Hi, yes I'm still here.
I'm sorry for the delay - hope you're still out there :o)
Disclaimer, see previous chapters
And a good heart these days is hard to find,
True love, the lasting kind.
A good heart these days is hard to find,
so please be gentle with this heart of mine – A Good Heart - Fergal Sharkey
-o-o-
Daniel stopped abruptly in thought, distancing himself from the group searching the remaining offices. Jack motioned for the others to continue and then turned to face the Egyptologist, "Daniel?"
The younger man looked up, "something's not right, Jack."
O'Neill sighed, "not right as in?" He placated.
"I don't know. I just have this nagging feeling we've missed something," his brow furrowed, "something...?" He whispered perplexed.
Jack leant against the wall with one hand, "like?" He said restlessly, still keeping one eye on the advancing search.
"Like, um, like," his eyes widened, "the, the obsidian blade!"
"The knife?" O'Neill said, with scepticism.
"Yes, yes, it's, it's a part of the ritual, his ritual," Daniel explained, breathlessly. "Why the hell didn't I see it before, he wouldn't leave it behind."
Jack looked at him for a moment then reached for his radio, "Carter?"
No reply, Jack tried again, "Carter?"
-o-o-o-
Jonas looked up at Sam's face as he clung to the walls of death's dank and pitch-black shaft. The steep stonework around him dripped with despondency and pessimism turning the footholds greasy. He began to climb, slowly, keeping his mind focused on the future's dawn that was radiating with hope from the opening above. A couple of times he wavered, missing his footing and slipped back down into the gloom but Sam's soothing voice and strong hold kept him going.
As he neared life's threshold he felt the daylight gently kiss his skin. Pain burned through his body and fatigue beckoned with opened arms but still he pressed forward, hand over hand until he reached the edge of the parapet.
He opened his eyes and grasped Sam's hand firmly, "Wright!" He cried with breathless exhaustion, struggling against the crippling effects of the wound and the drugs.
Sam placed a hand on his shoulder and turned her head slightly to see the pitiless and domineering form of Lieutenant Wright standing in the doorway.
-o-o-o-
Jonas felt Sam's body fall across his own as the Goa'uld hit her with a wave of energy from the ribbon device. He tried desperately to connect with the eye but his drugged mind still wandered aimlessly in its suffocating bubble. He pushed hard, using all of his self-control, trying to penetrate the cloud of confusion that surrounded his ability and through the pain of determination he found a chink.
-o-o-o-
Daniel's hands instinctively went to his head as it began to pound. He stopped, his body bowing slightly with the pressure erupting in his skull and let out a small cry of anguish. He heard Jack's voice over him but it seemed distant and indistinct. A slight trickle of blood began to seep from his nose and he felt his energy begin to evaporate in the swirls that fogged his comprehension. Jack gripped his arm to stop him from keeling over and he sensed something, someone in the back of his thoughts.
"Jonas?" He questioned in a whisper.
He quickly reached for his radio ignoring the Colonel's concern, "General Hammond?"
"Go ahead Doctor Jackson."
"General you have to dial Aztlan, the planet, the planet we were excavating."
"Aztlan?" Hammond's voice sounded guarded.
Daniel looked at O'Neill as he regained his composure, wiping the blood from under his nose, "Jack, it's Jonas he connected with me," he explained.
Jack moved his radio closer to his mouth and gritted his teeth slightly, "General, I think we should do as Daniel says," he gave a small shrug and helped the Egyptologist to his feet.
"Alright Colonel, it's your call, we will begin dialling straight away."
-o-o-o-
Jack and Daniel entered Booard's office. A gurney lay on its side amid the unconscious forms of several medical staff and in the centre of this disarray Lieutenant Wright stood wielding the limp figure of Samantha Carter.
O'Neill raised his weapon as the Goa'uld turned to face them, "thought you were dead," Jack spat.
The Lieutenant's eyes sparked with guile, "ah, I see I had not as much time as I thought. What a shame, I would of enjoyed owning this body," he pulled the unconscious form of Carter to him, resting the hand device against the side of her head.
"Jack..."
"I see it Daniel," O'Neill replied, not taking his eye from the Goa'uld.
Huitzilopochtli forced the host's lips into a lopsided smile, while his eyes challenged O'Neill, "your bullets are useless, Colonel," he mocked, "the will not penetrate my shield."
"Yeah, well, I'm pretty good with a knife as well," O'Neill retorted.
The Goa'uld held Sam up in front of him, "how good, Colonel?"
-o-o-o-
The Stargate spun to the last co-ordinate and locked into place, then fell silent. There was no blast of watery energy spinning down the gantry, no polished pool shimmering in its circle. The General watched from the observation room above, while Sergeant Davis verified his settings and controls.
