*-*
As SG1 boarded the ship via the ring transporter, alarms sounded.
"Daniel...are you sure about this?"
"Jack...I can call for Cleo or Orlin at any time. They will bring the other three. We just need to get close enough to Anubis...but we need to make it look as though we didn't get captured intentionally."
"Crap...I hate this." Jack indicated for the others to spread out and move out of the chamber. They had no sooner entered the corridor, when Jaffa came at them from all directions. The ensuing battle of gunfire and zats, made it difficult for Jack to keep track of his team. Gradually they moved along the corridor, heading for the Pel'tak. Jack noticed Daniel duck behind a hallway, whilst he was firing at the Jaffa. He craned his neck to see what was going on and noticed that Sam was down.
He covered himself and moved over to Daniel's side.
"Cleo!" Daniel whispered. Jack looked down at Sam. "Jack...she's not breathing!"
"Cleo dammit!" Jack shouted. He felt the soft breeze and turned to see Cleo. Without saying a word, she noticed Sam and knelt by her side. Placing one hand on her forehead and one hand on her chest, Cleo closed her eyes and concentrated on bringing her back.
"Jack...?" Daniel turned to him and he saw he tears in the younger man's eyes.
"It's ok Daniel...she'll be..." He trailed off as he heard Sam take a deep, gasping breath. "Sam?"
Cleo shot a look at Daniel and disappeared. He heard her voice as clear as if she were standing next to him. 'I can't stay...I will keep watch.' He found himself smiling. 'Cleo...no matter what happens...I will never forget.' He prayed that she heard him and helped Sam to her feet.
They moved back out into the corridor. "Teal'c...where's Jonas?"
"He has been captured O'Neill."
"Great...one down...four to go." They moved further down the corridor...noticing that the resistance seemed to have diminished. They found the door to the Pel'tak and upon entering, came face to face with several Jaffa, heavily armed and Jonas. SG1 were promptly disarmed and flung to the floor beside him.
"Rats...trap. Hate it when that happens." Jack muttered under his breath. He looked up at the Jaffa stood in front of him. "So...Harrak wasn't it...still with the big bad Goa'uld then I see."
"O'Neill...SG1. I see Dr Jackson is back amongst you. Interesting. Lord Anubis will be pleased."
"Oh I'm sure he will. Any chance of him making an appearance today...we got a busy schedule to keep...you know how it is." Jack started the snake-baiting, willing the others to join in. But they just kept quiet.
"Silence." Harrak walked up and down the line of prisoners. "Lord Anubis may have let you go the last time you met, but be assured, he will not make the same mistake again."
"Yeah...yeah! Like I've never heard that one before." Jack smiled bitterly at him. "You know...this is getting very boring...you capture us...you threaten us...big bad Goa'uld threatens us...and you know that you're not going to win! What say we cut to the chase and just end this the easy way with your surrender!"
Jack received a slap across the face from Harrak. "You will not be so cocky when Lord Anubis arrives...of that you can be sure!"
*-*
"Cleo...what is happening?"
"I don't know Orlin. The Others...their signs are sporadic...it's like there is no order anymore...can you feel it?"
"Yes...something is not right."
Cleo and Orlin hovered above the Pel'tak out of view from the members of SG1. They were keeping a close eye on the developments, ready to get the others when the time was right.
"Did you hear that?" Cleo turned to Orlin and saw the fear in his eyes. He nodded. He watched as she was pulled away and disappeared from sight.
Below, Harrak ordered the Jaffa to take the prisoners to a containment area. Once there, and once he had made sure all the guards were gone, he appeared in the cell.
"Samantha...something is wrong. Cleo has been taken...I cannot sense her anymore."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I knew something like this was going to happen."
"What do you mean gone?"
"He means gone as in 'poof' Carter!"
Orlin heard the guards returning and left. SG1 was unceremoniously dragged out of the cell and taken back to the Pel'tak. They were all flung on the floor infront of Anubis.
"So Daniel Jackson...we meet again. And I see you have brought your friends with you as an amusement. I thank you."
"He's not afraid of you!" Jack retorted.
