A few weeks later and a friend of Teal'c's, arrived with a wounded Jaffa.
Whilst the wounded Jaffa recovered thanks to various Tok'ra and Asgard technology, Bra'tac told of the horrors of Apophis slaughtering his own people.
"He was searching for something." Teal'c noted.
"Indeed, but what?" Bra'tac agreed.
"Nicky!" Daniel said in horror.
"XANDER!" Jack called out.
Seconds later Xander was standing in the room shocking Bra'tac.
"What's the emergency?" Xander's protocol now was to arrive cloaked in armour, then to de-cloak if necessary or lose the armour all together.
"Apophis is slaughtering his own people to find Nicky." Daniel said fearfully.
"Ok… why would he slaughter them?" Xander asked.
"He searches wildly, he only knows Ammonet had the child and that it was last on Abydos, perhaps he has learnt that the child survived." Teal'c noted.
"Which means a leak." Xander said. "I'll be right back." And he vanished out.
"Who is that child?" Bra'tac asked.
"Have you heard of Lord Xander?" Jack asked.
"Of course, the Goa'uld fear… that is Lord Xander? He is but a child! The tales speak of a man 10 feet tall and clad in armour." Bra'tac protested.
"You should know better than to trust rumours. They got the armour part right, but he's only 7 feet tall." Jack said.
Xander returned having explained the situation to Sayel.
"Why would Apophis search so hard for the child of a Taur'i?" Bra'tac asked.
"Nicky isn't my flesh and blood son. He was born to Ammonet and Apophis. He is a Harsesis." Daniel explained.
Bra'tac inhaled sharply. "Are you so foolish that you would allow such a creature to live? Apophis will throw everything he has at this world to acquire that creature."
"Nobody touches my godson." Xander said quietly. "And if I hear one more bad word about him, or hear him referred to as 'creature', you might not live to tell the tale."
"But…"
"Bra'tac, the child is fine and well. It is loved by us all and in turn loves us. It is not an evil creature like the Goa'uld. It is merely a child." Teal'c assured him. "Lord Xander is devoted to Nicholas Jackson. He would have to but ask and his Jaffa would stand between any who would harm him."
"It is one thing that is sooo not up for discussion Bra'tac." Jack said.
Bra'tac looked to Hammond, who just nodded his agreement.
"Erm, Xander, didn't that Goa'uld on the Tollan home world work for Apophis?" Jack asked.
"SHIT!" Xander shouted startling the gate room and control room personnel.
"Ok, do any of the other Goa'uld know about this?" Xander asked.
"Not that I know of." Bra'tac said.
"Does he accompany the search parties himself?"
"Yes, he is very intent on finding the child."
"Ok, so we need to make him think the child is elsewhere and then I can confront him and hopefully take control of his forces."
"You truly believe it will be so simple child?" Bra'tac asked in horror at the cavalier attitude.
SG1 just chuckled as Xander smirked.
"Master Bra'tac, all Xander needs to do is issue a command and the Goa'uld flies from the mouth of its host. So far he has defeated many Goa'uld that way including Heru'ur, Hathor, Ammonet, and Sokar to name but a few." General Hammond said smiling.
"But you are just a boy!" Bra'tac protested.
"And that is your assumption to make. But it could very well lead to your own downfall." Xander warned.
"This is true. But I will hold my judgment for now." Bra'tac allowed.
"What ever you do, don't insult Xander in front of Sayel or his Jaffa, they are very loyal to him, they do not take insults to him lightly." Daniel warned.
"Very well. It would be wrong to do so regardless." Bra'tac said.
"Ok, so we need to figure out how to convince Apophis that Nicky is somewhere. How do we do that and where do we lead him." Jack asked.
"Why not start looking for Sha're and Nicky ourselves, guide our search to somewhere plausible and make it slightly obvious we are trying to beat Apophis to them." Sam said.
"Of course Xander has to be hidden or he might scare Apophis off." Jack added.
"Ok, so now we have a how. We need a where." Xander said.
"There is a place where Osiris once hid from Seth. A place called Kheb." Daniel said.
"Kheb? That place is forbidden by the Goa'uld." Bra'tac said. "My father once told me stories of it. He said it was a place where Jaffa would go when they could no longer carry a primta. There their calak would learn the path through darkness."
Jack went to ask for an interpretation…
"Calak means soul." But Daniel got there first.
"Well, if that's true then we should go there regardless. I'll need to make sure that it's a safe place." Xander said. "If Daniel considered it then Apophis can too."