"I don't understand it, Sir, everything checks out."
The General moved closer to the glass window, "what in the hell..?"
Smoke like vapours seeped from the quartzite metal of the ring, twisting through the symbols and licking the air. They merged together rolling to the floor in a cushion of fog that crept rhythmically along the gantry to where Teal'c stood. The Jaffa watched the carpet of pearl-grey smoke slither around his feet, smothering them in its shroud. A wispy tendril extended about his body, touching his soul like the fingers of a blind man. He heard layer upon layer of whispering voices calling in the haze, "my heart is with me, and it shall never come to pass that it be carried away."
Davis looked at Hammond, a slight panic reflected in his voice, "Sir?"
The General's hand hovered over the alarm but Teal'c looked up at him and shook his head, "I believe it is looking for the Goa'uld," he said, watching it trail off through a vent.
-o-o-o-
Jonas felt a strong hand grasp his own, pulling him from his stupor. He opened his eyes and saw the Potter smouldering in front of him surrounded by an unearthly glow. The old man placed his hand on the Kelownan's wound, "you call us forth so we can at last confront the false God who left us incomplete to walk as shades amongst the living," he whispered, in a hundred voices that wavered with the flux of his image.
The Potter's touch burned through Jonas as it boosted the reparative ability of the Goa'uld gene. He let out a small gasp and awkwardly sat up, clutching the sides of the couch for support. The old man smiled warmly, at him, and then turned his head towards an object on the floor. Jonas narrowed his eyes and followed the Potter's gaze to the obsidian blade, "all we crave is peace, to be weighed as our ancestors before us, so we can each enter the halls of the Gods; we share a common enemy, Jonas Quinn."
"I, I don't want revenge," the Kelownan replied, steadfastly, his eyes not leaving the blooded knife, "I just want him stopped."
"Then give us retribution," the voices boomed, "take the knife and free our hearts so that they can be weighed."
Jonas hesitated as he removed the glove from his hand. He knew he had to act, Sam was in danger but he was fearful of the intense emotion that touching the blade would bring upon his soul. He painfully got to his feet and staggered across to where Daniel had left the ceremonial knife and picked it up. As he handled the carved piece of obsidian he immediately felt the full sting of sorrow, from those it had taken, pierce his body. He felt their residue stretch into his heart as he witnessed the blade plunge into each of its victims, time and time again.
He dropped the knife to the floor and fell to his knees clutching his wound. He tried to breathe but his breathing was panicked as his soul absorbed the anguish that eddied around him.
The Potter placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, "will you help us reclaim that, that was so cruelly cut from our bodies. Will you make us whole, once more, so we can continue our journey to the afterlife? Will you give us our revenge?"
Jonas nodded and closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of many grieving voices course through his mind, spirits lost in the ether between the living and the dead. The Potter bowed his head gracefully and evaporated back into the layer of flowing miasma that curdled and then slinked into Jonas's chest.
-o-o-o-
Huitzilopochtli sneered and looked O'Neill straight in the eye, "drop your weapon, now, Colonel," he spat, "you too Doctor Jackson."
"How about you let Major Carter go first," Jack countered, "and I'll think about it," he said, edging forward.
"You are in no position to negotiate here," the Goa'uld cried angrily, taking an involuntary step back, "I will kill the woman if you do not do as I say."
Jack saw Sam's eyes flutter momentarily as Huitzilopochtli gripped her tighter, "okay, okay," he conceded, relinquishing his handgun and gesturing for Daniel to do the same.
"Your knife as well Colonel," the Goa'uld stipulated, motioning for O'Neill to slide it out of reach.
Jack did as instructed, "now what?"
"You will make sure I reach the Chappa'ai unharmed and allow me to leave this miserable planet. In return I will spare Major Carter."
"Scout's honour?" O'Neill challenged.
The Goa'uld narrowed his eyes, "and go where?" Daniel asked, trying to calm the situation.
"That does not concern you," Huitzilopochtli growled.
"Oh, I think it does," Jack moralized, "especially if we're letting you loose to snack on others."
"Be glad that I choose not to 'snack' on you, Colonel," the Goa'uld smiled.
"Yeah, well, forgive me for not being grateful."
Out of the corner of his eye Daniel noticed Jonas stumble to the doorway, of the other office, behind Huitzilopochtli, "we will need co-ordinates from you at some point," he ventured, trying to distract the Goa'uld.
Jack also saw the Kelownan as Jonas awkwardly shifted his weight in order to keep from collapsing. O'Neill winced, "we can dial your chosen planet now if..." He offered, resting his hand on his radio.
"No! I will provide you with a location when I am safely at the Chappa'ai." Huitzilopochtli cried impatiently. "Now enough of this banal exchange, you are wasting time."
