It had been five months since SG-1 had began their life without their Dr. Jackson. SG-1 hadn't been the same. Many in the SGC felt pity for the doctor that attempted to take Daniel's place on the team. Jack didn't tease him as he had Daniel, but Dr. Rothman definitely didn't feel like he was part of the team. The fact was he would never be a part of SG-1. That was reserved for Daniel, no matter how long it took for them to either find him or for Daniel to find them.
SG-9 was on P9Q-872 logging some of the artifacts that had been discovered in the cave where Princess Arielle of the Ancients was found. They had also discovered that there was a small village about five miles west of the gate. It had been uncovered on one of the first missions back to the planet.
Sergeant Smith and Captain Rodgers were head back from the village site were they had been video taping footage of an unusual looking machine they had unearthed in the floor of a building that appeared to have been used to house farming equipment and other supplies. They had radioed Colonel Burton and Sergeant Mayzine to inform them that they were on the way back towards the caves.
The walk back from the village was lined in lush scenery. There were trees, meadows with flowers of white, blue, purple and red. The members of SG-9 found it odd that the grass didn't grow very tall. In addition, on the trail from the village to the stargate was a river that cascaded over a ledge of rocks that made a breathtaking waterfall.
The area around the waterfalls looked like a tropic paradise with all the many types of different flowers and plants, some which was nothing like they had seen on their own planet. With all the magnificence on the trail neither man had noticed the long distance from the village to their destination. Before they knew it the stargate was in sight and their journey was almost completed.
As they got closer to the gate they noticed the massive ring began to hum with activity and glow. They looked at each other, knowing that they weren't expecting anyone from the SGC, so they decided to duck down behind some bushes near the gate until they could be sure that their unexpected guess was someone they could trust.
Captain Rodgers also decided to inform the others in the cave to the development so they wouldn't reveal themselves by mistake before they could be positive that the visitors were friendly in nature.
After the eruption of the energy stream and the stabilization of the wormhole Rodgers and Smith watched attentively from behind the bushes as the first guests made themselves visible. A cold chill shot down the spine of both men as the observed two Jaffa walk from the event horizon. They watched in terror as the Jaffa marched 25 feet from the gate then stopped and waited. Within seconds two more Jaffa came forth from the gate this time stopping three feet behind the first two. Next two serpent guards arrived to take their place among the Jaffa. Then the sight came that no SGC member ever wanted to see without an army of soldiers and a couple Tollan ion cannons. The next to appear was a Goa'uld, but not just any Goa'uld, Chronos, the Tau'ri hating snake himself. After Chronos walked out from the gate two more serpent guards followed by four more Jaffa descended from the simmering blue pool of energy in much the same manner as the others. The serpent guards stayed close to Chronos to reinforce their status as his protectors.
The two humans, that had taken refuge in the bushes, had a feeling of dread rushed through their bodies when Chronos bellowed something. Then headed to the cave where Arielle had once been.
As soon as Rodgers felt Chronos and his cronies were far enough away that they wouldn't be able to hear, he radioed Colonel Burton to warn him of the impending danger headed their way.
Rodgers whispered quietly over his radio, " Colonel, eight Jaffa, four serpent guards and one Goa'uld headed your way. Looks like Chronos is back for his ancient princess, sir."
Burton, from the radio, " We're going undercover. What ever happens you must get back to the SGC and let them know what has transpired."
As the last of the Jaffa entered the cave Rodgers and Smith tried to get as close to the cave as possible without being noticed. As they got closer they could hear yelling coming from the cavern. Chronos had located Burton and Mayzine and was irate because he found them instead of his beloved.
Chronos, spoke in a very angry voice, " Tau'ri what have you done with her? I warned you before that I would not show mercy to you." His eyes began to glow as he grabbed Mayzine from two of his Jaffa, then putting his hand around Mayzine's neck, " You will pay for your disobedience to me!" Chronos began squeezing Mayzine's neck. Mayzine gasped for air, as his face began to redden.
Burton, screamed at Chronos, " Stop it you BASTARD. I'm gonna kill you."
Chronos tightened his grip on Mayzine until his trachea was crushed under his grasp. Burton tried pulling away from the Jaffa but was met with a jab of a staff weapon to his ribs.
Chronos, playfully pushed at Burton with the weapon, " You will kill me? A human kill a god? Instead of killing you, maybe I should keep you around for my amusement."
Burton, angry at the arrogance in the voice of Chronos, replied, " Amusement?" Then spit in the face of Chronos, " Laugh at that snake head. We killed Ra` and we'll kill you."
Chronos, wiping his face despised by the man's reminder, " You foolish Tau'ri." He raised his hand to reveal a ribbon device on his palm. "Now Tau'ri, where is she?"
Burton, resorted to playing dumb, " She, who? I don't know who you are talking about."
Chronos was even more enraged than before, " Tau'ri I will go to your world and kill every last one on the planet if I find her there. Just tell me where she is and I shall spare your life."
Burtons, head began shaking from the affects of the glowing ribbon device on his brow, "The Asgard won't let you do that Chronos. In fact they would probably destroy you!" The signs of pain from his torture were showing across his face.
Chronos intensified the power of the beam of destruction to the man's brain, " Not even the Asgard will stop me from finding the one I seek."
The men outside the cavern were stunned by the words of Chronos. They had always felt that all Goa'uld feared the Asgard, but Chronos was willing to break the treaty, go up against the Asgard and the other System Lords to have his precious beloved in his grasp. Little did he know that no one had Arielle, she had in fact left Earth shortly after being freed by SG-1, taking Dr. Daniel Jackson with her.
Chronos, appearing bored with this torture, " I grow tired of you Tau'ri. Give me the answer I seek and I will spare your life. If you will not talk you will surely die."
Burton, mustering all the energy he could spare from the torture he was enduring, " Then you might as well get it over with because I won't tell you anything."
Chronos furious with Burton's answer, " As you wish." Then he intensified the beam of light to Burton's forehead and it began to shake even more as the outward signs of its destruction became more evident. Burton then let out an agonizing cry.
When the men out side of the cavern heard the scream they realized at that point they had to get through the gate and back to the SGC to notify the general to what had transpired on the planet.
As they ran to the gate the cry from the cave stopped with the sound of a staff weapon being fired. Within seconds of the blast they started dialing earth as quickly as they could. As soon as the wormhole was established they sent their GDO code, barely waiting for it to be identified by their people. As the two men ran through the gate they were unaware that Chronos saw their escape from the planet.
Chronos, " They will return. They are fools, who think they can defeat a god."
As the two men stepped out of the event horizon they were greeted by their fellow soldiers pointing weapons in their direction, awaiting the command to fire or put down there guns.
Hammond, over the intercom, " Stand down men" Looking towards the two remaining SG-9 members, " Where is the rest of your team Captain?"
Rodgers, dropping to his knees, " They're dead sir. He killed him."
Hammond turned to the airmen in the control room " Get Dr. Frasier and her team down here with some stretchers and get these men to the infirmary. Then get SG-1 here ASAP. Their downtime is over, as of right now."
After Dr. Frasier gave the men their post mission exams General Hammond asked her if the men would be able to be debriefed.
Frasier reported, " Yes both men are physically able to be debriefed, but they might be a little shaky mentally."
General Hammond, Dr. Frasier, the remaining members of SG-9, and SG-1 all gathered in the conference room over looking the massive ring.
Hammond, talking charge, began, " I asked SG-1 to this debriefing because they found Princess Arielle on the planet." Turning to Rodgers, " Now son, when you came through the gate you said that Colonel Burton and Sergeant Mayzine. You said that 'he' killed them. Who did you mean when, what happen while you were off-world?"
Rodgers, " Smith and I were on the way back to the gate to meet back up with Burton and Mayzine, we were almost there when we noticed that the gate was activating. We warned the Colonel about the incoming traveler so they took cover in the cave. Smith and I took cover behind some bushes by the gate."
Looking around the room Rodgers continued with the details of the thought routine mission that had gone terribly wrong.
Rodgers, continuing, " Then we headed to the cave to see if we could hear what was going on."
Hammond, " And what did you hear soldier?"
Taking over for Rodgers, Smith starts shakily, " Chronos was yelling at Burton and Mayzine about the girl SG-1 found there." His voice gave way to his emotion, " He wanted to know where she was and he wanted her back. When they wouldn't tell him he choked Mayzine. I could hear him struggle for air but then there was a crushing sound and then nothing but.... but Burton yelling."
Rodgers, continuing for the upset Smith, " Chronos then started on Burton and he told him that he would kill everyone on Earth to get her back. Burton even reminded him of the treaty with the Asgard. Chronos didn't care, even if it meant going up against the other System Lords."
Jack, adding, " That can't be good."
Rodgers continued, " Burton endured a tremendous torture. We wanted to go in and stop the torture, but we had to come back to warn the SGC about Chronos."
Hammond, tried to reassure the men, " Son you did the right thing. We needed to know about Chronos and his plans."
