Disclaimer Applies
Chapter 12
Colonel O'Neill entered the infirmary with Teal'c and Sam behind him. Sam had to admit she was surprised, watching as Janet hovered over a convulsing Mueller, her aides struggling to keep the woman on her side until the tremors ebbed.
"What's going on?" Colonel O'Neill asked. "What's up with Mueller?"
Janet attended to Captain Mueller as she stilled, and then murmured something to her aides before she came to meet them. Janet's face alone told her the seriousness of the situation.
"I've found traces of a toxin in her blood," Janet stated bluntly. "It appears to be secreted by the parasite." She paused, glancing back at the unconscious people in her infirmary. "They all have it."
"Daniel?" Sam asked, fearing the worst.
Janet sighed, stealing another glance at her patients before nodding glumly. "I'm afraid so."
"Dammit!" O'Neill swore, raking a shaky hand through his hair. "What the hell is going on here?" He pushed by Janet, stalking over to the Tok'ra named Dalmar. "Why aren't you helping? Why aren't you doing anything?"
Dalmar remained expressionless, his coolness and detachment a little too much for even Sam to take. "I have been studying your people along with Doctor Warner. I assure you, we are doing what we can," he said calmly.
"Obviously, you aren't doing enough!" the colonel shouted.
"Sir," Sam began, feeling that if she did not intervene, her commanding officer might do something he would seriously regret. "I'm sure the Tok'ra—"
"I don't give a damn about the Tok'ra, Major," he spat back, furious. "I think it's pretty obvious that they didn't come here to help. They're all just too fascinated with what we've discovered."
If Dalmar was angry, he didn't show it. "You are only speaking out of anger due to the condition of your friend," he commented, walking away from Colonel O'Neill to stand by Janet. "And according to our treaty, we are to share all new technologies and information."
Oh boy, Sam thought, shooting a glance to Teal'c for help. The colonel was certainly going to blow, and they couldn't risk having the Tok'ra walk out on them. Not now.
"O'Neill," Teal'c stated, taking a step forward, acknowledging Sam with a furtive look. "Would it not be in the best interest for us all to continue our research into finding a cure for DanielJackson?"
Before the colonel could speak, Sam jumped into the conversation.
"Sir, the Tok'ra are our best allies for this situation. Their cooperation will benefit both our sides," she said, attempting to sound persuasive. God, she wished Daniel were here to play mediator. "But if we keep searching, and let the Tok'ra, and Janet, do their work while we do ours, we'll cover more ground."
Sam had no idea if what she said made any sense, but she kept her fingers crossed the colonel would trust her on this one.
O'Neill appeared to soften, but did not mask his disgust with Dalmar. Eyeing him crossly, Colonel O'Neill walked past Dalmar and moved over to stand with Teal'c.
"So, what's this toxin thing?" O'Neill asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Sam watched him closely, not at all liking his body language. Gone was the relaxed, devil-may-care posture. Colonel O'Neill only reserved his "stiff stance" for when he was reaching a breaking point.
"Similar to what the Goa'uld can leave in a host, if they wish to destroy it," Dalmar said evenly. "However, from what I have been able to discern, its chemical composition is slightly different."
"How different?" Sam asked.
"It's a compound synthetic mixture," Janet answered. "Almost as if it was manufactured."
O'Neill frowned, looked at Sam, and then back to Janet and Dalmar. "What are you trying to say? Someone made this stuff?"
"That is correct," Dalmar replied. "The mixture appears to have the natural qualities of the Goa'uld toxin, but also has elements similar to nishta."
"Whoa," O'Neill said, holding out his hand. "The brainwashing stuff?"
Sam just stared. "You can't be serious. Something similar to the agent that Seth used?"
"Also the material that Apophis used on my son, Rya'c," Teal'c declared. "Though I have never heard of it used in such a manner."
"You had never heard of it before our run in with Apophis, either, Teal'c," Sam reminded him, hoping she didn't sound haughty.
Teal'c only regarded her thoughtfully.
"We believe that is why they have been unconscious," Janet stated, bringing them back to the subject at hand. She motioned to her three closest patients. "Whatever this substance is, it's acting like a sedative, or a relaxant, forcing the conscious part of the mind to remain dormant. We can only assume that its function is to make domination over the host mind easier for the parasite."
"But that doesn't make sense," Sam retorted. "Why would a Goa'uld spend so much time releasing a chemical to control the host that, in just a short period, will kill it?"
"The Goa'uld are vain. They would never do such a thing as damage their host willingly, unless they were preparing to discard it," Teal'c added.
"Kamakazi Goa'uld?" O'Neill offered.
"I do not believe that is the case," Teal'c responded.
"We don't even know if they are Goa'uld," Janet reminded them.
"We believe they are not," stated Dalmar. "However, their biological structure is quite similar to that of both the Tok'ra and the Goa'uld, and should not be so easily dismissed."