He pulled Sam closer to his new body, "I warn you, do not try and trick me."
'Okay Junior, whatever you're gonna do, you'd better do it now,' Jack murmured under his breath.
Jonas leant against the doorjamb, for support, while keeping his gaze firmly on the back of the Goa'uld. He raised a heavy arm in readiness to throw the obsidian blade but as he tipped forward, to release the knife, his body weight betrayed him sending him crashing forward.
Huitzilopochtli turned his head in the direction of the fallen Kelownan, "what treachery is this?" He yelled angrily.
"Damn," Jack muttered, turning to retrieve his own knife while the Goa'uld was preoccupied.
Huitzilopochtli sensed the risk from Jonas was less than that from the other two men. He quickly twisted back to O'Neill and keeping one arm around Sam discharged a shot pushing both Jack and Daniel to the floor.
"Shit," the Colonel cried, trying to shake the pain and stars from his head, "Daniel?"
He looked to where the Egyptologist had fallen; Jackson was out cold.
"It would have been a lot less painful for you, Colonel, if you had done as I asked," the Goa'uld sneered looking down at him; Jack scowled back with contempt.
"Colonel, is everything alright?" Hammond's voice whipped around the room with a static tail, "Major Andrews has informed me you and Doctor Jackson have left the main search party."
Huitzilopochtli snorted and pressed his hand to Sam's temple, "be careful how you answer," he threatened.
Carter's eyes flicked open making contact with O'Neill's. She moved her finger, slightly, signalling to her own knife that was still sheathed on her vest; Jack nodded, "General, Daniel had a hunch that we're following up," he replied, holding Sam's gaze.
"Okay Colonel. Do you know how Mr Quinn's doing, we're having problems raising the medical team?" Hammond continued.
O'Neill looked across the unconscious forms scattered across the floor, "they're still with him Sir, they're having difficulty moving him at present," he replied.
"Very well, Colonel, keep me posted, Hammond out."
Huitzilopochtli smiled, "very good," he scoffed, moving his palm away from Sam's temple.
"Don't mention it," O'Neill retorted, gripping his sides as he tried to sit up.
The Goa'uld grunted and went to reply but then hesitated as his gaze fell upon the obsidian blade. His eyes widened as they absorbed every inch of the carved piece of volcanic rock that still bleed with Jonas's potent blood. He licked his lips; the thought of obtaining the Kelownan's heart, the heart that he had helped sculpt, was tempting him beyond that of self-preservation.
Huitzilopochtli bent down and picked up the ceremonial tool, casting Sam to the floor so he could run his fingertips in the viscous crimson that clung to its surface. He inhaled, deeply, rolling the thickening blood between his thumb and forefinger, in deliberation, before bringing it to his lips to taste. He closed his eyes, sensing the divine power of Jonas's heart as it corroded his tongue, its capacity to love, to hate, to mend and to break.
He turned to O'Neill and an insane smiled pulled the host's lips back, "I do believe I 'now' have time for a snack," he declared, coating his mouth with the blood from the blade.
"The hell you do," Jack responded, attempting to stand.
The Goa'uld laughed, cruelly, and sent Jack spiralling into a world of hurt with an outstretched palm.
Sam carefully shifted her weight so she could remove the knife, which was situated in a pocket under her body. Her fingers skilfully undid the Velcro fastening but the soft noise it made drew the Goa'uld's attention.
Carter closed her eyes, feigning unconsciousness, as Huitzilopochtli lingered above her pushing his foot, solidly, into her side. She remained silent and still as the pain burned through her, biting her lip to alleviate the agony.
The Goa'uld turned away, satisfied, and headed to where Jonas lay, rolling the Kelownan over onto his back. He knelt over the injured man and dragged the obsidian blade across his own hand, cutting deep into his palm. He made a fist so his blood ran freely and then placed this hand over the deep lesion in Jonas's chest. The young man flinched and Huitzilopochtli sighed with pleasure, casting his head back and closing his eyes while his breathing quickened with excitement as he felt the throb of the Kelownan's life force merge with his own. Again he licked his lips in anticipation of consuming this heart, craving the strength it possessed to fulfil him.
He dragged his hand away, from the wound, so he could finish the ritual with a thrust of his blade but stopped as he noticed a web of vapour entwining itself around his fingers like strands of fine hair. He narrowed his eyes following the coil of mist back to the bloody gash in Jonas's torso.
The young man opened his eyes and stared at the Goa'uld in judgement, "what is this?" Huitzilopochtli yelled, dropping the knife as the thickening twist of smoke cocooned his arm.
"Revenge," Jonas whispered in a hundred voices that spread around the room like fingers reaching out from the grave.
