Jack, Sam and Teal'c made their way up the hill by the shore. The ground was thick with vegetation, but it was unusual in that the trees weren't very large and the slope was so even almost uniform in its assent.
"We should be there by night fall sir." said Sam sliding a little bit on the damp soil. O'Neill nodded and they pressed on, up what remained of the slope.
The moon rose high as night fell like a dark cloth over the sky. Daniel lay unconscious in his cot completely oblivious to the conversation going on a few feet from his bed.
"One more day," said the doctor, "And his fever will break, then we'll never know what we need to know."
"Why is this one so much more important than the others?" the nurse glanced back at the man, he was an unimpressive specimen, not short but thin, and ungainly, not like the others that were brought into her care those were real men. Most of the others held the disease for much longer without falling so ill so fast.
"He is not of us." said the doctor interrupting her musings.
"What do you mean?" she asked looking up at her superior.
"He fell from the great ring at the top of the cliff and more have followed him."
"But how could he have survived such a fall?"
"I do not know, but we must find out why he has come and if he brings news from the gods." The nurse looked up in shock.
"Th—the gods? You can't think they would come back? Not after so long, it's been three generations!"
"The writings in the temple where we make our medicine tell of a day when Ra will return."
"But if he is of the gods why is he ill?"
"He is a test. To see if we still worship the gods of old."
"But in his sleep, he does not speak of Ra or any of our gods."
"Then who does he speak to in the darkest corner of his mind?"
"Jack."
"Who is Jack?"
"I do not know, but he speaks to him often as if he were sat by his bedside."
"Jack must be the god he serves; he's come to see if we will bow before another." The nurse doubted this logic having heard the man's conversations with 'Jack' and presuming him to be a friend and source of comfort. But knowing the stubborn nature of the doctor and his temper when questioned she kept these thoughts to herself.
"But what do we do about his friends that come and what of the girl Kita that brought him? She waits to see him die."
"Give him the G-sinko root tonight, by morning he will look dead we can show Kita and his friends. Then we may revive him and ask him what we need to know."
"What of his friends, will we let them go?"
"No, they cannot be allowed to leave through the great ring, and warn their god Jack."
"Warn him of what?" asked the nurse unable to help herself.
"Warn him that we are free of gods, but unable to defend ourselves."
"Of course," said the nurse trying hard to keep the sarcasm from her voice. "So what do we do about them?" the doctor thought for a moment.
"We'll send the Krackton after them." The nurse gasped in horror.
"But that's barbaric!"
"It's the only way to ensure we stay safe from the gods." The nurse nodded a little pale. "Now give him the G-sinko it will take most of the night to work." With that the doctor was gone up the ward checking patients at intervals.
Jack heaved a sigh of relief as he saw the temple door looming a few hundred yards away. Sam and Teal'c were a few seconds behind and they all walked gratefully along the level path to the door. Jack slammed the huge knocker a couple of times, and waited. After a few moments quiet footsteps could be heard coming towards them, then a small window in the door slid open. Eyes peered out at them.
"Yes?"
"We're here to see someone." Said Jack.
"No visitors allowed."
"We're not asking." said Jack baring his weapon. The eyes visibly sighed and they could hear grinding as a lock was pulled back and the door was pulled open. A small woman appeared at the door and from her dress Jack figured she was either a nun or a nurse.
"You are here for the stranger," she said quietly. "One who was dressed as you are." It was a statement not a question. She turned to walk down the corridor clearly expecting them to follow her. They acquiesced and filed in walking down the long hall until they reached a door.
"Sir I think this may have been home to a Gould once." said Carter examining the walls.
"Looks like who ever it was vacated," Said Jack. "But stay sharp, just in case." They walked through the door into a large chamber. There were cots lining each wall and people tending to them. Most writhed in pain others simply lay still staring sweat soaking their faces and covers.
"Where's Daniel?" asked Jack looking around.
"Through here." said the nurse motioning to a room at the back. "We had to move him before he disturbed the others." Not liking the sound of that one bit the team followed the nurse into the back room. The lighting was dim in this part of the temple only a small window high in the wall shed the little light that was left of the day. The nurse lit a candle and carried over to the single cot near the wall. Daniel lay there writhing in pain. His eyes closed Jack was sure he was dreaming. He sat in the chair by the bed and put a hand on Daniel's shoulder to calm him.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Sam stricken.
"He is in the final stages of the illness."
"What is this illness?"
"It is an affliction of our men," said the nurse. "Most get in their middle years." She glanced at Daniel. "He is young, but it's not unusual."
"Is there a cure?" She shook her head.
"We only treat the pain, one in three survives, but I fear your friend will not be among them." She looked down on Daniel with pity, patted his arm and left. "He will be released by morning." She told Jack and left. Jack waited until the door shut behind her then lent over Daniel.
