Chapter Thirty-Three
"Doctor Fraiser, Doctor Mackenzie. I appreciate you coming here. Have you both had a chance to fully examine SG1?" Hammond folded his hands together on his desk and looked at the two doctors.
After exchanging glances, Fraiser decided to speak first.
"General Hammond. SG1 returned last night, approximately 16 hours ago. All four are showing signs of stress as well as assorted injuries. Teal'c, whom I understand has already been debriefed by you, is doing well. Thanks to his symbiote, he is almost fully healthy. He is showing mildly elevated blood pressure and some very mild muscle spasms. Exhaustion seems to have been the most pressing concern for him. He has been in kel-no-reem almost constantly since his return from the planet they are calling 'Erkalla'."
"And your assessment of his briefing, Doctor Mackenzie?"
"General, Teal'c spoke of his contact with a native of Erkalla. She had taken on the persona of the Goddess of the Underworld. According to Teal'c, she took her title quite literally. It appears as though he was able to communicate to this individual. This Erishkigal seems to be a victim of a particularly strong dissociative disorder, likely brought about, if we are to believe the myths, by years of solitude. Her demand that one die to serve as some sort of payment for the others indicates that she is wholly committed to this belief. All in all, SG1 is lucky that Teal'c was able to correctly read her condition and bargain appropriately for their release."
"Thank you, Doctor Mackenzie. Doctor Fraiser, if you would continue?"
"Yes, sir." Fraiser looked at her medical files. "Captain Carter, like the others has some mild bruising and muscle spasms consistent with her account of being hit with some sort of electrical weapon. She, like the others, is suffering from mildly elevated blood pressure and the effects of stress. She is resting comfortably now."
"Doctor, SG1 was on Erkalla less than six hours yet you and Doctor Mackenzie both have reported signs of stress." He held up two thin manila folders. "What happened out there to cause this? SG1's preliminary reports mention mild injuries and some trouble opening gates."
Fraiser smiled thinly. "Well, sir, the original mission to Nem's planet was quite difficult, and I think there are some as yet unresolved psychological concerns there. In addition, as we've seen before, SG1 has a tendency to understate some of the more dramatic incidents they encounter. If I may continue?"
"Of course." Hammond nodded his head.
"Colonel O'Neill and Doctor Jackson have the most severe injuries of the four. The Colonel was shocked twice with this unknown alien weapon. In addition, he has some light bruising, indicative of a scuffle and some further bruising from his falls. His blood pressure is dramatically increased over his pre-mission check-up. I have him on mild sedation now while we explore what medical options he has to control his pressure."
Mackenzie drew breath and spoke up. "According to Teal'c, Colonel O'Neill manifested the full-blown personality of a," He trailed off and consulted his clipboard. "Nedu."
"Like Doctor Jackson and Myomis?" Hammond looked between the two doctors.
Fraiser nodded. "Yes, sir. In fact, it was this Nedu personality that attacked Doctor Jackson on two occasions."
"Two?" Hammond said. "Teal'c's briefing seems to have been somewhat lacking in details, it appears."
"Well, sir, Doctor Jackson's condition is certainly the most severe of the four. In addition to exposure to the same alien weapon that struck the rest of SG1, he has dramatically increased blood pressure and numerous contusions. Finally, and most disturbingly from a medical standpoint, Doctor Jackson appears to have suffered a transient ischemic attack. Basically, sir, it mimics the effects of a stroke but the symptoms are only temporary. It's a very bad sign."
"What does it mean for the future?"
"Doctor Jackson has fully recovered from the attack now, but his blood pressure remains dangerously elevated. According to Teal'c and Captain Carter, he was frequently weak and confused. He lost consciousness on several occasions and on at least one occasion, he had a spontaneous nose-bleed." She paused, looking down at her files for a second. "Sir, it is my opinion as Chief Medical Officer than Doctor Jackson is no longer fit enough for offworld travel. Until there is dramatic and long-term improvement, I cannot in good conscience allow him to go through the Stargate."
Hammond frowned and then nodded. He turned to the psychiatrist. "And you agree, Doctor Mackenzie?"
Mackenzie nodded. "I do, with one addition. Given that Colonel O'Neill is exhibiting similar symptoms, and has expressed an alternate personality which attacked one of his team-mates, I don't believe that Colonel O'Neill should be allowed offworld either."
"What is your assessment of this personality shift?"
Mackenzie shifted in his seat. "To be honest, General Hammond, I find it highly suspicious that all four members of SG1 are expressing complimentary personalities. This defies the law of averages. I also have expressed concern with some inconsistencies that cannot be explained. My main concern is that SG1 may be acting under alien influence initiated by the contact with the alien called Nem. That being said, I must allow that these personalities are dramatic and fully formed. At this point, perhaps the best thing for the team is to proceed, under supervised conditions, to the logical outcome of this search."
"And what do you see as the logical outcome, Doctor Mackenzie?"
"Clearly, sir, SG1 has been programmed to find Omoroca."
"Alright. What about Captain Carter and Teal'c?" Hammond looked back to Doctor Fraiser.
"At this point, I am concerned about their blood pressure and signs of stress, but I believe that they can still travel offworld as long as they are monitored before, after and during their missions."
Mackenzie nodded. "Their personality shifts have been mild so far. Like Doctor Fraiser, I feel that they can be allowed limited and supervised offworld expeditions, recognising that they may need to go offworld in search of clues in this mystery. I add one warning. Colonel O'Neill's alternate personality appeared to be the least active before it seemingly burst out and attacked his team-mates. Whomever travels with Carter and Teal'c will need to be aware of the potential risks."
Hammond sighed heavily. "I understand. Thank you both." He nodded his dismissal at them.
- - - - -
Doctor Fraiser walked back into the infirmary. SG1 was in residence. O'Neill and Jackson were asleep on their beds. Teal'c was standing next to O'Neill's bed, hands behind his back. Sam sat next to Daniel, one hand holding his, her other hand gently stroking his hair. In the harsh infirmary lights, Doctor Jackson looked like he had lost a battle with a grater. His cheek was badly scraped where Nedu had repeatedly slammed him against the wall. Somewhere along the way, he had hit his nose. It wasn't broken, but it was badly bruised, the bruises bleeding down and giving him black eyes. The bruises on his throat had given Janet a few moments of concern, but they appeared not to be swelling too badly. His forehead was raw where Nedu had punched him.
"Don't you dare wake him, Captain." She smiled at Sam.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Sam smiled back.
"Didn't I order you two to get some rest?" She said with mock severity to Teal'c and Carter.
"I am well again, Doctor Fraiser." Teal'c's head came up, as if to dispute her words through sheer strength of will.
"I'll go back to bed soon." Sam allowed, unable to bluff. "I just... how are they?"
Janet's smile faltered slightly. "They're very sick, Captain. You know that."
"But, will-?" Sam swallowed, unable to continue.
"We'll do what we can." Janet whispered. "Now, Captain, I want you back to bed. You need your rest."
- - - - -
"Doc?" Myomis awoke to the sound of Jack O'Neill badgering Janet Fraiser. Someone was stroking his hair. He opened his eyes and rolled his head, squinting.
"Sorry, Daniel. Did I wake you?" Sam's face bobbed into view, giving him a little smile.
"Samantha?" He swallowed, looking around. "Where?"