"Yeah, that's great. So, we have a bunch of drugged up Goa'ulded hosts that are now dying in our infirmary. That's helpful." O'Neill wiped his mouth. "Doesn't explain Daniel, though," he muttered.
"Daniel didn't lose full consciousness like the others, no," Janet agreed. "But that may be due to the parasite's size. The one in Daniel is much larger."
"Doesn't bigger mean more?" the colonel pressed.
"I'm afraid I do not understand," Dalmar replied with a frown.
"I think what the colonel means, Dalmar, is that shouldn't the larger parasite in Daniel be secreting a higher dose of this toxin based on its size?" Sam asked. "Shouldn't the levels of toxin be proportional to its mass?"
Dalmar considered this, but quickly shook his head. "It is a valid question. However, our theory is that the parasite in Doctor Jackson secretes less toxin based on its larger size."
Sam just couldn't wrap her mind around that one.
"So, you mean like the opposite of 'less is more?'" O'Neill asked, surveying those listening. "Like more is less?"
"Something…like that," Dalmar agreed, appearing disturbed.
Sam sighed inwardly. So, what was happening with Daniel? Was this why he hadn't known what was happening to him at first? Was Thoth suppressing Daniel's awareness in order to have more power over him? But they hadn't blended…
She felt as if they were cursed. With every answered question, came a dozen more unanswered ones. She had thought they were getting closer to the end, to the truth. Maybe they had never been close in the first place.
And no one had asked the most obvious question, yet.
"If the toxin is manufactured, then how are they secreting it naturally?" she asked.
"We haven't figured that out, yet," Janet admitted, averting her gaze away from Sam and the others.
They had to figure it out. They had to find the underlying cause of this. The ambiguity of this entire mess was driving Sam crazy. She was acutely reminded of a similar situation, where time was running out and they needed a solution or Daniel wouldn't make it.
They'd failed him then. She couldn't let them fail him again.
"Sir, I'd like permission to stay here and help study the toxin. Maybe we can find a way to create an anti-toxin, of sorts, and administer it to SG-11 and SG-17." Sam sighed when she saw the uneasiness in the colonel's face. "I'd like to do whatever I can to help them, sir."
"Yeah, I know, Major," he said quietly, his gaze falling to the bed where Doctor Anderson was lying.
He paused, a vague expression masking his face. In that moment, she wondered what he could possibly be thinking, or even if he was feeling the same mixed sensations of anger, hurt, betrayal, fear and sadness that she felt.
"Keep working on this," he said distractedly, waving his hand in the direction of Janet's medical charts. "Teal'c and I will update Hammond and go check on Daniel."
"Akana, Beltesh, and Doctor Warner are with him now," Janet told the colonel, her voice as reassuring as one could get, considering the situation. "We swapped places when I was needed here. I am sure they're doing all they can for Daniel."
At least Doctor Warner was with Daniel. Sam sighed. How alone did he feel? Did he think they had abandoned him? Did he even know?
"Yeah," O'Neill mumbled. "I'm going to go talk to Hammond." His gaze fell on Sam.
He didn't need to say anything. She understood.
If there was any time that he needed her to come through for him, this was it.
Giving the colonel a silent expression of assurance, Sam walked over to one of the tables and met with one of Janet's nurses, and listened anxiously as he explained their research to her.
"So, that's basically what they've got so far," Jack told the general. He stared down at Daniel through the glass of the observation deck. Daniel remained motionless, unresponsive to either the Tok'ra or Doctor Warner. "No change with Daniel, huh?"
"For the most part," General Hammond said from behind him, causing Jack to start and turn to face him. The general sighed as he began his explanation. "The Tok'ra have been trying everything conceivable to awaken either Doctor Jackson or Thoth. Nothing seemed to be working. Then, just a half hour ago, either Doctor Jackson or the parasite called out something in Goa'uld."
"And?" Jack asked, feeling anxious.
"And, that's it, Colonel. Doctor Jackson slipped back into what you see now."
"It is likely due to the toxin," Beltesh admitted, moving to stand beside Jack.
Toxin. Likely excuse. Jack rubbed his chin, glancing back down at his motionless comrade.
"Of what did Daniel Jackson speak?" Teal'c asked.
"Translated into your language," Beltesh stated to Jack and Hammond, "he spoke: 'Swear upon Ma'at. Give your oath.' It is a most peculiar thing to say, and was often used by Thoth within negotiations and mediations. We feel it is delirium from the toxin itself." Beltesh motioned vaguely with his hand to Akana and Doctor Warner below. "Your Doctor Fraiser has noted a decline in the health of this symbiote."
"Now, why would the toxin affect the symbiote?" Hammond asked. "We were under the impression this toxin, or biological agent, the symbiote releases only affected the host."
