." He took his wife's face in his hands, and stared into her frightened blue eyes. "I must stay, Lamashtu. Only the blood of the Oannes can set off the device that will destroy the palace." He smiled sadly, a tear welling up in his eye. "I will be well, my wife." He kissed her again, their lips soft, fighting for control in trying circumstances. "I love you."
"I love you, Myomis. I will wait for you until I am old and ugly."
Myomis laughed. "You will never be ugly, beloved." He looked at their children. They stared solemnly up at their father. "You must be strong for your mother. Be wary and be wise. You must carry on the work of your grandparents. Keep this world and its… Tau'ri," His gaze briefly met Ennugigi's. "Safe. I love you."
The two boys threw themselves against him, wrapping their thin arms around his legs and crying. He touched their heads softly. Finally, Lamashtu pulled them away, leaving him to speak with his loyal guards.
"Ennugigi... I thank you for your loyalty and your strength. Guard Lamashtu well. She will need your level head." Behind Ennugigi, Lamashtu made an outraged sound, but her eyes smiled at him.
"I will devote my life to keeping her safe, my Lord. Should the opportunity not arise to tell you this later, I wish you to know that I consider it a great honour to serve you and your family."
"You are like my family to me, Ennugigi. I only wish those of my blood had your strength of character and directness of purpose." The two clasped forearms and looked into each other's eyes until Ennugigi bowed his head and backed away.
Finally, it came time for Nedu to step forward. The older guard brought his hands up and cupped Myomis's face. The two men smiled briefly.
"You have been like a brother to me, Nedu. I trust my sons to you. Guard them and Lamashtu well."
"I will stay with you." Nedu rasped, unable to pull himself away from Myomis's side.
Tears now spilled from Myomis's eyes as he shook his head. "Nedu, please." The warrior pulled the Oannes into a tight hug. They clung together for a long moment until Myomis gently pushed Nedu back. "They will be here soon. Go. I shall stay and guard your retreat as best I am able."
"Myomis." Nedu pleaded, but the Oannes refused to be moved.
"Go." He whispered. Nedu bowed his head and turned. He and Lamashtu guided the children while Ennugigi went first to clear the path. Myomis watched them leave, only sagging against the stone chamber as the door slid shut behind his family and friends.
He pulled his aching frame up. He had not lied in this. Only the blood of Oannes could activate the destructive mechanism that would pull down the walls of this palace, burying any intruders within its high stone wall. He had lied about the effect on this room though. It would become a tomb. The chamber would survive, meaning that Omoroca would survive. However, it would probably take months, if not years, to expose this room. Myomis would not survive the destruction.
He closed his eyes. He wanted desperately to stay with his wife, his children and his friends. In this, though, he had no choice. Omoroca would survive. She was the strongest and wisest of the Oannes. She would be the one to help these people, these Tau'ri repel the Goa'uld. This was a goal worthy of the sacrifice of his life.
He prepared the explosives, pressing the symbols on the wall. When that was done, he slumped. Only one symbol needed to be depressed and the entire building would fall. He waited until the Jaffa burst into the room.
He smiled as the bolt from the staff weapon tore open his chest and threw him back onto the controls. As his dead body slid sideways to the ground, the last button depressed, and the palace fell in on itself, burying all within.
- - - - -
Chapter Eight
Daniel twitched, slowly coming awake. The other members of SG1 pulled themselves upright from their posts around the infirmary room. Daniel had been unconscious for over sixteen hours. It was now evening, and the team had spent a long anxious day waiting for their friend to come back to them, not knowing if it would be Myomis or Daniel looking out from those clear, blue eyes.
Doctor Mackenzie had come by when Daniel's dreams had turned into horrific nightmares. The young man had convulsed and screamed, throwing himself from side to side trying to escape unknown enemies. His blood pressure had spiked, his fever had climbed and his vital signs had grown dangerously erratic.
