Daniel's feet hit the ramp on Earth with a clatter, and the first thing he saw was Janet Frasier relaxing as all of SG-1 appeared, alive and superficially whole. "Stand down," came Hammond's voice from the control room. The wormhole disengaged, SF's lowering their weapons.
All of SG-1 moved to the end of the ramp, and shrugged off their packs with grimaces and small noises of discomfort. "Infirmary, now," said Janet sternly, noting their pained expressions.
Her gaze drifted to Daniel, and he followed her eyes to the sword in his hand, which was still tinged red with blood. Daniel, however, ignored the widening of her eyes, and followed the rest of the team as Janet led them to the infirmary.
Sitting on "his" bed, he could hear the soft murmur of voices as Janet questioned his teammates about the nature of their injuries. When she stepped around the curtain to check on him, he was waiting for her.
The katana was lying on the seat of a chair, his jacket and shirt draped over it. Janet pulled off the bandages, and looked carefully at the cuts. "This is going to need stitches," she told him, indicating his arm. He nodded, and looked away as she sewed up the deep cut. Inspecting the slice on his belly, she announced that it was harmless before hooking him up to an IV drip for fluids and antibiotics, just in case.
Uncharacteristically, Daniel spent the next two hours sleeping as the IV's ran their course. When Janet woke him, she told him that the rest of SG-1 were waiting in the briefing room, and handed him clean clothes to change into. He told Janet that he would be back for the katana, and hurriedly dressed.
When he arrived in the briefing room, it was to find Sam, Jack and Teal'c all on one side of the table, facing him. Daniel sat down opposite them, an empty chair on either side, acknowledging that the battle lines had been drawn.
Hammond's eyes narrowed at the seating arrangements, but Daniel was too weary - in body and soul - to care.
"All right," Hammond began, knowing that the next hour or so was likely to be tense, judging from the expressions - or lack thereof - on the faces of SG-1. "Let's begin. What happened when you arrived on the planet, Colonel?"
"Well, for once it appeared to be exactly the same as the MALP images, General," Jack began. "The land around the Stargate was a plains, with lots of rolling hills and a bit of scrub. Daniel dialed back and sent the MALP through, and we started off once the Stargate disengaged. The trek to the caves was four miles, and there was no apparent threat so we were on lighter guard. Carter would stop every so often to scoop some dirt.
"It was four miles out to the cave where the UAV picked up traces of naquahda. When we got there, Teal'c and I took point, checking out the cave before Carter and Daniel entered. The inside of the rock walls were - they glowed in the sunlight."
"Teal'c?" Hammond asked.
"There were thick veins of gold in the walls of the cave," the Jaffa returned. "The floor, and most of the rock surface, was covered in gold dust. It did not appear to have been mined at all."
"Interesting," the general murmured. "Continue, Colonel."
"I radioed to Carter that the inside was secure, but apparently there was something blocking the signal, so Teal'c and I went back to the cave mouth to get her attention. When we got there, the first thing I see is some Japanese-samurai type guys have surrounded the entrance to the cave. Carter was prepped to fight, but Daniel was standing within two feet of their leader, whose sword was at his throat," Jack's voice reverberated anger and something that might have been contempt.
"Dr. Jackson?" asked Hammond, cutting off his angry 2IC's tirade.
"About a mile from the Stargate I thought I saw the sunlight reflecting off something metallic in the distance," Daniel said. "I called Ja - the Colonel's attention to it, but no one else on the team saw anything. Shortly after this, I got the intense feeling that we were being watched. At this point I was seriously doubting the assumption that the planet was inhabited. When we reached the cave, Jack and Teal'c went inside. A few minutes after they disappeared, a man came out of the brush. He was followed by a band of eleven others. They all appeared Asian, and were dressed in traditional clothing from the feudal era in Japan. They were also armed."
Daniel took a deep breath. This is where it got tricky. "Sam tried to radio the Colonel for help, but the signal was blocked. Based on my knowledge of the samurai culture, I made the decision to approach their leader and try to avoid conflict." Jack snorted, and Daniel paled. Hammond shot a glare his way, and the colonel subsided. "He thought we were demons, and accused us of trespassing in a cave sacred to the Japanese sun goddess, Amaterasu. Apparently, after the Goa'uld Amaterasu transplanted these people to P5Y-362, they found the gold in the cave and assumed that it was a cave that figures importantly in the legend of Amaterasu. It was sacred ground.
