Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard or Stargate SG-1, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Angst, Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Rating: FRT
Italics and/or indicates thoughts
Through The Looking Glass
Chapter 4
General Hammond sat in his office wishing that he could let Colonel O'Neill shoot Colonel Maybourne. The man just couldn't seem to resist causing trouble. When Maybourne had gotten wind of Hammond's efforts to gain security clearance for at least one of the Duke cousins, he had called Senator Kinsey. Kinsey, angry that the Stargate program had been kept a secret from the American public and most of the government, immediately called Hammond. Kinsey told George that if he continued in his efforts, Kinsey would call the president and convince him that Bo Duke should never be allowed to go home. George Hammond really didn't understand some people. It wouldn't harm Maybourne or Kinsey to let one of the Dukes, if they could, be cleared to hear about the Stargate program. However, for reasons that nobody would probably ever know, the two men had decided to treat Bo Duke as the enemy. Picking up the phone, General Hammond hit the intercom and called Colonel O'Neill to his office.
Twenty minutes later, a very angry Jack O'Neill left the General's office and headed for the base gym. Leaving the locker room a few minutes later, Jack grabbed a pair of boxing gloves and went directly for the punching bags. Picturing first Harry Maybourne and then Senator Kinsey, Jack mercilessly pummeled the bag.
In the quarters that had been assigned to him, Bo lay on the bed watching television and catching up with the world. For the past ten days, his life had been filled with answering questions, but not today. Today, Jack had called a halt to the questioning after Maybourne had implied one too many times that Bo's wasn't being completely honest with them. The thing Bo couldn't understand was why Jack O'Neill seemed so sure that he wasn't lying. He didn't appreciate Maybourne's words any, but he could understand why the man would be suspicious. After all, how many people ever managed to gain their freedom once they were taken as a host? Deciding that he should take advantage of the break, Bo had returned to his quarters and turned on the t.v.. Flipping through the channels, he stopped when he came across something called C-Span. Staring in amazement, Bo could hardly believe that there was a channel devoted to watching the workings of Congress. After several minutes of watching, and realizing that he was only finding more questions instead of answers, Bo reached for the remote. Before his finger could push a button, Bo saw a familiar face and froze. Moving closer, Bo stared at the screen, sure he must be seeing things. It can't be him. That's got to just be somebody who looks like him. Bo thought to himself, trying to convince himself that the man on the t.v. couldn't be who he thought it was. Then the man's name was called, and he began to speak, removing all doubt. Falling back onto the floor from where he squatted in front of the t.v., Bo began to laugh loudly.
Walking past Bo's door, Daniel Jackson paused when he heard a loud yell coming from inside. Knowing that Maybourne had been giving Bo a pretty hard time, he decided to check and make sure he wasn't causing more trouble. Knocking on the door, Daniel became concerned when he didn't get a response from inside the room. Slowly opening the door, he couldn't help chuckling at the sight that greeted him. "Hi, uh sorry, didn't mean to intrude. I heard you yell, when you didn't answer my knock, I thought I'd check and make sure you were okay, I'll just..."
"It's okay Daniel, guess I didn't hear you knock. Actually you could help me out here, I was watching t.v. and I came across this C-Span channel. Is that real?"
"Yeah it's real," Daniel replied. "You know I don't think I've ever heard anybody laughing when they watch C-Span. I've heard people yell at the politicians, even seen a few cry at the decisions they made, but I've never heard anybody laugh."
"Well I wasn't laughing at what they were saying. I was laughing because I saw an old friend on the t.v., he's a Senator apparently. I grew up with Cooter, heck his cb handle was Crazy Cooter if that tells ya anything. So when I saw him on there, and seen that he's a Senator, well I just can't imagine Cooter Davenport in a suit and playing politics."
"Wait a minute, Senator Davenport from Georgia is a friend of your's?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Oh, well I just didn't think about you knowing somebody in politics," Daniel explained, not wanting to say anything else until he spoke to the General. "Sorry to have interrupted you, I'll just be going now," Daniel said as he turned towards the door.