"Daniel," he whispered shaking him. "Daniel, wake up time to go." Daniel's eyes fluttered open he squinted in the dimness and lack of glasses. Sam reached into one of the pockets on her vest and retrieved a pair of glasses. Jack help Daniel put them on and as he tried to focus, he saw Jack and looked almost disappointed.
"Hey Jack" he said sitting up a little. He seemed almost normal, if it weren't for the visible strain on his face, Jack would have been annoyed at the nonchalant greeting.
"What's up Daniel?"
"Nothing much," yawned the man clearly exhausted. "I thought I'd break my hattrick."
"What hattrick?"
"I've already died three times; four's got to be a record." He smiled thinly and began to cough, uncontrollably. "Though I don't think I'll be coming back for number five." He rasped hoarsely. Jack looked at him concerned. "I wonder where you are right now." He said suddenly.
"Me?" said Jack "I'm right here." Daniel smiled again without mirth.
"No, I mean the real you."
"He thinks he's hallucinating sir." said Sam sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Hey, Sam now all we need is Teal'c and then the whole gang is here."
"I am here, Daniel Jackson." Daniel squinted as the Jaffa stepped forward. Daniel smiled.
"Now you're all here," he emphasized 'here' to remind them that he didn't think they really were there. "I can die, knowing that you came to save me." He lay back considering this. "I wonder where you really are though." He blinked back tears as he sunk back under the covers.
"Daniel!" cried Jack grabbing Daniel's face. "We are here, this is real; we are real. You are not going to die." He released the man's face. Daniel didn't move he just sat starring at his friends.
"I wish I wasn't such a klutz." He said suddenly, rubbing tired eyes beneath his glasses.
"You and me both." smiled Jack giving his arm squeeze. Daniel winced at the pressure and Jack felt instantly sorry as Daniel rolled up the sleeve on the nightgown they'd given him to reveal the litany of needle marks scrawled there.
"God, Daniel." said Sam in disbelief. "What have they done to you?" Daniel sighed exhausted by the effort of moving and speaking. "You okay?" Daniel nodded unconvincingly as his eyes rolled back and he fell into unconsciousness. None of them noticed the nurse standing by the crack in the door.
The nurse hurried back through the ward beckoning the doctor as she went they stepped into a side room filled with medical equipment.
"You were wrong!" cried the nurse in distress.
"How?"
"You said the stranger's god was Jack, but Jack is his companion, I've taken the three to his bedside. They support him and tell him not to be sure of his death. I'm not sure if it's the illness but he told them he's already, died three times!"
"He is truly a marvel, but what makes you think this Jack is not a god if he can tell the stranger not to fear death?"
"They talk as equals, not as God and servant. Though the woman is subservient to Jack she also sees the stranger as an equal. It is strange."
"Indeed, but why are you so upset?"
"I fear retribution for my part in this deception."
"If you say Jack is not a god then how can there be retribution?"
"The woman, she referred to the stranger as God Daniel." The doctor took a sharp intake of breath and stood in shock.
"It would make sense, if he claims to have died, and returned who else would have this power?" The woman shook her head.
"It makes no sense, if the stranger is the god, how is he sick? Gods do not ail!"
"But how was he to speak with them at all? Did you give him the G-sinko root as I ordered?"
"Yes, but he fights its effects; he is not of our world, it may take longer for it to work." The nurse looked at her colleague in his rant and the first spark of real disbelief lodged itself in her mind.
"His companions will likely want to return him to the great ring." Mused the Doctor.
"But he cannot be moved!" cried the nurse in horror. "G-sinko is only reversible if the infected remains still when his body shuts down."
"We must stop them from leaving to tell their armies we are unarmed."
"But won't whoever sent them send more if they do not return?"
"We will send their bodies as a message, a warning to whatever gods lie on the other side." The nurse nodded now completely sure the doctor was wrong, but not in any position to help. She hurried, through the ward and to the door that led to the back room. She paused; waiting for voices but all that could be heard were the labored gasped of the stranger in his sleep. She noticed the doctor coming down the row and made a show of turning the key in the lock. The doctor nodded to her and returned to his work.
Daniel slept, but not well as Jack watched his friend squirm in a familiar nightmare.
"Something must survive," he mumbled fighting invisible arms that held him back. Jack put a hand on his friend's chest to calm him, feeling the heat pulsing against his palm. Sam wandered around the room in discomfort. Teal'c stood watch over all three of them. Sam paused by the door her hand on the knob.
"Sir, we've got a problem here."
"No kidding, Carter." said Jack not looking up from Daniel's bed.
"Not that sir, we're locked in." she demonstrated this by trying the doorknob. Jack buried his face in his hands in disbelief. "The door's not that heavy sir we could blow it, but we'd risk hurting those men on the other side."
