Daniel glanced at the clock again. He closed the box he was filling, having made a significant dent in packing up his extensive library. His personal items, like the picture of Sha'uri, and their wedding cup, had been the first things to be carefully wrapped and packaged. His desk, for the first time, was neat; piles of translations-in-waiting carefully stacked and marked with the appropriate references.
If he didn't leave now, he would never be able to gear up in time. On his last trip through the Stargate, he wanted to watch all the chevrons encode, and be there for the full dialing sequence. It was a little thing, but it did mean a lot to him.
He went to the locker room, and was almost halfway geared up when Teal'c and Jack arrived. The Colonel raised a brow in surprise. "Turning over a new leaf, Danny? I'm shocked," he drawled. "You might actually be on time."
"Sure, Jack," the archaeologist replied carelessly. He picked up his gear and left.
Jack frowned at the retreating back, and looked at Teal'c. The Jaffa raised an eyebrow, silently and eloquently. "What's eating him?" he asked.
"I did not notice any carnivores attempting to devour Daniel Jackson," Teal'c replied.
Jack gave Teal'c a look, shook his head, then shrugged. It didn't matter, he'd find out soon enough. The two geared up and made their way to the 'Gateroom. Jack was surprised to find Daniel waiting for all of them, staring pensively at the 'Gate as the wormhole exploded and then retracted. The light from the event horizon bathed his features, and Jack could've sworn he saw unhappiness flicker across Daniel's face.
For his part, Daniel waited for the rest of the team to go through, taking one last look around the 'Gateroom. He stepped into the event horizon, and was roughly tossed out onto another world.
"Carter!" Jack snapped, standing up from where he had sprawled in the dirt. Daniel, who had unconsciously shifted his balance to keep his feet, had only been slammed into the DHD. He sucked in a quick breath, wincing a bit, and helped a groaning Sam rise.
"Sir?" she asked, brushing dirt from her BDU's.
"I thought we fixed it so we wouldn't get tossed out on our butts!"
"Sir, there's no way to fix that," Carter replied, a little irritated. Teal'c was standing by the MALP, a brow quirked as he listened to the team gather themselves. The majority of his attention was, as ever, focused on their surroundings.
"Daniel, check it out," Jack ordered.
The archaeologist glanced over the DHD, finding the correct final symbol for this planet, and pointed it out to the others before turning from the device.
Daniel surveyed the planet. It was a rolling plains, dotted with scrub and trees. The hilly landscape gave way to mountains within five miles of the 'Gate, with a few trees dotting the rocky sides.
"Let's go, campers," said Jack authoritatively. "Teal'c, take point. I'm on our six. Carter? Ready?"
She looked up from her cases of sampling equipment and nodded. Daniel reached out and grabbed a case, while Sam grabbed the second. The team began to make the trip in relative silence, Sam monitoring her equipment and every so often calling for a halt so that she could collect a vial of dirt.
About two miles into the trek, Daniel began feeling uneasy, as if he was being watched. He covertly observed his companions. Teal'c seemed more alert than usual. Though Jack was joking lightly with Sam as she scooped dirt, his hand didn't stray far from his P-90. Sam herself was paying more attention to her surroundings than her sample, surprisingly. They could all feel that something was wrong, but each carefully avoided mentioning it.
Looking around carefully, Daniel noticed the light from the two suns glinting off metal in the distance, and he froze, taking several steps forward. Focusing on the light, he listened as Sam packed away her sample and Jack gave the order to move out. A cloud moved over the sun, and the reflected rays disappeared.
"Daniel!" The archaeologist jumped as Jack, coming up behind him, snapped out his name. "We're moving out. Come on."
"I thought I saw something," Daniel said, gazing back toward the hills.
"What?"
"I think the sun was reflecting off metal, of some sort."
"Teal'c? Did you see anything?" Jack snapped, shooting an irritated glance at the Jaffa's back. Daniel's lips pressed together in a tight line.
The Jaffa turned toward their position, but never abandoned his intense scrutiny of their surroundings. His voice was uncharacteristically terse. "I did not, O'Neill."
Daniel, facing away from his companions, winced. "I don't think this planet is as uninhabited as it appears, Jack."
"It was probably nothing, Daniel," said Jack, dismissing his concerns. "Let's head out. We've still got a ways to go."
