"Call the priest." The trainer ordered. "Whatever that is, it's unholy." He was looking at 'Junior' removed from the belly pouch. "It's a snake. A white snake, but it's a snake." He looked at the doctor with his hand in the belly pouch rummaging around. The doctor pulled his hand out dripping with the fluid in which the symbiote nourished.

"I couldn't feel another one. It's the only one. Let's have a look at it." His assistant held up the offending snake. It writhed wanting to go back into the pouch. "I don't like it. Obviously, it lives in there. But why?" The doctor had trained under the best medical minds of his day. He was very logical.

"I don't care why, Doc. Either put it back or kill it. But get that thing away from me." The trainer was really upset.

"Stick it in the glass jar with the lid over there. I want to scoop out some of that fluid too." He reached back into the pouch and cupped his hand to get some of the liquid. "Hold the jar up so I can get some of this in it."

He tried to get enough to partly fill the jar. Then he had the assistant stick the symbiote in it. Quickly they closed the lid. Junior was not happy trying to sink into the goop. "It wants to swim in it. Let's fill it up with some water." They ran some water into it and fastened the lid back. Then the doctor poked a couple of air holes in the top. He wiped his hands and then held up the container. He was fascinated. "I believe it's alive on its own. But must need to be in that pocket." He continued to stare at it.

"You can look at it all you want. I'm sending for a priest."

A while later, the trainer returned with the director of the facility. They looked at the thing in the jar. And then they had the doctor demonstrate the pouch. Teal'c was coming around, so the director left and ordered a priest fetched. Teal'c woke up to see the doctor tapping on the jar trying to make the symbiote move.

"You must return that to me or I will die."

"Why do you think that? Your wound will heal now. I saved you."

"Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you do not return it soon, I will die."

"I don't know what superstitions you've been told. Barbarians have some strange practices to be sure. But I can tell you that science will replace superstition. And our people will begin a great age of enlightenment. We shall bring that knowledge to your people someday." He went back to staring at the symbiote.

Teal'c tried to rise up and found himself bound fast. "You must put it back or I will die. I am a Jaffa. The symbiote is necessary for me to live. It acts as my immune system."

"Eh, what's that?" The doctor was losing interest in this babble.

"It is what keeps me from getting sick. The symbiote keeps me from getting sick. I am not human. The symbiote is how I live."

"Nonsense. You have been told a pack of fairy tales, nasty fairy tales. But don't worry, I can fix the wound. You'll be fine in no time." And with that, he left the room with the jar.


Part 13- Day Nine

"I don't understand it," the gladiator's doctor announced. "Everything I've done for him has just made him worse."

"Will he live? We've got a huge investment in this one. We paid three times the going price for a big buck like this." The school's director was worried. He had investors who would want answers.

"We cleaned out the wound carefully. We used the modern antiseptics like pure alcohol. He screamed but it was for his own good." The doctor consulted his book. "Then we rinsed it out with boiled water. Then we carefully stapled it shut. You can see the edges are starting to close."

"Then maybe there is something to the man's claim. He needs that thing."

"Well the creature is dying too." The doctor looked up as the local priest came in. "Ah, maybe you can take an augur to tell us if he will live."

The priest took one look at Teal'c and moved to examine the gold tattoo. Then he examined the wound. "What else did you do here?" The doctor explained everything. "And how did you come by this man?" That too was explained. "Were there more like him?"

"Well, there were more criminals that came with him. There were two other men and a woman. But they've been sold off elsewhere."

"Did they also have this marking?"

"Not that we heard but we didn't ask." The director was beginning to have a bad feeling about this. "We bought him six days ago and he has been here for four days and some today. We were going to use him in the Games next week, not for a death match. First, we wanted to showcase him to build up some interest so the betting would be better when we did offer him a real match. He's very strong. And he trained with someone previously. He was some kind of warrior."

"I see. This is very bad. You have no idea how bad. Listen to me. Keep him tied up like this. Let only yourselves enter. No one else should be allowed to come near, except a cleaning woman under your own supervision. If he dies, he dies. But try to keep him alive. Send for a master priest. And send word to the Temple of the Sacred Ring. I want the High Priest to know. I need paper to draw a sketch of the tattoo and the wound and the creature. And send it along too. I warn you, do not let him out of this cell. Post guards, the biggest you've got."

"Why are you so alarmed, priest?"

"He is not human. He is Jaffa."

"The man said that too. He said that exact same thing!"

