I've been dead for over 2 years. Or so everyone thinks. Everyone thinks that I died on P34X889 during a mission gone wrong. I being Daniel Jackson. Everything started out normal. We exited the Stargate. Jack and Teal'c secured the surrounding area while Sam and I made sure that we could get back home. Well, mostly I made sure that we could get back home while Sam covered my back incase someone or something took that opening to attack. But nothing happened.
The planet was earth-like. The only real difference that could be seen with the naked eye was the purple sky. Purple sky with red clouds. It was really a sight to see. Beautiful once the two suns began to sink behind the black mountains in the distance. But we aren't here to discuss the splendor of the planet. We are here to discuss when it all went wrong. When everything began to domino from bad to worse. Should we begin then? I think we should.
Like I was saying before, everything started out normal. After I made sure that we could dial back home we began to search for any signs of life. We had been walking for maybe an hour when we came upon an abandoned village. We searched through the grass huts but found nothing but dusty pottery and rotten furniture. But when we were getting ready to leave the area one of the fire rings began to burn. A fire had begun all on its own. Without any help. That's when things started to get bad. We were ambushed from behind by, what I would later learn to be Shadow People, dark figures. Jack, Coronel O'Neill, fired several rounds at them but it didn't phase them. The bullets went right through and destroyed everything behind them as if there wasn't anything there. They took us captive but I was separated from the group. I had became injured during the scuffle. My arm was bleeding from tripping over a old chair and catching my arm on the corner of one of the tables. It hurt like hell but it wasn't life threatening. Or so I thought.
I was knocked unconscious and when I awoke I had been stripped of my SG-1 fatigues and clothed in a garment almost like a Roman toga. But it was a rich blue outlined in gold. My glasses also had been removed and a bandana was wrapped around my head, a small blue stone hung down the center of my forehead. My arm felt stiff but it no longer had any evidence of injury. In fact, a thin gold band was tightly wrapped around the place where the wound had been.
The first thing I did was called out. To see if anyone was there. I was greeted by a dark skinned women whom was dressed almost like me except her toga was plain white with a thin layer of silver outlining it. I could tell that it marked her as a servant. That and the fact that she had a large silver cuff around her upper arm with a symbol on it that meant lower class or servant class.
"Mesa cu Lo'pert." The servant girl spoke as she watched the stranger in front of her. She had heard his screams which sounded funny to her. But it was her job to make sure that the new Cudelor or Leader was comfortable until the binding ceremony. Daniel was surprised by the girls words. It sounded like a mixture of ancient Greek and Roman dialect. Both languages having died thousands of years ago on Earth. It was amazing to hear them once again. "Daniel Jackson." He pointed to himself then to her "Lopert." She smiled and nodded her head. "Da'nel" She pointed to him and then to herself "Lo'pert." Daniel only smiled. She was trying to say his name but using her language. "Lo'pert, can you tell me where my friends are?" He spoke slowly and frowned seeing her confused and slightly frightened face. He looked around then used his finger to draw several pictures in the sand floor. Lo'pert watched and nodded. "Da'nel." She stood and tugged on his hand, pulling him over to the left side of the room where she removed a hanging curtain. He was greeted by the sight of his friends who looked terrible. They were being held in some sort of a cage. Jack had a black eye and a cut above his left eye. Teal'c was sporting a large gash on the left side of his face. He couldn't see Sam. She wasn't in the cage with the others.
His thoughts of his friends were cut short when several others entered his room. Both wearing identical red toga's. They bowed to Daniel before escorting him from the small room and into the room that held the caged SG-1. He wanted to rush forward and help them but he was steered towards a chair that sat in the middle of a ring. "My friends. What are you going to do with my friends?" He spoke to anyone that would listen but all he got in return was confused looks. Getting frustrated he pointed to the cage and then to himself, trying to make them understand. But still he got nothing. With a growl he sat back, never letting his eyes stray from his caged friends.
One of the men wearing the red toga approached him, kneeling once in front. "Cudelor. They will not be harmed. We are a peaceful people. Their wounds will be tended to before we send them back through the ring of the gods." His English was almost perfect except for the accent.
Daniel glances at the man, surprised by his words. "Ring of the Gods? You mean the Stargate? You going to let us go?" He was confused. Nothing ever went this simple.
The man nodded. "Yes, Cudelor. They will be sent back but you. You can not leave. You were sent to us as the chosen. Your place is here, amongst your people." He bowed again and took his place beside the chair that Daniel was seated in.
