Daniel woke up, groaning slightly. It took him a moment to remember where he was which caused him to swear and sit up quickly.
"Take it easy Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said. "You suffered a head wound."
"Yeah, tell me about it," he answered, clutching his head and forcing himself to not throw up. After a few seconds his stomach settled although the pounding in his head continued. "What's happening?"
"We don't know," Sam answered, sounding worried and upset. "We've been here for about an hour – we were captured by Jaffa who were waiting for us."
"Mmm – the slave – what was his name?"
"Zatesh," Teal'c informed him.
"Yeah – him. Well he betrayed us – told Raijin we were coming."
"Damn! We should have tied him up!" Sam cursed. "What about the Colonel?"
"He – they – Raijin," Daniel took a deep breath. "They beat him up pretty badly. Raijin seemed happy to get him back but – it's bad Sam, Teal'c – really bad. We have to rescue him."
"And how do you propose we do that Daniel?" Sam asked, waving at the room. "We're locked in. I've tried but there's no way out."
"No, but we have – other options," Daniel replied, his head still held in his hands.
She regarded Daniel and Teal'c and then nodded. At this point all they could do was hope that Jacob and Ka'trel would find out soon that they'd been captured. Her father and the Tokra were their only hope.
The three of them sat quietly, each trying not to think of what was being done to the Colonel, but all of them knowing that time was of the essence.
A noise brought all of their heads up – and a moment later the door opened and half a dozen Jaffa streamed in.
"You will come with us," one of them said. Soon they were walking down the corridor, flanked by Raijin's men.
"Where do you think we're going?" Sam whispered.
"Looks like we're headed towards the banquet hall," Daniel whispered back.
He was proved right as they arrived at the hall, which was still filled with Goa'uld, servants and various "entertainers".
The three humans were taken to three chairs to the right of what was obviously Raijin's throne. There they tied securely to chairs and then left.
"What do you think is happening?" Sam asked. "Do you see my father?"
"He is over there," Teal'c carefully nodded his head towards the two Tokra. "He has seen us."
"Good," Sam answered with a deep exhale of breath. "Now what?"
"I am afraid we are here to see the entertainment," Teal'c said somberly.
There was a short pause. "Oh my God!" Sam said. "You don't think -"
"I think Jack is going to be the entertainment," Daniel nodded.
Jack didn't have to wait too long before Iwai returned, along with two other Jaffa.
"Come dog," the First Prime laughed. He unlocked the cage and then stood, leash in hand. "Come Surebu, unless you wish to be punished already."
Jack struggled to his knees – finding it almost impossible with his hands and feet bound and with the numerous injuries, which now adorned his body, not the least of which were the terrible wounds on his face and head. He was pretty sure he must look like something out of a science fiction movie.
He eventually made it upright and then pushed himself forward, painfully crawling on only his knees. He'd barely gotten to the open doorway when he was grabbed by the hair and pulled out, the Jaffa laughing and kicking him. They quickly undid his ankles, which at least made it easier to move, although they left his hands bound behind his back.
Iwai clipped the leash on his neck chain and then he was being pulled – dragged – out into the corridor. It took him only a second to realize where they were going and he closed his eyes in anguish. Not again.
He thought briefly of his teammates and prayed that they were okay. He suspected that Raijin would keep them alive for now – most likely to be able to think up further ways to torture him.
They arrived at the banquet hall and Iwai laughed. "Remember this Surebu? We've missed you. The entertainment just hasn't been as good without you!"
The doors were opened and Jack was dragged in. He refused to crawl. He would not give Raijin the satisfaction of seeing him the way he had been.
"Here it is!" Raijin announced, as he stood and pointed to the naked man being dragged into the room. "Here is Surebu – formerly O'Neill of the Tauri. He is proof that the Goa'uld will always be victorious over puny humans. See what he has become – nothing but a worthless piece of dreck!"
There was laughter from the guests, but Jack refused to allow himself to be affected by it. Instead he carefully perused the room and almost immediately saw his teammates seated by Raijin's throne.
He caught Teal'c's eye – and was encouraged by the tiny wink he received. He gave an equally tiny nod in return, to let him know that he was still here – he hadn't succumbed to the Goa'uld, even if probably looked that way.
Jack watched both Daniel and Sam and knew they were hurting for him. He wanted to let them know too that he was going to be okay, but he couldn't let on to Raijin or Iwai. Instead he needed to continue to play the cowering, broken slave.
