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 nine

The village was beginning to look more habitable. Injuries had been treated and the rubble and debris from the attack had been removed to a point beyond the village. Jack, assessing the progress made, saw movement around the structure in the centre of the village which had caught Daniel's attention on their arrival. Some of the villagers were removing the bodies of Jaffa for disposal, two others were half carrying one who appeared to be alive.

Teal'c looked hard at them and uttered one word. 'Nirrti.'

Jack looked at Anadryl, eyebrows raised questioningly. 'So . . You were all hiding out in the caves back there, how come you've got dead Jaffa now?'

'The Holy Place is our protection against the servants of the Evil Ones. When they come, we retreat and it protects us. The servants of the Evil Ones will always seek out the Holy Place although none return and always we are left to return to our lives, safe in the knowledge we have been saved once more. You will learn more at Mishrah.' Anadryl turned towards the Holy Place, bending his head as the surviving Jaffa was helped away.

'You said none of the servants of the Evil Ones return - how many survive?' Jack queried.

'Very few. At present we have eight Empty Ones being cared for at our monastery in the hills. They tend the fields and live a peaceful and tranquil life until the end of their days, that one will be taken to join their numbers.'

'Empty ones?' Jack responded.

'You will learn more…'

'Yeah, yeah, I know the drill,' Jack interrupted. 'Mishrah right?'

Anadryl bowed in acknowledgement and spoke again.

'The hour draws nigh. You should refresh yourselves in readiness for Mishrah.' He led them towards one of the buildings, ushered them in and left them to clean themselves as best they could with the meagre facilities provided.

Sam, being ready first, left the others to their own devices and went back to the Holy Place to carry out some scans and within minutes was hurrying back to their guest quarters.

'Sir,' Sam said breathlessly bursting in through the door, startling the others.

'Dammit Carter,' Jack snapped, 'Was there any need for that? See these grey hairs?' He took off his hat. 'That comes from working with you and Danny-boy here.'

'Yes sir.' Sam murmured, trying to stop herself from laughing.

'Well? What's eating you this time?'

'I've run some scans of that building where the Jaffa were killed,' Sam began. 'I'm reading an enormous amount of power coming from some kind of Naquadah source. There's a force shield in that building with enough power to fry an indefinite number of Jaffa.'

'Do you think our friends might be interested in a trade?' Jack asked.

'I'm not sure that that is all there is to it.' Sam continued. 'The power source I'm reading is way more than would be required for that kind of shield, there's something going on here. We should remain alert and try to find out what it is.'

'Jack, I really don't think these people are aware of what it is that protects them.' Daniel butted in. 'They speak about it as if it was some kind of magic, and I don't see any signs of weapons or technology. They seem to be just what they appear - a simple farming community.'

'That may be so, but I'm not taking any chances, everyone is to remain alert and look out for anything out of the ordinary.' Jack turned to the two members of SG9. 'I don't know what's going on here, but I'm not taking any chances. I want you to get some rest now and be ready to keep watch tonight. Understood?'

A short time later Anadryl returned to escort them to the place where Mishrah was to take place, he seated himself on a low stool at one side of camp fire, indicating to four similar stools, two on each side of him.

Around the fire were sitting the Elders of the village, older men and women who had years of wisdom and experience behind them, at the far end of the fire were several trestle tables bearing food and drink. At intervals, an item would be passed around in a large drinking vessel or on a platter, and they would be expected to take a sip or a portion of whatever it was they were offered. It seemed to be a non stop round of different tastes, textures and drinks.

Throughout this, Anadryl was talking.

'Many seasons ago, when my father was still living a visitor came to our village. We called him the Ancient One, so great was his wisdom and knowledge that he had acquired over his many years on this plane. The village was larger then, with many more people and houses, but there were many times when the servants of the Evil Ones would come through the Circle of Light and take our young men and women away. They were never seen again.

'When the Ancient One came, he knew of our plight. He bade the Elders build a Holy Place and he would place in it a talisman which would protect our village from the Evil Ones. None of us were to touch it for it could mean death to one who was not worthy. The Ancient One told us that when the servants of the Evil Ones next came to us they would be drawn by the Talisman but its power would destroy the evil within and the servants of the Evil Ones would be no more.

