Kyle narrowed his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek as he curled his weapon closer to his body. "There's something wrong with him, Sam."
Daniel flicked his eyes suspiciously. "Well, I'd say that's a pretty universal goa'uld trait, wouldn't you? Care to be more specific?"
Kyle's eye sighted down the barrel and twitched slightly. "Teal'c, you sensing the symbiote?"
The warrior balanced his staff weapon lightly on his fingertips. "Indeed."
Rand ground his jaw. "That's the problem. I'm not."
Kefal steeled his eyes and sneered, stepping fully into the torchlight with a finger protruding from a raised fist, ready to order a strike at the slightest provocation. His blue-gray eyes shone in the glare, but were conspicuously normal. "I am no longer possessed by your kind and I will not allow you the slightest hold on this place," he said nearly spitting the words. He stalked his way around the tight group, coming to a halt near Sam. Disgust flowed from his eyes as he stabbed a glance at Teal'c. "Your jaffa bears the mark of Apophis. What are you called, goa'uld?" Sam's eyes darted and her finger tightened around her trigger, nearly imperceptibly. "I'm not goa'uld. I was host to a Tok'ra." The loathing on his face washed away, leaving him with a blank expression. Slowly, it was replaced by patent confusion, setting off a wave of anxiety through the assembled troops. Apparently they weren't accustomed to hesitation on their leader's part.
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
Near the end, one of the younger men watched as his section leader began to tremble slightly. Sweat ran down his face freely and his weapon began to unsteady in his increasingly pliant arms. His trembling turned to shuddering and sweat became visible as beads gathered between his fingers. It visibly slicked his palm against the wooden trigger of the bow. He and the other two less senior warriors, armed with swords, gathered around the bowman were passing glances between him and their quarry. Staring intently at the man nearest them, they had seen the shine in his eyes and realized this man… this creature was the object of everything they had been taught to fear. His nerves and the tone of Kefal's voice gave him tunnel vision; the only things he saw were Kefal's fist, and their section leader's trigger finger forming a single line in his sight. His nerves were tightly wound and he watched both with overt intensity. Apparently, he wasn't the only one. Kefal's hesitation and confusion had caused a ripple of disquiet through the throng of fighters. Kefal's hand dropped a fraction of its height before being righted; unfortunately, the damage was done. The man's section leader was so nervous that it made him jump, triggering the crossbow. It was what he and his section mates had been waiting for.
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
A thick burst of air blew through the nearby trees, bringing with it the falling cold of a frigid night. The collective mass of beings swayed in unison at the pressure of the blast and the torch flames stretched and roared lightly in protest at their deformation. Kefal's face wrinkled, perplexed and his raised hand wavered as he swayed. A dart shot from the dark. Kyle moved so quickly, that the air hissed. He swung his palm in front of his face and the dart froze, stalled from the invisible swat. The suspended projectile began it's short and harmless fall—but not before three men with swords charged him.
He moved with blurring speed, the air buzzing around him. He brought his leg up in a butterfly kick, sending the first attacker high into a ten-meter arc off into the shadows. He spun at the waist and rotated the other leg up into the second man's chest at a less oblique angle; it sent him skittering backward along the ground, violently pushing up a mound of pine needles in his path. He disappeared into the forest with a soft thud issuing from the distance. The third man charged in from the side. Kyle brought his leg down into forward stance and swept his hand out and in front of him. Without touching him the man hurtled backward and was pinned against a tree trunk. And there he stayed. It took a small sound for them to realize just how quickly it had all happened.
The stopped crossbow bolt clattered quietly against a stone as it met the forest floor. Teal'c repressed a grin of satisfaction as he relaxed the grip on his staff weapon. Major Carter allowed herself a satisfied smile as she stepped forward balefully; she met the stunned gaze of Kefal but remained silent. Daniel crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows high "We're not goa'uld. Just listen to what we have to say. It doesn't have to be like this—there's even a chance that we may be able to be friends." Kefal blinked and then nodded in understanding. Slowly, he brought his hand down, gesturing to his men, who lowered their weapons. He glanced nervously at his man, still pinned invisibly to the tree trunk. Sam turned to Kyle and gave him a rueful smile. "Let him go, Kyle." Rand relaxed, dropped into a casual posture and turned to meet her, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He returned a smirk. "Sure thing." With that, the flailing man slid down the trunk, loudly flaking off the bark as he went.