"Really...even when you had powers, when you were among the Ancients, you could not stop me. Now you are back in your human form, you are even more powerless...how does that feel?"
"Listen...the game's up...the Ancients are onto you and they are going to finish you once and for all!" Sam stepped in before Jack could reply.
Anubis turned at the sound of Sam's voice. "Interesting...however, I think you will find, they will not get far."
A bright, white light hovered over them and descended to the ground. A human form began to take shape, and once it was fully formed, Daniel let out a groan.
"You see, Tau'ri, I have the elders on my side...no one can stop me!"
There was a sudden blue flash. All the jaffa fell to the floor around the team members. The Elder looked around stunned as Anubis fell back onto his chair.
"You are mistaken...the Elder you hold so dear...is a fraud." Her voice echoed around the chamber as she came to stand infront of the Goa'uld. "Davish...your powers have been revoked..." He tried to use his powers to destroy Cleo, but the energy just bounced off her. He tried to direct his anger and powers towards the members of SG1, but she had encased them in a protective force field. "...you have no place here...your time is up."
Daniel watched as a fire ball glowed in her hand and she aimed it towards Davish. His hands went up infront of his face as she fired it and in that second he was gone.
"Anubis...you are hereby sentenced to become descended...you will be tried by the High Court for your actions and they will decide your punishment..." She called to Orlin to bring the others. Anubis watched as Lya, Thor and the Furling appeared beside her, "...or you can deal with us!"
"I bow down to no one!"
Cleo smiled. "As you wish!" The four of them circled Anubis and with a blinding flash of light he was gone. As SG1 grew accustomed to the light, they noticed that someone was missing from the picture.
"Cleo?" Daniel whispered.
"She is gone Daniel...it was her fight...it was her sacrifice to make...she knew the cost...and she made the choice. I am sorry!" Orlin walked over to Sam and hugged her. Sam drew back as she realized he was solid. "I am descended now...the price for my part in this battle."
Jack looked over to Daniel, his head was in his hands and Jack knew he was battering himself for yet another senseless loss. Too many times Daniel had been through this...Jack wasn't sure how much more he could take. The team beamed back onto Thor's vessel, and headed back to Earth orbit. Sam and Orlin spent most of the ride talking. Teal'c and Jonas sat quietly at the edge of the room. Daniel stood staring out of the window and wouldn't even talk to him. Jack sighed. How many more times? How many more losses? When would it all end?
*-*
And so it came down to him again. His actions had started this. He had lost someone else he cared about. Someone else he loved. When would he be able to truly love without worrying about what was going to happen? He had adjusted to his place back on SG1. He had adjusted to losing his powers and his knowledge. But he couldn't adjust to the overwhelming feelings of failure and loss. She was gone. And it was his fault. Again.
Daniel sat in his office, immersed in a translation, hoping that anyone passing by would take the hint and leave him alone. Any sane human being would not want to deal with him right now. Any normal person would just walk on by...including Jack.
"You still feel your life is still a failure...but that your journey is not complete."
Daniel looked up at the familiar voice and stared at Oma.
"Your journey lead up to this moment...your tasks are now complete. What you do from here on...is your choice. But you will always be loved."
"Oma...where is she?"
"She is where your journey began Daniel...you must complete the circle." Oma nodded at him and left. Daniel raced down the halls and impatiently waited for the elevator. He raced into General Hammond's office.
"Sir...we...have...to...go...to...Kemp...Oma..."
"Dr Jackson...calm down. Please." Hammond looked at the flustered young man. "What are you talking about?"
"Oma Desala...she just visited me in my office. Cleo...she's at Kemp...we have to go get her."
"Dr Jackson...I can't spare SG1 to go to Kemp just to..."
"General...if you don't let me go through that gate, you will have my resignation on your desk within 10 minutes sir." Daniel allowed his glare to soften slightly. "I have to do this...please."
Hammond sighed and nodded. "Very well...I will get SG3 to accompany you. But Dr Jackson...please, do not take longer than you have to."
*-*
As Daniel entered the temple grounds, he remembered the last time he had been there. When he had been ascended and needed a friend. She had been there. She had always been there when he needed her. And he needed her now more than ever. He left the marines in the garden and entered the chamber. Taking off his shoes, he sat down on the floor and closed his eyes.
