From the Ruins
Part One
"Hey guys," Sam said as Jack, Daniel and Teal'c approached her bed in the infirmary. "What's this?" she asked taking the bag Daniel held out.
"Jack and I tried out that deli you recommended. We thought since you were still stuck here, you might enjoy some real food. I think that's what you said you ordered."
"Thank you." Sam grinned as she unwrapped the sandwich and took a small bite. She looked at her friends. "What's up?"
Jack and Daniel exchanged glances.
"Daniel Jackson has some interesting information, Major Carter."
"Oh?"
For the third time in two hours, Daniel explained the article as he handed Sam the magazine. Jack had stopped at his apartment on the way back to the base so he could get it and the envelope it had arrived in.
"Not to sound negative, Daniel. But this is an Egyptian tabloid isn't it?"
"I know. But the person who sent it to me wouldn't send me something bogus."
"How do you know who sent it to you?" Jack asked, turning the envelope over in his hands. "There's no return address. And you said the magazine was the only thing inside."
"Because of this." Daniel took the magazine and turned to the second page of the article. Pointing to a notation in the margin beside the excerpt he said, "Amon wrote this."
"What's it say?" Jack asked looking over Sam's shoulder.
"'One cannot contain the wind.'"
"And you recognize it." Sam said.
"It's something my father used to say."
"What's it mean?" Jack asked.
Daniel licked his lips. "Long story. Now, I knew most of these words, and Teal'c translated the rest. This excerpt refers to a secret armory."
"An armory?" Sam asked alarmed.
"A 'secret' armory," Jack said. "Which means if it's still secret, we could have some serious Goa'uld firepower on our hands. Provided we find it of course."
"Daniel, I'm assuming you think we can," Sam said.
"If I can get to the temple before anyone else, we should be able to find it, yes."
"Before who else?" Jack asked warily.
"The article only mentions two disreputable archeologists, but there could be as many as a half dozen. Not to mention other eager Egyptologists."
"Disreputable?" Jack, Sam and Teal'c asked.
"There are some archeologists who seek to learn about cultures in order to exploit them. Mainly for profit. There aren't very many in the world that I know of, not enough to pose a considerable threat at least. But, they're usually studying earth cultures."
"And if they were to get their hands on a Goa'uld armory," Jack started.
"Earth could be in trouble," Teal'c finished.
"What about the journals?" Sam asked. "No one else on earth can translate Goa'uld, but if other Egyptologists get to the journals first, they may not want to give them up without a fight. I know I wouldn't."
"Well, since they belonged to my parents, I can claim them. But I kind of disappeared from the archeology world, so I'll have to claim them soon. It's already been almost two weeks. First because the magazine had to be forwarded at least three times before it got to me. Then, the plague."
"Do you know if anybody else has gotten to the journals or the temple?" Jack asked.
"I was planning on finding out," Daniel said.
"Ok, you do that," Jack said. "I'll go find Hammond."
***
Two days later, SG-1 arrived in a remote and unpopulated area of Egypt. They were dressed in civilian clothes, and Teal'c wore an orange bandana on his head. Daniel thanked their guide and paid him as the others unloaded their gear.
"Now what?" Jack asked scanning their surroundings. There were two tents about thirty feet in front of them. There were a few vehicles behind the tents and what looked like a temporary tent settlement in the distance to the right.
"Amon said he'd meet us here," Daniel said shielding his eyes from the bright sun.
"Well, there are definitely people here," Sam said as raised voices drifted along the breeze to their position. "And they don't sound happy."
"Recognize any voices or words?" Jack asked.
"Not from this distance," Daniel replied.
"Ok, let's get closer." Jack led his team forward.
"They're arguing about something," Daniel said as they got closer.
"Ya think."
"Quiet, Jack. I'm trying to concentrate. Sounds like three people, and they're all talking at once. I'm pretty sure one of them is Amon."
"These belong only to Daniel Jackson," someone inside the tent said in Egyptian, his voice rising above the other two voices.