Teal'c, questioning what would come next, " What course of action do you plan to take against Chronos, General Hammond?"
Sam, looking at Teal'c then at Hammond, " We don't know if Chronos has sent for reinforcements or if he has a mother ship at the planet by now or if he is on the way here by that matter. We could be walking right into a trap."
Hammond, " I am going to put the base on full alert and notify the president. In case Chronos does decide not to wait for us on the planet."
" So General Hammond, what are we going to do about Chronos?", Jack asked.
Major Carter, offered, " There's nothing really we can do. If we go through the gate sir, Chronos could be waiting to kill us. Especially if we don't have what he wants. But if we don't do something Chronos could easily be on his way here."
" I believe Major Carter is correct with her analysis of the situation," Observed Teal'c.
" Well the Asgard are busy fighting their own war so looks like we're on our own with this one," said O'Neill, looking toward Teal'c
" I do believe that Princess Arielle would help us in this battle O'Neill."
" Teal'c is right." chimed Carter. "Arielle said she would repay our kindness. And I'm sure she would like the chance to teach Chronos a thing or two."
Jack, very sarcastically added, " Sure you guys I'll just go pick up the phone, call her up and say ' Hey Arielle, Chronos is back and boy is he's furious with us and threatening to kick the living daylights out of us. Can ya just come back and give us a hand here?' Come on get a reality check, we don't know how to...."
Then without warning the stargate snapped to life.
Jack's eyes widened and looking around the room, he quipped, " Now that's a little freaky."
" No teams are currently off-world." Hammond stood up and moved quickly to the control room with the staff from the debriefing close behind him. As Hammond entered the control room, he commanded, " Close the Iris!"
Simmons reported, "Can't sir, the controls to the iris aren't responding."
Carter, looking on, sitting at the console, " Let me try."
Over the intercom throughout the base the recorded message ' Unauthorized incoming traveler' sounded. All personnel headed to the gate room with as many weapons that could fit in the room.
As the wormhole stabilized every soul on level 28 held their breath in fear that Chronos and his army would step through reeking havoc on the inhabitants of the base. They were relieved and stunned at the sight of an old friend.
He walked down the ramp wearing a long baggy blue silk appearing shirt and black pants of similar texture. This wasn't the military issue clothes Daniel wore when he had left five months before.
Hammond, Frasier and SG-1 looked at Daniel awe struck at the sight of their long lost friend.
Hammond, shaking off his confusion, barked the order over the intercom to the soldiers in the gate room, " Stand Down."
As they were about to say something to Daniel, another figure materialized from the stargate. It was the Ancient that Daniel left with. Her clothing was different than when they had last seen her. Before her gown looked as if it was out of a fairytale with its long and full and it had been white and gold. A dress fit for a princess. This time her dress was simple. A white gown that stretched to the floor, but of delicate designs exposing her shoulders and very deeply cut.
SG-1 and Hammond went down to meet their new arrivals. As they entered the gate room Daniel and Arielle could see the astonishment in their faces.
Jack addressed Daniel, " Your ears must have been burning."
Daniel, cracked a smile at Jack's comment, " It's good to see you too."
Teal'c was confused at O'Neill's words, " O'Neill, their ears do not appear to be on fire."
Sam, smiled slightly and shook her head, " No Teal'c it's an expression used for when you are talking about someone then you see them."
Teal'c, raised one eyebrow and tilted his head slightly to one side, " I still do not understand the meaning of the phrase."
" Forget it Teal'c. I'll explain it later." Jack broke in.
" Sam, it's good to see you." Hugging Sam then turning to Janet, Daniel continued, " I missed you but not your infirmary." Janet snickered at Jackson's admission. " Teal'c. How you been?"
" I have been well Daniel Jackson."
" Jack, you look good." as Daniel turned to shake his hand.
" Well Space monkey I been keeping out of trouble without you here." With a grin growing across his face, O'Neill continued, "It's been boring as hell."
Daniel, laughing at that, " You all remember Arielle."
Arielle, bowing her head as greetings then looked at Jack, " I told you that all you had to do is call and I would come."
Jack, looking mystified, " And here you are."
Hammond still caught off guard by the arrival of two, " I'm going to have Dr. Frasier examine you both then we can meet in the conference room when she is concluded."
Arielle nodded on agreement with the General. She and Daniel went with Janet to the infirmary.
Dr. Frasier ran the usual test. Both patients were in exceptional health. She even noticed that Daniel hadn't sneezed one time while in the infirmary, which she found as odd, considering there was numerous flower arrangements in the room since she had just received them for her birthday the day before. Dr. Frasier released Daniel and Arielle to go to the debriefing. Janet informed her senior nurse to notify her in the conference room with the blood test results once then had come back. Janet then followed Daniel and Arielle to the debriefing.
After Daniel, Arielle and Dr. Frasier arrived in the conference room General Hammond began telling Arielle of the fate of two of the SG-9 members, going into great detail of the torture and threat Chronos made to his now fallen soldiers.
As Arielle took in the details of the return of Chronos, her face was consumed with grief.
Arielle spoke with a sincere look in her eyes, " I am truly sorry for what has happen to your men General Hammond. I will need to go back to the planet as soon as it is possible."
Everyone in the conference room looked at Arielle in disbelief of what she had just said.
Hammond broke the silence that followed first, " That is out of the question. It is too dangerous. I can't send my people on a suicide mission. It's just too risky."
Arielle, smiled, " I am not asking for you to send your people to assist me. I plan to go alone."
Daniel looked at Arielle as questioning her decision. Before Daniel could say anything, Jack interrupted his train of thought.
" Yeah, I can just see a little girl like you going in there and taking on Chronos and who knows who else. Ya think you'll have a better chance than the trained military personnel of this base? I don't think so!"
Daniel with a slightly reluctant and disagreeing face, warned, " I wouldn't say that Jack."
Teal'c, in his usual matter of fact tone, agreed with Jack, " She would not have a chance against Chronos and his men."
Arielle, growing inpatient with the narrow-minded men in the room, as she began to stand up, " Would you like to see how I can handle myself Colonel O'Neill?"
Sam hid her face as she was trying to conceal her amusement at the question Arielle had directed toward her CO.
Jack, looking and sounding very cynical, " Sure! Show me what ya got!"
Daniel, as to warn Jack, of his overconfidence, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Jack."
" Well Danny-boy you're not me now are you?"
" Don't say I didn't warn you." Daniel turned away.
Arielle raised her arm slowly toward Jack, then opening her hand exposing its palm. As she did this everyone noticed the underside of her hand beginning to glow as if she were wearing a ribbon device. Jack was suddenly then lifted from the chair he had been sitting by an unseen force then carefully carried across the room until he was pinned to the far wall of the room. General Hammond, Dr. Frasier and the rest of SG-1 looked at what Arielle had done with complete shock. Even Teal'c had his mouth wide open at the sight of this defenseless appearing girl's display of power.
Hammond, still in astonishment at the sight of Jack floating across the room, " How did you do that?"
Arielle simply turned her had down as if in embarrassment of her actions.
Daniel tried to explain, " From what I have learned from my time with the Ancients, they have these gifts." motioning toward Jack as his proof, " They believe that God, as in the one and only true God, has blessed them with these gifts. They all have some kind of gift, but there is only a rare few that have been blessed with all the gifts. They are known as the Chosen and they ..."
Jack looked very annoyed at the fact everyone has forgotten that he was pinned to the wall, " HEY! Can ya get me down from here before the history lesson?"
Arielle smiled as she spoke, " I am sorry Jack." She nodded her head, lowering him very slowly and carefully to feet.
With his ego bruised, Jack humbly returned to his chair next to Carter.
Arielle began were Daniel had left off, " The Chosen of my people were sent out to protect the people that were weak. Teaching them to take care of themselves and preventing the Gou'ald from enslaving them. There were many worlds we lost but many still that the Gou'ald never found."
" So you are one of the Chosen," observed Carter stating the fact more than asking a question.
Arielle nodded in agreement, " Yes Major Carter. I possess many gifts."
Jack, still pouting, " So what else can you do?"
Arielle, replied with a beaming smile, " As you already know I can move things, change my location, and ..."
Sam, interrupting enthusiastically, " And you can read minds." She looked around at the others noting their puzzled faces, then went on to explain, " Remember when we were in this very room discussing what should be done with her General Hammond, and you got the call saying she had vanished?" Seeing some understanding she continued, " Then Daniel went to ask her how she had got in the conference room and she answered him before he had the chance to finish asking the question. Then today when Jack basically called to her and within seconds she and Daniel were here. Might I also remind you that they didn't have a GDO, and we couldn't close the iris?"
Arielle, " Yes Samantha you are correct."
Jack, raising his hand slightly upward, " Question?"
Arielle, with a sobering look answered before the question could be asked, " Yes Jack. They acquired their technology from us."
Hammond was confused as to where that came from, " Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
Jack brought the General up to date with " I wanted to know if the Goa'uld got their gadgets from the Ancients."