"Could you stay for a little bit?" Bo asked, surprising the other man. "I've actually been hoping for the chance to talk to you privately."
"Me? Okay, what can I help you with?" Daniel asked, stepping further into the room and sinking into a chair.
"I've noticed that you've been asking a lot of questions about how aware I was as a host. I was just wondering if there's a reason or is it just curiosity?"
"Oh...well there's a reason. When you were a host, did you ever meet Amonet?"
"Apophis' mate? Yeah, I met her a few times, why?"
"Her host is my wife Sha're..."
"Okay, but I don't see how knowing how much she's aware of is going to help you."
"I'm not real sure about that myself, I suppose I'm just looking for hope that I might be able to save Sha're from the Gou'ld."
"Daniel, I can't tell you exactly what Sha're may have experienced, but I can tell you this. If, when you're out there gating to different planets, you ever get Amonet in your sights, take the shot."
"What? How can you say that? Don't you think Sha're deserves a chance to live free of the Gou'ld? Shouldn't she be given the same freedom you've been given?" Daniel fired questions at Bo, angry at the suggestion that he should kill his own wife.
"Yeah she deserves the chance, any host deserves the chance. The problem is, she's probably not going to ever get that chance. Look Daniel, I know that you want to think you can save Sha're. You think you'll find her, get her away from Apophis and take her to the Tok'ra. There's several problems with that dream though, and that's exactly what it is Daniel, a dream. For starters, you'd have to get her away from Apophis, and since she's his mate that's not likely. Let's say for the sake of argument that you do get her away from him, then what? Do you really think Amonet is just going to let you take her to the Tok'ra for removal. I'll guarantee you Daniel, that snake will kill Sha're before she lets you take her to the Tok'ra," Bo told him, using Jack's word for the Gou'ld.
"So what, Ocasta was the only Gou'ld who would let himself be removed from a host?" Daniel angrily questioned.
"He didn't have a choice Daniel. The only reason I'm free is because I got lucky, extremely lucky. If I had crashed anywhere except for a Tok'ra planet, Ocasta would've healed and I'd still be a prisoner in my own body. Believe me Daniel, if Sha're could talk to you herself she would beg for death, just like I did. Jacob didn't tell you that did he? When he found me in the wreckage of that death glider, that was what I did. I begged him to kill me before Ocasta could heal. After the torture he had put me through, death was something I welcomed. When we crashed, Ocasta was screaming, but I was calm, only hoping the crash would finally end my nightmare. Daniel if somebody had taken me from the other Gou'ld and tried to take me to the Tok'ra, Ocasta would have killed us both rather than let me go free." Bo told the younger man, knowing that it was necessary to be harsh, if he was going to make Daniel accept the truth.
"So I should just deny Sha're the chance, no matter how small and kill her if I get the chance? I can't believe you would suggest that!" Daniel yelled, standing up and moving to leave.
"Do you love her?" Bo asked quietly, making no move to stop the other man.
"Of course I love her, what kind of question is that?"
"Daniel, would you let me tell you a story? I think after you hear this, you'll understand why I said what I did."
"I don't know why I'm listening to you, but go ahead," Daniel agreed, returning to his seat.
"I don't know exactly what Sha're may have gone through. I do know that she's suffering, that Amonet torments her daily. I know what you're going to say Daniel, just because Ocasta did that to me doesn't mean Amonet is torturing Sha're. I'm sure Teal'c and Jacob have explained that the Gou'ld have an almost collective memory when it comes to certain things. A lot of their history is imprinted on their dna. So even if they're seperated from others of their kind for centuries, certain things will still be true for them. Believe me when I tell you Daniel, they all torment their hosts, it's a way of breaking down resistance. What I'm going to tell you took place only a few years ago. It's only one incident, but it gives you an idea of what the host is put through by the Gou'ld." Bo paused, looking down at the floor steeling himself to relate his story, taking a deep breath, he began. "We were on a planet that was controlled by one of Baal's enemies and Ocasta had worked his way into the ranks of this enemy. He had been assigned to this planet, he thought it was a test to be sure of his loyalty. We had only been there about a week, when I saw this little girl. She couldn't have been more than ten years old Daniel. Well when I saw her, she reminded me of my cousin Daisy. I knew what Ocasta could do with that kind of information and I tried to stop the thought. I wasn't fast enough though and he caught the thought. He had that little girl brought to him and he..." Bo stopped speaking as the memories began to overwhelm him. "Sorry, it's just hard to talk about, really hard. He had the little girl put into a room and he searched my memories for images of my cousin at the same age. Once he had the images, he had some clothes made for the girl that were similar to what Daisy had worn when she was young. He had the female slaves fix her hair too, he wanted her to look as much like Daisy as he could. Then he went into the room where she was and he...I tried to stop him, but there was nothing I could do to save either of us."
