Hours seemed to pass and day turned into night before Daniel spoke again. "T'alo?" He questioned, looking around. T'alo appeared at Daniel's right side. "T'alo. I would like for you to show Jack and Teal'c to the bra'zon."
T'alo nodded then turned towards the travelers that were seated on the mats. "Please. If you would follow me..." He motioned towards the door and bowed.
Jack blinked at hearing Daniel's words then his dismissal of them but not for Sam. He was worried and ready to protest. But his chance never came. He figured that Daniel had some in-depth explaining to do to Carter so he would leave it slide. "Brazon?" He questioned.
Daniel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bra'zon. It's a spare house that is kept open for visitors. Usually from the other villages but since none are due to arrive for at least a week...It will be where you'll be staying."
Frown Jack stood. "Staying? We weren't planning on staying for a extended period of time."
"You can not leave here this night. It is truly impossible." Daniel held his hand up before any of them could protest. "I am not trying to keep you here against your will but the Stargate is different here. It can only be activated during the day hours. And day has left us." He motioned towards the hole that acted as a window. It was clearly pitch black out.
"Fine. But Hammond isn't going to like this. He only send us here because of..." He glanced at Sam who was still sitting quietly on her mat. "Never mind. Ok then, Talo. Show us the way."
Teanjl'c got to his feet and turned towards Daniel. "It is good to see you, DanielJackson." He then turned and followed Jack and T'alo out.
"It's T'alo." Daniel called out after them but knew that they prolly didn't hear him. His attention was brought back to the other person in the room. Licking his lips he stood and walked to her, offering his hand. "I want to show you something. Something that the others can wait to see."
Sam eyed his hand with distaste before pushing herself up, never accepting his hand. "Show me something? There is nothing that I could possible want to see." Her voice held nothing but coldness.
Daniel dropped his hand and sighed. "I deserved that, I guess. But please, we were once friends. All I am asking is that you accompany me somewhere. No harm will come to you. And you may even bring your weapons with you."
Thinking it over, Sam nodded. "Alright. But don't try anything because we might of been friends long ago. But that is no longer true."
"Ok then." Daniel said clapping his hands together. He was covering his disappointment and hurt. With the clap of his hands, rings appeared from the ceiling of the building and enveloped them both. Then retreated back towards the ceiling, taking both Daniel and Sam with them.
Soon Sam was standing on a cliff edge over looking a city of sorts. A city that looked far more advanced than anything on Earth. Still in shock over the means of transportation, she said nothing.
"Welcome to Ve'droy." He swept his hand out in front of him and a bridge appeared which looked to be made of energy." Daniel glanced over at Sam. "Don't let God's Paradise fool you. That is our main village but this...this is the heart of our people. Ve'droy is where the children are born." He placed a hand on the center of her back and lead her over the bridge, which disappeared behind them. Soon they were standing on the other side.
Sam could see that this place was far more advanced than God's Paradise. The buildings looked Greek but had a added twist to them that made them look more impressing. "Where the children are born?" She looked at Daniel, confused.
Daniel lead her through the streets which were paved with some sort of shinny substance that looked like metal. Stopping in front of a large building he entered and smiled at the women that sat behind one of the counters. He lead Sam through some doors before stopping and entering the last which housed at least 30 newborn babies. Male and female, the color of the blanket gave their gender away. "This is called the Aguiro or maternity ward. All children are placed here after birth. Their parents are housed in a adjacent building so they can be with their children from beginning to end." Seeing Sam's confused look Daniel begins to explain. "When a couple wishes to have a child they come here to select what they wish to have. They pick gender, hair color, eye color and skin color. The proper eggs are created and placed into the proud mother. Within a week the women will be pregnant. Nine months later her and her boundmate will be welcoming their child into the world. But the process isn't over. They have to stay here until the child is at least 6 cycles(years) old so tests can be run and the process of birth can be improved. After that the happy family will return to their village."
"What your saying sounds like they are trying to play God." Sam didn't know if she should be excited or sick at what she was seeing. "But this method is impossible. How can it be done?"
"My people started out as primitives that were brought here by the Goa'uld to be slaves, centuries ago. But the lord over this planet had a soft spot for it's inhabitants. He showed them many things that could help them, advance and live happily while under Goa'uld control. Everything worked out fine until that lord was killed and another was sent to take his place. He didn't like what had happened and tried to take away advancements. Thankfully by that time they had advanced to the point where the Goa'uld didn't stand a chance against them. The Great War started and the Goa'uld were defeated. They haven't been back since. But since my people could live under freedom, they were able to advance even further. Several hundred years ago the people began to die. The planet began to die. It didn't look good. One of the leading scientists discovered that there was a chemical being produced within the bodies of the young that was harmful to the old and nature. It was a Goa'uld safeguard. A gene that was passed on from parent to child. So in order to protect our people, the children are created to ensure that this race continues to thrive. I didn't like it at first either. It made me sick. I couldn't step foot within this city for many months until To'mas was born. A natural birth. Not created. He is a carrier for the very gene that almost wiped my people out. He has to be injected with a series of neutralizers every three cycles to ensure that his gene stays inactive."