He sat quietly, on his knees, while Raijin continued to ridicule him. He had to confess, to himself, that he was finding this extremely hard. He knew he was on the verge of being sent back into the person he'd been when they found him.
For a few minutes today, after he'd been placed back in that cage, he'd been on the verge of spiraling back into that deep, dark hole he'd been in when they'd rescued him. He could feel his mind start to drift, his will start to weaken. But something had stopped him, hadn't allowed him to go there. He'd managed to pull himself back up and be the man he had been before Raijin.
He knew what had happened. It was the thought of his team that kept him from losing himself again. They were here, with him and that made all the difference in the world.
They were Sg1 and if anyone could get away from the present situation it was them. And of course there was Jacob and his trusty Tokra side-kick. They would do whatever they could to help.
He continued to go over all the positive things he could so as not let himself hear and believe the words that Raijin was saying. It also helped with the pain – which had only grown as he'd been dragged down the hallway. He couldn't help but worry about his face. He knew it was in bad shape but he just hoped there wasn't any permanent damage.
He wanted to laugh at himself – and if it hadn't been dangerous he would have done so. Here he was on the verge of being tortured for infinity and he was worried about his looks. Get your priorities straight, Jack, he told himself. Who the hell cares if you look like you've been through a meat grinder?
So focused was he on not paying attention to Raijin that he almost jumped out of his skin when his hands were suddenly released from the shackles. As his numb arms flopped down he fell over onto his side.
For a few seconds he lay there, disoriented and sore. Soon the blood began to rush back into his arms and he bit his lip to keep from yelping as feeling returned with a rush of blood.
"Now Tauri – we shall have some fun!" Raijin called out in a loud voice. Jack managed to turn his head, to see the Sadistic Goa'uld standing over him with a pain stick.
"Shit," he murmured. He hated those things. He decided at that moment that he was not going to simply lie there and be tortured. As the stick descended – slowly as to draw out the anticipation – Jack watched it closely. His arms were coming back to life and, even though he was hurt, he was a lot stronger than he had been the last time he was in Raijin's clutches.
"Aw hell no!" he said as the pain stick almost touched him. He reached up and grabbed the end and pulled, with everything he had in him.
The result would have been humorous, if it hadn't been for the fact that Jack knew his life – and those of his friends – were at risk. Still, it gave him great satisfaction to see Raijin pulled to the ground, arms and legs flailing. He tumbled right on top of Jack, who immediately seized the opportunity presented.
"I'm not – your – entertainment – you – bastard!" he gasped as he flipped the Goa'uld over onto his stomach, his arm around his neck.
Raijin's Jaffa had been stunned at what had happened so quickly and didn't react – at least not immediately. However when Jack began to strangle the minor lord they went into action.
Or at least they tried. Without warning zat blasts erupted in the banquet hall, hitting four of the Jaffa almost instantly.
Jack heard the commotion but ignored it. His attention was solely on Raijin, who was fighting back, his superior strength making it hard for the Colonel to hold on.
"You – will – not – defeat me – Surebu!" Raijin grunted.
"I am not Surebu!" Jack growled in his ear. "I am Jack O'Neill – Colonel Jack O'Neill of the United States Air force and you – are – a – sadistic – bastard – and – you – deserve – to – die!" With one final burst of adrenaline, Jack grabbed Raijin's chin in one hand, and the back of his head with the other - and twisted. A second later there was a loud crack – as the Goa'uld's neck was broken.
Jack wanted to collapse on the ground – sore, in pain and exhausted from the short battle. But he knew he was still in danger, not just from the Goa'uld's Jaffa, but from the Goa'uld itself – who would be coming out about …
NOW! The snake burst out of the host's mouth and immediately headed for Jack. He scrambled away as fast as he could, looking around for a weapon. He heard the sickening sound of the snake as it squealed – probably in delight, thought Jack, as it headed for a new human host.
The snake was almost upon him and he desperately looked for something, anything to stop it, but there wasn't anything. With another loud squeal the snake launched itself at him hissing – its wide mouth open, saliva dripping from its fangs. With reflexes faster than he knew he had – probably because of the absolute terror he felt – he reached out and managed to grab the alien parasite. It wiggled and thrashed – almost causing him to lose his grip. But he held on, knowing his life and sanity were at stake.
