A/N: Hey everyone! Here's part 10.. it's unbeta'd, sorry, but I'm
impatient! And sorry you had to wait for it!
Chapter Ten
Cal'ma watched silently as the Tau'ri entered the throne room, their eyes gazing defiantly up at Nut. She shivered; she would never show such disrespect. Never.
"You have decided." The statement was not a question, and Cal'ma knew that Nut was correct. Nut was always correct. Nut was a goddess; she knew everything.
"Yeah. Heard of a place called Abydos?" the male asked casually.
Nut's eyes flared golden as she stared down at the Tau'ri. Cal'ma shook with fear; Nut was angered.
"You wish to go to a place of Ra?"
"Not Ra's," the male countered calmly, but Cal'ma could see tenseness in his body.
"Betray me, Tau'ri, and you and your mate will surely die."
The Tau'ri looked at one another, their eyes communicating silently. "You said you'd release us on any planet. We choose Abydos."
"The people are a primitive people, Tau'ri," Nut argued. "They would not help you locate Geb."
The Tau'ri hesitated. "That's because we need to find someone who will help us find Geb. See, we don't even know who Geb is."
They were the wrong words to state, Cal'ma knew with certainty as anger flared again in Nut's golden eyes.
"Geb is our beloved!" the Queen hissed, rising to her feet and heading steadily towards the Tau'ri. "Imprisoned because of jealousness and fear. Ra was a coward!"
"Yeah, we know that," the Tau'ri agreed. "But we want to get off on Abydos."
A smile touched the corner's of Nut's lips. "You do not wish for me to accompany you to your home planet," she smiled victoriously. "Very well. Remember, Tau'ri, that if you betray me I will kill not only you and your mate, but I will destroy your world."
Her eyes flashing again, Nut returned to her throne. "Cal'ma, return the Tau'ri to their chambers. We will travel towards Abydos now."
~o0o~
"Where do you suggest we start?" General Carter asked, studying the sheets of paper in his hands.
"Doesn't Selmak recognise any of these planets as being owned by Ra?"
There are many here. To search them all for a sign would take many years, Selmak explained gently.
"Which ones did Ra have a lot to do with?"
Abydos. Yomia. Cal'eka. Sho'pa'ma-
"Okay!" Daniel frowned. "Maybe we should go to Abydos. There was a cartouche there where we found all our Stargate addresses, and I know that lots of the walls there have stories about Ra and the other Goa'uld. There might be something there."
Jacob and Teal'c nodded in agreement.
"So Abydos it is," Jacob agreed, standing up. "I'll go tell the High Council while you get your gear. We leave in ten minutes."
~o0o~
They were silent in their room as the ship sped towards Abydos.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Sam asked eventually, her eyes focused on the far wall.
"No. But I can't think of anything better to do."
Sam sighed again, her chest heaving as she drew in a deep breath and released it. "I don't want to leave you, Sir," she whispered at least, resting her chin on her knees and staring down at her bare feet.
She felt the bed move as he sat down next to her, but he didn't touch her. And she found herself wishing her would, so that she would have an excuse to burst into tears and hold onto him.
But she couldn't do that, because she was Major Carter, and Major Carter was a strong, independent woman who never let anything faze or beat her. She jutted her jaw out stubbornly.
"I guess that's my cue to say something make you feel better, huh?"
A smile tugged at her lips.
"This shouldn't have happened, Carter. They should never have caught us."
She sighed and looked up again, leaning back against the pillows. "If only the C4 hadn't caused a rockslide."
"If only there weren't Goa'uld," he sighed pessimistically.
"But there are," she agreed softly. "Sir, do you ever feel like it's too much?"
"What, saving the world?" he glanced at her, and she nodded her head quickly. "Sure it gets old saving it every weekend, but if we don't do it, who will?"
She nodded in agreement, a dry smile pulling at her lips. "Bet you never thought you'd be saving the planet on a regular basis when you were kid," she grinned.
"I always knew I hated snakes though," he returned dryly.
