Sorry for the delay in writing. I admit to experiencing a bit of writer's block with my stories. I'll try and update regularly and please, keep the reviews coming. They do help when I hit a block!
He knew he couldn't be in Canaan. He stared in curiosity at the light overhead and recognized that it was technology they didn't have in the village – or on the planet, for that matter. He was too out of it, too 'wonky' feeling to really care however. He just continued to stare and let his mind drift.
"Jack", he heard as if through a long tunnel. He debated about responding when he heard his name called again. With a slight groan he let his head flop to the side to see who had disturbed his detached state.
"Sam?" he said – or tried to say. His voice came out as a soft rasp.
"It's me Jack. How are you feeling?" He could tell she was upset, frightened, but he didn't know why. The feeling of not being 'quite here' remained. Something was bothering him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Wait – he knew what it was!
Where was the water? They always gave him a drink of water when he woke up in the infirmary. He couldn't understand why Major Carter continued to look at him and not give him something to drink.
"I'm sorry Jack, I don't have any water", she answered, without him saying anything.
He frowned. What was going on? He blinked a couple of times and watched as her anxious face came in and out of focus. He was having trouble seeing her clearly and couldn't figure out quite what was going on.
"What - ?", he asked, not even sure himself what he was asking.
"We've been taken by an alien race and brought to their space ship", she explained in response to his less than coherent question. "The – alien – said they are the Rodari. I've never heard of them or seen them before but I don't think they're friends."
"Where – they?" he stumbled around the words – still confused as to why he couldn't think, or speak, properly.
"I don't know. We were brought to the ship and then put into this room. One of the aliens carried you here and, and gave you something. I haven't seen anyone since then." She stopped and gently pushed the hair out of his eyes. "How are you feeling Jack?" she asked again. It was only then that he realized he hadn't answered her the first time.
"Okay", he answered, although he wasn't sure that was exactly true. He thought about it for a second but still couldn't tell. He didn't think he was in any pain, but he didn't feel quite right. He frowned in concentration, trying to remember something, anything but nothing came to him. "Sam?" he asked. He was suddenly feeling quite frightened.
"It's alright Jack. You were wounded, do you remember?"
Wounded? When had he been wounded? Were they on a mission? For some reason he didn't think that was the case, although he didn't know why. Were Teal'c and Daniel okay? That thought stabbed through him making him flinch. There was something – something about his friends, if only he could remember.
Oh God – maybe something had happened to them. Were they hurt – dead? "Sam? Where's – Daniel, Teal'c?"
She frowned back at him, looking confused, then concerned. "Jack, what do you remember?" she finally asked.
Remember? He tried to think. He – remembered – a horse? Why the hell would he be thinking about a horse? Then he had a picture of him holding Sam – hell, not just holding her but – God – making love with her! It had long been his fantasy, but he usually didn't allow his thoughts to go quite so far. He knew it was dangerous to allow himself to think that way about his 2IC so he usually stopped those thoughts as soon as they popped into his fron.
He then tried to think about the last mission he – they – were on but couldn't bring anything to mind. In fact, everything seemed faded, as if it had happened a long time ago. But it couldn't have, could it? How long had he been – here? Where was here, anyway? He looked around the room for the first time and didn't recognize the place. Not only that, he knew it wasn't a – human place.
"I don't – Sam, where are we?" he asked, feeling even more confused.
"Jack, calm down. We are in an alien space ship – with a race called the Rodari. We were in Canaan, remember? We've been there for seven years and we just got married a week ago. Do you remember any of this?"
"Canaan?" He remembered back to his first thought upon waking. Yes – he was starting to remember Canaan and – God! He looked at Sam, his eyes wide in wonder. It all came flooding back. So, it was true, they really were married and – damn, Teal'c and Daniel – were back on earth and he hadn't seen them in years. "Yeah", he said finally, softly, "I remember now."
"Good", she smiled, "I was kind of worried there for a minute. Thought maybe you were trying to get rid of me!"
"Well, you woudn't darn my socks so I thought maybe -"
"- you'd trade me in for a new model?"
"Never!" he said, seriously. "I don't deserve you as it is Sam." He reached out to take her hand, but found that his didn't want to move. What the hell was wrong with him?
"What is it?" she asked, seeing his look.
"I can't move", he answered.
She reached out and touched his arm, but she was frowning as well. "Try again", she said, watching his hand. After a few moments of concentration he was able to move his fingers, but it took a lot of effort. He was really starting to worry.
