Jack turned away from the skeletal remains in the corner. "Seems as if Carter's friend, now thankfully deceased, was a Goa'uld." Silence filled the room at this observation. For in their experience, where there was one snake, there was bound to be another…no matter how many years separated their visits.
Chapter 11 – Puzzles Solved
"How long has it been dead, Teal'c?" Jack asked, prodding the skeleton with his foot and wincing as the head became dislodged and rolled across the small space of the alcove. The emaciated symbiote skeleton dropped harmlessly to the floor.
"Long enough, O'Neill," Teal'c intoned dryly, before bending and scooping the symbiote into a large plastic bag, then sealing it tightly in order to bring it back to the SGC.
Jack gave a slight shudder and turned to examine the remaining space. Both men walked over to the ramp that dropped from up above; the ramp that Sam had so painfully tumbled down less than 24 hours ago. Teal'c eyed the 10 foot drop and the distance to the wall across from the ramp with concern. "This is a significant fall for a person to take, O'Neill. Are you certain Major Carter was not more seriously injured?"
Both men turned to look at Sam, who was leaning tiredly against the wall, the codeine in the Tylenol she had taken beginning to kick in. "Pretty sure, Teal'c. I don't think Carter would hide anything from us at this point. The worst seems to be a fractured rib and a slight concussion caused by the lump on her head. No punctured lung, though, thank God. I think she's out of danger, but we'll keep a close on her, just the same," Jack stated firmly. Teal'c nodded his head in agreement, then both of them made their way back into the main chamber to where Daniel was waiting for more news about the skeleton.
"Well?" Daniel asked, a bit of impatience edging his voice.
"It's long dead, Danny, but I don't think I want us to hang around here too much longer. No telling if or when one of his family members are going to come looking for him," Jack answered Daniel's unspoken question.
"I do not believe the Goa'uld harbor particularly strong feelings for their family members, O'Neill. Living or otherwise," Teal'c stated resolutely, before he walked over to assist Sam, who was struggling to get more comfortable against the wall. "Allow me to assist you, Major Carter," he said quietly, pulling a thermal blanket from his pack and creating a make-shift bed for her on the floor, using sundry items from his and Jack's packs to add to her comfort.
"Don't get her too comfortable, Teal'c. I'd like us all to get out of here sooner rather than later," Jack said, looking up at the slates and noticing the faint light pouring in. He remembered what Grace had said, that he needed to get to Sam before the first light of dawn entered the room. Whether there was any danger now that they had reached her or not, he wasn't sure. But so far, the little minx had been right about everything else and he wasn't willing to take a chance.
"Leave?" Daniel asked askance, his eyes wide at the thought. "Jack, we can't just leave! We have to try and open this panel…see what's behind it. Remember, the inscriptions implied that there was something of great power hidden here for those worthy of it."
"Yes, Daniel, and we also have a seriously injured teammate on our hands, a dead Goa'uld, and…something tells me that we shouldn't stay here for long, OK?" Jack shot back in exasperation.
Daniel frowned at that last comment. "Something tells you? Like something told you about the hidden stairs and how to open the wall to get to Sam, without bothering to let Teal'c and me in on it? Jack, what the hell is going on?" Daniel crossed his arms and waited for a reply.
Jack stole a look at Sam, who was watching them from her now prone position on the floor. "I can't go into it right now. Look, I'll explain it later. But for now, you try and get that thing open. I don't want to be down here too long." He cast another worried gaze at Sam, who didn't miss it.
Propping herself up on one elbow, Sam said quietly, "Sir, Daniel's right. There's something hidden behind that panel; something important. Please don't let me be the cause of us not figuring it out ; I've caused enough trouble for one mission the way it is," she pleaded. "I'll be all right. Besides," she added ruefully, "I don't think I'm up to an 8 click hike back to the gate right now, never mind trying to get back to the main level of the temple."
Jack looked from her to Daniel, then over to Teal'c to ascertain his thoughts on the subject. When the large man nodded slightly, signifying that he would watch over Major Carter while Daniel attempted to open the panel before them, Jack made his decision. He looked up at the thin slats high on the wall, noting the slight increase of light coming through. Sighing, he turned to Daniel. "OK, Danny. You've got an hour."
"An hour?" Daniel cried in disbelief. "But Jack, I won't even be able to begin…"
"Fifty-nine minutes," Jack stated firmly, tapping the face of his watch pointedly.
Daniel huffed in exasperation, mumbled a few unintelligible words that Jack was certain were curse words in another language, then turned and focused his attention on the panels in front of him. Jack left him to it; taking the time to carefully peruse the small room his 2IC had been stuck inside.
Thirty minutes passed in relative silence; Teal'c standing guard over a now sleeping Samantha Carter, Jack pacing restlessly within the small room and Daniel running his hands over the symbols in various combinations. So far he had been unable to achieve anything other than causing the crystal to glow or dim according to what symbols he pressed. Thankfully no beams of light had shot across the room at his fumbling attempts to open the panel.
Jack, tired of the waiting and getting more nervous as the light coming through the slats grew brighter, tried to hurry Daniel along. His pestering only served to make the archaeologist more nervous and edgy with his commander.
"Jack! I can't get anything accomplished with you breathing down my neck! Just…go play with your yoyo or something!"
"I'll have you know that I do not carry my yoyo on missions any longer, Daniel. The General confiscated it some time ago!" Jack retorted angrily.
"Well, find something else to do!" Daniel pleaded.
Teal'c walked purposefully over to the two men, his mere presence causing them to cease their bickering. "O'Neill, Major Carter becomes restless. I believe she will rest more comfortably in your presence. I will remain with Daniel Jackson."
