DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
A Snake In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush
Part four
Daniel woke late, taking a few moments to recall why he was in the infirmary, then grumpily demanding coffee from the nurse who had come to check up on him. As the nurse left, Daniel's eyes fell on the bed next to him, it's occupant having also just woken up and had witnessed the scene with the nurse. Daniel grinned sheepishly and shrugged.
'You're looking better,' Daniel greeted her.
'I feel a lot better,' Clare replied. 'I slept really well last night - I can't remember the last time that happened.' She trailed off and looked away uncertainly, a little embarrassed as she recalled how she had broken down in front of Daniel after her sleepwalking episode of the previous night.
Daniel smiled reassuringly but didn't pursue the issue any further and was prevented from saying anything by the arrival of Dr Fraiser.
'Well, you're looking a lot better Dr Jackson,' Janet told him. 'Providing you rest today I'll release you tomorrow.' Daniel grimaced, but accepted his lot. Experience had taught him that when the good doctor had that gleam in her eye it was best to do as he was told. 'Clare, how are you feeling? Did you sleep well?' Clare nodded. 'Ok, well why don't you go freshen up and I'll send some breakfast in for your both.'
Clare headed for the shower feeling considerably brighter than she had done of late. With her hair clean, she luxuriated in the feel of the clean water cascading down her body rinsing away the clinical smell of the shower gel. It felt so good to wash away the stale stickiness from having spent a long time in bed.
As she let the water flow over her a nagging memory tugged at the back of her mind. Something to do with a Temple? And the Chappa'ai? As the seconds ticked by the feeling began to turn to unease, then to fear that some disaster was about to fall…
Without warning, she realised she knew what it was and that she had to act. Pausing only long enough to roughly towel herself dry and pull on some clean pyjamas, she raced through the double doors into the infirmary, her short dark hair dripping on her shoulders, until she reached the bed where Daniel was now lying half asleep having been to the shower and back while she was gone.
'Well you must have needed that you've been gone long…' Daniel's voice trailed off as Clare interrupted him.
'I need to speak to General…General…the General,' Clare could not recall his name in her panic. 'They're in trouble, you have to get them out now!' Clare tugged on Daniel's arm, trying to pull him up to help her find the General.
Dr Fraiser, hearing Clare's excited voice, hurried over to see why Clare was trying to drag Daniel off his bed. 'Calm down now,' Janet used her firmest voice. 'Would you care to tell me what all the fuss is about?' She asked frostily.
'They've gone to the Temple haven't they?' Clare spoke rapidly. 'They're in danger, it's a trap, you have to get them out of there before it's too late. I have to see…to see…' as she paused to catch her breath, Dr Fraiser made her sit down on the bed and set about checking her pulse and blood pressure, with Clare fighting against her all the time.
'Just a moment, Janet,' Daniel interrupted. 'Clare, who's in danger and why do you think so?'
'Colonel O'Neill and the others. Qu'ilar told them about the Temple of Knowledge didn't he?' Clare turned with hope to Daniel who seemed to be taking her seriously. As Daniel nodded, she continued. 'Well, when they get there and work out how to get in they'll be trapped inside and drown. Qu'ilar knew that Colonel O'Neill would be the one to go and that he'd be able to find a way in. They wanted to destroy the Tau'ri who'd killed so many of the System Lords. I only remembered when I was in the shower.'
Janet looked at Daniel for help, unsure if this was a genuine memory or just a symptom of the extreme stress Clare had been under.
'I think we should go to see General Hammond,' Daniel confirmed. 'There's too much information here to be a coincidence.' Daniel stood up to leave with Clare, his concern for his friends making him forget that they were both clad only in pyjamas.
'Not dressed like that you're not,' Janet insisted. 'Neither of you is fully fit yet and I'm not allowing you to wander around the base dressed like that - nor with wet hair.' She looked pointedly at Clare who grabbed the towel she had dropped on her bed and proceeded to rub her hair dry. 'I'll ask General Hammond to come down here.'
Five minutes later they were sitting in Janet's office with the General, Clare repeating her information in a more coherent manner now, but still with an edge to her voice which showed her concern and frustration at all these delays.
'Qu'ilar told you about the Temple of Knowledge,' Clare stated. 'He said it held the original plans for all the forms of technology used by the system lords. He also said that others would be looking for it and it had to be found quickly to prevent them from finding it first. The Temple did contain the information as he said, but he didn't tell you that soon after Hathor left Earth after her release she ordered him to remove the plans and place them in different locations to keep them safe.'