Jack just about blew the infirmary apart when Janet revealed that Mackenzie had administered some anti-psychotic drugs in an attempt to control the Myomis delusions. Sam had been calmer, but the set of her jaw and her down-turned glances showed that she was not happy. Teal'c, as always, was inscrutable.
Despite their objections, midway through the morning, Daniel had finally calmed down and fallen into a deep, healing sleep. Janet had announced joyfully that, as far as she could read on the monitors, Daniel had managed to fall into a deep REM state. Almost ten hours later, he was stirring. Jack was the first to step forward. He took Daniel's hand in his own, his other hand touching the young man's shoulder. Sam smoothed back his long, sweat-soaked hair. Teal'c stood at the foot of the bed, his hand on Daniel's leg.
With a low groan, Daniel's blue eyes opened and he turned to look at Jack. His expression turned from confusion to relief. "Nedu." He whispered. His gaze twisted sideways as Teal'c's hand tightened on his ankle. "Ennugigi?"
"Oh, Daniel." Sam whispered, causing him to jerk around and stare wide-eyed at her.
"Lamashtu?" His smile was dazzling, full of helpless love. He nuzzled his cheek into the palm of her hand and closed his eyes. Sam and Jack exchanged worried glances over their bedridden team-mate's head.
"Whoa." With a grunt, Daniel pulled himself upright on the bed, almost tugging out the IV line again.
"Hey, hey, Myomis. Stop." Sam tried to keep him still. Her hand dropped as the archaeologist's hand crept up to his face, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closed tightly.
Jack spoke first. "Daniel?" His voice was low, trying not to startle the other man.
"Oh, wow." Daniel's head came up, and he squinted at Jack. "Oh, wow." He repeated. "Jack, you would not believe some of the dreams I've been having."
He jumped as Sam whispered his name softly, and pulled him into a hug. Jack clapped his shoulder and whispered 'yeah' under his breath. Even Teal'c almost smiled, and his grip on Daniel's ankle became momentarily tighter.
"Wha-?" Daniel fish-mouthed eloquently. "Guys? Not that this is unpleasant, but what's going on?" He patted Sam's shoulder awkwardly.
Sam sat back. This was as hard to explain to Daniel as it was to Myomis. Jack stepped up again. "You've been a little off lately, Daniel." He said, shoving his hands in his pocket as he looked down at the younger man.
"Off?" The archaeologist repeated, looking around. "Off, how?" Nobody knew how to respond to that, and Daniel's eyebrows crept up at the sheer volume of concern his friends were displaying. "I remember being sick." He looked from person to person, trying to divine the answers to his questions from their sombre faces. "Come on, guys. I think I have a right to know. 'Off' how? Off-kilter, off base. Off world? Give me a hint here, I mean I think I smell like I might be a little off my expiration date, but nothing a shower won't solve, I'm sure." He tried to smile, keeping the tone light, but not even that worked.
His smile dropped and he started to frown as his friends chose not to answer him, and instead started exchanging worried looks. Almost instinctively, Daniel started to worry the skin of his thumb with his fingernail, as he pondered possible reasons for their silence. "Janet!" The three standing members of SG1 jumped as Daniel, tired of wheedling information from his friends, yelled for his doctor. They all swung guiltily around as she came in at as fast a run as her heels would allow.
Her smile was broad, quickly morphing to a look of concern. "Oh, now, not you too." Daniel sighed, exasperated. "They won't tell me anything. Don't you legally have to tell me what's going on, or something?"
"How are you?" Janet asked, putting the back of her hand against Daniel's forehead.
Now getting obstinate, Daniel pulled away and frowned. "Why don't you tell me, Doctor?"
Sam looked back at him. "Daniel, the last couple of times you woke up, you weren't yourself." She and Jack exchanged glances. The fact that Doctor Mackenzie had administered some mind-bending miracle potion on Daniel just before this reawakening was not lost on them. If Myomis was simply a figment of Daniel's mind, they didn't want to throw him back into it.