Beltesh showed some emotion for the first time since the conversation started, Jack mused, shaking his head to himself. Damn Tok'ra arrogance. He hated these guys.
"As you are aware, the host houses the symbiote. The symbiote cannot help but be affected."
"This sounds bogus, sir," Jack muttered, shooting a wary glance at Hammond. This whole thing stunk. Stunk to high heaven. "It all sounds a little too convenient to me."
"We do not appreciate what you are implying, Colonel O'Neill," Beltesh stated coolly, narrowing his eyes.
"Colonel…"
Jack did not miss the warning tone in the general's voice nor did he miss the caution knotting in his sloped forehead.
"Why do the Tok'ra not remove the symbiote while both Daniel Jackson and Thoth are unconscious?" Teal'c asked abruptly, turning to Beltesh.
That's exactly what Jack wanted to know. This "get to know the symbiote" stuff was a load of crap.
"If this is indeed Thoth, then he would carry knowledge to benefit us in our fight against the Goa'uld," Beltesh stated calmly.
"You see?" he started, his voice biting. "I don't buy that. Your buddy Dalmar just told us he didn't think it was a Goa'uld."
Hammond frowned, promptly turning to face Beltesh. "Is this true?"
Beltesh scowled. "Dalmar is quick to assume. We have not completed our research."
"Look, I'm no scientist, but even I know that these things look weird," Jack informed the Tok'ra. "So take it out of Daniel and stick it in someone else, and learn that way."
Beltesh remained unruffled. "It is more logical to observe him in the host that he chose, than to observe him in one that he did not."
"There was no choice involved, according to our records," Hammond stated, his scalp turning a soft shade of pink.
"That may be debatable," Teal'c said simply, slowly turning his head to watch Daniel.
"What do you mean?" Hammond asked.
Jack sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. "That's like a yes and no question, sir. The whole thing looks like one big, giant trap." He brought one hand to rub his forehead as he thought of the easiest way to explain the recordings. Just seeing it over and over in his mind…"The lab was rigged with some wiring that shorted out the containment jars for those bug things. Looks like anyone who walked in was a sitting duck, sir." He shook his head. "This thing was obviously just waiting for the right person to come around and set him free. We were going to tell you right away, but then you called us about Goa'uld and the toxins…"
"That's alright, Colonel." Hammond pursed his lips, clasping his fists by his side. "Anything else you want to add?"
Sure, he thought. Did I mention that I don't trust the Tok'ra? That I am never okaying Daniel to go on off-world missions with other teams ever again? That I am personally going to suck that Goa'uld wannabe out of Daniel with a hose if I have to?
"Teal'c seems to think Thoth could be working with some of his old buddies," Jack commented wryly. "The Osiris crowd. And since we already know Osiris is gone; Isis kicked the bucket, and I never heard of Satchel-whatever, that just leaves our good friend, Anubis."
Hammond wasn't pleased, to say the least. "You think Anubis is behind this?"
Jack shrugged. "Infiltrating the SGC? While the plan does seem a little too bright for our Poster Boy of the Clichés, I wouldn't pass it by him."
"Osiris was working for Anubis," Teal'c added, clasping his hands behind his back as he straightened. "It would not be unusual for other Goa'uld in his circle to join him in his attempt for conquest."
"Only, according to our history, Thoth never sought any tangible power. He was most peculiar among the Goa'uld," Beltesh informed them.
"So I hear," Jack muttered guardedly.
"Come. With General Hammond's permission, I will explain it to you while we observe Doctor Jackson within his containment room."
Jack and Teal'c looked at Hammond expectantly, hoping he would rescind his order—which they had already broken anyway—to stay out of the cell.
"Very well. But don't make me regret this, Colonel," Hammond warned.
"Yes, sir," Jack answered, following Beltesh and Teal'c out of the observation deck.
"Dammit, I'm not getting anywhere!"
Sam rose to he feet, stepping away from the lab table.
She was frustrated. Beyond frustrated.
"Major Carter, we will find a way to cure your people, " Dalmar said, quietly placing his hand on her shoulder. "The creatures are not so unlike us that we are unable to draw some information from them."
Nodding, Sam raked her fingers through her hair, blowing off her tension as she exhaled slowly. Dalmar was right. They should be able to learn some information from the Goa'uld-like symbiotes. But would it be enough to create a cure? Time was short.
"Okay, have the Tok'ra come any closer in finding an anti-toxin that to counteract the Goa'uld? Generally speaking, I mean."
Dalmar shook his head. "I am afraid we have not. We have been working on it for some time, just as we have been working to provide freedom for the Jaffa. Currently, not even research among the Tok'ra has developed any useful alternatives.
Great. So just how were they going to save Daniel and the others?
"But these symbiotes are different. And the toxin is manufactured. If we could break it down into its most basic elements, then we would at least have a starting point. Then, we could work our way up to try and develop something to counteract it."