"Obviously, we've stayed here too long, let's start looking for other ways out." Teal'c and Sam began to wander around the room feeling the walls for hidden doorways and traps. Jack began to pack up the stuff they'd taken out to help Daniel. Then as carefully as he could Jack, dressed the sleeping archeologist in a jumpsuit and tied boots on his feet. "I don't know about you guys, but Daniel and I are ready to ditch this place." Sam smiled tightly and was just about to give up when the back wall of the room slid open. "Alright, Carter!" O'Neill gave her an air high five. Carter just shrugged.
"Wasn't me, sir." Just then a light appeared in the tunnel coming close to them and the figure of a woman came into view up the tunnel in the wall.
"Quickly, you're in danger, you must come." Said the nurse; She turned to go but Jack stopped her.
"What's the deal? Why are we locked in?"
"The doctor he is obsessed with the old gods, he saw your friend fall through the great ring, and he believes you were sent by new gods who wish to claim this planet as their own." Jack stared at her. "Come quickly before he notices I've left." At that she turned down the corridor and walked at a brisk pace until her light was growing dim in the distance.
Jack shrugged and heaved his pack to his back. Without even a word Teal'c leaned over the prone figure of Daniel and gathered the unconscious man into his arms and began to walk down the narrow passage. Carter grabbed the candle off the bedside and followed, O'Neill brought up the rear.
They walked for a long time, Teal'c hunched in the low space, and under the weight of his charge.
"This must have been built by the original Goa'uld who ruled here," whispered Carter, "An escape tunnel, to a ship maybe." She mused holding the light up to the walls in awe.
"That's great Carter let's keep it moving." They proceeded in silence for what seemed like miles of underground passageways. Eventually, the narrow tunnel opened up into a large cavern, lit with a few torches around the edges. It may have once been a great hall, with lavish decoration and adornments, but a few hundred years of neglect had rotten away the tapestries and tarnished the gold edging of the marble, that lined the hall the whole effect was cold and forbidding. The nurse abandoned her light and motioned to Teal'c to bring Daniel over to a pile of rags and blankets arranged in the corner. The Jaffa laid the man where she gestured and she shooed him to check his vitals and make him comfortable.
"The change is upon him." She muttered grimly. Jack held up a hand, walking over to the woman.
"Excuse me? The change?" His tone was light, with just the edge of a threat.
"The illness," she told them. "The last stage is The Change when all the body shuts down and is as if dead."
"The Change is dead?" stared O'Neill. "That's new one."
"Colonel, she said as if." motioned Carter.
"That's right," said the woman in a very matronly way. "The Change imitates death, but is merely hibernation as the body adjusts."
"Adjust to what?"
"To its new life."
"New life as what?" asked the Colonel a little perturbed.
"As a Jaffa." Said Teal'c
"What!" cried Sam kneeling by Daniel's side. "How is that possible? I thought Jaffa were made using that weird gould device Hathor had strapped to herself."
"It was," Said Teal'c "But converting one at a time was ineffective, so biological agents were created when the technology was scavenged from another culture."
"But that makes no sense." reasoned Jack.
"Actually, sir it does, if a planet is too strong to attack in ships it would make sense to incapacitate its military age population and make them dependant on you for a cure."
"How long do we have?" Jack asked the nurse. Sam leaned over and pulled open the jumpsuit Jack had dressed Daniel in she pulled the zip down to his waist and them pulled up the T-shirt beneath.
"Not long." said Sam gesturing to the beginnings of pouch now evident on Daniel's stomach. Jack stepped over to look.
"Oh, crap." He said grinding the heels of his hands into his eyes. "Is there a cure?" the nurse shook her head.
"But there is a chance." She said carefully.
"How much of a chance?"
"As I said one in three survives. But he has other matters." She said quietly.
"Other matters?" questioned Jack staring at the woman avoiding his gaze.
"He has been poisoned."
"What?" Jack and Sam cried together.
"I had to," sobbed the nurse, "the doctor insisted so we could know of his plans for our world."
"How was he gonna do that, if he's dead?"
"The Change mimics death," she said quickly "G-sinko speeds and intensifies the change and will eventually kill." She paused looking at the horror on their faces, surely if this man were a god they would not act so she thought. "But there is a cure." She continued quickly. She handed Sam a small vial, "You have a method of giving this into the blood?" she asked Sam nodded. "It is fastest in the blood, half when his heart no longer shows a rhythm and the last as his hands become cold. If you cannot give it to his blood mix it with water and make sure he swallows the whole, but do not let him drink it straight then we will do more harm than good." Sam nodded, the woman went over to the wall and retrieved her light and started back down the tunnel.
"Wait!" called Sam, "How do we get out of here?" The nurse pointed to the far tunnel.