"Are you in any pain?" she asked.
"Pain? No, why?"
"Jack, you were injured, remember?"
"No – how?"
"It was Cain – he stabbed you in the back."
"Stab – the bastard", he said with little emotion. "I should have expected it, although I thought he'd be sneakier about it."
"So, no pain? They removed the knife and gave you something when we arrived but didn't bandage the wound or anything. Whatever they gave you may have caused this. You're sure you're not in any pain?"
"Pretty sure!" he answered, giving her a look she hadn't seen in a while. It was a classic – 'Colonel O'Neill' look.
"Sorry, I'm just worried about you. You were bleeding pretty badly and I don't have any medical supplies."
As Jack felt his mind begin to respond better and to be clearer, it hit him what Sam had said. "Aliens?" he suddenly asked. "Who did you say they were again?"
"They – or he – called himself Rodari."
"Did he say what they wanted?"
"Yes – he said they wanted you. That you are the 'Ancient One' and that somehow you're going to help them gain control over the universe."
"Damn, do you mean to tell me we've found another race of megalomaniacal, blood sucking scum bags who want to conquer the galaxy and somehow makes slaves of everyone?"
"You are very intelligent for a lowly species", the voice speaking to them came from the doorway, which neither of them had heard open. Jack jumped, at least in his mind, because nothing else was working.
Sam however, did jump and whirled to see an alien – a different one than had taken them on the planet.
"And whom do we have the pleasure of meeting now?" asked Jack calmly.
Man, thought Carter, she wished she could learn to be as cool and sarcastic as Jack was in these instances. He held firmly to the 'never let 'em see you sweat', club.
"I am Commander Matray, and who might you be?" He looked at Jack the entire time he spoke, completely ignoring Sam.
"I might be anyone", Jack replied. He could see from the darkening of the man's face that he didn't take well to sarcasm. Jack could also see that the alien's eyes appeared – dead. This was not a man – or an alien – to fool with, he suddenly realized. He'd better try and control his wit and his tongue. "Uh, actually, my name is Han Solo and this is Princess Leia", he said seriously. Now they'd see how much the Rodari knew about earth.
"Fine Han Solo. You shall remain here with the woman. Soon you will help us find the Zagat."
"The what?" Jack asked, with a frown.
"Please be warned that lying will do you no good. If you do not help us, if you do not tell us where it is", he stopped and slowly turned towards Sam. "We will kill your woman."
"Hey – whoa -" but Jack was talking to thin air as their visitor and turned and left as suddenly as he'd arrived. "What the hell is a Zagat?" he asked Sam. He didn't want to think about the alien's – what was the guy's name? – words.
"I have no idea. I've never heard the word before."
"God, why can't I move?" he tried to force his muscles to cooperate but nothing happened. "We've got to find a way out of here Sam", he said finally. "I think this is bad."
"Yes" she answered softly. She reached out and took his hand and held it, more worried than she wanted to show.
It was hours before they saw or heard from anyone. Jack had slowly begun to regain the ability to move but with that had come a return of the pain in his back. He told Sam it wasn't too bad, but in fact it burned horribly and made him feel extremely nauseated.
Just as he tried to sit up, the door opened and in walked another alien. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the guy who had first taken them from Canaan.
"What do you want?" Jack asked belligerently. He was frustrated and frightened that he was unable to protect Sam in his present condition.
"We want you Han Solo", the alien answered.
Jack couldn't help but grin at the name, although it didn't last. The situation was too dire. "Uh, you want me – for what?"
"You are to come with me. We will discuss the location of the Zagat and then we will retrieve it."
"Uh, you see, that's a bit of a problem because I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT."
The alien creature blinked, his red eyes practically glowing. Jack felt himself shiver. It almost looked as if his eyes were made of blood.
"You will tell us", he answered ominously. "Come."
"Okay, there's another problem. I don't think I can."
The alien approached him and pulled out a strange looking tool. It almost looked like a hypodermic needle – without the needle. He reached over, and before Jack had a chance to move, he'd placed it on the side of his neck.
"Holy crap!', Jack felt a stinging pain and then a strange warmth spread throughout his body. At first it was almost pleasant, but then the pain came surging back. He gasped as it grew worse, the pain burning through his back and his limbs.
It took a while, but eventually it began to fade, slightly. It was only then that he could hear Sam's voice calling to him.
"Jack, Jack, are you alright?"