Dalmar nodded, but this time there was a cloud of regret drifting around him. "Perhaps, Major Carter, but such research would take months and then years to perfect." His solemn gaze did nothing but enrage her. "I fear we would not be able to help your friends, but perhaps the future…"
She shook her head. "No. I'm not giving up like that. There has to be a way."
"I admire your resolve."
"Well, we've been in jams before," she muttered, suddenly feeling like she was channeling her commanding officer. "We'll find a way."
"Then, I have confidence in your abilities," Dalmar said, forcing a smile. "Shall we continue?"
Sam nodded again, pushing aside her frustration and went back to work.
It was awful. One of the most chilling things he'd ever seen.
Jack gazed down at Daniel, disturbed at the lack of emotion, the lack of anything, really, coming from the man. He was just lying there, his empty gaze fixed on the ceiling.
He looked dead.
Jack cleared his throat, motioning nonchalantly at the gurney. "So…"
"I understand your concern for your friend," Akana stated, interrupting him. She studied some equipment in her hand, occasionally lifting her line of vision to check on Daniel before returning to her task. "But, as I am sure Beltesh and General Hammond have stated, there has been no change in his condition."
"Except for the outburst," Jack reminded her.
"Yes."
She sounded annoyed.
"You know, you could fix this real easy by just taking it out of him." Jack pointed to Daniel's neck with his finger. "Do your magic, or whatever. You did it with Osiris. Do it now, while they're both…somewhere else."
"It is not that simple, Colonel O'Neill," Akana said coolly, still refusing to look at him. "With the toxin in his blood…"
"Right, right, the toxin. I forgot," Jack muttered sarcastically, bringing his gaze back to Daniel. Jack could clearly see the rise and fall of his chest, as he lay unresponsive. But that was the only movement coming from the younger man. Daniel moved around more when he was laying on his deathbed.
Not a nice memory, Jack thought to himself, finding himself clearing his throat for the umpteenth time this afternoon.
"I know you don't agree with our methods, Colonel, but we assure you that we will not harm Doctor Jackson," Beltesh said.
Jack didn't answer. He wasn't about to make nice and pretend he cared about the Tok'ra. Truth is, lately, the Tok'ra had really been getting under his skin. He'd never liked them from the start, but he'd warmed up to having an ally that could actually get close to the Goa'uld. Then, there was the whole thing with Carter and Jacob, too. But screw that. The Tok'ra just seemed to get more and more arrogant recently.
"How can you make such a promise when DanielJackson has been poisoned?" Teal'c asked, his voice hard, bringing Jack out of his thoughts.
"There isn't as much toxin in his system as with the others," Doctor Warner told them as he moved to Daniel's side. Jack frowned when he saw something—some liquid—in Warner's hands, as he checked over Daniel's body. "It's just some eye solution," Warner said, answering his silent question. "I don't want his eyes to dry out."
He's not blinking, Jack realized, studying Daniel's face again. His blue eyes were distant, open, and lifeless. His mouth was slightly agape, his lips dry and cracked, while his coloring was a shade lighter than it should be. Jack stole a forlorn glance at Daniel's glasses lying on the table to his left.
"Maybe you shouldn't be in here, Colonel," Warner stated guardedly, finishing his work on Daniel.
"Why? What the hell's it to you?" Jack snapped, glaring at Warner. How dare some second-rate doctor tell him what to do?
When no one replied, Jack understood. Emotional attachment. He was already too far gone. Yeah, whatever. He didn't care anymore.
Though he felt he was teetering on the edge, Jack found enough clarity to apologize to Doctor Warner. "Sorry," he managed to say, ashamed over his angry thoughts directed at more than capable doctor. "I'm just—"
Warner nodded, his eyes full of compassion. "No need, Colonel. I understand."
"You promised to inform us about your history on Thoth?" Teal'c stated, turning the conversation back to the situation at hand. Jack had to give him credit for having a tendency to do that.
At one time, Jack was able to keep on track. When had that changed?
"Yeah, why are you so interested in this guy, anyway?" Jack wanted to know. Hell, his friend was a prisoner in his own body. There had better be a good reason for the delay. Though, he figured nothing could top Daniel's health and security. "It's not like he's a System Lord or anything, from what I've heard," Jack continued.
"He is not," Beltesh admitted.
"Thoth's methods are…different," Akana stated slowly, finally turning to face Jack.
And that's when he saw it. Was it fear? Anxiety? Or hunger?
A hunger for something that even the Tok'ra didn't understand?
Now, that was frightening.
"How is Thoth different?" Teal'c asked, moving closer to the bedside.
Akana breathed out, placing her remote—or whatever it was—down. "From what we have been able to understand, Thoth uses methods that are not condoned by the Goa'uld," she stated carefully. "His methods are much slower, and more mysterious."
