Chapter 6

Consciousness came at a price. Daniel ached from the tips of his toes up to somewhere about six inches past the top of his head. Every molecule screamed insistently. The sensation was similar to the first time he had travelled through the Stargate, before Sam had tweaked the settings. Add to that the effects of a zat gun and you just about had the experience right if you multiplied it by a factor of ten.

With an effort he opened his eyes, shuddering at the percussive explosions that the movement elicited from every nerve ending. Holding back a groan of pain he forced himself upright briefly noting the soft mattress under his fingers, the subdued lighting, and pale metallic walls. He sat still for a moment, letting his body settle. Taking a cautious breath in, he waited for the pain to subside somewhat, before sliding his legs over the edge of the bed.

It took all of ten minutes before the room stopped spinning around him and his stomach stopped wanting to expel his dinner from the night before. He hadn't felt this bad since… well he couldn't ever remember feeling this awful. Even though the light within the room was dull he found himself squinting, adding to the pain now centred at the back of his skull. Finally he lifted his head and tried to focus on the room.

The place was bare of any decoration bar one panel of glyphs that highlighted each wall. But what drew him most was the open doorway and the realisation that Vicky was not here with him. With infinite care Daniel slid from the bed, letting his boots drop lightly to the floor. He still felt light headed, and chilled to the bone, but there were more important things than his state of health to worry about. Heading to the nearest panel, he tried to make sense of the symbols. He didn't want to walk through the door if the panel was a warning that he would get fried if he made the attempt.

Searching fingers felt each raised symbol as though touching it would somehow make it easier to decipher. "Okay, you can do this," Daniel murmured to himself. "Let's suppose it is an ancient form of Egyptian, then this would be the symbol for Ma'at, and this would be…" He worked his way from symbol to symbol, the pounding of his head slowing his thought processes to a minimum. Suddenly the panel made perfect sense to him. Like a flash of inspiration he could read its meaning as easily as any textbook. He spoke the words out loud, translating as he went.

"Yes, you are correct."

Daniel spun around, then regretted the sudden move as his balance failed him, sending him staggering to the wall. Blackness washed over him and the last thing he remembered seeing was the alien frowning at him before moving in his direction.

When next he woke the pain had gone from his body, though his head still ached abominably, and he wasn't alone. Curled beside him Vicky lay asleep, her body shivering as though with cold though the room was warmer than was comfortable for him. Daniel lay one hand on her forehead, her temperature seemed over cool to the back of his hand; though her pulse beat rhythmically under his fingers where they rested on her wrist. Stripping off his fleece he spread it over her, smoothing back the hair from her face, and tucking it behind her ear. He had to get her out of here, this was no place for a civilian, no place for someone who didn't know that aliens existed let alone the horrors they were capable of.

The shivering seemed to lessen as his body-heated fleece warmed Vicky's chilled form. Daniel remembered how cold he had felt at first, and wondered what else he could do to bring her temperature back up. Vicky moaned softly, then opened her eyes.

"Dios!" She promptly threw herself over the edge of the bed and vomited. Daniel could only offer comforting words as spasm after spasm shook her. One hand rested consolingly on her forehead, the other rubbed gently across her back. When there was nothing more to come and she lay exhausted against him he pulled a corner from the bedding and wiped her mouth before drawing her close, adding his body warmth to hers. She was praying softly in Spanish, begging the gods to deliver her from her torment. Daniel knew that no god was going to help them for he remembered the panel and its contents. This was a place of punishment, and they were prisoners.

***

"Go back. O'Neill," Teal'c ordered. Then pointed to a set of photographs from a mission six weeks before. "That is the design from my father's stone."

"But you told me Daniel didn't recognise the symbols, right?"

"That is correct. But I do not believe Daniel Jackson has seen these images. This is from SG6 first trip to P39 555. They found no existing civilisation."

"Then this is Daniel's 'things to do' file, which makes sense of some of the other stuff in here." Jack paused; flicking through is memory like a filing cabinet. "But didn't he go out there with them on that one? Wasn't that the trip he fell down a hole of something? Russell found him out cold near a temple. I remember Doc Fraiser had him in the infirmary for days after that one."

"I believe you are correct, O'Neill. This is most strange. Daniel Jackson's memory is rarely at fault."

Jack grabbed the internal phone and dialled quickly. "General, is Major Russell on base right now? Great, can you get him down to Daniel's office? I have a whole bunch of questions for him."

Things were not going so well in Sam's lab. For two minutes the block had given off a steady glow, highlighting the symbols and sending the data banks crazy, then it had stopped and had not returned. That had been fifteen minutes before and Sam was getting anxious. She thought she knew what was going on, but without more data she was just making a stab in the dark. Taking the last report from the printer she headed to the infirmary. Perhaps Janet could confirm or repudiate what she thought was happening. In a way she dearly hoped she was wrong.

