Here's another chapter! Hope ya like it.
I own nothing.
To conquer others is to have power.
To conquer the self is to know the Way.
--Tao Te Chingverse 33
Daniel walked around inside the temple, silently amazed at the architect and beauty of the building. He heard monks from a part of the temple chanting and not wanting to disturb them, walked out into the garden. No one was out there save for Sam sitting on a rock in the large Zen garden.
Daniel stopped, stunned at how peacefully Sam looked. He went to go back inside, but tripped over the step and went sprawling on the walkway. He winced as he picked himself up and immediately noticed that his hand was bleeding from a cut he had reopened. He began searching around in his coat for a piece of cloth to cover his wound.
"You okay Daniel?" Sam asked, kneeling down next to him.
"Yeah. Sorry I interrupted you," he said sheepishly.
She smiled warmly at him. "It's all right Daniel." She looked at his hand and pulled out a tie she normally used for her gi jacket sleeves and expertly wrapped his hand. "Looks like you still get injured pretty easily," she teased.
"Ha, ha, ha," he muttered sarcastically.
"Sorry. I couldn't resist," she said, sitting back on her heels. Daniel was struck with awe at how graceful she was. He suddenly became aware of how comfortable she looked wearing Japanese-style clothing and Japanese weapons.
"You won't come back to Earth again, will you?" he suddenly asked.
"Probably not," Sam admitted.
"Why not? If you'll tell me," he added.
"I found peace out here," Sam said. "I know I'm still fighting and all that, but it's to protect people. I lost sight of that on Earth…we lost sight of that," she amended.
"Guess I know what you mean," Daniel said. "Things have definitely changed on Earth since you've left."
"Changed how?" Sam demanded.
"Janet left the SGC a few months after you left. She took Cassie with her and they fled the country to god knows where. All our allies have pretty much left us alone, and the NID now run the SGC. Hammond tried to stay on to keep things under control, but he was forced into retirement."
"Who runs the SGC now?" Sam asked.
"General Harry Maybourne."
"General? That dishonorable piece of…" Sam began.
Daniel held up his hand and Sam stopped. "It gets worse. Kinsey is now President and is insisting that Earth move out onto other planets, whether they're inhabited already or not," he spat.
Sam's grip tightened on her katana sheath. "I shouldn't have left," she murmured.
"You did what you thought you had to do Sam. No one can hold that against you," Daniel said gently. "I don't at least."
"Why did Janet and Cassie leave the country though?" Sam asked.
"The NID wanted to experiment on Cassie since Maybourne and Kinsey are now in charge. Before anything was finalized, they disappeared. The house was cleaned out and there was no note," Daniel said.
"What about Teal'c? Haven't they tried to 'test' him yet?"
"We think they're getting ready to. He'd leave as well, but he has nowhere to go," Daniel answered.
"What about Chulak? His wife and son?"
"First thing Maybourne did in retaliation of a Goa'uld attack was to nuke Chulak. They're dead."
"And is Bra'tac dead as well?"
Daniel shook his head. "He was trying to recruit more members into the Jaffa Rebellion when it happened."
"Now you see why we're trying to stop the trade?" Sam asked.
Daniel nodded. "I understand and so do the others. But what else can we do?"
Sam stared him in the eye, her face the picture of resolve. "We make the Emperor hear us. If that doesn't work, then we take the Stargate and bury it."
"Earth has a ship now Sam," Daniel said.
"Then we find the Tok'ra. We find ways to stop Maybourne and Kinsey. I won't fail again Daniel. I won't." Daniel stared into her determined face and felt chills go down his spine.
So, how was it? Sorry if these chapters seem short, but it's what the voices are demanding.