Daniel's Journal
I am so very, very tired. I've been here for ages and Janet thought she finally had a cure for this virus thing I have, but the treatment failed. The virus itself actually put a stop to the treatment by making me hurt like crazy and Janet didn't want to risk continuing. We've come across little microbes and possible diseases that could communicate before, but this is the first time I've had one. I'm nervous because we're not entirely sure just how aware this thing is. These little organisms can communicate with one another and with us, but how far will that communication go? Is it rudimentary or are they on a mental par with humans? Will we be able to explain to them that it isn't the best thing for me to have them living inside me? I hope it'll be that easy. Uh-oh. Janet wants to examine me again. Better put this away.
Next Day
Fell asleep during my exam yesterday. Apparently the treatment or the organisms' reaction to it tired me out, because I slept for the rest of the day and all of last night as well as the entire morning today. The Rulers stopped by as I was having brunch (it was really lunch, but it felt like breakfast) to see how I was. My valets told Physician Shea and the Rulers what Janet was trying and now I have two more valets in addition to the first two and Shea made it abundantly clear that Janet is not to try any more treatments on me unless he approves them first. What a brain-dead cretin.
Janet did not take that well and her tirade was a pleasure and a privilege to hear. Even better to hear were Jack's complaints about the fact that I now have four valets who look like they used to be members of SWAT. The first two were bad enough but the four of them together would scare even a Goa'uld. They're big and scary and I have a feeling that they're here to make sure I—and any guests I have—behave. So far they haven't had much to do since Shea wants me to rest today. I get a break from the crazy wedding plans and schedule today, thank goodness. My valets are bustling about the room doing various things but I have a feeling that they're really spying for the Rulers. I really don't trust Lyssa's parents, but I do trust Lyssa.
She came to see me today after I was up and fed. She said she was sorry that I wasn't feeling well but that she hoped I would feel better soon. Jack, Sam and Teal'c gave us a bit of privacy for a while and we played Othello. Lyssa told me about her parents and she said that they're very determined to do what is best for their people. From what I can gather, it's best for their people if I remain here and marry Lyssa. Don't get me wrong, Lyssa is a very good person and I like her quite a bit, but being pressured to marry her after just a few months…just thinking about it gives me a headache. Couldn't they give me some more time to think about this? Maybe a year or two? Or a hundred? I asked Lyssa if she wanted to marry me and she said that she would rather it was me than any of her other choices, and it's not really her choice to get married at all, but it's her duty to marry and have children. She owes it to her people, she said, since there's been a succession worry the last few generations. I think maybe her people owe her a little less pressure since she's done everything she's ever been asked to, but that's just me. It's almost supper time. My friends will be back in a little bit to eat with me and then I think I'll go to bed early. I'm still tired.
Next Day
I'm finally feeling more like myself. Janet told me that she's been running tests on the blood samples she took the other day after the failed test and she says the organisms have replenished themselves. The blood she took just after the failed procedure was full of something she calls "feel-good chemical" and she thinks the viruses put it out after the drip was removed. They haven't tired to communicate with me since the failed procedure and I'm wondering if I should try to talk to them. I'm not sure how much longer I can be here without going crazy. I had all sorts of wedding-related things to do today, along with my future duties as consort. I was presented to the Council, to the University (quite a few people welcomed me back and congratulated me on my engagement, but I could have done without the congrats), and to the people of the settlement. The streets were packed and I was more than a little thankful that I was up on a stairway/balcony. The people cheering could have punctured the atmosphere and I'm kind of surprised it didn't bring the clouds out of the sky. After my presentation I had tea with the Rulers and a very uncomfortable question-and-answer session with them. They were full of questions about me, my family, my work, and my personal values and feelings. As Lyssa's parents, it was their duty to figure all this out before we married. I don't know what purpose it will serve—will ask Lyssa.
Later
I asked Lyssa and she said that the answers to my questions will be entered in the family journal. In future times, she said, parents will be consulting that book to see what kind of consorts were selected in the past for the royal heirs and I guess that future rulers will be using those biographies as a blueprint for who they should choose for their own children. She said that when it came time to choose spouses for our children we'll probably be consulting it.
Hearing Lyssa talk about this made me realize that time is running out. I have to do something.