Hammond, now flustered, " Why would you give creatures like that technology that would help them enslave entire planets?"
Arielle, was almost insulted by Hammond's remark, " They were a lot like you. We thought our technology would enlighten them but instead it lead to the down fall of their people."
Frasier finally broke her silence, " How do you mean like us?"
" They were similar in many ways. They also fought amongst themselves to who was better than whom. And also you physically were the..."
Jack objected immediately, " Whoa there. S'cuse me! WE ...are not snake parasites thingies! Huge, difference there lady!"
Arielle, feeling guilty of what she was about to tell the group continued, " They were not always as they are now. They were once humans. What knowledge we gave them was abused. Because of the evil beings of their planet, they were sentenced to the form they now appear. My people are embarrassed by what we did to them. The Goa'uld played on the guilty conscious of some, convincing them to give them more powerful technology so they could walk among us again. Some of our scholars helped them discover that they could share a body with other species. However, the Goa'uld didn't want to share. It outraged the king of my people but after he had seen the devastation that was caused by the first punishment it was banned further interfere and refused to pass judgment on an entire race ever again. The Tok'ra however did share the body with the host so some found it in their heart to assist them in their battle against the Goa'uld."
Sam was first to react, " Punishment? Devastation? What punishment and what kind of devastation are we talking about?"
As Arielle explained the details of the Goa'uld s punishment by the Ancients, the people in the room were taken aback. Hearing how the Ancients punished the entire planet for the crimes of the Goa'uld, by turning them in to the parasites they now were. Then going on to give the details of how the Goa'uld deceived their way back to gain the trust of some of the scholars of the Ancients to discover the way to blend with a host.
Jack was astonished, " Your people did all that? WOW! Remind me to never tick them off!"
" You mean to tell me that your people changed an entire race over night from being human like to... a parasite? How could that be done all at once? There are so many different variables. You have to take in account if some were off world. The possibilities of..." Sam still in shock at the way the Ancients destroyed an entire race. " I don't understand how your people could do such a thing."
" I do not condone the decision that was made." Arielle replied. "But one day my friend you will understand why the decision was made. Each of us must choose a path. We will choose different paths at different times in our lives. The Goa'uld chose theirs. They chose destruction and pain for many others. That was unacceptable, so they were punished. The Ancients choose the path to enlightenment, to follow God's ways and his laws; for that he has been kind to us. But even now the Goa'uld chooses power. They hunger for power. They are unable to trust each other that will be their downfall because they will never change.
Teal'c wondering of Arielle's plan for facing Chronos asked, " How do you plan to take Chronos off guard? I believe your task to be impossible alone."
Arielle looked around the room, " I do not know of a plan yet Teal'c but I assure you that Chronos will not bother Earth again! I promise you all that!"
Jack turned to General Hammond, " General Hammond permission to assist our Ancient friend on her mission sir."
" I can't risk my best people on this Colonel, and having a direct face to face confrontation with Chronos is just too much of a risk," came the direct words of the General.
Arielle turned and nodded her head once to O'Neill, " Thank you for offering your assistance Colonel O'Neill." Then thinking out loud, " There is a way." Seeming mysterious, " But it is still very dangerous."
" Dangerous? Danger is what we live for, so fill us in.", Jack immediately replied.
Dr. Frasier now looked at O'Neill knowing that danger meant that SG-1 would more than likely be having a stay in the infirmary as they usually did following a dangerous mission and even some not-so-dangerous missions. Nevertheless, she just looked at the Colonel rolled her eyes, shook her head and continued listening to Arielle.
Arielle spoke, a bit of mischief in her eyes, " I will do better than if you will come closer Colonel O'Neill." Jack looked around, stood up then walked over to where Arielle sat. She instructed him stand behind her as she then turned to faced the others in the room. As she did so, O'Neill disappeared.
Surprise overwhelmed the rest of the people in the room.
Sam, asked wide eyed, " Where's the Colonel?"
Teal'c jumped to his feet, " What have you done with O'Neill?"
What...did you...do? Where's... Jack?"
As if from nowhere they heard Jack's voice but still didn't see him. Jack, " This is oh so cool." Then Daniel's hair began to be rumbled out of place, " Hey Danny boy, you feeling a breeze?"
Daniel, fixing his hair into place, " Stop it, Jack."
Then without warning Jack appeared behind Sam with his hands moving toward her.
Hammond saw Jack and a looking of disapproval crossed his face.
Jack realized that Hammond's eyes were focusing on him, and turning to Arielle, " Hey, I wasn't ready yet."
Sam turned in her chair then looked up at her CO with a stern look and one of slight amusement, "Sir?"
" Arielle are you telling me that you would be able to take some of the SG teams with you to the planet without the risk of them being seen?", Hammond inquired.
" General Hammond there is always risk in life. But I can take some through the stargate and onto the planet without then being detected."
Jack, the excitement apparent in his voice, " YES! Sir..."
Hammond continued before O'Neill could ask, " But before I will authorize anyone to go to the planet I have to confer with the president and there has to be a plan."
Sam now enamored of the idea asked, " Arielle how many people can you make invisible at the same time and for how long?"
" Could someone have the guard come please come in the room?", was her only reply.
Janet Frasier was interested by the request, " Why?"
" Please. Just call him in."
Dr. Frasier and Sam looked at each other, bewildered by Arielle's request.
Hammond looked at his people, then shaking off the question in his mind simply pressed the intercom button, " Come in here please."
The guard came in the door, looked around the room and with wide eyes, turned to Arielle, " Where did General Hammond and the others go?"
Arielle, shook her head, " I do not know. They, just... left."
The guard took a final look around the room, then walked out.
Sam, turned to Arielle after watching the guard leave the room, " He couldn't see us. But I was able to see the General Hammond and everyone else."
" That is how it works. You can see each other and I can see you. But no one else can see you unless I wish them to."
Daniel was amazed, " You never told me about this talent."
Arielle, smiled at Daniel, " We all have secretes. That was one of mine."
" Now we need a plan." Hammond reminded.
Jack spoke first, " The way I see it General, SG-1, 5 and 7 are the only teams not off world right now. We all go in invisible with the help of the princess here, take out the bad guys and then go home. Piece of cake."
Arielle nearly shrieked, " NO!"
Everyone looked at Arielle in a questioning manner.
Jack, flustered, " What do you mean by no?"
Arielle tried to be to the point, " The more people that go, the more chances are that we will be discovered."
Noticing the lack of understanding as she looked around the room, " We can still be heard even though we can not be seen. The more people that go the more noise created. We will not make it to the tree line with three of your teams."
" Then SG-1 will accompany you to the planet." Hammond ordered.
Arielle bowed her head down accepting Hammond's order.
Teal'c continued, " There will be Jaffa guarding the stargate. Will it be possible for you to keep all of us from being seen when we emerge from the stargate?"
Arielle returned, " Yes Teal'c. I can accomplish that part of our plan."
Carter moved on the discussion, " When the stargate activates on the other side they're going to be expecting someone or something to come through the gate."
Jack was becoming restless now, " Oh for crying out loud! Major they won't be able to see us!"
Hammond finalized the meeting with, " You have a go on the mission SG-1 and Arielle, you leave at 1900hrs. If you do not return within 24 hours, your iris codes will be locked out. Dismissed."
SG-1 left the conference room. Sam took Arielle to the locker room to change clothes. As Sam and Arielle left the locker room the men were starting to enter.
Arielle stayed outside the room, as Daniel was about to enter. Daniel stopped, taking both of her hands in his, " Are you sure you are ready for this?"
Arielle simply looked at Daniel with adoring eyes, then took one of her hands away from his, putting her hand softly on his cheek, " Daniel, I have been preparing for this for 3000 years. I will be careful, I shall not let you or your friends be harmed, I pledge that to you."
" Please be careful Arielle, I don't want to lose you, not now."
Arielle stood there silently looking at him with tears welling in her eyes knowing that she was keeping the truth of her plans for their mission within her own mind.
In the Gate room SG-1was ready to go. Arielle looked up at General Hammond in the control room, a worried look on his face. She gave him a nod as to show that she was ready. General Hammond then looked at O'Neill, who also gave a nod to him.
Hammond gave the technician the word to start dialing, as he had done on so many other missions. But this mission was different. His face showing the fear that his lead team would be facing one of their greatest challenges yet. As the gate erupted to life he looked at the team below him praying that his second family would be returning safely home.
" SG-1 you have a go." Hammond gave in his best command voice.
Arielle lifted her head and turned to SG-1 " God be with us." She raised her hand and SG-1 disappeared.
The technicians looked around asking each other where SG-1 had gone, but General Hammond was still able to see them as they slowly vanished into the event horizon one by one.
As SG-1 stepped out from the stargate with Jaffa looking at them, then realized that the guards were looking pass them to the gate. They turned back to look for Arielle, as they did they seen her come through the gate. The startled Jaffa began yelling at her.