Carter snatched her hand back abruptly. "Myomis? Uh, hi. You're in the infirmary. You and Daniel have been quite sick."
Myomis cleared his throat, and with a frown, Daniel spoke. "We're back?"
"Yeah." Sam smiled at him, and her hand returned to his hair. "Yeah, it's okay. We're back. Teal'c got the key from Erishkigal."
"I don't, I don't remember meeting her."
"Well, I don't either. Teal'c said she froze us. For some reason, he was not affected."
"Jaffa?"
"That may be why he wasn't affected." Sam nodded.
"I believe it was deliberate, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c said from his post next to Jack.
"Doctor Jackson?" Janet Fraiser, finished with her evaluation of O'Neill, walked up to Daniel's side. She smiled at them. "How are you two doing today?"
"Tired." Daniel said, yawning. "Very tired." Myomis added at the tail end of the yawn.
"I don't doubt it. Just sit still for a moment and let me check you out." Janet checked out Daniel's reflexes and his responses, even flashing her penlight in his eyes. Daniel bore it all with good grace until he asked a question.
"So, when can I leave?"
Janet's lips tightened. "Relax, Doctor Jackson. You're still quite ill."
"Doc?" Jack had been very quiet, suspiciously quiet, until this point.
"Colonel?"
"What's up?"
She gave her best professional smile to all the members of SG1. "I'm afraid that Doctor Jackson will have to be a guest of these facilities for the foreseeable future."
"What?" Daniel tried to sit up, only to have Sam and Janet gently push him down. "I'm tired, I admit that, but-"
"But your blood pressure is critical, Doctor Jackson. At this point, I have no choice but to demand complete bed rest. You need medications and you need to be monitored. Doctor Jackson." She over-rode his protests. "You had a mild ischemic attack. A large percentage of people who suffer similar attacks go on to suffer full-blown strokes. The next time, if you are off world and you have a stroke, you will likely be dead or irreparably damaged by the time you get back. I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to put yourself at risk like that."
"No more Stargate?" Sam whispered.
Janet attempted to look consoling. "No. I'm sorry. Captain, you and Teal'c will be allowed to go off world once you get a couple of nights of sleep."
"And me?" O'Neill's tone turned worried.
"You're in the same boat as Doctor Jackson. Your blood pressure is too high."
"Hey, come on, Daniel's was higher last time."
"Yes and look where it got him." She over-rode all of their protests. "Listen, Colonel, I'm sorry. You're older than Daniel. I have even less leeway with your blood pressure, not to mention the fact that, well."
"What?" Jack was barely concealing his hostility. "I'm going nuts?"
"Jack." Daniel cut him off wearily.
"Colonel, you have a personality in you that, by your own words, is not fully under your control. At this point, Myomis is the only one who stands a chance of interacting with him. You're both grounded until further notice. I'm sorry."
"Jack, it's okay. We'll work something out." Daniel tried to smile encouragingly. Jack looked away, still unable to face the bruises on Daniel's face.
"For now, I want all of you to rest." Fraiser put an end to the discussion.
- - - - -
"I can't believe I missed seeing Erishkigal." Daniel groused sleepily.
One day had passed since Fraiser had announced that Daniel and Jack would have to remain in the infirmary while they attempted to stabilise their blood pressures. Sam had finally left to get some sleep, leaving Teal'c to watch over Daniel and Jack. The Jaffa was seated awkwardly in a small plastic chair between the beds of the two patients. They had attempted to engage Jack in some conversation, but he simply turned his head and ignored them.
Daniel curled in his bed, eyelids dropping as he fought off a drug induced sleep. "Daniel Jackson, I must relate a portion of my conversation to you, and to Myomis." Teal'c leaned forward and whispered.
Myomis frowned. "Teal'c?"
"Did you know the Oannes named Erishkigal?" Teal'c asked Myomis.
The Oannes shook his head. "No. Lamashtu visited when on business with Ea, but I never did meet her. Why?"
Teal'c paused. "She spoke to me of Lamashtu... and of your children."
Myomis struggled up to one elbow, causing a warning beep to emanate from one of the monitors around his bed. "Teal'c? What?"
"She told me that it was Nergal who betrayed Nedu. It was Nergal that killed Nedu. When Nedu fell, his place was taken by Meslantaea and Lugal-Irra."
"My sons." Myomis whispered, his eyes brightening.
"Myomis, Erishkigal claimed that your sons yet live."
"Mînum?" Myomis lapsed into Oannes with his surprise. He shook his head. "I- I mean... I... what?"
"They live, Myomis."
"Teal'c." Myomis whispered, gripping Teal'c's shoulder. "Thank you."
Despite the excitement, the drugs in Myomis's system were pulling him under, sending him to sleep. "Rest, Myomis. I will tell you of your third son later." He helped the Oannes get comfortable, pulling up the blankets.
Myomis frowned, seconds away from sleep. "No third... twins were my only children." He drifted off, leaving Teal'c confused. Convinced that he must have misheard Erishkigal, Teal'c decided not to mention it to Myomis again.
- - - - -
Chapter Thirty-Seven
"Ira." Three days later, Jack woke to the sound of Daniel greeting Doctor Haller. "You look good."
Haller smiled. "Ah, pshaw. A simple stab wound to the chest can't keep me down."
"Simple nothing." Janet said from the side where she was noting her charts. "You were very lucky, Doctor Haller."
"And I know who to thank for it." Haller sketched a slight bow in Fraiser's direction before turning back to SG1. "I hear that all has not been roses for your merry crew, Daniel." He frowned. "How are you are doing?"
"Oh, just great." Jack responded dryly in Daniel's place. "Went off world, got our asses handed to us and oh, interesting side note, I beat the crap out of Daniel."
Haller watched him silently before responding. "And a good time was had by all, I'm sure."
"Haller-"
"Colonel... forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, but do you normally walk around beating the crap out of Daniel?"
"Yeah."
"Colonel!" Carter spun in her seat. Jack had shut them down cold for three days when they attempted to discuss this with him, but they weren't sure if Haller was going about it the right way.
"Yeah, he is being presumptuous." Jack said to Sam before crossing his arms across his chest and looking away. Teal'c's head lifted in surprise at Jack's tone.
"Well, then I ask your forgiveness, Colonel, but I'm still asking you the question." Haller pressed on.
Jack looked over at Daniel, still in his bed, eyes boring a hole in Jack. O'Neill sighed.
"No, I don't."
"Fine then. Daniel, do you agree?"
"Well, it's true. When he's himself, Jack would never think of doing anything like this to anyone in his command."
"There you go. Problem solved." Haller clapped his hands together and rubbed them gleefully.
"Uh... what?" Jack asked.
"Colonel, you said yourself that you would never hit Daniel of your own accord. Daniel agrees. Therefore, what happened was unfortunate, but it has also passed and it was nobody's fault. To put it in layman's terms... get over it."
"Easy for you."
"Yes, tremendously easy. Moving on."
"Haller..."
"Yes, Colonel O'Neill?"
"What the hell-"
Haller waved a hand imperiously and cut him off. "Colonel, do you want to leave SG1?"
"No. But-"
"And do you want Captain Carter, Teal'c or Daniel to leave?"
"Hell no, but-"
"Are you going to leave?"