"Agreed." Bra'tac said. "I am past my prime, perhaps this is my new journey."
Jack got fed up with the defeatist attitude Bra'tac was displaying. "You know Xander's on personal terms with the God of the Underworld. When his Jaffa fall in battle he goes to check they're settled in before he goes to pay respects to the families. I'm fairly certain that when the time comes you'll be going there too."
"You consort with Goa'uld?" Bra'tac asked in shock.
"He said God of the Underworld, not 'slimy worm claiming to be a god'." Xander said pointedly.
"Bra'tac, you trust us?" General Hammond asked.
"Of course. You have proven yourselves worthy many times." He said surely.
"Then trust us when we say that whatever Xander may tell you, is the truth. Not because it is he who says it. But because emwe/em have experienced it. We have met not only the God of the Underworld and the God of the Universe, but also the Almighty Creator of everything." Hammond said looking him straight in the eye.
Bra'tac looked around searching the eyes of his student's comrades. But he saw only truth.
"Forgive my disbelief. I will try to believe and trust you. But it is much to ask of an old man who has fought false gods all his life." Bra'tac said sadly.
"No, it is much to ask of any man. It is far more to ask of one such as you." Xander said. "But don't worry, neither I nor my goddess or the Almighty will ask much of you other than an open mind. It is far more than some have given us."
"So be it." Bra'tac said enthusiastically. "And when I fail the hashak can remind me."
Jack just rolled his eyes whilst Sam snickered.
"Right, so why don't you guys do your thing and find out where Kheb is." Xander suggested.
Whilst Sam and Daniel took Delta to investigate the gate addresses supplied by the Asgard and Tok'ra with the Goa'uld records, Bra'tac challenged Xander to a test to see how good he really was.
Jack and Teal'c followed along, word spread quickly and there was a large gathering of Jaffa and humans in the Gym to witness the battle.
"You guys do realize we're just gonna spar, right?" Xander asked.
There was a general consensus of 'yeah… and?'
"Why are there so many Jaffa here?" Bra'tac asked.
"My Jaffa bolster the ranks of the soldiers here. They also provide an exchange of fighting methods. Jaffa can also detect Goa'uld and Reetou, so extra points there too."
"Of course, from the Goa'uld you defeated." Bra'tac said in realization.
They began with staffs, starting slow. Testing each other's defenses. But Bra'tac upped the pace. Swinging harder to break through. Xander was working hard to deflect and defend.
He knew Bra'tac had him outclassed. But that was fine. He would fight hard and learn what he could. He had learnt when training with Buffy before his upgrades that you had to check your ego at the door.
Eventually Bra'tac broke through and brought Xander to the mat.
"You are well trained young warrior. But you could do better." Bra'tac said as he helped Xander to his feet. "Surely you did not defeat armies in hand to hand?"
"I have actually, but to be honest, they could not measure up to your skill." Xander admitted. "But I would never expect to win a battle in hand to hand."
"How then?" Bra'tac asked. "The only weapons we have to hand are the staffs, how would you defeat me?"
"Perhaps we could go again. I will show you." Xander said.
"Very well." Bra'tac agreed.
The two squared off again. This time Xander didn't bother engaging Bra'tac. He threw away his staff and ran for the nearest Jaffa stealing his zat gun.
"And the battle is won." Xander said to a confused Bra'tac. "My friends and I have one major rule in battle. Don't die. Run, hide, surrender. But don't die. Death is the end and you can't come back to try again. But when you run you can return, when you hide you can recover, surrender, you can escape.
"There will never come a time when the staff weapon is your only weapon. You will have the environment at your disposal. You will have your captors at your disposal. You will have your opponent at your disposal."
"True words. Many a time have I tried to pound them into my students." Bra'tac said.
"Indeed he has." Teal'c muttered as he shifted uncomfortably.
Gaia chose that moment to appear.
"Hey Xander." She greeted.
"Hi hun." He said as he kissed her.
Which was greeted by a lot of hooting by the assembled men and women.
"Oh shut it you lot." Xander said with grin. "Shows over… both of them. Go find something else to stare at… I know, I know, hard to tear your eyes off the goddess."
Gaia slapped his shoulder playfully.
The men and women filed out grinning. Human and Jaffa alike they enjoyed ribbing the young Champion. The Jaffa loved him more for accepting it.
Jack and Teal'c walked over to join them.
"What are you doing here?" Xander asked as he put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. "Knowing my luck, not that you just wanted to see me."
"Nope, that's a bonus." She admitted. "Heard you were off to Kheb?"
"Yeeess." Xander admitted suspiciously.