SG11 had just returned through the Stargate and Janet was busy organising tests, analysing results and didn't hear Sam approach until the major touched her shoulder.

"Janet, I really need you to look at this for me. Is this what I think it is?"

The two women scanned the print out, then exchanged a solemn look. "This is from the block?" Janet queried.

Sam nodded. "It's aimed at the cerebral cortex isn't it? But this line here, that's not usual, is it?"

"No," the doctor said slowly. "But I have seen it before. Wait one moment."

Within minutes she had returned and held in her hand Daniel Jackson's scan from six weeks previous. "Remember Daniel was concussed a few weeks back? This is the scan I took then. I put this down to the concussion but now…"

"I'd better tell the colonel and General Hammond. Thanks Janet."

Knowing what the emission was was one thing, figuring out what it was doing and how Daniel was involved was something else again. Hurrying down the hall Sam heard voices from Daniel's lab, and turned her footsteps that way. The room was crowded, Jack, Teal'c and Major Russell were huddled around Daniel's computer screen. Behind them stood General Hammond, barking out question after question.

"That's the symbol!"

"We know, Carter. We know. Seems Daniel was left to his own devices, "Jack sent a cold look at Russell's shuttered face, "while Russell and his team did a recon. When they got back, they found him face down, out cold at the bottom of this thing." On the screen was a tall set of steps of pyramid shape, leading up to what had to be an altar. On its side, just under an oval depression, was the symbol that had by now burned itself into Sam's memory.

"We thought he'd fallen, tripped coming down the stairs. He had a few bruises but no broken bones. Didn't even wake up until we got him back through the 'gate. We hadn't found a hint of a living being, just some more ruins and a couple of animals. They didn't run, so we figured that there was no one left to scare them. There was no indication of any outside interference."

O'Neill kept his basilisk gaze fixed on the unfortunate major, silent accusation written across his face. Even though he knew Daniel could get himself into trouble without any help from anyone else, he was damned if he would forgive Russell for not keeping both eyes on a member of his team.

"Major, you have any good news?" Hammond's southern accent resounded around the small room.

"News? Yes. Whether it's good I don't know, General." She laid the readouts on the desk, covering the stone handled knife that Jack had fiddled with just days before.

"These signals are aimed at the brain, to specific areas of the brain. Janet recognised this line here." She overlaid Daniel's scan from the incident. A perfect match.

"Sophisticated brain washing? Is that what you are saying?"

"If it is, then I don't know how it is affecting him, or why it didn't affect any of SG6 in any way. And why was that same emission being broadcast from somewhere in Belize? I'm sorry, sir, I just don't know how to interpret the intentions behind them." Her frustration was mirrored by everyone in the room.

"Daniel Jackson was living through nightmares."

"What?" Jack sat up straighter in his chair and turned to the man looming over him. "He was what?"

"It was written in his eyes. I have seen it once before on the face of the judged."

"Don't just throw these things at us for Christ's sake! Who was judged, and for what?"

"Just hold on a minute, Colonel." The general took a pace closer. "Teal'c explain."

"I was but a small child when my father took me to a tribunal. One of the lords had recently returned from punishment. My father told me the dreams were terrible and would eventually kill the Goa'uld within the host. His eyes reflected his torment. The last time I saw Daniel Jackson I saw that same torment."

"Then why the hell didn't you try to stop him!" O'Neill's anger touched everyone in the room, except the statue-like Jaffa.

"A man's demons must be fought alone."

"That's it! That…" Jack couldn't find the words to express his inner rage. Sometimes the damn Jaffa code left him close to violence at its incomprehensible cruelty.

"Colonel."

Hammond's tone brought him back. "You have a go. I'll arrange transportation to meet you out there. Major, pinpoint the area. You'll have to get yourselves there; I won't involve civilians in this. " His pale blue eyes captured theirs. "Bring him back, and do what you have to. Just do it quietly."

***

Vicky had slept again, and for a while Daniel had kept her wrapped in his arms, trying to keep her warm, though she shivered still. When at last the shudders stopped he untangled himself from her and made his way back to the panels on the wall. In each was set out the same edict. That the person within the walls had transgressed against his god and that his punishment was just and right.

Making his way to the opening, Daniel stopped inches away from the apparently harmless portal. Tentatively he stretched out one hand, moving it forward centimetre by centimetre until his fingers had passed through to the corridor beyond. He waved his hand back and forth, then with a deep breath, took one step forward, then another until he stood outside the room, looking back at Vicky asleep on the bed. Too easy, too damn easy. Under his feet he could feel the slightest vibration, the barest hint of movement. A space ship then, as he recognised the sensation from too many trips on board alien vessels.

