Child of the Mind

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Eleven

Charming the Devil

Entering Yong's home Daniel saw Zi cooking something on her stove. Cameron was standing outside of Junjie's room. Looking inside he saw Teal'c laying on the floor. Sam was kneeling by his side. She was wiping his brow with a wet cloth.

"How is he?" Daniel asked.

"Not good, Daniel," Sam said. "It's really hit him hard."

"How'd it go with the town leader?" Cameron asked.

"Good, Cam. I told Guotin everything about us, and Tai. I was surprised to find that he knew about the Goa'ulds. He said he's going to come here later to help us figure a way to stop Tai."

"You took a long time, Jackson," Cameron said. "Did you run into any trouble?"

Daniel looked at Yong, he saw him staring at him. "We ran into Zhan Shi."

Hearing Zhan Shi's name mentioned, Zi shouted from the kitchen, "You did not tell me, Yong."

Yong looked nervous. "Zi, I did not want to worry you."

"Daniel," Zi said. "Come here please."

"Different world, but the same tune," Cameron said. "I don't speak the language, but from the tone of her voice I think Yong is in trouble."

Daniel slowly walked to her.

"Daniel, did they fight? Do not lie. I will know."

"No, Zi. They did not fight. But he did stand up to him. You would have been proud of him, Zi. Zhan actually backed off."

Zi shook her head as she used a wooden spoon to stir a pot. "That is an old wound that has never healed."

Daniel explained to the others about their encounter.

"Sounds to me like there's some bad history between them," Cameron said.

"Yong, what happened with you and Zhan?" Daniel asked him. He translated to the others what Yong was saying.

"Daniel, do you remember when I told you that I was blamed for killing the children of a village?"

"Yes, you said another warrior did it."

Cameron immediately realized why Yong hated Zhan. "That other warrior, Jackson. I'd bet my next paycheck it was Zhan Shi."

"Cameron is right," Daniel said. "You told Zhan that you would finish what you started."

"Yes, Daniel," Yong said. "To stop Zhan from killing the children, I beat him badly. I was always the better fighter. He lost the fight, but he won that day, they took his word over mine. I swore that someday I will get back my honor."

"And I'd bet my next, next paycheck that he'd win that battle," Cameron said.

Zi took the spoon out of the pot, "It is done, Daniel." She poured some of the contents of the pot into a wooden cup. "He must drink this, it will drive the poison out."

She carefully carried the cup to Teal'c. Daniel saw Teal'c looking up at him. "Drink the tea, Teal'c. It's going to help you get better."

Teal'c drank the tea. Zi kneeled by Teal'c's side. She removed a small cloth that sat on Teal'c's wound. Daniel was surprised to see hardly any trace of the bite.

"Zi, what did you use on the wound?"

"The same that I used for the wound on your head, Daniel. It is a paste made from Yǒngyuǎn, a special flower. It grows on the top of hills. It is pure white and has a wonderful scent. We have found it heals a wound fast.

She examined his arm. "This is good, Daniel. It is healing good."

Teal'c begin to sit up. Zi pushed him down. "Daniel, tell him he needs to stay still a little longer. The tea has not finished killing the poison in his body."

"Teal'c," Daniel said. "You need to rest a bit longer for the medicine to work."

"But I feel fine, Daniel Jackson."

"Please, Teal'c. Just a little longer."

Teal'c begrudgingly lay back down. He hated looking weak in front of the others. They all stepped out of the room to allow him to rest. Daniel picked up the small jar that held the white paste.

"Sam," Daniel said. "The gardenia flowers we were looking at, this is it. Zi used it to heal the wound."

Sam took the jar and smelled the paste. It had the same scent as a gardenia. "Daniel, on earth many of our medicines were found in our jungles."

What Daniel was told in the herb shop was beginning to make sense. "The herb shop we went to today. Da, the shop keeper, he told me that the town was built here because of the plants that grew nearby. Yǒngyuǎn is highly prized above all others because it heals wounds. Da also told me it has another special property. If concentrated it can bring back life."

"Sounds very familiar," Cameron said.

"Very, Cam." Daniel pulled out a scroll from his shirt. "Yesterday Yong brought me this scroll. It has the history of this world. On it is the legend of Chang'e. In Chinese mythology she was the moon goddess. Her legend tells of her killing her lover for a potion of immortality. Lord Yu's version of the legend is different. He says she spilled some of the potion during the battle.

The potion fell on a hilltop. Where it fell grew a special white flower. It is called, Yǒngyuǎn. They hold a festival celebrating her gift to the people each year."

"Nice story, Jackson," Cameron said.

"It gets better. On this world Yǒngyuǎn is the name for the flower. But I know it has another meaning, forever. I think the Yǒngyuǎn is what made Yu so powerful. This must be why he hid this planet from the other system lords."