"What? Did I do something?" His eyes widened. Only one thing could have his friends so concerned. "Wait, 'not myself'? Oh God! Jack!" His voice was terrified as both hands clapped to the back of his neck, feeling for the entrance scar. Jack's heart wrenched painfully. He definitely did not mean for that to happen. He sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing for Daniel's hands. "Jack, oh my God, no. How did it? Where? Did I hurt anyone?" Daniel was headed for a full-blown panic attack.
"Daniel!" Jack barked, trying to get his attention. "No, there's no Goa'uld. You're clean." Terrified blue eyes stared into his hard brown ones for a long moment, Daniel's hands still on the back of his neck. Daniel was perfectly still, caught between 'submit' and 'flee'.
"Daniel, God, we're sorry. Listen." Sam sat on the other side. She claimed one of Daniel's hands. "The last couple of times you woke up, you were calling yourself Myomis. You addressed everyone in Akkadian." She fetched the notepad covered in symbols. "You wrote this."
Daniel frowned down at the paper, and then back up to Sam, Teal'c and Jack. Realisation hit, and the archaeologist did his best landed walleye impression; eyes wide open, mouth opening and closing soundlessly. "But, that was my dream!" He looked down at the paper. "How could I speak Akkadian. I can't speak Akkadian! I can puzzle it out with a half dozen reference books, but I can't speak it." He pushed away the note paper. "I can read it, but you're talking about near fluent linguistics here."
"You wrote this, Daniel." San pulled the paper back.
"That's not even my hand-writing, that's yours." He pointed to some of the notations she had made while teaching Myomis the word for day and the numbers. He shook his head.
"You wrote this one." Sam said, pointing to the few scattered English words and names that Myomis had learned.
Daniel grinned, trying to catch the joke. "That's not my handwriting, Sam. None of it is."
"Daniel Jackson." Teal'c broke in before panic could once again ensue. "You mentioned something about genetic memory. Could you possibly have been acting out your dreams?"
The linguist's hand crept to his temple, massaging it. "Wait, this is too much. Everyone, stop." Frantic glances were thrown around the room.
"Headache?" Jack's voice croaked a little. Not now. They'd just got him back.
Leaning back against the pillows, Daniel nodded. He frowned, eyes tightly shut. "It's not too bad. Just stress, I guess. I need you guys to explain everything to me." He covered his eyes with his hands. "And I'm not feeling too hot right now. Better make it small, small words."
- - - - -
It had taken an hour to explain the last few days to Daniel. The young man shook his head. Of course, the genetic memory idea had been his theory, but it was astounding to think it might actually come true. Nobody had been brave enough to bring up Mackenzie and his 'psychotic episode' theory. If 'Myomis' never reappeared, then everyone would just have to learn to live with the mystery of his origins. Jack, for one, was not missing the Akkadian- Oannes- whatever. There was the sticky issue of continuing to medicate Daniel to deal with these flashbacks, and Jack wasn't looking forward to bringing that topic up. Their primary concern now was Daniel's health. Physical first, and then mental.
By the time they had sort of scratched the surface of the whole tale, Daniel was blinking sleepily and trying to wheedle a cup of coffee from Janet. It was his turn to explain his dreams. He gave it his best shot. Jack didn't even interrupt his rambling speech and frequent tangents, he was that relieved to have Daniel back.
"So, the upshot is Lamashtu, Nedu and Ennugigi escaped, and Myomis... died. I need my computer and some of my books. Jack?" He turned pleading eyes on his commander.
Jack nodded briskly. "Sure, Daniel. Later." Much later. As in, 'when we're sure you're over this' later. He put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Don't you think that you should be resting now?"
Daniel waved him away absently. "I'm fine, Jack." He twisted in the bed, looking at Sam. "This is amazing, Sam." He took the paper and tapped meaningfully on it. "Nem's device somehow managed to pull out the memories of Myomis." He shook his head. "Myomis. A character right out of mythology. Imagine what we could find out if..."