Daniel could only frown. They thought that he was the chosen. Which meant they thought he was sent here to be ruler. That had to be what Cudelor meant. "I think there has been some kind of a mistake..." He didn't finish that sentence because at that moment two servant women entered, holding Samantha Carter who seemed to be drugged. But that wasn't the only think he noticed. She was wearing a toga also but hers was a rich forest green outlined in black. "Sam..." He whispered and eyed the man beside him. "What did you do to her?" He wanted to scream but knew that wouldn't get him anywhere.
The man once again kneeled in front of Daniel. "She has not been harmed, Cudelor. She was ill and we healed her." He stood and motioned to Daniel's arm band then to the identical one that Sam was wearing. "But they must leave, now." He motions to two more of the red toga wearing men to approach the cage where they begin to chant, Jack and Teal'c wounds heal and soon they are being hauled out of the cage.
Daniel sighed. He had to stay here. He felt that if he didn't, his friends would be harmed. And usually his instincts were correct. "Alright. I will stay. But what of my friends. Once they get back they will tell our leader what has happened and they will return." He stood and walked over to Sam, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Stay with me Sam. You've got to remember." He whispered and then stepped back away.
The man listened. "We have ways of making them think things. They will return to their home with the memory of you dying." He waved his hand in the air and they were dragged from the room and towards the Stargate.
Daniel could only watch as his friends were taken away and he sunk back into the chair, resting his head in his hands. He sat there for a time that felt like forever before the man returned. "Cudelor? T'alo has done what the Gods wished." He turned and left Daniel to his thoughts once again. "T'alo? That must be his name." Daniel said to himself. But his thoughts were again interrupted when Lo'pert appeared and lead him into a bigger chamber where he was introduced to his people and bound to Lo'pert. Which consisted of a ceremony where his hands and Lo'pert's were bound together. A celebration followed.
Daniel could never understand the purpose of the binding ceremony. He had figured that it meant marriage but Lo'pert never acted like a wife. The day after the celebration she went back to being his servant. But that wasn't the only thing Daniel noticed. As the months passed, Lo'pert began to show signs of being pregnant. But he never asked her about. Figuring that if she had wanted him to know, he would.
And find out he did. Nine months after SG-1 was sent back to Earth, Daniel got a very big surprise. A baby was born. But not just any baby. HIS baby. Imagine his shock when the baby, a boy, was thrust into his arms. T'alo was the one that gave him the boy and he could tell that it was his. The baby had a tuff of dirty blonde hair upon his head and sparkling blue eyes. He looked nothing like the others in the village. But Daniel could see someone else in the baby. But he wasn't fully able to place a name with what he saw. That very day another ceremony was held and the heir to the Cudelor was announced. To'mas (Thomas Kincade Jackson) was only a few hours old when the people of P34X889 or God's Paradise which was also the name of the main village, welcomed him into the world.
A year would pass before Daniel was able to name the other person that he saw while looking into his year old sons, eyes. It came to him in a dream. He dreamt that he was back at the SGC in his office, arguing with Jack over an artefact that they had found on a mission. The argument was interrupted when Sam entered the room with coffee in hand. And just when she passed the cup to Daniel, there hands touched and he bolted awake. Throwing the heavy blanket off, he marched to his 1 year old sons room and gazed down at the child. Yes. He could see it now. He looked like Sam. The blonde in his hair was beginning to fade but only slightly. His eyes, closed at the moment, were still sparkling blue. What Daniel now could place as a perfect mixture of his and Sam's eye color. He was in shock.
He shared a child with Sam. A child that she didn't even know that she had. But how? He reviewed his thoughts of the day that they were sent back. Then it hits him. T'alo had said that Sam had been ill but she was healed. That must of been when it happened. That's why she had looked drugged. All the pieces began to fall into place. His bonding with Lo'pert wasn't like a marriage. It was their way of letting Daniel spent time with his unborn child. Lo'pert was a carrier. She had carried his child to term then was sent off to Gi'lderoy which was located in the black mountains. It was another village much like God's Paradise. Only those who were young and tarnished were sent to Gi'lderoy. And her bearing the Cudelor's child would certainly mark her as tarnished.