"A device lies in the vestibule if you know of the great ring then you can make it take you there." She turned to go once more but hesitated. "Do not move him until he's had the full dose, or there will be no bringing him back." With that she was gone a glow fading in the tunnel.
Daniel stirred in his sleep, but did not wake, a cry caught in his constricted throat and he began to seize. His body arched and shook Jack and Teal'c held him down trying to stop him from banging his head again the marble floor no pile of rags could soften. Sam was busy in the vestibule looking at the device the nurse had mentioned. It was a ring platform and a crystal control panel.
"Carter, get in here!" yelled Jack trying his best not to break his friend's ribs as he pinned him to the floor. Sam rushed in just in time to see Daniel's struggle cease. He lay limp under his teammate's arms. Sam slid down next to them. She felt for a pulse but didn't find one.
"This is it sir his heart's stopped." Said Carter dipping a syringe into the vial the nurse had given her. She carefully filled it so that half the mixture was now in the shaft of the needle. "Grab his arm for me sir." She asked Jack and as he did so she sought a vein and plunged the needle in giving Daniel the full dose. Jack carefully laid him back down and covered him with a blanket. "Don't move him now sir," said Carter. "She said if we move him before he's had the whole dose he'll die."
"What's your progress on the ring device?" asked Jack in a whisper.
"It works sir the device is intact but I have no idea where they lead. For all I know we'd re-materialize upstairs with all those other men in the ward, or worse we could beam ourselves to the other side of the planet with no way of getting to the Stargate." Jack grimaced.
"It is possible, O'Neill that the rings lead to the Stargate as a means of escape should an enemy attack this fortress." Said Teal'c, Jack was surprised by this assertion and by the fact that the Jaffa had not said two words since his revelation about early Jaffa recruitment strategies.
"I didn't know Jaffa were optimists," he smiled at his friend.
"It was not an unlikely assertion, O'Neill, Goa'uld are notorious cowards, if this palace were over run it is most likely the ruler here would have fled to this cavern to hide until he could transport to the Stargate unnoticed." Jack looked at Sam.
"Makes sense sir." Sam shrugged.
"Good enough for me let's go."
"We can't sir." said Sam gesturing to the prone archeologist between them. Jack groaned.
"Let's get some rest then, Carter keep an eye on Daniel has soon as he's ready we're gone."
"You and Teal'c could go ahead sir and meet up with SG-5. I'll be up as soon as I can."
"No if we're wrong about where it leads I don't want to be separated." Sam nodded turning back to Daniel. She felt his head and though she still felt only a slight pulse he was burning up.
"This might take a while sir he's running a fever." Jack nodded.
"Try and get some rest I'll take first watch, as soon as he's had the second dose we carry him out."
"We have another problem, sir." Carter broached carefully, "The medicine will only stop the poison not the disease, sir Daniel's turning into a Jaffa and I have no way of stopping it."
"Teal'c," called Jack. "What can we expect from this chemical transformation?"
"I am not certain O'Neill each time it is different, most of the infected die it is true, the body rejects the change and shuts down, but those who survive have only hours before they contract an illness and without an immune system to combat it they die as well." He bowed his head in what might have been apology at not bringing hope to their ailing teammate.
"We'll just have to find him a snake." Jack grimaced.
"Given the difficulties we have encountered procuring one for study; I do not believe it wise to consider recovering one now will be of great ease."
"Not to mention the fact that Daniel would probably die before he accepted being dependent on a symbiote." Sam said mopping Daniel's face carefully with a damp cloth.
"I don't care," said Jack, "We're going to do everything to keep him alive until we can reverse the effects of this disease." Jack gritted his teeth and neither of his teammates questioned his resolve.
The nurse made her way back up to the temple and found Kita waiting at the door, as she had been doing every morning for the past few days. The nurse bowed her head as she let the girl in.
"I'm sorry, child your friend is dead," she told the girl. "We had to bury him this morning before the sun came up." The girl nodded having buried several family members she knew that burial was immediate in the summer to avoid the spread of insects and illnesses caused by rotting corpses. Still she was saddened by the news, she had enjoyed having someone to be concerned about besides her mother and he was such a nice man she wished she could have said good bye. Her mother was right; he would have made a fine husband if he'd lived.
Sg-5 were tired of waiting by the gate, Major Thomas, the team leader, knew all too well the kind of trouble, SG-1 could get into on a planned mission, but spur of the moment like this and a member in trouble… Thomas knew bad things were on the horizon even before he stepped through it on to this planet.
It had been over a day since O'Neill had radioed that they were going to a temple, someone in the village had taken Daniel to for his injuries. Major Carter warned they'd likely be out of radio contact. Thomas acknowledged and told them good luck. Now he was worried, but all he could do was wait.
Yes, cliffhangers are a bad habit of mine, but humor me:)