"Daniel." Jack said firmly. "That 'memory' has had you on the ropes for a week. Ahh!" He interrupted harshly as Daniel opened his mouth to object, holding up his hand. "You need to rest. They've waited four thousand years, Daniel. They can wait another day or two."
"Jack." Daniel frowned reproachfully, but he lay back in his bed. Almost against his will, his eyes started to close. He grumbled under his breath, like an over-tired child, and fought it, twitching a little.
"Sleep, Daniel."
"Nrgh." Daniel muttered, trying one last tactic. "I know where Omoroca is now. We can..." The last was lost in a breathy sigh as Daniel finally succumbed to sleep and relaxed. The mysteries of the Oannes would have to wait for another day. Jack smoothed back his bangs from his face and shook his head.
"Sweet dreams."
- - - - -
Chapter Nine
The infirmary was quiet. All of the SG teams managed to escape their offworld tours relatively unscathed. Only one bed was currently occupied, although a small army surrounded it.
Jack was worried, but not as worried as he had been earlier. Daniel was himself again. He just hoped it lasted. The archaeologist had emerged from his dreams as if nothing had happened, like he hadn't been scaring the crap out of them for the last week.
Jack rubbed a hand over his mouth, stopping the fond grin that threatened to start. Daniel had been excited by the whole thing, dammit. Get me my books, my computer. He wanted to research this thing in his head. The colonel sighed, touching his hand softly to Daniel's forehead, comfort in the guise of checking for a fever.
"He looks a lot better, sir." Carter said softly, from her chair across the bed. Teal'c, sitting on a chair by another bed attempting to kel-no-reem, turned his head slightly but made no comment.
"He is a lot better, Carter." Jack emphasised. Daniel would be fine. It was stress, the flu and the last dregs of whatever Nem's machine did to him. Jack, himself, was still shaking off the last bits of the flashbacks. Someone in the cafeteria had opened a bottle of pop that afternoon, only to have it fizz up and overflow. Jack felt like his world stopped as those horrible cries rang out in his ears again. He'd double-timed it back to the infirmary, only the dignity of his rank stopping him from indulging in a flat-out run. His heart had only slowed to a normal rhythm when he made it to Daniel's bed, touching the younger man's shoulder hesitantly.
A half an hour later, Carter hotfooted it back to the infirmary, despite orders to get some sleep. She was still wet and rumpled, droplets of water clinging to the ends of her hair. Ah… the shower. Sometimes the shampoo lather circling down the drain had the same effect on him. He was learning to shower with his eyes closed. Carter's eyes were a little wide and concerned, and she immediately came to Daniel's side, checking up on him. They no longer worried about making it look casual. Why bother? It was happening to all of them.
If the effects were that persistent in them, what could Daniel be going through? Whatever it was, SG1 would be here for him. Daniel was the original Magic Ball, nothing could stop him from bouncing back. This would be no different.
Janet had assured them all that Daniel was just sleeping. He was worn out, and still fighting off the last of that bad flu. They would discuss a course of treatment with him when he woke up, something to rid him of the Myomis delusions. Jack had grimaced at that but said nothing. Let the poor man get his bearings before you start medicating him into another reality.
"Hrrmm." A sleepy voice emerged from the bed. "Jack?"
"I'm here, Daniel." The linguist's team-mates closed ranks, crowding around his bed as he yawned and opened his eyes.
- - - - -
At the same time, a more serious meeting was being held in General Hammond's office. The General was reading over a report from Doctors Mackenzie and Fraiser, concerning the potential causes of Daniel Jackson's collapse, and its long term treatment.
"What exactly are you saying, Doctor Mackenzie?" Hammond asked, somewhat impatiently. Mackenzie was obviously trying to spare his feelings, but had simply ended up being obtuse. He respected Mackenzie as a professional, but if he was honest, he had to admit that psychiatrists made him just a little nervous. One couldn't help but wonder if they were evaluating you.
Mackenzie looked over his glasses at the General and then cocked his head. "Well, sir, my main concern is that Doctor Jackson may be exhibiting an early manifestation of a psychosis or some sort of delusional disorder. My fear is that we may be witnessing the onset of schizophrenia."