Kefal pinned Major Carter with a questioning gaze. "You were Tok'ra?" She slowly nodded her head. "I was host to Jolinar of Malkshor." His eyes closed slightly in concentration. When he spoke, it was with a combination of wistfulness and amazement. "I know this name." His eyes flicked open and landed on Teal'c. "Jaffa. You… do not serve Apophis?" Teal'c remained impassive. He had planted the end of his weapon into the ground and was leaning on it slightly. "No. I fight alongside these to battle the goa'uld."
"I sense no primta within you."
"You would not."
"How is that possible," Kefal asked, his brow wrinkling.
"The Tok'ra and Tau'ri have found a way for a few jaffa to survive without the aid of a symbiote." Kefal stared off in the distance, lost in thought, sorting through the few of the important details that he'd managed to absorb. "Egan. It seems that the young can yet teach the old." He nodded to the object of his comment before looking over the others, swallowing hard. "It seems that I owe to you an apology." He received several nods in return. He placed a hand on his chest. "I am Kefal." Daniel bowed his head slightly. "My name is Doctor Daniel Jackson, this is Teal'c, Major Samantha Carter and Captain Kyle Rand. We come from a planet called Earth." Daniel's eyebrows darted upward. "You might know it as Midgår—or Tau'ri." Kefal's eyes shot up. After a moment, the surprise subsided and he nodded slowly before turning around, seemingly taking in the sights and sounds night. In all likelihood, though, he was assimilating the last of these details. "It will be cold tonight and we have much to discuss. I would be pleased if you would be our guests." Daniel's eyes darted around quickly, before he plastered a diplomatic smile on his face. "I think we would like that."
Kefal nodded with a thin smile and turned to the gathered men who had relegated themselves to milling about the area and murmuring softly at this turn of events. He raised his hands for attention. They quickly quieted and gathered near him. "My friends. These are not the etans. I…" he licked his lips, "have led you against them in error. I must ask your forgiveness. These people hail from Midgår—they should have been welcomed in friendship, not bloodshed. I alone bear responsibility for this action." He turned slightly, Teal'c and Carter entering his field of vision. "I have much for which to atone." Teal'c raised an eyebrow. A murmur rose from the crowd that seemed to digest his statement. Several of the men took turns speaking to him individually, all ending with pleased or, at least satisfied expressions and most with friendly claps on the shoulder. When the last of them had his turn to speak to Kefal, he turned back to the modified SG-1. "I hope that you will allow me to make amends for the treatment you have received here. It would honor me if you would pass the night in my home; the drug you were given wears off quickly but its aftereffects can be most potent. In the morning you may resume your journey." Sam seemed to uncoil herself and allowed a small, but genuine smile. "Thanks. We appreciate it." A thin smile spread over his shadowed features. "Follow me. We should wait to speak at my home. Much of what we will discuss… my companions will not understand."
Kefal and his men led them through the forest silently for several minutes, the torches dimly illuminating a narrow path ahead. The light was an almost dangerous middle luminosity: it wasn't bright enough for them to see more than a few feet in front of them but too bright for their night vision to kick in. The result was a tightly clustered group huddled in a ball of warm, orange light. A few low branches swiped at their sleeves and crackled as they passed. They followed the route of the large wall until they met with a larger, well-traveled cobblestone road turning toward the wall's direction as their hosts dousing their torches. Daniel was in heaven. His jaw fell open and his feet kept moving by inertia alone.
From the dress, customs and language he'd deduced that these people were very much like middle ages Norse cultures from Earth—very typical of peoples transplanted by the Asgard. What he now saw placed them in a completely different context: the city was a snapshot of a medieval culture on the cusp of an industrial revolution. Ahead of them was a towering city gatehouse set into the massive, crenellated stone wall; the machined gate hinges showed signs of operation by massive gears, somewhere inside the gatehouse. Traveling into the city, they saw cobblestone lanes lined with street lamps, giving off a soft yellow glow. Dwellings and shops lined narrow side streets. The packed buildings were made from wood-framed stone with shingled roofs and high-quality glass for windows. Intermittently spaced standpipes along the streets appeared to be a form of fire hydrant. Armored guards in uniform patrolled the streets, tipping their helmets to Kefal as they passed. Daniel swiveled in place, watching as one of the guards receded from them and tuned a corner, whistling to himself. It looked (and certainly sounded) like the heels of the guard's boots were made from vulcanized rubber. The contrast was astounding. These, decidedly midevil, people had technology that had been new on Earth only a century and a half ago—or earlier.
