Gorul wasn't a god. He was a traveler. A member of a very extraordinary race that loved to explore new places and meet new people. His people had powers, yes. Innate abilities that allowed them to do pretty much whatever they wanted, and go where they pleased. But they weren't all-knowing, and they weren't all powerful. And there were very, very few of them, for they were slow to reproduce, since circumstances had to be absolutely exact in order for the females to bear young.
Power does not always corrupt, though. Yes, Gorul was powerful, and could do as he pleased, and he knew that the people of several planets that he'd visited had thought him to be a god. He didn't tell them otherwise, for it was easier to pretend than it was to explain to them the truth. Especially since many of the peoples were far less advanced than he was, and there were times when they would never be able to understand, no matter how simply he put it. So he acted as god to them. To many people on a few different planets. Planets that he rather enjoyed, because of their beauty, or because of the people that inhabited them. Planets he visited often, although he rarely revealed himself to the populations unless it was necessary.
But he wasn't a cruel god to them. He knew of the Goa'uld – all his kind did and all his kind opposed them. Power did not mean dominion. Power meant you used it to take care of others. To nurture those who were weaker. To protect them when they were in danger. You didn't use that power to bestow fear and suffering like the Goa'uld used theirs. Gorul was better than that. Even though he was young for his race, he knew right from wrong. Besides, he genuinely liked the people of Seral, and was shocked when he'd returned only moments before and he had discovered that there were strangers on the planet, near the ruins.
Immediately he assumed the worst. Especially when he sensed the presence of the Jaffa. He'd had dealings with humans before, and knew that they were as varied as the planets he'd visited. They could be good or bad, and he had to assume that since these humans were allied with a Jaffa, they must be evil. Which meant they had no business being on Seral.
The rain had been falling when he'd arrived on the planet, but he didn't wait. He was anxious to drive them away from the planet before they encountered the Hyl. Not that they could harm them, since the people were capable of fading into a different plane of existence, but the young would be frightened, and that just wouldn't do, and if they found the secret camps, they could wreak havoc on their crops and homes, which would make life harder for the gentle people.
He saw three forms coming through the ruins, and moved to stand before them, blocking their path, and they stopped immediately when they saw him.
...................
Jack didn't have a gun. He'd left the weapons at the camp without even thinking about it. They'd met the people of the planet, and found them to be friendly, and he'd assumed the rain would keep all other dangers under cover for the duration of the storm. Obviously, though, whatever this... being... was, it wasn't bothered by the rain anymore than the floating hand people were. And it seemed almost angry. Which could be bad.
"The Goa'uld are not welcomed on this planet."
The deep voice spoke in English, which made Jack's jaw drop. He was getting almost used to not understanding what people around him were saying.
"We're not Goa'uld," Jack said, without even thinking about it. He just hated the idea that someone would mistake him for some slimy snake bastard.
The being turned his gaze to Jack, but his hand raised up and pointed at Teal'c.
"The Jaffa serve the Goa'uld. Do not think to deceive me."
He had his answer. The humans were in league with the Jaffa and one had lied to him. They were here to cause trouble. Or perhaps they were an advance group, searching for new planets for the Goa'uld to plunder.
"I do not serve the Goa'uld."
The Jaffa himself spoke, and the lie caused rage to course through Gorul. A bolt of energy shot from the hand that was pointed at Teal'c, and the Jaffa was blasted back several feet, where he lay still. The hand turned towards Jack and Daniel.
The two men dodged into the nearby brush, Daniel going left, and Jack heading right, and slightly back. He wouldn't leave Teal'c out in the open with this deranged whatever it was out to kill them. The hand came toward him once more as he rolled out of the brush next to Teal'c and grabbed the unconscious Jaffa's jacket to pull him out of the way.
The hand leveled at Jack. He saw it, and refused to move away without bringing Teal'c with him. He'd rather take the hit than leave Teal'c to face the thing alone. He tugged, and pulled Teal'c a little to the side, bracing himself for the hit he was going to take.
Then Jaffer was there. Jack hadn't left his primary weapon back at the camp; he'd sent the weapon back to the camp with Sam, and now it was back, teeth flashing and absolutely no warning growl as the black lab took in the threat, and chose his target.
