Host of Apophis
by Layton Colt
Those fools. Stranding him here. Their God. He'd teach those Tau'ri respect.
'You'll do nothing,' a voice taunted. 'You're nothing. You can't leave here… only I can pass through the hammer unharmed.'
'Then we won't pass through the hammer,' Apophis growled to the incessant voice of his host. 'My queen will rescue me.'
'You're queen is why you're here, she wanted all the power for herself… you weren't conscious when Amonet made her deal with Jack but I was.'
'You are lying! My queen would not have betrayed me!'
'And why not?' Daniel asked smartly. 'You can't even gain complete control over me did you really believe you had control over her?'
'I do control you!'
'You don't! Now I can get us both out of here but you've got to do something for me in return…'
'I won't listen to your lies Tau'ri, you are trying to deceive me again. You yourself said that there is no way out.'
Daniel cursed his own stupidity and carefully hid his inner most thoughts from the demon inhabiting his body. If he was to persuade Apophis it was safe to pass through the hammer he'd better start coming up with some very convincing arguments.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jack, Sam and Teal'c sat outside of Kendra's home in silence, Kendra had given them all something to eat and then retired to bed.
They were all trying not to think of Daniel wandering aimlessly through the labyrinth but the images their minds had contrived wouldn't let them be.
The only consolation was while it was Daniel in that cave, it was also Apophis. And if anyone deserved to suffer it was him.
But they new from Kendra that the host is aware of all that goes on. Held prisoner in their minds.
"How long do you think it will be?" Jack asked.
"It could be many years, O'Neill. The Goa'uld do not measure time as you do."
Jack sighed, wrong answer. "We can't wait here for him for years," he said, stating the obvious. "But I'm not quite ready to leave yet."
"Nor am I," Teal'c agreed.
Sam nodded, "I think Daniel had some power over Apophis… I think that that's the only reason we're alive. Maybe Daniel can get him to go through the hammer."
"Apophis has heard the story's of the hammer," Teal'c said.
"Yes," Sam agreed. "But no Goa'uld's have been here for centuries, right?" at Teal'c's nod she continued. "Maybe Daniel will convince him that the hammer no longer works… that we destroyed it. He wouldn't be lying. We did destroy it, Apophis doesn't have to know it's been repaired."
"Apophis is not easily fooled," Teal'c said. "While I have much faith in DanielJackson the longer he is a host the less power he will retain. If Apophis gains full control he will disregard whatever DanielJackson says."
Jack shook his head, "Kendra had been a host for years and had convinced her resident parasite to come here,"
Teal'c nodded, "That is true. However it was much time before the Goa'uld would pass through the hammer."
"Only a few months," Sam said. "I'm willing to wait that long if it means getting Daniel back."
They all would. They'd wait a lot longer than months if they had too but they couldn't stay here for quite that long.
Their were people back home who would be worried about them and they had to contact the SGC. As much as Jack didn't want to, they couldn't risk the General deciding to send a team to Chulak after them.
"Alright, Teal'c… why don't you stay here and keep a look out for Daniel? Carter and I are going to have to check in with the General."
Sam winced but agreed, they couldn't put it off forever.
With a sigh Jack continued, "Now I'd like to come back but I don't know what's going to happen to us when we return to the SGC. Can I count on you to bring Daniel home?"
Teal'c nodded solemnly, "Indeed you can, O'Neill."
Sam and Jack gave one last look at the distant mountains, and then headed off for the Stargate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Unscheduled Gate Activation!"
"Are we getting a signal?" the General asked.
"Yes, sir, it's from Cimmera,"
The General nodded, "Open the iris,"
The wormhole formed and two of his premier team came flying through. The General took a moment to register this bit of information. SG-1 was supposed to be on an unauthorized mission to Chulak.
Pressing his lips into a tight line he headed towards the embarkation room. "Colonel O'Neill," he barked. "Do you want to tell me just what the hell's going on?"