"I need you Cleo...more than you could ever know." He whispered. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be the person they need me to be. I've lost too much and I can't seem to find my way."
He sighed. He was frustrated. He didn't understand why it had to be this way.
"I told you...this could never be." His eyes flew open at the sound of her voice. She was sat opposite him on the floor. "I tried to tell you so many times...but you would not open your eyes to see."
"I don't understand...Orlin was descended...what..."
"Daniel...I am one of the Elders...How do you think I managed to divert their attention? I cannot descend unless I pass my powers on. Daniel..."
"Cleo...please. I need you. I love you...and I want to be with you more than anything. You must see that."
"I sense that. But still..."
"But nothing! This is real...what I feel is real. And don't tell me that it's not...because you don't know. You don't know what it's like to lose everything to the Goa'uld. You don't know what it's like to put your life on hold to go saving the planet. You can't possibly imagine how hard it is to carry on." Daniel looked away and blinked his unshed tears away.
"Daniel...you are wrong. I feel every one of your emotions...I know every one of your memories. I have lived your life, through your eyes many times, trying to understand why you keep fighting the un-winnable fight. You suffer great loss to keep others from the same fate. It is no accident you were chosen to ascend and it is no accident that you were sent back. This is your journey Daniel...SG1 is your family and Earth is your home. But...it is not mine."
Cleo stood up and walked over to him. She reached out her hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Cleo?" Daniel looked down at his hand held in hers. He raised his eyes to met hers - questioning her in a single glance.
"Anything is possible Daniel...if you have the strength to believe and the will to follow through." Cleo smiled at him and followed him out into the garden. Feeling sunlight warm her face for the first time in hundreds of years, she smiled and enjoyed the warm sensation of his hand holding tightly onto hers. As they made their way back towards the gate, she transferred her powers to another who was nearby. And they walked through the Stargate under the watchful eye of their protector...someone who would make sure that they were kept safe now that Daniel had completed his journey.
The End
As SG1 boarded the ship via the ring transporter, alarms sounded.
"Daniel...are you sure about this?"
"Jack...I can call for Cleo or Orlin at any time. They will bring the other three. We just need to get close enough to Anubis...but we need to make it look as though we didn't get captured intentionally."
"Crap...I hate this." Jack indicated for the others to spread out and move out of the chamber. They had no sooner entered the corridor, when Jaffa came at them from all directions. The ensuing battle of gunfire and zats, made it difficult for Jack to keep track of his team. Gradually they moved along the corridor, heading for the Pel'tak. Jack noticed Daniel duck behind a hallway, whilst he was firing at the Jaffa. He craned his neck to see what was going on and noticed that Sam was down.
He covered himself and moved over to Daniel's side.
"Cleo!" Daniel whispered. Jack looked down at Sam. "Jack...she's not breathing!"
"Cleo dammit!" Jack shouted. He felt the soft breeze and turned to see Cleo. Without saying a word, she noticed Sam and knelt by her side. Placing one hand on her forehead and one hand on her chest, Cleo closed her eyes and concentrated on bringing her back.
"Jack...?" Daniel turned to him and he saw he tears in the younger man's eyes.
"It's ok Daniel...she'll be..." He trailed off as he heard Sam take a deep, gasping breath. "Sam?"
Cleo shot a look at Daniel and disappeared. He heard her voice as clear as if she were standing next to him. 'I can't stay...I will keep watch.' He found himself smiling. 'Cleo...no matter what happens...I will never forget.' He prayed that she heard him and helped Sam to her feet.
They moved back out into the corridor. "Teal'c...where's Jonas?"
"He has been captured O'Neill."
"Great...one down...four to go." They moved further down the corridor...noticing that the resistance seemed to have diminished. They found the door to the Pel'tak and upon entering, came face to face with several Jaffa, heavily armed and Jonas. SG1 were promptly disarmed and flung to the floor beside him.
"Rats...trap. Hate it when that happens." Jack muttered under his breath. He looked up at the Jaffa stood in front of him. "So...Harrak wasn't it...still with the big bad Goa'uld then I see."