'This did indeed happen. But we found that at times, although the evil within was destroyed, some servants survived, but were no longer evil. They were renamed Empty Ones for that is what they had become. They are unable to think or make a choice for themselves, and most do not live for long. Our priests take them into their care and have them tend the fields while keeping watch over them to ensure no harm comes to them in their innocence.

'The Ancient One told us also of the Enlightened Ones who would one day come through the Circle of Light, ones who would be worthy to take the Talisman to do battle with the Evil Ones within their own domain. On the day that this happens our village will be protected from intruders for ever.

'You are the Enlightened Ones. I know, I can see the signs. This one,' Anadryl gestured to Daniel sitting to his left, 'Is the Chosen One, the wisest of all. It will be he who enters the Holy Place as the sun rises and fulfil our destiny by claiming possession of the Machello.'

The members of SG1 looked at each other as they heard this, the warning bells ringing loud and clear.

'Anadryl,' Daniel began hesitatingly, 'Is it permitted that I speak now?' Anadryl inclined his head in agreement and Daniel continued. 'The Ancient One - could you tell us how he appeared to you?'

'He was of great stature and his white hair and beard spoke of the wisdom surrounding him. His flowing robes spoke of the simple life he led and that he was a truly worthy man.'

'So, at dawn tomorrow, I go into the Holy Place and retrieve the Machello?'

'That is correct. Now, it is time to rest. It has been a long day and you should be well rested before the morning comes. I bid you good night.' Anadryl stood, bowed in Daniel's direction and retired to his own home.

Jack stood to one side of the door to their quarters to allow the two members of SG9 to leave to begin their watch, nodding at them as they went.

'THE MACHELLO?' Jack exclaimed as soon as they were alone. 'Now I know we're in trouble.'

'That could account for the excessive amount of Naquadah I picked up from their Holy Place,' Sam supplied. 'If Machello has another trap planned this must be how he's supplying it with energy. That amount of energy is enough to destroy this whole planet - whatever it is, it's going to be big.'

'So, we ask ourselves - is it worth risking another of our friend's traps?' Jack added.

'I believe that there is indeed something of value contained within this Holy Place,' Teal'c stated. 'For the goa'uld to keep returning as they have done, knowing that none who have gone before have returned, they would be confident that the resources spent on the attempts would be justified.'

Daniel in the meantime had been frowning in concentration, remembering what he had been put through previously at the hands of Machello - nearly dying of old age and being locked up in a psychiatric unit when everyone thought he was going crazy - when he realised that silence had fallen. He looked directly at Jack, putting Jack instantly on his guard.

'Jack, I'm willing to go in there tomorrow. Teal'c is right, this 'Machello' must be important because of all that the goa'uld are doing to get it. I know what he's pulled on us before, but that was because he was trying to destroy the goa'uld as well. This must be worth it, and I want to go in.'

'You may be the 'wise one' around here, but I'm the 'in charge one' and I say we don't have enough intel to make that kind of decision.'

'But Jack…' Daniel's protest was interrupted by Sam.

'Sir, I agree with Daniel. It may be a trap, but I don't think it will kill him - the story just wouldn't add up. Anadryl told us that it was designed to kill the Evil Ones - the goa'uld - but that when the right person came along they would have a tool to help defeat them. If the protection around that artefact was designed to kill anyone who went near it, that whole ritual tonight would have been pointless.'

'What am I? The 'stupid one' now? Doesn't my opinion carry any weight around here?' Jack said in disgust.

'O'Neill, you are indeed not as intelligent as Daniel Jackson and Major Carter but you are a great warrior.' Teal'c took Jack's words literally.

Sam and Daniel were hard pressed to control the laughter bubbling up at this comment. Unfortunately their valiant efforts did not go unnoticed as Jack observed his second in command and Daniel with twitching mouths.

'If I were your CO,' he said coldly, 'I'd kick your ass for insubordination. Hey, I am your CO,' he finished up with a glare at Sam which only caused her to grin at him unrepentantly.

After a few moments, the mood became serious once more.

'Jack, I know what you're saying and I know that there is some danger involved here, but I am willing to take that risk. You've trained me well, Jack, I won't let you down.'

With a big sigh, mainly because he knew that if he denied Daniel the opportunity to carry out this task officially he would probably find some way to sneak in without the backup of the rest of the team, Jack grudgingly gave his approval.