When they returned back, Narim was taken immediately to the infirmary for a CAT scan; the results were staggering. Apparently Narim was using 100 of his brain and then some. He was in a most uncomfortable position and this prompted Jack to contact the Asgard and wait for a response.
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It had been a week since Jack had summoned the Asgard and when one of them appeared it was when Jack was at home drinking a beer and watching a hockey game. He was in mid-sip when Thor appeared.
"Greetings, O'Neill. It has been a while. How can I help you?" he asked
"Well, one of my team has the Ancient library in his head; twice over. He's in a lot of pain right now. We were wondering if you could work your magic and get it out of his head." Jack explained
In the flash of an instant, Jack and Thor were transported to the base and appeared in the infirmary. Narim was on a gurney with electrodes hooked up to his head and a heart monitor, both of which were spitting out some disturbing results. His heart rate was elevated to a near dangerous level and his brainwave activity was off the chart. Thor approached Narim and placed his hand on his forehead. There was a bright glow for a few seconds and then Thor removed his hand from Narim. Once that was done, Narim was given another CAT scan which revealed that he was back to his previous state, meaning before his second encounter with the device. Seeing this, Jack enquired.
"What's this? You couldn't get all the info out?"
"The previous download has been in his mind for too long a time for it to be removed. It has become ingrained in his brain matter. I cannot remove it. Prior to his second experience had he been suffering from headache or any ill effects?" he asked
"None. I felt fine." Narim said
"I'm glad to hear it. How do you feel now?" he asked
"I feel fine. My head doesn't hurt anymore. So, you're saying that the information from the first repository can't be removed?" Narim asked
"That is correct. It has incorporated itself into your higher brain functions and would be impossible to differentiate the Ancient knowledge from your normal knowledge. If we tried to separate the two, you could die. If you have the information now and are not feeling ill, it is advisable to leave things the way they are, rather than the possibility of suffering brain damage." Thor said
"Well, if its not broken, don't fix it. That's how it goes, right?" Narim said
"That's right." Jack replied
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After being given a relatively clean bill of health, Narim returned to Daniel's lab and pulled a stool up to the table. He sat on it and reflected on recent events. His head in his hands, he thought about how he nearly died and that it would be unacceptable for Sam to give birth and her children not to have a father; the thought of this was unbearable to him. He sat like that for a good hour before Daniel came in and saw him and became concerned.
"What's the matter, got a headache?" he asked
"No, I was just thinking about all of what just happened." he replied
"Oh, ok. Just checking."
Trying to change the topic, Narim asked of their next mission, to which Daniel had no answer. There was so much running through his head and he was helpless to prevent anything happening. It was right there and then that Narim decided to ask Sam to marry him. He was fairly certain that she would accept his proposal and they could be wed and live as a real family.
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Sitting at the dinner table, Sam could tell that something was weighing heavily on Narim's mind and she was curious to know. She thought she had a fairly good idea, but hey, you never know until you ask, right?
"What's the problem, Narim?" she asked
"Not a problem, but a quandary. I have a question to ask, but I am unsure what your response will be and that's what troubles me." he replied
"Go ahead and ask. There's no harm in asking."
Narim got up and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jeweler's box. He approached her and took to one knee. He opened the box and within it was the ring that he had brought with him from Tolana. It was his mother's ring and when she had given it to him she told him to present it to the woman that captures heart, gives his life meaning and without whom he could not imagine living his life without. It just so happened that this woman was Sam. As she looked at the ring she saw how beautiful it was. It was gold and inlaid with brilliantly purple and blue stones. She took it from the box and looked at it \ more closely as Narim spoke.
"Samantha, since the moment I first laid eyes on you I could think of little else. I try to imagine my life without you and shudder to think of being alone. You give me life, but more important; you give me a reason to live. Before, I was merely existing, but with you, I live. I want to share my life and love with you. Will you have me? Will you live with me and love me as I love you? Will you spend the rest of your life with me so that we may live out the rest of our days in bliss and harmony?" he asked wholeheartedly
There was no hesitation in her reply.
"Yes, I will."
Narim leaned forward and rested his head in her lap while wrapping his arms around her waist. She set the ring down and began to run her fingers through his hair. After a few moments, she stopped and he lifted his head for her to see a lone tear escape his eye. She cupped his cheek and smiled down at him.
"Hey, hey. There's no reason to cry." she said
He took a moment to compose himself.
"I cry because I'm so happy. Happy to be with you and happy that you love me enough to commit the rest of your life to me, and I you." he replied
Narim stood and took Sam's hand, leading her into the bedroom where they made love like they never had before. This time it was slow and gentle with kisses and caresses, not like some of the other times where Sam would grab hold of his back and dug her fingernails in, left scratch marks or bite marks. This was slow and sensual; worthy of being written down in her diary. This time Narim was wearing the emotion device because he wanted to remember and he wanted Sam to remember.
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06:00hrs and as everyone sat in the briefing room, they were going over the day's mission to P3X-382. The M.A.L.P. had shown that the planet was lush with life and there was no sign of any foot traffic anywhere the gate. As the camera on the M.A.L.P. panned around all they could see was forest to the East, North and South, but in the West there was a large body of water that looked like an ocean with waves crashing on the shore. As the pan continued a figure appeared. It looked like a cross between a Nox and an Asgard. The being seemed harmless enough as it looked closer at the camera lens and smiled. As the M.A.L.P. began to back away, the creature seemingly got scared and scurried away.
