Authors notes: Language and violence; italics denotes radio chatter; ' ' internal thoughts
Daniel Jackson was gently brushing the thin layer of dirt from the marble hoping to reveal inscriptions of some kind or something. He was also trying to figure out why Jack volunteered the team for this mission. Especially since it was the kind of mission Jack never seemed too interested in.
It was purely an exploration mission, which was the norm. However, they were exploring a Greek like temple located nearly six miles from the Stargate. And the temple had no indications it harbored technologies or weapons to aid in their fight against the Goa'uld. The distance alone normally would have discouraged the Colonel from accepting the mission; Jack rarely would tread more than a mile from the gate unless there was good reason. There was no reason here and thus no apparent motivation for the Colonel.
Plus their departure was during the evening on Earth, a third reason why the Colonel usually wouldn't volunteer his team. This particular night, the Chicago Blackhawks were playing on ESPN during prime time. The Colonel almost never missed his favorite teams televised games even delaying turning in his reports to General Hammond until the following morning just so he could catch the opening face off.
Regardless, whether Daniel discovered Colonel O'Neill's agenda or not, Daniel was coming to P3X-49 even if he traveled with another SG team. This mission was a good reprieve from all their near death encounters with the System Lords. For this was what Daniel truly loved, next to saving the Earth, it was his job or used to be his job. After all, he still is an archeologist.
Looking over towards Jack, Daniel saw he was sitting on a rock looking quite bored, as Daniel had expected. Teal'c was standing near the Colonel. Daniel couldn't tell if Teal'c was bored or not. The Jaffa kept the same emotionless face even if the possibility of death was imminent.
Glancing around he found Sam with one of her electronic gizmos searching for a power source, incase the search probe missed something. Most of the time he understood what was coming out of her mouth, other times he was like Jack, ignorant or oblivious.
"Hello!" Daniel said out loud to himself when he fixed his attention back on what he was attempting to do.
His blue eyes grew excited at his discovery and he quickly worked to uncover the rest of the carving.
By the way Daniel was excitedly moving in front of the marble door or wall, Jack knew the doctor discovered something. Either that or the man had to go take to the bathroom really bad. Whatever it was, it was time to check on the archeologist's progress and Jack did need to stretch his legs.
"Dr. Jackson, appears to have discovered something," Teal'c observed too as Jack was stretching his back.
"Looks that way. Let's go see what it is," Jack sighed casually wiping the dirt off his butt.
The two men walked in silence down the road towards the ruins. Major Carter joined them along the way. Jack smiled to himself. The team was so in sync with each other it was always reassuring. Now if he could understand half the things coming out of Daniel's mouth and at least a quarter of what was coming out of Major Carter's Jack would be a happy camper.
Oh they did have their differences, not just the obvious ones. There were times Jack felt he and Daniel would come to blows over the difference in their beliefs. Jack with his military background and Daniel with his philosophical background led to several occasions when the two clashed. Jack never clashed with Teal'c, well almost never. And Carter, well she would follow his orders if they were reasonable but would never hesitated to state her opinion.
But the differences were to be expected. The team was more like a family and sibling squabbles were to be expected. While a family had its squabbles they also rejoiced in each other's happiness. So when Daniel turned and motioned them to hurry, Jack kept his leisurely pace, Daniel was excited enough for the both of them. Teal'c and Carter did move a little faster. It was a Colonel's prerogative to move as fast or slow as he deemed necessary, unless he was running for his life.
"It's Themis!"
"And he is?" Jack asked.
"She. According to Greek mythology, Themis was one of the Titans..."
"Tennessee?" Jack asked raising an eyebrow and removing his sunglasses.
"No, the Titans were a group of elder god who were ruled by Cronos. In Greek Mythology, it was said his own son Zeus, one of the first Olympians, de-throned him. While many of the Titans sided with Cronos against Zeus, Themis did not. She was the goddess of justice and order. And the second wife of Zeus giving birth to the Seasons and the Fates."
Sam was having difficulty suppressing a smile while Daniel was attempting to give the Colonel a brief lesson in Greek Mythology 101. Only with Daniel the lesson wasn't brief enough for the Colonel. Any moment she was expecting to see the Colonel's eyes glaze over then nothing would be setting in.
They usually did just that the second she tried explaining anything technical. Sometimes she wondered how he even made Colonel. Other times, it was quite obvious by his command skills and that he was just pretending to be naïve.
"Didn't she have something to do with the oracle at Delphi?" Sam asked thinking back to her own brief Greek history lesson from her past.
"Yes, it's said she had prophetic powers," Daniel answered. "She's mainly responsible for laws and ordinances. Her symbol is often associated with the balance of justice like this carving."