Sg-1 was about to open fire on the Jaffa but first turned first to Arielle. She looked at them, shook her head, and then closed her eyes. Suddenly, SG-1 was in the far tree line close to where Chronos had set up camp. Daniel looked back at the stargate to see if Arielle was still there when he heard her say something very disconcerting to the Jaffa.
" I am Arielle, Chronos is waiting for me. Take me to him now."
The first Jaffa, perplexed, asked, " How do we know you are who you say? This could be a Tau'ri trick."
" Chronos has very wise warriors. I will make sure you are rewarded for you diligence. I have escaped from the Tau'ri. They attempted to hold me, but when I had heard that my lord Chronos had returned for me I took the first opportunity that I seen to escape through the chappa'ai."
Daniel, looking toward Arielle, who was at the stargate with the Jaffa, " What is she doing? This wasn't the plan."
Jack, replied just above a whisper, " That girl is just full of surprises. Something tells me this was apart of her plan the whole time."
SG-1 slipped quietly into the forest. They did not want the Jaffa and the serpent guards that were surrounding Chronos' encampment to hear them approach. Chronos had mad his camp in the field close to the cave that he had placed Arielle in three millennia before. His tent was backed up against the tree line, so he could see all around him without difficulty. There was no way for anyone to get from the gate to the cover of the forest without being seen. Or, so he thought.
Chronos had posted many of his warriors around the gate in anticipation that the Tau'ri would send their warriors to fight. That fortunately left only a handful of Jaffa around his camp. SG-1 seen two of the serpent guards from the gate bring Arielle to the camp, then into the largest tent. Under cover they were able to sneak around the back of the tent without being heard. They stayed in the tree line of the forest, unsure if they were still invisible to the threat that was holding their friend hostage. They were however, able to hear what was happening inside the tent.
The first serpent guard reported, " My lord, this woman came from the chappa'ai alone. She says she is..."
Chronos interrupted the guard before he could finish, " Arielle." Stunned to see her alone. " It looks as your friends have abandoned you my love." Turning to the two serpent guards, " Return to the Chappa'ai and inform me of any changes."
After the guards left Arielle turned to Chronos finally questioned what he had said.
Arielle, bewildered, " What are you speaking about my lord?"
" The Tau'ri. I know they are the ones who took you from me." Was his blustery reply.
Outside Daniel was worried that Chronos would hurt Arielle before they had the opportunity to get close to him. Daniel then turned to Jack, looking for approval to burst into the tent, but Jack shook his head at Daniel's silent request. Jack went over in his mind why he should do exactly what Daniel had wanted but something told him that it wasn't time yet. So the team continued to listen to the exchange between Chronos and Arielle.
Arielle's eyes grew cold as she looked at Chronos, " They did not take me from you. They freed me from the prison you put me in. I left them soon after I was awakened."
Chronos' anger grew in his voice, " If you feel that I imprisoned you, then why have you come to me without the Tau'ri?"
Arielle replied with more anger than she has ever expressed, " To help the Tau'ri. But most of all, to get my revenge on you!"
At this time Jack began to worry about the fate of the fragile looking princess he and his team had followed to the planet. " Now this isn't anywhere near the plan." He looked around at the others, " Be ready to go in at a moments notice."
Chronos became very arrogant, " You? A little girl?" Almost laughing, " How does a little girl plan to get even with a god?"
Arielle angry at the fact he called himself a god, " You do not know 'who' or 'what' I am! You are the fool here Chronos!"
Chronos reacted quizzically at her words, " What do you mean by 'who' or 'what' you are? You are the little girl I saved from death."
Arielle took pleasure in her next words, knowing that he would be angered, " You did not save me. I shall introduce myself to you, foolish Chronos. I am Princess Arielle of the Ancients."
Chronos grew even angrier as he recalled how the Ancients changed the fate of the Gou'ald, his eyes began to glow with that anger, " The Ancients! I shall kill you with my bear hands!"
Chronos began to walk towards Arielle.
Jack gave the signal for SG-1 to enter the back of the tent to prevent Chronos from carrying out his threat. Two serpent guards had heard Chronos yelling and entered the front of the tent just as SG-1 entered the rear.
The first serpent guard, yelling to the woman with his staff weapon ready, " What are you doing? Halt or you will be killed."
Teal'c enjoyed the moment, " I believe you will be killed if you do not lower your weapons."
The two serpent guards looked at the SG-1 members and slowly lowered their weapons to the ground. Then all eyes turned back Chronos and the Ancient.
Arielle raised her hand, as she did all the furniture that stood between herself and Chronos flew forcefully across the tent. The sounds of dishes breaking and furniture crumbling actually made Chronos appear shaken, reassessing his opinion of the woman he thought he knew.
Arielle started walking towards Chronos, raising her left hand upward showing her glowing palm. The force of the power that left her hand threw Chronos against a support beam in the tent. As she suspended him above the ground she told him his impending fate.
" I have questioned what I would do with you when we met up again. I have decided that it wouldn't be fair for me to kill your host for your crimes."
She turned a way from him briefly as to gather strength. Arielle whirled back toward him, " Chronos, your punishment is death. You will be removed from the body you possess, then death shall over take you and the evil that you are."
SG-1 and the serpent guards looked on in horror as a brilliant light engulfed Arielle and Chronos for what seemed like an eternity. But, in reality it was only a few minutes until the light disappeared to reveal Arielle standing in front of the former host of Chronos holding the Goa'uld larvae, which had taken 3000 years of her life.
The silence of the room was broken by Jack O'Neill's sarcasm as he turned to face Daniel,
" Think we could use that on my fishing trip next week." Noticing the ill looks of his companions, " What?"
Just then the Goa'uld started twisting with life.
Daniel's horrified reaction assessed the situation, " It's still alive!"
Arielle then raised her left hand to the head of the parasite; her palm began to glow like a ribbon device. The Goa'uld s head and then its body began to shake uncontrollability. The skin of the beast began to bubble as the heat of the beam intensified from her had. Then without warning the being once known as Chronos exploded, spewing pieces around the tent and onto Jack who was standing closer than the others to Arielle.
Jack looked at Arielle amazed not by the fact she just caused the death of an evil alien, but the fact she didn't have any of the Goa'uld exploded remains on her.
The silence was shattered by light laughter.
Jack turned, glaring at his team, " Oh for crying out loud! Major Why do you think this is so funny?"
Before Carter could answer her CO Teal'c began laughing uncontrollably at the fact Jack had pieces of the Goa'uld over his head, shoulders and the front of his fatigues.
The man behind Arielle, who had been host to the evil alien, started to speak and move towards the group.
Arielle turned questioning him, " What is your name?"
He looked around at the people in the tent before finally speaking for the first time in thousands of years in his voice only, " I am Garth." Then fell to his knees at Arielle's feet, " Thank you for releasing me from my prison. I am sorry for what he and I did to you."
" He possessed your body. His crimes are not yours. Garth there is not much time. Your body grows weak as we speak. Garth, do you remember from what planet you were born?"
" I was born in a place called Crete. But I made my life in Atlantis, it is a beautiful place, warm and surrounded by the bluest ocean."
Daniel perked at the possibility of what he had just heard, " Your from Earth. But Atlantis doesn't exist. In fact our people believe it was a myth."
Jack stated the obvious, in his own way, " Guess not anymore Danny boy."
Garth his weakness beginning to show, continued, " I would like my final resting place to be in my home land. If not Atlantis; then Crete."
Arielle nodded, " We shall return you to your home."
The serpent guards now regaining partial control over themselves after witnessing the death of the Goa'uld they thought of as their god.
" What have you done to my god. Why does he speak differently than before?" Stuttered the first.
Arielle turning to the two guards, " Chronos is no more. Leave this place and forget what you have seen. Your people are now free. Take the others and go home."
The serpent guards obediently turned and walked out of the tent.
Jack, always observant quipped, " Guess they're not much for small talk."
" Will we go back to my world now?" Asked Garth
" Yes we shall leave now. Let us go back to the stargate." Arielle took his hand.
" What about Chronos' men there by the gate if we try to leave with Garth and they'll kill us." Remembered Sam.
" I do believe that Major Carter is correct. If we attempt to leave they will kill us."
Arielle smiled, " They are gone. All of them have gone back to their homes."
Just as Arielle had said all the Jaffa and serpent guards were gone. SG-1 returned home with Garth and Arielle. Garth grew older very quickly without the Goa'uld to prevent his aging process.
SG-1 took Garth to the Island of Crete, allowing him to see the sun set one last time on the land of his birth, before his death. Arielle kept her promise to return Garth to his homeland.
After seeing how the humans treated Garth, Arielle felt she would be safe if she stayed on Earth. She felt that she would be able to help the SGC more by staying on to help fight the Goa'uld.
Later, as Arielle was alone in the briefing room before she and Daniel were to be debriefed on the past five months that they had been gone, she held herself tightly with her arm.