"What? You mean, that whole blending thing?" Jack asked impatiently. He caught Warner walking to the corner to check on some machinery that had been wheeled into the room. "Look, we already know that. He told us that himself."
"It goes much further than that, Colonel O'Neill," Akana said. "A Goa'uld will blend on contact, and destroy the mind of its host to usurp control over the body. The knowledge, the memories, and the feelings of the host are used to the symbiote's advantage, allowing it to gain more control and power from its slaves and conquered worlds. Thoth appears to use the knowledge not for power over other peoples, but for personal gratification."
Jack wasn't sure he was following this. Too much gray area here.
"What Akana is stating, Colonel, is that it is rumored that Thoth takes the feelings and thoughts of his hosts and makes them his own." Beltesh looked disturbed.
"So, he's like a leech?" Jack couldn't find any other way to say it.
Beltesh cocked his head from side to side. "I suppose you could say that. He absorbs knowledge and makes it his own. He revels in obtaining new data."
"And the mind of DanielJackson contains much knowledge," Teal'c stated grimly.
Too much knowledge, Jack thought from both a personal and tactical standpoint. This was getting messy.
"It is curious to note that Thoth has also had a history of leaving behind many hosts. Alive."
"Alive? You mean he likes to change hosts for kicks?" Jack asked, surprised.
Akana nodded. "Once he is finished obtaining the knowledge, he will move on for new experiences. Normally, a Goa'uld would stay with its chosen host as long as possible." Her words made Jack remember Apophis. "And if they leave their host, they show little concern for its well-being."
"Thoth presents us with a puzzle. Once he has released his host for another, he allows it to live." Beltesh shook his head in defeat. "We do not understand his reasoning."
Jack couldn't believe he was even going to suggest this. "Maybe he's like a Tok'ra?"
Akana's eyes flashed golden white as the anger flared in her usual stoic face. "He is not Tok'ra!"
"Thoth is one of the most cunning and manipulative of all Goa'uld," Beltesh said, almost in a snarl. "He is not of the Tok'ra. He is not like the Tok'ra."
"Thoth has stated on many occasions that he is not Goa'uld," Teal'c remarked, eyeing Daniel carefully.
"Then, he is using his skills to try and trick you," Akana said angrily. "You have no idea the dangers present in such an unassuming symbiote."
"Then why don't you tell us," Jack muttered, sick of this song and dance. He glanced over to the mirror, knowing Hammond had to be watching this little interplay. Shaking his head while he shrugged, Jack leaned closer to Daniel, occasionally checking to make sure he was still breathing. "Because we're hearing all sorts of conflicting stories here."
Akana and Beltesh exchanged glances. Again, Jack was starting to feel uneasy with the Tok'ra. They accused Thoth of being manipulative, yet they never shared anything unless it was absolutely necessary.
Akana finally nodded. "Thoth was present on your world millennia ago. It is rumored he was the first of the Goa'uld to use the Stargate."
"Yeah. And?" Jack was losing patience quickly.
"He not only worked with Ra, but with many other System Lords of that time," Beltesh added. "He used his skills that he gathered from his many hosts to manipulate his way into the very workings of Egyptian society." Beltesh observed Daniel thoughtfully. "In this regard, I can see why Doctor Jackson would make an attractive host to him."
"He couldn't have known if he was trapped in a jar," Jack stated obviously. Could he?
"You are correct," Beltesh agreed, shaking his head as if he were trying to clear it.
"Thoth is rumored to never lie, but he uses the truth to his own advantage," Akana said mildly.
"Intergalactic con-man. Yeah, we got that already." Jack's gaze diverted back to Daniel. Why had Jack ever given the go ahead on this mission?
"His knowledge both attracted and repelled the System Lords," Beltesh continued. "To know Thoth was to know power, but to know Thoth was also to put oneself at risk."
Beltesh paused, motioning with a flick of the wrist to Daniel. "The System Lords feared that he might overthrow them at any time, or use his vast knowledge to ally with one Goa'uld in particular. Therefore, it is written that Thoth was permitted to all functions, where he was courted by many, but was never allowed to become too close to any particular System Lord, both within the family of Ra and outside of it."
"That is inaccurate," Teal'c corrected them. "Thoth was much favored by Ra."
"As were many of the System Lords at that time," Akana stated, ready for a rebuff. "Ra's quick rise to power caused chaos among the System Lords. The more cunning aligned themselves with Ra for added benefit."
"I'm guessing—just guessing—that folks like Apophis and Seth didn't buy into this trick?" Jack mentioned while he hesitantly leaned over Daniel, trying to take a peek at the medical chart Warner was holding in his hands. "Maybe even Anubis?"
"Anubis is also one of the older System Lords," Beltesh stated. "He briefly worked with Ra before his…departure."
