Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of the Stargate Universe nor those of the Highlander universe those belong to other entities whom I would beseech to look favorably on this humble work of mine. The concepts involved in these two separate television shows do not belong to me either. The story I have written however does. This story may not be posted on any pay site or in any way shape or form make any profit for anyone (I know Im not making a thing from it)
Review Response: I have made some adjustments to the first three chapters here and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have reviewed this story so far.
MsJonyReb… thank you for your support you have brought to my attention some discontinuity and lack of explanation this will be rectified shortly in the 4th section
Quick-demon…well blessed be you got it in one! Also should note that due to the fact of who is immortal I am struggleing with how to explain a few things thanks for your review more to come shortly!
manic … you may be right I think I have dug myself in to a hole. But I do promise more good flash backs to come.
Village Mystic … to you I owe the most thanks for pointing out some major errors in not only my work but in my thinking I had honestly thought I had corrected and completed section three but oops I think I lost some data somewhere and ended up posting a previous version of that chapter. Again thank you I hope to have more and better works up soon.
SG1-Fanfic…Thanks but as I was saying above I may be digging my own literary grave on this one we will see what my muse is saying later on though.
And now….. dum dum dum da!!!!
Stargate Secrets
Section 3
Day 3 0545hrs
Saturday morning dawned bright and clear as the birds made calls across the sky. Daniel woke to their singing. It was 6:15 am. He got in his car and drove to the Denver civilian airfield. After the hour long 60 plus mile trip he pulled up to the main office.
"Hello I am waiting for a single engine prop craft with the tail numbers 3845s. Can you tell me if it has checked in yet?" Daniel asked the radio operator in between calls.
"Already down and in Hangar number 4. Just sign in and you can drive on over. It's the third one on your left." Came hurried reply and then the operator was back to taking calls from air traffic.
Daniel signed in and threw a "Thank you" over his shoulder as he hurried out to his car. He drove over to the hangar. As soon as he had the car stopped out walked Amanda with bags in tow. He hurried to get out of the vehicle and helped her with her bags.
"Sorry I am late I ran in to a little traffic on the way here." He said as he helped her put her bags in the back of his car. Then stooped and gave her a warm hug. "Its been a while I'm glad you could make It." he smiled at her.
"Well I have been looking forward to this for months Daniel I would not have missed it. How are you? Everything going well with your research?" she looked him over assessing his condition. His aura showed signs of high stress a lot of it.
"Yeah things are going pretty well I cant tell you too much as my employers are very hush hush type people" Daniel smiled as he held open her door for her. She got in and they drove back to the office where she paid for the plane storage and landing fees. With Amanda once more in the car they made their way out of the airfield and began the journey to Colorado Springs. As the miles ticked by they began to talk about the things that had happened in each of their lives since their last meeting. When Amanda began to ask more questions about his work and research the stress level in his aura went through the roof.
"Daniel what are you doing that is causing you so much stress? Its realy not healthy for you." Amanda was genuinly concerned for him.
"At the moment you are." Daniel snaped at her. "Sorry that was both so true and so wrong of me to say."
"Pull over to the side of the road." She said a little upset. " Daniel I am your friend and I am your teacher. Right now I am worried about you. You never used to keep secrets from me." She told him with a look of concern.
" I realy cant talk about it. Please don't ask me more. Amanda I understand you care but If I talk about it I lose my job and a lot more." Daniel was very insistant.
"I am a bit angry with you right now. You know you can trust me yet for some reason you wont and that hurts Daniel." She got out of the car and sat on the bank by the road. She could see Daniel was very upset over this issue.
Daniel pulled himself together and tried to figure out what he would tell her. He couldn't tell her the whole truth. So he sat there until she came back and sat down in the passenger seat and started to watch him.
"Sorry I of all the subjects to pic to talk about that is the one I can tell you the least about. I really need this weekend and I really want you to be here with me for it." Daniel was much more calm now and he noticed she was as well. He was glad things had not gotten blown out of proportion and hoped she would drop the subject of his work. Gods new there was far too much stress in his life this week because of it.