"What are you going to do when we get back home?" Sam asked after the silence grew too thick.
"Have a beer and put on some real clothes," he answered promptly. "You?"
"Go for a run. Then I'll have a beer."
"What about real clothes, or do you like what you're wearing now?" he grinned at her.
Sam blushed as she wriggled uncomfortably on the bed. "I'm putting them on before I leave the base," she stated pointedly.
He grinned again, lying down next to her. "Better not let Dad catch you running around like that."
She rolled her eyes, unable to keep the grin from her face. "I'd rather face the Goa'uld anytime," she agreed jokingly.
"Looks like you've got your wish," the Colonel said softly as the chamber door slid open again, revealing Cal'ma and her usual escort.
"Come," the Jaffa ordered.
"Now why did I know you were going to say that?" O'Neill rolled his eyes before grabbing Sam's hand and helping her off the bed. He didn't let go as they briskly followed the Jaffa down the now familiar path to the throne room.
~o0o~
The light crept over the hills slowly.
Anhur did not stir, deciding instead to preserve as much of his warmth as possible until the sun was warm enough to remove the chill from his aching bones.
Anhur was cold and tired. He had not eaten for a long time, and without the sarcophagus he was growing weaker and thinner, the flesh seeming to disappear from his bones.
He would need nourishment. Soon.
But first he would find Geb.
Warmth spread through him as thoughts about his approaching victory grew closer. First he would find Geb, succeeding where Nut had failed. Geb knew things Nut did not know. And what Geb did not know, he knew where to find.
A smile twisted his lips into a contorted grimace as he huddled in his tattered cloak. The wondrous cloak Ra had awarded him as champion was torn and jagged, long rips rent into it after decades of searching for Nut, followed by centuries of imprisonment.
Once Anhur had Geb, he would lure Nut.
Then he would find Ra, and reclaim his position as Champion.
The air grew warmer and gentle wisps of steam rose from the cold, damp earth. Anhur shivered. Soon, soon he would rise and read the symbols on the rock.
Then he would find Geb.
~o0o~
The sun burning down on them was hot and dry. Daniel looked across at Teal'c and Jacob enviously; both seemed comfortable in the arid conditions.
"Are we going to see Kasuf?" Daniel asked, breathing heavily as he unfastened his canteen.
"How far away from the village is the cartouche?"
"Not far."
"I don't see any reason why not," Jacob shrugged. "Would they know anything about the cartouche at all?"
"No. Most of them can't read anyway. Ra outlawed reading after the rebellion on Earth, but a few still passed the knowledge down."
They stopped on a sand dune and gazed down at the village spread out before them. Something hurt and twisted inside Daniel as he gazed down on what had been his home. One day, when he found Sha're again and got the snake out of her, then he'd come home again. Then he would be able to stand on these dunes and gaze down at the people he loved, and call them his own.
Until then. Until then he had to fight. And to do that he needed Sam and Jack back.
Shouldering his pack, he forged the way down the dune. Jacob and Teal'c let him lead. They both recognised that this was his home, and his territory.
"They've seen us," Daniel grunted as the sand gave way beneath his feet and fought for his balance as they travelled down towards the high walls.
They continued down as a line of Abydonians poured from the gates and started up the hill. They were still too far for Daniel to clearly make out, but his heart rate increased in anticipation and his steps became quicker.
"Dan'yel! Dan'yel!" the voices floated over the sand towards him, and a grin broke out onto his features as familiar faces became more defined.
"Shel'ne!" he cried the greeting out excitedly, trying to run through the sand. He had a brief glimpse of a smile on Jacob Carter's face as he turned to check that his companions were following, but a second later he was enveloped in a sea of warm bodies all hugging and trying to get close to him.
"Dan'yel." The one voice stood out calmly from the crowd, and almost instantly the Abydonians seemed to fall back, leaving room for Kasuf. "You have returned."
"Yes, Good Father. I have brought friends, and we seed your assistance."