"Jack and Teal'c emerged from the cave, and there was nothing I could do to keep them from slaughtering us immediately except - "
"He knelt, Sir," Sam cut in. "He got down on his knees in front of that man with a sword at his throat and -"
"It was the only thing I could do," Daniel interjected. "Japanese samurai took their honor very seriously, as did these people. By putting myself at his mercy, and acknowledging that he had beaten me, I kept him from having to physically prove his dominance."
"We could have taken them, Sir," said Jack stubbornly. "Up until Daniel got on the ground, we had our weapons. Even though they outnumbered us, we would have been able to take them out."
"No you wouldn't," Daniel said tiredly. "They were in too close a range, Jack. Sure, you might have killed half of them, but while you were wondering where the rest were, they'd have taken your gun, and your hands with it."
There was a moment of silence and Daniel seized it in order to continue. "I managed to convince the leader, Senichi, that we were not demons, but he and his band were determined that we face sentencing for trespassing on holy land. I told him that I followed his honor code, which ensured that we would receive good treatment at their hands."
"Then why has Dr. Frasier reported that Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Teal'c have been severely beaten?" the General asked.
"We tried to escape," Jack stated. "Daniel managed to see to it that even though they took our packs and weapons, we weren't tied up. A few miles from the Stargate, I faked a fall. Sam, Teal'c and I fought these samurai, but Daniel froze. They subdued us, pretty quickly. My goal was to get one of our weapons, but I didn't manage it before three of them jumped on me."
"Dr. Jackson?" Hammond inquired again.
"Any escape attempt at this point was pure folly," Daniel stated flatly. "All they succeeded in doing was proving to the samurai that my word regarding their conduct was worthless. I didn't try to fight because it couldn't have ended any other way. If I'd joined them, they would have killed us all, immediately, and not waited to take us to Hokkaido for judgement."
"Hokkaido?"
"That's the name of their village, sir," Carter responded. "It's about twenty-three, twenty-four miles from the 'gate."
"Just out of the UAV search quadrant," Hammond murmured.
"Ain't it always the way," Jack commented sourly.
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Major Carter?"
Sam continued. "I was knocked unconsious, sir. But I assume it was at this point where we were tied and gagged." The nods of her teammates corresponded with her narrative. "I have to assume that we traveled far. I didn't come to until we had stopped for the night. The samurai built a fire, and we were put in the center of camp, constantly guarded. The leader came over to talk to Daniel a bit, and he eventually gave him some food. Daniel was allowed to ungag us, and he fed us."
"Dr. Jackson was not tied?" asked Hammond. Upon receiving an answer in the negative, he said, "Continue, Major."
"We took watches, despite the guards, and the next morning the gags were replaced. We were brought to Hokkaido, which was about two more hours double-time, and presented to Lord Yasuo. He was apparently the ruler of the territory we were in. Then we were locked up. After a short period of time, the Colonel, Teal'c and I were brought outside. We were tied to a post and whipped, for trying to escape."
"For breaking your word," Daniel quietly corrected.
"We never promised them anything," Jack retorted tightly.
"I did." The response was quiet. "And I told you not to try."
"I - "
"Major?" asked Hammond, interrupting what promised to be an explosive argument.
"Sir." Carter responded. "After they were done, they brought us back to the hut. When I woke, Daniel was tending the Colonel. Apparently, despite the fact that they beat us, they gave him medical supplies. There was an interesting herb that acted like a painkiller on contact, and Janet has also reported that the cuts on each of us are free of bacteria, so it might also be used for cleaning out microorganisms."
"That could prove useful," the General commented. "Go on."
"Shortly after this they brought us food. When we were done eating, guards entered the hut and escorted us out of the Lord's compound and over a hill to the north of the village. When we reached the top, we were able to look down on a small valley, which had a massive building near the center. It was apparently a temple to the Goa'uld Amaterasu."