"What are you saying, Jackson?" Cameron asked.

"I think I know," Sam said. "The sarcophagus, we've always wondered how it works."

"From what I've been told, it's their closest guarded secret," Cameron said.

"Right, Cam," Sam said. "They've been around for thousands of years. We know the Gould's have always stolen technology. What if this is something that they actually created?"

"That's what I was thinking, Sam," Daniel said. "At the end of his life, as addled as he was, Yu was still held in high esteem with the system Lords. What if Yǒngyuǎn was the reason why?"

"We came here looking for answers," Cameron said. "Now we found some we wasn't even looking for. We need to get back to stargate command as soon as possible. This could be really big."

"Indeed, this is very big, Cameron Mitchell." Teal'c said.

They were all surprised to see Teal'c standing at Junjie's doorway. He was looking healthier than when he first walked through the stargate.

"Teal'c, how do you feel?" Sam asked him.

"I feel fine, Samantha Carter. I've never felt stronger. In fact." His eyebrow shot up in surprise, "I feel as strong as when I had my Symbiote."

"Symbiote?" Yong asked, after Daniel translated what Teal'c said into Chinese. "What is that?"

Cameron grinned, "Tell him, Jackson. I want to see the looks on their faces."

Daniel cleared his throat. "Um, Yong, Zi. A Jaffa has the larva, a baby Goa'uld inside their stomachs. It stays there until it is mature. They take it out and put in a new one."

Cameron laughed when he saw Zi and Yong grab their stomachs and make a face. "I think that's how I looked when I first found out.

"I know it sounds bad," Daniel explained, "And it is, but in return he is stronger, heals faster and lives longer. Teal'c is over one hundred and sixty years old."

Yong stared at Teal'c. "He looks very well for his age."

Daniel proudly smiled, "He gets that a lot."

Cameron pointed to the small jar. "Back on earth, they'd make a fortune with that stuff."

"We have our answer as to why Yu kept this planet a secret, now what do we do?" Sam said.

Cameron walked to the window and looked out. "Now all we have to do is figure a way to stop a mad man that wants to jump-start a new Gould empire."

Cameron felt someone behind him. He saw Daniel standing next to him. "Cam, I, I feel embarrassed by the way I acted before."

"Don't, Jackson. It wasn't you. Besides, you were kinda cute. Had that big ol' smile."

Daniel touched his cheeks. "I know, my cheeks hurt from so much smiling." Looking out, he noticed someone coming. "Yong," he shouted. "Guotin is here."

"You need to hide," Daniel told them. "I think it would be a shock for him to see you all at once."

Cameron, Sam and Teal'c rushed into Junjie's room. Yong closed the curtain to the room.

Daniel saw Guotin stop at the porch. "He's not coming up." He saw Guotin glancing back. That is when he saw something that made his heart jump to his throat.

"This day just keeps getting better. It's Lord Qi and Tai."

Daniel saw Lord Qi and Tai Kang walking down the street. He was flanked by twelve of his guards. Zhan Shi was by Tai's side.

Daniel rushed to Junjie's room, he opened the curtain. "Lord Qi is here with Tai. I don't know why they're here, but whatever you hear, do not leave this room. I can't let them find you."

"You be careful, Jackson," Cameron said.

"When am I not?"

"Oh, let me count the ways, part 2," Cameron said, as he held up two fingers.

Yong stood by the door. "Daniel, we must go outside. Lord Qi is waiting."

"We're going outside, please stay here," Daniel pleaded. He pulled the curtain shut. He knew they wouldn't hesitate to help him if something went wrong.

Yong opened the door. Stepping out, Daniel followed him, Zi was at his heels. They walked down the porch and stood in front of Guotin.

As soon as the door closed, Cameron squatted down. "Cameron," Sam whispered. "What are you doing?"

"Reconnaissance," he whispered back. Crawling to the window, he peeked through the curtains.

Guotin brightly smiled. "Yong, Lord Qi wanted to see your blue-eyed giant. He said it was a beautiful day for a walk."

Yong and Zi kneeled on the ground. Daniel remained standing. Bowing his head, his eyes looked forward.

"Lord Qi," Yong said. "I am honored that you came to my humble home."

"Bring him here," Lord Qi ordered his guards.

Daniel shook his head. "I am afraid," he cried.

Qi blinked his eyes. "He does know our words, Guotin. He is so tall. His eyes, I want to see his eyes."

"My Lord," Guotin said. "He is afraid of your guards." Guotin pointed to Yong. "Yong has a way with him."

Qi motioned to Yong. "Bring him here."

Yong stood up. He took Daniel's hand. "Let Lord Qi look at your eyes, Daniel."