She spoke softly as she looked upon the towering ring her people had built, " These humans are well on their way to becoming the Fifth race. They shall make us proud my friends. The four races will then be complete, and we once again shall be the Congress of The Honorable, and Protectors of All."
SG-9 was on P9Q-872 logging some of the artifacts that had been discovered in the cave where Princess Arielle of the Ancients was found. They had also discovered that there was a small village about five miles west of the gate. It had been uncovered on one of the first missions back to the planet.
Sergeant Smith and Captain Rodgers were head back from the village site were they had been video taping footage of an unusual looking machine they had unearthed in the floor of a building that appeared to have been used to house farming equipment and other supplies. They had radioed Colonel Burton and Sergeant Mayzine to inform them that they were on the way back towards the caves.
The walk back from the village was lined in lush scenery. There were trees, meadows with flowers of white, blue, purple and red. The members of SG-9 found it odd that the grass didn't grow very tall. In addition, on the trail from the village to the stargate was a river that cascaded over a ledge of rocks that made a breathtaking waterfall.
The area around the waterfalls looked like a tropic paradise with all the many types of different flowers and plants, some which was nothing like they had seen on their own planet. With all the magnificence on the trail neither man had noticed the long distance from the village to their destination. Before they knew it the stargate was in sight and their journey was almost completed.
As they got closer to the gate they noticed the massive ring began to hum with activity and glow. They looked at each other, knowing that they weren't expecting anyone from the SGC, so they decided to duck down behind some bushes near the gate until they could be sure that their unexpected guess was someone they could trust.
Captain Rodgers also decided to inform the others in the cave to the development so they wouldn't reveal themselves by mistake before they could be positive that the visitors were friendly in nature.
After the eruption of the energy stream and the stabilization of the wormhole Rodgers and Smith watched attentively from behind the bushes as the first guests made themselves visible. A cold chill shot down the spine of both men as the observed two Jaffa walk from the event horizon. They watched in terror as the Jaffa marched 25 feet from the gate then stopped and waited. Within seconds two more Jaffa came forth from the gate this time stopping three feet behind the first two. Next two serpent guards arrived to take their place among the Jaffa. Then the sight came that no SGC member ever wanted to see without an army of soldiers and a couple Tollan ion cannons. The next to appear was a Goa'uld, but not just any Goa'uld, Chronos, the Tau'ri hating snake himself. After Chronos walked out from the gate two more serpent guards followed by four more Jaffa descended from the simmering blue pool of energy in much the same manner as the others. The serpent guards stayed close to Chronos to reinforce their status as his protectors.
The two humans, that had taken refuge in the bushes, had a feeling of dread rushed through their bodies when Chronos bellowed something. Then headed to the cave where Arielle had once been.
As soon as Rodgers felt Chronos and his cronies were far enough away that they wouldn't be able to hear, he radioed Colonel Burton to warn him of the impending danger headed their way.
Rodgers whispered quietly over his radio, " Colonel, eight Jaffa, four serpent guards and one Goa'uld headed your way. Looks like Chronos is back for his ancient princess, sir."
Burton, from the radio, " We're going undercover. What ever happens you must get back to the SGC and let them know what has transpired."
As the last of the Jaffa entered the cave Rodgers and Smith tried to get as close to the cave as possible without being noticed. As they got closer they could hear yelling coming from the cavern. Chronos had located Burton and Mayzine and was irate because he found them instead of his beloved.
Chronos, spoke in a very angry voice, " Tau'ri what have you done with her? I warned you before that I would not show mercy to you." His eyes began to glow as he grabbed Mayzine from two of his Jaffa, then putting his hand around Mayzine's neck, " You will pay for your disobedience to me!" Chronos began squeezing Mayzine's neck. Mayzine gasped for air, as his face began to redden.
Burton, screamed at Chronos, " Stop it you BASTARD. I'm gonna kill you."
Chronos tightened his grip on Mayzine until his trachea was crushed under his grasp. Burton tried pulling away from the Jaffa but was met with a jab of a staff weapon to his ribs.
Chronos, playfully pushed at Burton with the weapon, " You will kill me? A human kill a god? Instead of killing you, maybe I should keep you around for my amusement."
Burton, angry at the arrogance in the voice of Chronos, replied, " Amusement?" Then spit in the face of Chronos, " Laugh at that snake head. We killed Ra` and we'll kill you."
Chronos, wiping his face despised by the man's reminder, " You foolish Tau'ri." He raised his hand to reveal a ribbon device on his palm. "Now Tau'ri, where is she?"
Burton, resorted to playing dumb, " She, who? I don't know who you are talking about."
Chronos was even more enraged than before, " Tau'ri I will go to your world and kill every last one on the planet if I find her there. Just tell me where she is and I shall spare your life."
Burtons, head began shaking from the affects of the glowing ribbon device on his brow, "The Asgard won't let you do that Chronos. In fact they would probably destroy you!" The signs of pain from his torture were showing across his face.
Chronos intensified the power of the beam of destruction to the man's brain, " Not even the Asgard will stop me from finding the one I seek."
The men outside the cavern were stunned by the words of Chronos. They had always felt that all Goa'uld feared the Asgard, but Chronos was willing to break the treaty, go up against the Asgard and the other System Lords to have his precious beloved in his grasp. Little did he know that no one had Arielle, she had in fact left Earth shortly after being freed by SG-1, taking Dr. Daniel Jackson with her.
Chronos, appearing bored with this torture, " I grow tired of you Tau'ri. Give me the answer I seek and I will spare your life. If you will not talk you will surely die."
Burton, mustering all the energy he could spare from the torture he was enduring, " Then you might as well get it over with because I won't tell you anything."
Chronos furious with Burton's answer, " As you wish." Then he intensified the beam of light to Burton's forehead and it began to shake even more as the outward signs of its destruction became more evident. Burton then let out an agonizing cry.
When the men out side of the cavern heard the scream they realized at that point they had to get through the gate and back to the SGC to notify the general to what had transpired on the planet.
As they ran to the gate the cry from the cave stopped with the sound of a staff weapon being fired. Within seconds of the blast they started dialing earth as quickly as they could. As soon as the wormhole was established they sent their GDO code, barely waiting for it to be identified by their people. As the two men ran through the gate they were unaware that Chronos saw their escape from the planet.
Chronos, " They will return. They are fools, who think they can defeat a god."
As the two men stepped out of the event horizon they were greeted by their fellow soldiers pointing weapons in their direction, awaiting the command to fire or put down there guns.
Hammond, over the intercom, " Stand down men" Looking towards the two remaining SG-9 members, " Where is the rest of your team Captain?"
Rodgers, dropping to his knees, " They're dead sir. He killed him."
Hammond turned to the airmen in the control room " Get Dr. Frasier and her team down here with some stretchers and get these men to the infirmary. Then get SG-1 here ASAP. Their downtime is over, as of right now."
After Dr. Frasier gave the men their post mission exams General Hammond asked her if the men would be able to be debriefed.
Frasier reported, " Yes both men are physically able to be debriefed, but they might be a little shaky mentally."
General Hammond, Dr. Frasier, the remaining members of SG-9, and SG-1 all gathered in the conference room over looking the massive ring.
Hammond, talking charge, began, " I asked SG-1 to this debriefing because they found Princess Arielle on the planet." Turning to Rodgers, " Now son, when you came through the gate you said that Colonel Burton and Sergeant Mayzine. You said that 'he' killed them. Who did you mean when, what happen while you were off-world?"
Rodgers, " Smith and I were on the way back to the gate to meet back up with Burton and Mayzine, we were almost there when we noticed that the gate was activating. We warned the Colonel about the incoming traveler so they took cover in the cave. Smith and I took cover behind some bushes by the gate."
Looking around the room Rodgers continued with the details of the thought routine mission that had gone terribly wrong.
Rodgers, continuing, " Then we headed to the cave to see if we could hear what was going on."
Hammond, " And what did you hear soldier?"
Taking over for Rodgers, Smith starts shakily, " Chronos was yelling at Burton and Mayzine about the girl SG-1 found there." His voice gave way to his emotion, " He wanted to know where she was and he wanted her back. When they wouldn't tell him he choked Mayzine. I could hear him struggle for air but then there was a crushing sound and then nothing but.... but Burton yelling."
Rodgers, continuing for the upset Smith, " Chronos then started on Burton and he told him that he would kill everyone on Earth to get her back. Burton even reminded him of the treaty with the Asgard. Chronos didn't care, even if it meant going up against the other System Lords."
Jack, adding, " That can't be good."
Rodgers continued, " Burton endured a tremendous torture. We wanted to go in and stop the torture, but we had to come back to warn the SGC about Chronos."
Hammond, tried to reassure the men, " Son you did the right thing. We needed to know about Chronos and his plans."
Teal'c, questioning what would come next, " What course of action do you plan to take against Chronos, General Hammond?"