"The journals," Daniel said and entered the tent. Jack sighed and followed quickly on his heels with Sam and Teal'c behind him.
"I'm Daniel Jackson."
The three men stopped arguing.
"Daniel! Little Daniel!" A tall, thin, elderly man with a thick accent came dashing over. He handed Daniel the box he had been holding protectively and embraced him.
"Hello, Amon." Daniel smiled and returned the man's tight embrace.
"And, is this Little Hailey?" Amon asked indicating Sam.
"Hailey?" For a second Daniel was confused. "No. No, this is Major Samantha Carter." "You do resemble Hailey, but now I see that you are not her," Amon said taking Sam's hand and kissing it. "What ever happened to Hailey?"
"I don't know. Um, this is Colonel Jack O'Neill and Murray."
Amon shook Jack's hand then Teal'c's.
One of the other men said something angrily, and Amon strode back to him. Another argument ensued. One of the men held his fist under Amon's chin. Jack reached for the sidearm in his waistband, but Daniel shook his head. "He's got everything under control," he whispered. "Don't mess it up." Jack reluctantly conceded.
After a few more angry words, the man lowered his fist, said something to his companion and stomped out the back of the tent. His companion cast an angry look Daniel's way before leaving.
Amon walked to the back of the tent and watched the two men get into their vehicle and leave before returning to SG-1. With a gesture of dusting off his hands, he said firmly, "No one else will be bothering us."
"Good," Jack said, surprised to be convinced by someone he just met.
"How many were there?" Daniel asked.
"Those two make seven. They were the last." He gave Daniel a look that dared him to continue worrying. Daniel looked down to the intricate design on the box instead.
"So, who's Hailey?" Jack asked, trying to look innocent when Daniel glared at him.
"She and Daniel were friends. Very close friends."
"How close?" Jack asked trying to sound innocent.
"Once I found them kissing in a deserted tent. I had no idea four-year-olds could be so intense."
Jack smirked. "Daniel?"
Sam tried not to grin.
"Is it not frowned upon for children of such a young age to kiss, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel hugged himself around the box, looked at the ground and mumbled something.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"My friends and I would like to get started," Daniel said to Amon, ignoring the others.
"Yes, of course." Amon started to move, but stopped and looked into Daniel's eyes. "You still carry the pain," he almost whispered, reaching out to touch Daniel's cheek. "Many carry it, but your burden is the heaviest."
Daniel swallowed and reminded Amon, "My friends."
"Yes." He motioned for everyone to follow him. As they entered the temporary settlement, someone called to Amon.
He spoke to Daniel in Egyptian and broke from the group.
"Daniel?" Jack asked.
"They need his help. I know the way," Daniel explained succinctly. He led them to the last tent in the temporary settlement. "This is Amon's tent. He said we can sleep here tonight and he'll take us to the temple where the journals were found tomorrow. It's about five miles east of here. He can only be away long enough to get us there. Then, we'll be on our own until his crew relocates there in a day or so."
"Is that gonna be a problem?" Jack asked.
"No, we'll be fine. In fact, we could get there on our own, but Amon wants to take us, and I think we should let him."
"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Jack asked looking at his watch.
"Well, it won't be dark for several hours," Daniel said also glancing at his watch. "Personally, I'm curious about what Amon's crew is doing."
"Me too," Sam said. "I saw what looks like a tray of samples on our way here."
"And of course I'd like to get started on these." Daniel held up the box of journals.
"Ok. You two explore. Teal'c and I will find something to do. Right, Teal'c?"
"I am certain, O'Neill," Teal'c said with a hint of reluctance in his tone that Jack pretended not to notice.
"Just stay out of trouble," Daniel said warily.
"You're telling me to stay out of trouble?"
"Well, this is more my area than yours."
"True."
Daniel and Sam found out that Amon's crew was collecting samples of everything since this area was recently deemed uncursed along with the temple. Since most of the samples they had gathered so far were minerals, Daniel quickly became bored and spent the rest of the day reading.
Sam however, rolled up her sleeves and helped analyze some samples.