She looked at him. He was sincere she thought. "Ok I suggest we start over." she began. "I really want to be here this weekend and we have not held circle together for quite some time."
"I think we should get you settled in at my place and let you get some rest. After that we will see where we stand." Daniel said as he began to pull back on to the highway.
It did not take long to get back to his home. As they pulled in to his driveway he thought about the plants and shrubs he had grown around his home. The trees around his back yard would finally provide the perfect privacy area. Also he was glad he had taken time alone to work on his sanctuary. The circle he had laid with stones was a fine compliment to his garden. The altar stone was standing proudly in the east/center of the circle. The quarter Stones defining the four cardinal directions of the compass were brightly polished and each of a different type. A path led in to the circle from the southwest. Next to the circle was his garden a round area where he had built a retaining wall and filled it with fertile soil. This was where he grew his herbs and some berries. Across the main circle area from the garden he had constructed a fire pit and benches. The benches consisted of hardwood logs split in half with peg legs anchored in holes in the bottom with the flat sides at the top. These were polished smooth for comfort.
None of this of course was visible from the front of the house where they pulled up and parked. They grabbed the bags and Daniel led her in to the house and showed her to the guest room. It was only 9:30 am and they had plenty of time to prepare for their evening. The first thing they both did was get a couple of hours sleep.
Amanda awoke at 11:30 and began to get ready. The first thing she did was to take a nice hot shower and wash herself with sage soap. She then put on some sweat pants and a T shirt. By this time Daniel was already up and moving about the kitchen setting out ingredients. They worked together withought more than the occasional "Where is the…." And "Pass me … Please" from both of them. At last the cakes they had been mixing and measuring ingredients for were ready to back and they set them in the oven. They had a light lunch and chatted for a bit about what they wanted to do that evening.
"Go." Amanda told him. "You need to prepare and center yourself, I will clean up here" he began to argue but soon thought better of it when he noticed the look of warning she gave him. He had learned to respect those looks from his friend and teacher. Many times he had ignored them in favor of being macho or trying to prove he was right and the results had been less than favorable.
Daniel went outside in to the early afternoon air and sat down in his fire circle the soft grass under him felt good. For a few moments he just looked around his yard and noted the different changes that had taken place since he had last meditated there. The dead limb on the oak tree was gone and the leaves had come in more fully since those many months ago. He closed his eyes and rested his arms on his knees and just sat there indian style with his back straight and his head up. Daniel began to steady his breathing. He was not looking to meditate just yet. Right now he just wanted to ground and center himself. He visualized he aura around him with its firelike flairs and strobing pulses. He knew it must be red and purple at the moment because of all the stress. Next he concentrated on reducing the energy until it was just a couple of inches off his body. The excess energy he let flow in to the ground around him. He felt better and more focused now.
His breathing was steady and his focus was sharp as he drew the energy within him and held it there at his center. Now he was centered. He began to meditate on his day and as he did he began to sort through its tangles.
When he opened his eyes Amanda was sitting across from him in the same position he was in with a clear and refreshed look to her. Her eyes were open and she studied him. Then all at once they connected. Their minds were joined.
The mind is a wonderful thing and those who have the discipline to use it can do great things. In the joining there was peace and comfort. There were boundaries that neither would push out of respect but there was also a multitude of information and emotion that was shared and in that sharing strength and peace was gained.
"You know I am dying to know" she said to him once they were done."But I think I understand now that we have shared, You took an oath didn't you?"
"Yes. Thank you for understanding."
They stretched and returned to the house. The sun was beginning to set so they returned to the yard with a couple of cups of tea and sat and watched it together. Once it was fully down and the moon began to rise they went inside and finished their preparations. In a short time as the moon was nearing its peak they began to bring their tools in to the circle and set up their altar and candles.
The alter was set up with two candles both white to the rear and in front of them on the left Amanda placed her chalice while Daniel placed his Athame on the right. Then she placed her water and Daniel placed his censor. He placed the bell while she placed the sphere. Then he placed the wand and she her sword across the front. Together they placed in the center a wooden pentacle. Amanda returned to the house and brought out the cakes and filled the goblet with wine while Daniel set up the jar candles around the circle. At each quarter he placed the appropriate color candle Green for north Yellow for east Red for south and Blue for west.
