A/N: Well, this story wasn't next in the update queue … but I was informed by my roommate that if I didn't update NOW I would find myself with several broken bones (none of which would interfere with my typing). So I dedicate this chapter to Logan, who scares me.
Thanx to everyone who've reviewed so far, I honestly didn't think this would become as popular as it has. Ahh, I remember back when this was going to be a side-project…..
Chapter 6 – Decisions
"Hey, easy on the arm there, snake belly, wouldn't want to damage the goods now, would we?" Jack complained to the tall Jaffa, eliciting no verbal response but O'Neill winced as the First Prime tightened the hold on Jack's arm. It hadn't taken them long to get to the throne room, at least that's the way it felt to Jack. Of course, he had spent most of the time berating himself for being a fool and for having a death wish.
The jaffa brought Jack before Kali, who posed on her thrown.
"Bow before your God, Jack O'Neill," Kari gloated, pointing to the ground.
"Good advice, when I meet Him, I'll give him your regards," Jack quipped. The First Prime kicked the back of Jack's knee and he fell to knees before Kali. The Goa'uld's smile never wavered.
"I would think more carefully about your situation before you speak, if I was you, tau'ri. You'll make a fine trophy to parade before the system lords, alive …" Kali regarded her ribbon device speculatively, "or dead."
Jack opened his mouth to make another comment, when he felt the pain of the ribbon device. When the pain left, Jack was left gasping on the floor, unable to sit up.
"Do not make the mistake in thinking you have any choice in the matter. Your life and your death are in my hands now."
Kali gestured towards her First Prime.
"We have what we've come for, the tau'ri are probably planning to destroy this base and their people rather than let us have it. Not that there is anything stopping us from coming again. Recall the troops. You two," Kali ordered, pointing to two Jaffa, "bring this tau'ri through the Chapa'ai."
Kali stepped towards the gate when she felt the sudden presence of immense power. She turned around quickly to see a small boy standing at the other side of the room. Though Liam had lowered the invisibility around himself, the shield was still on which gave him a glow.
"Who are you?" Kali demanded.
"If you are really a God," Liam titled his head, "then I wouldn't have to answer that question, nor would you have to ask."
The Jaffa watched the boy with uncertainty as he approached them. One dropped O'Neill and charged the boy – only to find himself being flung into a wall by the boy's shield.
"You may leave in peace, but I will not allow you to take O'Neill with you."
The rest of the Jaffa entered the room.
"Shoot them!" Kali cried, pointing at Liam and O'Neill. The jaffa obeyed immediately, and a multitude of staff weapons discharged. When the firing stopped, Liam had Jack in his arms – both protected by the shield and unharmed. The boy let go of Jack gently and walked towards the false God, leaving Jack encased in his own shield. In frustration, the Goa'uld tried used the ribbon device but to no avail.
Kali glared at the boy when she caught sight of the pendent around his neck. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the design.
"Furling," she hissed. The boy made no acknowledgement of the statement but gestured towards the gate.
Realizing she had no choice – she and her jaffa retreated.
For now.
*********************************
General Hammond and the three members of SG1 stood just inside the infirmary, looking across the room at the still figure of Jack O'Neill.
"How is he, Doctor?" Hammond asked Dr. Frasier.
"There's no serious damage – though he did get a heavy dose of the ribbon device. What is surprising is that he's healing at an accelerated rate, and I don't know why."
"What the hell happened down there?" General Hammond asked Teal'c.
"I am unsure, GeneralHammond. ColonelONiell surrendered to the First Prime, I do not know why," Teal'c replied, "The last I saw of ONeill he was being taken to the gateroom."
"What about the monitors? Didn't you have the gateroom covered?" Daniel asked.
Carter nodded.
"We did, up until Kali was going to go back through the Stargate. For some reason, at that moment the feed cut out. It started up again five minutes later, but by then the Goa'uld was gone and the Colonel was lying unconscious on the floor."
A sergeant came up to Daniel Jackson.
"Dr. Jackson? I have a message from Dr. Matthew Stanton for you; he asks if you've been able to find his son."
"Oops," Daniel said, looking nervous.
"Oops, Dr. Jackson?" the General reiterated incredulously.
"Yeah, I kind of forgot about him. Jack told us to head to the surface and that he would find Liam himself. I completely forgot about the boy until now."
"Did Jack ever find him?" Janet asked concerned.
Daniel shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
The entire base was searched, as well as among the dead bodies. The boy could not be found. Daniel and Carter were walking to the infirmary, hoping Jack had awakened and could tell them if he had hid the boy somewhere when they heard a beeping noise.
Daniel stopped.
"Did you hear that? Where is it coming from?" he asked, looking around. Carter followed suit and then pointed to a door.
"I think it's coming from Jack's office."
They looked inside and there on the bed was Liam Stanton, playing on Jack's GameBoy. The boy looked up at the two adults and smiled innocently.
"Hi, is Jack done with his work yet? He said he'd show me how to bypass level 22 when he got back."
Daniel knelt down in front of the boy.
"Liam, did you hear or see anything…weird, since Jack left you?"
Liam shook his head.
"Nope, but it would have been cool if aliens had taken over the base or something. I'm getting tired of waiting for Jack."
"Yeah…cool," Daniel echoed, and turned to say something to Sam.
Neither saw the mischievous smile on Liam's face as he turned back to his game.
TBC