The Goa'uld stood up watching the swell of encircling mist unfurl into a mass of shadowy figures, "we have come hither from where we were abandoned to face the usurper and reclaim that which he stole from us. We have kept faith with the gods of our ancestors and hath not sinned against them in word or deed even when our hearts were cut from us and we fell into never-ending darkness.
"Truth is in our hearts and in our breasts there is neither craft nor guile so grant passageway so we may join those who have gone before us into the blessed afterlife."
Faceless spectres drifted around Huitzilopochtli like gossamer streamers performing for the breeze as their voices ricochet off the walls, shaking the room and startling a stack of assorted papers from their slumber.
Jonas moved onto his front and inched his body laboriously forward towards the obsidian blade. He reached out with his fingertips just barely touching its surface and closed his eyes in concentration. The knife jerked, scraping the floor as it travelled about a foot before stopping. Jonas sighed and closed his eyes again urging the blade to move with every ounce of strength he had left. The knife relented, spinning as it travelled towards where Major Carter lay.
Sam felt the coolness of the rock touch her hand and looked towards Jonas. The Kelownan smiled and then closed his eyes, exhausted; Sam nodded. As she gripped the hilt she felt something surge through her, a powerful mix of emotions that took control of her body.
She stood up and faced Huitzilopochtli, the feelings of anger, frustration, sorrow and revenge fuelling her advance. The Goa'uld looked into her venomous eyes and fired directly at her but it dispersed in the shroud of phantoms that continued to haunt him.
Sam rushed forward, her body now a tool for retribution. She passed through the watery barrier of Huitzilopochtli's shield, unscathed, and plunged the blade deep into the host's chest.
The Goa'uld's hands went automatically to the hilt of the knife, to try and dislodge it, but a cloud of thick ectoplasm hindered his efforts. He staggered back into an encompassing fog that unfurled into many welcoming hands, which seized and overwhelmed his body.
A finger of white light filtered from where the blade had stuck and began to spread hungrily over Huitzilopochtli, in a thousand blistering pinpricks, bathing the whole room as it danced through his skin.
Sam heard the Goa'uld scream and watched him melt, slowly, into the grasping cloud until he had dissolved in its mantle, completely.
The obsidian blade then fell to the floor and shattered, dispersing the mist in its wake.
-o-o-o-
The children lay on their backs in a fort made of trampled honey grass. Around them the dry seeds whistled as the breeze chased the day into the night making an ocean of the field.
Jonas watched them in his sleep, remembering.
"What you looking at?" The girl asked as she searched in her deep pockets for Hazelbane berries she had picked earlier in the day.
"The stars," the boy replied, his eyes studying the awakening planets flickering in the sand-light left by the setting sun.
"Oh," the girl furrowed her brow and looked up into the clement sky with interest, "why?"
"Because Jeremy Fisher says that one day we will travel to the stars, that there are people just like us living on them."
Mia sucked at the flesh under the coarse tawny skin of the fruit, "what does he know?"
Jonas turned to her, wiping the juice from her chin with his thumb, "his father works for the Government."
"Oh," she said again and sat up, "but they're a long way away."
"Jeremy says that the Government are going to build a rocket ship to reach them, that's, that's what his father's working on."
The young girl looked sceptical as she slurped the last syrupy remains of the soft fruit between her teeth, "yeah, well, last year Jeremy told everyone that there was a monster living in the lake," she cocked her small thumb in a westerly direction towards the city, "and that his father was in charge of studying it, remember? I asked Mr Hawker, my teacher, if it was true, 'cos we were going to see if we could catch it and I asked him what monsters eat and he said that Jeremy was making it up and there's no such thing as monsters, only, only in old stories."
Jonas shrugged and turned away from her, "I'm just saying, that's all" he said defensively.
Mia hunted in her pockets once more and pulled out two more of the prickly fruits, handing one to Jonas. She leant back and placed one hand under her head, "would you go?" She enquired.
Jonas wiped the back of his hand across his mouth smearing his lips with juice, "where?"
"Up there, to the stars, visiting those people?" She brought her knees up so she could curl her naked toes in the soft ground.
Jonas smiled and nodded, "yeah, I'd like too," he replied relaxing back onto the grass.
Mia returned the gesture, throwing the skin of the fruit over her head, "who do you think polishes them?"
"Polishes what?" He responded, puzzled.
"The stars, who do you think keeps them nice and shiny?"
"Mia I don't think..."
"'Cos that's what I could do, when you're up there in the night sky, I could keep the stars shiny for you so you could find your way home again and not get lost like, like little lighthouses."
The boy smiled again and pulled his sister to him, resting her head on his shoulder, "Yes, Mia, you could do that."
Jonas watched the image of the children fade and whispered to himself, "that's who we are."
-o-o-o-
Epilogue to follow
Thank you