Teal'c was forced to keep his eyes on the ground as he attempted to follow the footprints. Major Carter trailed behind and from the hesitation in her gait Teal'c knew that this was the last place she wanted to be. He sympathised with her. Leaving O'Neill behind wasn't something he would ever feel comfortable with, but orders were orders. O'Neill would know that his condition would only slow them down. If they were to save his life, then they needed to get him to shelter… but they had to find it first.
The uneven snow coverage made the task that much more difficult. Patches of bare rock were extensive enough to cause Teal'c some concern. He couldn't afford to lose the trail. He was lucky the seasons were turning and a little vegetation was starting to appear. A crushed flower signalled the direction the owner of the footprints had taken. Teal'c crouched down for a moment, taking the damaged bloom between his fingers.
"What have you found," Major Carter asked.
He held up his hand, requesting her silence. Teal'c wasn't sure that the tracks would continue along the ridge. Looking down, he could see rocks that had been dislodged, as if someone had scrambled downwards. Whoever it was would have to be sure on his feet. Scree running was not for the faint hearted.
"It is this way," he decided.
Without hesitation, Teal'c took a step down the slope. His feet slipped out from under him and he slid a few feet before he managed to halt his fall.
"Teal'c!" Major Carter called out, "are you okay?"
"I am well, Major Carter," he shouted back.
There was another path, running just below the ridge. Teal'c judged that it would be impossible to see from above.
"There is another way," he called up.
"Give me a second," Major Carter replied
She managed to descend in a far more graceful fashion. Her nimble feet barely seemed to touch the unstable surface.
"It goes back that way," she said.
Teal'c realised that she was correct, the path did indeed return in the direction from which they had just come. It then swung around and meandered down to the U-shaped valley below. Following it was not easy. Teal'c felt the strain in his knees and his shins as they descended. There were several footprints and he was reassured that they were indeed heading in the correct direction.
"Bingo," Major Carter breathed as they reached the valley floor.
The house was made of stone. It blended so well with the face of the cliff that even up close it was difficult to discern. The most heartening sight of all was the smoke drifting up from the chimney.
"Let's hope someone's home," Major Carter said.
"Indeed."
They must have been expected, because the door swung open before they had chance to knock. The man was of indeterminate age. His lean form and weather beaten face were those of someone who had lived all of his life in these mountains.
"Go get you friend," he said, "I fear he does not have much time."
"I will bring O'Neill," Teal'c replied without hesitation.
He didn't know how this man had realised that they needed his help, but Teal'c believed his claim. If this man was a seer then he deserved a certain measure of respect. There was no doubt that O'Neill was gravely ill. Even without prompting, Teal'c would have hurried to bring his friend to this rough shelter.
Climbing back up the slope was no easier than the descent. Even though his symbiote gave him strength, Teal'c had to overcome his need for speed and take a slow steady pace. They had been gone less than an hour, but he could see that O'Neill's condition had deteriorated. Upon seeing Teal'c, Daniel Jackson hurried to meet him,
"I can't wake him up," he said, his words tinged with panic.
"Assist me," Teal'c ordered.
Between them, they managed to hoist O'Neill onto Teal'c shoulders. The fear that their friend would die was a real one. Even as they traversed the difficult path, Teal'c wondered if there were not already too late. By the time they reached the cottage, he could no longer tell if O'Neill was breathing.
"Rest him here," the man said, indicating a cot in the corner of the single room. "Don't worry, your friend will not die."
"He won't?" Daniel Jackson questioned.
"No, this is not his time."
"But you said …," Major Carter interrupted.
"I know, but now he is here his future has changed."
&&&
Daniel wasn't certain exactly what their new 'friend' had done but Jack was definitely breathing more easily. Being in the warm and propped up on pillows certainly had something to do with it. If he just looked a little less grey … Daniel yawned. He was starting to realise that Jack wasn't the only one who needed sleep.
Teal'c had already sunk himself in kelnorim. Sam was dozing in a chair next to Jack's bed so Daniel thought that he should probably try to stay awake. Just in case their host turned out to be an axe wielding maniac. The man was pottering around the room, clearing up the remains of their supper. In an attempt to keep himself alert, Daniel got up to help.
"There is no need," the man said.
"It's only fair," Daniel replied, "you made dinner."