They were dressed in their ritual robes and jewelry. Amanda looked like a goddess. She wore her whitecotton wrap similar to a toga but more sheer. At her waist she had a silver belt. And she wore the Crescent crown of the Goddess on her brow. Her feet were bare and her hair was loose and flowed around her shoulders.
Daniel was dressed in his brown cotton robe with the hood thrown back and his golden belt to synch it closed. He wore his sandals. On his head he wore the horns of the God and around his neck he wore a Silver Pentacle.
Daniel Took up the water and began to move clockwise in the circle." With this Blessed water I purify this Circle" He said as he sprinkled it here and there as he walked a spiral pattern three times round the circle starting and resting in the east.
When Daniel had finished Amanda began taking up the salt " With this Blessed Salt I Cleanse this Circle" She said in a loud clear voice and began to sprinkle the salt hither and yon in a clockwise pattern thrice round.
Finished they stood before the altar and rested for a moment. Soon they were ready to continue. Amanda picked up her sword and walked to the eastern edge of the circle. She gathered the energy inside herself and began to focus it in to the blade. Then standing an arms length away from the intended edge she began to walk the circle with the blade pointed at the ground. "East South West North I draw the power, I call forth. From the sun, the moon, the stars, the One. By my will let it be done!" she chanted slowly as she cast the circle thrice about.
Daniel picked up A stick of wood and lit it in a candle on the altar. He then carefully walked over to the Eastern Quarter Stone" Hail to the Watchtowers of the EAST!, The Guardians of Air. We Call You to Attend This Circle!" and having thus said he lit the Eastern Candle. Daniel Turned to Face South as Amanda Began.
"Hail to the Watchtowers of the SOUTH! The Guardians of Fire. We Call You to Attend This Circle!" Then she too lit The Candle at the southern Quarter. And turned clockwise.
Daniel walked to the Western Quarter with the flame and began again."Hail to the Watchtowers of the WEST! Guardians of Water. We Call You to Attend This Circle!"Daniel lit the Candle. The wind picked up pace outside the circle.
Amanda continued to the north."Hail to the Watchtowers of the NORTH! Guardians of the Earth. We Call You to Attend This Circle." As she spoke the wind increased steadily outside to the point where the trees and bushes were swaying back and forth.
Together they face East once more.
"Mother,
The Earth stands Steady
Nurturing us your children
We see your face in the Moon
Ever watchful of dangers in the night
Upon Your Brow is the Crescent
Your beauty is the beauty of the sea
Your voice is the soft comforting song of the wind
Your joy can be seen in the
Newborn children of the forest.
You are our Mother, kind and gentle,
We call to you with our joy!
We celebrate for you are the glory of Life!
Be With Us Now!"
They spoke as one. The Candle on the left of the Alter Blazed to life and The Circle was awash with the power of the Goddess.
"Father, Horned One!
You are the great hunter
You are the protector of all things
You provide for us when the world is cold and harsh
You are the father and the bringer of light
Your face is the sun, forever warm and bright
On your brow is the circlet of autumn leaves
Your eyes are the kind eyes of a stag
Your voice is the voice of the trees blowing in the breeze
You are our father, the hunter and protector
We celebrate you for you are the glory of Light!
Be with Us NOW!"
The thunder pealed and a shadow passed over the full moon. And all the world seemed to stand still as the God's Presence was felt in the circle.
Suddenly they were no longer standing in the circle. Daniel looked around in panic and then in awe as he saw the two figures that stepped out of the wood before them. The man was huge and near to seven feet tall with long stag like horns on his head. His face was stoic and he was naked from head to toe. His body was Well Muscled and his body hair was thicker than normal. He had massive muscled arms and chest.
His companion though different was no less awesome. She was the vision of pure beauty. Her hair was silver and her eyes were the deepest sea green Daniel had ever seen. Like her companion she was an awesome site. She proudly displayed full breast and though she was not a large woman she had ample hips and a slight belly, nothing that stuck out but enough to make it pleasant. She wore upon her brow the crescent moon and other than that she wore nothing.