Kasuf's face turned to Teal'c before nodding welcome. His eyes stayed focused on Jacob Carter. "Who is this?"
"This is Jacob Carter, Good Father. Major Carter's father."
"Where is Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill?" Kasuf questioned curiously.
"That is why we need your help, Good Father. A Goa'uld - a demon - has captured them, and we need to see the wall of writing to find them."
Kasuf eyed them steadily, his eyes travelling over their clothes. "You have not found Sha're."
"I need them to help me find Sha're," Daniel explained, swallowing roughly. It would do no good to cry, but being here with Sha're's family and on their homeworld. His memories of her were so strong suddenly.
"Come, we will go with you."
Grinning widely at Jacob and Teal'c, Daniel fell into step next to Kasuf.
*
Kasuf and his people were silent, watching Dan'yel and his friends as they scoured the walls for something. He watched with fascination as their fingers and eyes slid over to old writings, lips moving silently as they spoke to themselves the words that had been written for centuries.
"Found something!" Dan'yel announced, his eyes bright with hope.
Kasuf watched as the old man - Carter's father - immediately turned to Dan'yel. Dan'yel treated this man with respect and affection even, a familiarity born of friendship. But Kasuf felt ill at ease with the stranger. There was something different about the man, as though he knew things.
"Shu," the old man frowned. "The god of air that separated Nut and Geb."
"So Ra himself didn't separate them?"
"No, Shu separated them on Ra's orders. It was Shu's forces the first time that defeated them."
"Where is Shu now?"
"Around somewhere. He fell out of sight around the same time you and Jack destroyed Ra."
"Well, this is to do with Shu separating them."
"On Ra's world Sho'pa'ma Shu was granted status as a ruler."
"Sho'pa'ma?"
"It's deserted now, as far as I can tell. When Geb attacked Ra just before he was captured, he wiped out Shu's domain as an act of revenge."
"Would there be something there?" Dan'yel frowned.
"I don't know," Carter's father admitted, his eyes skimming the text.
"Among Jaffa it is legend that Sho'pa'ma was the place of a great battle between Shu and Geb. Both gods fought hard, but in the Geb vanquished Shu and destroyed his world. Ra was greatly angered by the display of disrespect and rebellion shown by Geb, and so imprisoned Geb within Shu's Might."
"Within Shu's Might?" Dan'yel frowned, glancing at Teal'c. "Why didn't you say something earlier, Teal'c?"
"It is a legend, Daniel Jackson. Shu was defeated, what might did he have left?"
"Couldn't this be something like Thor's Hall of Might?" Dan'yel asked thoughtfully.
"You mean like a temple or a place where Shu had a lot of power?" the old man asked slowly.
Dan'yel sighed. "The cartouche hasn't helped, has it?"
"Maybe we should search for a mention of Shu's Might," Teal'c suggested calmly.
"Okay, let's look for that then," Dan'yel agreed.
Kasuf remained silent, watching as the three travellers once again turned to the wall.
"Cal'lela! Kasuf, Ma'an la sah ka'mah!"
Dan'yel turned sharply to face the boy who had come running in. "Who is it?"
The boy shrugged, and Kasuf felt fear traverse through him. Another unknown god to was bearing down upon them.
"We must leave, Dan'yel," Kasuf warned, turning to follow the boy out of the room. Dan'yel and his friends had been warned. Whether they heeded the warning and followed was up to them, Kasuf could not care for them as well as his people.
"Let's go," Dan'yel agreed, turning to the others. "Maybe we can do something to help."
Emerging into the bright sunlight, Kasuf shaded his eyes and looked into the distance. The pyramid was hidden from view this far away, but Kasuf knew that the ship would be perched over it like a hungry locust that plagued the fields.
"To the village," he ordered, running along with the people who had accompanied him and Dan'yel.
The village was full of panic, people running around, gathering their belongings. Many times before the gods had come, and with them they always brought death and destruction. Kasuf hated the gods; they were arrogant and thought of none but themselves. Whether his people died or lived, they did not care.