They worked in silence for a few moments, before Daniel ventured,
"I didn't catch your name."
"That was because I didn't tell you. Your friend's condition was of more concern than introductions."
Sam, Daniel noticed, had roused herself and was listening to their conversation with interest.
"And?" Daniel pushed.
"Soren."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Daniel Jackson."
"I know."
Soren smiled, clearly amused by Daniel's confusion.
"Some believe that the history of the universe has already been written," he said, "I am one of the few who know this to be true."
"Once Colonel O'Neill was brought here, you told us his future had changed," Sam said.
"Quantum physics deals with probabilities. Once he was here, I knew he would not die."
"Excuse me?" Daniel questioned.
"You send a photon through two slits and it creates and interference pattern. You place a detector at one of the slits and the interference pattern disappears," Sam said.
"Still not getting it."
She gave a little huff of annoyance, an expression that was usually reserved for Colonel O'Neill.
"The photon takes every possible path simultaneously," she explained, "but when we make the observation we change the nature of its journey. All the others paths cancel each other out."
Daniel just nodded and smiled. Soren, however, seemed to understand.
"I see those paths," he said, "I observe."
"And set out futures?" Sam breathed.
"Yes."
"How?" Daniel demanded, "How can one man have so much power?"
"A gift?" Soren smiled. "If you are looking for a more scientific explanation, then I am afraid you will be disappointed. Perhaps it is something in my genetic make-up, a resonance within my DNA?"
But Daniel could sense a deep sadness beneath the jovial exterior. What must it be like, he wondered, to know such terrible things about everyone you met? Was that why this man had chosen such a solitary existence?
"And now you want me to predict your deaths," Soren said.
"No… no… not unless you want to."
Daniel didn't want to admit that this was exactly what had been going through his mind.
"They all ask the same questions," Soren replied.
"There have been others?" Sam asked.
"Yes."
"From the prison colony?"
"Some… and some seek me out for other reasons. True seers are rare, even amongst my people."
"Who exactly are your people?"
But Daniel thought he already knew. There were legend of those who had once lived in Sumeria, who had been experimented on by the 'Gods'. They had left with their 'masters' and come here. Then the population had split once again when the Arkkadians had left. The war of which Verlan had spoken?
"Someone mentioned a war?" he said.
"We were told the surface was decimated," Sam added.
"And so it appears."
Before Daniel could question the ambiguous statement, Jack caused a diversion by suddenly waking up with a chest rattling cough. He was sitting up in bed, blue in the face as he struggled to draw breath. Soren moved quickly to the stove, where a kettle was boiling. He poured the water into a mug and carried to the suffering man.
"Drink this," Soren urged.
It was a testament to how bad Jack was feeling that he didn't complain.
"Tastes like crap," he managed to say after he had downed the liquid.
"He's getting better," Daniel muttered to Sam.
&&&
Jack was determined not to push his recovery this time. He knew he'd been very lucky not to succumb to the pneumonia. Soren was being a gracious host, but Jack didn't want to outstay their welcome. The man was spending more and more time outside, almost as if their presence was uncomfortable to him. Daniel had mentioned something about Soren being able to predict the future and Carter had even added some kind of technobabble to back him up. Jack, however, remained unconvinced. He was grateful to Soren, there was no doubt about that, but he refused to buy into the man's mystical persona.
The location was beautiful Jack affirmed on the first day he spent out of bed. He could see himself retiring to a place like this. It made him kind of homesick for Minnesota, and the small town where he had grown up. Jack owned a cabin up there. Somewhere he liked to go and fish. It was only now that he was light years away that he realised he hadn't been there in far too long. The trouble was that it was a lonely place and, as much as he appreciated solitude, sometimes Jack wanted someone else there.
Of course, there was the whole being trapped on an alien planet that stood between him and his favourite fishing spot. They would leave as soon as he was well enough. They had to. As much as he liked the scenery, Jack wanted to go home. One night, after they had eaten, he broached the subject of finding a way out of here.
"I will show you the path," Soren agreed.
"Is it far?" Carter asked.
Her concern for Jack's health was both flattering and, if he were honest, slightly annoying.
"Two days walk," Soren said. "Since you have the capability to operate our systems, a second car will take you to the next gate."
Jack felt all eyes rest on him.
"What?" he demanded.