"Yes, and you should have believed him." The priest turned to the director, "this is more urgent than anything you have ever done. Call out the Legion."

"Please, Priest, tell us, what is a Jaffa?"

"A servant of the evil gods. And those that came with him are servants of evil too. I fear the Evil Ones have returned." The priest announced in stern tones, "you must not tell anyone else until the Master Priest confirms it and tells you what to do."


At Ellie's estate, Jack made a beeline for Major Griff. All of Jack's instincts were screaming at him to do something about Teal'c. The team had been separated too long. Sam was in the hospital with Ellie's people somewhere else on the planet. Her recovery was the least of the problem. What happened to her was a symptom of the larger problem. Jack had no faith in Ellie's ability to protect his people. And he didn't like the fact that she would not bring him into the efforts to do it.

On the other hand, she had offered him an incredible opportunity to join her operation. Jack tried to imagine what that would mean for Earth. But any which way he looked at it, the immediate problem had to be solved first. And the first step was to find Griff and work out the details of his plan. Jack saw Griff enter the tack room of the barn. Ellie had ordered him to make repairs to anything they could find while they waited for her transport to arrive in orbit. But the ship would not arrive for nearly two months. Jack had to act sooner.

Entering the barn, Jack let his eyes adjust to the dim light. He saw Griff over by the harnesses and the yokes. "Major, need some help?"

"Sure, Colonel. I've made some progress on the riggings for the reapers, but she's got a new McCormick reaper. They aren't convinced it will do the job, so they want the horses to be able to conduct the harvest if the reaper breaks down." He chuckled. "They tell me she bought it on her travels last year. She had it made more like it. I saw one once in a museum."

"You know how to work one?"

"Yeah, I grew up on a Kansas wheat farm. But we had big combines you drove around in fleets to do the job. It was all agribusiness even back then. Eventually, my folks sold out to one of the big conglomerates and retired to Florida." Griff moved over to examine more of the leather trappings. "But Ellie's right to have back up. If you don't get the wheat in promptly, the heads 'shatter' and drop the seeds on the ground. You can never recover them. I figure the harvest is about three weeks away. What she really needs is a modern threshing machine."

"Yes, I grew up in Minnesota where the southern part also had the wheat harvest. The wheat harvest was all anyone would talk about as soon as school let out. But I lived too far north to really appreciate it. The mills were up closer to us because of the railroads and the highways." Jack looked around at all the gear. "Anyway, I want to talk to you about Teal'c.

"What about him?"

"I have a plan. There's no way I'm leaving him to these primitives any longer. I figure we can scout the perimeter or at least the road leading up here and grab him off the wagons. Then she can beam us out."

"I thought that's what she refuses to do. She doesn't want any casualties."

"Yes, well, it's not her plan. Anyway we can zat them."

"Yes, sir. But we only have one zat." Griff set the harness down.

"She's got another in her bedroom."

"Ok, we scout the route. They don't move him for another six days. It takes two days to ride to the Coliseum and they have to recover from the journey. Maybe they'll do it in five days. We know the route from this morning's briefing. She showed us the terrain, the distances, the whole shebang. Sure, we can do it, sir."

"What about the school itself. I was thinking we should start a diversion outside or get in somehow."

"We have to locate which cell he's in, take out all the guards, and get out. Is she going to support us? I mean with the transportation."

"Don't worry about that part. I can handle her."

"But if you are going too, how will that work?" Griff looked at Jack expectantly. Jack gave him an evil grin. "Oh, that'll piss her off for sure."

"So what? Once it's done and over, that's the end of it. We wait it out at her base."

"Ok, we need intel on how many they've got in there and routines. It's a job for the Lieutenant and Lewis. We need to use horses as a secondary plan to get there and away."

"Yes, getting away is the problem. You have your communicators?"

"Yes, sir. And all our gear."

"Maybe we don't try to get away. We take over the facility. Then she'll have to beam us out. I'll tell her once you are in position. Then she'll have to give us back up."

"She might just beam us out before we can do the job."

"I hadn't thought about that. She would too." Jack quietly considered the matter. "Send the men to do the recon on the road at least. By then, I'll know if Ellie will help."

"Yes, sir. The horses need a workout today anyway." Griff grinned at Jack who nodded his approval. He planned to force Ellie into a situation where she would have to support his actions. Not the most diplomatic solution, but it was effective.

Trusting her came hard.