"You are not going to get into – my head!" he panted. Remembering the months he spent in the control of this thing – the memories of pain and humiliation – the fact that he'd lost almost everything, including himself – gave him a burst of strength he didn't think he had. He twisted his hands. The next moment there was another crack – this time softer – but as effective, as the Goa'uld's spine was severed. With a growl of hatred Jack continued to twist until the creature was ripped in two. In disgust he threw the carcasses away and then slowly sank back until he was lying flat on the floor, almost unconscious.
Jack couldn't see or hear or speak as he lay there, completely spent from exertion and fear. A moment later he blinked and squinted as he looked up to see – Teal'c?
"Teal'c!" he gasped. The Jaffa looked at him with a strange expression on his face – and ropes dangling from his arms.
"I was able to free myself O'Neill," he said gently. "Come, you must get up!" Teal'c reached down with his hand and helped pull the Colonel to his feet. "You were very brave my friend."
"I hated – that snake," he mumbled. Jack suddenly waivered, and would have fallen, had it not been for his friend, who supported him. It was only then that he looked around to see what was happening.
Various Jaffa lay on the ground – some were moving, others were obviously dead. People were trying to leave – flooding towards the door. They were shouting and shoving – clearly terrified at whatever was happening.
As Jack looked more closely he could see that those fleeing were servants and slaves – not the Goa'uld guests. "What?" He looked again, only to see the guests – the Goa'uld – slumped over in their seats. Some had fallen to the ground – but all were dead.
"Jacob," Teal'c said quietly as he helped walk Jack over to where Daniel and Sam were trying desperately to get loose. "Stand here O'Neill." Teal'c propped him up against a pillar and quickly untied his teammates.
"Let's get out of here," Daniel said. "Before someone sees us."
"What's going on?" Jack murmured, still shocked and confused by everything that had happened.
"Are you okay Sir?" Sam rushed up to him and put her hands – carefully – on his shoulders. "Oh Jack," she winced when she saw the damage up close.
"I'm okay Carter," he said. "Nothing a bit of time and TLC won't cure." She nodded and gave him a small smile – which he returned, even though it hurt. It was a few seconds later that he remembered – crap, he was standing in front of Carter stark naked. He closed his eyes, not really wanting to deal with any more humiliation right now
"Let's go Jack," Jacob was suddenly standing in front of him, urging him to move. "We've got to get to the ship."
"Okay," he nodded, but didn't move. The adrenaline had worn off and he sagged against the pillar.
"Teal'c!, Daniel" Jacob looked at the Jaffa. "Help him."
Jack found himself practically being carried out – his arms thrown over the shoulders of his friends. Sam was on their six – a zat from one of the fallen Jaffa in her hand. He sighed when he thought of the fact that she was getting a good view of his ass, which was hanging out for all to see. Oh well, it could be worse. She could be in front of him.
"What happened?" he asked Jacob. Wait! He frowned. "Where's – what's his name?"
"What's his name, Jack?" Jacob glanced at him and shook his head. "You mean Kal'trek?"
"Yeah, him. What happened to him?"
"He's dealing with the remaining Goa'uld."
"Dealing? How?"
Jacob sighed. "I'll tell you when we get to the ship. For now just concentrate on getting out of here."
"Okay, I can do that," Jack nodded. He zoned in and out for the next few minutes as they walked through Raijin's palace. At that thought he grinned. Wasn't his anymore – the snake. Nope, Raijin was gone – in pieces gone. But what if one of his Jaffa found the pieces and put him back together? Could they do that? Could a sarcophagus fix a split snake? He frowned, worried that Raijin would come back to haunt him.
"Uh – what about – the snake," he asked.
"Snake?" Daniel glanced at him with a frown. "You mean Raijin?"
"Mmm hmm. Him."
"He's dead. You killed him, remember?"
"Yeah," Jack said. "But what if they put him in the sarcophagus."
"Jack, he's dead. Really, really dead. I mean – ripped to shreds dead. You – killed him and no sarcophagus is going to fix him."
"I zatted the snake out of existence O'Neill," Teal'c informed him calmly.
"Oh – good," he said, sighing in relief. Because he didn't trust that the Jaffa wouldn't pick up all the pieces and put him back together again. Like Humpty! He laughed.
"Uh – you okay Jack?" Daniel asked, worried.
"Sure," he nodded. "He's not Humpty," he told the archaeologist and linguist.
"Teal'c?" Daniel looked at his friend in concern.
"I believe O'Neill is simply tired."
"Ripped, zatted, gone!" Jack murmured. "Never to be seen or heard from again.
"Yes, Raijin is gone O'Neill," Teal'c told him. "He shall not return."