Sam, looking at Teal'c then at Hammond, " We don't know if Chronos has sent for reinforcements or if he has a mother ship at the planet by now or if he is on the way here by that matter. We could be walking right into a trap."
Hammond, " I am going to put the base on full alert and notify the president. In case Chronos does decide not to wait for us on the planet."
" So General Hammond, what are we going to do about Chronos?", Jack asked.
Major Carter, offered, " There's nothing really we can do. If we go through the gate sir, Chronos could be waiting to kill us. Especially if we don't have what he wants. But if we don't do something Chronos could easily be on his way here."
" I believe Major Carter is correct with her analysis of the situation," Observed Teal'c.
" Well the Asgard are busy fighting their own war so looks like we're on our own with this one," said O'Neill, looking toward Teal'c
" I do believe that Princess Arielle would help us in this battle O'Neill."
" Teal'c is right." chimed Carter. "Arielle said she would repay our kindness. And I'm sure she would like the chance to teach Chronos a thing or two."
Jack, very sarcastically added, " Sure you guys I'll just go pick up the phone, call her up and say ' Hey Arielle, Chronos is back and boy is he's furious with us and threatening to kick the living daylights out of us. Can ya just come back and give us a hand here?' Come on get a reality check, we don't know how to...."
Then without warning the stargate snapped to life.
Jack's eyes widened and looking around the room, he quipped, " Now that's a little freaky."
" No teams are currently off-world." Hammond stood up and moved quickly to the control room with the staff from the debriefing close behind him. As Hammond entered the control room, he commanded, " Close the Iris!"
Simmons reported, "Can't sir, the controls to the iris aren't responding."
Carter, looking on, sitting at the console, " Let me try."
Over the intercom throughout the base the recorded message ' Unauthorized incoming traveler' sounded. All personnel headed to the gate room with as many weapons that could fit in the room.
As the wormhole stabilized every soul on level 28 held their breath in fear that Chronos and his army would step through reeking havoc on the inhabitants of the base. They were relieved and stunned at the sight of an old friend.
He walked down the ramp wearing a long baggy blue silk appearing shirt and black pants of similar texture. This wasn't the military issue clothes Daniel wore when he had left five months before.
Hammond, Frasier and SG-1 looked at Daniel awe struck at the sight of their long lost friend.
Hammond, shaking off his confusion, barked the order over the intercom to the soldiers in the gate room, " Stand Down."
As they were about to say something to Daniel, another figure materialized from the stargate. It was the Ancient that Daniel left with. Her clothing was different than when they had last seen her. Before her gown looked as if it was out of a fairytale with its long and full and it had been white and gold. A dress fit for a princess. This time her dress was simple. A white gown that stretched to the floor, but of delicate designs exposing her shoulders and very deeply cut.
SG-1 and Hammond went down to meet their new arrivals. As they entered the gate room Daniel and Arielle could see the astonishment in their faces.
Jack addressed Daniel, " Your ears must have been burning."
Daniel, cracked a smile at Jack's comment, " It's good to see you too."
Teal'c was confused at O'Neill's words, " O'Neill, their ears do not appear to be on fire."
Sam, smiled slightly and shook her head, " No Teal'c it's an expression used for when you are talking about someone then you see them."
Teal'c, raised one eyebrow and tilted his head slightly to one side, " I still do not understand the meaning of the phrase."
" Forget it Teal'c. I'll explain it later." Jack broke in.
" Sam, it's good to see you." Hugging Sam then turning to Janet, Daniel continued, " I missed you but not your infirmary." Janet snickered at Jackson's admission. " Teal'c. How you been?"
" I have been well Daniel Jackson."
" Jack, you look good." as Daniel turned to shake his hand.
" Well Space monkey I been keeping out of trouble without you here." With a grin growing across his face, O'Neill continued, "It's been boring as hell."
Daniel, laughing at that, " You all remember Arielle."
Arielle, bowing her head as greetings then looked at Jack, " I told you that all you had to do is call and I would come."
Jack, looking mystified, " And here you are."
Hammond still caught off guard by the arrival of two, " I'm going to have Dr. Frasier examine you both then we can meet in the conference room when she is concluded."
Arielle nodded on agreement with the General. She and Daniel went with Janet to the infirmary.
Dr. Frasier ran the usual test. Both patients were in exceptional health. She even noticed that Daniel hadn't sneezed one time while in the infirmary, which she found as odd, considering there was numerous flower arrangements in the room since she had just received them for her birthday the day before. Dr. Frasier released Daniel and Arielle to go to the debriefing. Janet informed her senior nurse to notify her in the conference room with the blood test results once then had come back. Janet then followed Daniel and Arielle to the debriefing.
After Daniel, Arielle and Dr. Frasier arrived in the conference room General Hammond began telling Arielle of the fate of two of the SG-9 members, going into great detail of the torture and threat Chronos made to his now fallen soldiers.
As Arielle took in the details of the return of Chronos, her face was consumed with grief.
Arielle spoke with a sincere look in her eyes, " I am truly sorry for what has happen to your men General Hammond. I will need to go back to the planet as soon as it is possible."
Everyone in the conference room looked at Arielle in disbelief of what she had just said.
Hammond broke the silence that followed first, " That is out of the question. It is too dangerous. I can't send my people on a suicide mission. It's just too risky."
Arielle, smiled, " I am not asking for you to send your people to assist me. I plan to go alone."
Daniel looked at Arielle as questioning her decision. Before Daniel could say anything, Jack interrupted his train of thought.
" Yeah, I can just see a little girl like you going in there and taking on Chronos and who knows who else. Ya think you'll have a better chance than the trained military personnel of this base? I don't think so!"
Daniel with a slightly reluctant and disagreeing face, warned, " I wouldn't say that Jack."
Teal'c, in his usual matter of fact tone, agreed with Jack, " She would not have a chance against Chronos and his men."
Arielle, growing inpatient with the narrow-minded men in the room, as she began to stand up, " Would you like to see how I can handle myself Colonel O'Neill?"
Sam hid her face as she was trying to conceal her amusement at the question Arielle had directed toward her CO.
Jack, looking and sounding very cynical, " Sure! Show me what ya got!"
Daniel, as to warn Jack, of his overconfidence, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Jack."
" Well Danny-boy you're not me now are you?"
" Don't say I didn't warn you." Daniel turned away.
Arielle raised her arm slowly toward Jack, then opening her hand exposing its palm. As she did this everyone noticed the underside of her hand beginning to glow as if she were wearing a ribbon device. Jack was suddenly then lifted from the chair he had been sitting by an unseen force then carefully carried across the room until he was pinned to the far wall of the room. General Hammond, Dr. Frasier and the rest of SG-1 looked at what Arielle had done with complete shock. Even Teal'c had his mouth wide open at the sight of this defenseless appearing girl's display of power.
Hammond, still in astonishment at the sight of Jack floating across the room, " How did you do that?"
Arielle simply turned her had down as if in embarrassment of her actions.
Daniel tried to explain, " From what I have learned from my time with the Ancients, they have these gifts." motioning toward Jack as his proof, " They believe that God, as in the one and only true God, has blessed them with these gifts. They all have some kind of gift, but there is only a rare few that have been blessed with all the gifts. They are known as the Chosen and they ..."
Jack looked very annoyed at the fact everyone has forgotten that he was pinned to the wall, " HEY! Can ya get me down from here before the history lesson?"
Arielle smiled as she spoke, " I am sorry Jack." She nodded her head, lowering him very slowly and carefully to feet.
With his ego bruised, Jack humbly returned to his chair next to Carter.
Arielle began were Daniel had left off, " The Chosen of my people were sent out to protect the people that were weak. Teaching them to take care of themselves and preventing the Gou'ald from enslaving them. There were many worlds we lost but many still that the Gou'ald never found."
" So you are one of the Chosen," observed Carter stating the fact more than asking a question.
Arielle nodded in agreement, " Yes Major Carter. I possess many gifts."
Jack, still pouting, " So what else can you do?"
Arielle, replied with a beaming smile, " As you already know I can move things, change my location, and ..."
Sam, interrupting enthusiastically, " And you can read minds." She looked around at the others noting their puzzled faces, then went on to explain, " Remember when we were in this very room discussing what should be done with her General Hammond, and you got the call saying she had vanished?" Seeing some understanding she continued, " Then Daniel went to ask her how she had got in the conference room and she answered him before he had the chance to finish asking the question. Then today when Jack basically called to her and within seconds she and Daniel were here. Might I also remind you that they didn't have a GDO, and we couldn't close the iris?"
Arielle, " Yes Samantha you are correct."
Jack, raising his hand slightly upward, " Question?"
Arielle, with a sobering look answered before the question could be asked, " Yes Jack. They acquired their technology from us."
Hammond was confused as to where that came from, " Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
Jack brought the General up to date with " I wanted to know if the Goa'uld got their gadgets from the Ancients."
Hammond, now flustered, " Why would you give creatures like that technology that would help them enslave entire planets?"