In town, Daniel's day began on its regular schedule. He was tired and kept yawning. At least the other servants were getting used to him. The cook would even let him sit near her at the table. He wasn't banished to the far end or outside anymore. Today, he had an assignment from Jack. That kept him thinking, in between yawns. The boys would not be ready for class for another hour. So Daniel sat at the table planning the lessons for the day.

"What have you there, Daniel?" The cook asked over her cup of tea.

"Lessons in mathematics, you see the boys are behind in that subject. So we are doing some catch up." He made certain to smile at her. She was warming up to him.

"Mathematics, oh, so you really are a teacher?" She looked with interest at the notations. "I didn't believe it at first."

"Yes, yes, I am."

"You went to school and everything?"

"Sure. I even graduated from the University."

"Now, you don't have to exaggerate. It's good enough you can do sums. The boys haven't had a good teacher in a while. The old one never sat here and planned anything." She looked over at the writings more. "The Patron was so angry at him that he sent the man off to his factory. Poor soul, he was harmless, just incompetent."

"What sort of factory?" Daniel had an opening. He had to find out what these people made and what they mined. "I mean what do they make?"

"Oh our patron makes iron and steel. He's a very wealthy and powerful patrician." She said it with some pride. "We are very fortunate to be in his household."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Why is that? Oh, you must have heard of Aurelius Iron and Steel?" Daniel looked baffled hoping she would continue. "It's the largest manufacturer in the Empire. The plant is down the river a ways."

"Really? I didn't realize we were so...fortunate. But what happened to the other teacher?"

"Oh, he's probably dead by now. The Patron was so angry he sent the man to the slag heaps. The man never did a hard day's work in his life. He couldn't survive that. Hands like silk he had. Drinking problem he had too. That's what did him in." She was feeling talkative. Daniel only encouraged her.

"But we are more fortunate, right?"

"What's the matter with you? Of course we are. We have the best of everything here. I've been in service my whole life. I've seen how other households are run. The servants get the dregs of the leftovers. Not here, no way, we are treated well and fed good food, dressed for the weather, and our quarters are decent too. You really are a barbarian if you don't know the difference." She was getting irritated. Daniel acted quickly to soothe her.

"I just meant that as a statement more than a question. We are much more fortunate than most. I was just wondering to myself of course, having always been a teacher, what I should tell the boys about industry. I mean they should know how important and successful their father is and why." He looked at a slightly mollified Cook. "For example, if he makes iron and steel, he must need something to burn to make it hot enough. Now coal will work. Does he also have a coal mine?"

"For sure and he does. The really bad criminals get sent to the mines. Runaway slaves are sent to the mines, too." She gave him a significant look. Daniel ignored it.

"Really, he owns a mine? Wow. He really is rich. But how does he get the coal from the mine to the factory?"

"It comes down the river by barge. They unload it at the docks where the furnaces are close by. He owns an iron mine too." She was preening over being so knowledgeable.

"What else does he mine? Any naquadah or trinium?"

"Never heard about those things. His friends have other mines for copper, silver, gold, chemicals, and things like that. And of course there are the salt mines back up towards the High Mountains. But this household only uses sea salt brought up river specially." She was very proud of that fact. "This household only has the best. And so we get the best too. Although I have heard that Matrona Eleanor runs a nice household. Her cook and I are friends. Now that's a strange woman. Who would have believed she would ever buy a slave?" The woman chuckled.

"What's so funny about that?"

"She is an abolitionist, or so she has always proclaimed. It doesn't make her popular but she's never cared. And now, did you see the handsome man she bought? Everyone is talking." Cook just snickered. "I guess principles go out the window when you REALLY want something!" And she got up tittering. "I saw his hands. He's never done a day of hard work in his life. And I don't think he ever will now, the way SHE looks at him." Daniel egged her on by seeming impressed. She leaned over to Daniel, "the cook there tells me she sleeps with him every night and even has him eating at the table with her. Serves him herself, the lady does." And she left in hoots of laughter.

Daniel looked down and had to grin too. He remembered the night he and Janet read the transcript of Ellie's sodium pentothal interrogation in the hospital after Jack had rescued her. And he remembered how Janet acted the part of Ellie. They hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. There was only one thing on Ellie's mind, sex with Jack. Of course, Jack didn't know he knew. But it was obvious to everyone who saw them together. Ellie had it bad for Jack, lucky man.