Daniel shook his head in resignation. Pushing the issue would certainly do nothing but lengthen their stay, and for once, the archaeologist just wanted to get back to Earth. Resolving to stay on the alert, he followed Jack and fell into step just behind Sam. Again, the feeling that he was being scrutinized followed him, but he kept his uncertainty in check, locked behind the wall that contained his emotions, the wall that was growing steadily thicker and taller.
Wary, he gazed around himself, feeling more and more certain that someone was observing them as they walked. He kept one hand close to the Beretta strapped to his thigh. Although he disliked the weapon intensely, knowing that he was ready to use it was a form of reassurance in itself.
Daniel's agitation, though he tried to carefully screen it behind a blank mask, grew, and he knew that his unease was being blatantly telegraphed to both his team and the invisible watchers.
In a surprising split of the team, Jack and Teal'c progressed into the caves first, and Daniel and Sam waited outside.
"The possibilities of finding naquadah here are incredible," the blonde scientist said, smiling. "The trace amounts have been substantially increasing, and my reading here show a considerable source. The planet is uninhabited, and if this pans out it could be a great advantage for the SGC."
Daniel, now, seriously doubted that this would pan out, but he threw a half-hearted smile her way.
His smile disappeared, and his head whipped around, as he heard a distinct noise in the brush. "Daniel?" asked Sam, noting his sudden movement.
Daniel sighed, and stood from where he'd been leaning against the mountainside. "I think that we're going to have to increase the sweep area for the UAV's," he said dryly. "Twenty miles doesn't seem to be enough."
"What are you -" Sam abruptly cut off as a man appeared from the brush. Daniel glanced at him, his eyes flickering around the grove. The man smiled slightly, and gave a signal that had many other men, armed, appearing in a circle around the cave mouth.
"Sir," Sam whispered into her radio. "Sir!" there was no response. "Damn, the mountain must be blocking the signal," she hissed.
Daniel stepped forward, hands out, and looked carefully at the people around him. All were reasonably tall, and slender, with a definite Asian cast to their features. Their clothes were simple, pants and short robe-like shirts belted across the middle, colored to blend into their surroundings. Each man carried a weapon, most holding swords and short knives with a definite Japanese style.
The first man to step forward, obviously the leader, took a stride towards Daniel. "You have trespassed on our sacred ground," he said simply. His voice was as dark as his sable hair, the threat promising retribution.
Daniel bowed simply, from the waist, palms flat on his thighs. "I extend our apologies to you," he responded, sensing the danger and trying to diffuse the threat. "We come to your world through the Chappa'ai, the Stargate," he said, pointing in it's direction. "We know nothing of your ways, but never would we wish to offend."
"It is far too late for that," the man decreed, his face a visage contorted with controlled anger. "You have tread upon the land sacred to Amaterasu, tengri!"
Daniel glanced at the cave, and swore silently. "Had we not, would you have allowed us to go free?"
"That is of little consequence," the man returned. Daniel's heart sank. "As defilers of the sacred cave of Amaterasu, I claim you as my prisoners. You shall be brought before our people and judged accordingly."
Just when Daniel thought that they'd hit rock bottom, Teal'c and Jack emerged from the cave. The man in front of him immediately drew his sword, pointing it at Daniel's throat.
Jack and Teal'c raised their weapons immediately.
Mexican standoff.
Daniel carefully raised his hands to either side, knowing that the only way out of this for them was to allow their captors to take them to be judged, and hopefully talk their way out of it. His teammates, he knew, would not see that as an option. But Daniel knew something of the tradition of Japanese warrior clans. They had evolved long ago, devoting themselves to the protection of the life and property of local feudal lords, in exchange for livelihood. They did nothing but practice, fight, and die for their Shugan. Each man in this party was probably trained from childhood. In other words, automatic weapons or not, they didn't stand a chance in this proximity.
Daniel slowly sank to his knees, keeping his body straight and eyes locked on the man's face. A slight flicker of surprise was revealed at this show of acquiescence. Daniel was acknowledging the man's superior fighting force, but not his dominance. "I follow the Bushido," he said lowly, so that only the men around him heard. "I claim the rights due to me."
"You are tengri from the east," the man scoffed.
"No," Daniel insisted. "I can prove it!"
"How?" The man was clearly skeptical.
Daniel responded simply, "Let me show you." He slowly pulled out his knife, and pushed up the sleeve to his jacket.
"Daniel?" asked Jack, worry in his voice.