The boy, Sha're's child that was not Dan'yel's child was his main concern. Leaving the other villagers he ran towards Amika's abode, ready to take her to safety along with his grandson.
"Good Father!" Dan'yel grabbed hold of his sleeve.
Kasuf did not stop running, but he slowed and looked at Dan'yel. There was fear in Dan'yel's eyes, but hope also. Kasuf did not understand Dan'yel.
"Where are you going?" Dan'yel demanded.
"To my grandson," Kasuf answered.
"You can't let the Goa'uld find him, Good Father."
"I know this!" Kasuf was not stupid. Never would he let the demons take his grandson.
"If you go to him and they look for you, they'll find him!" Dan'yel gasped.
Kasuf stopped, realising the truth of his son-in-law's words.
"What do I do then?"
"Send one of the boys to the woman looking after him. Tell them to hide in the caves where we hid from Ra."
Kasuf nodded, barking out an order before spinning and heading towards the defence towers. "Come," he called to Dan'yel and his friends. They could help defend the village if need be, but hopefully the demon would leave without attacking.
~o0o~
The robes he was wearing were hot. No, actually, hot just didn't cover it. He was sweltering, and the material was sticking to him in the worst possible places imaginable.
Jack grunted in annoyance as the sand chafed at his sweaty toes through the leather sandals and the sun beat down on his head. What he wouldn't give right now for his boots and cap.
He glanced backwards once; the ominous ship was still perched on the pyramid where it had been perched since dropping him off. He sincerely hoped that Nut wouldn't stay there, that she'd go off on a little side trip and come pick him up in a few days when he had completed his business. Business that included getting both him and Carter some real clothes and shoes.
By the time he crested the hill that allowed him a glimpse of the village ahead, the sweat had collected on his face in sticky pearls and was dripping into his eyes and down his chin. Relief washed over him as he started the downhill trek to the gates, and he allowed himself to close his eyes as he walked; it wasn't like there was going to be anything in front of him anyway for him to walk into.
Trudging on with his eyes firmly closed against the glare of the sun, Jack's thoughts centred on Carter.
Carter, who he'd just left on board the ship because Nut had insisted that it was him who would find Geb.
Carter, who'd almost died and was now alive and connected to him in one weird, completely unnatural way which he didn't even want to think about.
Carter, who was wearing that really sexy gown with a hole in the middle that just-
He stopped and his eyes flicked open.
"Oh crap!" he stepped backwards without thinking, holding his hands up in the universal 'I come in peace' sign, gazing warily at the arrows and spears pointed towards him with deadly accuracy.
"Jack?" An eerily familiar voice broke the silence that fell.
"Daniel?"
"Is that you?"
"Unless you're talking to someone else."
"Where's Sam?" Okay, now that voice he recognised.
"Dad?"
"Where's Sam, Jack, and what the hell are you wearing?"
He allowed his eyes to rest on their faces for long seconds, before breaking into a grin of relief. Suddenly he found himself enveloped in Daniel's arms.
"We thought we'd never see you again!" Daniel let him go quickly, stepping back with a slightly stunned look plastered across his pale face.
"You're not that lucky," Jack cracked wearily, tiredness seeping through his bones.
"Where is Sam, Jack?"
"Still on board."
"On board what?"
"Nut's ship."
"It was Nut!" Daniel announced with satisfaction.
"Uh. yeah."
"So?" Jacob waited impatiently.
"So what?" Jack frowned, trying to ignore the little coloured spots swimming across his vision. Why did he feel so damn tired?
"What happened?"
"She caught us."
"We know that already!" Daniel exclaimed impatiently.
"She's still got Carter," Jack added tiredly.
"Jack, are you okay?" Daniel's voice sounded strange.
He looked over at the sea of swimming faces before him, watching as they all blurred together oddly. "Actually I'm not okay."
The sand was hard as he fell against it, but everything turned to darkness and he felt nothing.