Hammond looked abruptly up at the psychiatrist. "Are you serious?"
The doctor spread his hands wide, and met the General's gaze. "Sir, early symptoms of schizophrenia include tension and the inability to sleep or concentrate. They appear to be distracted, off course in their lives. They don't pay much attention to their personal appearance. They often shun physical contact, even being unable to make simple eye contact."
Janet shook her head. "With all due respect, Doctor Mackenzie, you could be describing any number of graduate students and computer programmers." She smiled tightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Mackenzie refused to be baited. "Those are the early signs. What about communication difficulties, delusions, hallucinations and drastic changes in behaviour and habits? Doctor Jackson's 'Myomis' personality is a profound break from his normal behavioural pattern."
Hammond did not reply, although his frown grew deeper.
"General, Doctor Fraiser reported that Doctor Jackson's serotonin levels were out of balance. I'd like to check his dopamine as well. This can help us try to narrow down the causes of his behaviour."
"Doctor Mackenzie." General Hammond spoke slowly, marshalling his thoughts. "Is it not possible that this is, as Colonel O'Neill suggests, simply a temporary aberration caused by the effect of Nem's memory device? In time, the symptoms may decrease and disappear, much as they seem to be doing with Doctor Jackson's team-mates. There is also the added complication of his high fever."
"I wish that were true, General, but in Doctor Jackson's case, the symptoms are getting more pronounced, not less." Mackenzie shuffled through his papers. "His nightmares are becoming violent. Nurses report an extremely agitated sleep cycle, aggressive actions upon awakening, a sense of disorientation and confusion. This Myomis personality is becoming more assertive and interactive, pushing the real Doctor Jackson out of place."
Mackenzie folded his hands. "As the base psychiatrist, I felt it incumbent upon me to attempt to treat Doctor Jackson, and I have started him on a course of haloperidol. Usually it will take some time and experimentation to develop an actual course of medication for a patient, however, Doctor Jackson is responding well to the haloperidol."
Janet broke in, nodding. "Haloperidol can have some severe consequences and side-effects. We'll have to watch for signs of tremors, seizures or vertigo. The drug can also cause headaches." She paused. "Haloperidol can be used short-term. General Hammond, I would like to see if the effects diminish over time before committing Daniel to a course of medication that may prove to be life-long. In all honesty, Doctor Jackson has not been awake long enough to fully evaluate any effects of the medication."
Hammond mulled over his findings. "What does Doctor Jackson say about all of this?" He asked softly.
Janet and Mackenzie exchanged looks. Mackenzie spoke first. "Doctor Jackson has not yet been informed of his options."
- - - - -
Daniel stretched luxuriously and inched upright until he could sit. Jack and Sam supported him on either side until he was stable.
"How you doing?" Jack asked with only a slight hesitation.
Daniel pondered the question and then nodded briefly. "Good. Yeah. I think I'm finally over that…" He made a little motion with his hand while his mind sought out the appropriate word. "That death flu of mine."
Jack tilted his head, rocking back on his heels thoughtfully. "Death flu? Daniel, if I've told you once, I've told you a million times, don't exaggerate."
Daniel ducked his head and grinned. "Hey, be kind to the infirm. I, uh, don't suppose I could beg a glass of water from someone?" He turned big, pleading eyes on Sam, who immediately leapt to his rescue, returning with a cup of cold water and a straw.
He drank the water down while his friends stood silently. When he was done, Sam passed his glass to Teal'c, who returned it to a bed-side table. Jack spoke first.
"So, how you doing?" He repeated the question he asked earlier, hoping Daniel would grasp the change in meaning.
For his part, the archaeologist looked up at him, and then to Sam and Teal'c. He closed his eyes, dropping his head until his chin rested on his chest. "You mean the um, Myomis thing, right?"
Jack, standing now, shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. "Yeah, Daniel. The Myomis thing. How is it?"
