Host of Apophis
by Layton Colt
Jack and Carter were pulled to their feet, staff weapons aimed at their chests. Past the serpent guards they could see Daniel standing, held steady by Amonet.
"Wait," the echoing voice of Apophis, not Daniel ordered.
Apophis smiled cruelly, "I've got a better idea, take them to the Chappa'i. Send them home."
"My lord?" one of the Jaffa said sounding confused.
Apophis smiled, "They will be killed by their barrier. They won't make it to the other side. I believe its poetic justice that they be killed by the same troublesome barrier that keeps us out. Now, do as I say. Take them to the Chappa'i."
Apophis's first prime nodded and Jack and Sam were dragged off.
The two soldiers shared a confused look and Jack looked at Sam's wrist to see if she still had her GDO.
Sam nodded to him almost imperceptibly, she had it. If she could just punch in the code without alerting the guards they would go through the wormhole unharmed.
Jack and Sam were through mercilessly to the ground as one of the Jaffa punched in the coordinates for Earth. Sam quickly entered the iris code and hoped that it got through.
"Throw them in," the first prime ordered.
Jack and Sam were again hauled to their feet. They braced themselves as they were tossed through.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amonet ran an appreciative eye over her King's new host. "I must say Apophis, if nothing else my host has good taste."
Apophis smiled, "Yes, but this host is troublesome. He taunts me."
Amonet nodded, "As does mine, but they will be broken soon enough and we will be in complete control."
"We should be in control now!" Apophis cried. "I don't like feeling powerless."
"You are not powerless my love, why would you say such a thing?"
"I should have had the two Tauri executed on site, I don't know what made me change my mind, it's like this host made me,"
"Nonsense. These hosts are nothing but a nuisance. A annoying voice. They have no power over us. We hold all the power. Do not forget this my love."
"But he will not cease! The voice attacks me. He switches from one language to the next, constantly trying to confuse me. I should not have changed hosts. My last host was spiritless, and weak this one is… different."
"All humans are weak!" Amonet roared. "They are nothing compared to us. Use pain to subdue your host."
"It does not work!"
"Give it time, you must complete the blending. Then the voice will quiet."
"But it won't disappear," Apophis said quietly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The wormhole sprang to life and two figures were flung out, landing hard on the ramp.
General Hammond ran into the embarkation room as the Jack and Sam pulled themselves up. Jack cursed and placed his head in his hands. Sam looked close to tears but she stubbornly held them back.
"Colonel O'Neill, what's happened? Where's Dr. Jackson?"
"He's become a host, sir," Sam whispered.
Hammond's eyes went wide, "What?"
"He's become a host," O'Neill said irritably. "He's the new host of Apophis. Suffice it to say our mission didn't exactly go as planned. It was a set up the whole time. They'd planned the ceremony and Apophis had already picked his host. Daniel. We did exactly what he knew we would."
Hammond still seemed a little shell shocked, "Why did he want Daniel to be his host?"
"Who knows, maybe it was Amonet's idea," Sam said softly.
"We have to go back, General," Jack said getting up from the ramp. "We need to rescue Daniel."
Hammond took a deep breath, "Colonel, Dr. Jackson and yourself have been trying to rescue Sha'ure from Amonet for years. What makes you think you'll be able to rescue Daniel now?"
"We have to! Daniel has way too much information in that head of his. We can't allow Apophis to live with all that knowledge."
"To kill him you'd have to kill Daniel," Hammond pointed out.
Jack sighed, "Not necessarily, we may be able to abduct him and bring him back here. Janet may be able to…"
"I want you to go to the infirmary. We'll debrief in fifteen minutes and discuss our options."
Jack nodded solemnly, "Yes, sir."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I'm sorry, Colonel," Hammond said regretfully. "But the rescue mission is a no go."
Jack jumped up from his seat, "What? General, with all due respect we have an obligation to go on this rescue mission. Daniel *made* this place. We can't abandon him now."
"I agree with you but while you were in the infirmary I talked with the President. He believes that the risk is too great."