"Banishment," Teal'c said, rolling his gaze to Beltesh.
Beltesh nodded. "Before Anubis fell out of favor with the System Lords, he worked closely with Thoth, Ma'at, and Osiris. Thoth acted as judge to the unjust, using the guidelines Ma'at set forth. She was revered by all, having been the first queen in our recordings."
This little history lesson was making Jack dizzy. Especially since he was used to this stuff coming from Daniel, and not some friggin' Tok'ra. Jack rubbed his face, sighing, as he looked down at Daniel's unmoving form.
You got to get up, Daniel. You got to keep fighting this guy.
Inhaling slowly, Jack moved closer to the gurney, and quietly took Daniel's limp hand into his own. He gave him a reassuring squeeze, hoping that maybe, somewhere in there, Daniel was aware they were fighting for him.
"This Ma'at doesn't sound too bad. For a Goa'uld, that is," Jack added quickly.
"Do not believe that Thoth and Ma'at were absolved from guilt, Colonel O'Neill," Akana warned, eyeing Jack carefully. "They believed in their own form of justice, and would strike down anyone that did not fit the law to perfection. Their murders were quite grotesque and inhumane."
Wonderful, Jack thought. Just peachy.
He squeezed Daniel's hand once more.
"Let me guess," Jack attempted, glaring at Akana and Beltesh. "Ra got tired of his little friends and started to kill them off one by one."
Akana nodded slowly. "As you know, Osiris and Isis were banished. Anubis discovered how to Ascend and became trapped. Ma'at was killed. There was an incident with Hathor—"
"Ah, yeah, let's just skip that and get to the point," Jack muttered, feeling a chill creep up his spine. "I assume that Thoth took off before things got worse."
The double nod just confirmed what he already knew.
But it still left him with some questions that hadn't been answered.
"Why are you so afraid of him?" Jack asked abruptly.
Akana jerked, shifting her gaze to Beltesh, who also appeared startled by the question.
"Afraid, Colonel O'Neill?" Akana asked nervously. "We have no fear of Thoth."
"I believe you have," Teal'c intoned, arching an eyebrow.
"I see the way you keep looking at Daniel," Jack said, still refusing to let go of the younger man's hand. "You're either scared or way too interested."
"He is dangerous," Beltesh warned. "His methods are unorthodox! He takes his hosts and seduces them, pretends to be their friend, their protector, before he takes complete control."
Jack frowned. He really didn't like the way that sounded.
"What Beltesh says is true, Colonel O'Neill," Akana said, almost sympathetically. "His skills in communication make it easy for him to persuade his hosts into a false sense of security. His abundance of knowledge has allowed him to learn many methods to secure success." Akana breathed out, her eyes almost pleading with empathy. "His hosts would gladly die for him."
Jack blinked at that remark. Daniel? Would Thoth do that to Daniel?
Jack found himself clutching Daniel's hand harder, his thumb stroking his warm skin absently. What if they had already lost Daniel?
There was a soft gentle pressure on his hand.
Startled, Jack looked down, surprised to see Daniel's hand gripping his own. Immediately, Jack's gaze shot upward to Daniel's face, disappointed to see no change.
"Colonel O'Neill?" Akana asked hesitantly.
"Nothing. Sorry. It's nothing." Jack squeezed Daniel's hand again, eyeing their grasp carefully. "So, this Thoth guy can basically brainwash his hosts into loving him? Maybe using that stuff that is sorta like nishta?"
More pressure on his hand.
With a crooked smile, Jack squeezed Daniel's hand once again, this time hoping to push as much reassurance as possible into the grip. Daniel was trying to reach him. He was sure of it.
Daniel hadn't given up yet.
"We are not sure we would use the term brainwashing, but yes, it is similar," Beltesh admitted. "Thoth is a cruel symbiote who would do anything to ravish the mind of his host for his own purposes."
"That is not true," the throaty voice bellowed, causing Jack to jump back. Thoth blinked, opening his mouth wide and cracking his jaw, before watching them lazily. "I have the utmost respect for my hosts."
Beltesh snorted, a fire in his eyes. "You lie. We have heard of your ways."
"Nothing like the pot calling the kettle black," Thoth muttered wearily. "I have no need to lie. Your accusations bore me. Out of my sight," he mumbled, trying to wave the Tok'ra away from him with his bound hands.
"Release DanielJackson." Teal'c stepped forward, his glare venomous as he eyed Thoth.
"Thoth, it's been fun, but time's just about up," Jack told him, silencing the rattling in his bones, telling himself he had not just been comforting Thoth, but Daniel. It had been Daniel. "The Tok'ra here are going to take you on a little trip."
"I will not go with them!" Thoth yelled. "I will not be subject to their experiments!"
"You do not appear to have a choice," Teal'c said with satisfaction.