~o0o~
Thanks for the reviews, feedback etc!
Hugs sharim
Chapter Ten
Cal'ma watched silently as the Tau'ri entered the throne room, their eyes gazing defiantly up at Nut. She shivered; she would never show such disrespect. Never.
"You have decided." The statement was not a question, and Cal'ma knew that Nut was correct. Nut was always correct. Nut was a goddess; she knew everything.
"Yeah. Heard of a place called Abydos?" the male asked casually.
Nut's eyes flared golden as she stared down at the Tau'ri. Cal'ma shook with fear; Nut was angered.
"You wish to go to a place of Ra?"
"Not Ra's," the male countered calmly, but Cal'ma could see tenseness in his body.
"Betray me, Tau'ri, and you and your mate will surely die."
The Tau'ri looked at one another, their eyes communicating silently. "You said you'd release us on any planet. We choose Abydos."
"The people are a primitive people, Tau'ri," Nut argued. "They would not help you locate Geb."
The Tau'ri hesitated. "That's because we need to find someone who will help us find Geb. See, we don't even know who Geb is."
They were the wrong words to state, Cal'ma knew with certainty as anger flared again in Nut's golden eyes.
"Geb is our beloved!" the Queen hissed, rising to her feet and heading steadily towards the Tau'ri. "Imprisoned because of jealousness and fear. Ra was a coward!"
"Yeah, we know that," the Tau'ri agreed. "But we want to get off on Abydos."
A smile touched the corner's of Nut's lips. "You do not wish for me to accompany you to your home planet," she smiled victoriously. "Very well. Remember, Tau'ri, that if you betray me I will kill not only you and your mate, but I will destroy your world."
Her eyes flashing again, Nut returned to her throne. "Cal'ma, return the Tau'ri to their chambers. We will travel towards Abydos now."
~o0o~
"Where do you suggest we start?" General Carter asked, studying the sheets of paper in his hands.
"Doesn't Selmak recognise any of these planets as being owned by Ra?"
There are many here. To search them all for a sign would take many years, Selmak explained gently.
"Which ones did Ra have a lot to do with?"
Abydos. Yomia. Cal'eka. Sho'pa'ma-
"Okay!" Daniel frowned. "Maybe we should go to Abydos. There was a cartouche there where we found all our Stargate addresses, and I know that lots of the walls there have stories about Ra and the other Goa'uld. There might be something there."
Jacob and Teal'c nodded in agreement.
"So Abydos it is," Jacob agreed, standing up. "I'll go tell the High Council while you get your gear. We leave in ten minutes."
~o0o~
They were silent in their room as the ship sped towards Abydos.
"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Sam asked eventually, her eyes focused on the far wall.
"No. But I can't think of anything better to do."
Sam sighed again, her chest heaving as she drew in a deep breath and released it. "I don't want to leave you, Sir," she whispered at least, resting her chin on her knees and staring down at her bare feet.
She felt the bed move as he sat down next to her, but he didn't touch her. And she found herself wishing her would, so that she would have an excuse to burst into tears and hold onto him.
But she couldn't do that, because she was Major Carter, and Major Carter was a strong, independent woman who never let anything faze or beat her. She jutted her jaw out stubbornly.
"I guess that's my cue to say something make you feel better, huh?"
A smile tugged at her lips.
"This shouldn't have happened, Carter. They should never have caught us."
She sighed and looked up again, leaning back against the pillows. "If only the C4 hadn't caused a rockslide."
"If only there weren't Goa'uld," he sighed pessimistically.
"But there are," she agreed softly. "Sir, do you ever feel like it's too much?"
"What, saving the world?" he glanced at her, and she nodded her head quickly. "Sure it gets old saving it every weekend, but if we don't do it, who will?"
She nodded in agreement, a dry smile pulling at her lips. "Bet you never thought you'd be saving the planet on a regular basis when you were kid," she grinned.
"I always knew I hated snakes though," he returned dryly.
"What are you going to do when we get back home?" Sam asked after the silence grew too thick.