"We're willing to take the risks, sir," Sam said with quiet determination.
"I too am willing to take the risks," Teal'c added.
"You see," Jack said proudly. "We have to do this."
"I'm sorry Colonel. No. I'm not asking you to give up I have no doubts that our paths will cross with Apophis again and if that happens you have my permission to do whatever is necessary to try and bring Dr. Jackson home."
"Sir, we need to act now. I believe that Apophis isn't in full control yet. If we wait…"
"My decision has been made, Colonel. Dismissed."
Jack gave the General a stony glare but didn't say any more as he left the room. Jack brushed past his two teammates muttering that he was fine and that they should get some rest.
He wandered the halls aimlessly until he reached Daniel's office. Hesitantly pushing the door open he entered, everything was just the way Daniel had left it.
A pair of Egyptian scrolls were rolled out on his desk, near the mug of cold coffee.
"God Danny," he whispered huskily. "How could this have happened? Why did I agree to go on that mission?"
"Daniel wanted to go," a soft voice said from behind him. "Sir, he couldn't pass up a chance of rescuing Sha'ure."
Jack turned around and saw Sam and Teal'c in the doorway, "I know, but look at us. We're passing up what may be our only chance to rescue him. He deserves better."
"We have our orders," Sam reminded.
"Right and the only one brave enough to break them isn't here, so where does that leave us, Carter? What does that mean for Daniel?"
"DanielJackson wouldn't want us to risk our lives for his," Teal'c said firmly.
"No, he wouldn't. But he'd risk his life for ours in a heart beat."
Teal'c nodded solemnly, "This is true."
"I won't let Apophis keep Daniel as his host," Jack said determinedly. "I vow that right now. Even if…even if I have to kill Daniel I won't allow Apophis to remain in control. I owe that much to him, we all do."
"What are you suggesting, sir?" Sam asked cautiously.
"I'm suggesting we take a page from Danny's book… to hell with orders, let's go back there and bring him home."
to be continued…
by Layton Colt
Jack and Carter were pulled to their feet, staff weapons aimed at their chests. Past the serpent guards they could see Daniel standing, held steady by Amonet.
"Wait," the echoing voice of Apophis, not Daniel ordered.
Apophis smiled cruelly, "I've got a better idea, take them to the Chappa'i. Send them home."
"My lord?" one of the Jaffa said sounding confused.
Apophis smiled, "They will be killed by their barrier. They won't make it to the other side. I believe its poetic justice that they be killed by the same troublesome barrier that keeps us out. Now, do as I say. Take them to the Chappa'i."
Apophis's first prime nodded and Jack and Sam were dragged off.
The two soldiers shared a confused look and Jack looked at Sam's wrist to see if she still had her GDO.
Sam nodded to him almost imperceptibly, she had it. If she could just punch in the code without alerting the guards they would go through the wormhole unharmed.
Jack and Sam were through mercilessly to the ground as one of the Jaffa punched in the coordinates for Earth. Sam quickly entered the iris code and hoped that it got through.
"Throw them in," the first prime ordered.
Jack and Sam were again hauled to their feet. They braced themselves as they were tossed through.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amonet ran an appreciative eye over her King's new host. "I must say Apophis, if nothing else my host has good taste."
Apophis smiled, "Yes, but this host is troublesome. He taunts me."
Amonet nodded, "As does mine, but they will be broken soon enough and we will be in complete control."
"We should be in control now!" Apophis cried. "I don't like feeling powerless."
"You are not powerless my love, why would you say such a thing?"
"I should have had the two Tauri executed on site, I don't know what made me change my mind, it's like this host made me,"
"Nonsense. These hosts are nothing but a nuisance. A annoying voice. They have no power over us. We hold all the power. Do not forget this my love."
"But he will not cease! The voice attacks me. He switches from one language to the next, constantly trying to confuse me. I should not have changed hosts. My last host was spiritless, and weak this one is… different."