Daniel started picking at the blanket, pulling imaginary pieces of lint from its rough surface. "Well, I don't remember claiming to be Myomis, if that makes a difference. I can remember my dreams as Myomis, but I don't recall writing any of that." He waved his hand in the direction of the notepad. Nobody had taken it to Haller yet. Daniel paused and stared at his fingers before looking over at Jack. "I don't suppose you have a cup of coffee handy, do you?"
Sam grinned. "You'll have to wait for Janet's okay before we let you have that. How about some more water?"
Daniel pursed his lips, disappointed. "Coffee has water in it." He gave it one last shot.
"I don't think it's your water intake that's the issue here, Danny." Jack grinned.
"Oh." Daniel looked around. "You know guys, I'm really feeling better. Any chance of getting me out of here?"
The other three team members exchanged glances. Sam motioned for Jack to take the lead. "Well, Daniel, there's this little matter of you having seizures and speaking in tongues. Until we figure out whether to call a doctor or a priest, I think you need to stay here." Jack's words were flippant, but his tone was gentle.
"Jack. I'm fine. This was obviously something related to Nem's machine." His head jerked up like he suddenly remembered something. "Wait. You guys were in the machine too. Are you having any side-effects?"
The Colonel's mouth twisted in a grimace. "Some." He grated, not wanting to explain how repeatedly watching Daniel burning to death could be considered a mere 'side-effect'.
"Well, there you go. It's just a side-effect." Daniel made a little dismissive gesture with his hands. "Where's Janet?"
"I'll get her, Daniel." Carter ducked her head and left, glad to avoid having to tell Daniel that he was infirmary-bound for the near future.
- - - - -
"Doctor Jackson!" Janet called her greetings merrily, striding toward the infirmary bunk. Her heels made a staccato rhythm on the hard tile floors. "Good to see you up and alert. How are you feeling?"
Daniel smiled. "Fine, really. I was just saying to Jack that I'd like to get out of here soon."
"Well, we'll see about that." Janet answered noncommittally, making free with Daniel's reflexes. "Any dreams? How did you sleep?"
"Fine, and no dreams. I think this thing has run its course. I'm fine." He looked her in the eye for a long moment. "Really."
"Are you a doctor?" Janet finally asked, a stern tone creeping in to her voice.
"Well, yes, but not the kind I assume you mean."
"And do I tell you how to do your job?" Janet gripped his wrist lightly and checked his pulse. Daniel lifted his eyebrows. Considering he was hooked up to a machine that beeped along with his heartbeat, it seemed a little futile to do the check by hand.
Janet caught his look. "It's part of the routine, Doctor Jackson. I don't skip steps. That leads to laziness and forgetfulness." She dropped his hand and gave him a gentle glare. "Do I tell you how to do your job?" She repeated.
Daniel relented, ducking his head. "Well you seem to be telling me I can't do my job, and-"
"No, Doctor Fraiser. You don't." Jack broke in loudly at this point, answering for Daniel with a pointed look in the archaeologist's direction.
"Jack…"
"Daniel."
The two men stared briefly at each other. Daniel gave in first, muttering almost under his breath. "No, Doctor Fraiser. You don't." He looked at his hands.
Janet touched his shoulder. "Doctor Jackson, Doctor Mackenzie wants to talk with you for a little while. If you can stay up and alert for a day, then I think we can see about releasing you. Alright?"
Daniel sighed. "Yes, Doctor Fraiser." He said in his 'don't mind me' voice that fooled no one. "You know." He looked over at his physician. "Coffee helps me stay both awake and alert."
"Did I hear you say that you wanted some juice, Daniel?" Janet looked up from her charts and asked with a smile that also fooled no one.
- - - - -
An hour later, Daniel nursed his juice box and finished up the last of his late lunch. He tried to pretend the tangy liquid was coffee… but who was he kidding? His apparent 'delusions' didn't run that far.
