Child of the Mind

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Thirteen

Tai

With Zhan ahead, Liang dragged Daniel down the streets. He viciously jerked Daniel as he fought his hold. Daniel saw people around celebrating. As he was dragged past them, some of them stopped. His eyes pleaded with them for help.

"What are you doing to, Daniel?" they would ask.

Zhan would reply, "Lord Qi wants to see him."

That was enough for them. They would not question what Lord Qi wanted.

Liang gleefully laughed. "No one will save you."

They took Daniel to Lord Qi's house. The other guards left once they entered the house. Zhan took Daniel from Liang. "Go, he is under my care now."

Liang bowed his head, "Yes, Zhan." He quickly left.

Zhan took Daniel to a different section of the house. Pulled through double doors, Daniel saw Tai sitting in front of a small table.

"My Lord," Zhan Shi said. "I have him."

Zhan pulled the gag down, it hung around Daniel's neck. Coughing, Daniel saw a smile cross Tai's lip.

"I knew I saw your face somewhere before," Tai said. "But I just could not remember where. Imagine my surprise that a young girl helped me to remember. It was a simple thing, she wanted me to help her out of an agreement with her dead betrotheds' family. In return she would tell me a secret about the blue-eyed giant."

"My Lord," Zhan said. "A secret that she says only she knows. She said that she told no one that his memory returned. He had us all fooled."

Standing up, Tai slowly walked to Daniel. Zhan Shi stepped back. Tai stood in front of Daniel. He looked up at him. "I have heard much about you. Even the tale of how you served my Grandfather, Doctor Daniel Jackson."

Tai waited for Daniel to react, he was angry when Daniel just stared blankly ahead.

Zhan Shi rabbit punched Daniel in the back. Gasping, he fell to his knees.

"During my exile," Tai said. "I have heard much about you, and your SG-1. After my grandfather was killed by one of your members, Lord Ba'al knew I would try to pick up what was left of his empire. He sent many to try and kill me. But my grandfather trained me well. I traveled to many worlds to avoid his assassins. Then I heard glorious news. Your people and the Tok'ra executed the last of the System Lords. I wish I could have been there to see Ba'al die."

Tai slightly bowed his head. "I find that I have you to thank for eliminating my tormentor and all of those old fools. They were in power for far too long. It was time for new blood to bring the goa'ulds back to where they belong."

"We brought the system lords down, Tai Kang," Daniel defiantly said. "All of them, and we will stop you."

"There he is," Tai said. "The child is gone now, replaced by the man that hid inside."

"You will never be as powerful as your grandfather."

"Yes, I will! I came back to my grandfather's world because he told me about his special secret. He told me why this world was so important to him."

"The flowers," Daniel said. Once he said it, he wished he could take it back.

"You know about them? Does anyone else know of them?" Tai said.

Daniel had to think quick. He didn't want to put Yong or Zi in danger. "If you know about me, then you know that I am an archeologist. I…I can read and speak several languages. I saw a scroll that had the history of this world. It spoke of the flower, Yǒngyuǎn. It has another meaning on my world, it means forever. Once my memory came back, I put two and two together. I realized that the flower's healing properties could be connected with the sarcophagus."

"I heard about your expertise with languages. Your suspicions were true. I came back to my world for the Yǒngyuǎn. I will use them to help me become as great as Ba'al. No, I will become as powerful as the mighty Anubis!"

"We stopped Anubis," Daniel said.

Tai grabbed the back of Daniel's neck. Daniel grunted as he jerked his head forward. "Do you think I fear you and your kind? I have been chased across the galaxy by Ba'al's best assassins, and I am still alive!"

Tai squeezed Daniel's neck. "Tell me, how did you find this world? Where are the other members of your team? Answer me!"

"I lost my memory!" Daniel said. "I have no idea where they are. Even if I did, I'd never tell you."

Tai grabbed the scarf, he pulled it back, choking Daniel. "You lie, I will get the truth from you."

"Apophis, Ba'al, Adria," Daniel gasped. "I've been interrogated by the best. All of them have tried to make me tell them what I know. And none of them succeeded. You will not be getting any information from me."

Tai released the scarf. "Your knowledge of the Ancients is well known," he softly said. "Be assured, Doctor Jackson, you are far too valuable to me alive then dead. As I said, I will be as powerful as the mighty Anubis, you will help me gain that power."

Tai's eyes knit in anger when he heard Daniel laugh at him. "Anubis?" Daniel said. "You want me to make you like Anubis? He was a mistake, the ancients will not be making that mistake again."