Sam continued to look around her. The technology was far more advanced than any she had seen. "To'mas carries the gene that could wipe these people out? Impossible. From what you said, it was placed within the people of this planet by the Goa'uld. Your not of this planet and neither am I."
"See, that's where your wrong Sam. I am from this planet. My mother, god rest her soul, was Cudelory (Female leader) here before she left by ship to explore the galaxy. She crash landed on Earth. Contacted her people only to say that she was ok and they never heard from her again. Until I came through the Stargate. They automatically sensed that I was one of their own. Tests were ran and it's true. I oversaw the testing just to make sure. Enough about me. That is not why I brought you here. I'm going to make you an offer. God's Paradise offers Earth an invitation to join the Worlds of Allegiance. There are over 400 all together so far."
He steered her out of the Aguiro and towards another building with a see through roof. Inside was many star charts and calculations. "If Earth accepts this invitation then you would be apart of something so grand that not even the Goa'uld could match it. We have over 4653 Stargate address that are of active home worlds. Some are ally to us and others haven't been explored. The last mission to leave God's Paradise was over 4 years ago. Also if your apart of the Worlds of Allegiance then you can be equipped with weapons to use in your fight against the Goa'uld. Weapons that could defeat them. And finally, the best gift ever. Earth would have the protection of the 400 worlds plus what you already have. In return, I only ask for one thing. One thing could get your planet peace. Peace like here on God's Paradise."
When Daniel finished speaking Sam's head was spinning. He was offering Earth a chance to defeat the Gou'uld once and for all. "What is this one thing that you ask? And why come to me with this? Why not Jack? He is the one in command of SG-1."
"I could of told Jack. But he would not of believed me. I know how he thinks because I used to think the same way. He would think that it was to good to be true. My offer would be rejected before it reached Earth. As for the one thing I want...I want to be able to live on this world WITH my son." Daniel licked his lips. He knew that he was placing her between a rock and a hard place but he was praying that the good of Earth came before her own desires and wants.
Sam was speechless. He wanted her to give up a son that she just found. And he was using something that she couldn't refuse due to her duty at the SGC. "That isn't fair Daniel and you know it. Your being selfish. He is my son too. I might not of known of him for the first two years of his life but I sure in hell know of him now. And if you think your going to get away with this...your wrong. Very wrong. I do still have friends in high places such as the Tok'ra and Jack as the Asgard." She wasn't going to give the boy up.
Daniel only shook his head. "Yes. Your planet has many powerful allies. But this planet is 100 times powerful than the Tollan. Remember them? They wipe out Goa'uld motherships with a single blast. Our blasts could wipe out 10 of those motherships. My people are peaceful. The last war cost them the lives of many of their loved ones. But we will protect our planet if it's threatened. The boy is mine." He said the last part with a slight growl.
Biting back tears, Sam took a deep breath. "Please, Daniel. I...I can't leave here knowing that I have a son. A son with you no less." She walked over to one of the star charts. "What your offering Earth is a wonderful, noble gesture. And I know that is the real you. The real Daniel Jackson that was lost to us two years ago. Being in the Air Force hasn't left room for a family. I look around and see my brother Mark with his two kids. General Hammond has his grandchildren. And Janet has Cassie. What is left for me? I grieved for you. I wasn't eating or sleeping. Losing your best friend is the hardest thing that you could ever go through. But then realizing that he is still alive...that is even harder. So please...please don't take my only chance for a family away."
Daniel chewed on his bottom lip. He hated it when Sam got all emotional. And he hated acting like the bad guy. But he was afraid of losing To'mas. Losing the only part of Sam that loved him. But then again Sam was his mother. How could he deny that of his child when he, himself, has been denied his parents at such a young age. "I'm sorry. I am very protective of To'mas." He sank into a nearby oval chair and sighed. "I will return with you to offer my invitation in person. To'mas will accompany me. Only after my invitation is accepted or declined, will I consider what to do about To'mas. Is that a deal?" He looked up at her.
"Thank you Daniel. Thank you so much." Sam kneeled in front of him and wrapped him in a hug that made the phrase bear hug an understatement.
Daniel glanced at a device on the wall and frowned. "It is passed the prime. We must head back before the hours grow any later." He stood and headed out the door, back towards the large, deep valley. He waved his hand again making the bridge of energy appear. He steered Sam across and back to the transportation site where he actives the rings once again and zaps them back to God's Paradise, the village.