1594 A.D.
"What is it?" Morrigan asked Bar'tok as he entered the Pel'tak and bowed before her.
"The female you infected with Croa'tan wishes to speak with you ."
"Oh?"
"Yes, my Queen."
Morrigan gave a sly smile. "No doubt she wishes to plead for her life. Pathetic, but amusing. I will make her an example to the others."
With that, Morrigan turned and headed for the transportation rings.
"But, why?" Abe asked, clearly upset by his sister's intensions.
"Because, it's the only way Morrigan will give our people the cure."
"But I'll never see you again!"
Elizabeth sighed, "What has been done is my fault. I defied her orders. I can't just stand by and do nothing as the others get sicker."
Abe looked down at the floor. "I know." He said, barely above a whisper. "But I've already lost Mother and Father…and now I'm losing you, too."
Elizabeth had no answer to that. She wrapped her arms around her brother and allowed a stray tear to roll down her cheek. Their family had been through so much over the past several years, and it wasn't over yet.
A large flash of light signaled Morrigan's arrival in the midst of the village. And there Elizabeth stood, waiting for her to come. A small group of settlers had gathered nearby. They were close enough to see what was going on, but far enough away to not draw any undue attention to themselves.
Elizabeth hoped Morrigan couldn't sense that she had been cured of the illness. No doubt that would only serve to enrage her further. And that was the last thing her people needed.
Bowing before Morrigan in a display of servitude, Elizabeth was thankful that the self-appointed Goddess was unable to read her thoughts. For if she could, Elizabeth doubted any of them would be left alive.
Morrigan paced coolly, in her normal fashion as she sized up the intensions of her slave girl. After a few moments she paused, and towered over the place where Elizabeth had knelt. "My Jaffa told me that you wished to see me. Is this so?"
"Yes, my Queen. Please, what can we do that will return us to your good graces?"
Morrigan smiled impishly, "Rebellion is a serious matter. Nothing short of an appropriate sacrifice can appease what has been done."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. "My Queen, I've come to offer myself as a sacrifice to you, if you will restore the others to good health."
Morrigan raised eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. "Oh?"
"The forbidden journal came from within my family. As the eldest child of my father, I ask that you take me in exchange for the lives of the others."
"And why would I do that?"
"The others have done nothing to merit the disease. Cure them, and take me instead. It will show the others that rebellion is met with punishment, but obedience is rewarded. That will prevent any future rebellious acts."
Morrigan began slowly pacing once again as she considered Elizabeth's words. After what felt like an eternity, Morrigan finally responded. "I will accept your offer. But I warn you, if your people show the slightest hint of rebellion in the future, I will spread the disease among them once again." She paused, and eyes flashed with an eerie golden glow. "And I promise you, the sacrifice to appease my anger will be one far greater than the one you offer now."
It had taken great effort, but somehow Daniel had managed to block out his troubling thoughts and focus on the task at hand. There wasn't much of the journal left to read, and he was positive that it could give them some sort of tactical advantage over Morrigan. If nothing else, it could provide intel that might be helpful. Or…well…something.
The past happenings of the Roanoke colony were no doubt interesting, especially to a history buff like Daniel. Under other circumstances, he would have relished the opportunity to dive into such a historical treasure. If only gaining mere academic knowledge was the goal in this case. But it wasn't. Lives were at stake, many lives. All of the women and girls of the village had been infected by the mysterious disease. That amounted to over half of the villagers, not to mention Sam and Janet.
Daniel glanced around the empty kitchen. He had been grateful that Jack hadn't called him down for losing his temper earlier. Jack knew him well enough to realize that Daniel's emotions had gotten the best of him, and that he just needed to blow off some steam. Afterwards, Daniel had given Jack an apologetic look, hoping to mend some fences. Jack merely gave him an understanding nod, then instructed the others to give Daniel some space while he finished his work.