Making his way cautiously along the corridor, Daniel felt each step as it reverberated through him. The pain in his skull hadn't lessened at all - in fact it appeared to be getting worse. Dark images seemed to flicker just outside of his field of vision, blurring his sight for an instant. Ahead of him, the corridor seemed to run forever as it suddenly narrowed and extended into the distance like a reflection in a trick mirror. Closing his eyes against the distorted vision, he felt another wave of nausea creeping up. And then, like a tidal wave, the images hit. His most recurrent nightmare bloomed to life in his head. Even opening his eyes didn't stop it from playing out in all its agonising details. All around him the darkness of his dream quenched the corridor's bright lights, he could feel the weapon in his hand, could smell the faint mustiness of dank tunnels as he fought his way forward. Enemies surrounded them; Sam, Teal'c and Jack were right behind him, yelling at him to pick up the pace. Out of the darkness a Jaffa warrior leapt in front of him, staff weapon blazing. Daniel fired, taking the man's head from his shoulders. As the helmet fell away, Jack's face stared up at him.

"No! God, no!"

***

It was the murmur of voices that brought Daniel back to consciousness. The soft melodic tones of ancient Mayan, that he recognised from… no, he couldn't remember from where but the words made sense, and that was all that mattered.

The pain in his head had not abated while he had slept, and sitting up became a trial of mind over body. Never one to take the easy path, he pushed himself upright and let his eyes wander the room.

"You're awake!" Vicky's soft voice thundered through his head, and he winced with the added pain.

Standing at the doorway, the alien he had seen twice before was observing him with grave concern. Ever willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt, Daniel made a move to stand and introduce himself once more.

"Be still." The words were softly spoken, and yet the order was implicit in the tone. Daniel was surprised to find that he could not move - that his limbs refused to co-operate in any way.

Vicky moved to his side, her eyes reflecting unease and wonder. "Chak found you in the corridor and brought you back here. You were… talking wildly. You've been unconscious for over an hour."

Normally active brain cells seemed swamped in fog at that moment. Daniel knew he should recognise the name, Chak, and yet nothing would come to the surface of his foggy brain. A system lord? He doubted it. He had yet to meet the Goa'uld whose pride and arrogance didn't enter the room five minutes before he arrived. This tall, serene being gave off none of that self-importance.

"Who…?" It hit again, washing over him like larva down the side of a volcano. Cool marble under his feet, subdued lighting over his head as his parents supervised the reconstruction of the little temple. In his head he screamed a warning, but his childhood self didn't hear, couldn't relay the alarm that he so desperately wanted to raise.

It stopped as suddenly as it began. Snapping back to the room, Daniel could only gasp in air as his body showed its displeasure by setting his heart pounding almost to destruction.

Vicky's arms were around him, holding him tightly against her. Chak's long fingers pressed against his temples as though trying to burrow into the grey matter just millimetres under the skull. Struggling against them both, Chak's barked command stilled him once again.

As he finally relaxed in their hold, Chak removed his hands from Daniel's face and Vicky's arms lessened their vice-like grip of his torso.

"What the hell was that?"

Chak moved from his side. "Rest. We will talk when you have recovered."

"No! No. Please. Stay. I need to know what is happening to me. The dreams have never… I need to know."

"He can be very stubborn." Though she spoke the ancient language, he caught the words. They knew nothing about this alien, and Vicky was hardly the trusting sort, but there had been no fear in Vicky's tone, nothing but deep respect, awe even. Whatever had occurred while he had been out for the count it had not inspired fear, that was for sure.

"Chak? I won't be able to rest until I understand what has been happening to me. If you know the answers."

"Human's were ever curious, but your curiosity must wait. I have things to attend to. You should be safe for a while yet."

No amount of pleading touched Chak and Daniel was left frustrated and a little frightened at the sudden turn of events.

"Talk to me, Vicky. What the hell happened while I was out of it? You seem to have hit it off with our host." Daniel's eyes flicked to the still open doorway.

She took a place beside him, hands clasped in her lap as she thought through what had happened. As a scholar herself, Daniel knew she would put the evidence to him in proper order.

"I remember the temple, the flash of lightning and pain, then nothing until I woke here, spewing my guts up." She shuddered at the memory. "Thank you, by the way. I know it wasn't pleasant, but you made it a little more bearable." Her hand reached for his, then was quickly withdrawn before they touched.

"When I next woke up, you were gone. I thought I had been dreaming but then I heard your voice calling from outside the doorway. You sounded…" Vicky kept her eyes averted from his gaze. "You were distressed, calling out a warning. By the time I reached you K'inich Ahaw was standing over you, I though the Jaguar was attacking you and yet you seemed physically unhurt."