"Can't say much, but you might want Oz along." She said with a sheepish grin.
"Oh man! More philosophical mumbo jumbo?" Xander moaned Jack joining in. "At least God doesn't bother with that. She just does what you said. Pats you on the head sends you off."
"Well, the pair of you will enjoy the planet if nothing else. You'll get to stretch your legs… or wings if you choose." She grinned. "Now, remember your manners." She chided as she indicated a confused Bra'tac.
"Oh. Right! Sorry. Bra'tac, this is Gaia. Goddess of the Universe. Gaia, this is Bra'tac. Teal'c's mentor."
"Good to meet you Master Bra'tac." Gaia said with a slight nod.
"Gaia." Bra'tac said returning the nod.
"He's trying to keep an open mind." Xander said.
"Why don't you just show him the universe?" She asked.
"Didn't want to show off." Xander shrugged.
"But you were more than happy to drag the President of China to Netu?" Jack pointed out.
"That guy was a threat, it was that or I'd have to kill him and conquer China in secret. Not a good idea." Xander protested.
"Fine, might as well take Bra'tac on a tour." Jack said.
An hour later they returned having taken Bra'tac on a whistle stop tour of his collective empire.
The key evidence that had convinced Bra'tac and scared the crap out of Jack, was when he decided to drop in on Cronus and say hi.
The fear in the worm's eyes was clear, Xander had to explain that he couldn't arbitrarily attack the System Lords and their holdings due to a treaty that protected Earth and other planets, which had lead to the Goa'uld they saw on the Tollan home world reporting that Ammonet and her child still lived.
"You are sure you are not a god yourself?" Bra'tac asked as they landed in the teleportation room.
"Nope… not yet at least." Xander said.
"He is considered one of the god's by us and the heavenly host." Gaia said. "Eventually, when his work is complete and the time is right. He will ascend to godhood."
"Yeah. Won't that be a fun day." Xander said sadly. Noticing the looks he was getting he begged off to fetch Oz.
"Is being a god so bad?" Bra'tac asked Gaia.
"I chose him as my Champion because as a god I am forbidden to directly interfere. He is my Hand. Xander knows this and knows that he will be bound by the same restrictions when he ascends."
"He does not wish to sit by as others do his work. He does not like to send people into battle." Bra'tac deduced.
"He does it, he just doesn't like it." Jack said. He explained how Xander had lost over four hundred and fifty men.
"And yet he has many lifetimes ahead of him." Bra'tac said. "I trust you are preparing him?" He said pinning Jack with a glare.
"As best as you can prepare someone for that type of life." Jack said with a sad smile.
Xander and Oz returned shortly after and Jack made the introductions.
Sam and Daniel eventually found the location of Kheb. Xander ordered several ships to the location whilst he would scout the area first before the others came through.
"You will… teleport?" Bra'tac asked.
"Nah, I'll have to go through the gate. I can only go to places I have been before or to people I know." Xander said. "But no one will see me." He said as he donned his armour and cloaked.
There was a ripple in the event horizon. The only sign of Xander's exit.
"That was not part of the demonstration." Bra'tac said in awe.
Twenty minutes later and Xander reported that there was no sign of Jaffa in the immediate area.
SG1 plus Oz and Bra'tac proceeded through the gate and towards the temple Xander had spotted.
Bra'tac was again surprised when Oz transformed into his wolf form and Xander took flight as an eagle hovering high above them.
"Teal'c my friend. I am an old man. Tell me there are no more surprises." He begged.
"I cannot old friend. Xander still continues to surprise us all." He smiled.
The hike up the mountain path was a calm one. With Xander in the skies he kept sight on the gate.
They had left no guards as they wanted Apophis here.
They arrived at the temple to find a lone monk. He started spouting riddles. Jack and Xander just looked at each other and walked out.
"That was quick." Carter noted as the two emerged leaving Oz, Daniel and Bra'tac in side.
"Guy started speaking Zen riddles… definitely not our thing." Xander said.
"What's the plan sir?"
"I guess we wait for Xander's ships to arrive. Then we'll have to wait till Apophis gets the word that Nicky might be here."
"Where do you wish to set up camp O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
"Why not stay on the ships?" Xander asked.
The monk kept going on about Desala, or Oma Desala.
Daniel was doing his best to figure it out.
Daniel had determined that the monk was talking about Mother Nature.
Oz just sat in a corner observing.
He was impressed when the monk lit the candle.
Daniel eventually went to study the walls and the writings contained there. The monk focused on Oz.