Aside from the guards they passed only sparse foot traffic. The few people left outside seemed to be quickly streaming from shops and taverns toward homes and inns—away from the quickening wind and chill. They soon entered an upscale quarter of the city. The stone of the buildings here was lighter in hue, and the streets were paved with flat rock. After a few turns, they passed through a small park and were led up to large home and a set of wooden double doors guarded by what appeared to be private security. They greeted Kefal and one produced a key from his waist, unlocking and opening the doors for them. A burst of warmth poured down the short set of steps, underscoring how cold the night had rapidly become. They entered a large, but modestly appointed foyer. The interior of the home seemed to be done in sand-colored brick. A large, burgundy rug adorned the open area and gentle electric lighting came from fixtures just above eye level. The doors shut softly behind them and the interior air began warming their numbed skin, giving key extremities a burning sensation as they adapted to the temperature shift. A young woman in a simple green gown came down the corridor directly before them, to the gentle sound of clicking heels on stone. Her clothing swished around her has she silently lifted Kefal's heavy, brown cloak off his shoulders and collected his weapon as a few other servants entered.
"Thank you Ayala." He turned and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "These are my guests. They will spend the night in the visitors' suite. Please treat any request of theirs as you would my own." She turned to them and smiled graciously. "If you prefer, your belongings can be taken to your rooms." Carter flicked her gaze around. Landing on Teal'c, she saw his eyes narrow by a degree. Sure enough, he wasn't about to endorse disarming again. She glanced at Daniel who pulled a corner of his mouth up sheepishly and shrugged. She bit her lower lip and flashed her eyebrows upward. "Okay… but, if it's all the same to you, we'll hold on to the zats." Kefal's eyebrows knit in confusion. She gestured to her sidearm holster by way of explanation. A ghost of a smile flitted around Kefal's face. "Ah. Of course." They allowed the servants to take their coats and the remainder of their gear. Their load lightened once again, Kefal gestured and they followed him slowly down a side hall to a comfortable drawing room. The walls were decorated with a few paintings of Norse mythological scenes, landscapes and some others without obvious identity. The center of the room had a broad arrangement of couches and chairs situated in a semicircle around a large, roaring fireplace. On the opposite wall—all four travelers rolled to a halt. Teal'c clenched his left fist and his right encircled his zat. "The armor of a Horus guard." The full battle plate was suspended on a frame as if being worn. The jeweled sapphire eyes of the helmet glistened, seemingly following them around the room as they moved.
"I keep him here to remind me of the choices I have made," Kefal said with a stretched voice as he sat. Gesturing to the furniture, he said, "Please, be seated." Each of them sank into the overstuffed furniture with varying expressions of relief. Teal'c even allowed himself a prolonged blink as he opted to lean back into the sofa in a rare reclining position. Daniel peaked his eyebrows and blew out a stream of breath as he settled on the cushion across from Kefal. They were all feeling the effects of the drug wearing off; they had been passable for a while but now it was something like a massive hangover. They certainly wouldn't be at their best very much longer. After a moment, he opened his eyes and shot a glance at Sam.
Sam leaned back, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Kefal, Egan sort of mentioned that you weren't from this world."
He nodded. "That is true. I come from a world called Bosara."
Teal'c peaked his hands, his elbows resting on his legs. "You were host to a goa'uld." Daniel's sharp eyes scanned over him as he tensed at the statement.
"I am still."
Sam's eyebrows shot skyward. "How is that possible?"
Kefal's mouth twitched slightly. "Perhaps it is best if I simply tell you everything."