Arielle, was almost insulted by Hammond's remark, " They were a lot like you. We thought our technology would enlighten them but instead it lead to the down fall of their people."
Frasier finally broke her silence, " How do you mean like us?"
" They were similar in many ways. They also fought amongst themselves to who was better than whom. And also you physically were the..."
Jack objected immediately, " Whoa there. S'cuse me! WE ...are not snake parasites thingies! Huge, difference there lady!"
Arielle, feeling guilty of what she was about to tell the group continued, " They were not always as they are now. They were once humans. What knowledge we gave them was abused. Because of the evil beings of their planet, they were sentenced to the form they now appear. My people are embarrassed by what we did to them. The Goa'uld played on the guilty conscious of some, convincing them to give them more powerful technology so they could walk among us again. Some of our scholars helped them discover that they could share a body with other species. However, the Goa'uld didn't want to share. It outraged the king of my people but after he had seen the devastation that was caused by the first punishment it was banned further interfere and refused to pass judgment on an entire race ever again. The Tok'ra however did share the body with the host so some found it in their heart to assist them in their battle against the Goa'uld."
Sam was first to react, " Punishment? Devastation? What punishment and what kind of devastation are we talking about?"
As Arielle explained the details of the Goa'uld s punishment by the Ancients, the people in the room were taken aback. Hearing how the Ancients punished the entire planet for the crimes of the Goa'uld, by turning them in to the parasites they now were. Then going on to give the details of how the Goa'uld deceived their way back to gain the trust of some of the scholars of the Ancients to discover the way to blend with a host.
Jack was astonished, " Your people did all that? WOW! Remind me to never tick them off!"
" You mean to tell me that your people changed an entire race over night from being human like to... a parasite? How could that be done all at once? There are so many different variables. You have to take in account if some were off world. The possibilities of..." Sam still in shock at the way the Ancients destroyed an entire race. " I don't understand how your people could do such a thing."
" I do not condone the decision that was made." Arielle replied. "But one day my friend you will understand why the decision was made. Each of us must choose a path. We will choose different paths at different times in our lives. The Goa'uld chose theirs. They chose destruction and pain for many others. That was unacceptable, so they were punished. The Ancients choose the path to enlightenment, to follow God's ways and his laws; for that he has been kind to us. But even now the Goa'uld chooses power. They hunger for power. They are unable to trust each other that will be their downfall because they will never change.
Teal'c wondering of Arielle's plan for facing Chronos asked, " How do you plan to take Chronos off guard? I believe your task to be impossible alone."
Arielle looked around the room, " I do not know of a plan yet Teal'c but I assure you that Chronos will not bother Earth again! I promise you all that!"
Jack turned to General Hammond, " General Hammond permission to assist our Ancient friend on her mission sir."
" I can't risk my best people on this Colonel, and having a direct face to face confrontation with Chronos is just too much of a risk," came the direct words of the General.
Arielle turned and nodded her head once to O'Neill, " Thank you for offering your assistance Colonel O'Neill." Then thinking out loud, " There is a way." Seeming mysterious, " But it is still very dangerous."
" Dangerous? Danger is what we live for, so fill us in.", Jack immediately replied.
Dr. Frasier now looked at O'Neill knowing that danger meant that SG-1 would more than likely be having a stay in the infirmary as they usually did following a dangerous mission and even some not-so-dangerous missions. Nevertheless, she just looked at the Colonel rolled her eyes, shook her head and continued listening to Arielle.
Arielle spoke, a bit of mischief in her eyes, " I will do better than if you will come closer Colonel O'Neill." Jack looked around, stood up then walked over to where Arielle sat. She instructed him stand behind her as she then turned to faced the others in the room. As she did so, O'Neill disappeared.
Surprise overwhelmed the rest of the people in the room.
Sam, asked wide eyed, " Where's the Colonel?"
Teal'c jumped to his feet, " What have you done with O'Neill?"
What...did you...do? Where's... Jack?"
As if from nowhere they heard Jack's voice but still didn't see him. Jack, " This is oh so cool." Then Daniel's hair began to be rumbled out of place, " Hey Danny boy, you feeling a breeze?"
Daniel, fixing his hair into place, " Stop it, Jack."
Then without warning Jack appeared behind Sam with his hands moving toward her.
Hammond saw Jack and a looking of disapproval crossed his face.
Jack realized that Hammond's eyes were focusing on him, and turning to Arielle, " Hey, I wasn't ready yet."
Sam turned in her chair then looked up at her CO with a stern look and one of slight amusement, "Sir?"
" Arielle are you telling me that you would be able to take some of the SG teams with you to the planet without the risk of them being seen?", Hammond inquired.
" General Hammond there is always risk in life. But I can take some through the stargate and onto the planet without then being detected."
Jack, the excitement apparent in his voice, " YES! Sir..."
Hammond continued before O'Neill could ask, " But before I will authorize anyone to go to the planet I have to confer with the president and there has to be a plan."
Sam now enamored of the idea asked, " Arielle how many people can you make invisible at the same time and for how long?"
" Could someone have the guard come please come in the room?", was her only reply.
Janet Frasier was interested by the request, " Why?"
" Please. Just call him in."
Dr. Frasier and Sam looked at each other, bewildered by Arielle's request.
Hammond looked at his people, then shaking off the question in his mind simply pressed the intercom button, " Come in here please."
The guard came in the door, looked around the room and with wide eyes, turned to Arielle, " Where did General Hammond and the others go?"
Arielle, shook her head, " I do not know. They, just... left."
The guard took a final look around the room, then walked out.
Sam, turned to Arielle after watching the guard leave the room, " He couldn't see us. But I was able to see the General Hammond and everyone else."
" That is how it works. You can see each other and I can see you. But no one else can see you unless I wish them to."
Daniel was amazed, " You never told me about this talent."
Arielle, smiled at Daniel, " We all have secretes. That was one of mine."
" Now we need a plan." Hammond reminded.
Jack spoke first, " The way I see it General, SG-1, 5 and 7 are the only teams not off world right now. We all go in invisible with the help of the princess here, take out the bad guys and then go home. Piece of cake."
Arielle nearly shrieked, " NO!"
Everyone looked at Arielle in a questioning manner.
Jack, flustered, " What do you mean by no?"
Arielle tried to be to the point, " The more people that go, the more chances are that we will be discovered."
Noticing the lack of understanding as she looked around the room, " We can still be heard even though we can not be seen. The more people that go the more noise created. We will not make it to the tree line with three of your teams."
" Then SG-1 will accompany you to the planet." Hammond ordered.
Arielle bowed her head down accepting Hammond's order.
Teal'c continued, " There will be Jaffa guarding the stargate. Will it be possible for you to keep all of us from being seen when we emerge from the stargate?"
Arielle returned, " Yes Teal'c. I can accomplish that part of our plan."
Carter moved on the discussion, " When the stargate activates on the other side they're going to be expecting someone or something to come through the gate."
Jack was becoming restless now, " Oh for crying out loud! Major they won't be able to see us!"
Hammond finalized the meeting with, " You have a go on the mission SG-1 and Arielle, you leave at 1900hrs. If you do not return within 24 hours, your iris codes will be locked out. Dismissed."
SG-1 left the conference room. Sam took Arielle to the locker room to change clothes. As Sam and Arielle left the locker room the men were starting to enter.
Arielle stayed outside the room, as Daniel was about to enter. Daniel stopped, taking both of her hands in his, " Are you sure you are ready for this?"
Arielle simply looked at Daniel with adoring eyes, then took one of her hands away from his, putting her hand softly on his cheek, " Daniel, I have been preparing for this for 3000 years. I will be careful, I shall not let you or your friends be harmed, I pledge that to you."
" Please be careful Arielle, I don't want to lose you, not now."
Arielle stood there silently looking at him with tears welling in her eyes knowing that she was keeping the truth of her plans for their mission within her own mind.
In the Gate room SG-1was ready to go. Arielle looked up at General Hammond in the control room, a worried look on his face. She gave him a nod as to show that she was ready. General Hammond then looked at O'Neill, who also gave a nod to him.
Hammond gave the technician the word to start dialing, as he had done on so many other missions. But this mission was different. His face showing the fear that his lead team would be facing one of their greatest challenges yet. As the gate erupted to life he looked at the team below him praying that his second family would be returning safely home.
" SG-1 you have a go." Hammond gave in his best command voice.
Arielle lifted her head and turned to SG-1 " God be with us." She raised her hand and SG-1 disappeared.
The technicians looked around asking each other where SG-1 had gone, but General Hammond was still able to see them as they slowly vanished into the event horizon one by one.
As SG-1 stepped out from the stargate with Jaffa looking at them, then realized that the guards were looking pass them to the gate. They turned back to look for Arielle, as they did they seen her come through the gate. The startled Jaffa began yelling at her.
Sg-1 was about to open fire on the Jaffa but first turned first to Arielle. She looked at them, shook her head, and then closed her eyes. Suddenly, SG-1 was in the far tree line close to where Chronos had set up camp. Daniel looked back at the stargate to see if Arielle was still there when he heard her say something very disconcerting to the Jaffa.