"I will not. They lie! They are liars!" Thoth continued to yell, the veins in Daniel's temples bulging from the strain. "They speak of all my atrocities, but they do not speak of their own! How many times does a Tok'ra silence its host? How many times does a Tok'ra push down the will of its host for its own benefit? We never know because we are assured the host is in a symbiotic relationship with it. But how do we really know?"
"Within the Tok'ra, the host and symbiote work together. We are as one," Beltesh stated, nearly snarling.
Jack watched the exchange, finally settling his gaze on Teal'c. He knew Teal'c would act on the Tok'ra if they needed to be restrained.
"How do we know that is true? How do we know your host truly talks when it says it does?" Thoth gasped for air before continuing. "All we have is your word. Your word!" He started to laugh hysterically, his whole chest shaking from the uproar.
"What have you done with your host?" Akana said suddenly, reaching out to still Thoth.
"My host? My host?" Thoth laughed again. "Why should I tell you? Would you not only say I speak lies? What if I told you that my host has given into my every whim? That he has succumbed to me completely?"
"DanielJackson would never do such a thing," Teal'c said coolly.
"Are you certain, Teal'c? " Thoth grinned at him deviously. "What lengths would a man go to preserve himself?"
Damn, Jack thought. Daniel was excellent at self-preservation. Even when he was dead.
"Daniel!" Jack shouted, pointing his finger viciously. "You had better not have made a deal with the devil!"
Thoth laughed again, enjoying the interaction too much. "I have much affection for my host. I would never do anything to harm him. I offer him shelter when he needs it. I offer him the protection and love that a father would give to him."
"Ah, see, no," Jack said irritably. "That would be crossing the line. You are so out of there." He pointed to Daniel as he glared at Akana and Beltesh. "Take it out of him."
Akana hesitated, exchanging an uneasy glance with Beltesh. Jack was not liking this at all.
"What?" he asked. "Why won't you take him out?"
"We had wanted to watch his interaction with the host for our—"
"No! You can do whatever the hell you want with him in someone else. I want him out of Daniel, now!"
"I will not go with them!" Thoth yelled again, struggling under the restraints. "They will kill me. I will not go with them. I call for sanctuary with the Tau'ri."
"You cannot," Teal'c said firmly. "The Tau'ri have no need for you."
Jack was expecting a stream of curses in Goa'uld from Thoth, but instead he was surprised by silence. A pained, sorrowful kind of silence.
"I will not go with them," Thoth finally whispered. "I will not. He promised me."
Daniel, so help me God, if you made a deal with this Goa'uld…"Teal'c's right. You don't have a choice," Jack stated simply. "So, don't make a fuss and make it any harder on yourself."
"No choice." Thoth laughed again, this time more subdued. "What choice do I have? The Tok'ra will take me, and I will die."
"You will not die," Akana informed him. "We have many questions for you."
"But I am a liar, according to you and your kind, so what answers would you get from me?" Thoth shook his restrained head. "No, no, you are the ones who speak falsehoods." He sucked in a deep breath. "My host tells me to keep silent. I agree with him. I wish to speak with you no more."
"Your host tells you?" That one Jack didn't quite buy. "Nice try."
"There is much you have yet to understand," Thoth said to Jack, his tone sympathetic. "I don't understand why my host tolerates you. You are most annoying." He licked his bottom lip, attempting to raise his head as he looked around the room. "My host desires water. He is exhausted."
"Why not let us talk to Daniel for a little bit?" Jack pressed, watching the stunned Warner fetch water for Thoth.
"Because you would not believe him if he spoke. He understands this. He chooses to stay under my protection."
"Likely story."
Thoth narrowed his eyes at Jack while he greedily accepted the water from Warner. "See? This is what I have to work with," Thoth muttered irritably. "I can't be bothered by any of you. My host and I have much to discuss."
"Like about what happened to the SG teams that were off-world with you?"
Even when he thought Daniel couldn't turn any paler…
"Their illness remains?" Thoth asked, his low voice trembling.
"Indeed it does," Teal'c answered him.
"What have you done to them?" Jack asked irately.
Thoth growled, striking his head against the back of the pillow that had been brought onto the front of the gurney. "That was not supposed to happen."
"So, it was a trap, then?" Jack rocked on his heels, ignoring the continuous churning in his stomach. "Who you working for? Anubis? Ba'al? Some other Goa'uld?"
"Anubis. Foolish, twisted idiot," Thoth mumbled. Jack stopped, surprised at the comment. "Anubis thought if he learned the ways of the Ancients, he could conquer all." Thoth laughed. "It did not occur to him that he could get kicked out just as easily as he entered. Idiot."
"I take that as a no?" Jack asked.
"I would only work for him if I were desperate," he muttered softly.
"Are you desperate?" Teal'c questioned.
Thoth smiled. "I like you. You are a sharp one."