"O'Neill...SG1. I see Dr Jackson is back amongst you. Interesting. Lord Anubis will be pleased."
"Oh I'm sure he will. Any chance of him making an appearance today...we got a busy schedule to keep...you know how it is." Jack started the snake-baiting, willing the others to join in. But they just kept quiet.
"Silence." Harrak walked up and down the line of prisoners. "Lord Anubis may have let you go the last time you met, but be assured, he will not make the same mistake again."
"Yeah...yeah! Like I've never heard that one before." Jack smiled bitterly at him. "You know...this is getting very boring...you capture us...you threaten us...big bad Goa'uld threatens us...and you know that you're not going to win! What say we cut to the chase and just end this the easy way with your surrender!"
Jack received a slap across the face from Harrak. "You will not be so cocky when Lord Anubis arrives...of that you can be sure!"
*-*
"Cleo...what is happening?"
"I don't know Orlin. The Others...their signs are sporadic...it's like there is no order anymore...can you feel it?"
"Yes...something is not right."
Cleo and Orlin hovered above the Pel'tak out of view from the members of SG1. They were keeping a close eye on the developments, ready to get the others when the time was right.
"Did you hear that?" Cleo turned to Orlin and saw the fear in his eyes. He nodded. He watched as she was pulled away and disappeared from sight.
Below, Harrak ordered the Jaffa to take the prisoners to a containment area. Once there, and once he had made sure all the guards were gone, he appeared in the cell.
"Samantha...something is wrong. Cleo has been taken...I cannot sense her anymore."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I knew something like this was going to happen."
"What do you mean gone?"
"He means gone as in 'poof' Carter!"
Orlin heard the guards returning and left. SG1 was unceremoniously dragged out of the cell and taken back to the Pel'tak. They were all flung on the floor infront of Anubis.
"So Daniel Jackson...we meet again. And I see you have brought your friends with you as an amusement. I thank you."
"He's not afraid of you!" Jack retorted.
"Really...even when you had powers, when you were among the Ancients, you could not stop me. Now you are back in your human form, you are even more powerless...how does that feel?"
"Listen...the game's up...the Ancients are onto you and they are going to finish you once and for all!" Sam stepped in before Jack could reply.
Anubis turned at the sound of Sam's voice. "Interesting...however, I think you will find, they will not get far."
A bright, white light hovered over them and descended to the ground. A human form began to take shape, and once it was fully formed, Daniel let out a groan.
"You see, Tau'ri, I have the elders on my side...no one can stop me!"
There was a sudden blue flash. All the jaffa fell to the floor around the team members. The Elder looked around stunned as Anubis fell back onto his chair.
"You are mistaken...the Elder you hold so dear...is a fraud." Her voice echoed around the chamber as she came to stand infront of the Goa'uld. "Davish...your powers have been revoked..." He tried to use his powers to destroy Cleo, but the energy just bounced off her. He tried to direct his anger and powers towards the members of SG1, but she had encased them in a protective force field. "...you have no place here...your time is up."
Daniel watched as a fire ball glowed in her hand and she aimed it towards Davish. His hands went up infront of his face as she fired it and in that second he was gone.
"Anubis...you are hereby sentenced to become descended...you will be tried by the High Court for your actions and they will decide your punishment..." She called to Orlin to bring the others. Anubis watched as Lya, Thor and the Furling appeared beside her, "...or you can deal with us!"
"I bow down to no one!"
Cleo smiled. "As you wish!" The four of them circled Anubis and with a blinding flash of light he was gone. As SG1 grew accustomed to the light, they noticed that someone was missing from the picture.
"Cleo?" Daniel whispered.
"She is gone Daniel...it was her fight...it was her sacrifice to make...she knew the cost...and she made the choice. I am sorry!" Orlin walked over to Sam and hugged her. Sam drew back as she realized he was solid. "I am descended now...the price for my part in this battle."