"We got Daniel to Cimmera, sir," Jack said. "He's in the labyrinth."
Hammond's shoulders relaxed with relief, but he couldn't forget what his two subordinates had done, "This is a serious breach of protocol, Colonel. I'd be well within my rights to court marshal you both."
Jack swallowed, "Is that what you're going to do, sir?"
Taking pity on him Hammond sighed, "No, I'm not happy about this but Janet assures me it could be attributed to Post Traumatic Stress. Since you witnessed what happened to Daniel."
"Sir, we aren't suffering--" Carter began but O'Neill elbowed her and the General wisely ignored her.
"I will however be placing an official reprimand in both your files. Now, where's Teal'c?"
"He's still on Cimmera. Waiting for Daniel, actually, sir. We'd like to go back and wait with him…" Jack began.
"Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Jack. Remember? I want you both to go to the infirmary and them get some rest and I will consider -consider- allowing you to return to Cimmera."
"Yes, sir," both soldiers answered in stereo.
They marched out of the room, and them sagged in relief when they were out of sight of the General.
Letting out the breath they'd been holding they headed to the infirmary.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Daniel could feel Apophis exhausting his body, they'd been wandering the maze for what seemed like days but Daniel knew could only be hours.
He didn't think Apophis could continue on much longer but he seemed to have little regard for the body he inhabited. He could go on like this for as long as he wanted, leaving Daniel to suffer the repercussions.
Well, Daniel wasn't going to take much more of this, he had to outsmart him…
'We can't walk these halls forever, you know… it's not doing any good.' Daniel taunted.
'You will cease talking or I will make you!' Apophis growled back.
'Getting a little testy? My offer still stands you know, I can get us both out of here.'
'You would not help me,' Apophis snapped.
'Hey, if I have to be a host I'd rather be a host on Chulak living in luxury than wondering through an endless maze.'
'Enough, there is no way out of the labyrinth!'
'Then why do you continue on? You must think there's some way to the surface or you would have given up.'
'Gods do not give up!'
'Gods are supposed to be all powerful but you can't seem to live up to that definition, you need me if you want to get out of here. Don't make me spend my life in this underground warren just because you're to stubborn to take the advice of a… slave'
'… tell me where to go…'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Daniel led Apophis to the hammer and Apophis stopped, narrowing his host's eyes in suspicion.
"This is the hammer," he said out loud.
'This is your salvation, are you brave enough to take it?'
'I'll be killed,'
'The hammer was destroyed, I did it myself, surely you have my memory of it'
'Yes, you were upset, afraid you were destroying your only chance of freeing Amonet's host.'
'Yes, so you see you can pass through, neither of us will be harmed.'
'You told me before that only you could pass through the hammer unharmed…'
'That was stupid, I was trying to keep you here as a prisoner but I realized that I can't go on here any longer… if your free fine, I don't care what you do any more, or who you hurt so long as I can get out of here.'
Apophis laughed, 'I knew you were just as weak as all of your kind are. You submit to you Gods so easily. It was a frail attempt at strength to try and convince me the hammer was still functioning but I am glad to see you finally accepting that you are mine to control… life will be easier for you when we return to Chulak…'
Apophis stared at the doorway, sure now that it was his salvation. He would be brave enough to take it. This slave couldn't possibly be deceiving him.
Slaves were weak and feeble minded, this one was now worried only for himself. He wanted to live the life of a god.
Yes, the hammer was destroyed, his host had taken a staff weapon to it.
With a smile Apophis approached with an absolute certainty that he would be freed from this prison.
And inwardly Daniel smiled, knowing that Apophis was about to destroy himself, as Daniel had said earlier… 'We always knew that his arrogance put us at an advantage'.
Daniel braced himself as Apophis reached the threshold of the hammer, knowing what was to come…
To be continued…
Okay so it's not the conclusion but the next part should be, yes, the next part should be the conclusion… maybe.
by Layton Colt
Those fools. Stranding him here. Their God. He'd teach those Tau'ri respect.