"Uh – yeah – okay", he grunted. The next thing he knew their alien 'host' had pulled him until he was standing up. He had to grab a hold of the bed to keep from falling and almost immediately he felt Sam's arm go around him and he leaned into her.
"Now you will walk", the alien creature said calmly, as if nothing had happened.
He had to keep holding onto Sam in order to keep from falling over, but at least they were able to move, albeit slowly, through the halls of the spaceship.
Jack tried to look to see if there was anything that could help them, but he found it hard to concentrate through the throbbing pain. He hoped that Sam was finding something useful. All he could tell was that these aliens used some kind of advanced technology which he'd never seen before. He just wished they'd had something which would have healed his wound. Even the Goa'uld had the healing device or the sarcophagus!
A door opened in front of them and they were escorted into what looked like the control room of the vessel. In front of them was a huge window from which they could see into the beautiful deep and dark vista of space.
"Where are we?" Sam asked softly, staring out into the stars. It had been a long time since she'd seen this sight and for some reason, it was making her feel terribly sad.
"We are nearing your solar system", the alien Matray replied. He had been standing over to the side of the room and they hadn't noticed him when they'd first entered. "Now, you will tell me where to find the Zagat!"
"Please", Sam cried. "We don't know what you mean. What is the Zagat?"
Matray turned and looked at her, his beady red eyes practically spitting blood at her. "You dare to tell me you do not know! You lie!"
"No", she answered, as calmly as she could. "I'm not lying. We've never heard of this Zagat. Can you not tell us what it is? We can't tell you anything if we don't know what you're talking about."
Jack was slowly getting his breath back after the painful journey. He still wasn't able to stand on his own but he was feeling less dizzy. He began to carefully check out the room. He couldn't see any other aliens except for the Commander and the one who'd brought them to this place.
"You really do not know?" the Commander asked, his eyes narrowed.
"No, we don't." This time it was Jack who answered. "Princess Leia is right, we've never heard of this Zagat. I think you might have taken the wrong people. Why don't' you drop us off on some nice planet somewhere and you can go find the ones that know about this Zaggy thing."
"You are the one we want. You are the Ancient One", Matray said. "And you will be the one to bring us the power of the Zagat."
"Geesh, you guys sure don't listen, do you", muttered Jack. "We're telling you we don't know what the Zagat is. We haven't seen it or heard of it before. So, we're not going to be able to help you."
"You were searching for it on the planet when the mountain exploded. Did you have it when you were taken by the Einherjar?"
"Great! Another word we don't know. What the hell is an inerjar?"
"The Einherjar believe that the Zagat will prevent them from reaching Okolnir. For that reason, they were searching for it although they knew they would not find it until the time of the Ancient One had arrived. We have been watching them for many years, sure that they would lead us to it when the time was right. When I heard that the Ancient One had been discovered and that you were searching for the Zagat, I know the time for our people to rise up had come. I watched as you went to the planet and waited – but them the mountain exploded and you were taken."
"Uh, no one 'took' us", Jack replied. "We don't know any of these Jar people and I don't have a clue what Okolnerd is or any of the things you're talking about."
"You may not remember them", Matray responded, "but without them you would be dead. We knew your bodies were destroyed, even though your spirits still lived. The Einerjar were able to recreate your physical beings but it has taken us until now to discover where they hid you. Now, I want the Zagat."
Jack and Sam looked at each other, for the first time beginning to understand what had happened to them. They had known, consciously, that their bodies could not have survived the blast from the volcano – but to hear it confirmed was difficult for both of them to handle.
"Uh, if our bodies were destroyed", asked Sam, "Then how could we be here?"
"The Einerjar were once of the same people as the Asgard", he explained. "They understand the process of recreating a body and we believe that is what they have done with you." He spoke as if it was an everyday occurrence, but for Sam, and more especially Jack, it was devastating.
"You mean we're clones?" he said with revulsion.
Matray nodded, but clearly wasn't that interested in this discussion for he immediately returned the conversation to the Zagat. "You must tell me now where it is", he repeated. "I do not want to hurt you, but I will if I have to."
"We did not find anything on the planet", Sam realized Jack was having trouble, both with his wound and with the discovery that they were clones. Truth to tell, she was also freaking out about the clone business, but she was trying not to think about it – at least until they were out of here. "Please, the volcano hit – the mountain exploded – before we had a chance to find it. If we did have it", she went on, "where do you think we could be hiding it?"