"You do not seek enlightenment?" He asked with a small smile.
Oz just shrugged. "Why seek what I already have?"
"You believe you have achieved enlightenment?" The monk chuckled. "You would know if you had achieved enlightenment." He said seriously.
"Yes. I would. But would you know if I achieved enlightenment?" Oz asked pointedly.
That one brought the monk up short.
"You should not confuse knowledge with enlightenment." The monk warned.
"Why do you not believe I have enlightenment?" Oz asked.
"Because your spirit is not free and you grasp tightly to your mortal form." The monk said.
"So you assume that because of my physical state, I have not achieved enlightenment?"
"That is a true test of enlightenment."
"You said, that when the mind is enlightened and the spirit is free that the body matters not, correct?" Oz queried.
The monk nodded.
"If the body matters not and the spirit is free… why should it matter if the spirit uses and maintains the body?"
"Remember, a snowflake cannot exist in a firestorm." The monk said wisely… yet slightly unsure.
"You speak of absolutes. 'Nothing is impossible, merely improbable'." Oz quoted. "Can't remember who said it, but it's true. A snow flake that is cold enough can exist in a firestorm that is cool enough for a period of time. But it can exist."
"You argue semantics." The monk said dismissively.
"You speak in riddles." Oz countered.
Again the monk was brought up short. Nobody usually argued or debated him, they just accepted his teachings or left.
"Also, Oma Desala… not Mother Nature. Or nature. I personally know Mother Nature. So does he." Oz said nodding his head sideways to Daniel who had abandoned the wall to listen to the two men.
"What about the flame? How did I do that?" Daniel asked curiously.
"The monk told you himself. 'Do not believe that you can light the candle, believe she can light the candle.'" Oz quoted.
"So it wasn't me?" Daniel realized.
The monk smiled slightly.
"It was not you. But it could be you if you reach enlightenment."
"So Oma is here?" Daniel asked.
"Oma is everywhere." The monk said sagely.
Daniel looked at Oz questioningly.
Oz chuckled. "Slight exaggeration. Oma is aware of much. But not everywhere. I believe that the monk here is a physical incarnation of Oma."
The boy was insightful.
"So the writings on the wall, they don't speak of a literal ascension and being able to discard the body?" Daniel asked.
"No, they do. Oma here has already achieved that. The question is, why would you want to?" Oz asked. "You already know what awaits you after death. One of the things that Xander and the rest of us were originally told was that Xander could teach us to basically ascend and not die.
"Cordelia was very excited about that one." Oz smirked.
"I'll bet." Daniel chuckled.
"The real question here is, if Oma is so powerful, and has attained enlightenment, why does she squander it sitting here in a forgotten temple. There are people out there who are in need of help." Oz said looking sternly at the monk.
"Even the wind must follow the path." The monk said.
"Your saying…"
"Someone above him, possibly his peers, have set rules forbidding interference." Oz translated.
"Sounds like Gaia's predicament." Daniel said.
"I doubt it. The Almighty laid down the rules for the gods. I doubt she made any such rules for Oma." Oz said shaking his head.
"But it is true… enlightenment? An ascension, of sorts." Daniel asked hopefully.
"Yes, the writings on the wall are what you think. And the end result is as you believe." Oz assured. "But remember what I said about absolutes. There is always another way."
Oz stood up and stretched.
"Have fun Daniel, if nothing else you may learn more about their culture."
Oz strolled out leaving a bewildered monk staring at him.
"He is an interesting child." The monk said.
"You have no idea." Daniel chuckled.
"So, do we need to bring a mop for Daniel's brains?" Jack asked as Oz approached.
"I doubt it." Oz shrugged. "The monk is some form of ascended being… and no, I am not talking uber demon like the mayor." He quickly assured Xander.
"Powerful?" Jack asked.
"Possibly, but they have non-interference policies." Oz said.
"Nox and Tollan?" Sam asked.
"Hard to say. He didn't exactly speak outside of riddles. He made a good job of confusing Daniel though."
"Should we leave Daniel Jackson in there if that is the case?" Teal'c asked with concern.
"He'll be fine. The monk won't hurt him. Daniel might learn something. He seemed quite happy. I just had to point out some things to the monk and Daniel before they both got hold of the wrong end of the stick."
"Never know when the stick might turn out to be a staff weapon." Xander mused.
"Exactly."
"So is this not the place of peace and rest for Jaffa?" Bra'tac asked.
"Probably is. But like I said to Daniel, there is always another way."
"I would be interested in hearing these ways." Bra'tac said.