Daniel realized that he too was standing there naked yet he was not ashamed. This realization caused him to look around him for Amanda. And somehow it didn't bother him that she was not present and the situation suddenly felt like a very personal one.
"Speak0man!" Said the Man/God standing before Daniel in a voice that could shake mountain's
"I would live my life in service of the gods and goddesses." Daniel stated
"and what do you askin return?" Asked the goddess with an arched eyebrow.
"The knowledge and ability to do what must be done." Daniel answered.
"DONE!" They Said in Unison.
"Well Spoken Daniel Jackson Your Request Is Granted." His voice was deep and joyful " You Have Done Well Serving Us in the past May You Continue to Do so in the Future." Said the God.
"Come to us more often and be not ashamed." The lady smiled on him. " When you are weary there is rest here. When you have need of help you have but to call and help will come. Even now you are not alone in your task to keep your world safe from the false gods, These go'uld." Came the goddesses silvery voice. "From this day on you will bear our mark upon you! " Daniels eyes burned and felt his body being wracked with pain.
With that Daniel opened his eyes and found himself standing in a circle arms outstretched screaming at the top of his lungs.
"So Mote It BE!" they cried in unison.
They sat on the Ground both deep in their own thoughts. Daniel looked up only to see Amanda staring at him with her jaw hanging open. He was about to ask her what was wrong when she simply pointed to his chest and arms. Then she gasped and stared at his crotch.
"What?" Daniel asked
"What do you mean What?! Look at you!" Amanda exclaimed in amazement.
He looked down at himself. "wow. Well that explains that." He continued to look himself over. His body was now well muscled and toned he was broader in the shoulders and his penis was a good two inches longer and much thicker as well.
"Daniel your eyes are green. Its like they are captureing the light and glowing." She pointed to his eyes and examined them closer.
They sat in silence for a bit. Until at last daniel had come to grips with what had happened.
"I met them." He said simply
"Tell me about it." She waited
" It was personal. We talked and they gave me gifts." Daniel looked her in the eye. " I need more time to deal with this can we talk about it later?" he asked.
"Sure." She smiled at him. Her smile was camoflage for thousands of unasked questions. She had heard others talk of meeting the Lord and Lady but she herself had never done so. She had felt their presence but never seen them.
Daniel picked up two cakes and handed one to Amanda.
"May you never hunger" he said and began to eat his cake slowly.
Having taken up the Goblet of wine she offered it to him" May you never thirst"
Daniel took it and sipped the fruity wine. He then handed it back to her.
The rest of the ritual was a simple matter of closing the Quarters giving thanks and taking up the
circle. Which they did each lost in their own thoughts.
Day 2 1720hrs Note: planet solar time noon
Sam Stepped through the gate followed by Teal'c and turned to watch Adam step out of the wormhole drop to his knees and vomit.
"Damn it I hate Gate Travel." Adam managed between spasms. "Well now that that is over with anybody got any beer?" he staggered to his feet.
"No" Sam smiled " but we have this wonderful government ration orange drink if you want to mix it up with some water purification tablets."
"Yuck! I can't believe you suggested that. I am aware how bad MRE's are Sam I did serve in a few wars in this countries past you know." Adam said indignantly his dry humor had returned in full force."Catching a soda from an airman his eyes caught sight of the wall where Daniel had taken the rubbing." Might as well get to work and earn my keep." He started towards the wall and took out a writing tablet.
Sam watched Adam work from a distance remembering the first time she saw him.
FLASHBACK
1800 BCE
Sa'man'thia was right where she wanted to be. However she was doing the last thing she wanted to do, dieing. Her short sword stuck in an enemy hitite soldures gut and her spear broken and shattered. Her own condition was not any better than her foe. She was lying on the ground next to many fallen comrades bleeding to death from a chest wound. She looked around her as best she could not being able to move and saw that the battle had moved beyond her now. The hitite army was being pushed back and her own Babylonian forces were winning. She was getting sleepy and cold.