"I don't..."
"Be serious, Colonel, of course you won't. Are you three leaving SG1?" A chorus of negatives answered him. "Good, now, hands up everyone who is afraid of the Colonel." Daniel snorted at that, Teal'c raised an eyebrow and Carter paused, trying to determine what the proper military answer was before shrugging and keeping her hand down. Haller looked gleeful again. "Good, as we thought. Any other misery you'd like to waste all of our time wallowing in, Colonel?"
"What?" Jack had the look of someone who had been utterly ambushed.
"I'll take that rather confused syllable for a negative. Now, are we over this or do I have to keep the news that I may have found the last key all to myself?"
"What?" This time everyone spoke at once.
"Ah, that peaked some interest." Haller grinned gloatingly. "Yes, well, Jamie and I went tracking down some of the Earth-bound expeditions. We found a couple of leads, and they all lead to the same location. Babylon."
"Ira? We already-"
"Ah, ah, ah." Haller wagged a finger at them. "I said Babylon and I meant Babylon." He paused letting it sink in before adding. "Babylon, New York."
"And with that cryptic statement, I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist that you leave my patients to rest. Visiting hours are up, Doctor Haller." Janet flipped open a medical chart.
The yells of protest followed a smirking Haller out of the infirmary.
- - - - -
It was an anxious half a day before Janet would allow Haller back into the infirmary. The excitement had not been good for Daniel's blood pressure, and Janet wanted time to monitor it before she allowed more excitement to occur.
Janet also gave Haller a tongue-lashing, warning him against exciting her patient unnecessarily. A suitably chastened Haller slunk back into the infirmary on the afternoon of the sixth day following SG1's return from Erkalla.
Daniel was still under strict bed rest, and the medications he was taking kept him asleep most of the day. Jack was finally allowed up. His medication was helping to keep his pressure down, and he was allowed on light duties again, but still confined to the base.
Haller's visit had done wonders for the Colonel's temper. After spending an afternoon growling about the archaeologist, he seemed to relax a bit with his team. His mouth was a tight line every time he looked in Daniel's direction, but that was due more to Daniel's declining health than the rapidly fading bruises.
Sam woke Daniel up by gently running her fingers through his hair until he stirred.
"Sam?"
"Hey, Daniel. Doctor Haller's back."
"Ira?" Jack and Sam helped Daniel to sit up, one adjusting the tilt of his hospital bed, the other moving the medical leads out of the way. When he was settled, she passed him his glasses.
"Daniel." Haller smiled quietly and shook Daniel's hand.
"Jamie." Daniel smiled at the young Sergeant as he followed Haller into the infirmary.
"Daniel." Fulton nodded to everyone. "Colonel, Captain, Teal'c."
Daniel stretched, looking more awake than he had in days. "Ira, what do you have?"
With a wary sideways glance at Fraiser, Haller decided not to tease. "Actually, Daniel, it was thanks to you. I started looking through some of the expedition logs from Babylon. Most of them have one thing in common..."
"Babylon?" Jack said.
Haller looked at him, and rolled his eyes. "Alright, two things. Jamie did some searching with the computer and traced most of the expedition funding back to a single company in New York called 'CC-40'."
"How does that help us?" Carter asked, confused.
"Ah, now here is the interesting part. Jamie, you tell them."
Fulton stepped forward. "I ran a full search on the company. In one form or another, they have funded most of the archaeological expeditions to Babylon and surrounding areas. They even funded your controversial final presentation on the development of Egyptian culture, Daniel."
Daniel frowned. "No... no, my funding came through the University. They rescinded it." He touched his hand to his temple and then made a waving motion. "By the time it all finished they-"
"They didn't take your funding, Daniel." Fulton smiled kindly. "I did some checking. The University stopped paying you, certainly, but they kept accepting the money your sponsor was sending. The money finally stopped about six weeks after you left academia. Letters stored on the University server show that the Dean was not all that happy about losing a fairly substantial cash cow. There was even talk about recalling you to the post, but of course, by that time you were no longer available."
Daniel gave a lightning fast smile. "I was halfway across the galaxy." He looked over at Jack who managed a grin of his own.
"Wait, you just 'found' this?" Sam leaned forward.
"Well." Fulton cleared his throat. "I had to look for it through... unorthodox methods."
"Yes, yes... moving on." Haller waved his hands dismissively. "What we found was pretty small potatoes compared to the larger picture. Tell them about that."
"Right, like I said... I traced the funding for the expeditions back. Most of the funding is traced to one main company. Looking at some of the main antiquities auctions, a huge number of auctions end up sold to the same buyer."
"CC-40." Jack guessed.
"Or their blatantly obvious puppet companies." Haller rubbed his hands together.
"What does this have to do with the location of the final key?" Teal'c asked.
"Excellent point. Excellent point, Teal'c." Haller's head bobbed and he dropped a pile of photocopies on Daniel's blanket-covered lap.
Moving his IV lines out of the way, Daniel looked at the papers.
"These are museum advertisements from all around the world." Daniel looked up.
"All sponsored and, in large part, donated by..." Haller let the word trail out.
"CC-40." Daniel's eyebrows went up as he filled in the blanks.
"Or their blatantly obvious puppet companies?" Jack quoted.
"Give the man a prize."
"And you think they may have artifacts relevant to the key?" Sam asked.
"Oh no, Captain." Haller pulled out one of the papers from the pile and held it up in front of Daniel.
"That is..." Myomis breathed.
"Exactly. Not only artifacts relevant to the key. They have the actual key." Finally Haller stumbled, uncertain. "At least, I think it is. Daniel, your department's been keeping an eye out for anything that matches the sketches you were able to give us at the beginning of this whole adventure. I mean, it varies slightly, but it's very close."
"It is an Oannes key, Doctor Haller." Myomis nodded.
"I need to go to New York." Daniel threw off the covers.
"Oh no, no, no, no." Janet Fraiser, who had been watching silently from the side, stepped forward, putting her hand on Daniel's leg. "You are staying in this bed until you are medically discharged."
"But this..."
"Will wait until you are stable. I'm sorry Doctor Jackson, but this is the way it has to be. Captain, Teal'c, why don't you assist Doctor Haller and Sergeant Fulton? Perhaps with a bit more investigation, you can try to arrange to find the artifact and save everyone the fuss."
Haller and Fulton nodded meekly and shuffled out with Teal'c following behind. Sam shrugged and backed out. "Yeah. We'll uh, just go look for keys." She smiled and gave a little wave before following.
Daniel blew out an exasperated breath and leaned back.
Janet tried to console him. "I'm sorry, Doctor Jackson. Your blood pressure is still high. If you can keep stable for three days, we'll see about getting you out of here. I'll check back with you in a bit." She patted his leg and nodded to Daniel and Jack before leaving.
Daniel watched her leave silently before turning back to O'Neill.
"Jack-"
"No."
"I just-"
"No." Jack held up a finger.
Daniel bit his lip. "Jack." He burst out, frustrated.
"Daniel, three days. I'll try to move things along, but that's what we have to have."
With a jerk, Daniel pulled up his blankets and turned his head away.
- - - - -
"Well, we're stuck." Sam sat on the bed next to Daniel, handing him a stack of papers.