Daniel ignored him, and cut a shallow gash across the back of his forearm. Red blood welled up. "I am not tengri," he claimed. "Neither are they. We are as you."
The man stared at Daniel carefully. "You may not be tengri," he said finally. Suspicion still colored his voice. "Yet it is grave for mortals to trespass in the cave of the goddess."
"Daniel!" called Jack, his voice angry.
"I bow to the judgement of your people," Daniel said softly.
"And these?" the man said, gesturing to the others.
"They are under my protection," Daniel said firmly, ignoring the ridiculousness of the idea.
"Then they are extended the same rights as you," the man said. He lowered his sword, and Daniel rose to his feet.
Each man bowed, and Daniel waited for the other man to turn away first. Sighing, he went to his friends.
"Daniel, what's going on?" demanded Jack.
"Put the gun down," Daniel said softly.
"Not until you tell me what the hell's going on!" Jack retorted, tightening his grip on the gun.
"Put it down!" Daniel snapped, his voice carrying over the clearing. Now was not the time for every moment of mistrust he and Jack had ever experienced to come rushing back.
'It's not that we don't believe you, Daniel – it's just that we don't believe you.'
'If you're ever going to trust me Jack, do it now.'
'Flaky on a good day . . .'
Ruthlessly shoving those thoughts away, he took a step forward, invading Jack's personal space. Surprise echoed on all the team member's faces. "We're their prisoners," he hissed, voice low as he shucked his pack. "I've claimed rights for fair treatment under their laws until we're judged by their rulers. It's conditional on us giving up our weapons and supplies."
"And if we don't?" asked Sam.
"They'll kill us where we stand," Daniel replied succinctly, unstrapping his gun and ejecting the clip. "Make no mistake, they know how to use those swords. If they follow the culture of the ancient Japanese warriors, they've been trained since they were children."
"What?" asked Jack.
"Samurai, Jack," Daniel retorted sharply, crouching to pull out his canteen. He shoved up his sleeve, revealing the shallow gash.
"What happened, Daniel Jackson?" asked Teal'c, eyeing the cut. Daniel pulled his knife, stained with his own blood, from its sheath and plunged it into the earth up to the hilt.
"I had to convince them that we're not tungri," Daniel explained. "They thought we were demons first, I believe." He glanced at the others, and noted that the samurai were approaching. Jack, seeing his glare, sighed and began to reluctantly disarm. Sam and Teal'c followed suit, slowly. "Since we came from the east, they assumed that we were wicked spirits, probably out to cause mischief. But they didn't feel the need to do anything about us until we trespassed."
"Where did we trespass?" Sam asked as the samurai warily surrounded them and whisked away their things.
"The cave is apparently sacred ground."
"They are not going to bind us?" asked Teal'c, raising a brow.
"No," answered Daniel.
"Well, that'll make this much easier, then." The speculation in Jack's voice angered Daniel beyond belief. That he didn't know why now, of all times, he should expect Jack to believe him, made defeat crowd in on him. He took several deep breaths to stave it off, and when he spoke, rage shook his voice.
"Don't you get it, Jack? They're not going to tie us up because they have no need to do so. We would never be able to escape."
"Aren't you being a bit of a defeatist, Daniel?" asked Sam. The words, unexpected and unprepared for, stung.
"No!" he cried, keeping his voice down. "I'm being a realist. They followed us here from practically the Stargate itself, all without giving themselves away in the slightest!"
"Well if you knew, why the hell didn't you say anything?" hissed Jack, cutting in.
Daniel cast disparaging eyes over the colonel, feeling defeat rise up within him. He choked it back again, having to force himself to believe that once he explained, the others would understand. "I did say something, Jack. You dismissed my concerns out of hand because no one else backed me up. But that's not the point - the point is that they have more skill and knowledge of this land than we do, and we would never be able to get away!"
"You never know until you try," Sam pointed out, sensing the archaeologist's distress and trying to soothe. This attitude was very unlike her normally controlled, and mostly-unflappable teammate.
"Dammit, don't you hear what I'm saying!" Daniel cried, loosing patience. "These people have a strict code of honor that governs everything they do. They live and die for it."
"Good for them," Jack muttered.
"And to keep them from feeling honor-bound to kill us here and now, I've had to enter into their system, declare myself one of them, in order to get us a chance to talk our way out of this alive!"
