Halls of Osiris

Halls of Osiris

Part 7:

Cheyenne Mountain:

"Everything ready, Major?" O'Neill made his way towards the Gateroom with long sure strides, calm and businesslike, his earlier temper defused by the certainty of action.

Carter fell into step beside him, delivering her report in confident, clipped tones.

"Yes, sir. SG-3 and SG-5 are in the Gateroom and ready to go. General Hammond is getting ready to send a MALP through to the coordinates of the planet where Dad and Selmak are supposed to meet us."

O'Neill acknowledged the report with an approving nod. "Can't be too careful."

"No, sir."

They wheeled past the last check- point and into the unusually crowded Gateroom. Teal'c was already there, giving his equipment one last inspection. The two extra SG teams, plus a set of technicians busily fussing with a MALP, joined the room's usual complement of SFs. A field medic stood slightly apart from the rest deep in a whispered consultation with Dr. Fraiser.

O'Neill raised his voice above the general hum that filled the room. "Alright, folks. Listen up."

Sam Carter slipped smoothly into place next to Teal'c. The members of the SG teams snapped to attention, while the civilian techs straightened a bit more slowly. The medic gave a final nod to whatever instructions the base's CMO had given and both doctors turned their attention to the Colonel.

Ignored by all except the technician controlling it, the MALP unit trundled up the ramp and into the open gate.

"I know you've all been briefed by your respective team leaders on the general nature of this mission, so I won't waste time going over it again. I'm sure you're all familiar with the concept of a search and rescue.

Specifically, we will be traveling to a planet designated P9J-332 to rendezvous with General Jacob Carter. SG-2, your job will be to secure the gate on J-332. Lt. Wylie, you'll be setting up shop there as well."

The medic responded crisply. "Yes, sir."

SG units 1 and 5 will meet up with General Carter and travel on to Garawon by Teltac.

It's going to be a tight fit, but according to Tok'ra intelligence the only stargate within several thousand miles of the complex where Dr. Jackson is being held is right in Osiris' lap.

"Major Warren, you and Major Carter have gone over the schematics of the complex and the plan of entry with your men?"

SG-5's team leader responded, "My men have their orders, sir."

"Alright then. As soon as we have confirmation on the rendezvous site from the MALP, we'll head out." O'Neill raised his head to address the occupants of the control room above. "Ready when you are, General."

*******

P9J-332:

Starbuck chewed angrily on the end of an unlit cigar and scowled at the petite physicist. Dr. Pallas scowled right back. She hadn't become the chief of the Galactica's astrophysics department by allowing herself to be intimidated by mere lieutenants.

She indicated the upright circular monument with an exasperated gesture.

"As I said, Lieutenant, our equipment can find no trace of any kind of energy signature, much less what was indicated in the Viper's sensor logs. There's nothing we can identify as a power source. The parts can be moved by hand, but that's it. In short, it doesn't do anything!"

"Then what's it for?" Frustration was beginning to wear on Starbuck's temper. He was much better suited to action, and he knew it. Point him at the enemy and let him go. All the fruitless searching of the last two days was driving him crazy. Not to mention a certain undersized physicist with a sharp tongue and even less patience with warriors than Starbuck had with scientists, who insisted on pronouncing his rank as if it were a social disease.

The aforementioned physicist was practically bouncing with irritation. "How am I supposed to know? If you want to know what it's for, send for an archaeologist. All I know is that it is definitely not the source of those readings. And neither is anything else on this planet, for that matter."

"Dr. Pallas? Lieutenant?" Pallas' assistant, Torrin, called excitedly. "You'd better take a look at this."

Indicators on the various monitoring equipment began to climb. With a thundering noise, the rings of the great stone monument began to turn.

Starbuck waved the warriors in the clearing into defensive positions before turning to Pallas.

"Well, doctor?" he said acidly. "What's it not doing now?"

"I have no idea," she murmured. She leaned closer to one of the monitors – an indicator had climbed completely off the scale. "Get back."

She looked up quickly and called out loudly to the techs working near the device, "Get back! Take cover, now!"

The three men scrambled back just as the Stargate exploded into life, then calmed, the empty center of the stone circle now filled by the rippling event horizon.

"My God." Pallas moved from device to device. "This can't be."

Torrin pointed out something on one of the monitors.

"Doctor?" Starbuck was dividing his attention between the quiet surface of the Gate and the bemused physicist.

"Lieutenant – if these readings are correct – we're looking at the surface of a controlled wormhole."

Starbuck knew enough physics that the indications were not lost on him. "Frack."

"You can say that again. Something's happening."

At that moment the surface of the Gate wavered, and a short figure rolled into sight and came to a stop on the dais.

Jolley's voice drifted across from the opposite side of the clearing. "It's a drone."

******

Daniel rose unsteadily to his feet and began to pace in an attempt to shake off the lassitude caused by the Tok'ra healing device. All his body wanted to do was sleep. If the device were to complete its work he would need to sleep.

No time – no time. Gotta think.

Apollo watched Daniel's agitated pacing for a long while before he spoke.

"You're supposed to be resting," he commented when the other man paused to lean wearily against the cell wall.

His companion shot him an irritated glance and resumed his pacing with a stubborn set to his shoulders.

"How would you know?" Daniel muttered querulously. "I didn't translate that part."

Apollo smiled. "I caught the gist. Besides, it's what doctors always say after a treatment of some sort."