'You'll do nothing,' a voice taunted. 'You're nothing. You can't leave here… only I can pass through the hammer unharmed.'
'Then we won't pass through the hammer,' Apophis growled to the incessant voice of his host. 'My queen will rescue me.'
'You're queen is why you're here, she wanted all the power for herself… you weren't conscious when Amonet made her deal with Jack but I was.'
'You are lying! My queen would not have betrayed me!'
'And why not?' Daniel asked smartly. 'You can't even gain complete control over me did you really believe you had control over her?'
'I do control you!'
'You don't! Now I can get us both out of here but you've got to do something for me in return…'
'I won't listen to your lies Tau'ri, you are trying to deceive me again. You yourself said that there is no way out.'
Daniel cursed his own stupidity and carefully hid his inner most thoughts from the demon inhabiting his body. If he was to persuade Apophis it was safe to pass through the hammer he'd better start coming up with some very convincing arguments.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jack, Sam and Teal'c sat outside of Kendra's home in silence, Kendra had given them all something to eat and then retired to bed.
They were all trying not to think of Daniel wandering aimlessly through the labyrinth but the images their minds had contrived wouldn't let them be.
The only consolation was while it was Daniel in that cave, it was also Apophis. And if anyone deserved to suffer it was him.
But they new from Kendra that the host is aware of all that goes on. Held prisoner in their minds.
"How long do you think it will be?" Jack asked.
"It could be many years, O'Neill. The Goa'uld do not measure time as you do."
Jack sighed, wrong answer. "We can't wait here for him for years," he said, stating the obvious. "But I'm not quite ready to leave yet."
"Nor am I," Teal'c agreed.
Sam nodded, "I think Daniel had some power over Apophis… I think that that's the only reason we're alive. Maybe Daniel can get him to go through the hammer."
"Apophis has heard the story's of the hammer," Teal'c said.
"Yes," Sam agreed. "But no Goa'uld's have been here for centuries, right?" at Teal'c's nod she continued. "Maybe Daniel will convince him that the hammer no longer works… that we destroyed it. He wouldn't be lying. We did destroy it, Apophis doesn't have to know it's been repaired."
"Apophis is not easily fooled," Teal'c said. "While I have much faith in DanielJackson the longer he is a host the less power he will retain. If Apophis gains full control he will disregard whatever DanielJackson says."
Jack shook his head, "Kendra had been a host for years and had convinced her resident parasite to come here,"
Teal'c nodded, "That is true. However it was much time before the Goa'uld would pass through the hammer."
"Only a few months," Sam said. "I'm willing to wait that long if it means getting Daniel back."
They all would. They'd wait a lot longer than months if they had too but they couldn't stay here for quite that long.
Their were people back home who would be worried about them and they had to contact the SGC. As much as Jack didn't want to, they couldn't risk the General deciding to send a team to Chulak after them.
"Alright, Teal'c… why don't you stay here and keep a look out for Daniel? Carter and I are going to have to check in with the General."
Sam winced but agreed, they couldn't put it off forever.
With a sigh Jack continued, "Now I'd like to come back but I don't know what's going to happen to us when we return to the SGC. Can I count on you to bring Daniel home?"
Teal'c nodded solemnly, "Indeed you can, O'Neill."
Sam and Jack gave one last look at the distant mountains, and then headed off for the Stargate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Unscheduled Gate Activation!"
"Are we getting a signal?" the General asked.
"Yes, sir, it's from Cimmera,"
The General nodded, "Open the iris,"
The wormhole formed and two of his premier team came flying through. The General took a moment to register this bit of information. SG-1 was supposed to be on an unauthorized mission to Chulak.
Pressing his lips into a tight line he headed towards the embarkation room. "Colonel O'Neill," he barked. "Do you want to tell me just what the hell's going on?"