Daniel sunk into a nearby chair and stared at his sleeping son. He couldn't believe that his people would do this. Would violate someone like that. Shaking his head he sighed. There wasn't anything he could do about it now. He was apart of these people. He was even starting to look like them. His skin was now a dark olive color from many days spent in the sun. His hair was lighter brown also from the sun. And it was longer but well kept and never going past his shoulders. His servants made sure of that. They wash his hair everyday in a mixture of perfumed water and flower extracts then they trim it when needed. He was also working on a beard that was neatly trimmed and decorated with gold beads. Everything about his appearance screamed Cudelor or Ruler. And the scary part of it all, he was used to it. He actually felt like he was the Cudelor. He made decisions that influenced all of the villages, 5 in total counting God's Paradise and Gi'lderoy. The others being Sim'dol, Far'y, and Ve'droy. And all of which he has visited. Soon he drifted off into a uneasy sleep, still sitting in the chair.
Another year passed and To'mas was growing like a belvory star pistol or in other words a weed. At two summers or two years, he was happy and healthy. He played with the other children in God's Paradise everyday that he was allowed away from his studies. His father was very strict about what his son learned so he was the one to teach him. Not only was To'mas learning about the people that he was destined to rule but Daniel made sure that his son knew all about Earth. The only thing that To'mas didn't know about was his mother. Daniel didn't want to bring Sam up unless it was necessary. Little did he know but that day would be coming sooner rather than later.
The day started out blistering hot but as time wore on it began to cool down to a temperature that was comfortable. It was around midday when Daniel exited his humble abode with To'mas in toe. He had figured that since the day was so nice that he could give To'mas his lesson outside under a limbar tree which grew everywhere the eye could see. But there was one that he had in mind. It sat in the center of the village and over looked the Stargate, which had been dormant for the past two years. He had found out months ago that the Goa'uld didn't come to P34X889 anymore.
A war had been fought several centauries earlier which ended with the Goa'uld withdrawing and never returning. Daniel could believe this since he had seen the stock pile of weapons and technology that the Shadow people had. It made Earth look like a kids toy store. But they never used it unless threatened. It was a vow they had taken after defeating the Goa'uld. Which had cost more than half the planet population their lives, women and children included. But they did carry around one piece of technology for protection. It allowed them to make their bodies nothing more than a shadow hence the name Shadow people. Daniel carried one with him which was hooked to his belt. To'mas also carried once since children were taught to use the shadow devises as soon as they could walk.
Daniel plopped down on the soft grass within the shade of the tree and leaned against it. To'mas sat at his side and snuggled against his father. Daniel only smiled and opened the text that he has brought with him that outlined the last 300 years of the Shadow people. He began to read, stopping occasionally to check and make sure that To'mas was listening, he always was. The boy was much like his father when it came to knowledge. He loved when his father read him stories. And he loved even more when he could repeat back some little tidbit of information from the story. It always made his father smile.
A noise startled the grazing Yomen which caused them to scatter in all different directions. Their herd watchers were frantically trying to gather their frightened animals back into pasture but it wasn't going to well. That's when Daniel heard it. A sound that he thought he'd never hear again. It was the sound of the Stargate being activated. He could make out the moving ring from his position. The village was now alive as people began to head back to their homes, stopping whatever they were doing. But Daniel didn't run. One reason was that To'mas was asleep at his side. And another was that he was Cudelor which meant it was his job to greet whoever or whatever came through the Stargate. And determine if they were friend or foe. So he stood, gathering To'mas in his arms and headed towards the spinning Ring of the Gods stopping a safe distance away. The gate sprang to life, shimmering with the water-like substance as three people exited from within. The gate them shut down and he could only stare. He knew the people. It was SG-1. Jack, Teal'c and Sam were staring at him with guns raised. Some things never changed, he thought to himself as he approached him. To'mas was now wide awake and struggling to be put down in which his father did. Daniel cleared his throught. "Nech tu sumpra." He said as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed. He didn't want to use English. Not until he determined why they were back here. To'mas followed his fathers lead and also placed his hand over his heart and bowed. Daniel turned to his son. "To'mas, se T'alo." He was telling the boy to say with T'alo until needed. To'mas nodded and took off running back towards the village.
Daniel smiled as he watched the boy go and turned back to SG-1 only to find himself staring down the barrel of a P90 which was being held by Colonel Jack O'Neill and he didn't look happy. None of them did. Daniel licked his suddenly dry lips and sighed. "Welcome to God's Paradise. How may I be of service?"
Jack smirked and lowered his weapon. "I want to speak to whoever is in charge of this rat hole and don't try to pull any of that different language crap on me. Got it?"
"Of course. But you are talking to the person in character. I am the Cudelor. And like I said before, how may I be of service?" He wiped his forehead on the sleeve of his over robe which kept his toga from getting dirty from the blowing dust.