Three days had passed. After the first day, Janet had allowed Daniel to assist in the research, since the strain of trying to stay away from it was actually making his blood pressure go up. Immersed in the research, she watched his pressure level out and actually decrease. Myomis had done his best to assist, remaining almost completely silent during the search.
"No luck?" Daniel asked, cocking his head.
"With what?" Janet walked up, hovering over the scene.
"Hmm... well, we were tracking down the leads on CC-40. There's dozens of companies under that umbrella, in companies all over the globe. We're looking at an organization the size of AT&T or maybe even Microsoft."
"I don't understand." Janet shook her head. "How can something that large be that much of a mystery?"
"Well, that's the thing." Sam tapped the papers with her finger. "There are very few direct links between the companies. Most of the links we've found are still only suppositions."
"Yeah, for example, look at the description of this cylindrical seal from the Berlin exhibit." Daniel started passing papers to Janet. "Donated for the exhibition by 'GK South'. Now, six months later, it belongs to 'CC-40', two months later, 'GK South' again."
"All without any mention of sales. We're trying to get more detailed lists of the donation records, but..." Sam shrugged.
"But all you can do is guess that one company is simply covering for another." Janet nodded sagely.
"Yeah." Daniel sighed rubbing his forehead. "And with a series of directors with names like 'John Smith', and 'Jane Brown', it's all but impossible to track anyone down."
"Which makes my find look all that more brilliant." Haller skidded into the room, stopping with a wince as he over-extended the mostly healed wound on his chest. "Okay, note to self, don't so that again." He rubbed his chest and then walked over to Daniel, slapping down a sheet of hand-written notes. "Actually, I can't take all the credit for this. Fulton is a genius with the computers."
"What is this?" Daniel turned the sheet of paper over, trying to make out Haller's broad scrawl.
"We found CC-40 and its president, a 'Mister James Doe'."
"That's... good?"
"Better than good, my boy. We spoke to him."
"You... you did?"
"Well.. we spoke to the under-secretary of his assistant... or something. Anyway, she called us back. 'President Doe' recognised the artifact and he wants a meeting."
"He wants to talk to us."
"Oh no, Daniel. He wants to talk to you."
- - - - -
"I don't like it." Jack groused.
Janet made everyone wait another day. Daniel was finally allowed out of the infirmary, although in his opinion, a VIP room was hardly a step up. Janet threatened to post guards outside of his office if he went anywhere near it.
Haller had spoken twice more with the secretary, each time trying to arrange a meeting with someone other than Daniel, owing to Daniel's 'busy schedule'. Finally, the assistant had phoned back herself. This time Haller had returned to Daniel with an offer from Doe's assistant. Funding, staff, the whole works. Doe wanted to hire Daniel on as a member of the archaeological staff.
"He's been looking for Daniel since the last lecture, apparently." Haller shrugged.
"And I... don't... like it." Jack enunciated the words for clarity.
"Why, someone believed me and that makes him untrustworthy?" Daniel frowned, taking the disbelief as a personal commentary.
"What? No." Jack rolled his eyes. "He's too insistent. I mean, look, you've been gone for almost two years. Dropped off the face of the Earth."
"Literally."
"Yeah, literally. For all he knows, you should be out of work, alone and desperate. What's with this 'ask and ye shall receive' job offer? By all rights, he should be starting off with room and board as an opening offer. Let you work your way to the big bucks."
"So... I'm not worth it?"
Sam stepped in before things could get out of hand. "I think, Daniel, that what the Colonel is suggesting is that there may be more going on here than meets the eye."
Teal'c nodded. "I too am suspicious of the motives of James Doe."
Daniel sighed. "Yeah, I know. By all indications, CC-40 holds one of the largest private collections of Babylonian artifacts in the world. Given what we know of the interaction between the Oannes and the people of Babylon, CC-40 may be looking for some Oannes artifacts."
"And with your lecture about the development of civilization having occurred earlier than conventionally thought..." Sam supplied.
"They think they have their poster boy for whatever theory they're pushing." Daniel finished.
"But why would a private corporation be pushing any archaeological theory?" Sam shrugged. "As far as we can figure out, CC-40 doesn't do anything archaeological. In fact, they seem to do things like farm equipment and alternate energy research."
"Perhaps their knowledge of Oannes technology is something more than theoretical." Teal'c examined the papers.
"Oh, now that's a cheery thought." Jack leaned back in his chair.
They turned as the phone rang. Daniel looked at everyone and then walked over to it, lifting the receiver cautiously.
"Daniel Jackson." He listened for a moment. "Oh. He is? Oh, okay. Uh, put him through." He cleared his throat. "Thank you. Yes, Daniel Jackson. Oh. Hello Mister Doe." His three team-mates straightened in their seats. "No. Yes, yes. Doctor Haller did pass along your very generous offer. Thank you." He looked around and then back to his desk. "No, at this time I'm afraid I- What?" There was a longer pause. "Oh, I see. No, that's very generous. Very. Mister Doe, if I might ask you, what is your interest in this area? What exactly are you looking for?" Daniel listened for a longer moment. "Well, I see. I'm afraid that that's a little vague." He swung back to face Jack. "You want to meet to discuss this further?" Jack frowned like a thundercloud. "Well. to be honest things are a little... I mean, not to be rude, but I was hoping for access to-" He sighed. "You'll give me access if we meet. Okay, why don't you give me your number and I'll contact you. Yeah, yeah I have a paper. Uh huh?" He wrote down the number. "Okay, got it. Yeah, okay, I'll call you. Thank you." He paused awkwardly before putting the phone down. "That was interesting."
"Sounds like he's still trying to get you on his team," Sam watched him.
"Yeah. He just offered me what would be your average academic's dream job." Daniel let out a long breath. "You're right, Jack, there's something strange happening there."
"So what happens next?" Jack leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"Next we talk to Janet."
- - - - -
"I don't like it." Janet unconsciously echoed Jack O'Neill's words as they presented their plan to General Hammond.
"Doctor?" Hammond turned to her.
"Sir, Doctor Jackson is still a very sick man. He is doing much better than he was on his return from Erkalla, but make no mistake, he is still not fit for duty." Daniel ducked his head, unhappy. Sam touched his arm lightly.
"I still think this 'James Doe' is a tad on the suspicious side, but Daniel's got a point, General." Jack shrugged. "We need the piece."
"General." Daniel drew a deep breath. "This is the final key we need to open Omoroca's tomb. One way or another, we'll have the answer."
"And then?" Hammond looked at him. "What happens then, Doctor Jackson?"
"Well... we open the tomb."
"And?" Hammond looked down at his clasped hands and then back to Daniel. "Doctor, I don't want to burst your balloon, but Doctor Fraiser has placed you on a medical leave with light duties for a very specific reason. Even if you manage to secure the final key and open the tomb, how does this assist you? How will this improve your health?"
"General?" Hammond's head came up as Myomis spoke tentatively. "This, I believe, is my question."
"Alright. Let's hear it." Hammond nodded.
"Daniel has kept me awake... I have stayed awake hoping to offer assistance. I believe that if the tomb of my mother is opened, I will be able to sleep and I believe Daniel will allow me to rest."
"Well, if the tomb is in sight now, why not rest now? We can contact Nem and-"
"General, I'm sorry, but this is still my call." Daniel interrupted. "When the tomb is open I'll talk to Nem. Until that time, we still need anything Myomis can teach us and..." He sighed. "I'm fine."