"You are one of us," Soren attempted to explain.
"One of what?"
"Our masters modified some of us, made us better…"
"And then they left," Daniel said quietly.
"Leaving us to fight, to die."
"The war."
"Yes. There were more of them, but our minds were stronger. Thanks to the modifications our masters had made some of us were able to influence their thoughts.
We made them leave."
"By making them think this planet was ruined," Carter said.
Soren nodded. Although this must have happened centuries ago, Jack couldn't help feeling that the man regretted the decision.
"How does this relate to O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
But Jack already knew the answer.
"When I was first captured," he ventured, "they said they hadn't seen my kind for a thousand years. That I was advanced in some way…"
His voice trailed away as both Carter and Daniel were looking at him with a certain amount of scepticism.
"We all came for Earth originally," Jack finished, feeling the need to defend his position.
"I suppose there could be something about your genetic structure," Carter said.
"And the same trait would occasionally show up in the Arkkadians," Daniel added.
"Yes," Solen agreed, "others have passed this way. Some have been gifted, some have not. "
"What's the exact nature of these gifts?"
"They vary from person to person, telepathy, telekinesis, precognition"
"Extrasensory perception?" Jack said.
"In most cases."
"I don't have any of that."
"Don't you, sir?" Carter questioned.
She was leaning forward in her chair, her hands clasped and Jack realised she was actually serious. This conversation was taking an uncomfortable turn. He refused to believe there was anything special about him. Compared to the people sat around him, Jack considered himself a little too normal.
"Think about it," she pushed. "Like when we were on P4C-998? You never trusted Zaruk. You read people better than anyone I know."
"I don't trust anyone who doesn't get mad," Jack replied.
There was nothing supernatural about it. Jack put it all down to all those years of field experience. And, even if Carter was right, the skill wasn't one that was always useful. Half the time no one believed him when he expressed his concerns. Soren had a benign smile on his face, as if he sensed Jack's disbelief.
"It is late," the man said, "if you wish to leave at first light…"
His polite way of saying that he wanted them out of his house. Jack had no problem with that. If he were a hermit, he'd probably feel the same way.
"Soren's right," he said.
A good night's sleep and Jack felt he'd be up for travelling again.
"Aren't you going to ask me?" Soren said before they could move.
"What?" Jack asked.
"How you are going to die?"
Jack could understand how Soren would get tired of that question, and how people would want to know. As for himself… Jack honestly didn't care. He'd faced death too many times, had wondered if this was the battle where he was destined to draw his last breath…
His friends, however, seemed to have other ideas.
"You can tell us?" Daniel questioned.
"Well, I can tell three of you."
"And me?"
"It's difficult to say. You have several deaths in your future."
Several deaths? What was that supposed to mean? Okay so, allegedly they had all died and the Nox had brought them back to life, but Jack had no real memory of the event. He couldn't say whether he'd been dead or not.
"What about the rest of us?" Carter asked.
Soren smiled. Despite words to the contrary it seemed that he liked to display his power.
"One of you will die in battle, one of you will die in their lover's arms and one of you will die in second childhood naked and alone."
&&&
Sam refused to believe that Soren's words had had an effect on her but she still found herself unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, burying her head under her pillow when the Colonel and Daniel started some kind of snoring duet that was reminiscent of a small earthquake. Neither man was usually prone to snoring, and Sam found herself wondering if their sleep was also being disturbed by thoughts of their own mortality.
Eventually, she could stand it no more and crept out of bed. The remains of their evening meal were on the stove. It was still edible and Sam grabbed herself a bowlful, before carrying it outside to eat. She didn't want to disturb everyone else with her nighttime meanderings.
The night air was cold, and Sam wished she'd thought to grab a blanket, but there was something soothing about sitting out under the stars. This close to Earth, the constellations remained familiar… except for the extra star in Cassiopeia.
The Sun
The longer Sam stared at it, the more she wondered if they'd ever get home. Soren had given them directions, but from his description, it sounded like the Stargate was on the other side of the planet. He had seemed to have no idea of how long it would actually take… or perhaps he was being deliberately vague. If others had passed this way, then they had to have gone somewhere, Sam reasoned.