'So, our people will only find an empty building?' Hammond couldn't understand the urgency with which he'd been summoned.
'Qu'ilar also didn't tell you that if the door to the temple was opened a scanning device would be activated which determined whether you were a goa'uld or not. It's perfectly safe for the goa'uld to enter, if you're not…' Clare started to panic at the length of time this was taking. '…the trap is sprung. You would be sealed in with no way out and the water dammed at the head of the ravine would be released to flood the Temple. Colonel O'Neill and the others…they…they'll either be drowned or suffocated unless you can get them out.' She looked desperately at General Hammond, hoping he'd believe her without too many questions. They had to get them out quickly or it would be too late.
'If they're sealed in the building how would we be able to get them out?' Hammond asked, considering the whole scenario.
'There's a hatch at the top of the dome, it's got a combination on it to open it, similar to the one on the door. You'd need someone to be able to read it and follow the instructions.' Clare replied, finding that once a memory had returned to her she could answer questions, just needing a nudge to recall that memory initially.
'Clare, how long would it take for the building to be completely filled with water?' Daniel asked.
'No more than three hours. There's something else. The water is fed from an underground spring and will be icy cold.'
This gave Hammond the push he needed to make a decision. It was now midday, SG1 had departed at 08.00. It would take at least two hours to get to the Temple, probably a little longer as Rothman did not normally go off-world and would not be as fit as the others. A further hour or so to work out how to get in, they would be in there by now and if they didn't already realise the danger they were in, they soon would. He would need a half hour to get SG6 and SG12 ready to go in, allow them two hours to reach the Temple, plus time for the rescue, he had no time to hesitate.
Hammond was on the phone making the necessary preparations. Daniel sat impatiently waiting for him to finish to jump in with his request.
'General I have to go with them,' he began.
Dr Fraiser and Hammond both started to protest as to his fitness.
'I know, but I'm feeling a lot better and you need someone to read the inscription on the hatch. Robert is with SG1 and he was the only available specialist, the others are all off-world. You have to let me go.' Daniel insisted.
'Dr Fraiser?' Hammond asked.
'Under any other circumstances it would be a no. But,' she continued, 'This is unusual and I don't think Daniel will come to any harm. However,' Janet fixed Daniel with a glare, 'You are to return to the infirmary immediately on your return.'
Daniel wasn't going to argue, at least he would not have to sit around uselessly while the rest of his team, his friends, were in danger.
Hammond turned to Clare who had been sitting unnoticed while all this was going on.
'Is there anything more…' his voice trailed off as he realised Clare was frowning in concentration. 'Are you alright?' He asked.
'I don't know,' she replied. Janet made a move towards her but Clare went on. 'I've got a feeling there's something I've forgotten, something important. It's a bit like how I felt when I was in the shower before I remembered about the trap. Maybe it's nothing?' She looked doubtfully at Daniel.
'General, I really think…' Daniel began.
'Absolutely not.'
'That would not be a good idea.' Dr Fraiser and General Hammond spoke at the same time as they realised what he was about to suggest.
'We don't have time to argue. Clare needs to come with us, it'll be too late if we get there and she remembers and is still here. General, you have to let her come,' Daniel pleaded.
Dr Fraiser, on re-checking Clare's blood pressure, temperature and pulse and finding that they were virtually normal nodded a reluctant assent, considering Clare had recovered sufficiently not to be endangering her health although, like Daniel, she would need to be monitored in the infirmary on her return.
Hammond gave his authorisation and summoned a female lieutenant to escort Clare to the women's locker room to supply her with the clothes and equipment she would need and get her to the Gate room in twenty minutes.
Daniel went over to Clare and patted her reassuringly on the shoulder. 'You going to be ok?'
She nodded, smiling wanly at the unexpected turn of events and the speed with which everything was moving. Dr Fraiser interrupted them both, insisting that they change before leaving the infirmary. No matter how well they appeared to be, she was not going to have them running around the SGC in pyjamas and risk chills on top of everything else, although the sight of Dr Jackson walking around in very little might be appreciated by the female members of the SGC.
***********
A few minutes later than the twenty specified by General Hammond, Clare arrived in the gate room dressed in unfamiliar combat gear. As she entered, Daniel and General Hammond came over to her.
'Are you ready?' Hammond asked.
Clare nodded nervously, now completely out of her depth and not sure what she had gotten herself into.
'I've briefed SG6 and 12 on the situation, Dr Jackson can fill them in on any additional information. If you remember anything, make sure you let someone know.' Hammond looked kindly at Clare, she seemed so small and vulnerable and he wondered if he was making the right decision.