Daniel snorted softly and continued pacing.

Apollo eyed him for a moment longer. Whatever had passed between Daniel and the man he had identified as a Tok'ra agent, an ally, had obviously upset him. Their conversation had become quite heated, in fact, in a subdued way.

The warrior sighed, "Alright, Daniel. What aren't you telling me?"

Daniel pushed off from the opposite wall and came over to slump down next to
Apollo. He rested his arms on his knees and picked listlessly at the fabric of his jacket sleeve. The action had the odd effect of making him resemble a small, slightly sullen, boy.

"Jacob said that help was on its way," he said in a troubled voice.

"That sounds like good news," Apollo responded cautiously.

"It might not get here in time," Daniel finished flatly. "Apollo, I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"It's my fault you're here."

Apollo settled back while Daniel filled him in on the rest of the information Jacob had supplied. When he lapsed into silence, Apollo nodded thoughtfully.

"Some things are starting to make more sense now."

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked. Apollo's reaction was not what he had expected. He'd thought the man would be angry, would blame Daniel as much as he blamed himself. Apollo's calm consideration was unexpected but welcome, enabling Daniel to set his guilt aside for some other time.

"Well, I've been kind of confused ever since I got here as to exactly why I was taken. I mean, I'm a warrior – I just sort of assumed that the Jaffa were interested in information about my people, but Dren'ac hasn't shown the least bit of interest in me since he dumped me in here. Which means he also hasn't the least interest in any information I might have." Apollo stopped and ran a hand through his hair before continuing in a rueful voice, "I was starting to wonder why I was still alive."

He turned to consider the man next to him. "What makes you think your people won't get here in time?"

Daniel winced. "Oh, they'll probably get here in time for me – Selmak – Jacob – was here pretending to be one of Apophis' under- lords looking to get in good with the big guy. Depending on how well Selmak's visit can convince Osiris that there's a market for me, I've got until he can locate a nice discrete buyer. . . You, on the other hand. . . "

"As soon as Osiris makes up his mind, I'm dead."

Daniel glanced at him and shrugged. "Well, not dead, technically speaking. . ."

"Close enough," Apollo said grimly. "I don't get it. According to your buddy Selmak, that other guy who came in here, Morda, is Tok'ra as well?"

"Yes. Morda has managed to infiltrate Osiris' operation and set himself up as his aide-de-camp. He's responsible for alerting the Tok'ra High Council to my presence here."

Apollo shook his head, frowning. "Why bother? The Tok'ra want to stop the Goa'uld, to stop Osiris. Why didn't Morda just kill him, or blow the place up? Why go to all this trouble?"

Daniel tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. His body ws making its demands felt again.

"Because they don't want to stop Osiris. They want to control him." He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes wearily. "This is just an educated guess, but I'm thinking that what they want is to allow Osiris to rise high enough in power to rival Apophis. They may even plan on aiding him to a certain extent."

"They want to divide the System Lords' power. . ."

"So that no single Goa'uld is supreme, yes," Daniel confirmed.

"Which means the Tok'ra have no intention of helping me get out of here."

"No, they don't," Daniel agreed softly. He moistened his lips. "Apollo."

He waited until the warrior turned to meet his eyes.

"I don't care what the Tok'ra intend. I intend for both of us to get out of here. I won't have them sacrificing anyone for my sake. Understood?"

Apollo studied the other man's serious eyes and nodded slowly. He glanced around the room once.

"I've been searching for a way out of here for centauri. The only way we're getting out of this cell is if Dren'ac lets us out. We'll have to make the best of whatever chance we get."

Daniel yawned again. "Which means that right now I have got to let the healing device finish its job."

"Daniel? This was what you were arguing about, wasn't it?"

"Hmm?"

"With Selmak. You were arguing about whether or not your people would get me out along with you."

"Oh. Yeah, that was – part of it." Daniel's voice trailed off and he colored slightly.

"Daniel?"

Apollo's cell- mate looked embarrassed as he curled up on his side to try and rest.

"Don't worry about it, Apollo. It was nothing. Just a moment of weakness."

********

Reflections from the torches danced on the polished walls.

Morda stopped before the door to Osiris' throne room land waited for the Jaffa guards to announce his arrival to the Goa'uld within.

Be careful, Morda. I don't like this. Why have we been summoned?

Be at ease. All is well, Talliu.

He suspects us.

He suspects nothing. You will see. Be still.

The symbiote continued to silently soothe his host's fears as the great gold- plated doors opened silently.

"Morda."

Osiris turned from his place near the open fire- pit that dominated the center of the room. Osiris' hair picked up the reflections in the room and gleamed like a cloud of spun gold. Fine white silk swirled as he moved to take his seat upon the tall throne.

"My Lord." Morda bowed deeply.

"Was our guest impressed with the goods we have to offer?"

"Indeed, my lord. Daniel Jackson will claim a high price. The Tau'ri has many enemies among your peers."

Osiris smiled gently. "Ah, but Morda, I have no peers."

"Of course, my lord."

The Goa'uld contemplated the bowed figure before him with satisfaction.

"You have served me well, Morda. Stand and receive your reward – Tok'ra."

Morda froze for an instant, then his head snapped up.

"My lord?!"

"Jaffa. Kree." Osiris' inflection never changed, just as his grey eyes never left Morda's as six Jaffa left the shadows to surround the Tok'ra agent. "Fire."