Janet opened her mouth, only to stop as Jack gave his head a warning shake. This was neither the time nor the place for those kinds of discussions.
"Alright, thank you everyone. I'll give you my decision shortly." Hammond nodded and stood up.
Daniel was the first up and out of the room. Jack held up a hand, motioning for everyone else to stay behind and then he followed Daniel.
- - - - -
"Daniel?" Jack entered Daniel's lab cautiously, looking around.
"Yes, Jack?" Came the impatient response.
"You, uh, you wanna talk?" Jack spoke with the tone of a man who desperately wanted to hear a negative, but was asking the question anyway because it was the right thing to do.
"About what?" Daniel kept his eyes fixed on the small stone statue in his hands.
"Well, I couldn't help noticing that you weren't all that chipper about the prospect of this being over."
Daniel frowned over at him. "Don't be ridiculous. This is what we've been working for."
"But you'll 'talk' to Nem about it later."
"Yes. I will speak to Nem about this situation later."
"You mean about sucking Myomis out of your skull."
"Jack, don't talk about him like he's not here."
"Daniel, and Myomis I mean no offence by this, but he isn't here. He's a memory. A ghost. And I know he doesn't mean to and he has no control over this, but he is killing you."
"I'm not giving up just yet, and neither should you."
"Dammit, this is not about giving up. This is about trying to keep you alive."
"And I'm fine." Daniel said the word with finality. Exasperated, Jack turned away and walked out of the lab.
Daniel watched him leave silently. As the door to the lab slid shut, he sighed.
"I'm sorry about that, Myomis."
"Sorry for what, Daniel? Sorry for the truth?" Myomis put the statue down as he took over Daniel's body.
"It's not the truth."
"You know it is." Myomis' tone was kindly. "We cannot coexist in this body. Our only choice is to have Abi put me back to sleep."
"God, that sounds like something I'd do to a sick dog. Put you to sleep. It's-"
"It is better than the alternative. I have slept through many years, many generations. I have lived my life, Daniel. It is only right that I sleep once more."
"Your life was taken from you by the Goa'uld. We have a chance to make a part of it right. How can you simply let that go?"
Myomis smiled a grim and humourless smile. "Because I know better. I see the practicality of it."
"I can't accept that." Daniel whispered.
"I am sorry, Daniel, but you will have no choice." Myomis crossed his arms over his chest, the only consolation he could offer.
- - - - -
The next day, SG1 and Janet Fraiser sat before General Hammond in the briefing room.
"Thank you for your patience, everyone. I'll get right to my decision." Hammond looked at the files on his desk. "I recognise that the final key, if indeed that is what is there, is a necessary tool. Given the rather convoluted nature of the business dealings of CC-40, I believe that we may risk losing the piece altogether if we attempt to obtain it by seizure."
He looked around the table. "I am willing to approve a meeting between Doctor Jackson and James Doe on three conditions." Daniel nodded warily. "Firstly, all efforts will be made to research the nature and character of Mister Doe. I want to know if there is any risk or any ties to Oannes-related technology. Secondly, Doctor Jackson, you will be accompanied by SG1 for any meetings, and you will all carry concealed weapons." Daniel opened his mouth to comment and Hammond waved a hand dismissively. "Those are my conditions, Doctor Jackson. My final condition is that Doctor Fraiser will accompany you in a support capacity. She will not be required to accompany you to any meetings, but she will be allowed to monitor all of you, and this trip will end immediately on her word." He looked around sternly. "Am I understood?"
Five heads nodded their understanding and Hammond left the room a satisfied man.
- - - - -
"Wow." Daniel craned his neck and looked up at the mansion. They had flown out of Colorado the day after the briefing. Daniel chafed at the delay, but he was at the mercy of the schedules of both James Doe and Janet Fraiser.
It had been decided that Daniel and Jack would meet with Doe. Sam, Teal'c and Janet would stay in reserve. Jack was in civilian clothes, armed under his jacket. Daniel was dressed in his usual civilian attire, but unarmed. The other three were in a van parked down the street. In this neighbourhood, they had to be careful about attracting attention, so they were sitting in the back out of sight. Jack was wearing a wire, and the van was equipped with listening devices. As per Hammond, they were to be backup, listening for a signal.
In the mean time, Jack refused to look impressed by the towering building with its long driveway, sprawling lawns and immaculate gardens. Babylon, New York was a moderately well-to-do town of 200,000 in Suffolk County. It seemed an odd place for the home of someone who, by all accounts, should have been able to afford to buy the town as his personal playground.
Jack was still deeply distrustful of someone like James Doe, who had gained so much and yet was all but invisible in the media. People loved millionaires, and they loved billionaires even more. With the rate at which Doe was throwing money around, someone should have noticed him before this.
And Jack could not help but be distrustful of someone who acquired billions, and spent it all on rocks from Babylon. He took off his sunglasses and rang the doorbell. Given what they knew now, Doe was probably after alien tech. This made him a liability they could not afford to ignore.
The door opened slowly, revealing a young woman within. She was in a sharp suit with long, dyed blonde hair swept up in a bun at the back of her head.
"Yes?" Her gaze swept over them, resting briefly on each. Her gaze lingered on the remnants of Daniel's bruises.
Despite that, Daniel tried his best 'peaceful explorer' routine with her, smiling politely. "I'm Daniel Jackson and-"
"Yes, Doctor Jackson. Mister Doe is expecting you." She turned to Jack. "I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Oh, sorry." Daniel held up a hand. "Colonel O'Neill."
"I don't recall Mister Doe mentioning anything about you, Colonel." The woman's tone was polite but distant.
"Just think of me as wallpaper." Jack matched her, coolly polite smile for coolly polite smile.
"As you say," She said brusquely and opened the door.
After seeing them in and offering to take their jackets, an offer which was politely yet firmly denied, she led them down the hall. Daniel winced as his footsteps echoed loudly on the marble floor.
"So, uh." He tried to engage the nameless woman in small talk.
"Mister Doe is waiting."
Daniel shot a look at Jack and hung his head. "Right." A grin played at the corner of his mouth.
The woman led them to a tall wooden door. She opened it and preceded them into the room. Jack followed, taking a long look around, finally zeroing in on a tall man sitting in a large leather chair on the opposite end of the room.
Daniel, on the other hand, had his attention locked on a series of small artifacts on a table off to the side. Jack cleared his throat as Daniel veered off to the side after them.
"Oh." Daniel looked around, focussing on Doe.
The man stood up, smiling broadly. Jack took an instant dislike to him. Doe was in his mid-40s, sandy blonde hair and dark eyes. He had a narrow moustache and an impeccably tailored suit. For the most part, like all of the employees of CC-40, he was rather unremarkable in appearance. His hair was not too long, nor short, fairly neutral in colour. His eyes were darker, possibly grey or blue, but nothing that stood out or caught one's attention. He was tall, but not excessively so. Fit, but not overly muscled. He smiled as he came up to Daniel, one hand out to shake his hand.
"Doctor Jackson a true pleasure to meet you. James Doe." He gestured to the pieces. "I thought you'd enjoy seeing these."
"That... that looks like Konig's battery? But it can't..."
Doe smiled. "No, this is a reproduction of that battery. We were doing some testing of it."
