8888888888888888888888
Chapter Seven
8888888888888888888888
"Alright, people, we need options."
Are you certain that Doctor Frasier is unwilling to carry our Queen? Tis a great honor, added Ptah, his expression one of confusion.
Daniel stared down at the pencil he'd snapped in half. "Sekhmet is the Eye of Ra. Goddess of divine justice, medicine and healing. An important warrior for the Tok'ra, by all accounts. So what was she doing in a stasis jar in the infirmary?" demanded the archaeologist as he laid the two halves of the pencil on the table.
That is irrelevant, Doctor Jackson, announced Anise from her seat to the right of Ptah. Can you not speak with the Doctor? Perhaps she will reconsider her desire to have our Queen removed if you speak with her.
Daniel stared, dumbfounded, at the Tok'ra. "You want me to convince her to give up her life, her personality, for your Queen?"
Anise smiled prettily and Daniel fought down a wave of nausea.
"If I may be excused, General, I need some air."
Hammond watched Daniel stomp out of the conference room, silently wishing that a moment of chaos might save him from the Tok'ra.
888888888888888888888888
The symbiote had been silent since it and Janet had learned of Ptah and son's arrival. Oddly, Janet was finding it unsettling to have the oft-annoying voice of the centuries old snake fall silent. And since she couldn't see patients or even catch up on her paperwork, she was bored.
She was, therefore, more than a little surprised when she heard a knock at her door. "Come in," she called from her perch on the VIP quarters' couch.
Her visitor pushed open the door and Janet could see the SF guards just beyond the bemused chaplain. "How are you doing, Janet?" Sullivan asked as he shut the door behind himself.
Janet shrugged listlessly. "Fine. How's Cassie?"
Sullivan grinned as he sat down across from the CMO. "She's fine. Milking all the attention she can from your nurses while sharing her ice cream with Jonas. He just got back from P3X579."
Janet nodded. "I see. Ice cream." She fidgeted with a pulled thread from the couch, her fingers tugging on the fiber. "At least they're not completely alone, I suppose," she offered with a tired sigh. "Nurses count as chaperones."
Sullivan chuckled. "It could be worse, Janet. Think black lights, Led Zeppelin posters, and dozens of libidinous teenagers. The infirmary is downright tame in comparison"
Janet narrowed her eyes at the priest, suddenly getting an insight beyond the clerical collar. "And you say that you're sweet and innocent, huh? I think not."
The chaplain shook his head and pulled off his glasses to clean them on the fabric of his shirt. "That's beside the point. How are you doing, Doc? And what's that not-so-imaginary voice in your head saying to you?"
Janet shrugged, not quite meeting the chaplain's eyes. "She's been quiet since General Hammond told us that Ptah and Nefertem were here."
Sullivan's grin faded. "You mean Sekhmet's husband and son."
Janet nodded again, gnawing on her bottom lip. "She doesnt trust them. Or one of them. Whats more, she wont tell me why." She rocketed to her feet and started pacing the small room, hands locked together behind her back. "What does Daniel know about this thing inside me?"
"I can find out, Janet. Should I ask him down here?"
Janet turned hopeful brown eyes on her friend. "I'd appreciate that, Sullivan. Oh, and one more thing."
Sullivan turned from his progress towards the door. "Yes?"
"Tell Jonas that if he lays a hand on my daughter, I'll let Colonel O'Neill loose on him."
Sullivan chuckled and left the quarters, hands in his pockets. He had a pair of lovebirds to warn.
888888888888888888888888888
Jack set the pot shards back down carefully and turned his attention fully on his best friend. "Daniel, what are we dealing with here?"
Daniel sighed and let his head fall into his hands. "Okay, Jack, according to Memphis theology, Ptah was the creator god. He just was. He created the world and all the gods. He's the god of craftsmen, of pottery, and of creation. Basically, he's an inventor god."
"So how did he hook up with Little Miss Plague, War and Slaughter?" asked Sam, who had appeared in the doorway unnoticed by the two men until that moment.
Daniel waved a tired hello at the woman and motioned her into his office to join them. Not surprisingly, she sidled up next to Jack, who slid an arm around her waist. "As I was about to tell Jack, Sam, Sekhmet was the sister of Hathor. Or sometimes the same goddess. It gets--complicated," he decided, looking down at the pot shards that had once held Sekhmet. "Which means that she's Ra's daughter."
"Which makes that charming Nefertem Ra's grandson," added Sam. None of the SGC had been particularly charmed by the son of Sekhmet.
Daniel nodded, and pulled out a book, flipping to a marked page. "In some myths, Nefertem is actually the infant Ra...in others, he's the son of Sekhmet. But getting back to your question, Sam, Sekhmet and Ptah are an example of opposites attracting. Ptah is the creator and Sekhmet is the destroyer. He created the world and the heavens, and she was the divine spirit of truth and justice."
"Wonder Woman for the Egyptian gods?" offered Jack, before Sam jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. "Ow."
Daniel chuckled. "Something like that. She rode into battle with the pharaoh and slaughtered his enemies. Even Set and Apophis were afraid of her."
"Apophis was afraid of her?"
Daniel nodded. "She was also called the Lady of Life and her priests were great healers." Daniel closed the book he'd been perusing to give his friends his full attention, suddenly switching to full sarcastic mode. "But on a positive note she came very close to wiping out all of humanity on the orders of Ra." Rubbing his tired eyes, Daniel offered a crooked smile. "Makes me wonder why Ra locked her up. I think, guys, that I'm gonna go check on Janet."
As soon as Daniel was gone, Jack turned to Sam. "How are we gonna get that thing out of Doc?"
Sam shook her head, biting her lip. "That thing inside Janet needs a host to survive, Jack. The Tok'ra are looking...but would you want to have that thing inside you?" Resting her forehead against Jack's chest, Sam let out a shaky breath. "I want my best friend back."
Jack nodded, his hand rubbing soothing circles across Sam's back. "I know, Sam. And we'll figure out how to get Doc back. I promise." Jack lifted Sam's chin so that he could look in his lover's eyes. "Hey, have I ever broken my word?" he whispered before kissing her gently.
Sam offered a watery smile and nodded. "Then I'd better go and pump my dad for information." Reluctantly she disengaged herself from Jack's embrace and started out of the office. "Oh, and Sam?"
Sam glanced over her shoulder. "Yes, Jack?"
"Find out how Ra captured Sekhmet. It could be important."