" I am Arielle, Chronos is waiting for me. Take me to him now."
The first Jaffa, perplexed, asked, " How do we know you are who you say? This could be a Tau'ri trick."
" Chronos has very wise warriors. I will make sure you are rewarded for you diligence. I have escaped from the Tau'ri. They attempted to hold me, but when I had heard that my lord Chronos had returned for me I took the first opportunity that I seen to escape through the chappa'ai."
Daniel, looking toward Arielle, who was at the stargate with the Jaffa, " What is she doing? This wasn't the plan."
Jack, replied just above a whisper, " That girl is just full of surprises. Something tells me this was apart of her plan the whole time."
SG-1 slipped quietly into the forest. They did not want the Jaffa and the serpent guards that were surrounding Chronos' encampment to hear them approach. Chronos had mad his camp in the field close to the cave that he had placed Arielle in three millennia before. His tent was backed up against the tree line, so he could see all around him without difficulty. There was no way for anyone to get from the gate to the cover of the forest without being seen. Or, so he thought.
Chronos had posted many of his warriors around the gate in anticipation that the Tau'ri would send their warriors to fight. That fortunately left only a handful of Jaffa around his camp. SG-1 seen two of the serpent guards from the gate bring Arielle to the camp, then into the largest tent. Under cover they were able to sneak around the back of the tent without being heard. They stayed in the tree line of the forest, unsure if they were still invisible to the threat that was holding their friend hostage. They were however, able to hear what was happening inside the tent.
The first serpent guard reported, " My lord, this woman came from the chappa'ai alone. She says she is..."
Chronos interrupted the guard before he could finish, " Arielle." Stunned to see her alone. " It looks as your friends have abandoned you my love." Turning to the two serpent guards, " Return to the Chappa'ai and inform me of any changes."
After the guards left Arielle turned to Chronos finally questioned what he had said.
Arielle, bewildered, " What are you speaking about my lord?"
" The Tau'ri. I know they are the ones who took you from me." Was his blustery reply.
Outside Daniel was worried that Chronos would hurt Arielle before they had the opportunity to get close to him. Daniel then turned to Jack, looking for approval to burst into the tent, but Jack shook his head at Daniel's silent request. Jack went over in his mind why he should do exactly what Daniel had wanted but something told him that it wasn't time yet. So the team continued to listen to the exchange between Chronos and Arielle.
Arielle's eyes grew cold as she looked at Chronos, " They did not take me from you. They freed me from the prison you put me in. I left them soon after I was awakened."
Chronos' anger grew in his voice, " If you feel that I imprisoned you, then why have you come to me without the Tau'ri?"
Arielle replied with more anger than she has ever expressed, " To help the Tau'ri. But most of all, to get my revenge on you!"
At this time Jack began to worry about the fate of the fragile looking princess he and his team had followed to the planet. " Now this isn't anywhere near the plan." He looked around at the others, " Be ready to go in at a moments notice."
Chronos became very arrogant, " You? A little girl?" Almost laughing, " How does a little girl plan to get even with a god?"
Arielle angry at the fact he called himself a god, " You do not know 'who' or 'what' I am! You are the fool here Chronos!"
Chronos reacted quizzically at her words, " What do you mean by 'who' or 'what' you are? You are the little girl I saved from death."
Arielle took pleasure in her next words, knowing that he would be angered, " You did not save me. I shall introduce myself to you, foolish Chronos. I am Princess Arielle of the Ancients."
Chronos grew even angrier as he recalled how the Ancients changed the fate of the Gou'ald, his eyes began to glow with that anger, " The Ancients! I shall kill you with my bear hands!"
Chronos began to walk towards Arielle.
Jack gave the signal for SG-1 to enter the back of the tent to prevent Chronos from carrying out his threat. Two serpent guards had heard Chronos yelling and entered the front of the tent just as SG-1 entered the rear.
The first serpent guard, yelling to the woman with his staff weapon ready, " What are you doing? Halt or you will be killed."
Teal'c enjoyed the moment, " I believe you will be killed if you do not lower your weapons."
The two serpent guards looked at the SG-1 members and slowly lowered their weapons to the ground. Then all eyes turned back Chronos and the Ancient.
Arielle raised her hand, as she did all the furniture that stood between herself and Chronos flew forcefully across the tent. The sounds of dishes breaking and furniture crumbling actually made Chronos appear shaken, reassessing his opinion of the woman he thought he knew.
Arielle started walking towards Chronos, raising her left hand upward showing her glowing palm. The force of the power that left her hand threw Chronos against a support beam in the tent. As she suspended him above the ground she told him his impending fate.
" I have questioned what I would do with you when we met up again. I have decided that it wouldn't be fair for me to kill your host for your crimes."
She turned a way from him briefly as to gather strength. Arielle whirled back toward him, " Chronos, your punishment is death. You will be removed from the body you possess, then death shall over take you and the evil that you are."
SG-1 and the serpent guards looked on in horror as a brilliant light engulfed Arielle and Chronos for what seemed like an eternity. But, in reality it was only a few minutes until the light disappeared to reveal Arielle standing in front of the former host of Chronos holding the Goa'uld larvae, which had taken 3000 years of her life.
The silence of the room was broken by Jack O'Neill's sarcasm as he turned to face Daniel,
" Think we could use that on my fishing trip next week." Noticing the ill looks of his companions, " What?"
Just then the Goa'uld started twisting with life.
Daniel's horrified reaction assessed the situation, " It's still alive!"
Arielle then raised her left hand to the head of the parasite; her palm began to glow like a ribbon device. The Goa'uld s head and then its body began to shake uncontrollability. The skin of the beast began to bubble as the heat of the beam intensified from her had. Then without warning the being once known as Chronos exploded, spewing pieces around the tent and onto Jack who was standing closer than the others to Arielle.
Jack looked at Arielle amazed not by the fact she just caused the death of an evil alien, but the fact she didn't have any of the Goa'uld exploded remains on her.
The silence was shattered by light laughter.
Jack turned, glaring at his team, " Oh for crying out loud! Major Why do you think this is so funny?"
Before Carter could answer her CO Teal'c began laughing uncontrollably at the fact Jack had pieces of the Goa'uld over his head, shoulders and the front of his fatigues.
The man behind Arielle, who had been host to the evil alien, started to speak and move towards the group.
Arielle turned questioning him, " What is your name?"
He looked around at the people in the tent before finally speaking for the first time in thousands of years in his voice only, " I am Garth." Then fell to his knees at Arielle's feet, " Thank you for releasing me from my prison. I am sorry for what he and I did to you."
" He possessed your body. His crimes are not yours. Garth there is not much time. Your body grows weak as we speak. Garth, do you remember from what planet you were born?"
" I was born in a place called Crete. But I made my life in Atlantis, it is a beautiful place, warm and surrounded by the bluest ocean."
Daniel perked at the possibility of what he had just heard, " Your from Earth. But Atlantis doesn't exist. In fact our people believe it was a myth."
Jack stated the obvious, in his own way, " Guess not anymore Danny boy."
Garth his weakness beginning to show, continued, " I would like my final resting place to be in my home land. If not Atlantis; then Crete."
Arielle nodded, " We shall return you to your home."
The serpent guards now regaining partial control over themselves after witnessing the death of the Goa'uld they thought of as their god.
" What have you done to my god. Why does he speak differently than before?" Stuttered the first.
Arielle turning to the two guards, " Chronos is no more. Leave this place and forget what you have seen. Your people are now free. Take the others and go home."
The serpent guards obediently turned and walked out of the tent.
Jack, always observant quipped, " Guess they're not much for small talk."
" Will we go back to my world now?" Asked Garth
" Yes we shall leave now. Let us go back to the stargate." Arielle took his hand.
" What about Chronos' men there by the gate if we try to leave with Garth and they'll kill us." Remembered Sam.
" I do believe that Major Carter is correct. If we attempt to leave they will kill us."
Arielle smiled, " They are gone. All of them have gone back to their homes."
Just as Arielle had said all the Jaffa and serpent guards were gone. SG-1 returned home with Garth and Arielle. Garth grew older very quickly without the Goa'uld to prevent his aging process.
SG-1 took Garth to the Island of Crete, allowing him to see the sun set one last time on the land of his birth, before his death. Arielle kept her promise to return Garth to his homeland.
After seeing how the humans treated Garth, Arielle felt she would be safe if she stayed on Earth. She felt that she would be able to help the SGC more by staying on to help fight the Goa'uld.
Later, as Arielle was alone in the briefing room before she and Daniel were to be debriefed on the past five months that they had been gone, she held herself tightly with her arm.
She spoke softly as she looked upon the towering ring her people had built, " These humans are well on their way to becoming the Fifth race. They shall make us proud my friends. The four races will then be complete, and we once again shall be the Congress of The Honorable, and Protectors of All."