The shot – if that's what a beam of energy coming from some hand could be called – went wide as one hundred plus pounds of very angry dog slammed into Gorul and knocked him to the ground. Jaffer's attack didn't ease once he had the being on the ground, though. He was trained to press an attack once he had the upper hand, and the black lab's teeth went for Gorul's throat.
Gorul was dazed by the attack. Both the ferocity of the attack and the creature that was attacking him. He'd seen dog-like creatures once or twice in his long life, but never had he been this close to one, and never had he had one attack him. The action showed a loyalty that Gorul hadn't thought the dog creatures capable of, and a ferociousness that was shocking. The shock was what gave Jaffer the chance to knock the being down, but Gorul wasn't going to stay surprised for long.
Even as Jaffer's teeth closed on the being's throat, Gorul threw his hand up and pushed the dog away from him, gaining enough space that he could bring his hand around to level off a counterattack.
"Jaffer!"
Jack had regained his feet, and plowed into Gorul, determined that the hand wasn't going to fire at his baby. Better he take that shot himself. The being and Jack went tumbling, Jack grabbing the arm that he'd witnessed firing the bolt, and Gorul trying to bring it around for a shot at the one who dared to attack him. Both grunted when another body landed on them, and then Gorul barked a cry of pain when Jaffer's teeth finally found a mark, and the being's hand was slashed open – only inches from Jack's hand, which was mute testimony to the fact that Jaffer had very good aim.
"Jack!" Sam had arrived, just in time to see Daniel launching himself into the fray as well. Daniel didn't have a weapon, either, but he was pretty sure they'd be better off if they could keep the being on the ground and keep that dangerous hand pinned. Just as he was reaching for it, though, Jaffer's black head had flashed in and the teeth had made their own mark.
Gorul roared with pain and anger, and flung all three of his assailants off with a burst of power. Daniel and Jack went flying one way, Jaffer went flying another, and all three of them landed hard, stunned. Gorul regained his feet, his eyes flashing with anger as he noticed Sam for the first time. She raised her P-90 at the exact same moment that he raised his bleeding hand towards her, and things were about to get very messy, when there was a sudden very high-pitched scream.
"Ja-fer!"
Gorul turned. Despite herself, Sam turned as well. Both of them saw a very small figure running towards them at full speed, tears in her eyes and her hands up as she took in Jaffer's still form.
Power does not always corrupt, though. Yes, Gorul was powerful, and could do as he pleased, and he knew that the people of several planets that he'd visited had thought him to be a god. He didn't tell them otherwise, for it was easier to pretend than it was to explain to them the truth. Especially since many of the peoples were far less advanced than he was, and there were times when they would never be able to understand, no matter how simply he put it. So he acted as god to them. To many people on a few different planets. Planets that he rather enjoyed, because of their beauty, or because of the people that inhabited them. Planets he visited often, although he rarely revealed himself to the populations unless it was necessary.
But he wasn't a cruel god to them. He knew of the Goa'uld – all his kind did and all his kind opposed them. Power did not mean dominion. Power meant you used it to take care of others. To nurture those who were weaker. To protect them when they were in danger. You didn't use that power to bestow fear and suffering like the Goa'uld used theirs. Gorul was better than that. Even though he was young for his race, he knew right from wrong. Besides, he genuinely liked the people of Seral, and was shocked when he'd returned only moments before and he had discovered that there were strangers on the planet, near the ruins.
Immediately he assumed the worst. Especially when he sensed the presence of the Jaffa. He'd had dealings with humans before, and knew that they were as varied as the planets he'd visited. They could be good or bad, and he had to assume that since these humans were allied with a Jaffa, they must be evil. Which meant they had no business being on Seral.
The rain had been falling when he'd arrived on the planet, but he didn't wait. He was anxious to drive them away from the planet before they encountered the Hyl. Not that they could harm them, since the people were capable of fading into a different plane of existence, but the young would be frightened, and that just wouldn't do, and if they found the secret camps, they could wreak havoc on their crops and homes, which would make life harder for the gentle people.
He saw three forms coming through the ruins, and moved to stand before them, blocking their path, and they stopped immediately when they saw him.
...................
