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CHAPTER FOUR
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George sighed as he hung up the phone. He leaned forward on his desk, cradling his head in his hands; it wasn't right. They never left anyone behind.
The general stood from his chair, his body reminding him he hadn't rested in the twenty-four hours since Dr. Jackson's disappearance. He glanced at his watch then headed out into the darkened briefing room. He had yet to look forward to a check-in with the colonel and this one was no exception; there was no good news to share.
He stood at the big window that looked out over the 'gate room and sighed again. The Stargate loomed, a simple circle of stone that led to other worlds, other allies---other enemies. A portal to places George couldn't even imagine. Dr. Jackson was out there, he knew, but not on a world they could reach by a 'gate address. The young scientist was lost in a place they had no way of reaching.
"Sir?"
George started slightly and turned to see Carter standing at the top of the metal staircase that led up from the control room below.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, sir," continued the major.
"You didn't," replied George kindly. "What can I do for you, Major?"
Carter's eyes dropped to the floor. "I was just wondering if you'd heard from the Tok'ra or the Asgard, sir."
George shook his head. "Nothing yet, Major."
Carter pursed her lips. "I'm not having any luck with the Tollan device, General. It's so far beyond anything I've dealt with before---I'm usually very good at---but I just can't---." She faltered then stopped. "I'm sorry, sir."
"The President has ordered me to list Dr. Jackson as MIA. SG-11 is to return to the testing site."
The major's head shot up, her blue eyes incredulous. "What? But Daniel, sir, he's---."
George waved a placating hand. "He's not ordering me to leave the planet, Major---yet," he replied. "But his advisors are pushing him; they want naquada. SG-11 will stay on -877 to do 'thorough' testing of every inch of the caves; I'm assigning SG-1 to assist."
Carter closed her eyes in relief. "Thank you, sir."
"I'll keep our people there as long as I can, but if SG-11 doesn't get positive results---."
"Does Colonel O'Neill know, sir?"
"Not yet."
"With your permission, General, I'd like to return to -877. If you'd like, I can inform the colonel."
George smiled. "Permission granted but no Major, facing the wrath of one Colonel Jack O'Neill falls under my list of responsibilities. I'll let him know."
Carter clasped her hands behind her back and nodded. "Yes, sir," she replied then she turned to descend the stairs, hesitating briefly. "Sir?"
"I won't stop trying to reach our allies, Major. I want him back, too."
The major's worried gaze met George's. "Thank you, sir."
George turned back to the Stargate as Carter's metallic footfalls faded. Silence fell again, an eerie silence that prickled the general's skin, a heavy silence born of the weight of the mountain over his head.
He glanced at his watch again. He'd give Carter time to gear-up then head to the control room to see her off. He'd then inform his second-in-command that his own world had just classified his missing friend as irretrievable---lost with basically no hope of ever finding him.
George closed his eyes and threw up a silent prayer through the weight of the mountain and up into the cold gray sky to a God he fervently hoped was listening.
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"Sleep well?"
Daniel started then groaned as his shifting body sent shots of excruciating pain up his arms to his wrists. He fisted his hands and clenched his teeth against a wave of nausea.
"You look a tad uncomfortable there---let me help you."
The archeologist almost screamed as Areszeus unlocked one manacle releasing the torn flesh from its metal grip. He slowly lowered his arm, gasping and hissing as he did.
"Now the next one."
As it too was released, Daniel lowered his other torn wrist then wavered dangerously, wanting only to collapse at the demon's feet and curl up into a ball. He was surprised and repulsed when Areszeus guided him gently to sit on the cot.
The demon knelt before the young man and rested his clawed hands on Daniel's knees. "Lesson learned?" he asked.
Daniel nodded. "Yes."
Areszeus smiled. "Good, boy---now I've brought you something to eat---and some water, of course." He lifted a tray from the ground beside the cot and rested it on Daniel's lap.
The archeologist felt his stomach flip at the sight and smell of the so-called meal, but lifted the cup of water to his lips. He drank deeply then immediately turned and vomited on the floor next to Areszeus.
"Oh, my, my," said the demon. "That's just---vile."
Daniel bit his lower lip on a hysterical laugh. The creature before him who had killed countless people, who had brutalized Daniel, thought a little vomit was vile.
"It's a good thing you missed my robe, boy."
"Sorry."
"Sorry for the mess or sorry you missed my robe?"