Later
Talked with Jack, Sam, and Teal'c. We told the Rulers I was going to escort my friends to the Gate so they can go home and then I would be back tonight, but actually, we have a plan. They'll head home and bring back survival gear for me. I'm going to disappear into the wilderness for a while. I left a note for Lyssa, telling her that I'll be fine and that I'll be gone for a while, but I haven't told her where I'll be. After she's been so kind to me I couldn't just leave without a word. My valets—all four of them—were planning to accompany us but I told them that I do not want their company right now. I must have looked deadly serious since they agreed to stay here. Thank goodness, we'll be able to head out without the former SWAT members. I have a backpack so I'd better put this in there. It's almost time to go.
Next Morning
Our plan went off without a hitch. I walked General Hammond, Janet, Jack, Sam, and Teal'c to the Gate, they went through, and Jack, Sam, and Teal'c came back ten minutes later with survival gear for me. They are nothing if not thorough. I have a tent with a rain shield, sleeping bag, several changes of uniform and a spare pair of boots, cold weather gear, first aid kit, fire starter, flashlight, lantern, and batteries for both, knife, pocketknife, zat, lots of rations and water purifiers, and of course, stuff to work on and read. They have their own gear and we'll be camping out—it turns out SG-1 was due for a little down time and my friends have graciously decided to take pity on me and spend it here. General Hammond wished us all luck and expressed his regret that the procedure didn't work, but while I'm camping out Janet has the harder task of trying to figure out this little organism…virus…whatever. I wished Janet luck, thanked the general for his good wishes, and all four of us struck out into the wilderness to find a suitable campsite. It has to be somewhat near the Gate so our radios can pick it up in case the base calls us, but it can't be too easy to find in case the Rulers are looking for us. We've found not a bad site a couple miles from the Gate in something like a hidden glen or valley. We almost walked right past it but Sam noticed something about it and a five-minute walk led us down a tiny pass into this spot. It's definitely idyllic! There's a spring with fresh water not far from our campsite, the drainage is good and the ground is even, and there are trees and the valley walls to shelter us from bad weather. For the next week it'll be just SG-1 in the wilderness and we won't have to worry about being attacked by natives or found by the Goa'uld. The only predators we need to worry about live out on the plains, and we're in the forests. All the better. We can chill out, relax, and just be. No more now. Jack has created dinner—I say 'created' because I don't know just what it is he's done—and is telling me to quit scribbling away and come eat. More tomorrow.
Next Day
Very nice day. We slept late and had a late breakfast or an early lunch. Either way, it was food. We spent a lot of time today just hanging out and relaxing. We played a few board games that Jack has brought along and Teal'c brought a portable DVD player and some DVDs so we watched a movie this afternoon. It was a sight, all of us crowded around that little player! Had a nap, which was very nice, and now Sam is making dinner. I tried to help, but she told me that wasn't necessary. Soon it will be time to eat and then we'll probably sit around the campfire talking and telling stories. I wish every trip we take offworld could be this relaxing.
Next Day
We stayed up late stargazing last night and this morning we explored our little valley. On the opposite side of the valley there's a waterfall and a very small lake. We went for a swim once we checked the water for any nasty little surprises and we swam so long that we all got a little sunburned. After our swim we had lunch and then lazed about our campsite for a while. After that Teal'c gave us lessons in tracking and stealth. I thought Jack was good at being unobtrusive and, well, sneaky, but Teal'c is a master at it. He can walk into some bushes and disappear. I did okay except that some dust got into my nose and I sneezed. According to Jack the bush I was hiding in jerked when I sneezed. Tonight Teal'c brought out a surprise for supper--hot dogs and s'mores! The packing material the Air Force uses to preserve food is incredible, the hot dogs were perfect! I ate four of them and had three s'mores before I was stuffed. Now we're all gathered around the fire chatting. It's been a long, full day and I'm more than a little sleepy.
Next Day
Woke up this morning beside the burned-out campfire wrapped up in my sleeping bag. Turns out I fell asleep and no one had the heart to wake me up in order to get me to go to the tent. It also turns out that no one wanted to go to their tents--we all slept out under the stars. Had this book on my chest when I woke up and Jack's still laughing about my hugging it like a teddy bear. We're planning on swimming again this morning and then after that we'll be exploring a little more. Sam estimates the valley to be about 5 miles long and 2 wide with lots of little glens and natural pockets along the walls. She thinks the valley itself could have been formed from a combination of glacier and seismic activity. However it was formed, I like it here.