Sitting at the table, watching all of this, the team laughed as the creature scampered away like a squirrel, running from left to right in a crazed manner. Even General Hammond gave a little laugh. They turned off the tellie and directed their attention to the mission files that lay on the table in front of them. Opening the folder, Sam briefly read through and closed the folder.
"This planet looks like a paradise. All I'd need would be a beach towel and one of those drinks in a coconut with a little pink umbrella in it." Jack said
"Well, this is your mission for today. Go to the planet, gather samples of vegetation, and see if there's anyone else around that we might make peaceful contact with. You leave in one hour." Hammond said
They all got up and went to the locker room to suit up and then to the armory to sign out their weapons. They arrived en masse in the gate room at 07:00hrs and as the gate opened they all walked up the ramp and through the gate. On the other side it was just like the M.A.L.P. showed; lots of trees and an ocean. They looked around at the tree line and saw what looked like a game trail. They followed it into the woods and as they walked they noticed that some of the plants, shrubberies and other flora were moving. After about an hour and a half they came to what looked like the foot of a mountain. Looking up, Jack noticed an opening, like the mouth of a cave. There was what looked like a staircase leading to the opening. Carefully, they scaled the mountainside and when they reached the opening and when everyone was there they took a breather. Looking around, Daniel saw pictograms on the walls. Seeing Daniel walk closer to the wall, Jack turned to Narim.
"Ok, you two go play, but Narim, you don't go off wandering alone. Daniel will be your shadow...like Siamese twins, you two." Jack said as he pointed to Daniel and Narim
The rest of the team explored the cave with lights ready and weapons cautiously trained, as Narim and Daniel hung back taking pictures and copying down the markings on the walls. Deeper inside the cave, it looked like someone had made it their home. There was a fire pit with a spit, several dishes and bowls, a water source and skeletal remains of what looked like dinner. In another corner of the back of the cave there was what looked like a bed or more accurately, a pile of leaves, branches and pine needles. This was obviously someone's home and Jack thought it wise that they should be gone when the occupant returned.
Returning to the mouth of the cave, the three could see that Daniel and Narim were still documenting the writings and pictures on the walls.
"Come on kids. This is someone's home and we're not exactly welcome guests. I think we should be gone by the time they get back, so finish taking pictures and colouring so we can clear out." Jack said
Narim took more pictures and Daniel broke out his video camera so he catch everything on tape, given their need for speed. Within thirty minutes they were all ready to leave when Teal'c, who had been standing guard at the mouth of the cave, heard and saw something coming up the side of the mountain.
"O'Neill, something approaches." he said
Jack came over and looked down to see what looked like the critter from the M.A.L.P. coming up the side of the mountain. It looked like it had some sort of dead animal slung over it's back; dinner perhaps? As it came closer, it looked up and saw everyone at the mouth of the cave, however, this didn't deter it, it just kept coming. When it reached the top, it stood up and smiled again. It took the dead animals from around it's back and presented them to Jack and Teal'c. It was almost as if it was inviting them for supper. It didn't seem phased by the team being in it's home. It just made a fire and began to skin the animals. It operated as if they weren't even there as it prepared the evening meal. When the food had been fully cooked,
they all sat around and ate. There was no conversation to speak of, just the team talking amongst themselves. Finally, something happened that stunned everyone.
"The suns are setting. You are welcome to stay the night." the creature said
They all looked at each other.
"You want to know how I speak your speech? I listened. I am Horan of the Himalwan. You are not of this planet. Where is your home?" he asked
Scooting a bit closer, Daniel spoke.
"We're peaceful explorers from a planet called Earth. We've come to learn about your history, your culture and possibly to become friends." he explained
"You're from the first planet? You came here through the Chaapa'ai? The portal of standing water?" he asked
"Yes. We travel from planet to planet learning customs, and sharing knowledge. We'd like to know about you and yours." he went on
"Well, my race has lived on this planet for many hundreds of years. We settled this planet after ours was destroyed by the Goa'uld long ago. In an effort to escape the Goa'uld we fled here and have not seen or heard from them since. Since then, we've prospered here and have had no threat from anyone. You are the first off-worlders that any of us have encountered in many an age. We were visited by the Nox several generations ago as well as the Asgard, four cycles ago. Some of the Nox were stranded here as were some of the Asgard. Through the generations there has been inter-species breeding. That is why I look the way I do. I understand your confusion in regard to my appearance; very hard to place." he explained
"So you speak and you're telepathic? Yes. But the majority of us choose to live as we once did before the Nox and Asgard. Before they came we were a peaceful, primitive race. Now, many of us have knowledge beyond your wildest imagination. Those of us that share genealogy with the Nox and Asgard have the power to move things with our minds, start a fire just by thinking about it and summon creatures for the hunt. However, there is a downside. Those of us that have been cross-bred are treated as outcasts and shunned by the population at large. That is why I live in this cave, here. But, I suppose it's liberating in a sort of way. It gives me time to think and reflect. Plus, I enjoy my solitude." he continued
"Wow, that's quite an explanation." Daniel said
"Yeah, that was a big mouthful." Jack said
Sam and Teal'c just sat back and listened as Horan explained things. Narim was busy taking notes while Daniel was asking questions. When he came to the last page in his journal, Narim began to write on his arm in shorthand.
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The sun was up and as everyone woke up they gathered their gear, thanked their host and began back down the mountain path. Horan stood at the mouth of the cave and looked down at them. Almost as he had forgotten something, Daniel looked up at Horan.
"Hey, is it ok if we come back sometime." he asked
"You are more than welcome." Horan shouted down at them