"All humans are weak!" Amonet roared. "They are nothing compared to us. Use pain to subdue your host."
"It does not work!"
"Give it time, you must complete the blending. Then the voice will quiet."
"But it won't disappear," Apophis said quietly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The wormhole sprang to life and two figures were flung out, landing hard on the ramp.
General Hammond ran into the embarkation room as the Jack and Sam pulled themselves up. Jack cursed and placed his head in his hands. Sam looked close to tears but she stubbornly held them back.
"Colonel O'Neill, what's happened? Where's Dr. Jackson?"
"He's become a host, sir," Sam whispered.
Hammond's eyes went wide, "What?"
"He's become a host," O'Neill said irritably. "He's the new host of Apophis. Suffice it to say our mission didn't exactly go as planned. It was a set up the whole time. They'd planned the ceremony and Apophis had already picked his host. Daniel. We did exactly what he knew we would."
Hammond still seemed a little shell shocked, "Why did he want Daniel to be his host?"
"Who knows, maybe it was Amonet's idea," Sam said softly.
"We have to go back, General," Jack said getting up from the ramp. "We need to rescue Daniel."
Hammond took a deep breath, "Colonel, Dr. Jackson and yourself have been trying to rescue Sha'ure from Amonet for years. What makes you think you'll be able to rescue Daniel now?"
"We have to! Daniel has way too much information in that head of his. We can't allow Apophis to live with all that knowledge."
"To kill him you'd have to kill Daniel," Hammond pointed out.
Jack sighed, "Not necessarily, we may be able to abduct him and bring him back here. Janet may be able to…"
"I want you to go to the infirmary. We'll debrief in fifteen minutes and discuss our options."
Jack nodded solemnly, "Yes, sir."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I'm sorry, Colonel," Hammond said regretfully. "But the rescue mission is a no go."
Jack jumped up from his seat, "What? General, with all due respect we have an obligation to go on this rescue mission. Daniel *made* this place. We can't abandon him now."
"I agree with you but while you were in the infirmary I talked with the President. He believes that the risk is too great."
"We're willing to take the risks, sir," Sam said with quiet determination.
"I too am willing to take the risks," Teal'c added.
"You see," Jack said proudly. "We have to do this."
"I'm sorry Colonel. No. I'm not asking you to give up I have no doubts that our paths will cross with Apophis again and if that happens you have my permission to do whatever is necessary to try and bring Dr. Jackson home."
"Sir, we need to act now. I believe that Apophis isn't in full control yet. If we wait…"
"My decision has been made, Colonel. Dismissed."
Jack gave the General a stony glare but didn't say any more as he left the room. Jack brushed past his two teammates muttering that he was fine and that they should get some rest.
He wandered the halls aimlessly until he reached Daniel's office. Hesitantly pushing the door open he entered, everything was just the way Daniel had left it.
A pair of Egyptian scrolls were rolled out on his desk, near the mug of cold coffee.
"God Danny," he whispered huskily. "How could this have happened? Why did I agree to go on that mission?"
"Daniel wanted to go," a soft voice said from behind him. "Sir, he couldn't pass up a chance of rescuing Sha'ure."
Jack turned around and saw Sam and Teal'c in the doorway, "I know, but look at us. We're passing up what may be our only chance to rescue him. He deserves better."
"We have our orders," Sam reminded.
"Right and the only one brave enough to break them isn't here, so where does that leave us, Carter? What does that mean for Daniel?"
"DanielJackson wouldn't want us to risk our lives for his," Teal'c said firmly.
"No, he wouldn't. But he'd risk his life for ours in a heart beat."
Teal'c nodded solemnly, "This is true."
"I won't let Apophis keep Daniel as his host," Jack said determinedly. "I vow that right now. Even if…even if I have to kill Daniel I won't allow Apophis to remain in control. I owe that much to him, we all do."
"What are you suggesting, sir?" Sam asked cautiously.
"I'm suggesting we take a page from Danny's book… to hell with orders, let's go back there and bring him home."
to be continued…