"Have a beer and put on some real clothes," he answered promptly. "You?"
"Go for a run. Then I'll have a beer."
"What about real clothes, or do you like what you're wearing now?" he grinned at her.
Sam blushed as she wriggled uncomfortably on the bed. "I'm putting them on before I leave the base," she stated pointedly.
He grinned again, lying down next to her. "Better not let Dad catch you running around like that."
She rolled her eyes, unable to keep the grin from her face. "I'd rather face the Goa'uld anytime," she agreed jokingly.
"Looks like you've got your wish," the Colonel said softly as the chamber door slid open again, revealing Cal'ma and her usual escort.
"Come," the Jaffa ordered.
"Now why did I know you were going to say that?" O'Neill rolled his eyes before grabbing Sam's hand and helping her off the bed. He didn't let go as they briskly followed the Jaffa down the now familiar path to the throne room.
~o0o~
The light crept over the hills slowly.
Anhur did not stir, deciding instead to preserve as much of his warmth as possible until the sun was warm enough to remove the chill from his aching bones.
Anhur was cold and tired. He had not eaten for a long time, and without the sarcophagus he was growing weaker and thinner, the flesh seeming to disappear from his bones.
He would need nourishment. Soon.
But first he would find Geb.
Warmth spread through him as thoughts about his approaching victory grew closer. First he would find Geb, succeeding where Nut had failed. Geb knew things Nut did not know. And what Geb did not know, he knew where to find.
A smile twisted his lips into a contorted grimace as he huddled in his tattered cloak. The wondrous cloak Ra had awarded him as champion was torn and jagged, long rips rent into it after decades of searching for Nut, followed by centuries of imprisonment.
Once Anhur had Geb, he would lure Nut.
Then he would find Ra, and reclaim his position as Champion.
The air grew warmer and gentle wisps of steam rose from the cold, damp earth. Anhur shivered. Soon, soon he would rise and read the symbols on the rock.
Then he would find Geb.
~o0o~
The sun burning down on them was hot and dry. Daniel looked across at Teal'c and Jacob enviously; both seemed comfortable in the arid conditions.
"Are we going to see Kasuf?" Daniel asked, breathing heavily as he unfastened his canteen.
"How far away from the village is the cartouche?"
"Not far."
"I don't see any reason why not," Jacob shrugged. "Would they know anything about the cartouche at all?"
"No. Most of them can't read anyway. Ra outlawed reading after the rebellion on Earth, but a few still passed the knowledge down."
They stopped on a sand dune and gazed down at the village spread out before them. Something hurt and twisted inside Daniel as he gazed down on what had been his home. One day, when he found Sha're again and got the snake out of her, then he'd come home again. Then he would be able to stand on these dunes and gaze down at the people he loved, and call them his own.
Until then. Until then he had to fight. And to do that he needed Sam and Jack back.
Shouldering his pack, he forged the way down the dune. Jacob and Teal'c let him lead. They both recognised that this was his home, and his territory.
"They've seen us," Daniel grunted as the sand gave way beneath his feet and fought for his balance as they travelled down towards the high walls.
They continued down as a line of Abydonians poured from the gates and started up the hill. They were still too far for Daniel to clearly make out, but his heart rate increased in anticipation and his steps became quicker.
"Dan'yel! Dan'yel!" the voices floated over the sand towards him, and a grin broke out onto his features as familiar faces became more defined.
"Shel'ne!" he cried the greeting out excitedly, trying to run through the sand. He had a brief glimpse of a smile on Jacob Carter's face as he turned to check that his companions were following, but a second later he was enveloped in a sea of warm bodies all hugging and trying to get close to him.
"Dan'yel." The one voice stood out calmly from the crowd, and almost instantly the Abydonians seemed to fall back, leaving room for Kasuf. "You have returned."
"Yes, Good Father. I have brought friends, and we seed your assistance."
Kasuf's face turned to Teal'c before nodding welcome. His eyes stayed focused on Jacob Carter. "Who is this?"