"You've also given us a chance to run for it," Jack said, voice low and intent, interrupting yet again. "And I damn well plan to take advantage of it at the soonest opportunity." Daniel shook his head. Jack was going to get them killed. "Daniel, I know it's your job to deal with the people. But it's my job to get us in and out alive, especially in tight situations. Until you got close to that guy to try to talk to him, there was a chance we could have gotten out of here quickly, with the minimum amount of killing. So just sit back and do what I damn well tell you for once!"
The words cut deeply, and Daniel was startled by how much it hurt. Taking his shocked silence as tacit agreement, Jack stepped away from the huddle SG-1 had created outside the cave mouth. Sam and Teal'c also fell back, following Jack, leaving Daniel alone. Again.
Something inside twisted and tore, splintering to pieces that stabbed his heart and made tears start in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, fortifying himself with the thought of his resignation safely in Hammond's possession, Daniel followed as the rest of SG-1 became part of the line of warriors that were preparing to move out across the plain. He consciously took a step back, and the tears receded to leave him dry-eyed and quivering imperceptibly. Dread weighed him down, and he was caught fast. Honor, and the situation, demanded that he turn his team over to the leader. If he didn't, and they attempted to escape, they could all be killed. If he did - he shuddered. It would never, ever go that far. He would never be able to turn on them like that.
The line of men crossed the plains, the twelve effectively locking SG-1 into the center of their group. Two preceded, two followed, and four flanked the team on each side. Scouts ranged out in several directions, returning to report back continuously throughout the journey. The main group headed northwest across the plains, presumably to the village.
The walk was at a swift jog, and continued for several hours. The members of SG-1 had no difficulty in keeping up, at least for the first part of the journey. Eventually Jack, who was in the head of the line, began to limp, slowing up, exaggerating a knee injury. Daniel knew with a thrill of horror that the attempt would come soon.
Not half an hour later, Jack stumbled and fell. The line ground to a momentary halt, and he attacked. Sam and Teal'c, seeing him begin to fight, also started to resist, attacking the nearest men they could reach.
Daniel did nothing.
He watched as Teal'c knocked two men unconscious, but was felled by three more. He watched as Sam was rendered senseless by a swift blow, and as Jack was forcibly restrained by three of the samurai.
The entire struggle was over within minutes, the pathetic attempt easily subdued. Daniel looked between Jack and Teal'c, still panting fiercely and struggling to get free of the men who pinioned them. The leader, whom Daniel had heard referred to as Senichi, stalked over to him. "Do you still claim the rights of Bushido for these?" he demanded. His entire posture radiated the anger of betrayal.
"I hold myself responsible for their conduct," Daniel replied gravely, in the affirmative.
"You would take their punishments onto yourself?"
"To restore your faith in my honor," Daniel replied. He was outwardly relaxed, but inwardly he was tense and frightened. He knew that it was within Senichi's power to kill them all, and he hoped that the escape attempt hadn't destroyed all faith between them. Now, that was all that had a chance of getting them back to the Stargate alive.
"Dammit Daniel!" Jack shouted, struggling viciously. Two more samurai ran to assist in keeping him restrained.
Daniel closed his eyes briefly, closing in on himself for a moment. Just a moment.
When he opened them, he found Senichi studying him closely. "You care for these?" The quiet question was loaded, but Daniel could not see the end result.
"A man sometimes has no choice in the brothers - and sisters -" he added, with a glance at Sam, "- of his heart."
Senichi nodded thoughtfully, his hand relaxing on the hilt of his weapon. "You have tried to protect them, but it appears that they do not wish it. Your honor, your actions, hold you blameless. However, they have forfeited the right to your protection."
Daniel shook his head in horror. He knew that the honor of the samurai would keep their captives alive, and would prevent them from torture, yet he knew the severity of the punishment this offense would wreak. He opened his mouth to say something, and Senichi cut him off, almost gently. "You can do no more for them until we reach Hokkaido."
Daniel bowed his head in adrenaline-pumped acknowledgement. Inwardly his mind was racing, wondering at the coincidence of this village having the same name as the northernmost isle of Japan.
Senichi placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I see pain in your eyes for them," he said softly. "Love and fear, but pain. You protect them so, when it is clear that they have caused you more harm than ever we could."
Daniel turned startled blue eyes upon the samurai. He felt his face twist in grief as he looked at his friends. "Our lives will soon take different paths, and I will walk alone," he said. "But their pain will always be mine."