"Says the Tau'ri that has ascended twice. You may not help me now, but in time you will." Stepping back, he said, "All those years in exile has made me very patient. My Grandfather taught me this. And look how powerful he became. For now, I just need to know how you found this world."

Daniel painted on his most ingratiating smile. "First star on the left, straight on until morning."

Tai pulled his hand back and slapped Daniel on the face. His glasses flew in the air and skidded on the floor. "Do not play me the fool." He patted Zhan Shi on the chest, "I will let you have some fun with him, Zhan. My father is expecting to see him tonight. Make sure you leave no visible marks."

Zhan wickedly smiled, "He will not see a thing, my Lord."

Looking out the window, Yong searched for Daniel. He should have been back by now. He was about to look for him when he saw Ying Lee running towards the house. Yong rushed outside. She was panting hard.

"I am sorry, Yong. I was scared. I did not know that would happen. I told Daniel I would rather die than go to Changming's family. I had to do it, I was frightened. I had to tell them, he promised he would not be hurt."

Yong was becoming frightened. "What did you do, Ying Lee?"

"I had no choice, Daniel would not help me."

Yong grabbed her shoulders, "Ying Lee, tell me, what did you do?"

Her head bend down in shame. "I told Lord Zhong that Daniel's memories came back. That his name was Daniel Jackson."

"What did you mean, you did not know that would happen?"

"Zhan took him, Yong. They beat him, put manacles on him and took him away."

Yong tried to keep in his anger. "Ying Lee, if they know Daniel's memory is back then Zi and I are in danger."

"No," Ying lee softly said. "Daniel saw to that. He asked if I told you that his memory came back. He wanted Zhan to think that only I knew. I told Zhan that I told no one, you are safe, Yong. Before they took him away, he made sure that you are safe."

Yong was furious, she managed to get Daniel out of the safety of his home. She led him to her so that Zhan could take him. His anger boiled inside, he tightly fisted his hands as he said through clenched teeth, "Ying Lee, you must go. Leave here now."

Yong touched his arm. "I am sorry, Yong. I did not mean…"

Yong angrily pulled his arm back. "I said leave now!"

She could see the anger in his face. Nodding her head, she turned and ran away. Yong didn't know what to do. Daniel was in trouble. Entering the house, he quickly explained to Guotin, Ru and Zi what had happened. He saw Daniel's friends looking at him. He only knew one word in Daniel's language.

Looking at them he pointed at Ru, "Daniel." He pointed at himself. "Zhan." He mimed hitting Ru. He began pulling Ru away. He pointed outside of the house. "Daniel," he shook his head, his eyes were curved with sadness as he said, "Okay."

He hoped they realized that he meant not good. He could see they understood by the look in their eyes and the tone of their voice.

"Daniel's gone," Sam said. "From the looks of it, Zhan fought him and took him away."

"Damnit," Cameron said. "We shouldn't have let him go talk to that girl. She had to have something to do with it. I knew this sounded too good to be true. We had the whole thing planned."

"Cameron," Sam said. "We have no idea what that monster going to do to Daniel. We need to get him back."

Cameron heard Guotin ask Zi for something. She brought him some paper and a burnt stick. Using the burnt end Guotin drew a man with a medallion. Pretending to hold a knife, he stabbed the medallion. He then touched the head of the imperial guard costume and motioned for Cameron to put it on his head.

"I think they still want to go forward with the plan," Sam said.

"Daniel?" Cameron said.

Guotin drew Daniel's glasses and hugged them to his chest. "I believe he is saying that he will help us save Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said.

"Yeah, I got that impression too," Cameron said. "Sam, think you can jam the necklace and give the big reveal to brother rat?"

Sam held up her walkie talkie. "If we can get close enough, and I can find the right frequency, I think we can."

"Good, then let's go catch a rat." Looking at Guotin, Cameron said, "Okay."

Guotin smiled. "They understand, Yong. Let us go. I pray that we will find Daniel alive and well."

It was dark when they left Yong's house. Zi was standing on the porch. Yong had a heated discussion with her. She wanted to go, but he was afraid of her getting hurt. She reached out and held his hand.

"I will stay here, Yong," she said. "Remember your promise to protect Daniel. And please, bring him home."

"I will, Zi. I could not help Junjie, but I swear I will help Daniel."

She tightly hugged him, "I know you will. Do not die, it will make me very angry."

Grinning, he said, "I will try." Giving her a kiss, he joined the others. Without a look back, they headed to Lord Qi's home.