This time it was Sam who spoke. "We were here two years ago. Our teammate and friend died here. But lately we're come to wonder if that is what really happened. Do you know of any offworlder who might be held prisoner here?"
Daniel raised a eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course I know of the off worlder. But he is not a prisoner. Nor has he ever been. A scholar I believe? Yes. He is here." He said quietly.
Teal'c was the next to speak. "Then you will take us to him?" It was more of a demand than a question.
With a sigh Daniel frowned. "I am afraid that is impossible. The village is very protective of the man. Daniel Jackson. And it is my job to make sure that no harm befalls him or anyone else here. But I maybe able to arrange something if you hand over your weapons." He eyed the guns for a moment. "I can assure that no harm will come to any of you. We are a peaceful people. The way of war went out with our defeat of the Goa'uld."
This time it was Jack's turn to frown. "You know of the snake-head's? And you say that you defeated them? That is a little hard to believe." He had a smug look on his face that clearly showed that he didn't believe the man.
"I didn't defeat them. Nor was it in my time or the time of anyone alive in the village. It was centuries ago. But enough talk of them. They are our past and it seems that you wish to destroy our future. Leave before I am forced to make you." He turned and headed back towards the village. He really didn't have any patience for Jack's foolish self-centered attitude.
It was Sam who raced after him to stop him from leaving. "Please. I...We have to see him. I'm sorry for the Colonel's behavior. But please. Please let us see him." She was actually begging.
Daniel stopped and eyed her. She looked different. She was thinner than the last time he saw her. Dark rings hung under her eyes. The only that hadn't changed was her hair and eyes. Her hair was still cut in a shirt military fashion. And her eyes were still blue like Earth's sky. "The man you speak of does not want to leave here. But I guess he'll have to get over his pride." He stepped around her and entered a nearby building, knowing that the others would follow at Sam's urging.
The building was the meeting hall which was also the same place that they had been held in two years ago. Daniel knew this when he entered but it was the only place that they could talk without being interrupted. He clapped his hands once all four of them were inside and the door was closed and barred on the outside by two men that appeared from the shadows. "Come. Sit." he motioned to the mats on the floor as he sat in the throne like chair in the center of the ring. He watched them as they sank to the floor mats and looked around, almost expecting to be ambushed. "You come searching for the one known as Daniel Jackson. You have believe him dead ? Then why return now?" He shifted around until he was comfortable.
Jack opened his mouth to speak but Sam beat him to it. "I started having dreams shortly after we returned to our planet. When I was awake I knew that Daniel was dead but while I slept...While I slept I knew he was alive. I can't explain it. But then Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c started having the same dream and feeling. And well...here we are." She hopped that was enough to convince him into letting them see Daniel.
Daniel rubbed his temples and nodded. "Alright. But you don't need my permission to see him. He's sitting right in front of you." He said coyly as he waited for his words to sink in.
Jack and Sam looked around the room and a confused look passed over their faces. It was Teal'c who seemed to understand what the Cudelor was saying and it was he who spoke. "DanielJackson?" He said almost like he had known all along.
With a smile, Daniel rose to his feet. "In the flesh. And like I said before, I do not want to leave here. I am content and happy. Now since you know the way out, kindly leave." He turned his back towards them and crossed his arms over his chest.
Jack was sitting opened mouthed and Sam looked as if she was going to cry. "Daniel?" She whispered at the same time that Jack whispered "Space Monkey?" They couldn't believe that the man in front of them was their Danny. He seemed so...distant. Sam rose to her feet, stopping behind Daniel, placing a hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn around. He couldn't. How could he face them?
A sound at the door drew his attention as a blur of blonde bounded through the door and into Daniel's arms. "To'mas." He whispered in amusement at the boy. "Daddeh." He replied back. He could feel Sam's head being jerked from his shoulder like it had been burned. Daniel turned with the boy in his arms. "This is my son, To'mas. He is two summers old. Now do you see why I can't leave? I can't leave my son. I can't leave our people." He noticed Sam staring at the boy with a look on her face that he couldn't pinpoint.
Jack grinned. "Space Monkey. Only you could start a family on a alien world and forget about your home planet." He eyed the boy, yes. Definitely Daniel's son. He was a spitting image of Daniel except for the blonde hair. The last time they had been here no one had blonde hair. Everyone had coal black hair. That's when he also noticed Sam's look. It was a cross between horror and recognition. She appeared to know the boy.