"Doctor Jackson tells me that your company is involved in alternate energy research..." Jack took the opening.
"I'm sorry." Doe turned to him, still smiling. "Are you a colleague of Doctor Jackson's?"
"Oh... uh, sorry. My fault." Daniel tore himself away from the artifact and turned back to Jack and Doe. "This is Colonel O'Neill."
Doe's eyebrow arched. "Colonel? This is a surprise. What is the Army's interest in archaeology?"
"Air Force actually," Jack clarified the branch, but not the interest. Taking the hint, Doe turned back to Daniel.
"Our engineering department was allowed some unprecedented access to Konig's battery in the Baghdad Museum. Using the data we found, we were able to recreate this one."
Daniel circled the piece and then looked up at Jack. "This device, uh, Colonel was found and described by Wilhelm Konig in 1938. It's an earthenware shell, copper on the outside and an iron rod in the middle. There were theories that it was an ancient battery, but nobody's ever tested -"
"We have." Doe smiled. "We tested this replica. It produced about two volts."
Jack raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Wow." He said, unimpressed.
Doe smiled back at him. "Ben Franklin coined the term 'battery' in 1748 but it took Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta over 50 years to make that theory a reality. Yet here is an artifact from the 5th or 6th century AD that is by all appearances a battery."
"Well." Daniel cocked his head and looked at the battery. "An alternate theory is that it is simply an item used in religious ceremonies that, coincidentally, matches the properties of the battery."
Doe smiled. "And that is why I have been looking for you, Doctor Jackson." He paused. "Doctor... I can't help but notice." He gestured to his own face, indicating Daniel's fading bruises. "Are you alright? Do you need to sit down? We were advised that you were busy but-"
Daniel waved a hand. "Oh no. It's, uh, just." He looked around and cleared his throat. "Hey, is that a cylindrical seal?" He stepped away from Doe and picked up the piece, making an exaggerated show of studying it.
Doe let him get away, turning instead and looking at Jack. Jack turned back to face him and the two squared their shoulders like Old West gunfighters.
Finally Doe shrugged and turned back to Daniel, turning on the charm again. "Doctor Jackson, may I ask what area you are researching now? We've put some time and effort into searching for you without any success."
"Oh. Well." Daniel met Jack's gaze and then looked back at the seal. "Translations, mostly. Some cultural and historical research."
"For the Air Force?" Doe asked.
"Uh... yes. Yes, actually." Daniel fell back into their planned cover story. "Well, a branch of the Air Force is working with civilian agencies in post Gulf War evaluations of some of the archaeological sites." He kept his eyes on the seal. "I help with translations and some cultural liaison work. Occasionally I help out with the archaeology teams." This was almost the truth.
"Cultural liaison?" Doe nodded. "And a translator needs a full Colonel as an escort to a simple talk about artifacts?" Now Doe sounded sceptical.
"That's classified." Jack stepped in.
"I see." The charm was back. "Of course. So you spend your days checking for damage in post-war Middle East."
Daniel gave a couple of deep nods, eyes darting from Doe to the wall to Jack. "Yes. That's basically it."
"What a waste." Doe's voice turned soft.
"Ye- What?" Daniel and Jack exchanged glances.
"Doctor, CC-40 is prepared to offer you whatever it takes to get you on staff here." Doe turned away, all business again. "Your talents are being wasted with the Air Force. We have full divisions of CC-40 dedicated to archaeological research. Your budget would be better than most museums and almost any university could provide. A full staff, subsidised housing. Hell, Doctor, I'll even throw in your meals. You can name your salary."
"Wh- Why?" Daniel asked.
"Because I like the way you work. I've read everything I can relating to your theory about the development of civilisations, and I agree with your proposed timeline. I think it goes much, much further than you originally proposed."
"What makes you think this?" Jack put his hands in his pockets and looked at Doe.
"That is privileged company information." Doe smiled back. "But I can tell you both this, we've made some astounding discoveries. Discoveries that could change the face of the world, but we need your skills."
"Why him?" Jack challenged.
"Cuneiform, Colonel. Doctor Jackson's linguistic skills are well known. How many languages do you speak now, Doctor?"
"Twenty... Twenty three distinct." Daniel put his hand to his forehead.
"Distinct. I won't ask how many dialectic forms you speak, or how many languages you speak with only partial fluency. You're too modest, Doctor." He turned back to Jack. "Colonel, scientists with training in archaeology, anthropology and linguistics are rare. Throw in Doctor Jackson's gift with languages and then factor in that he can speak some of the rarest languages on Earth." He smiled at Daniel. "I dare say, Doctor Jackson, whatever they are paying you, it is not enough."
"I'm sorry." Daniel finally managed. "I'm rather engaged in my work at the moment, but we did come about a specific artifact."
"Yes... the Oannes key."
Daniel looked at Jack quickly. "Uh, key? No, I think I-"
Doe shrugged. "I know what it is, Doctor Jackson, and I know what it does."
A new voice rang out. "And I know who and what you are."
"No." Myomis whispered as they spun to face the new arrival.
- - - - -
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Myomis stumbled backward until his was up against a wall, hands out.
Jack stepped quickly between Daniel and the new arrival. "What the hell? Who the hell are you?"
As the figure stepped through the doorway and into the room, Jack's eyes narrowed.
It was an Oannes.
Like Nem, it was blue skinned with thick scales and sharp neck ridges. It was wearing a long blue robe which trailed on the floor behind it.
For a moment, Jack thought it was Nem, but the Oannes they had previously met never had this rasping chuckle. The Oannes ignored Jack, trying to circle around and get to Daniel.
"Uncle." The Oannes breathed.
All of a sudden, it clicked in Jack's mind. Only one Oannes would call Daniel 'uncle'.
Ea.
The Oannes bared his fangs, approximating a smile as Jack stayed determinedly between him and Daniel. Jack surprised when Ea turned away, walking back to James Doe.
"What- what is this?" Daniel rasped, one hand going to his temple.
"This should be obvious, dear uncle. I am Ea."
"Ea, I don't-"
"He doesn't know any Ea, is what he's trying to say." Jack stepped forward. "What the hell are you?"
"You know me, door-keeper. I have sought you out. You and the one with you."
"You've been looking for me?" Daniel asked.
Ea smiled, playing with a small piece of stone that he had taken from his pocket. "We have."
"We?" Jack asked, stepping sideways to keep between Daniel and Ea. Both men stepped back as Ea looked up, his eyes flashing a sinister white.
Jack backed up and whispered to Daniel. "He's a Goa'uld."
"Jack, he was a Goa'uld in Myomis's time." Daniel hunched his shoulder and spoke in a low tone.
"Yes, and he still is." Jack said meaningfully.
Daniel's jaw dropped as he understood it, but it was Myomis who replied. "Sarcophagus."
Ea smiled at him again, a disconcerting display of fangs which drew their attention to the Oannes and the human across the room. "Let us start at the beginning, uncle. You hid Omoroca from me, locked her away." He stared at Jack and Daniel. "I found the tomb, of course, and your body." He cocked his head. "And just how did you manage to cheat death again?"
"That's none of your business." Jack snapped.
"How did you move the tomb?" Daniel asked, unable to help himself despite feigning ignorance of the subject.
