--- --- Awakening --- ---

SG-36 had brought back some very interesting news. This particular team specialized in tropical planets and had been sent to a destination on the outer arms of the Milky Way. And, although Daniel wanted to stay at the ESGC to be present should some news about Jack arrive, he still had a job to do.

In this case, the job was to go to P5X-359, the tropical planet in question, and sign a treaty with the indigenous people. Their culture was very advanced and, as Earth still did, they had once exploited the planet's natural resources. During some period in their history the Goa'uld laid claim to their world wanting to mine the naquadah that the planet held in great amounts. But the Ordig'na had fought the Goa'uld successfully and their out-of–the-way location seemed to have protected them from other oppressors.

Over the years, the Ordig'na had found a way to allow their ozone layer to be re-established and most of the planet was now covered with a wonderful rainforest producing fresh air. This chance was too good to let it go unused.

So, Daniel went. To be honest, what else could he do? Jeremy was in California, at college, and Sam was God-knew-how-many light-years away. He could do nothing but sit around, waiting for them to come home. Of course, he had left instructions to contact him should any news reach the ESGC but, even so, he felt as if he was letting his friends down. But any hesitation was soon overcome as Daniel stepped through the Gate, even though the worry remained.

The planet was as wonderful as Daniel had assumed from the descriptions of SG-36. A thick green forest greeted him as he exited the Gate on the other side. It had been some time since Daniel had last made a journey through the Stargate and he found his head spinning slightly. A small man, no taller than a child, who wore, to Daniel's utter surprise, something similar to a suit, stepped towards him and bowed slightly.

"Doctor Jackson? I'm Tel'reol. I was sent to take you to the council."

"Hello, Tel'reol. I'm honored to be here and to speak with your council."

Tel'reol inclined his head in acknowledgement of Daniel's words and turned around while he made an inviting gesture with his hands, leading Daniel's gaze towards the trees. Thick trunks rose far into the sky, their massive branches carrying the green canopy. Somewhere in between soil and leaves, tree houses rounded the stems. The different trees were connected by a complicated system of bridges and ladders. Right now, Daniel was standing on a huge platform in whose center the Stargate had been positioned. Several bridges led away from the platform and he followed Tel'reol as he started towards one of them.

"This is amazing."

"You've seen nothing, believe me."

Daniel was inclined to agree. Before him, he could see nothing but houses, some of them twenty or more stories high. It seemed as if the whole planet was one big city, at least it looked like that from where he was standing. As they walked through the net of bridges, Daniel was amazed to find new wonders wherever he looked. The journey through the trees and houses revealed new things at each corner.

Juicy scents and colorful dress greeted him wherever he set foot. If there was any kind of heaven, Daniel was sure he had reached it. Finally, they stopped in front of one of the biggest buildings that was buzzing like a bee-hive full of suited men and women.

It was times like these that Daniel loved his job.

--- --- --- --- ---

A soft familiar body was pressed against him when he awoke and he squeezed her tighter, relishing the feeling of her in his arms. He was engulfed in her warmth. God, he'd never get tired of waking up next to her. He bowed down a bit and placed a line of soft kisses on her neck. Her breathing changed. She was waking up and he continued his ministrations. Suddenly, she stiffened in his arms and he knew something was off.

And then, he remembered, the impact knocking the breath out of his lungs. He jumped to his feet as if she had a contagious disease and he backed away until he felt the wall behind him. She turned slowly around, her blue eyes fixed on him.

"Geez, Carter, I'm sorry. I thought you were - I'm so sorry."

With one quick step to the side, the gray doors slid open allowing him to escape. He hurried blindly through the corridors of the Asgard ship until he collapsed in a dark room, his eyes fixed on the moving stars outside. He had just kissed Carter. He'd mistaken her for his wife. How could he have been so foolish to assume that he had everything under control? Those two were so similar to each other.

And he had just... God, this wasn't fair to any of them. He had to stay away from her. He had promised her to find her Jack and he had every intention of living up to his word. But he couldn't allow her to get as close. From now on, she had to be nothing than Carter to him. The occasional lapse to Sam did none of them any good. She was Carter, his 2IC, nothing more. He owed it to her, to both of them, to treat her like he would have treated any other soldier. But despite his brave oath, he wondered whether he would be able to slip into this particular role again.

A strange, screaming noise suddenly filled the rooms of the ship but Jack had little doubt what that sound meant. He was on his feet as fast as his knee allowed and hurried towards the bridge to find out what that alarm was about. When he reached the bridge, he nearly collided into her. Obviously, she had come to a similar conclusion as she greeted him with a firm 'Sir'.

"What's up, Carter?"

"The vessel went into orbit around that planet. We don't know whether someone has been transported to the surface but another Goa'uld ship's approaching our position. We're cloaked so they shouldn't be able to detect us..."

Another beeping joined the first and Jack looked quizzically up to find Carter leaning next to Thor, both watching the panel warily.

"They're hailing us."

"Carter, I thought you said that..."