"Did you encounter any Goa'uld?" Hammond asked, voice tense.
"Amaterasu was defeated by the System Lord Susano-wo," Teal'c said smoothly. "Her defeat is legend among the System Lords. Susano-wo met his end at the hands of Seth, in ages past."
"Good," said Hammond. "Colonel O'Neill?" Daniel mentally strapped steel to his backbone, bracing himself for the part of the debriefing he dreaded most.
"We were brought into the temple to the priest and priestess of Ama-wassername, and they decided that Daniel and Carter were pretty much okay, because they didn't go into the cave. They were also pretty hooked by blue eyes. Teal'c and I were going to be sent to Yogi, or something, for judgement."
Hammond looked at the archaeologist, who explained. "Yomi. The Priestess was the one who was making the decisions. Apparently Senichi, the leader of the samurai who captured us, was also the priest of Amaterasu. Yomi is the Japanese underworld. Essentially, Jack and Teal'c were condemned to death, and the priest and priestess would let the gods deal with them for their transgression."
The general nodded. "Well, as you're all here, I'm going to assume that you managed to talk them out of their decision, Dr. Jackson."
"Not . . . exactly," said Daniel, staring at the table. The silence was oppressive.
"Daniel offered to fight them," said Jack bluntly.
"Dr. Jackson?" Hammond was politely disbelieving.
Daniel sighed. "When we were first captured, I entered myself into their society by saying that I followed the Bushido, which is roughly their honor code. It's also translated as the Way of the Warrior." Daniel stared at the table to avoid seeing raised brows across from him. "At that time, I claimed the Colonel, Sam and Teal'c under my protection, which would be easier than trying to teach them about the touchy etiquette of the samurai on the fly, and risk them doing something wrong.
"I had to extend my protection to them again in front of the priest and priestess. They didn't want to believe me because the others had already broken faith in the matter of acquiescing to being 'prisoners' of Lord Yasuo. They tried to escape. The priest - Senichi - wanted to deny them any defense. I had to assert my right to protect them under the code of Bushido."
"He had to fight Senichi, sir," said Carter.
"You fought a fully-trained samurai, Dr. Jackson?" Hammond was clearly astonished.
"Kicked his ass," Jack stated bluntly. "Killed him."
Daniel flinched. "Dammit, Jack, I didn't have any choice!" he cried. "It was either that or -" He cut himself off abruptly.
"Or?" asked Hammond gently, concerned for the distraught linguist.
"Seppuku," Daniel answered bitterly. "I disarmed him, defeated him in the field of battle. He would have committed Hara-kiri the instant we left the village." Interpreting the puzzled looks correctly, Daniel said shortly, "Ritualistic suicide. Self-disembowelment."
"Daniel Jackson gave the priest Senichi an honorable and painless death," said Teal'c.
"Well, Major?"
Jerking her gaze from an obviously upset Daniel, Carter continued. "They gave us our supplies and weapons, and a guide, and we left. We walked all the rest of that afternoon and night, and were at the Stargate roughly three hours after sunrise."
Hammond nodded, and after a short, tension-wracked silence, he said, "I'll expect your written reports by no later than 1800 tomorrow. You're on stand-down for the next two weeks."
"Sir?" asked Jack.
"Dr. Frasier assures me that you will be fully recovered in a week's time due to the local herb that was used," Hammond said. "The extension, however, is to give you time to chose a new member for SG-1."
"What?" came two surprised voices. Teal'c sat up straight.
"Yes," said Hammond quietly. "Dr. Jackson has handed me his resignation." Looks of disbelief turned to Daniel, who was quietly sitting in his chair. He met each of their shocked gazes in turn. "I'm going to retrieve the personnel files from my office. I expect you all to be here when I return." Turning, Hammond left the debriefing room, closing the door on the silence behind him.
- - - - - - - - - - -
I hope this chapter explains why Daniel had to kill Senichi. I got the sense that a few people were shocked by this, and I angst-ed over it for a while before I decided to commit to a particular course of action. Anywho, thanks so much for the support and continued interest! (psst - reviews make me happy! Happy authors write fast!)