The alien looked at the two humans in front of him and wondered if they were telling the truth. The only other explanation was that the Einerjar had found it and had destroyed it. If that were the case, he thought, he'd have no reason to live. His entire life was now wrapped up in the discovery of the Zagat.
"You believe it is still on the planet", he asked.
"We don't know. Look", she went on to explain, "we were simply told there was an Ancient artifact that might prove useful to us. We didn't know what it was called and we certainly didn't know what it was. We had – have – no idea even what it looks like. It might still be there, but if it is, it's buried under tons of lava. If it's not there – then I would talk to some of these Einerjar people to find out where else it could be. I assure you, I – we have absolutely no idea."
Matray stood there, looking between the two humans. He wasn't sure quite what to do – should he try to force a confession out of one of them or were they, in fact, telling the truth.
"You do not know what the Zagat does?"
"No, we do not know what this Zagat does", Jack spoke slowly and deliberately. "Apparently though, it's important to you so maybe you should just let us go and keep looking for it."
"You really don't know, do you?" Matray laughed suddenly, a cold and eerie sound. "It is perhaps better that way", he continued without explaining further. "However, I need you for when we do find it. Without you we cannot proceed."
Matray then began to speak to the first alien – Jack really wished he knew the guy's name – in a language he couldn't understand and then he turned back to the two humans.
"You will accompany us to retrieve the Zagat" he said simply. "Until then, Pranu will escort you back to your room." The Commander turned his back on them and stared out the window into the blackness of space.
"He needs help", Sam refused to move when Pranu – the other alien – gestured for them to follow him. "He's hurt. We also need food and water."
"You will come", Pranu said coldly. "Sustenance will be provided."
Since there was really nothing more they could do, the two captives followed Pranu back into the hallway of the alien ship. Sam again had to help O'Neill as he was getting weaker by the minute. His wound was bleeding again and she desperately needed bandages. She couldn't figure out why they didn't do something as they seemed to indicate they needed them – or at least they needed Jack.
"Why won't you help him?" she asked finally, as Jack stumbled again and she had a hard time keeping him from falling over.
"He is the Ancient One. He does not need our help", was the reply.
"What? You both keep saying that but it doesn't mean anything to us. He's been hurt – stabbed – and he's bleeding. If you don't let me help him he could die."
Pranu stopped, perturbed by the words of the woman. Surely if this man was the Ancient One he could heal himself. It spoke clearly of the power of the Ancients in all the stories he'd been told. But then, he didn't know about the Zagat either. It could be that they'd gotten it wrong, that this man wasn't who they thought he was. Or, and this was more likely, he simply didn't know his own power.
"I will bring bandages and food and water. It is up to you to keep him alive. If he dies, you will die as well."
Sam simply nodded. The fact was that if Jack were to die, she wouldn't want to remain alive. As it was, she figured they probably were headed that way anyway, unless she could figure a way out, which seemed increasingly unlikely.
Pranu left them in the room they'd been in previously, but returned after a few minutes. He carried a canvas bag which he handed to her as well as a pitcher of water and a plate of some kind of food. It didn't smell bad, although she certainly didn't recognize anything. She hoped they didn't plan on poisoning her but again, figured there really wasn't much she could do about it if they did.
Once Pranu had left she turned back to Jack, who was lying curled up on his side, obviously in a lot of pain.
"How are you doing my love?" she asked softly, gently stroking his hair.
"Okay", he answered, trying to reassure her. He was pretty sure it hadn't worked.
"I'm going to see if I can bandage you up." While she spoke to him she was looking in the bag that had been left with her. There were bandages and a jar of cream. She assumed it was some kind of ointment and opened the jar and sniffed. Drawing her head away quickly at the pungent smell she decided it must be medicine. Nothing else could smell this bad.
She carefully pulled the material of Jack's shirt away from the bloody wound but knew it was going to be painful. She heard him 'hiss' as she pulled the stuck fabric from the wound and it immediately started to bleed again.
"I'm sorry Jack, I know this is going to hurt."
"T'sokay", he answered briefly.
By the time she was finished she could tell he was almost unconscious or asleep – she assumed it was probably the former. She could see the cold sweat that had formed on his face and worried that he was going into shock. Damn, she wished she had a blanket or something to cover him with.
Climbing up beside him she put her arms around him and held on tightly. At least for now they had each other.
He reached over to pick up the phone absently, caught up in the book he was reading. "Hello, Daniel Jackson", he answered. It was only a few brief seconds later when he sat up straight and dropped his book. "Are you sure they need me?" he asked.