"Nope – he's been zatted into – hey Jacob," he called. "What happens when something is zatted three times?"
Jacob turned around with a scowl. "What Jack?"
"The third zat – what happens to the – thing?"
"It disappears."
"I know that," Jack mumbled, his head drooping. "I mean where does it go."
"I don't know -"
"Uh – I believe items are changed Sir – into cosmic gas."
"HA!" O'Neill snorted. "I turned Raijin into a big fart!"
"Yes Sir," Sam grinned, although she too was a bit worried about the Colonel, who seemed to be acting almost as if drunk.
"I do not believe that is what -"
"No, Jack's right," Daniel interrupted Teal'c with a glare. "That's what happens all right."
Jack continued to chuckle as they made their way out of the palace. They ran into a few slaves, but no one dared stop them. So far they hadn't seen any Jaffa and were beginning to hope they'd make it safely to the Tel'tak.
Until they ran into Iwai.
"So you are with the Tauri," Iwai said to Jacob. The First Prime was standing at the doorway to the outside, a staff weapon pointed at them, three other Jaffa by his side. "I should have known – anyone who has such insolent slaves cannot be a true Goa'uld."
"Not slaves," Jack shook his head slowly. He was fading fast, although he was aware enough to know that things suddenly didn't look so good. "Not – Surebu," he murmured.
"Oh yes – you are Surebu," Iwai hissed. "You are a filthy, dirty nothing. Did he tell you all the things we did to him while he was here? Shall I describe some of those things? After a while he did whatever we wanted him to – no matter how degrading. Shall I tell them Surebu?"
Jack didn't answer, although he did lift his head to stare at the Jaffa responsible for some of the worst things that had been done to him. If he could wish someone dead Iwai would be lying in pieces on the floor – but unfortunately there was little he could do.
"I already told your master that my name is Jack O'Neill. I am a Colonel in the United States Air Force. Yup, that's what I told him – just before I killed him. I broke his neck – both of his necks – and ripped the snake into pieces. My friend Teal'c then zatted him away."
Iwai looked thunderous. "You lie! My Lord is not dead – he cannot die!"
"Would I lie? Nope – I tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – so help me God – my God, not yours. I'm afraid your Lord Raijin is nothing but a big cosmic fart!" He giggled, and then sagged again.
"I will kill you for this Tauri! I will kill you and then bring you back and make you suffer for eternity! You will scream in agony! You will -"
Whatever else Iwai was going to say died with him. He was soon followed by three of his Jaffa – the others immediately surrendered.
Jack blinked and looked down at the fallen bodies. He was confused by what had happened. Had he wished them dead?
"Good work Sam," Jacob said. "Now let's go."
"Should we – leave them like this?" Daniel asked.
Jacob looked down and sighed. "No.' He lifted his zat and calmly got rid of the bodies.
"More gas," Jack murmured. The next moment he collapsed, his body deciding it could take no more. Fortunately Teal'c and Daniel were able to keep him from falling to the ground, although they both looked very worried.
"We need to get him to the ship," Daniel said.
"Well then, let's go!"
The five of them quickly made their way out of the palace. Jacob had them wait while he went in search of a cart. It would look less conspicuous than carrying an unconscious and naked man through the streets.
"Here," he said as he pulled up. "Put Jack in the back. There's a blanket in there to cover him. It's not too clean, but it's better than nothing."
They had the Colonel arranged quickly. Sam sat beside him in the cart while Teal'c and Daniel walked along side as servants should. Jacob – as master, drove the cart.
There was pandemonium on the streets as word got out that Raijin was dead, along with his First Prime and many of his Jaffa. To say there was rejoicing would have been wrong, as people were too shocked, too stunned to know how to respond. Jacob took some of the back streets which were less crowded, but there were still times they had to slow to a crawl.
"Do you think they'll figure it out?" Daniel asked as he watched the milling crowds. "That they're free?"
"Probably not," Jacob said cynically. "Someone – a Jaffa or minor lord we missed – will take over. People unused to freedom often don't know what to do with it – and look to another tyrant to control them."
Fortunately no one stopped them on their journey. For now everyone was looking out for themselves and paid little attention to the Goa'uld and his servants. Jacob had contacted Kal'trek, who was to meet them at the rendezvous point.
It took almost an 3 hours to get back to the Tel'tak. They quickly boarded – Kal'trek arriving just a scant few minutes after them. Soon they had left the atmosphere of the planet – and were leaving Jigoku – hell – behind.