"This is Jacob Carter, Good Father. Major Carter's father."
"Where is Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill?" Kasuf questioned curiously.
"That is why we need your help, Good Father. A Goa'uld - a demon - has captured them, and we need to see the wall of writing to find them."
Kasuf eyed them steadily, his eyes travelling over their clothes. "You have not found Sha're."
"I need them to help me find Sha're," Daniel explained, swallowing roughly. It would do no good to cry, but being here with Sha're's family and on their homeworld. His memories of her were so strong suddenly.
"Come, we will go with you."
Grinning widely at Jacob and Teal'c, Daniel fell into step next to Kasuf.
*
Kasuf and his people were silent, watching Dan'yel and his friends as they scoured the walls for something. He watched with fascination as their fingers and eyes slid over to old writings, lips moving silently as they spoke to themselves the words that had been written for centuries.
"Found something!" Dan'yel announced, his eyes bright with hope.
Kasuf watched as the old man - Carter's father - immediately turned to Dan'yel. Dan'yel treated this man with respect and affection even, a familiarity born of friendship. But Kasuf felt ill at ease with the stranger. There was something different about the man, as though he knew things.
"Shu," the old man frowned. "The god of air that separated Nut and Geb."
"So Ra himself didn't separate them?"
"No, Shu separated them on Ra's orders. It was Shu's forces the first time that defeated them."
"Where is Shu now?"
"Around somewhere. He fell out of sight around the same time you and Jack destroyed Ra."
"Well, this is to do with Shu separating them."
"On Ra's world Sho'pa'ma Shu was granted status as a ruler."
"Sho'pa'ma?"
"It's deserted now, as far as I can tell. When Geb attacked Ra just before he was captured, he wiped out Shu's domain as an act of revenge."
"Would there be something there?" Dan'yel frowned.
"I don't know," Carter's father admitted, his eyes skimming the text.
"Among Jaffa it is legend that Sho'pa'ma was the place of a great battle between Shu and Geb. Both gods fought hard, but in the Geb vanquished Shu and destroyed his world. Ra was greatly angered by the display of disrespect and rebellion shown by Geb, and so imprisoned Geb within Shu's Might."
"Within Shu's Might?" Dan'yel frowned, glancing at Teal'c. "Why didn't you say something earlier, Teal'c?"
"It is a legend, Daniel Jackson. Shu was defeated, what might did he have left?"
"Couldn't this be something like Thor's Hall of Might?" Dan'yel asked thoughtfully.
"You mean like a temple or a place where Shu had a lot of power?" the old man asked slowly.
Dan'yel sighed. "The cartouche hasn't helped, has it?"
"Maybe we should search for a mention of Shu's Might," Teal'c suggested calmly.
"Okay, let's look for that then," Dan'yel agreed.
Kasuf remained silent, watching as the three travellers once again turned to the wall.
"Cal'lela! Kasuf, Ma'an la sah ka'mah!"
Dan'yel turned sharply to face the boy who had come running in. "Who is it?"
The boy shrugged, and Kasuf felt fear traverse through him. Another unknown god to was bearing down upon them.
"We must leave, Dan'yel," Kasuf warned, turning to follow the boy out of the room. Dan'yel and his friends had been warned. Whether they heeded the warning and followed was up to them, Kasuf could not care for them as well as his people.
"Let's go," Dan'yel agreed, turning to the others. "Maybe we can do something to help."
Emerging into the bright sunlight, Kasuf shaded his eyes and looked into the distance. The pyramid was hidden from view this far away, but Kasuf knew that the ship would be perched over it like a hungry locust that plagued the fields.
"To the village," he ordered, running along with the people who had accompanied him and Dan'yel.
The village was full of panic, people running around, gathering their belongings. Many times before the gods had come, and with them they always brought death and destruction. Kasuf hated the gods; they were arrogant and thought of none but themselves. Whether his people died or lived, they did not care.