"We got Daniel to Cimmera, sir," Jack said. "He's in the labyrinth."
Hammond's shoulders relaxed with relief, but he couldn't forget what his two subordinates had done, "This is a serious breach of protocol, Colonel. I'd be well within my rights to court marshal you both."
Jack swallowed, "Is that what you're going to do, sir?"
Taking pity on him Hammond sighed, "No, I'm not happy about this but Janet assures me it could be attributed to Post Traumatic Stress. Since you witnessed what happened to Daniel."
"Sir, we aren't suffering--" Carter began but O'Neill elbowed her and the General wisely ignored her.
"I will however be placing an official reprimand in both your files. Now, where's Teal'c?"
"He's still on Cimmera. Waiting for Daniel, actually, sir. We'd like to go back and wait with him…" Jack began.
"Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Jack. Remember? I want you both to go to the infirmary and them get some rest and I will consider -consider- allowing you to return to Cimmera."
"Yes, sir," both soldiers answered in stereo.
They marched out of the room, and them sagged in relief when they were out of sight of the General.
Letting out the breath they'd been holding they headed to the infirmary.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Daniel could feel Apophis exhausting his body, they'd been wandering the maze for what seemed like days but Daniel knew could only be hours.
He didn't think Apophis could continue on much longer but he seemed to have little regard for the body he inhabited. He could go on like this for as long as he wanted, leaving Daniel to suffer the repercussions.
Well, Daniel wasn't going to take much more of this, he had to outsmart him…
'We can't walk these halls forever, you know… it's not doing any good.' Daniel taunted.
'You will cease talking or I will make you!' Apophis growled back.
'Getting a little testy? My offer still stands you know, I can get us both out of here.'
'You would not help me,' Apophis snapped.
'Hey, if I have to be a host I'd rather be a host on Chulak living in luxury than wondering through an endless maze.'
'Enough, there is no way out of the labyrinth!'
'Then why do you continue on? You must think there's some way to the surface or you would have given up.'
'Gods do not give up!'
'Gods are supposed to be all powerful but you can't seem to live up to that definition, you need me if you want to get out of here. Don't make me spend my life in this underground warren just because you're to stubborn to take the advice of a… slave'
'… tell me where to go…'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Daniel led Apophis to the hammer and Apophis stopped, narrowing his host's eyes in suspicion.
"This is the hammer," he said out loud.
'This is your salvation, are you brave enough to take it?'
'I'll be killed,'
'The hammer was destroyed, I did it myself, surely you have my memory of it'
'Yes, you were upset, afraid you were destroying your only chance of freeing Amonet's host.'
'Yes, so you see you can pass through, neither of us will be harmed.'
'You told me before that only you could pass through the hammer unharmed…'
'That was stupid, I was trying to keep you here as a prisoner but I realized that I can't go on here any longer… if your free fine, I don't care what you do any more, or who you hurt so long as I can get out of here.'
Apophis laughed, 'I knew you were just as weak as all of your kind are. You submit to you Gods so easily. It was a frail attempt at strength to try and convince me the hammer was still functioning but I am glad to see you finally accepting that you are mine to control… life will be easier for you when we return to Chulak…'
Apophis stared at the doorway, sure now that it was his salvation. He would be brave enough to take it. This slave couldn't possibly be deceiving him.
Slaves were weak and feeble minded, this one was now worried only for himself. He wanted to live the life of a god.
Yes, the hammer was destroyed, his host had taken a staff weapon to it.
With a smile Apophis approached with an absolute certainty that he would be freed from this prison.
And inwardly Daniel smiled, knowing that Apophis was about to destroy himself, as Daniel had said earlier… 'We always knew that his arrogance put us at an advantage'.
Daniel braced himself as Apophis reached the threshold of the hammer, knowing what was to come…
To be continued…
Okay so it's not the conclusion but the next part should be, yes, the next part should be the conclusion… maybe.