Jack, knowing the comment for what is was - an attempt to stop his and Daniel's bickering - never-the-less crossed the room to Sam's side. But not before shooting one final look of annoyance Daniel's way. Jack lowered himself to a seated position beside Sam and looked her over carefully. Teal'c was right; she was becoming restless. Her facial features were a grimace of pain as she rolled around; becoming more agitated the longer she lay there. Jack, telling himself he'd do the same if it were Daniel lying here, eased her head onto his lap, put his hand on her back and rubbed it lightly in circles, offering what comfort he could. "Take it easy, Carter. Don't move around so much. We're right here."
His presence and words seemed to calm her. Sam's eyes flickered open briefly, her face relaxed, and she fell back into a more restful sleep within minutes. Sighing with relief, Jack looked up, frowning at the rather smug look on Teal'c's face. He let his gaze wander past the large man to the rest of the room. When his eyes strayed to the slats on the wall, he frowned in puzzlement. There were five thin slats and the light that was now coming in seemed to be directed to one location in the room: just above the panels where Daniel was working. Five slats; just like the five rays that came out from the one symbol. The rays of a sun flow outward. If you follow those lines, you will reach what you seek. He recalled the words Grace told him in the upper passageway as she was leading him to Carter.
Jack startled at the revelation; this is what Grace must have been referring to! They needed to reach Carter by the first rays of dawn – not only for her safety, but because the light coming through the slats would pinpoint the key they needed to open the panel. Jack felt a moment of deep satisfaction course through him….so this must be how Carter felt when she solved some puzzle, he thought ironically. No wonder she loved what she did!
Gently easing Sam's head off his lap and onto Teal'c's folded pack, Jack softly brushed her hair away from her face before standing up and making his way quickly over to Daniel. "I think I know what to do, Daniel," he stated without preamble.
Daniel shot him a puzzled look. "Huh? You've figured it out…while sitting against the wall and throwing me death glares?"
Jack pointedly ignored the emphasis on the word you've, though he did shoot Daniel another glaring look that brought Teal'c closer to the two men. Jack directed Daniel's attention to the light coming in from the slats. "See those slats up there? Five of them, directing the light to this symbol; the same symbol thatCarter pressed before she fell down the ramp. The same one I touched in order to get down here. It has five rays; five slats…I think the number five is significant in the temple Daniel," Jack added with a frown. "Though I guess six and twenty one are as well."
"The Fifth Race!" Daniel exclaimed after a momentary pause. "It must have something to do with Thor's comment about us possibly being the Fifth Race!" Daniel's excitement died down as he looked at Jack in confusion. "And just how did you figure all of this out, may I ask?" he inquired.
"Later," Jack brushed the question aside. "All I need to do, is lightly run my finger over the five rays, press the center of the circle, then voila…open sesame!"
"What of the numerical symbols, O'Neill? Do you not think those are required to open this compartment as well?" Teal'c asked.
"Hmm, good point T. Hopefully it's the same combination that was used to open the outer door. I guess we'll find out." Jack stepped closer and raised his hand, ready to trace his fingers over the rays of the symbol.
"Hold on a second," Daniel interrupted. "I still don't get how you figured all of this out. And why does it have to be you that touches the symbol?" He crossed his arms, his face showing how disgruntled he felt at the moment.
"Keep your shorts on Daniel," Jack replied. "I'm not trying to push you out of a job here. It just occurred to me; the inscriptions upstairs said the knowledge would be revealed to those who are worthy, right?"
"Yes," Daniel drawled out. "Possibly meaning those of the Fifth Race," he stated pointedly.
"Or, this being a temple of the Ancients, perhaps only someone with an Ancient gene can open the compartment? I don't want take any chances. Besides, you don't really want to see something else shoot out of that crystal, do you?" Jack asked with raised eyebrows.
Flushing slightly for not thinking of that himself, Daniel shook his head. "I guess you could be right. Go ahead." He stepped aside so Jack had easier access to the panel before him.
"Why thank you, Dr. Jackson," Jack smiled at the younger man. He turned his attention back to the symbol and once more raised his hand to it, shooting a glance at Daniel to make sure the younger man wasn't going to interrupt him again. Receiving no comment from that quarter, Jack proceeded, running his fingers over the rays in the same manner he had earlier, then pressing the inner portion of the circle. When nothing happened, he looked at Daniel. "What order do I press the numerical symbols, Daniel?"
Daniel pointed them out, one at a time, and Jack followed his directions carefully. When the final symbol had been pressed, all three of them stood back as the crystal above them turned from yellow to red. Then slowly, the two panels separated to reveal a rectangular space hidden within the wall. They could just make out a stone slab lying within this newly revealed space. Jack felt a breeze ripple past him and thought he heard a quiet voice whisper, "I knew you would find it." He shot an inquiring look at Daniel and Teal'c, wondering if they had heard or felt anything.
Daniel shivered as he felt a cool breeze pass him. "Did you guys feel that? It felt like something went right through me."
"I felt it also, Daniel Jackson. Perhaps the spirit of one who was here long ago has been released," Teal'c replied.
"I don't know. It felt…familiar somehow," Daniel frowned in thought.
Wanting to redirect his friends, Jack said impatiently, "Probably just the wind picking up. Don't worry about it."
Jack took a quick glance over at Sam, not surprised to see her hair ruffle slightly in the wake of the soft breeze that brushed past her. Jack gave a soft smile before returning to the hidden compartment. "Well, shall we take a look at the rock they left here?" Reaching forward, he pulled the stone slab out of the dark confines of the chamber and into the light.