The boy, Sha're's child that was not Dan'yel's child was his main concern. Leaving the other villagers he ran towards Amika's abode, ready to take her to safety along with his grandson.
"Good Father!" Dan'yel grabbed hold of his sleeve.
Kasuf did not stop running, but he slowed and looked at Dan'yel. There was fear in Dan'yel's eyes, but hope also. Kasuf did not understand Dan'yel.
"Where are you going?" Dan'yel demanded.
"To my grandson," Kasuf answered.
"You can't let the Goa'uld find him, Good Father."
"I know this!" Kasuf was not stupid. Never would he let the demons take his grandson.
"If you go to him and they look for you, they'll find him!" Dan'yel gasped.
Kasuf stopped, realising the truth of his son-in-law's words.
"What do I do then?"
"Send one of the boys to the woman looking after him. Tell them to hide in the caves where we hid from Ra."
Kasuf nodded, barking out an order before spinning and heading towards the defence towers. "Come," he called to Dan'yel and his friends. They could help defend the village if need be, but hopefully the demon would leave without attacking.
~o0o~
The robes he was wearing were hot. No, actually, hot just didn't cover it. He was sweltering, and the material was sticking to him in the worst possible places imaginable.
Jack grunted in annoyance as the sand chafed at his sweaty toes through the leather sandals and the sun beat down on his head. What he wouldn't give right now for his boots and cap.
He glanced backwards once; the ominous ship was still perched on the pyramid where it had been perched since dropping him off. He sincerely hoped that Nut wouldn't stay there, that she'd go off on a little side trip and come pick him up in a few days when he had completed his business. Business that included getting both him and Carter some real clothes and shoes.
By the time he crested the hill that allowed him a glimpse of the village ahead, the sweat had collected on his face in sticky pearls and was dripping into his eyes and down his chin. Relief washed over him as he started the downhill trek to the gates, and he allowed himself to close his eyes as he walked; it wasn't like there was going to be anything in front of him anyway for him to walk into.
Trudging on with his eyes firmly closed against the glare of the sun, Jack's thoughts centred on Carter.
Carter, who he'd just left on board the ship because Nut had insisted that it was him who would find Geb.
Carter, who'd almost died and was now alive and connected to him in one weird, completely unnatural way which he didn't even want to think about.
Carter, who was wearing that really sexy gown with a hole in the middle that just-
He stopped and his eyes flicked open.
"Oh crap!" he stepped backwards without thinking, holding his hands up in the universal 'I come in peace' sign, gazing warily at the arrows and spears pointed towards him with deadly accuracy.
"Jack?" An eerily familiar voice broke the silence that fell.
"Daniel?"
"Is that you?"
"Unless you're talking to someone else."
"Where's Sam?" Okay, now that voice he recognised.
"Dad?"
"Where's Sam, Jack, and what the hell are you wearing?"
He allowed his eyes to rest on their faces for long seconds, before breaking into a grin of relief. Suddenly he found himself enveloped in Daniel's arms.
"We thought we'd never see you again!" Daniel let him go quickly, stepping back with a slightly stunned look plastered across his pale face.
"You're not that lucky," Jack cracked wearily, tiredness seeping through his bones.
"Where is Sam, Jack?"
"Still on board."
"On board what?"
"Nut's ship."
"It was Nut!" Daniel announced with satisfaction.
"Uh. yeah."
"So?" Jacob waited impatiently.
"So what?" Jack frowned, trying to ignore the little coloured spots swimming across his vision. Why did he feel so damn tired?
"What happened?"
"She caught us."
"We know that already!" Daniel exclaimed impatiently.
"She's still got Carter," Jack added tiredly.
"Jack, are you okay?" Daniel's voice sounded strange.
He looked over at the sea of swimming faces before him, watching as they all blurred together oddly. "Actually I'm not okay."
The sand was hard as he fell against it, but everything turned to darkness and he felt nothing.
~o0o~
Thanks for the reviews, feedback etc!
Hugs sharim