Many thanks to those who have R&R'd! I really do appreciate it!
Special thanks to J.K. Rowling for giving me the scariest two-word sentence ever. Don't think of it as theft, think of it as a tribute!
Previously:
The walls around Daniel started to glow with a warm, white light. As the scene of carnage began to fade, Daniel realized, "A sarcophagus, they have a sarcophagus. He will never die."
Daniel Jackson existed nowhere.
The doors to the sarcophagus opened. Apophis sat up and surveyed his Jaffa and servants with a critical eye. His army was not up to the strength it had been before his "internment" with Sokar. However a lack of confidence was never a problem Apophis had. There would be more.
He stood and climbed out unaided. Once more he reveled in how right it felt to possess this body. He had enjoyed the punishment he had inflicted on the daniel-mind. Apophis almost hoped for more rebellions. But, first, he had other matters to attend to.
Apophis looked with disgust at his SG1 fatigues. Imperiously, he commanded his servants "Robe me."
They scrambled to obey. They peeled off the tee shirt and pants, replacing it with their god's favorite robes.
Apophis turned to his First Prime, "Where is the shol'va?"
"Dead, my lord."
"What?" Apophis was furious. "How did it happen?"
"My lord, he was attacking you," the First Prime stumbled to explain. "As soon as there was a clear shot I fired to save you."
"That is what you have a zat'nik'tel weapon for! Dead he is useless to me." Fully dressed, Apophis stalked over to his dressing table where his servants had laid out his jewels for inspection. He glared into the mirror. Fools, he thought. A dead shol'va could tell him nothing and could suffer no more for his crimes. Apophis's eyes glowed with rage. Reaching for his ribbon device he said, "You have angered me." Turning to his First Prime he continued, "Do not do that again." The weapon forced the Jaffa to his knees.
Apophis held him there for a few moments; savoring the exhilaration he received from this device. When he stopped the guard was barely able to keep from collapsing to the ground. Apophis turned away. The Jaffa would recover. They always did.
"Come," Apophis summoned his entourage. It was time to get his answers.
In the main room, Apophis saw that the shol'va's blood had dripped down the stairs. Jaffa hurried to clear away the body while others dragged the remaining SG1 team members to kneel at Apophis's feet. "That one died too soon," Apophis stated, watching his former First Prime's body be carried away. He turned the full measure of his displeasure onto Colonel O'Neill. "An early death is not what awaits you."
"Nice outfit," was O'Neill's only reply.
Apophis was delighted. "Oh good. The famous Jack O'Neill wit. Hmm, what can I do to prove to you that I am not joking?" Apophis focused inwardly for a moment. Feeling for the daniel-mind, he located it, hooked it, and threw it forward.
Daniel felt as though he had been thrown through a glass wall. His vision was dim and the pain was immense. He saw that Jack and Sam were kneeling in front of him.
"Jack? Sam?" A savage ripping through his mind drove him screaming to his knees. But he had to tell – he had to remind Jack – "Jack! Please – don't – let -"
The Apophis-mind punched through. "Enough!" he stood. "I have your friend. His suffering continues. If you tell me what I want to know, maybe I will stop hurting him. What is the self-destruct code to your Stargate Command?"
Unnoticed by the arrogant Goa'uld, the daniel-mind had not been fully banished. A small sliver, barely a thought, remained... waiting…
Apophis's guard had Samantha Carter by the hair, blade to her throat. Apophis needed to know where Shifu was! How dare these humans stand between him and his creation?
O'Neill just laughed. "You mean you don't know? You're the one in the head. I figured you would just dig around until you got your answers. Or – wait – did Daniel put up more of a fight than you were expecting? Did you underestimate the weak little human? Yep, Danny-boy's a sly one. Sorry, not-so-omnipotent one, I have no idea where Sha're's child is."
Apophis was enraged. He knew that the location of his child was one of the secrets that the daniel-mind had managed to protect. So far. He gestured for the Jaffa to tighten his hold on the woman.
O'Neill still refused to give. "Oh come on. You think I believe you're just gonna' kill her? You got pissed at your First Prime for taking Teal'c out of the picture too fast. I think you wanna' have some fun first."
Apophis did not know what to do. He had consumed enough of Daniel Jackson's memories to know that Jack O'Neill would not talk. However...he also knew how hard it was to resist the burn of the ribbon device. "You are right, Jack. If the pain of your friends will not make you talk, let us see what you will do when it is your own pain." The ribbon sliced into the Colonel forehead.
The daniel-mind struck forward. It tried to prevent Apophis from focusing on the ribbon-device but it was so hard…there was so little left of Daniel Jackson…but every thing that was struggled…
The ribbon faltered. The beam splintered and finally stopped. Apophis was stunned. He had felt the battle that the daniel-mind had put up. It had hurt him. Apophis wasted precious time swearing revenge on the remnants of Daniel Jackson. He was unprepared for what happened next.
Colonel O'Neill sprang to his feet. Grabbing the nearest staff weapon, he killed the guard and palmed a knife. Swiftly, he threw himself at Apophis and buried the knife to its hilt into the Goa'uld throat.
Apophis was in pain. But, I am a God! he tried to say. You are nothing! He saw his enemy fall amidst a shower a staff blasters. Apophis felt as though he were drowning. He could feel blood pour down his throat…from his mouth…it was too much. The Apophis-mind had to retreat…
The daniel-mind saw its friend on the ground. Even while it grieved, it rejoiced. Thank you Jack, the daniel-mind thought. I'm free…
Epilogue
Again, he woke in the infirmary…
Again, he did not believe…
Again, they made him hope…
Again, they all died…
Again, the walls started to glow…
Somewhere…nowhere…Daniel Jackson wept.
The end.
The story will conclude with The Host, Part III: Promises.