The mist within his mind was gradually lifting and studies from long ago were rapidly coming to the fore. He remembered the legend of K'inich Ahaw, who in the depths of night travelled beneath the earth as the Jaguar God of the Underworld. Fearsome name for Chak's Jaguar to live up to. As was Chak, he mused, nodding to Vicky to continue.

"Then Chak came. He laid his hand upon you and you became quiet again." Her eyes finally rose to his. "I hold to no religious beliefs Doctor Jackson, but his touch seemed miraculous to me. This place… I don't understand where we are, or who Chak is, but he has taken the name of one of my ancestors most treasured Gods. "

"Pre-Conquest, right? Well that little trick with the lightning makes sense, wasn't that his trademark? I'm a little rusty on the Mayan pantheon. At least he was benevolent, let's hope he lives up to his name!"

The pain that had subsided to a negligible ache while they spoke was starting to crank upwards again. A sudden and unreasoning fear flashed through Daniel as presentiment struck.

"Vicky!" But his voice disappeared into the nightmare that was now riding him into emotional torture. He was kneeling at Sha're's grave, uttering the words that her people believed would send her soul to everlasting peace. Only he knew better, didn't he? He knew that the gods that the Abydonians worshipped were no more than parasitic aliens. Word by word, he spoke the hymn to the gods; weighed the feather against her soul and felt his own soul dying within him. The scene switched to the jail in Apophis' palace and once again he watched as his beloved wife was dragged screaming from him. Tears wracked him as anger and desolation warred for prominence.

And then it was over. Chak's fingers were on his face once more, Vicky stood to one side her eyes brimming with unshed tears. With the last of his strength, Daniel caught the alien's arm in a death-like grip. "You will tell me what is happening to me," even as terror at the rapid breakdown of his mind gripped him.

***

Jack had taken point on the last leg of their trek up into the jungle. Around them the dense foliage could have hidden an army of Jaffa without a problem. They were all edgy; anticipation and anxiety were not good companions on any mission, especially one into territory none of them were familiar with.

"O'Neill!"

Teal'c's sudden shout stopped them in their tracks. Returning to where the Jaffa had been bringing up the rear, they all looked at the signs of an abandoned camp that he had spotted. An altar stood a little way back from the track and beyond that the blackened remains of a small fire, and indications of at least two persons having been there.

"How long?"

"Four or five days, maybe. Animals have been here, destroying the evidence. I can not be more precise."

"Anything that would indicate Daniel had been here?" Carter unknowingly echoed Jack's thoughts.

"Nothing."

They moved on, more alert now. Scanning the area from both sides. The emissions had been pinpointed to a few square miles before they had suddenly stopped. And a few square miles in this sort of terrain meant a possibly long search.

Sunlight burst in upon them as they turned a tight corner in the track and found themselves just a few hundred yards away from what had once been an imposing gateway set in massive walls. The signs of recent destruction was evident in the freshly blasted walls, the untempered stone that lay belly up in every direction. Slightly off the trail Teal'c found the remains of a camp buried under rubble that had been blown with great force from the temple remains.

Once tidy packs had been split asunder, spilling clothes and personal belongings across the ground. Daniel's wooden box had been blown clear, though the delicate instruments now littered the area. They searched quickly and thoroughly, uppermost in their minds the thought of Daniel and his companion buried beneath one of the massive blocks, bleeding to death or maybe beyond their help.

They found nothing more until Sam, edging her way around the largest fragment came to a halt, her eyes glued to her find. There, with one lens fractured, lay Daniel's glasses. She felt a lump in her throat, and had to take more than one deep breath before she could trust her voice to call the others over. Jack stared at the broken spectacles for a moment, then bent down, retrieved them and tucked them into his breast pocket.

"Let's try inside the temple. We know he was here, we know he wasn't alone. Let's move."

Inside the temple the devastation was even worse as though it had taken the full force of whatever destructive device had done the damage. The epicentre of the fallout was in the centre of the compound.

"I guess this is where the altar would have been. This place is laid out exactly as the temple on P39 555…" Carter's words were halted as she and O'Neill watched Teal'c's sudden jog forward into the ruined altar. He bent and retrieved something from the ground then made his way slowly toward them.

Holding out his hand, Teal'c revealed the broken pieces of the stone that his father had bequeathed to him and which in turn he had presented to Daniel Jackson. Shattered pieces, all sharp edges and broken design lay on his large palm. But inside the fragments lay tiny pieces of wire and circuit that had been secreted within its depths, unknown to any of them.

"This is the stone I gave to Daniel Jackson."

"What the… Carter?"

"It's a trigger of some sort, Colonel. One half of a connection. You can just see the electrodes here, and here."

"But what does it do?"

Sam let her gaze fall on the massive destruction all around them, a bleak look in her eyes. "Perhaps we should search here, sir."

***