Daniel looked up to meet the strangely amused red eyes. "You're in a good mood," he managed then he wiped his mouth and brought the cup of water back to his lips to take a hesitant sip.
"This day brings me closer to my freedom," replied the demon with a shrug. "Now you have a lot to do so you'd better eat up."
"Um---no---no thank you---not very hungry."
"Okay."
Daniel watched as the demon grabbed his bowl of gruel, dug his fingers into it and then dropped the glob into his mouth. His eyes closed in utter bliss and Daniel swallowed back another bout of nausea.
Areszeus opened his eyes and regarded the young man as he chewed. "In the beginning, I thought this was awful stuff, too, believe me, but after two hundred years of it, the imagination kicks in." He held the bowl up with a smile. "This morning I'm feasting on the hearts of the Chegen leader, Edlen."
"Hearts---as in more than one?"
"Yep---you'd think with two hearts, they'd be even more compassionate and forgiving, wouldn't you?"
"What 'are' you?" asked Daniel, his brows puckered in repulsion.
"Why, I'm the Demon of Chege, boy," replied Areszeus gleefully.
Daniel put the cup down and moved the tray off his lap onto the cot, his thirst quenched, but his stomach still roiling. "Where did you come from?"
Areszeus shrugged. "Everywhere, anywhere," he replied.
"That's not very helpful."
"Why does it matter, boy?"
"I suppose it really doesn't. I'm just curious."
The demon canted his head. "Curiosity can get you killed," he warned ominously then he smiled and shoveled more gruel into his mouth.
"Are you from my---um---realm?"
"I'm from everywhere. I'm the monster in the closet or under the bed, the creature in the dark who steals your children, the terror in the night---I'm everywhere and anywhere."
Daniel swallowed hard. He remembered the fear he'd had when he was a small child, could still feel the chill of it as he'd stared into the dark corner of his family's tent, certain that someone or something stared back, remembered the comfort of his mother's arms as she rocked him through the residual effects of his nightmares.
"You know me, boy," whispered Areszeus lowly, an eerie smile curving his thin lips. "Everyone knows me."
"Oh, God."
Areszeus continued to stare, his red eyes delving into Daniel's very soul and the archeologist shivered convulsively and looked away. He settled his gaze on the inscriptions carved into the wall. From what was already exposed, he knew the demon was right; it was a way out, a way to pull back the curtain between this world and Daniel's---a way to free the evil creature to wreak havoc once again.
"So what does it say?"
"Um," began Daniel, his voice unsteady to his own ears. He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. "Not much actually."
"Not much?"
"All it says so far is 'beneath this stone lies a locked door'."
"Is that right."
"I'm guessing the 'how to unlock the locked door' part is still covered."
The demon set the bowl on the tray then placed his hands on Daniel's knees again, drawing the young man's attention back to him. "You better hope it is," he said evenly. "I'd hate for you to end up like them." He hitched his chin over his shoulder toward the corpses. "Now come on---I'll keep you company for a bit."
Daniel rose to his feet and immediately swayed.
"I told you you should have eaten something," admonished Areszeus. He took the young man's elbow. "Come on."
The archeologist balked. "I should clean up the---um---mess I made."
"Why?"
"Because?"
Areszeus smiled. "You'd be wise to put your worry where it's necessary, boy---now, come on."
Daniel pulled his elbow away from the demon without rancor and plodded across the cavern to stand before the wall, noting that Areszeus stayed hovering a couple feet back.
"Go ahead, boy---get started."
"Did they," began the archeologist with a wave of his hand toward the bodies. "Have any tools?"
"Do I look like a fool? Use your fingers."
"I can't---."
Areszeus shoved Daniel harshly in the back. "Use your---fingers," he demanded.
The young man squeezed his eyes shut against the pain that flared from his wounded back. He felt awful; his back, his shoulder, his wrists constant reminders of his treatment. His head throbbed incessantly and his stomach hadn't quit churning.
Slowly, Daniel raised his hands and carefully began breaking away the stone cover from the remaining symbols.
"Does it hurt?" asked the demon, his low voice sending a chill over Daniel's skin.
"Should it?"
"The others had burns on their fingers in varying degrees from touching the stone."
Daniel shook his head. "It's just---stone. How could it burn me?"
Areszeus laughed merrily. "Oh, you are the one, boy!" he exclaimed with a clap of his clawed hands. "You are going to free me!"
The archeologist cast a glance over his shoulder to see the demon almost dancing with his delight.