In the house, Daniel went into the library where the master kept the books. He perused through the titles looking for information on mines. There was a whole section. Daniel pulled out a few to skim the contents. Nothing indicated these folks mined naquadah or trinium. Most of the books discussed the usual suspects anyone would mine. He was so engrossed that he didn't hear the Patron enter. The man watched Daniel for a few moments noting that the man really could read and digest information quickly.

"Interesting choice of topic," the Patron mentioned aloud.

"Oh yes, well, the information is well organized and fairly accurate considering the tools available..."Daniel trailed off thinking. "I wonder if they have a reference to minerals extracted in general. Although, this one has a few besides the usual. Do you know if there is one on early mining operations that would tell me what was mined say 2,000 years ago?"

The Patron considered the request. Clearly this man did not know he should have assumed a more respectful manner but he wasn't being rude exactly. The Patron had seen scholars absorbed like that many times.

"And why would you want to know that?"

"I was planning on a lesson to explain what you as their father does with his factories and mines and why it is so important. I wanted to start in the beginning and work forward. I hope you don't mind my using the books here." Daniel suddenly remembered to lower his eyes. The man considered the request.

"You have permission." The Patron opened a cabinet. "Here is the sort of book you want. It is rare, so be careful with it." Daniel received a very old book. Looking through it he realized that there were pictures of Jaffa holding staff weapons at the entrance to a mine. The Patron noticed his interest. "That is a print of some temple paintings. Apparently, our ancestors knew about mines and how to run them. The powerful figures holding the clubs are larger than the slaves who work for them. It was an ancient representational method."

"What were they mining back then? It doesn't say." Daniel turned a few pages lost in thought.

"A mineral that the gods supposedly wanted." The man opened another book. "It seems silly to think that gods would need anything we could provide." He checked Daniel's reaction. There was only vague amusement. "Where are you from?"

"Oh, someplace very far away. You've never heard of it."

"Try me."

"Well, we call it Colorado."

"The color red? That's an unusual name for a place. You come from 'Red?'" He laughed. "That's as good as you could do?"

Daniel saw the joke. "Well, actually it's the name of the river that flows through it. Red sandstone washes down the river making it look 'red.' Since the river is named the 'Colorado' the area is also called the same." He grinned realizing how silly that must sound. "I live in Colorado Springs."

"Red Springs. That's still not much of a name. Why did you come here?"

"Thank you, thank you for asking. We tried to explain before. We were just exploring, my friends and I. It's what we do. We try to learn and exchange our knowledge for other knowledge."

"Why? What were you trying to learn at the Temple where you were caught?"

"We were just curious. We realized it was very old. We just wanted to see it. I study old things. I'm an archaeologist."

"Of course you are."

"My university degree is in Archaeology."

"Which University?"

"Columbia University in New York City. But I doubt you've heard of it."

"Perhaps I have, Dr. Jackson."

"Really."

"It's north of Central Park at 126th street in Morningside Heights. I believe I took the 'A' Train."


Jack strolled through the compound trying to look nonchalant. At the moment, every aspect of the place needed review. He had been told that if he left without permission he was on his own. Knowing more about Ellie, he knew she meant it. So, how to get permission? Maybe he should take Dru to the doctor rather than wait for the guy to show up? Then he could make a detour. So he headed off to have a look at her.

"Hey, how's the kid doing?" Jack spoke softly to Julia who was putting a cold towel on Dru.

"She's calmed down for the moment, haven't you Dru? Look who's here to see you."

Dru's eyes opened wide. She was exhausted from her struggles during the last round of hallucinations. Jack sat down on the chair Julia got up to give him. He sat quietly for a moment.

"Julia, don't go."

"I'm here."

"I hear you had a bad dream. Feeling better?" Dru regarded him silently. "I've had some bad dreams in my time, believe me. I had one so real one night I fell out of bed. Yes, that's right. I had a dream I was ice skating and fell. Next thing I knew, my head hit the floor and my feet tumbled over my head. I felt pretty silly since someone was watching." Dru gulped. Jack smiled and continued softly, "Yeah, and she said, 'Jack does this happen often?' I was so embarrassed I didn't know what to say sitting on the floor, so I started laughing. I mean it was pretty funny." Jack smiled his most charming smile and cocked his head for a reply. The girl still regarded him somberly. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Ok, well shake it off, Sparky. It was just a dream."

"No, it wasn't. I know Jack. I know."

"What?"

"I know." Dru sat up a bit, never taking her eyes off of him. "You will kill me because I know."