As for Jack and Teal'c, they did find something to do. They started walking and ended up back at the tent where Amon had awaited their arrival. Jack spied the vehicles behind the tent. After assuring Teal'c that they could use one of the gas cans in the tent to refill the vehicles, Jack convinced the Jaffa to 'borrow' one and race him. On their walk back to the settlement, a triumphant Teal'c had some clever ideas for dragging his teammates away from dirt and books. Jack filed them away for future use.
SG-1 joined Amon and his crew for dinner and an impromptu celebration. Even though everyone seemed to be having a good time, Jack decided they should get some sleep when both Sam and Daniel yawned. He had to remind them that they had just gotten over the flu to stop their protests.
Everyone woke early the next morning and, after a quick breakfast, set out for the temple. They had made half a mile when Amon was called back to assist with a problem. By the time the crisis was resolved, it was midday and Amon was insisting that they eat lunch before heading out again. Daniel, however, wanted to leave right away. Jack stood half in/half out of the tent listening to them argue. As much as he understood anyway since they were both speaking mostly Egyptian. He chuckled to himself as Amon's tone became increasingly frustrated.
"It's just we've come a long way and-"
Amon held up his hand and started to walk past Jack out of the tent.
Daniel remembered that gesture. It meant the discussion was over as far as Amon was concerned.
"We brought food with us. All we want to do now is what we came here to do."
"Speak for yourself," Jack muttered.
Amon stopped and shot Daniel a stunned look. As a child, Daniel had never ignored or defied that gesture of finality. Sure, he knew Daniel was no longer a child, but he seemed to realize that fully only just now. It had been a long time since the funeral, but the image of the lost, scared child he had tried to get to without success still haunted him. That image combined with his earlier memories of a happy, inquisitive child and the man standing before him now were jumbled together and confusing him.
"I'm sorry, Amon." Daniel switched back to Egyptian and tried again.
Jack's attention drifted to Sam and Teal'c, who were standing with two men a few feet away. The group was looking intently at something. He was craning his neck to see what it was when his attention was drawn back by Amon's voice. He had no idea what the man had said, but it sounded stern, and Daniel, who had returned to English, stopped mid sentence. Jack looked at him curiously.
"Guess we're staying for lunch," Daniel mumbled and walked past Amon and Jack, not looking at either of them.
Jack watched him walk toward the food tent. Wow. What did that guy say?
Amon walked past Jack and followed his gaze. "His mother used to say he walked like the wind," Amon said sounding distant. "Sometimes a gentle, refreshing breeze. Other times a violent storm."
"I can see that," Jack replied.
"His father always said 'One cannot contain the wind.' His mother would place her hand over her heart and reply, 'Only in here'"
Jack looked at the elderly man. As Amon walked off, he noticed Sam and Teal'c looking his way. They had recognized the phrase too.
***
"This is a temple?" Jack asked. "Looks more like a fallen mountain to me."
"Well, it is ruins. And it is ancient," Daniel said
"Are you sure we're gonna be safe in there? Are you sure you're gonna be safe in there?"
"Though the outside crumbles," Amon answered, "the inside is surprisingly intact."
"Really?" Daniel asked intrigued, which made Jack more nervous.
"Something to do with the curse maybe," Sam said.
"Carter?"
"Well, sir. If there's a Goa-"
"Carter." Jack nodded toward Amon.
"Sorry, sir." She was so comfortable around Amon that she had momentarily forgotten he wasn't part of their group.
"Come. I will show you where the journals were discovered."
"Daniel," Jack called as Daniel started following Amon.
"He said the inside's safe," Daniel said impatiently.
"I'd like to see that for myself if you don't mind."
"Of course," Amon said understanding.
"How are you going to do that from out here?" Daniel crossed his arms, his impatience rapidly increasing.
"Murray," Jack said waving the Jaffa forward.
With Teal'c in the lead, the group filed inside. The temple was a large almost empty room with a sand floor and stone steps at one end leading up to an empty altar. The walls were windowless and covered in glyphs and pictures. At the other end of the room were dark passageways.