Slowly nodding his head, Daniel let Yong take him to Qi. Standing in front of him, he bowed his head. Lord Qi stared deep into his eyes. "Yes, Zhong, it is as you said. As blue as the Azure dragon. Surely this is a good sign."

"Yes, Father," Tai said. "That is what I thought when I first saw him."

He continued to stare at Daniel. "I think, I think I remember, when I was a boy, my father took me through the Chappa'ai. I saw many strange things, many strange people. But it was so long ago." Daniel saw his brows slowly begin to furor. "My father told me I had to be strict with our people," he growled. "Not to allow any strangers on our world. Have to keep it a secret, must not let anyone know we are here."

Qi jumped back. His hand shook as he pointed at Daniel. "What are you doing on my world, stranger?" he ranted. "Guard's hold him!"

One of the guards pulled Yong back, two guards grabbed Daniel and forced him to kneel.

"Why are you here, who sent you?" Qi frantically shouted. "Answer me!"

Daniel saw Qi pull a hara'kash from his sleeve. He fumbled to put it on.

Cameron tightly gripped his gun. He saw Qi trying to put on a Gould torture device. If Qi used the device on Daniel, he wouldn't hesitate to use his gun to stop him.

Daniel knew if Qi used the hara'kash on him, it would kill him. He had to do something to stop him. Bowing his head, he began crying. "Please do not hurt me," he sobbed. He began crying so hard Qi stopped trying to put the device on.

"I do not remember where I came from," he said in Goa'uld. "Please do not hurt me."

Qi slowly put the device back inside the folds of his sleeve. "You speak, Goa'uld," he whispered.

"Release him," he said in Chinese. The guards released Daniel.

Qi stepped up to him. "I have not heard my father's language spoken in so long, so long." A sad grin parted his lips. "My father, I miss him so much. He was so strong, but he left this world for me."

"This is a beautiful world," Daniel said. He smiled, he saw Qi smile back. "I do not remember my father. I hoped that he loved me. Did your father love you?"

Qi's hand touched Daniel's face. "Yes, my world is very beautiful. My father knew it was very special. He hid it, hid it from everyone."

He sadly looked at Daniel. "Did he love me?" He shook his head. "I do not know if my father loved me. But he loved this world. He always told me to protect it from strangers. To watch for glowing eyes, keep an eye out for strangers with glowing eyes."

He held Daniel's head with both hands. Daniel benignly smiled at him. "Your eyes, they do not glow like my fathers, like mine or my son. They are a pretty blue. Blue, that is a lucky color. It will gift me with healing and long life, like my father. Your smile, it makes me feel warm inside."

"I am getting tired, Zhong," he said in Chinese. His hands fell to his side, he stepped back. "This giant intrigues me. Have it brought to the palace tonight. I wish to speak to him again."

Tai bowed his head, "Yes, father. It will be done."

"Excellent. Let us go back, I am hungry. I wish to have some honey cakes. Can I eat some?"

"Yes, father, you can eat all you want."

"My father loved honey cakes," he mumbled. "He left me in charge you know."

"He was very wise, father," Tai said. "Let us go back so you may rest."

"I am tired, but do not forget, I want to talk to the giant tonight."

"I will not forget, Father."

Tai motioned for two guards to help his father. They led him down the street. Tai looked at Daniel. "It seems that my father likes you. I knew he would think you were special."

He looked at Yong. "I will send guards to fetch him tonight. Be sure he is ready."

Without another word, he spun around and walked away. Zhan gave Yong a fleeting glance before following them.

As soon as Zhan left, Cameron crawled back into the room.

"Cameron Mitchell," Teal'c said. "What happened? You were holding your gun as if you were going to use it."

"Qi brought out a hara'kesh. He was going to used it on Daniel. I've only seen pictures of it, but I heard it can kill you."

"Yes," Teal'c said. "It is a deadly weapon. What stopped him?"

Cameron shrugged his shoulders. "Daniel, I swear he could talk the devil himself into leaving hell."

Once Tai was out of sight, Guotin released a deep breath.

"Daniel, your blue eyes must be lucky. To get Lord Qi to like you, that is a very rare thing."

"I thought he was going to kill him," Yong said.

Daniel cleared his throat, as he stood up. "So did I."

"We did not understand what he was saying. What did you say to him?"

"I told him that this is a pretty world, and that his father must have loved him. He was talking about Lord Yu. He told him to watch for strangers with glowing eyes."

"The ones you call, Goa'ulds, Daniel," Yong said.

Guotin saw some of the villagers looking at them. "Let us finish this discussion inside. I am most anxious to see Daniel's friends."

Yong whispered to Daniel, "I am most anxious to see Guotin's reaction when he sees Teal'c."

Daniel laughed. "Me too, Yong. Me too."