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Part Six


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"Well, it's definitely the same writing, I'm just having trouble coming up with a key," Daniel said with a sigh. "I can see so many similarities, but there are five different languages on the scroll alone, and the book is even more complex. I mean, the book's only the one main language, but it's written by someone I swear should have been a doctor, eh, no offence Janet, and I can't find anything with similarities on the scroll."

"I thought the scroll was the key, didn't you say when we got it that the scroll was the key?" Jack asked, rubbing his temples. Daniel knew Jack was having a hard time not zoning out when he was talking, but he also knew that Jack had made a promise to himself that he would help Daniel figure this thing out, that he would take an active part in everything that could lead him to Sam, and now, everything that could help Cassie as well.

"Well," Hammond said, clearing his throat, "at least it's a start." He stood up and looked at them with a small smile. "I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough, Doctor Jackson, but I think we could all use some sleep. I'm sure you'll agree that you will all think a lot better on a good night's sleep."

When Jack looked ready to protest, Daniel cleared his throat, drawing attention to him. "Jack, the General's right. We can't do anything just now. I'm beat, and I'm guessing you are as well." Before Jack could protest that statement, Daniel continued, "and even if you're not, I'm sure that Shay is."

That being the deciding factor, Daniel knew he had won. Jack nodded and bade them farewell, heading off to the infirmary to collect Sha'uri from Janet's care. Sighing, Daniel picked up the books and the scroll, knowing that, despite his words, he would likely open them up when he got back to his apartment.

He made his way to the infirmary to say good night to Janet and to check on Cassie, but quickly made his way topside. He stepped out of the elevator rubbing at his ears. He had had earache since stepping back through the Stargate, which, in itself wasn't a strange thing, the change in altitude and weather conditions often led to earache for many of the SG personnel. What was strange, though, was that it hadn't stopped yet.

Sighing, he shook his head and got into his car, turning up the radio and hoping his ears would pop and just put him out of his misery. The drive home was quick, and Daniel gave a start when he realised he had driven most of the way in a daze. He knew that it was dangerous, but with his knowledge of the road, and his worry for Sam and Cassie, he didn't really care.

He got out of his car and locked the door, fumbling with his keys as he made his way up to his apartment. He was greeted by a bright light, and he cursed as he realised he had left his lights on for the last three days, having been going between the base and Jack's house. He threw his keys on the mantle and rubbed at his eyes as he switched the kettle on.

Dropping his bag onto the counter, he pulled out the books and opened the Red Book at the script that Jack had recognised. It still didn't make any sense to him, but he was beginning to feel a familiarity with the script now. If he could only figure out the key, things would be fine. But, unfortunately, that was beginning to look more and more difficult as time went by.

The kettle clicked off as it reached boiling point, and Daniel rubbed at his ear as he pulled a mug from the cabinet above his head. He poured himself a mug of coffee and picked up the scroll, hoping to decipher one of the languages on it, so that he could get the key to the book. He sighed in relief as his ears popped, and turned around, spilling his coffee on his shirt.

"Hello, Daniel Jackson."

He tried to ignore the fact that he had squealed, and the fact that his spilled coffee was burning his chest, and focus on the young woman in front of him. She was about five foot tall, with long brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. She was absolutely beautiful and without doubt, she was the woman he had spotted earlier that day in the museum.

"Er…hello?"

The woman laughed and reached out a hand. "You must be in hurt," she said, her thickly accented voice soothing him, and placed her hand on his chest. A blue light surrounded him and the pain was gone, as was the coffee stain on his shirt.

"Eh, thank you."

"Welcome."

Daniel smiled and cleared his throat. "So, em, you're here." The woman nodded. "Right. That's great and everything, but, eh, who are you?"

The woman laughed again and nodded once. "I am Lieral of Hann'ana. My people are of the old."

"Right," Daniel nodded. "How, eh, how did you get here?"

Lieral smiled and opened her mouth, as if to speak, but instead she began to sing. Her voice was beautiful, and Daniel automatically thought of Sirens. The beautiful voices that had the ability to render a man useless and promise him everything he wanted, and make him do whatever they wanted. At that moment, he would have gladly done whatever Lieral wanted him to.