To the East, the mountains were rimmed with silver light, a prelude to the sunrise. There was really no point in going back to bed, Sam realised. She'd only get about twenty minutes sleep and she'd feel like crap when the Colonel woke her up. It seemed, however, that someone else had the same idea. The cabin door swung open and Teal'c stepped outside.
"I thought you might require this, Major Carter," he said, handing her a blanket.
"Thanks Teal'c," she smiled at him.
"You are welcome."
They sat in companionable silence for a while. One didn't feel the need for meaningless conversation when Teal'c was around.
"Teal'c," Sam ventured after a while, "when Soren told us about our future… which one do you think… I mean…"
"A Jaffa yearns to die in battle," he replied.
"Right."
But Sam didn't think she liked either of the other options.
The peace however, didn't last. As the sun rose higher, Sam could hear people moving about the cabin and she knew it was almost time to go.
Soren gave them enough supplies to reach the next transfer point. He'd told them there was another branch of the transport system that reached into the mountains; all they had to do was get to it.
"And after that?" the Colonel had asked.
"It's been a long time since I have made the journey," Soren replied. "The desert is your next challenge."
"Care to give us any hints?"
"Keep your path straight towards home and you'll find water."
Useful enough to be true, vague enough to be worthless. Shouldering her pack, Sam followed the Colonel down the mountain.
Their way lay along the floor of the valley. The temperature difference was palpable and Sam soon found herself sweating. Several weeks out of training and she was already losing tone and condition. The pace the Colonel had set was a rapid one. At least he seemed to be fit again, Sam mused to herself although she wondered if he was trying to prove a point. Whatever medication Soren had given him had worked wonders. Sam just wished she'd manage to get a sample of it to take back to Janet.
They stopped to eat by a mountain stream and Sam took the opportunity to wash her face in the ice-cold water. The stream became a river as it snaked its way along the valley floor and they followed it, walking easily along the banks. When they finally stopped for the night, Sam was lulled to sleep by the music of the water running over the rocks.
The second days walk was harder. The sun really made its presence felt and Sam felt her face and arms burning. Her feet hurt, her back ached, her head was pounding, the one consolation was that none of her companions seemed to be faring any better. Apart from Teal'c… he was always the exception to the rule. Sometimes Sam wondered if the man actually had any limits.
"How much further?" Colonel O'Neill asked as they settled down for the second night.
"According to Soren we should be there already," Daniel grumbled.
He had taken off his boots and was bathing his feet.
"Another two hours walk, sir," Sam replied. "We should be there early tomorrow."
Colonel O'Neill grunted in reply as he settled back on the hard ground. He lay there for a second before pulling a few rocks out from under him and tossing them towards the river. Daniel gave a yelp, as one of them got a little too close.
"Get some sleep Daniel," the Colonel ordered.
Sam's estimate proved to be wildly inaccurate. For a mountain man like Soren, it was probably possible to make the ascent in a couple of hours. If you knew the right route to take… if you didn't spend part of you time climbing upwards only to reach a dead end. If you didn't slide down on your butt and have to climb again.
But they got there.
Another gate spanned the entrance to the terminal. That was two, Sam realised as they passed underneath. A car was waiting for them but the Colonel hesitated before climbing aboard. He was tired, they all were and he decided that they needed to rest for a few hours. They ate the last of the food Soren had given them before taking another journey into the unknown.
The first part of the journey was above ground, taking them through the mountains, down towards the sea. They travelled over the water this time, a relatively short journey that landed them on another continent. The further they travelled the more desolate the view became. Soren had warned them about the desert and Sam watched the transition from fertile land with a certain amount of trepidation. There was nothing out here. No food, no water… nothing. The last thing she expected to see was a city, a jumble of spires and towers rising above the sand. As they got closer, she could see that a band of vegetation surrounded the city. It was built on an oasis.
Once they were amongst the buildings the car slowed, and stopped.
"This looks like the end of the line folks," the Colonel said, prompting them all to get out.
As soon as they had done so, the car reversed, leaving them standing on the platform. This was obviously a one-way journey. According to Soren their next transfer point lay the other side of the desert. From their vantage point, Sam could see yellow sand stretching in all directions. She felt her heart sink at the thought of crossing the expanse. Hell, they didn't even know which direction to go.