Arriving later that day at Cheyenne Mountain, he looked around. He was surprised by the fact that things looked exactly the same as the last time he'd been here - what - almost 4 years ago. He no longer had access to the facility but someone had clearly told the guards he was coming as he made it through security in record time.
When he reached the sub-level with Ham - no Landry's office, there was an SF waiting to escort him to the General's office - or maybe the briefing room. The first thing he saw, when he arrived, was that Teal'c was here as was Jacob Carter and - Thor? What the hell was going on?
"Dr. Jackson", General Landry stood up and walked around the table to meet him. Daniel shook the man's hand, although he was still bemused at being called in to the SGC.
"Uh, hello General." He turned to the others in the room. "Jacob, Teal'c, it's good to see you both. I hope things are okay?" Both men said hello but left it at that. When no one said anything else he turned to Thor, who had remained seated the entire time. "Thor, what - I mean it's good to see you - but what are you doing here?"
"Dr. Jackson, it is good to see you again", the little alien answered. "Please take a seat and I shall explain. We were waiting for you to begin."
Once all of them were seated General Landry spoke. "I received word from Thor yesterday that something important was happening and that he needed to see all of us. I thank you all for coming so quickly." With that he turned to the Asgard. "Thor, please explain why we're all here."
"Thank you General. All of you know the story of what happened more than seven years ago, when Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were asked to retrieve an Ancient artifact at the behest of the Tokra."
"We know Thor", Jacob answered sharply. "That's when my daughter and Colonel O'Neill were killed by a volcano. What's your point? I don't think we really need to hash this over again."
"I apologize Jacob Carter, I do not mean to bring up something so painful. I know you all suffered a great loss. However, it is important and affects what I am about to tell you. The Einherjar hoped to have Colonel O'Neill retrieve an item called the Zagat. It was a powerful Ancient device that they believe can only be wielded by Vidar, the son of Odin. They believe it is to be used to destroy the wicked and enable the Einherjar to be brought back to paradise following Ragnarok." He looked around the room and was slightly surprised not to see any confusion or questions. "Do you know this story?" he asked.
"Yes, Jacob Carter explained all of this to us after Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were lost", Teal'c answered calmly.
"I see - that is good. Well, you understand that they are very concerned that they find this item. When the planet exploded, it was thought that the Zagat was lost for good, but they couldn't be sure. It seems that an Einherjar ship was stationed outside of the planet's atmosphere and took off just as the volcano erupted. Their ship was followed closely by another. We now know that the other ship belonged to the Rodari."
Thor paused expectantly, waiting for the reaction of the people in the room. When there was none, he frowned. "Do you not know the Rodari?"
"Uh no, we haven't heard of them before." Daniel answered. He was a little startled at the scowl that appeared on Thor's face. He couldn't usually read the Asgard's expressions unlike Jack who could -
"The Rodari are from the very edge of the galaxy", Thor interrupted his thoughts. "They are a warlike race but we have seen little of them for many years. We believe they were dealing with power struggles and wars on their own planet. We were relieved that they have been quiet as they are an evil people. However, we have received word, from the Einherjar, that the Rodari are now in search of the Zagat."
"They want this thing too? Why?" asked Landry. "What is it about it that's so important?"
Thor turned slowly to him, his big eyes blinking. "You do not understand. The Zagat is the most powerful weapon ever created. Whoever wields it can control the universe", he answered simply.
"Control it? How?" Jacob asked.
"That we do not know. All we know is that it is imperative that neither race find it and use it."
"Okay, so why don't you stop them? The Asgard are more powerful that either earth or the Tokra."
"We will do what we must", replied Thor, "although there is something else and this is the reason we have contacted you."
"Okay, what is it?" Jacob asked impatiently.
"The legend claims that only the 'Ancient One' can use the power of the Zagat", he explained. "Neither the Rodari nor the Einherjar would be able to use it on their own, therefore they have both been searching for the one who can. The word we have received is the Rodari have found the Ancient One."
There was silence in the room as each person tried to figure out what this meant, and why Thor had come to them. He seemed to be waiting for a reaction but none of them knew how to react to this news.
"So, they found this Ancient One. I assume this is bad?" Hank said.
Thor blinked again. "You do not understand", he said again. "The Ancient One - it is O'Neill. He has been found and is now with the Rodari. Samantha Carter is with him."