"I didn't." Ea pointed at Jack. "Ask your guardian, uncle."
Daniel looked over at O'Neill. "Jack?" He whispered.
"Oh, for crying out loud Daniel, how would I know?" Jack's harsh whisper came back.
Daniel waved a hand. "Right. Uh." He looked back at Ea. "You mean, someone else moved it."
"Got it away, somehow. Belus took it from under the nose of Nedu. The children of Ra proved to be quite troublesome... but that has been mended." At those words, Ea's smile grew wide and menacing. "Where is the Chappa'ai?"
Daniel cleared his throat, delaying. "Chappa'ai... chappa'ai." He half turned to look at Jack. "The 'chappa' is a small hand-cymbal used in Japan but I don't-"
"Please, uncle, spare me these games. You know who and what I am. You know of the Oannes and of the fall of the house of Tiamat. You know of the Goa'uld." He stepped forward, bumping shoulders with Jack. "Where is the Chappa'ai?"
Jack gave a patently false grin. "Never heard of it."
"What?" Daniel cleared his throat as he attempted a lie to divert Ea from the topic of the Stargate. "What are you? You're obviously not human."
"Yet I once was, at least in appearance, until that most devious genetic defect took hold as it did in all of the line of Nem." Ea gurgled angrily. "Only you, uncle, escaped. Your genetics held the answer. Long have I sought your lineage."
"Uh, the Jacksons, I assume." Jack said dryly, still trying to give away as little as possible.
"Or the Ballards." Daniel said in a low voice. He shrugged as Jack looked at him. "On my mother's side."
"Enough! Your games and words will not confuse me." Ea growled. Daniel stepped back as Jack bristled. The Colonel seemed to grow taller as he tensed, one hand moving to his back and his concealed pistol. They watched as Ea spoke. "I seek the chappa'ai. You seek the Oannes key to Omoroca's tomb. Allow me to leave this world and I shall give you the key."
"Leave. Leave the world?" Daniel said incredulously. "On what, a spaceship?"
"The Stargate, Doctor Jackson." The almost forgotten James Doe spoke up. "Our father has created a proud lineage here on Earth, but is limited by the primitive technology of this land. Allow him to return to claim his rightful throne and the key will be yours."
"Stargate? Never heard of it." Jack looked around.
"Join us, Doctor Jackson. I wasn't lying. Your knowledge and that of Myomis could prove invaluable. Allow your uncle to return through the Stargate and you can have access to everything we know, all that we have acquired. You can help us forge an empire in his name." Doe spoke with all the passion of a preacher.
"You're nuts. Both of you." Jack gestured between Ea and Doe.
"I want access through the chappa'ai." Ea rasped.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Uncle, how can you deny this?"
Daniel gave a little grunt, obviously fighting back Myomis.
Jack ducked his head, speaking into his collar and the hidden microphone. "Carter, now would be a really, really good time."
He was rewarded by the sound of a scuffle in the hallway. The icy blonde must have run headlong into Carter and Teal'c. As Doe went for his hidden gun, Jack drew his pistol, pointing it first at Doe and then at Ea.
"Alright, everyone stay calm." He adjusted the grip on his gun.
There was the sound of running feet and then Carter and Teal'c burst into the room, both carrying handguns.
Jack relaxed fractionally.
"Daniel?" Carter asked.
Jack stepped back to look at the archaeologist. He was rigid, fists clenched. A thin line of blood trained from his nose and down to the corner of his mouth.
"Daniel... Myomis, let it go." Jack snapped, unable to keep up the pretence.
Ea's voice rasped hard and harsh in the quiet room. "I killed your mate, dear uncle. Mine to create, mine to possess, mine to destroy. Your children watched, curled up against the wall, her blood staining their pathetic rags."
Jack moved toward Myomis, hoping that Daniel would be able to maintain control, and fearing from the clenched jaw and fists that he could not.
"Myomis. Let it go. He's a Goa'uld, that's what they do."
"Jack." The word was forced out between his teeth, but the Colonel did not miss the accent. Myomis was in the driver's seat.
"Myomis, let Daniel take over." Jack faced Ea, one hand out in front of the man beside him.
Ea, for his part, gave ground, sidling backwards. He gave them a gargoyle grin, sharp fangs protruding from his misshapen mouth. He looked at Sam then. "She said nothing as she died. Silent and proud to the end." He cocked his head, eyes glittering. Myomis's head dropped, and he looked fixedly at the floor, trying to control his breathing.
"It must have been a relief for her." Ea took another step closer to Carter, who took two cautious steps backward, gun aimed dead center on Ea's chest. Myomis's head shot up as Ea approached Sam. "She was weary. I knew this. It was for the best." He brought up his hands in a choking gesture. "It was over so quickly. So easy." Jack looked sideways at Myomis. The Oannes' chest was heaving as he tried desperately not to react. Ea held up the stone piece he had been playing with earlier, swinging it on the end of a thick chain. "This is your key. Give me what I want. I shall win. You know this. I have always won."
"Alright, enough." Jack barked, startling everyone. Ea opened his mouth, and Jack silenced him with a raised finger. "Ah. Shut it. I don't want to hear any more crap from you. We want the key, that's it. There's no way you're getting off this planet, in fact, you'll be lucky if you don't spend the rest of your days in a fish tank in Area 51. Give us the key, no deals."
Ea regarded Jack steadily for a moment, and then turned back to Myomis. With another ghastly smile, he began speaking to the other Oannes in a low, grating voice. Jack understood nothing until the Goa'uld said two names.
"... Meslantaea... Lugal-Irra..."
"No!" Myomis pushed past Jack and threw himself bodily at Ea, slipping under the Goa'uld's first heavy blow to deliver a punch to the ribs. Ea hissed and swung again, his claws catching Myomis's shoulder, dragging halfway down his back. Myomis cried out, but did not stop, kneeing Ea in the belly.
Jack reacted by aiming his sidearm, and Carter followed suit, each trying to get a shot at Ea that would not hit Myomis. Teal'c moved like lightning and with one punch, knocked out Doe. He disarmed the man and tied him up with a cord from a lamp. When he was satisfied, he moved toward Myomis and Ea.
"Daniel, Myomis, get out of there!" Jack yelled. "Ea! Give it up. You can't win this." Jack's jaw tightened as Myomis delivered a punch that should have broken the other Oannes' jaw, but Ea simply turned back with a smile.
Myomis, lost in his anger, darted forward. Ea had strength, but Myomis had more speed and cunning. He kept low and made it past Ea's first strike. As he closed for a second attempt, Ea brought up his hand.
"Dammit!" Jack snapped off a shot, hoping like hell that Myomis stayed out of the way. The bullet glanced off Ea's shoulder, causing the creature to gurgle a warning tone. Neither the shot, nor the warning affected Myomis, who still pressed his advantage. "Teal'c!" Jack yelled. "He's got a-"
Before he could finish the sentence, Ea played his hidden trick, opening his palm to reveal a Goa'uld hand device. Unlike the Goa'uld version, the Oannes hand device did not have finger caps.
With his empty hand, he grabbed Myomis by the nape of the neck, and put the hand device against the other man's chest. Myomis's eyes widened and he twisted frantically as the device discharged.