"You are the one---finally," continued Areszeus, his red eyes shining brilliantly. "You are pure of heart and soul, boy---otherwise you would feel the stone's burn. After two hundred years, I am finally going to be free."
Daniel looked back at the stone beneath his palms. "The others---."
"Had their own 'personal' demons, boy," finished Areszeus. He moved up to Daniel's back and bent his head to the archeologist's ear. "But you---you are different---at least to the Chege." He drew the back of a clawed index finger down Daniel's cheek. "Have you ever killed anyone, boy?"
The archeologist remained silent and focused, his hands working at a stubborn piece of the masonry.
"The Chege have judged us different, but we're not---are we. You have killed just as I have."
"No---I've killed but in self-defense or in defense of those I love."
"How many? A handful, a dozen---hundreds?"
"I don't---I don't know."
Areszeus placed his hand on the back of Daniel's neck. "You've killed people, boy. People with families, with friends, people who didn't 'want' to die. Why are we judged differently when we have both ended lives---stopped hearts from beating?"
"I was defending my own. You were killing because you 'enjoyed' it."
"Are you saying you didn't enjoy it? Have you ever killed with your bare hands? Oh---I think not---not an innocent like you. There's nothing like it, boy---nothing more empowering than knowing you're stronger and---."
"Please---just shut up."
"Nothing like feeling the heat of blood as it pours out over your hand," continued the demon ominously, his breath gusting warm and moist against Daniel's ear. "Nothing like the feel of a heart held in your grasp, the sounds of life fading, faltering---dying."
Daniel closed his eyes, his hands frozen on the wall.
"You will never know that strength over another. The Chege have deemed you pure---good---and they labeled me evil---yet we both have killed. What right did they have to do that, boy? What right did they have to imprison 'me'---here, with no hope of escape? What right did they have to hold me to 'their' lofty morals? Why aren't you deemed evil?"
"I'm not like you."
"Aren't you? You've taken lives just as I have. What about your soldier friends? Are they labeled demons in your world?"
The young man opened his eyes. "No---they've killed in defense of others---of our world. Some might disagree with what they do, but they're not considered demons."
Areszeus snorted. "I bet they've killed with their bare hands like I have, reveled in that power over another."
"No, you're wrong."
"Snapped someone's neck like a twig---."
"Please just shut up," hissed Daniel. He pulled at the stubborn piece of masonry, his teeth gritted.
"Would the pretty woman be judged demonic by the Chege as I was?"
"No."
"I've been watching your other two friends. The gray-haired one---I see it in his eyes. He would kill me for harming you."
"Probably."
Areszeus moved closer, his fingers tightening at Daniel's nape. "I could pull his heart from his chest and hold it still beating in front of your eyes, boy."
Daniel slammed his fist against the stone cover and it shattered, spraying debris over both the archeologist and the demon.
"You fool!" shrieked Areszeus.
Daniel turned to see the demon's red eyes flare, blisters from where he'd been hit with the shattered stone already standing out stark against his pale skin. The archeologist forced himself to hold those evil eyes, forced himself not to show the fear that paralyzed him, not to cower away.
Areszeus' hands fisted at his sides and his body virtually shook with his anger. He raised his chin and stared down his nose at the young man, his breath gusting from his flaring nostrils.
"If you kill me, you kill you're only way out of here," warned Daniel, his voice surprisingly steady.
The demon's eyes narrowed. "You do that again, I will pull your gray-haired friend in here with us and I 'will' kill him before your very eyes. Am I clear on that, boy?"
"You touch my friend you won't get out of here."
Areszeus laughed suddenly, his chin tipped back, then in a blur of speed, he back-handed Daniel hard enough to knock the young man off his feet. He stepped forward and loomed over the archeologist then turned and stocked out of the cavern, his footfalls echoing back down the stairwell and off the walls of the young man's prison.
Daniel reached up a shaking hand to touch his cheek, his fingers coming away red-tipped with his blood. He dropped back against the wall, the sudden rush of adrenaline leaving his body shuddering.
"God, Jack---what do I do?"
The archeologist closed his eyes against the pain throbbing behind them and moved his hand to his sore shoulder. The heat of the punctured skin penetrated the cotton of his black tee shirt to warm his palm and he knew infection had taken hold. He dropped his hand limply to his lap and bit his lower lip.
After a few minutes, Daniel pushed himself to his feet and turned back to the wall, his shaking hands moving back to the task of breaking the masonry that covered the secret of his escape, the secret he'd take with him to his death.
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CONTINUED
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