"What does the sword represent? Executions?" Jack asked.
"Mostly likely it represents the 'force of law'."
"So executions."
"Maybe," Daniel exasperated.
Sam saw the Colonel smile, happy with himself. At least his eyes hadn't glazed over...yet.
"Have you heard of her Teal'c?" she asked noticing the Jaffa was being quiet, even for Teal'c.
"No, I have not. She must have been before my time."
"Maybe she fought against Cronos. She could possibly be an ally," Daniel said working to reveal the outline of a door. "Or she could possibly be dead."
"Maybe the Tok'ra know about her," Sam suggested. "Dad's dropping by for a visit in a week. We could ask him and Selmak."
"Maybe she is a Tok'ra. I mean you never know," Daniel continued to explain. "Think about it, she's the goddess of justice and order, doesn't sound like your typical System Lord."
"So, it's settle. We ask Jake and his little snake. Are we done here?" Jack asked.
Sam groaned to herself. She hated it every time he used the term snake when referring to the symbiotes, especially the Tok'ra. And Sam hated it most when he referred to Selmak as a snake. Selmak was responsible for saving her father's life and for bringing him back into Sam's life. Of course, the Colonel was a bad influence on her father teaching him the snake term in reference to symbiotes before he blended with Selmak. This resulted in her father referring to Selmak as a snake too. But Sam learned her father was using it in terms of affection which didn't seem to bother Selmak.
"We have to see what's on the other side of the door! Think of what could inside."
"I'm thinking but I keep coming up nothing," Jack replied.
"At least, let me look around until we're scheduled to leave," Daniel pleaded.
"I still haven't finished my scan sir," Sam suggested helping Daniel's case.
"Very well. As long as Themes..."
"Themis." Daniel corrected, and again Sam had to suppress a smile again.
"Whatever, as long you're sure she isn't planning on dropping by to do some spring cleaning, we can stay."
"This structure appears to have been deserted for many centuries O'Neill," Teal'c added. "I believe we are safe."
"That's usually when the rug gets pulled out from beneath you."
"Doing some of your own foretelling, sir?" Sam asked smiling.
"No, just speaking from experience," he frowned as he turned to walk away.
The door was heavy but together, Teal'c and Dr. Jackson managed to open it enough for a person to fit through the gap. After equipping themselves with flashlights, Teal'c allowed his friend to enter the structure first. It was Dr. Jackson's area of expertise, his discovery, and there was no danger.
"So, Teal'c, do you know why Jack took this mission?"
"Was it not your wish to travel to this planet?" Teal'c countered.
"Yes it was. But the fact that Jack had the team come to this particular planet when we did, still leaves me puzzled."
"Perhaps, he did not wish for the team to be split apart."
"He was worried about me?" Daniel asked with a small smile on his face, stopping near a small standing structure in the center of a large room.
"I did not say that."
"No, of course not."
Teal'c recognized the small structure and immediately touched the small round crystal in the center. Instantly the torches on each of the four walls lit and the room was illuminated.
"It's a library!" Daniel exclaimed putting his flashlight away rushing to one of the walls.
The ground beneath them suddenly shook and dust fell from the high ceiling. Immediately followed by the Colonel's voice over their radios. There was too much static interference to hear exactly what he was saying.
"It would be prudent to leave Daniel Jackson."
Again the ground shook but this time there was the distinct noise of a death glide flying over head.
"I think you're right!" Daniel agreed.
With his staff weapon ready, Teal'c led the way out. He quickly spotted Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. They had taken cover by the nearby by large boulder. Apparently they had been cut off from making it to the building when the glider made its pass.
Teal'c took cover by one of the large columns near the entrance to the library watching the glider come in for another pass. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Daniel doing the same at another column.
"Daniel, is there anything inside that thing we could use?" Jack asked over the radio.
"No! It's a library nothing else."
'Fuck,' Jack thought to himself looking around.
This was not good. The team was too far from the gate. He didn't want to risk getting the team trapped inside a library. Of all things it had to be a library! And there was inadequate protection to make any kind of a defensive stand outside of the building.
"Go Carter!" he ordered giving her the slightest shove in the back with his hand.
Together they hurried to Teal'c and Daniel's position after the death glide had thundered by.
"Carter! How long until the SGC make their scheduled contact?"
"Forty minutes, sir. We would have been on our way back to the gate by then."
Glancing at the open door, the library was suddenly looking like their only option. Jack knew Jaffa troops would be arriving soon. The gate was probably being fortified while he was pondering what to do.
"Ok, we make a stand here. I'm sure our position as been reported. This is what I want us to do."