Readjusting his glasses, Daniel turned back to his reading. 'Hmm, that's strange' Daniel thought, narrowing his eyes in confusion as he turned the page. Up until now the handwriting had been neat, the strokes wide and curved. But this last page was different. The writing itself was smaller, the strokes bolder and rather boxy. Daniel was no graphologist, but his experience as a linguist told him that this passage was more than likely written by a man.
Intrigued, Daniel quickly devoured the words of the final passage. With a sense of finality, Daniel snapped the worn book closed and allowed the information he had just learned to sink in.
He had no more set the book on the table when he heard a strangled cry coming from the back room. Daniel's eyes widened in surprised at the unexpected noise. He stood quickly, nearly knocking his chair over as he bolted towards the sound of the cry.
Daniel's jaw dropped when he was what was happening. Sam was gasping, trying to scream for help, but she couldn't. Janet's hands were clasped tightly around Sam's throat, trying to squeeze the life out of her.
"Janet!" Daniel screamed, grabbing her left arm roughly and pulling her grasp free from Sam.
"Get away from me!" Janet shouted, lunging toward Sam again. "She deserves to die!"
Daniel quickly grabbed Janet's other arm, and suddenly Janet was the one crying out in pain. She crumpled to the ground, holding her right arm close to her body.
"What's wrong, Janet?" Daniel asked, knowing he hadn't grabbed her arm hard enough to hurt her. But she still shrank away from as he drew steadily closer. Finally, she found herself back against the corner of the room. Janet looked around wildly for a way to escape, but there was none.
Seeing this, Daniel watched Janet's demeanor change from that of fright to one of determination. She firmly set her jaw, and her dark eyes glared up at him angrily.
"Janet, listen to me sweetheart." Daniel said, making his voice and smooth and calming as possible. "You're very sick right now. I don't know exactly what's going on, but you have to fight it."
Janet blinked, as if surprised by his statement. "No! She was going to kill me! And now you're trying to kill me!"
"I'm not trying to kill you, Janet. I love you. I'm trying to help you get better."
Janet's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as though she were trying to decide whether or not to believe him. "You don't want to hurt me?"
"No, of course not."
He watched as she cast a suspicious look towards Sam. Leaning closer to him, she whispered, "I saw her. She took a knife and hid it under her pillow. She was going to use it on me. And then she was going to kill the rest of you."
"Sam's sick, Janet. She would never do anything like that."
"But I saw her!" Janet insisted, the wild look returning to her eyes. "Don't you see? I have to stop her, or she'll try to kill us all!" With that, Janet leapt forward, and caught Daniel by the knees. He stumbled backwards, unable to catch himself against the sudden weight of her body.
Before he even knew what was happening he was sprawled on the floor, and Janet had grabbed the knife he kept on his belt.
"Janet, no!" Daniel shouted as he scrambled to his feet.
He caught her hand in mid-strike, but a painful wail told him that he was already too late. A crimson pool of blood had already begun seeping from Sam's abdomen.
Responding partially on instinct, he squeezed Janet's wrist, forcing the knife to drop from her hand. Daniel quickly grabbed her other wrist and pulled her arms behind her back to restrain her.
"Oh, God." Daniel muttered subconsciously as he looked down at Sam, her blood continuing to stain the clean white sheets she was wrapped in.
"I had to, Daniel!" Janet sobbed. "She was going to kill you! I couldn't let her hurt you…I couldn't!"
"Come on," Daniel said, ignoring her words. Sam needed a doctor, and fast. Daniel adjusted his grip on Janet's wrists. "We need to go call for help."
Janet blinked slowly, and Daniel could tell the exhaustion of the disease was about to overtake her body once again. But still, he didn't dare leave her alone with Sam.
Helping her into the other room, he sat Janet down in one of the chairs in the kitchen.
"Stay here, Janet. And don't move, okay?" She nodded in agreement. With that, Daniel bolted into the sitting room, grabbed his radio, and ran back into the kitchen to make sure Janet was still there.
Fortunately, she was sitting right where he had left her. Clicking the radio twice before speaking, Daniel called for backup. "Jack, we need SG-8 here right away. Sam's been stabbed."