Senichi sighed. "Then I am sorrowed to add to it," he said. "I have no choice, and am honor-bound."
Daniel nodded. "As am I. I understand."
The two men bowed to each other, and Daniel was left staring at his teammates as their hands were tied. They were each gagged as well. Two samurai lifted Sam effortlessly, and began to carry her, moving at a swift jog. Four took custody of Jack, and four went to Teal'c. These eight unsheathed their weapons, and moved quickly along the plains. Daniel followed, the two samurai guarding him respecting his adherence to their etiquette by not drawing their weapons.
They ran at that speed for the rest of their first day on the planet. With the coming of dusk, the pace slowed to a gentle jog. As soon as the three moons rose high in the sky, Senichi called a halt. Jack, Teal'c, and Sam were heavily guarded, and placed in the center of the small encampment, near the fire. Daniel was left to his own devices.
Sighing, he went to his teammates. Knowing his rights in this culture, he checked them all carefully. Sam had since regained consciousness, and looked confused at his freedom. He removed their gags, but left their bonds in place.
"Daniel, what happened back there?" Jack asked, entire body tense – which was a feat in itself after their exertions that day. Apparently, the long run back had not consumed all his anger. "Why didn't you at least try to help us?"
"I had a good idea of what you were going up against, Jack," Daniel sighed. "We're outnumbered and outmatched here, even for us."
Sam shifted and groaned, and Daniel moved to her. "Sam?" he said softly. She groaned again and he carefully lifted her up. Jack and Teal'c moved over to him, and Sam blinked. "Why aren't you tied, Daniel?"
"He froze," Jack said bluntly. Daniel shook his head, trying to keep the anguish out of his expression.
"Daniel?" Sam turned wide blue eyes on him. Daniel knew that she wasn't looking for a defense, but an explanation, and took another careful emotional step away.
"The cave that Jack and Teal'c entered is sacred on this planet," he responded tightly. "Amaterasu is the sun goddess of Japanese mythology. She - "
"Daniel," came the clipped, expected interruption. "Short version only, please."
Daniel clamped down on a few choice retorts, waiting a moment before replying, "She came into conflict with another god, and fled into a cave. Eventually she was tricked into leaving. The point being that these people think the cave we were in was their goddess' sanctuary, for a time. Holy ground."
That was the extremely condensed version. Ameaterasu had ruled the high plains of heaven, and was gifted by her father, Izanagi, with a sacred bead necklace. Her brother, Susano-wo, had wanted to join his mother in the Japanese underworld. In Izanagi's fury at this revelation, Susano-wo was banished. However, Susano-wo planned to take over Amaterasu's kingdom; and to do so he challenged her to a contest. The more powerful of the two would be able to win by creating more male dieties. Amaterasu broke her brother's sword into three pieces, which she chewed. Each of these pieces became a female goddess. Susano-wo took Amaterasu's fertility beads, and cracked them with his teeth, producing five male gods. He claimed that he had won the contest, but Amaterasu protested because the gods came from her beads. Susano-wo ignored her, and celebrated his victory by wreaking havoc on the earth. Amaterasu was forced to flee in terror and hid in a cave. The world was cast into darkness, and the evil gods had the power to perform their wicked deeds undetected. The good deities beseeched Amaterasu to return to the world, and managed to trick her into doing so after she refused.
Teal'c's brow rose, and Daniel could see that the Jaffa knew something. "Teal'c?"
The large man nodded. "I am familiar with the System Lord Susano-wo. His defeat of Amaterasu is legendary, as is his own downfall at the hands of Seth."
"Sounds like we don't have any Goa'ulds to worry about, then," sighed Jack in relief. "Things are finally on the up."
"Don't count on it," Daniel grimly countered.
"Why?" asked Sam.
"The punishment that they will inflict for trying to escape will be severe. So severe, that they're waiting until we get to their village, Hokkaido."
Jack raised a brow, questioning.
"No one wants to drag along prisoners who are unable to walk, or care for themselves," the archaeologist unwillingly clarified.
"Daniel?" Jack's voice rose alarmingly.
Teal'c saved Daniel the trouble of answering. "What will this punishment be?"
"I have no idea," Daniel answered.
"Well, peachy," Jack commented acerbically, but Daniel told himself he was accustomed to it by now, and shook his head.
"Daniel."
Daniel turned, to see Senichi calling his name. He stood, turned to the man, and bowed.