The Colonel led the way down to street level. Sam couldn't imagine how he could be so confident. She really felt the need for weapon right now… a big one. As they descended, the noise, the heat, the smell of the city hit her like a physical blow. The streets were crowded with people and all of them seemed to be staring at the new arrivals. So much so, that Sam realised they must have seen the train arriving and hurried to the transfer point. Their scrutiny made her feel decidedly uncomfortable, as did the cheers.
Before she realised what was happening, the crowd surged forward and she found herself caught up in the movement. Only the Colonel's hand clasping her arm stopped Sam being swept away from her friends. She could just about see Daniel and Teal'c as they were forced along by the crowd. At least the people here were happy to see them, Sam mused. It made a nice change.
&&&
It reminded him of the place he had once called home. The scent of sweat and unwashed bodies, the dry desert air… even the boy that ran at his side all served to remind Daniel of Abydos. Every second of his life with Sha're returned with painful clarity. He found himself wanting to run away from these people, to find a quiet corner where he could break down. However, it didn't look as if the opportunity would present itself any time soon.
They weren't just given a room or a dilapidated shack; they were taken to a house. The single story, white walled building didn't seem that welcoming from the outside. Inside was another matter. If Daniel had been in a slightly better frame of mind, he would have thought it beautiful.
Despite the lack of air conditioning, the interior of the house was cool, providing a welcome respite from the heat outside. The others wasted no time in seating themselves on the cushions that were scattered around and making a start on the meal that was waiting.
Daniel couldn't bring himself to settle. Prowling around the house, he discovered a set of stairs that led up to a rooftop garden. Climbing the steps, Daniel found himself standing beneath a bower of flowering vines. Their perfume added fragrance to the air, masking the smell from the street below. As he stepped forward, he caught a glimpse of trees, heavy with alien fruit. It looked good enough to eat. In the centre was a fountain. He let the water run over his fingers, surprised that anyone would waste the precious liquid this way.
"Anyone else need to pee?" a voice shocked Daniel out of his introspection.
"Jack," he replied by way of acknowledgment.
"You okay?"
Jack was the only one of his friends who could possibly understand what he was feeling right now. He had been there when Daniel had first met Sha're, who knew how much in love they had been… and how much this place reminded him of Abydos. Even so, Daniel felt compelled to lie and answer with an,
"I'm fine."
Rather than telling Jack exactly what was on his mind. This wasn't the time or the place.
"Our hosts are, apparently, holding a feast in our honour," Jack went on.
"That's nice," Daniel replied.
"So it looks like it might be a long night, so if you want to get some rest…"
"I'll take first watch."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
There was no sarcasm in Jack's voice and Daniel realised that his friend really was grateful the offer. He supposed it was only natural that Jack should be tired but he found himself wondering if his friend was truly as well as he appeared.
Daniel didn't bother to wake the others. Although he was physically tired, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. Sprawled over various cushions, both Jack and Sam slept soundly. The good soldiers they were, their bodies were trained to rest on order. Teal'c was using the time to meditate. After the excitement of their arrival, the rest of the city's inhabitants seemed to have vanished and the street outside was empty. In this heat, unless one happened to be a mad dog or and Englishman, Daniel couldn't blame anyone for taking a siesta.
As the sun set, the city came to life. Judging by the noise, it seemed like the inhabitants were in the mood for a party. The shrieks and yells were enough to rouse the others.
"Looks like showtime," Jack muttered.
Venturing out into the street, they once again found themselves caught up in the pull of the crowd. The city was ablaze with light and all of it was artificial. Despite the rough exterior, Daniel realised that this place still had a functional power source. The technology was unobtrusive, subtle and he wondered how much more of it was hidden from them.
The feast was held in a palace, in a room that seemed big enough to hold the entire population of the city. It was simply decorated with the same flowering vines that Daniel had seen in their garden.
They found themselves seated at one end of the room, the centre of attention, Daniel figured. Copying the other guests, Daniel sat on the floor next to one of the low tables and gestured for the others to do the same. As soon as they had done so, a man seated at the opposite end of the room rose to his feet. Silence fell. He was an imposing figure. Almost seven foot tall and well muscled to go with it; a blonde beard seemed to obscure most of his feature. Except for his eyes. Even from a distance, Daniel could see that they were bright blue.
The man raised his glass in toast,
"To new blood!" he roared.
The crowd cheered and the feast began.
&&&