Jack didn't have a gun. He'd left the weapons at the camp without even thinking about it. They'd met the people of the planet, and found them to be friendly, and he'd assumed the rain would keep all other dangers under cover for the duration of the storm. Obviously, though, whatever this... being... was, it wasn't bothered by the rain anymore than the floating hand people were. And it seemed almost angry. Which could be bad.
"The Goa'uld are not welcomed on this planet."
The deep voice spoke in English, which made Jack's jaw drop. He was getting almost used to not understanding what people around him were saying.
"We're not Goa'uld," Jack said, without even thinking about it. He just hated the idea that someone would mistake him for some slimy snake bastard.
The being turned his gaze to Jack, but his hand raised up and pointed at Teal'c.
"The Jaffa serve the Goa'uld. Do not think to deceive me."
He had his answer. The humans were in league with the Jaffa and one had lied to him. They were here to cause trouble. Or perhaps they were an advance group, searching for new planets for the Goa'uld to plunder.
"I do not serve the Goa'uld."
The Jaffa himself spoke, and the lie caused rage to course through Gorul. A bolt of energy shot from the hand that was pointed at Teal'c, and the Jaffa was blasted back several feet, where he lay still. The hand turned towards Jack and Daniel.
The two men dodged into the nearby brush, Daniel going left, and Jack heading right, and slightly back. He wouldn't leave Teal'c out in the open with this deranged whatever it was out to kill them. The hand came toward him once more as he rolled out of the brush next to Teal'c and grabbed the unconscious Jaffa's jacket to pull him out of the way.
The hand leveled at Jack. He saw it, and refused to move away without bringing Teal'c with him. He'd rather take the hit than leave Teal'c to face the thing alone. He tugged, and pulled Teal'c a little to the side, bracing himself for the hit he was going to take.
Then Jaffer was there. Jack hadn't left his primary weapon back at the camp; he'd sent the weapon back to the camp with Sam, and now it was back, teeth flashing and absolutely no warning growl as the black lab took in the threat, and chose his target.
The shot – if that's what a beam of energy coming from some hand could be called – went wide as one hundred plus pounds of very angry dog slammed into Gorul and knocked him to the ground. Jaffer's attack didn't ease once he had the being on the ground, though. He was trained to press an attack once he had the upper hand, and the black lab's teeth went for Gorul's throat.
Gorul was dazed by the attack. Both the ferocity of the attack and the creature that was attacking him. He'd seen dog-like creatures once or twice in his long life, but never had he been this close to one, and never had he had one attack him. The action showed a loyalty that Gorul hadn't thought the dog creatures capable of, and a ferociousness that was shocking. The shock was what gave Jaffer the chance to knock the being down, but Gorul wasn't going to stay surprised for long.
Even as Jaffer's teeth closed on the being's throat, Gorul threw his hand up and pushed the dog away from him, gaining enough space that he could bring his hand around to level off a counterattack.
"Jaffer!"
Jack had regained his feet, and plowed into Gorul, determined that the hand wasn't going to fire at his baby. Better he take that shot himself. The being and Jack went tumbling, Jack grabbing the arm that he'd witnessed firing the bolt, and Gorul trying to bring it around for a shot at the one who dared to attack him. Both grunted when another body landed on them, and then Gorul barked a cry of pain when Jaffer's teeth finally found a mark, and the being's hand was slashed open – only inches from Jack's hand, which was mute testimony to the fact that Jaffer had very good aim.
"Jack!" Sam had arrived, just in time to see Daniel launching himself into the fray as well. Daniel didn't have a weapon, either, but he was pretty sure they'd be better off if they could keep the being on the ground and keep that dangerous hand pinned. Just as he was reaching for it, though, Jaffer's black head had flashed in and the teeth had made their own mark.
Gorul roared with pain and anger, and flung all three of his assailants off with a burst of power. Daniel and Jack went flying one way, Jaffer went flying another, and all three of them landed hard, stunned. Gorul regained his feet, his eyes flashing with anger as he noticed Sam for the first time. She raised her P-90 at the exact same moment that he raised his bleeding hand towards her, and things were about to get very messy, when there was a sudden very high-pitched scream.
"Ja-fer!"
Gorul turned. Despite herself, Sam turned as well. Both of them saw a very small figure running towards them at full speed, tears in her eyes and her hands up as she took in Jaffer's still form.