"Marduk guide my spirit." She cried as loudly as she could. It came out as a wisper.
She gasped and began to choke on blood . her sight failed and then blackness.
She awoke with a start and gasped for breath.
"Welcome back to the land of the living" A dark haired man said to her as she began to come back from the dead.
"so this is what it is like to be dead?" Sa'man'thia said as she sat up.
"Not quite. You aren't dead." Came the calm reply.
The man was average hight dark hair and definetly not Babylonian. But not hitite either. Sam took a good look around her and noticed her broken spear and short sword were placed beside her. she was no longer on the battlefield. They were in a small clearing in a wooded area.
"where am I?" Sa'man'thia asked the stranger as she checked her weapon.
"A good distance away from where you died." The man looked her in the eye with the last word." Yes I said died. We have a lot to talk about so whenever you are ready let me know." With that the man began to build a small fire with the surrounding brush and sticks.
"who are you?" She asked "and where do you come from?"
The man was just then blowing on a coal wraped in some tinder. He looked up as it blazed to life.
"well those are big questions. Ok " he paused to place the tinder bundle withing the center of the mass of brush and wood he had gathered. " well I am called Rama these days but that is not who I am. My name has been many things but the first I remember it being was Methos. And you are?"
"Sa'man'tia of the house of uruk of Babylon." She said with pride born of rank and position." And?" she looked questioningly at him.
"and what?" he smiled coyly " oh yes well I am from many places Ive been all over the world and to a few places that no longer exist within the world." He looked away for a moment then came back with a start.
"well Methos who calls himself Rama for now of every where and nowhere what is your business with me?" she got straight to the point.
" well at present my business with you is to teach you." He looked at her seriously.
"What is it you intend to teach me?" she was curious now. She liked to learn new things she always had.
"Don't you want to know why you are still alive?" methos asked
she sat closer to the fire that was now beginning to give off much wanted warmth. " why should I believe anything you say? I don't know you."
"because we are the same in may ways. We are both immortal." He saw the look beginning to form in her eyes. That look he had seen so many many times before that said it was imposible it could not happen it is not true. " I can prove it watch" he pulled out a small knife from his boot and drew it slowly down his palm wincing at the pain. The blood flowed freely and then bluish sparks began to play across the wound leaving behind the blood but nothing else. It was as if the cut had never taken place. " see"
"You are a God!" she cried and began to bow to him and prostrate herself.
He quickly made his way around the small blaze and grabed her shoulders lifting her to her feet." I am NOT a god I am the same as you. He grabbed her wrist and quick as a flash slit her palm open with the small blade. " Watch! Learn! See we are no different." He said pleadingly at the end.
She watched as her hand bled and then miraculously the sparks started on her wound as well. " how is this possible? What did you do to me?" she cried in fear and confusion.
" I did nothing to you I swear. By all the gods I swear it. Like me you lived a normal life then died and then rose up to be immortal. Its what we are." He sat back down on the ground by the fire and cleaned his knife off in the dirt. After placing it back in his boot he watched her slowly sink to the ground and examine her palm again.
She drew her own knife then and cut her hand once more. When it healed she cut her arm and then her leg. She jumped up and grabed her sword and twirled it around her shouting " I am Immortal! I am invincible! Come you Hitine dogs I will lay you low and even ere I die I will rise up again and kill you!" suddenly her blade was met with another.
"Wwe are not unkillable. Just much harder to kill and as for your old life name and titles consider them gone forever. Anyone who knew you will know you died this day. And they will not respond kindly to what they do not understand." Methos looked at her again "there is more we must talk about but first let us eat and sleep then I will tell you what it is to be immortal." He motioned for her to sit again by the fire.
ENDFLASHBACK
Day 2 1800hrs
Sam made her way to the command tent and began to settle in. two hours later she decided she would check up on Adam.
"Hey old man how about a break?" she called out catching his attention.
"Sure why not I can always finish this later, what did you have in mind?"
"Exercise" she winked at him and stepped to an area away from the ruin.