"Dru, it was just a dream, a bad dream. Forget about it. It's a nice day outside. The sunshine will help." Jack held out his hand. "Staying in here solves nothing. Truce?"

"He's right, Dru. Sitting in here solves nothing. You need to get over this. Go outside. You can sit by the fountain. And the air will do you good." Julia motioned for the girl to get up. She shrunk back a little. "Oh stop it, Dru. Nothing's going to happen just sitting outside the door. This is enough foolishness."

Julia tried her aggravated tone. One of the other maids piped up as well. So Dru and Jack went outside to sit in the sun by the fountain. And everyone noticed as they were supposed to.


That man is going to be the end of me. Ellie stared into her messages wondering how this happened. She finally had him reined in and now this. Ellie put her head in her hands and sighed deeply. There was no way he would be contained anymore. She debated sending him to the base and keeping him there. But the truth was that she agreed that as a military man he had his uses, many uses. Better to get things in order before I tell him.I knew he would do something stupid for sure, and he did. So Ellie spent another hour on the problem to have a plan nearly ready with assets being brought to bear before she called Jack into her office.

It was nearly lunchtime whenshe received the kicker. The Emperor himself had just disembarked in town. He would stay a night before proceeding to the Temple of the Sacred Ring. Great, General Hammond was scheduled to contact her tomorrow night. He would activate the "Sacred Ring" again freaking out the locals who would include the damn Emperor. It was a bad day.

Ellie was angry beyond description. And as luck would have it, Jack came strolling in through the private garden. Those doors to the garden were open for the breeze. All the other staff knew not to interrupt her when her main office door was locked. He took one look at her and knew something was amiss.

"What?"

"What yourself."

"Whatcha doing?" Jack tried to be cheerful...and charming. He just poured it on. Ellie watched the whole performance thinking here it comes. He did something even worse.

"Ok, what did you do, Jack?"

"Do?" He asked innocently, doodling dust that wasn't there on the tabletop.

"What part of 'don't do something stupid' did you do?"

"Nothin'." He smiled at her, exuding charm. "So, lunch?"

"So, Lieutenant Marks and Sgt. Lewis are on a pony ride to nowhere?"

Ouch, she knew. Damn she was good.

"I don't know what you mean."

Ellie got up and casually wandered over to him, leaned over with a smile as if to give him a kiss and grabbed what was left of his short silver hair by the roots.

"Ow!" She jerked his head back from behind. "LET GO!" He reached back for her but she twisted away. Then she let go as suddenly as she grabbed him, smacking the back of his head with an open palm. Jack rubbed his head vigorously to make it stop hurting.

"You dumb sonofabitch!"

"Ellie!" He stood up so she couldn't reach his hair again. "What'd you do that for?"

"And I'll do a lot worse. How dare you lie to me! You and your male bravado are going to get us all killed!" She was really furious. So she lowered her voice so he would have to listen really carefully. "I told you to let me do my job. But no, you were going to break him out yourself. And now, the Great Colonel Jack O'Neill... SCREWED UP!"

"What?"

"Shut up, Colonel O'Neill! Your boys were just arrested by the Legion, RIDING MY HORSES!"

Uh oh. Oh no. Oops. Um, how do I handle her now?

"Can't you just beam them out...and the horses too?"

Ellie looked at him as if he were a retarded child.

"Sure, Jack, sure. All my HORSES have implants...not!" She took a breath. "The brand has been identified already. The Legion is on the way here. And if that isn't bad enough, the Emperor just arrived in town to make a pilgrimage to the Sacred Ring. Because as Pontifex Maximus, he has to determine why the thing keeps turning on and spewing out UAVs. And tomorrow night, General Hammond is scheduled to do it again. But, no, don't stop there! It gets better."

"Oy."

"Be quiet and listen for a change, Colonel, because this is real trouble." Ellie listened for a moment to be certain none of the other servants had come. She checked her sensors for anyone in the perimeter and was satisfied. "Do I have your attention? Good. Because your precious Teal'c has just been identified as a Jaffa. Even now a message has been sent by carrier pigeon to the High Priest of the Temple. NO, we couldn't shoot it down in time. Just to keep this interesting for you, the priests still know what a Jaffa is. And here's the kicker. It's so lovely. They have removed his snake and stuck it in a jar. Then they sewed up his belly pouch. Teal'c is dying. And the really interesting part is that an entire cohort of the Legion now surrounds the gladiator school. And how was your morning, asshole?"