Teal'c stood. "Are you alright MajorCarter?" He seemed concern also at the effects the small child was having on her. He remembered a briefing that was held a few months ago. Janet had reported that Sam's dreams were getting worse. She was having flash backs of her time on the planet. And she could swear up and down that she had a child out there somewhere. That was the main reason that they came back. They had to find out what really went on before Carter worried herself to death or off the team and into a nut house.
Daniel swallowed and held To'mas tighter. The boy turned his head to glance at the strange people that were with his father but his eyes stayed on Sam. Blue met blue and Daniel could hear Sam gasp. He had to get the boy outta there before sometime bad happened. Like her realizing that the boy was her son. "T'alo!" He yelled out knowing that his right hand man would appear from the shadows and that he did. "T'alo, take To'mas and keep him until I say otherwise." He handed the boy to T'alo and watched as they faded from view both becoming shadows. That's when the first blow fell.
Daniels head whipped to the side at the harsh slap and his cheek showed the hand print. Sam had slapped him and hard. A trickle of blood was running from the corner of his mouth in which he wiped away with his robe sleeve. He turned to face her. His temper flaring to the surface but he fought it back . He waited for her to explain herself.
"You bastard. You lying son of a bitch." She spit out and went to slap him again but Jack caught her hand, slightly alarmed at her actions. Stroking a ruler of a alien world, ex-friend or not, wasn't a good thing. She struggled against his hold and finally got out of his grasp after promising not to hit him again. "Your lower than the scum on the bottom of my boots." She hissed out. And seeing her Commanding officer's confused face she begins to explain. "That boy. Is. My. Son." She waved her hand in the air. "Before you say that I've lost it look around. No one here has a touch of blonde on their heads. Not. One. Bit. I've been dreaming about that boy, Sir. I know that I have and that...that bastard has kept me from my own son." She was breathing hard and panting for breath. Jack could only look at Daniel, waiting for him to explain.
"Jack..." Daniel began but stopped seeing the look that he was getting. "I didn't take anything from Sam. Yes. The boy is hers. But! He is also mine. Two years ago Jack and Teal'c were being held in a cage. I didn't know here Sam was. I asked. I was told that she was ill and had been healed. That's why she wore the healing band that matched the one that I wore. I had hurt my arm during the ambush and they healed it. I figured that the same thing happened to Sam. When they brought her in she appeared to be unsteady on her feet. I walked up to her and told her that she couldn't forget. After that I didn't see what happened. They took you three away and sent you back. They have ways of altering memories so they placed a memory of me dying within your heads. But it appears that they brain patterns and different from Earth humans that's why your remembering. I was bounded with my servant that same night. I thought nothing of it. A marriage between one of their own and their off world Cudelor. I didn't find out otherwise until nine months later when a baby was thrust into my arms and I was told that he was mine. I never saw my servant again. I didn't put two and two together until To'mas was one. I had a dream about being back at the SGC. Something in the dream made me rush to his room and that's when I knew. I had learned a month earlier that Lo'pert, my servant, was a carrier. She only carried my son. She wasn't his mother. And everything feel into place. I knew that we had the technology to transplant female eggs into another. I've seen it done. But what was I supposed to do? Dial back to Earth, risk being shot at arrival. Or risk being mistaken for an enemy since Daniel Jackson was dead? And if I got past that, how was I going to come out and say guess what Sam, we have a son together?" He sat back down in his chair. "I thought about going to Earth so many times after I had figured out who To'mas's mother was. But I couldn't bring myself to ruin so many lives. I just figured that none of you would remember and I could raise To'mas in peace. When he was older I would of told him about his mother. He already knows about Earth. Then he could of made the choice to go to Earth. I would go with him of course to back his story. But I couldn't risk it now. Not with him being only a toddler." He sounded miserable.
Sam frowned. "He'll be going back with us then." Her voice was deathly calm. But she wanted her son.
Daniel stood up and narrowed his eyes. "To'mas has not place on Earth. He might know about it but he belongs here. He is to take my place once the Gods call me to them. He is my heir. My son. You can not have him nor will I let you." His eyes were flashing a dangerous blue that even Jack and Teal'c took a step back. But Sam stood her ground.
"Then you will be coming back with us too." Sam stated simply. Like it was the obvious answer to it all. The looked on Daniel's face said otherwise.
"I told you before that I don't wish to return. This is my home. These are my people. They count on me to keep them safe. I can't just leave them. I can't." He sat back down, slipping into deep throught.
Jack knew that they weren't going to get anywhere with him. At least not right now. So he pulled Carter back down to the mat and warned her about another outburst. Teal'c also took his place on the mat. All they could do was wait for Daniel to make a decision.