Daniel shook his head. He really needed to take this more seriously. In truth though, he found the Myomis incident more fascinating than frightening. It was obviously a result of Nem's memory enhancement machine. Myomis hadn't made a return visit, and Daniel was alone in his head again. Even the dreams had disappeared.
Janet had promised him that if he could stay lucid for the duration of the day, and get a good night sleep, she'd allow him to do some work the next day. In the meantime, he'd convinced Sam, Jack and Teal'c to eat and get a good night's sleep. For the first time, he was all alone. He'd retrieved the notepad and pen from a side table and started recording his dreams and impressions.
He had the feeling that this might be important. Perhaps his dreams would be able to give him enough information to determine Omoroca's true fate. Was it possible that she was still out there somewhere, possibly in suspended animation? Jack was more than a little put out at Daniel's apparent empathy with Nem despite the pain that the blue alien had put them all through. In truth, how could Daniel not empathise? Nem was looking for his wife, taken from him by the Goa'uld over four thousand years ago. Daniel put his pen down and contemplated that. How could he deal with that? His eyes unfocussed as he thought about Sha're, lost somewhere out in the stars.
"… Doctor Jackson?" Daniel's head jerked up.
"Doctor Mackenzie." Daniel looked around. "I'm sorry. I was thinking."
"I called your name several times." Mackenzie looked at Daniel over the rims of his glasses. Daniel could almost see him making notes on his mental notepad. Failure to react properly with his environment.
"Yes. As I said, I was thinking." Daniel picked up his pen. Mackenzie made him nervous. Probably some inherent Jackson family 'danger sense'. Mackenzie made a little harrumphing noise in his throat. Difficulties interacting socially.
"I think we should talk, Doctor Jackson."
"Doctor Mackenzie, with all due respect, I don't think you've had enough time to fully form a diagnosis. I feel fine." Daniel twirled his pen in his fingers. Denial.
"To be honest, Doctor Jackson, you feel fine because you have been receiving an antipsychotic. You were experiencing extremely violent nightmares. I administered haloperidol and your progress has been steadily improving."
Daniel was perfectly still, fist clenched around his pen. "Halo- antipsychotic? You, you think I'm-?" His eyes were wide as he considered the implications.
"I have informed both General Hammond and Doctor Fraiser that my leading concern is that these episodes can possibly mark the onset of a schizophrenic state."
"Oh." Daniel forced his hands to relax, and placed the notepad and pen on the table. "No." His hand then crept up to the bridge of his nose. "No, this is the result of Nem's machine. Jack and Sam and Teal'c are still experiencing flashbacks. Of course this is something like that."
"The fact is, Doctor Jackson, they are getting better. You are not." Mackenzie spoke bluntly, hoping that facts would sway the intelligent man where reasoning would not.
"I'm fine." Daniel whispered automatically.
"Denial of symptoms is one of the more typical behaviours for schizophrenia patients, as is the refusal to continue treatment."
"Ah, so if I submit to your diagnosis, I'm insane. If I don't submit, I'm insane. Tell me, Doctor Mackenzie, does the psychiatric profession still recognise the concept of the catch-22?" Daniel frowned, unhappy.
"This is not helping, Doctor Jackson." Mackenzie continued in his maddening, reasonable tone.
"Actually, Doctor, you're not helping. Could you leave me, please? I have a headache." Daniel had to fight hard to keep an anxious note out of his voice.
"That may be the result of the haloperidol. We can raise or lower the dosage over the next weeks, until we find a suitable level for you. If you prefer, we can switch to a pill instead of the injections."
"What if I don't want the medicine, and what right do you have dosing me without my permission?"
"Doctor Jackson, you were delusional, unresponsive and borderline hysteric. In cases where the patient proves a danger to themselves or others, and is incapable of acting in their own best interests, I am allowed to step in. This is the same as an emergency room doctor treating an unconscious patient."
Daniel licked his lips. "A danger?" His anger evaporated, replaced by concern. "Did I hurt someone?"