Her voice began to increase in pitch and volume, until she was singing so high that Daniel would have cringed if not for the beauty of it. He watched in amazement as she began to shimmer, her body becoming less and less real before his eyes as she drifted into a ghostlike form. The higher her voice went in pitch, the less he culd see her, until her voice got so high he could no longer hear her, and she blinked out of existence.

A moment later she reappeared and his ears popped once more. He stared at her in astonishment and admiration as she smiled serenely at him.


"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "that explains the ear ache."

Lieral laughed and took his hand, leading him into his living room and sitting next to him on the couch. "You wonder me, Daniel Jackson," she said, and Daniel couldn't help but smile indulgently. "I am speaking wrong?" she asked.

"Only a few misplaced words, but the meaning is the same, if a little, eh, eccentric."

"I learned on my travel to your world today."

Daniel raised his eyebrows. "You learned to speak English in the space of about seven hours?"

"It is too long?"

Daniel laughed, "No, it's amazing."

Lieral smiled and sat further back. "Your form is comfortable to me. It is that of the people on Hanka, and it is that which we once were. We have forgotten the wonder of the body we had of old, we have forgotten who we once were."

"And that's a bad thing?" Daniel asked, settling himself beside her. He knew he should be contacting the base, but there was something about Lieral that made him want to get to know her better first.

"Not all. There are many things of both ways that are good. I think I prefer this way, but I am young among the old."

"If it's not too rude to ask, how old are you?"

"I am many cycles older as you would think old. I am called of the Elders, as I am too young to be of the Ancients."

"The Elders? The Ancients?" Daniel asked, his eyes widening. "You're one of the Elders of P6X-989?"

Lieral frowned. "I do not know this place."

Daniel sighed. "Okay, let me think. Come on, Daniel, remember." He closed his eyes, trying to recall something that would help him get across the planet he was thinking of, anything to give Lieral an indication of the planet he wanted her to know. The planet he needed her to know.

"Okay, do you know what this means," he started, hoping he could remember it correctly, "Kly nya'ra Manat'ma?"

Lieral's eyes widened and she sat forward, clasping at Daniel's hands. "Kly nyaha'ra Manat'maha?"

"That's it!" Daniel said, his eyes wide. "In our tongue it means-"

"The Touched." Lieral nodded. "Although I have learned today. I once spoke like this language."

"Of course, Hai said that we spoke the language of The Ancients."

"Hai!" she said with delight. "Hai is a good man."

"Yes," Daniel said, smiling at her, "yes, he is."

Her delight was, however, short lived and she frowned. "What will you know of The Touched?"

"On our visit to Hai's planet-"

"Yaha'ri."

"Yaha'ri?" Daniel said, and she nodded. "Okay, on our visit to Yaha'ri, my friend and colleague, became Touched. She had a beautiful baby girl, but just after she had given birth, she disappeared in a bright light. We've been looking for her ever since." The woman nodded slowly and Daniel leaned closer. "Lieral, I need to ask you. Do you know where she is? Can you help me find Sam?"

Lieral smiled sadly and shook her head. "Daniel, Samantha Carter is beyond your reach."

"How did you know her name?" he asked loudly. "Do you know where she is, Lieral? Where is she?"

Lieral reached out a hand to stroke Daniel's cheek. "You love your friend very much," she said, tenderly stroking a finger across his lips, "but you cannot reach her."

"Why?"

"She is at one with life itself." Lieral smiled, and Daniel detected a note of wistfulness in her voice. "Her spirit is Awakening."

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End of Part Six

Well, you got a lot more info here than I had planned to give, but hey, knowing the way I can go on with confusion, this is not a bad thing! I hope you like Lieral, since she is going to become a large part in the story now. She's actually loosely based on a girl I go to college with, although not in looks. Those were decided by my fingers as they did what they do best, wrote without consulting my head! LoL!

Feedback is always appreciated :)