Amon was right. Everything inside was not only intact but in mint condition.
"This is it?" Jack asked unimpressed.
Daniel laughed wryly, held out his arms and turned in a circle. "Are you kidding? This is incredible! I don't even know where to start."
"Look at the lights, sir," Sam breathed indicating the globes attached at intervals along the walls. "I wonder how long they've been on."
Amon smiled broadly. "Come," he said catching Daniel's hand, stopping him in mid circle and leading him around the steps. The others followed and watched as Amon knelt and lifted away a piece of stone from the back of a step to reveal a hollow area. "The journals were found in here."
"I wonder why they left them here," Daniel mused.
"Perhaps they intended to return one day," Amon offered. "Perhaps you will find your answer among their words." He rose and dusted his hands off. "I must return to my crew, but first I will help you bring in your gear."
Even with Carter's and Daniel's doohickeys and the supplies stowed near the passages on a couple of shelves Amon lent them, Jack found the emptiness of the room oddly stifling.
When SG-1 was alone again, Jack turned to Sam. "Carter, you were going to say something about the curse?"
"Yes, sir. As I suspected, there's some sort of power maintaining the integrity of this room and everything in it." She adjusted the dials on a piece of equipment. "It's all over this room, but I can't pinpoint where it's coming from."
"How does that make it the curse?" Daniel asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Perhaps the energy level of the power source was once very strong," Teal'c said watching one of the lights flicker. As the others turned and watched, the light flickered several more times before winking out.
"Carter?"
"I'll have to monitor the level for several hours before I can be sure of anything, sir."
"I still don't understand how this could be the curse," Daniel said.
"Well, if Teal'c's right, then the power may have been strong enough at one point to inflict pain on or even repel anyone who tried to enter the temple."
"Like a force field?" Daniel asked.
Sam nodded. "Yeah."
"And a force field can be used to protect something valuable," Jack stated.
"Like an armory," Sam concluded.
Jack nodded. "Like an armory."
There was a moment of silence as everyone contemplated this.
"Think you can shut it off?"
"Why?" Daniel asked.
"Even if the power's failing here, it's probably stronger wherever the armory is, right?"
"Assuming all the power's coming from the same source, yes, sir."
"Well, I for one don't want to be repelled or…inflicted on when we find the weapons."
"I'll need to find the source of the power before I can attempt to shut it off," Sam said.
"Maybe I can find the source for you," Daniel said. "From what I've read so far, it looks like my parents were translating this wall." He pointed to the wall on his left. "Well, technically they weren't translating since they were both fluent in ancient Egyptian and wrote in ancient Egyptian sometimes without realizing it. Basically, they were copying the wall. Most of it anyway. I mean, the Goa'uld symbols they copied in a different color than the rest, which means they didn't know them. But, of course how could they know them?" He stopped to take a breath, and Jack took the opportunity to redirect him.
"So, the location of the power and maybe the armory is written on the wall? I find that a little hard to believe."
"Well, of course no one would have written the location of their power or weapons on their wall. Duh. I mean, why would they? They already knew that information. And they certainly wouldn't want to advertise it."
"In case their enemies stopped by," Jack said.
"Right. Now, what I was going to say was it looks like my parents took extensive notes on this entire place including the wall."
"So, they may have found the power source," Sam said.
"Right."
"Maybe they found the armory too," Jack said. "I mean, something about it has to be written somewhere. Otherwise, how could the words 'secret armory' have made it into the journals?"
"Yeah, I thought of that too. I'll have to finish reading before I know."
"Carter, what about your machines? Can one of them locate the power source? In case Daniel's parents didn't find it."
"This is an unknown power, so I need to know more about it before I can modify the equipment to locate its source."
"Ok, you two work on finding this power source. Teal'c and I will check out the surrounding area and bring in firewood to heat up dinner. I don't know about you kids, but I'm getting hungry."
"We just ate," Daniel said settling against the steps with a journal.
"Coming up on seven hours ago," Jack said indignantly.