AN: Yes, I know, this is a short chapter, and for that I apologize. If it's any consolation, the reason this chapter is so short is because the last one was about twice as long as normal. And hopefully I'll get the next chapter up a few days early Many thanks to all of you who reviewed, particularly those who said more than just "good chapter." (hint, hint) Just so you all know, we're nearing the home stretches of this story. The more reviews I get, the more I am motivated to write a sequal ...
"O'Neill, out," Jack said, switching off the radio. The gate disengaged seconds later.
"Kynthia, here is the mirror you asked for."
Jack turned to see Alekos enter, a small mirror clutched in one hand. He came to a stop a few feet away. "Why did you need—Colonel O'Neill, what happened to you?" he asked, eyes wide. "I heard you could not wake up, but—"
"That's why I need the mirror," Jack growled, snatching the mirror out of his hand. Because having everyone who saw him gasp in horror? So not helping his mood. It was a piece of polished metal, not glass, but it was good enough for what he needed. Slowly, he brought it up to his face and angled it correctly, not eager to see what he knew must be in it.
Damn. A stranger looked back at him, fifteen years older than the last time he'd seen himself. Maybe twenty. His face sagged with wrinkles, and his skin was paper-thin. Age spots were beginning to appear, and his eyes had lost their sharp brown. His hair was white, and far longer than it should be. He touched his face, the movement mirrored by the geriatric man staring back at him. He dropped the hand and closed his eyes, handing the mirror back.
"They believe that Pelops marked him as one of us when he shared my marriage bed, Alekos," Kynthia said. "This is his punishment for straying beyond the boundary Pelops has set."
"Then we must pray to Pelops for mercy, so that colonel O'Neill may be given back the days that have been taken from him," Alekos replied.
"For crying out loud, Pelops is not a god!" Jack exploded. "He's a snakehead! An alien who stole your people and turned them into lab rats! He shortened your lives to satisfy his curiosity!" He kicked the FRED in emphasis and winced; that hurt way more than he was expecting it to. He supposed, given how old he suddenly was, he should be glad he hadn't broken any bones or anything.
"Jack, you shouldn't say such things," Kynthia said, glancing fearfully at the statue of Pelops. "Unto every man and woman the creator gives 100 blissful days."
"A hundred days?" Jack shot back. "Some humans live to be a hundred years. The average lifespan is somewhere around sixty or seventy years. A year is three hundred and sixty-five days long. Do you have any idea how many thousands of days that is? I mean, look at me! Look at me!" Jack took a step forward and jabbed a finger into his chest. "I'm forty years old, or I was. That's ... thousands and thousands of days."
"You do not tell the truth," Kynthia said, upset.
"It is not possible," Alekos added.
Jack snorted. "Bull. It is possible, and it is true. Pelops was an alien who used your people! He shortened your lives to satisfy his curiosity!"
Kynthia looked to be on the verge of tears. She glanced up at the statue, then back at Jack. "No," she said. She turned and ran out of the temple. Alekos followed more slowly, a troubled look on his face.
Jack watched them go, fists on his hips. He turned to the statue that dominated the room and scowled at it. "What're you lookin' at? Think you're hot stuff, doing this to me from six billion light years away?" When the statue declined to answer him, he sighed and dropped his head, anger slipping away and with it much of the adrenaline that had been keeping him going since he'd woken up. He sighed again. He was damn tired. Straightening up, he started a preliminary search of the temple.