"Colonel, the link is established, sir," the gate technician said. "You can transmit now."
"SG-1 this is Colonel McBride, come in, over," he said leaning over the microphone.
"It's about damn time!" came Colonel O'Neill's voice through the radio.
"I apologize Colonel. We were having difficulty establishing a wormhole."
"Figured that might...Carter blow the C4!"
The radio line was still open and McBride grew worried at the sound of C4 exploding and weapons fire being exchanged between P90's and staff blasts.
"Colonel O'Neill what is your situation?"
"We're fucked unless you can send reinforcements!"
"Get me the video feed of the gate's perimeter," McBride ordered the technician.
Instantly, the video monitor flicked on and he saw an image of at least two dozen Jaffa. The image was only there briefly before all reception was lost, including radio contact.
"Shut it down! Shut down the gate!" he snapped grabbing the phone. "Get me General Hammond. Of course I know what time it is...just do it!"
"We're on our own kids," Jack informed the team when he failed to contact Colonel McBride.
If the gate was heavily guarded, the probe was most likely destroyed. Thus leaving McBride with no alternative but to shut down the gate on Earth.
"Teal'c do you know who these Jaffa belong to?" Jack asked.
"It must be Themis," Daniel answered. "Their symbol matches the one on the library walls."
Jack removed his hat and scratched his head. He didn't want to contemplate surrendering. Never give up, that was his motto. But he wasn't really that stupid, he knew they were running out of ammo and they were already out of options.
"Daniel, do you think this..."
"Themis."
"Do you think she could be an ally?"
"It's possible but I can't be sure."
"We will find out soon enough," Teal'c said. "We are completely surrounded."
'At least I set the VCR to record the game,' Jack to himself, trying to be as optimistic as possible.
Her first prime marched in and knelt in front of her throne bowing his head in submission.
"My Lady Themis, we have the intruders," he looked up then said proudly. "It is SG-1."
A smile gleamed and her eyes flashed. She was quite pleased with this news. Quite please indeed. It had been a long time waiting for such an opportunity to present itself. Time well worth the patience.
"Finally, I have something of value," she said to no one in particular. "Something to trade for what I desire."
Addressing her first prime, "Contact their leaders. Make it known we wish to make a trade. SG-1 for the Tok'ra traitor."
"Then justice will be had," he smiled.
"Yes, the traitor will trade himself for the safety of these Tauri. Then my justice will be done!"
"What if this Tok'ra refuses?"
"He will not," she smiled, holding her arrogant posture. "Once he learns I have his only daughter, he will not refuse."
Oblivious to what was happening to Sam, Jacob hurried into the commissary. He was starving. His stomach had been growling so loudly that it was literally keeping him awake.
After piling on the pancakes, with tons of syrup and butter, several pieces of crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, a few pieces toast, and a piece of fruit, Jacob finally took a seat with the only other person not sleeping at four thirty in the morning but who should be.
"Do you ever sleep Dr. Fraiser?" he asked grabbing his fork.
"I was too tired to sleep," she answered looking at the tray full of food. "And you?"
"I was too hungry to sleep," he said while trying to decide what to take a bite of first.
"I can see that!"
"Selmak must be working overtime in there or something. I haven't been this hungry since I was on the Tok'ra diet."
"What?" she asked laughing.
"When I first joined the Tok'ra, it was difficult adjusting to some things. Their idea of food...well let's say it leaves something to be desired. While I was craving hamburgers and french fries I was forced to eat crap that looked like baby food! Only it smells nasty and tastes even worse. I didn't eat for a week. I refused. Selmak said I would eat, eventually, if I got hungry enough."
"Obviously you did," she smiled.
"Well not really," he smiled proudly. "I let Selmak take over my body when we have to eat that crap. I've never actually tasted it for myself. I still miss this food though," he smiled cutting into the pancakes, getting ready to take a big bite.
"General Carter, sir."
Jacob stopped in mid bite; reluctantly he lowered the fork but didn't let go of it.
"Yes, Airman."
"You're need in the briefing room immediately, sir. General Hammond's orders, sir."
"Thank you," Jacob sighed and finally put the fork down. "If you will excuse me Dr. Fraiser. It seems that there are three of us who haven't been able to sleep tonight."
Getting up, Jacob followed the young soldier. His stomach still growling and his mouth still salivating over the pancakes he was about to eat.
"General!"
He turned just as Dr. Fraiser tossed him the orange from his tray. He quickly snatched it from the air.
"You have to eat something," she smiled shrugging her shoulders.
"Thanks," he smiled then quickly sinking his teeth into the orange.