Ayala glided into the room with a tray of steaming beverages. Without the energy to care much what it was, they each took them and muttered their thanks. Kefal watched over his shoulder, waiting for her to be out of earshot. He turned back when her heal clicks had receded, running his hands over a heavy pewter mug. After a moment he took a deep drink. Satisfied, they each pulled at their mugs. "I know that the Asgard are not gods. I make no effort to conceal my past, however, Thor's people have always been kind and generous to these beings, and these are good people—they are not yet ready to know and I try to respect their beliefs." They nodded and each seemed to wrap their hands around the warm mugs. He looked past them at the empty armor at their backs. Pulling his gaze back, he sighed, "On my home world, I was an engineer. I specialized in urban planning." He drained his mug and set it down on an end table to the side of his seat. "Then, Ra came." His eyes became distant and dark. "His ships came and demanded that we worship him and him alone. When we refused, he began destroying our civilization from above. We could do nothing. Soon, Ra placed a chapp'aii on our world and his jaffa began arriving."
"Those who were not killed or enslaved formed a resistance. I was among them. My knowledge of the ruined cities and technology made me useful. At first, I planned hidden bases, defenses and learned about what technology of theirs that we could capture. Soon, though, I began leading small strike forces of my own." Teal'c cocked his eyebrow slightly. Carter shifted further into her seat as he continued. "We were successful in some small ways. We were able to help feed and protect some survivors. We could not stand against Ra's forces at first but, as we began to capture weapons and equipment, we were able to keep control of some small areas of our world. These were small victories, but… we survived. Eventually, I was made a leader of the resistance." He smiled darkly and rubbed his hands together thoughtfully. "I was quite proud to learn that Ra himself considered me a nuisance. However, Ra soon came to put an end to us once and for all. One day we were discovered and I was captured. I was brought before him for punishment. I assumed that I would simply be murdered," he said with a soft sigh, "I only wish it were so. I was made to kneel before him—I was preparing myself for his ribbon device when he smiled, and a man was brought out on a stretcher. I recognized him as Lord Mehen."
Daniel's eyebrows shot up. "According to the Book of the Dead, he was supposed to be one of Ra's guardians."
Kefal nodded. "Yes. Mehen is one of Ra's greatest under lords. I recognized him because I had wounded him myself several days previous— fatally, I had thought. After all, I had shot him in the head. Apparently, I damaged the brain of Mehen's host but missed the goa'uld himself. He was injured to the point where the sarcophagus could merely sustain his life, not restore him. He required a new host. Ra thought it fitting that I be selected for this task."
Carter pursed her lips slightly and nodded. "How long ago was this?"
Kefal sighed, rolling his eyes upward. "After the first hundred years, I stopped trying keeping track."
Teal'c pressed his palms together. "How is it that you came to live among these people?"
Kefal's eyes tracked downward. "Asgard technology is greatly sought by the goa'uld. Stories of a great repository of their technology are traded freely and… feared greatly. It is said that this repository is the largest such collection outside of Asgard space."
Sam's eyes narrowed as she sipped on her mug. She shifted forward slightly. "This planet?"
Kefal nodded. "Yes. For the longest time, far longer than I have been his host, Mehen was obsessed with finding this place. He collected scattered clues from various travelers, merchants and storytellers. Sometimes he paid for information; sometimes he traded; sometimes… he used other means." His face paled and turned downward. He ran his fingers through his hair. Daniel's eyebrows knit and he shot a glance at Sam and Teal'c. They both frowned. Teal'c intertwined his fingers stiffly and Carter bit her lip, both waiting for him to continue. "There was this old man—" he said above the barest whisper, "—a man of lore on a primitive world under the domain of Heru-ur. I still remember the look in his eyes… the sound of his voice as Mehan tortured him with my own hands. In the end, he got what he wanted: the symbols for this world."
Daniel exhaled softly, his eyes arching softly. "So, what happened when Mehan finally got here?"
Kefal's mouth twitched slightly. "He did not come immediately. It was some time before Mehan had prepared for his journey here."
Sam crossed her arms across her lap. "Prepare how?"
Kefal crossed his legs and leaned back on the couch. "Mehan studied the remains of an Asgard obelisk, seeking a way to shield himself from detection. He believed it was the key to gaining access to the Yggdrasil."
Sam peaked her eyebrows. "Was he able to do that?"
Kefal nodded slowly. "He was able to escape detection." He wrung his hands and twisted his mouth, spending a moment in quiet deliberation. "The jaffa he brought escorted him to the Bifrost Bridge and died soon after their primtas were destroyed. Mehan managed to get far before he was silenced. You must understand: someday, I fear, another goa'uld will learn more and succeed where he failed. I cannot allow that to happen."