Jack looked over to Daniel, his head was in his hands and Jack knew he was battering himself for yet another senseless loss. Too many times Daniel had been through this...Jack wasn't sure how much more he could take. The team beamed back onto Thor's vessel, and headed back to Earth orbit. Sam and Orlin spent most of the ride talking. Teal'c and Jonas sat quietly at the edge of the room. Daniel stood staring out of the window and wouldn't even talk to him. Jack sighed. How many more times? How many more losses? When would it all end?
*-*
And so it came down to him again. His actions had started this. He had lost someone else he cared about. Someone else he loved. When would he be able to truly love without worrying about what was going to happen? He had adjusted to his place back on SG1. He had adjusted to losing his powers and his knowledge. But he couldn't adjust to the overwhelming feelings of failure and loss. She was gone. And it was his fault. Again.
Daniel sat in his office, immersed in a translation, hoping that anyone passing by would take the hint and leave him alone. Any sane human being would not want to deal with him right now. Any normal person would just walk on by...including Jack.
"You still feel your life is still a failure...but that your journey is not complete."
Daniel looked up at the familiar voice and stared at Oma.
"Your journey lead up to this moment...your tasks are now complete. What you do from here on...is your choice. But you will always be loved."
"Oma...where is she?"
"She is where your journey began Daniel...you must complete the circle." Oma nodded at him and left. Daniel raced down the halls and impatiently waited for the elevator. He raced into General Hammond's office.
"Sir...we...have...to...go...to...Kemp...Oma..."
"Dr Jackson...calm down. Please." Hammond looked at the flustered young man. "What are you talking about?"
"Oma Desala...she just visited me in my office. Cleo...she's at Kemp...we have to go get her."
"Dr Jackson...I can't spare SG1 to go to Kemp just to..."
"General...if you don't let me go through that gate, you will have my resignation on your desk within 10 minutes sir." Daniel allowed his glare to soften slightly. "I have to do this...please."
Hammond sighed and nodded. "Very well...I will get SG3 to accompany you. But Dr Jackson...please, do not take longer than you have to."
*-*
As Daniel entered the temple grounds, he remembered the last time he had been there. When he had been ascended and needed a friend. She had been there. She had always been there when he needed her. And he needed her now more than ever. He left the marines in the garden and entered the chamber. Taking off his shoes, he sat down on the floor and closed his eyes.
"I need you Cleo...more than you could ever know." He whispered. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be the person they need me to be. I've lost too much and I can't seem to find my way."
He sighed. He was frustrated. He didn't understand why it had to be this way.
"I told you...this could never be." His eyes flew open at the sound of her voice. She was sat opposite him on the floor. "I tried to tell you so many times...but you would not open your eyes to see."
"I don't understand...Orlin was descended...what..."
"Daniel...I am one of the Elders...How do you think I managed to divert their attention? I cannot descend unless I pass my powers on. Daniel..."
"Cleo...please. I need you. I love you...and I want to be with you more than anything. You must see that."
"I sense that. But still..."
"But nothing! This is real...what I feel is real. And don't tell me that it's not...because you don't know. You don't know what it's like to lose everything to the Goa'uld. You don't know what it's like to put your life on hold to go saving the planet. You can't possibly imagine how hard it is to carry on." Daniel looked away and blinked his unshed tears away.
"Daniel...you are wrong. I feel every one of your emotions...I know every one of your memories. I have lived your life, through your eyes many times, trying to understand why you keep fighting the un-winnable fight. You suffer great loss to keep others from the same fate. It is no accident you were chosen to ascend and it is no accident that you were sent back. This is your journey Daniel...SG1 is your family and Earth is your home. But...it is not mine."
Cleo stood up and walked over to him. She reached out her hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Cleo?" Daniel looked down at his hand held in hers. He raised his eyes to met hers - questioning her in a single glance.
"Anything is possible Daniel...if you have the strength to believe and the will to follow through." Cleo smiled at him and followed him out into the garden. Feeling sunlight warm her face for the first time in hundreds of years, she smiled and enjoyed the warm sensation of his hand holding tightly onto hers. As they made their way back towards the gate, she transferred her powers to another who was nearby. And they walked through the Stargate under the watchful eye of their protector...someone who would make sure that they were kept safe now that Daniel had completed his journey.
The End