After a brief introduction to the SG teams, Hammond returned to the control room.
'SG6 and 12 you have a go.'
The 'gate started dialling, Clare studying it nervously as the inner ring moved around and locked the chevrons into place, then with its customary 'whoosh' the event horizon formed, causing Clare to step back in surprise.
The two SG teams were proceeding up the ramp and through the circle of what looked like water. Colonel Gray, in command of SG6 and the mission, waited just before the 'gate for Clare and Daniel to precede him.
Daniel, holding Clare's arm for support, walked with her towards the 'gate, pausing momentarily before stepping through.
After what seemed an eternity with worlds and stars whizzing past her at lightning speeds, she stumbled and would have fallen if Daniel had not been there to catch her when they reached the other end. Gray followed close behind and the event horizon snapped shut.
Looking around her in wonder, the surrounding country seemed strangely familiar, Clare instinctively knew the direction they needed to head in order to reach the Temple.
Colonel Gray was issuing his orders. 'SG6, Summers and Williams, you're with me. Dr Jackson, you too. We'll head for the Temple as quickly as we can and get things moving. Clare, I'll leave you with Captain Richards and Lieutenant Graham to follow behind. We'll maintain radio contact. If we need assistance of any kind before you catch up we'll let you know.'
*************
An hour and a half later the first team arrived at the Temple. They had pushed themselves pretty hard and were all sweating heavily in the humid atmosphere.
Taking a quick look around, they could see the route that SG1 must have taken to get down to the entrance to the Temple, now completely submerged in water. The position they found themselves in at the top of the ravine allowed them to look down at the level of the water and up at the domed roof which was just a little too high to enable them to see the hatch.
Gray detailed his men to inflate the small boat they had brought with them and use it as a starting point for getting on to the roof. The water was near the top of the building by this time and was lapping softly around the edges of the roof. All that was required was to secure a way to the top of the dome and locate the hatch.
Half an hour later this was done, with a rope ladder secured to the top of the dome. The team on the roof had kept away from the hatchway, not wanting to disturb any clues which would help them open it.
The boat returned to the edge of the ravine where Daniel was waiting apprehensively to board. Pushing his fear of heights to the back of his mind, he climbed into the boat then up the ladder and on to the roof where he moved toward the hatch. The crackle of his radio nearly made him slip and lose his footing, Summers who was standing beside him caught his arm and steadied him.
'Dr Jackson, this is Richards. Can you give me your location please.'
'I'm on the roof of the Temple and about to move to the hatch. Why?' Daniel replied, furrowing his forehead with concern.
'Stand by and do not move from where you are. Repeat, do not move. We're nearly at your position now,' came Captain Richards voice.
'Understood.'
A few minutes later Clare and the remainder of SG12 arrived, slightly out of breath having half run for the last twenty minutes. Clare had sensed something was wrong but she had to see the Temple in order to remember what she needed to know. Panting and with the sweat streaming down her face, she looked up towards the roof where Daniel stood, waiting for what she had to say.
'The hatch is protected…' she gasped out. '…look out for the sign of the eye on…on the stones immediately around the hatch. If you touch one you will trigger the spikes. You must avoid the eyes.'
Daniel called his understanding of her message down to her and approached the hatch with caution, realising that there were a series of triangular stones all around the hatch with only eight triangles in pairs at regular intervals around the hatch without the sign of the eye. Stepping carefully he examined the means of opening the hatch. The hatch could be opened by turning the dial in the centre of the hatch in the correct sequence, there were a series of letters on the outside edges of the dial. Reading the instructions to himself first, he then relayed the information to Clare over the radio.
'The word of your god will allow you to pass,' he told them. 'That means there is a password, but it could be anything. Clare?'
'Wait…wait…I just need to think clearly…' Clare concentrated hard to try to figure it out.
'Don't push it too hard Clare,' Daniel advised, understanding how important it was that they worked it out but knowing that if she tried too hard it would more than likely slip right away from her. 'I'm looking at the hatch. There are ancient Egyptian letters around the edge. I need to turn the dial in a certain sequence to match up the letters in the right order to allow the hatch to open. Hathor…'
'Rebirth!' Clare yelled suddenly. 'It's rebirth. Hathor chose it because that was her job, to bring new goa'uld to life.'
Daniel heaved a sigh of relief and cautiously translated the word into the Egyptian letters that Hathor would have used. As the last letter was dialled there was a loud groan and the hatch moved smoothly to one side.
Will they be in time? Find out in the next exciting episode!