Daniel's eyes rolled up and down, taking in the man's posture. "We understand. Believe me, we understand. We have to ask though… what happened to Mehan?"
"I remember a large, white chamber. Slowly, I began to hear my own thoughts again. After many hours, I was transported outside and by then Mehan was asleep. He has slept ever since."
Sam cocked her head slightly to the side. "You still have access to his memories?"
Kefal nodded and smiled thinly. "Yes. He also grants me good health and continues to extended my life."
Daniel pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Now I understand why the goa'uld are so afraid of this place." Sam shot him a glance, flaring her eyebrows and nodding.
"Yeah. Freeing a host is one thing. Turning the goa'uld into the slave… that's something else."
Teal'c's eyebrows climbed high. "Indeed. Such ability would pose a significant threat to any goa'uld attempting to enter the structure. It would also dissuade others from attempting the same."
Kefal nodded. "Yes. Mehan was aware of the risk. But, he was arrogant enough to think that this place was like the others he had studied. He thought himself superior to the task. And… the thought of gaining the power to overthrow the Supreme System Lord was irresistible."
Sam rocked her head from side to side. "Why did you decide to stay here?"
The corners of Kefal's mouth pulled upward and his eyes grew sad. "I had nowhere else to go, Major." He shifted in his seat. "With access to my knowledge, Ra crushed the rebellion on my world. These people took me in; I was able to practice my profession again and, with Mehan's knowledge added to my own, make my livelihood by helping them."
Daniel's eyes widened as he scratched at his chin. "So, this technology—they got that from you?"
"Some. These are clever people, Dr. Jackson. In many ways, I merely helped them to better use what they already knew. Also, with Mehan's memories, I found ways to produce useful energy for things they hadn't yet discovered."
"The electric lights."
"Yes. Of course, I haven't told them everything that I know. When they are ready, perhaps I will reveal more." He smiled tightly and reclined, resting his palms on his legs. After a short pause, he added, "now, I must ask you what you want with this place." His eyes were still pools. He was reading them. Kefal was apparently satisfied that their motives for this mission were pure—but he wasn't about to let them out of his sight unless he was satisfied that they were sufficient. Now was the time to talk fast.
Sam and Teal'c slid their eyes to Daniel, who quirked the corner of his mouth slightly. "Well… you might like to know, that you don't need to be afraid of Ra anymore. He's been dead for almost ten years now."
Kefal's crystallized gaze fractured slightly. "Are you certain?"
Daniel propped his elbow on the arm of the couch. "Well, I was there; and, I helped." Daniel let a smile make its way to his eyes as he saw the mixture of emotions swirl over Kefal. "We need the Asgard to help save the life of the man who killed Ra. A man who happens to be a good friend of mine." Daniel flared his eyebrows and glanced around the room. "All of us actually." Kefal's body slumped slightly. It was impossible to say if he was absorbing what was being said, or if it was simply reflecting off him past the 'Ra is dead' point.
Sam took a deep breath that was a combination of a sigh and a gathering of strength. "Kefal, we're good friends of the Asgard. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to contact them. This was what we came up with. I realize that you have to take our word on that, but… it's the truth."
Kefal ran his palms over the material of the seat, his eyes staring vacantly forward. "I believe you. I had wondered why Ra had not sought me out. Now, I suppose, I know." His shoulders fell as his eyes came back into focus. "You friend says very little," he said, jerking his chin past them. Kyle had found a comfortable chair far in a shadowed corner of the room. His arms and legs were crossed and he'd let his head fall back on the chair. He simply waved limply.
Teal'c folded his hands together. "I believe that he is simply attempting to be unobtrusive." Kefal's face bent in confusion.
Sam leant forward slightly, rubbing her hands together. "Kyle's a friend who's not really supposed to be here, but he wanted to help us. I think he's just trying to attract as little attention as possible." Her eyes fluttered as she slid forward—a little too far. She jerked herself up harshly.
With tired eyes and a wide grin, Kefal nodded. "I think I can appreciate that. Come. You will need your rest now." Sure enough, Ayala floated into the room and paused in front of the fireplace. She brought her heels together soundly and bowed at the waist. "Your rooms have been prepared. If you would follow me, I shall see that you are made comfortable." With brief expressions of gratitude toward their host, the four visitors rose and followed the woman from the room in a single, plodding file.