Later
Just had a call from home on our radios. Janet has nothing new to report but she is still working on the problem. General Hammond hopes that we're having fun and that we're all fine. We radioed back that things were good, we'd found a good campsite (with good radio reception!) and we were enjoying down time. Today's our fifth day out. My friends have three more days to spend here before they have to go home. We'd better make these last two days count.
Next Day
Soooo tired. Jack led us on a hike to do a little more exploring. Had a swim this afternoon. MREs for supper. Had a chalk-bag war (like paint ball except we throw chalk bags at one another to make a hit) after supper. I have three bruises from chalk-bag hits and I'm more than ready for bed.
Next Day
Cooler today, so we didn't go swimming. Instead, we lazed about again and played games or talked. Sam found a stand of conifer trees and brought back a lot of things that look like pine cones. While we talked, she made pine cone animals and she gave me one that looks like a squirrel. I've put him just outside my tent door so now I have a guard squirrel. So far it's been quiet--no sign of any searchers. I hope it stays this way.
--
"It's been days," Mara complained. "I don't believe this. He still has so much to learn in order to be ready for the wedding! The other prayers, the dances, the vows... We explained everything to him very clearly and I'm sure he understood us, so why has he run off?"
"Mother, he told us that he didn't want to get married," Lyssa said, watching her parent pace back and forth across the room. "We didn't appear to be listening, so I guess he left because of that."
"Just because he says he doesn't want to marry doesn't mean that he actually doesn't," Mara insisted. "I'm certain that he'll be perfectly happy to marry once he sees all of the preparations we've made for him. Making him feel welcome and comfortable is the least we can do for a new son-in-law."
"He'll be an incredibly spoiled son-in-law, then," Stane chuckled. "Larger quarters with a private garden, a study in the University, a personal car, new clothing, gifts to welcome him to the family...Ah, Mara, you do like to indulge people, don't you?"
"Why not?" Mara said, shrugging. "It's not every day that our daughter takes a husband and we gain a son-in-law. What worries me is where he is. He won't have left the planet since he has the virus, but where else could he go?"
"I have a feeling that he's set up a campsite somewhere and he's hiding until after the wedding date. Either that or until his friends find a cure for the virus. What amazes me the most is that they don't seem to accept that there is no cure for it. It's just not possible."
Mara shook her head and sat down, much to Lyssa's relief. "I think it's only a matter of time before the teams we've sent out find him. When they find him they'll bring him back."
Lyssa sighed. "Mother, what if he doesn't want to come back?"
Mara stood and crossed to her daughter's side. "Lyssa, you are a bright, intelligent, and warm-hearted person. He would be a fool to refuse to marry you. All he needs is time to get used to the idea."
"He's already had quite a bit of time," Lyssa reminded her. "He doesn't seem any more used to the idea than he was at the beginning."
"So he needs more time," Stane said, holding up his hands in a what-can-you-do gesture. "What if we pushed back the wedding another month? It would give him more time to get used to this idea and it would take off some of the pressure. Maybe we can ease him into his new duties during that time so the transition won't be too hard on him. What do you think, daughter?"
Lyssa gazed out the window to the gardens beyond. She remembered walks she'd had with Daniel outside while he was still getting well from his illness and she remembered the way she'd been so happy to be near him. She remembered his smile, the sound of his voice, and the feel of his hand as he took hers to help her over a rough patch in the path. She remembered how he looked while he was sleeping, when he was absorbed in a book or a game, or when he was daydreaming. The sound of his laughter, the sight of him, the light in his eyes. She thought about the other men her parents had considered and remembered how frightened she'd been that they would choose one of them. She could remember how relieved she was that they'd chosen Daniel. She knew that he didn't want to marry, but maybe...Maybe... "Yes, I think that's a good idea."
A knock on the door brought her back down to earth.
"Yes?" Mara said.
The door opened, revealing one of Daniel's valets. "Rulers. I think we've found him."
Mara let out a sigh of relief. "Where?"
"In the forest. It looks like he and his friends have been camping in one of the deeper valleys. It's a miracle we found them at all, given the area they're camped in. Shall we bring him back now or would you like us to wait for a different time?"
"Immediately," Stane and Mara said together.