"I noticed you licking your lips. The side-effects of the medicine may cause dry mouth. If that is the case, I can get you some water…"
"No!" Daniel turned pointedly away. "No, God. Stop. Just leave. Not everything I do needs to be analysed and classified and, and explained. I'm fine, Doctor Mackenzie, and I want you to stop your medication. I want it all to stop."
"That would be unwise."
"I'm fine!" Daniel's arms curled around his chest and he drew his knees up. "I don't need this."
"Doctor Jackson, we can stop your medication, but when your symptoms return, they could be more severe. If you continue to refuse treatment and your symptoms return, we may have to move you to Mental Health."
"No!" Daniel rocked forward, dropping his forehead to his knees, and wrapping his arms around his shins, in a defensive ball.
"Daniel?" Jack entered at a jog, having heard his team-mate's distressed call from the infirmary door. He stopped by the bed and took in the scene of Daniel curled up and miserable and Doctor Mackenzie looking calm and serious. "Okay, Doctor, I think you can go now." Jack moved around the bed and touched his hand to Mackenzie's elbow, pointedly guiding him to the door.
The psychiatrist did not give up. "Doctor Jackson, it is very important that you continue your treatment. I will need to see you tomorrow for an evaluation. Come by my office in the afternoon." His tone made it clear that it was not a request.
"Alright, fine." Jack said brusquely, all but pushing Mackenzie away. He stood and made sure the doctor left before turning back to Daniel. He cocked his head, hands in his pockets. He didn't want to reach out to Daniel physically yet, it might spook him. He tried throwing him a verbal line first.
"You okay?"
"Does it matter?" Daniel's voice was muffled, his head hidden in the protective curl of his body.
"Dammit, Daniel. Of course it matters!" Jack frowned.
Daniel rolled his head from side to side on his knees. "Everything I say just confirms a theory they have about me, and if I say nothing, it's worse. I'm tired, Jack and I can't figure out what they want me to say. How do you prove that you're sane when simply believing that you're sane proves you're insane?"
"Hey. Daniel, nobody thinks that of you."
"Mackenzie does." Daniel lifted his head and looked at Jack. "He put me on an antipsychotic. That means he thinks I'm psychotic, Jack." The Colonel grimaced. Daniel frowned. "You're not surprised. You knew. God!" Daniel's head dropped back to his knees.
Jack felt this conversation spinning rapidly out of his control. "I don't- Daniel. Listen. I thought that Nem's machine had knocked you for a loop. I figured that this medicine might help straighten things out until the symptoms subsided on their own. That's all." He risked touching Daniel's shoulder, and was relieved when the younger man did not pull away. "Come on, Daniel. Look at me."
Jack could see Daniel's shoulders lift as he sighed, then raised his head. Jack moved his hand up to the back of Daniel's neck and squeezed gently. "It'll be okay, Daniel."
The archaeologist smiled wanly. "Get Janet for me, please. I want these machines gone, and the IV out."
Jack made a quick face. "You sure?"
"Yeah. Please. I want to be me again, and this isn't helping me."
Jack could have argued, but he refrained. Daniel didn't see how he was screaming, caught in that last horrible nightmare. He didn't know that he'd thrown Jack halfway across the room. Daniel was himself again, and maybe he had the drugs to thank for it. Jack didn't know. He nodded, in the end, and headed for the door. Daniel's voice called him back.
"Jack?"
"Yeah, Daniel."
"I'm not sick. You have to believe me. Don't let them take me away. Please, Jack."
Jack nodded. "Yeah."
"Promise me?"
"Yeah." He gave Daniel a smile and turned to search for Fraiser, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Daniel frowned. Far from the enthusiastic assurances he'd been hoping for, but it would have to do.
Janet came quickly and pursed her lips as she contemplated Daniel's request. Ultimately, she agreed. He was healthy enough that he no longer needed the IV drip and the fluids. Right now, they wanted to monitor his mood and his sleep. The machines wouldn't be of much help there.
Daniel was quiet for the rest of the day. He wrote frantically for a long while and then, claiming that he had a headache, he turned in early.
- - - - -