"I know, Sir."

"So... lucky guess?"

She shrugged shortly and then pushed some buttons. The face of a dark-haired woman appeared on the translucent screen, a smile twisting her lips.

"Please don't fire your weapons. I'm a friend of... Barol? I thought they had taken you."

The golden eyes fixed on him through the screen. He remembered having heard that name. That was what the old woman on Sandrana had said when she had seen the picture. When Carter coughed slightly, he noticed that the woman was expecting an answer.

"Ahh... yeah... they had, but I escaped."

"I'm so glad that I've found you."

He was unsure how to answer and the woman obviously felt his unease. Her eyes traveled further until they settled on Carter and then widened for one moment in disbelief. But the look of horror was soon brushed away by something else. He was sure he'd seen the switch in her head flipping. So, when she spoke again, it wasn't to him.

"I assume you are Sam. My name is Tharyl. Would you allow me access to your ship?"

--- --- --- --- ---

He was pushed into the throne room and stumbled a few steps towards the huge golden throne, resting on a dais in the otherwise red room. His knee still screamed at each movement and he quickly checked it for any further damage, when a strange voice addressed him from behind.

"I see my Jaffa hurt you. They will be punished. Follow me, Barol."

A woman stepped past him and Barol's heart stopped beating that very moment. Deep blue eyes watched him warily under silky, blonde strands of hair. A light blue dress was wrapped delicately around her shoulders and fell softly over her hips to her bare ankles and feet. Gracefully, she stepped onto the dais and sat down on the golden throne with one fluid movement.

"Come, Barol. I will not hurt you. Do you know who I am?"

Though Barol wanted to scream, to shout her name, he heard a voice in his head telling him to be careful. Telling him that it was not her. It was not Sam. He hadn't been able to hear her voice in his dreams but he was sure that her voice didn't sound like that. This voice was unlike any other he had ever heard. It was not human and that made him shiver slightly.

"You do not know your Goddess?" The strange voice held vague surprise. "I am Indra."

He moved as if in trance, as if the name had triggered a switch in his head. Without volition, he stepped forward and kneeled down despite the ache that shot through him instantly. Indra. He knew the name. Indra was their Goddess. She was their creator, their light.

"Forgive me, my Goddess. I didn't recognize you."

A hollow laughter echoed through the room and he felt her eyes on him, though he couldn't see them. His head was still bowed in a show of submission.

"How could you? Stand up, Barol. Karan had the order to bring you here. I am sorry that he hurt you. He has already been punished for his actions."

Barol rose hesitantly to his feet though he still feared looking at her. He knew her. She was his Goddess. Yet he felt as if this wasn't right. And, with each beating of his heart, the warning voice inside of him screamed louder.

--- --- --- --- ---

Teal'c looked up into the night sky. Only a few stars lit the dark expanse and reminded the observer of the planet's position at the outer territory of the galaxy. Ishta turned slightly in his arms, her eyes watching him warily.

"So, the Goa'uld have returned."

He stared for some time into the depth of her brown eyes before he inclined his head. He had returned to Chulak yesterday. There was nothing he would have been able to do on Earth and Daniel Jackson had assured him that he would be informed should any news arrive.

Ishta had thought it would be nice to spend the few days they would have together, especially now that the old enemy seemed to rise again. This planet was an old Goa'uld mining colony that was now used by the Tau'ri. But, as the mines were placed several clicks away, few people came here. Ishta and Teal'c had come here a few times, usually when they had needed time to think and now was such a time.

"What will we do?"

"As far as we know, they concentrated their forces on the Cepheus galaxy. In order to reach our galaxy, they would need a great amount of time. It is highly unlikely that the Goa'uld brought O'Neill into that galaxy. Maybe they are now allied with a mightier force. At the moment, there is nothing to do but to wait for a message from the Asgard."

Ishta nodded and a smile twisted her face.

"This means we will have some time for us?"

"It does."

With that, their lips met and Teal'c's sad thoughts faded. Tomorrow was early enough to worry about the Goa'uld. At the moment, there was nothing he could do, except to concentrate on the woman in his arms that he hadn't seen for months now. Her hands ran over his body eagerly and he surrendered instantly.

The fire next to them was burning bright into the starlit darkness when suddenly something caught Teal'c's attention. With a display of sheer will, he forced himself to concentrate for one second on the nightly sky instead of the warm body under him. For a moment, he didn't even notice what was wrong until it hit him with a force. On Earth or Chulak, the sky was seldom dark. But here, without any light sources but the small fire, the sky was pitch black. Only, it was not. The horizon seemed to burn, red flickering light licking up into the dark.

He knew the sight. He had seen it far too often. Something in the distance was burning, something very large. As he shot to his feet, he felt his stomach already start to twist painfully. Whatever would await them at the horizon, it would not be good.

--- --- TBC --- ---

A/N: Thank you so much for all those reviews. They really make my day. I wish I could hug each and every one of you, but as long as I can't you'll have to be satisfied with my gratitute.