They squared off and drew their weapons and saluted. Slowly they circled each other each one watching for a break in form. Suddenly methos made a feint to Sam's left. She saw it and knew it for what it was countering with a lunge to the opposite side. Adam withdrew and they continued to circle.
By this time word of their sparring match was just beginning to circulate and a couple of off duty airman ambled up just as steel met steel for the first time. Thrust swing Perry Perry dodge duck swing jump roll. And so it went for several minuets as they sized each other up.
The crowd was getting larger.
"Very good Sam I actually think you have improved since my last lesson." Adam Smirked and held his blade wide. He winced suddenly as her blade carved a line across his midsection cutting his shirt.
" Never let down your guard." She teased. As she fended off his sudden onslaught in retaliation for her attack.
" True…." He returned the favor " you should always be prepared. After all swordplay is not a game" this time he stepped back as the speed of her blows increased.
The crowd was well in to the scene by now. " Go get em Colonel!" one of SG-3 cheered. Meanwhile many were placing bets as to who would win, how, and when.
Colonel Makepeace who was standing next to Teal'c made a wager "Teal'c I bet you 10$ he kicks her ass."
"I do not think it wise to make a bet judged on gender or size Colonel. So as they say … You're on." Came Teal'c's reply.
The combatants broke apart and circled again each ignoring their wounds. Sam feigned a false footing and methos fell for it literally as she hooked her leg behind his and dumped him on his ass. He in return cut her leg and rolled away. She was limping now but the wound was already healing. A few steps more and all hell broke lose they were toe to toe blade to blade. Steel was flying faster than the eye could see. Blows were ringing faster than a school fire alarm as the onlooker's jaws dropped. Damage was taken on both sides, their clothing was ragged and bloody the dirt was red in patches.
Makepeace was tempted to end this fight. The combatants were killing themselves "ten bucks be damned this has got to stop" he said to Teal'c gesturing for him to back him up. He needn't have worried the fight was soon over.
As Sam parried Adams blow she changed directions suddenly and Adam took the opening running his blade through her gut just as her blade came to rest on his neck hard enough to jar him out of his battle craze and there they stopped each looking the other in the eye.
"I win old man!" Sam said before she passed out dead on the ground. Methos withdrew his blade and sat down stunned.
"I don't believe it, she beat me." He just sat there for a moment thinking of how he had gone wrong.
Teal'c turned to the colonel " I do not think we can accurately score this match let us call it a draw." As the Colonel nodded mutely he went to help His leader up as she revived.
Adam was cleaning his blade when Carter sat up. "You're definitely getting better Sam. If that had been real you would have had me." Adam was not afraid to admit when he was outmatched.
"Well considering the amount of time I have to practice these days I'm not surprised I was so slow." She grinned back at him. One good thing about coming out of the closet with those around you is that you could practice more in the open and not worry that your secret would screw up your present life. She sat down and began to care for her sword. "We have some unfinished buisness to attend to you know? She said in reference to their incident in the briefing room.
"Well, ive been rather busy being unnoticed." Adam began. " In fact here recently ive been noticed a lot more than I would like." Adam smiled thinking of Duncan and Richie. " Here lately ive been hanging out with an overgrown boyscout"
Sam cocked her head to one side in thought. "The only one of us that I know bears that description is one noble highlander Duncan Macleod, but I don't think you could stand hanging out with him for long. You have no sense of chivalry."
"Oh? And just when did you meet the noble MacLeod?" He stared at her in surprise.
"Bout a century or so ago."
"Really? You sleep with him yet?" he quipped. " He doesn't let many get away"
"For your information No I havent!"She faked indignation "How ever do you two keep from killing each other?"
"Unfortunately he grows on you the longer you hang around him." Adam put up his blade.
"Why I do believe you like him!" Sam gave Adam her best grin. "Does he know about? You know?" she asked in a more serious tone.
"Yes and yes he does."Adam became serious again. " Now I believe I would like to get back to translating this wall if you don't mind." He walked over to where he left his notes and started translating again.
Col. Carter Went back to the command tent and began to finish up her work for the day. Command had its privileges and its paperwork.
End Day 2 2100hrs