"A yes or no answer would do," Jack said. If Thoth couldn't lie, they had to trap him into spilling the truth.
"What are the toxins we have found in the humans?" Akana asked him suddenly.
Thoth appeared disturbed with the questioning, rolling his gaze back to the ceiling. "A result of failure. I am sorry."
"Sorry? That's the best you can do?" Jack snapped angrily. "Our people are dying!"
"I am truly sorry."
"Undo what you have done," Teal'c demanded.
Thoth was silent, closing his eyes. A single tear trickled down Daniel's cheek.
"Daniel?" Jack asked, hopefully.
"They will die," Thoth muttered.
"That is unacceptable," Beltesh said angrily.
Thoth smiled weakly. "You listen, yet you do not hear. Do you hear it?"
Jack breathed out, catching the watchful gaze of Warner. He shook his head, turning back to the monitor.
Not good, Jack decided. Not good at all. The Goa'uld or whatever was losing it.
"We will not allow our people to die," Teal'c continued, standing before Thoth.
"Nothing can be done now. We shall lose them." Thoth squeezed his eyelids tighter. "We shall lose it all. So ignorant were we."
"Teal'c's right. With or without your cooperation, we'll save our people," Jack said definitively.
Thoth opened his eyes. There was an impenetrable gravity in them, an unreadable sadness that Jack couldn't identify.
"My host wishes this as well. I assure you, they will be fine, if you listen carefully."
"What?" Maybe Jack was the one losing it. "You just said—"
"Your kind will survive. But they will die."
"What?"
"Mistakes. Failures. My kind."
Thoth gasped, just as surprised as Jack to hear Hammond's voice boom through the intercom. Jack turned to face the mirror, wondering what—
"There's a medical emergency in the infirmary," Hammond called. "I need Doctor Warner to report to the infirmary, immediately. SF's and a medical assistant will be down momentarily to watch over Doctor Jackson. Colonel, if you could escort our Tok'ra guests…"
"I can help them!" Thoth stated suddenly, pulling against the restraints.
"You've done enough, I'd say," Jack said coldly.
"I can reverse the toxin! Hear me!"
"How can you reverse the toxin if you carry it within yourself?" Teal'c asked suspiciously.
Thoth frowned, disturbed by the question, but quickly brushed it off. Jack filed that response away for a later time.
"That is of little consequence. However, I hold a chemical that will kill them."
"We don't want them dead." Jack was quickly losing patience with this verbal dance. Hammond would be pressuring them for answers any time.
"Your people will survive. Mine…" his voice drifted off.
"Why would you hold a chemical that would destroy your kind?" Teal'c questioned, clasping his hands behind his back.
Thoth sighed. "In case…failure."
"Colonel?" Hammond questioned over the intercom.
"Take me to my-his office and I shall retrieve the chemical for you," Thoth demanded quickly. "Teal'c can escort me and therefore you will know no harm will come to Daniel. Teal'c would never allow any further harm to come to him."
"This is a trick," Akana advised. "I have warned you."
"No one asked you," Thoth snapped before turning once again to Jack. "Trust me, Jack. Daniel wants it to be this way."
Jack couldn't. He just couldn't, no matter how much this thing sounded like Daniel. This was the parasite that had set a trap for anyone who walked in the ruins, and had taken Daniel against his will. He was a Goa'uld, for all intents and purposes. He couldn't trust him.
"They will die. They will die without my help," Thoth pleaded. "I do not wish them to die. Whereas once their lives might have held little value, I know differently, now."
"Change of heart?" Jack asked disbelievingly.
"Change of mind," Thoth said softly.
"O'Neill, I do not—"
Jack held a hand to silence Teal'c. "I don't believe a damn word you're saying, but since the Tok'ra here aren't doing much good, we'll have the Tok'ra look at your "chemical" and see what's up."
"That is not necessary. I speak the truth!"
"Yeah, yeah, so you've told us, Thoth. But I'd like to be sure," Jack muttered.
"It will…destroy the symbiotes within your people," Thoth stated. "I assure you, no harm will come to them."
"Then it should have the same effect on you as well," Teal'c concluded with a smile.
Thoth didn't answer him.
"Sir?" Jack called, looking up at the window.
"Do what you can, Colonel," Hammond replied. "I don't need to remind you we have very little time."
"Understood, sir."
Jack glared at Thoth.
Dammit, Daniel, I hope you're in there somewhere.
"Teal'c, cuff Thoth and take an airman with you. Make sure you've got zats." Jack motioned to Akana and Beltesh. "You go with Warner and me." Jack motioned with a nudge of his chin to Daniel. "I'll join you as soon as the General and I are done briefing Fraiser. Can you handle that, Teal'c?"
Teal'c glared at Thoth. "I can."
"I mean it, Teal'c."
"I will be fine."
"Alright, let's go."