"That happens a lot around here," he heard Jack whisper. The uncharitable thought that he should have replaced the gags flew into his head and he banished it with a frown.
"Senichi."
"We are not far from Hokkaido. Tomorrow we will enter the village, and you will be judged by the priest and priestess of Amaterasu." Senichi glanced at the remainder of SG-1. "I will see that you have food and drink."
Daniel bowed again. "Thank you."
Senichi bowed and strode into the darkness. Daniel turned to his friends. "I'm sorry," he said, feeling sick at heart. "But I can't untie you. It would be a breach of trust."
"And we wouldn't want that, would we?" snarled Jack, patience gone. He pulled at his bonds, fury overcoming his good sense.
"Seeing as how that trust is the only thing keeping them from killing you, no, we wouldn't," responded Daniel wearily. "I know you have a hard time with trust, Jack, but suck it up. I will gag you myself before I let you get us any deeper than we already are."
"What do you mean?" asked Sam, carefully covering for the colonel's open-mouthed shock.
Daniel sat back, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is an extremist culture. Honor is the only thing that keeps these nomadic bands from eradicating one another. It's - it's a survival mechanism. The ability to trust in a common code, no matter what other differences or beliefs a tribe may have, is the only saving grace these people have." Daniel straightened, not allowing himself to slump. "Can you see how important that is?"
"Daniel, how great was that breach of trust we created by trying to escape?" Sam asked, eyes wide.
Daniel could see that his words were finally having an impact. Teal'c as well was looking grim. Grimmer than usual.
"They would be well within their rights to kill us, would they not, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel nodded, relieved that they finally got it, were finally listening. He saw Senichi approaching, holding a cup and a bowl. "Nourishment," the man offered.
"My thanks," Daniel replied, bowing once more. He sniffed the liquid in the cup, which appeared to be only water, and looked at the tiny, plump rice granules in the bowl. Two small sticks, eating implements, were also located there.
"You will get no more," he cautioned. "Do not waste." Senichi bowed and walked off.
Daniel returned to his friends, who had caught the entire exchange.
"Well then, glass of water, crust of bread, eh, Dannyboy?" Jack said.
"I take it that means you're thirsty," Daniel replied, sitting down. He carefully held the cup to the lips of each teammate, himself consuming the dregs.
"Whatcha got there?" asked Jack, leaning over.
"I think it's this planet's version of the MRE," Sam intoned baldly.
"Indeed," said Teal'c, after Daniel fed him the first bite. "What type of vegetable is this, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel grimaced. "Rice. I think. Not actually a vegetable. It's a grain, of some sort."
"Interesting. The taste is not unlike that of chicken."
Jack snorted, and even Daniel cracked a smile.
Moving on, Daniel gave Sam her quarter of the portion, listening to the banter between Jack and Teal'c.
"You know, fish is commonly served with rice."
"I find myself hesitant to trust that information, O'Niell."
"Why?" the indignant question rang out.
"Having never caught a fish, I would not assume that you have the experience in knowing what other foods would be best served with such a dish."
Relaxing a little at Jack's sputtering, Daniel smiled at Sam. "Thanks," she whispered. "Daniel?" she caught his attention as he moved to Jack, and he half-turned. The firelight shadowed his face. "You're doing a good job," Sam said.
A bitter smile flickered over Daniel's face. Too little, too late. But all he said was, "Thanks, Sam. We'll know more tomorrow."
She nodded, and leant back, attempting to make herself comfortable on the ground between Jack and Teal'c.
Jack's noises cut off abruptly, and she could hear the silence. Was it really so long ago that Daniel would have been coaxing Jack to eat, the two of them exchanging a friendly banter over the food, company, and general state of things? Now, there was a strange tension between them that pulled the whole team out of sync.
Jack lay down as well. "Daniel, first watch. I'll take second, Teal'c third, Carter fourth."
Noises of assent came from all the team, and Teal'c settled into kel'no'reem as Carter and Jack drifted to sleep.
Daniel moved to the opposite side of the fire, eating his cold food and contemplating the following day. In all likelihood, the Shogun who commanded the loyalty of Senichi and his samurai would turn SG-1 over to the priest and priestess of Amaterasu for judgement and sentencing. Daniel hoped that he could talk their way out of punishment, not wanting to think about the alternatives. If there was no other option, however, he could claim his rights under the code of Bushido . . .
Daniel shivered. There might, just might, be a way out of this if worse came to worst.