Cameron, Sam and Teal'c walked carefully through the crowd of people. The festival was in full swing. They blended right in. They saw several other imperial guards, but they walked on stilts. Coming to the Lord's home, they saw many guards standing in the front.

Before Daniel was taken, they were told not to say anything. They would let Daniel, Guotin or Yong do the talking. With Daniel gone, it was up to Guotin and Yong now, to get them inside.

"Lord Qi expects us," Guotin told the guard. "I have brought three acolytes with me to see the Lord. May I bring them in?"

The guard eyed the tall Guardians. The costumes shone brightly in the torch light. "They may go," the guard said.

"The Lord expects me," Yong said.

He saw the guard eyeing him, "I remember you, you brought in the giant."

"Yes," Yong said. "He should be inside already."

"Yes, he is, you may enter. I hope you can cheer him up. I hated hearing him cry. It is sad to see a man act that way."

"You mean the last time we were here."

"No," the guard said. "I heard him crying inside."

"Do not worry," Yong assured him. "I can stop him from crying."

Walking into the house, Yong whispered to Guotin, "What do you think happened? Do you think Daniel's mind is not well again?"

Guotin shook his head. "We do not know what that monster has done to him. I am thankful that his friends do not know what was said. I believe if they did, they would do something that could endanger our task."

Looking up, Yong smiled at Cameron. He needed to let Daniel's friends know that all was well.

Cameron kept close to Yong. Sam was behind Guotin. Teal'c walked close to Ru. Entering the large chamber, they saw Lord Qi and Tai sitting in the back of the room. Yong had to swallow hard. Daniel was sitting on the floor next to Qi. The Lord was caressing him, like a pet. Daniel's glasses were gone. His face was tear stained. Walking closer, he saw his eyes blankly staring ahead.

"Yong," Lord Qi beckoned. "Come closer. The giant is sad. I want you to make him happy again."

Yong rushed forward, he sat next to him. He took Daniel's hand. "Daniel, are you all right."

Daniel's head slowly lifted; he squinted his eyes. His eyes smiled and he grinned widely. "Yong!" Yong saw a red mark on his cheek, he gently touched his face.

"I do not know what happened to my glasses," Daniel sadly said. "Do you know where they are?"

Yong bowed his head, "No, Daniel. I am sorry, I promised to look after you."

Daniel's head tilted, "Did you break your promise?" He touched his head, Yong pulled his hand away. He saw blood on his fingers. "It hurts," Daniel sighed.

Yong's heart broke, Daniel's mind was broken again. Looking up he saw Zhan Shi staring at him. The grin on his face told him everything. He hurt Daniel, he didn't know how, but he hurt him enough to bring the child back.

Cameron saw Daniel sitting next to Lord Qi. He tightly fisted his hands when he saw a familiar look on Daniels' face. The child was back. He didn't know what they did to him, but Daniel was gone. He felt Teal'c nudge him. He saw it too, the innocent look was back. He had no idea what Tai did to him, but he was going to make him pay.

Carter could see that Daniel was hurt. The child returned. Hiding behind Teal'c, she began working on the walkie talkie. She needed to jam the amulet and expose Tai.

Lord Qi happily watched several men dancing in front of him. It was the Chang'e festival. He always enjoyed celebrating it here. He smiled when he heard Daniel laugh.

"Look, Yong," Daniel said. He pointed to the dancers and happily laughed. "They are good dancers."

"Yes, Daniel, they are," Yong said. He saw Lord Qi nodding a thanks.

Tai pretended to watch the festival. He had to hide his anger. Zhan worked on Daniel Jackson to make him tell him where his people were hiding, but he could not make him talk. It came to a point that he was so angry with him, he lashed out at him with the Kara Kesh. Daniel flew in the air and landed hard against a column.

When he woke up, Tai could see that Daniel Jackson was gone. The innocent Man-child had returned. It was useless to try and get any information from him in that condition. He had Zhan bring him to see his father. His father seemed to enjoy being with Daniel. For now, he would let him has his fun. But when they returned to his palace, he would end his father's rule. It would not take him long to begin destroying this world. For now, he had to endure watching the local villagers celebrate.

He held the mask his father gave him to wear for the festival in his hand. He had to endure watching the town's people dancing, he noticed that Zhan was looking at him. He was standing to his left. Suddenly he bent over and whispered to him, "Your scar," he hissed. "It is showing."

"Got it," Sam whispered. Playing with different frequencies, she saw the scar suddenly appear.

The sounds of laughter drowned out what they were saying. Cameron leaned over, "Did I see right, Carter?"

"I found the right frequency, Cam."

Looking at Tai, he whispered, "Step one."