"Hang around with us enough and you'll learn plenty of new things." Xander grinned.
"What's the game plan for Apophis?" Oz asked.
"We wait for him to show up. Xander kicks his butt." Jack said simply.
"And the Jaffa he'll send through first?" Oz asked. He knew that Xander wanted to preserve the area as much as he did. They both had a love and affinity for nature these days.
"Xander has one of his whacky plans set up." Jack sighed.
"Hey! My whacky plans tend to save your butt." Xander protested. "Got a special ship being towed in. No engines, no weapons, no internal controls at all. Just life support. It's set up with holding cells. The Jaffa come pouring through and the other two ships just start beaming the Jaffa on board till we can deal with them later."
"Any idea how long till they arrive?" Oz asked.
"Nope, but we intend to stay on ship instead of camping out here." Jack said.
"Not Xander." Oz shook his head. "He can use the time to take more lessons with Lya." He said glaring at his friend.
Xander rolled his eyes but agreed. "Fine, holler when it's time." He complained as he vanished.
"So, we head up to the ships?" Oz asked.
"Shouldn't we get Daniel?" Sam asked.
"Nah, I'll just tell him we're off, he should be fine down here, he rarely gets a chance to just sit and talk with the people these days." Oz said.
Jack really wanted to disagree… but Oz was right.
Daniel got two full days worth of learning with the monk.
He didn't manage to light candles by himself, but as Oz had already exposed the monk as Oma Desala, the monk was a little more open about answering historical questions.
But word came through from Tok'ra operatives that Apophis was coming. It was nighttime outside. But the skies were clear.
Daniel decided to stay put, he had little worry about his team failing. Especially with Oz and Xander onsite.
"Beings of great evil are coming." The monk frowned.
"Yes, my friends are trying to free the Jaffa and destroy the Goa'uld." Daniel confirmed.
"They seek conflict?" He asked.
"They don't seek conflict for conflicts sake." Daniel corrected. "They seek conflict because sometimes it is the best way to deal with things."
"Conflict is never the answer." The monk said seriously.
"I think Oz would remind you that you should never speak of absolutes." Daniel said with a raised eyebrow.
"And this Oz is always right?" He asked pointedly.
"More to the point, are you?" Daniel countered.
"I have yet to be wrong." The monk said sagely.
"As has Oz. To my knowledge, there is one absolute in existence." Daniel said. "And that is the Almighty Creator."
"And you have proof of this 'Almighty Creator'?" The monk asked with slight bemusement and young humans assertions.
"Personally? No." Daniel admitted.
The monk just nodded as if he had won his point.
"But why would I have proof?" Daniel asked. "I have met and witnessed the Creator. Lord Xander is blessed in that he is loved by the Creator so much that she frequently invites him to her presence." Daniel said in wondrous awe. He often found himself just staring at Xander, trying to fathom the fact that the young man so frequently stood in the presence of the Almighty.
Daniel shook himself from his thoughts.
"But this Creator does not appear to everyone." The monk pointed out.
"And Oma does?"
The monk conceded the point.
The monk looked up suddenly.
"The Jaffa are gone from the planet." He said in shock. "They did not leave through the Stargate."
"Stargate?" Daniel asked. "Not many cultures use that literal translation." Daniel said with a frown.
"Where have they… ships in orbit?" The monk realized. "I cannot allow them to be tortured. Kheb is a sanctuary."
"The Jaffa are perfectly safe. Lord Xander put them on the ship to keep them out of the line of fire." Daniel assured him.
"And what of the Goa'uld?"
"The demon will die. There is nothing that will stop that. The host will live or die depending on the judgment of the Almighty." Daniel said. It had been an interesting conversation, when Xander had explained the fate of Sokar and Bynarr's hosts.
"I will not allow others to kill on this planet. I have defended it before, I will do so again. Those who seek to sow death, shall receive death." The monk said angrily.
"I should warn you, that Xander has no desire to kill. His only interest is in the demon snake. But the chances of you stopping him are practically nil." Daniel warned.
"No human, Jaffa or Goa'uld has survived a challenge on my planet." The monk said as it suddenly changed into a glowing creature of light.
The light had many smooth tentacles of solid light, much like Xander's plasma sword. There was a human head amidst the tentacles. But it was of a dark haired woman. Not a monk.
The glowing creature suddenly shot off leaving Daniel alone.
"Xander, if you can hear me, you have trouble coming. The monk changed into some sort of glowing white creature. Got angry that you were going to kill the demon and that the host might die." Daniel said over the comm.
"Roger that." Xander replied.