"Oh God!" Sam snapped off two shots, striking the Goa'uld in the chest both times as Myomis's body slid to the ground. Ea snarled at her. His malformed body was acting like armour, absorbing much of the bullet damage. He lifted his hand and the percussive force slammed into Sam and Teal'c, throwing them backward.
Jack took his chances. He had liberated a sword from a wall display, and slipped into motion behind Ea as the Goa'uld took out Carter and Teal'c. He had no idea if the metal would penetrate the thick hide of the creature any better than the bullets, but he had to try.
"Hey!" He bellowed, trying to surprise Ea as he took aim at Daniel again. Both hands wrapped around the unfamiliar weapon, Jack swung it like a baseball bat, aiming for Ea's torso. Ea shrieked as Jack's sword sunk into his upper arm instead. The Oannes had managed to avoid the brunt of the blow, but the upper six inches had hit him, embedding itself in the bone.
Ea stepped back, jerking the sword from Jack's hand. He grabbed at the weapon and yanked it free, releasing another howl, and crouching over. As his gaze fixed balefully on Jack, Carter and Teal'c crawled forward, attempting to reach Daniel, curled up on his side on the floor.
Sam stroked Daniel's head while Teal'c stood in a wrestler's crouch. With close quarter combat and one man down, guns were too risky. Jack was rocking side to side on the balls of his feet, preparing to dodge. For a moment, the only sound was Carter murmuring softly as she checked Daniel's injuries.
"Head... support neck, no, Daniel, don't move. I just need to look at your chest, stay still. It's okay, it's okay."
"Ow." Daniel wheezed. Jack grimaced, eyes still on Ea. Now the Oannes gives up control. Daniel was wide-eyed, trying ineffectually to fend off Sam's hands. "Jack." He was pleading now. Despite himself, Jack's eyes shot over to Daniel, trying to reassure him.
Ea moved.
Teal'c jumped forward, but the Oannes was gone. Jack spun sideways, trying to avoid the rush, but a clawed hand gripped his shoulder. He grunted as the ribbon device hit his forehead, and then all rational thought disappeared as the device activated.
"O'Neill!" Teal'c called, stepping forward. Jack's knees hit the floor. He managed to get one hand up, wrapping it around Ea's large forearm.
"Back away, Jaffa. Leave my dearest uncle to me, or this one dies." Ea was hissing, eyes flashing.
"T-" Jack tried to speak, mouth working.
"I will not leave you, O'Neill." Teal'c stood straight. "You will release your captive, or-"
"Or nothing, Jaffa! Back away!"
"S- Sam?" Daniel looked around, his tone querulous.
"Hush, Daniel." Sam tried to keep Daniel's gaze on the floor. The younger man stiffened as Jack made another pained noise. He sucked in his breath and tried to move, looking for Jack. "Daniel, please." Sam tried again.
The archaeologist forced himself up on one elbow, despite Sam's attempts to keep him down.
"Ea." He rasped, blood flecking his lips. "Leave him."
The Oannes made a horrible grating noise that the others could only guess was laughter. Jack groaned, a line of blood spilling from his nose.
"Ea!" Daniel's voice changed and Myomis roared back into control.
"Nedu held your keys, uncle. Held them from me. Hid them to the last."
"No." Myomis's voice grew weak, his head sagging forward. He still lay half on his side, arm wrapped around his chest.
"I defeated you. I defeated all of you. In the end, even the mighty Nedu fell at my feet." He looked contemptuously down at Jack, still struggling weakly.
Myomis's eyes squeezed shut and he shook his head. Like Jack, the fight was seeping from his body. His forehead touched the floor, unable to meet the gaze of his tormentor.
Ea turned from his defeated uncle to savour Jack's final moments. In doing so, he committed a fatal error. Teal'c slipped to the side and retrieved Jack's fallen weapon. Without a sound, he picked it up and drove it two-handed into Ea's back. The sharp blade, aided by Jaffa strength, punched through Ea's tough skin and severed his spine. The Oannes's eyes went wide as he crumpled to the ground. Jack slipped from his hand and hit the floor hard.
Teal'c dropped to one knee, checking O'Neill's pulse while Sam eased Myomis back onto his side. Myomis gave a little start, and then opened his eyes. Sam smiled as she recognised the dazed look.
"Daniel, you're back." She touched his hair. "You're okay."
Daniel craned his neck. "Jack?"
Teal'c looked up from the fallen Colonel. "I am sorry, Daniel Jackson. I have killed the Goa'uld Ea, and in doing so, I have killed a member of your family."
Daniel frowned, attempting to focus. "You saved Jack, Teal'c. Ea- all of the Oannes made their choices." He was fading out, head drooping down. "You did the right thing." Daniel's whisper trailed off as he let the pain carry him away.
Carter and Teal'c exchanged glances.
"We need help." Carter straightened up, flipping open a cell phone. "Yeah. Help."
She dialled Janet.
"Fraiser." Janet's voice thrummed with concern.
"Janet, we're in the house. It's clear. We need a team. It-"
Sam's voice cut off a bolt of electricity struck first her, then Teal'c, dropping them in their tracks.
- - - - -
Janet stood at the ready. Hammond had ordered Janet along as medical backup and Janet had brought several of her medical staff with her. They were primarily doctors and nurses, but all were military and all were armed. They had listened, waiting in reserve until Sam's all-clear. When Sam's call cut off unexpectedly, they called Hammond for local backup and then moved in. They would attempt to assess the situation while the four-man team Hammond had on stand-by made it to the back of the mansion.
The medical team made their way into the house and up the hall.
"You there! Freeze!" Janet called out, handgun up, as a figure emerged from a door at the side of the hallway.
It was James Doe, and he was dragging the limp body of Daniel Jackson. He had Daniel by the collar and was dragging the archaeologist along behind him. Doe looked over his shoulder at someone still in the room. "Go!"
Saying that, Doe dropped Daniel, and with a yell, he ran at the medics, his apparently empty hand extended toward them. One of the medics on Janet's right went down as Doe activated his alien weapon. They opened fire as he approached. Janet's second shot took Doe in the upper chest. With wide eyes, he crumpled and fell, dropping to the floor.
Janet held her gun with both hands, covering the fallen man as another medic took the alien weapon away and a third checked on the wounded medic. "Clear." Janet motioned for the others to continue on down the hall, aware now that someone could be lying in wait. The downed medic shook his head, stunned. He waved his hand for them to continue on.
Two medics went into a side door while Janet and the other went down the hall toward Daniel.
"Doctor Jackson?" Janet whispered as she approached, trying simultaneously to check on Daniel and watch for threats. His face and back bloody, he lay perfectly still on the floor. Checking to make sure she was covered, Janet knelt beside Daniel and checked his pulse and respiration. She nodded to the other doctor. He was still alive.
"Doctor Fraiser?" Came a voice from the other room.
Cautiously, Janet stepped over Daniel and went into the other room. Her other two nurses were there, surrounded by the unconscious bodies of the remainder of SG1. There was a thudding down the hall as the backup team arrived.
Once all the new team had checked over the area, Janet took a deep breath. "We're not secure here. Let me call the general and make sure we have enough people to clear this area." Janet pulled out her phone again. "There may still be someone in the house with God only knows what weapons." Saying that, she dialled Hammond and filled him in as the medics took care of SG1 and the backup team kept watch.
- - - - -