"Bo, it's alright you don't have to tell me anymore," Daniel interrupted him, hoping to spare him some pain.
"No, you need to hear this, you need to understand what Sha're could be suffering. Ocasta used my body to rape that little girl, and while he was hurting her he forced my memories of Daisy to the surface. Not only did I have to see the terror on that little one's face, but I had to see constant images of Daisy in my mind's eye. Daniel, Ocasta not only hurt me by using my body to hurt and terrorize a child, he tainted my memories of my cousin forever. If I ever do see my cousins again, I don't know if I'll ever be able to look at Daisy without feeling ashamed and dirty. He raped that little girl several times over the course of a couple of days and then he beat her to death. I never even knew her real name, as soon as Ocasta knew she reminded me of Daisy that was all he ever called her. I don't know what kind of horrors Sha're is being forced to suffer, but I promise you Amonet is torturing her. Daniel if you love her, you have to kill her if you ever get the chance. Don't condemn her to a hundred lifetimes of suffering in the hope that a miracle will occur, because that's what it will take. That's what my escape was Daniel, don't kid yourself into thinking it was anything else."
"I can't say that I'll be able to do what you suggested Bo, but I will think about it. Bo, did Ocasta do stuff like that a lot?" Daniel asked, not sure he wanted to know, but needing the answer.
"Yeah, he did Daniel. For the last fifteen years, I've been forced to watch while my body was used to rape, torture and murder hundreds, maybe thousands of people. Men, women and children, the worst part was knowing that it was partially my fault that he was doing the things he did." Bo confessed his deepest secret, turning away in shame.
"How could it have been your fault? Bo you were a prisoner, as much as if you had been locked in a cell somewhere," Daniel assured the other man.
"Yeah, I was a prisoner, a prisoner who wouldn't accept his fate. I tried to just give in to him as soon as I realized he was hurting others to get to me. I never could though, no matter how hard I tried, that Duke pride wouldn't let me just knuckle under. I did try to hide it from him though, but he always found out and then he would hurt some innocent person. Seeing what Ocasta was willing to do as he tried to break me, I actually cursed my heritage. For the first time in my life I found myself wishing that Uncle Jesse hadn't raised me to know right from wrong. I cursed him for teaching me to always fight against the evil in the world, to always fight for what was right and be proud of the Duke name. Daniel, my uncle raised me from the time I was a baby, he's the only father I ever knew, how could I hate him, even for a second?" Bo asked, sounding very much like a lost, scared little boy.
"Did you really hate him Bo, or was it Ocasta planting the idea in your head?"
"I didn't hate him, not really. I hated Ocasta, hated myself for fighting back and yeah he did suggest that it was the way Uncle Jesse raised me that was causing my rebellion. I'm sorry, didn't mean to get off the subject, I just wanted you to understand the sort of things the Gou'ld do to break their hosts."
"It's okay Bo, thank you for telling me and if you ever need to talk I'm here," Daniel offered.
"Thanks Daniel, I appreciate that but not right now okay? I think I'm gonna go lay down for a little while, all of a sudden I'm feeling kind of tired."
"Okay Bo, I'll see ya later," Daniel said. Saying good-bye he stepped out into the corridor, shuddering as he thought of Bo's story. Wanting to do something to help Bo, Daniel headed toward General Hammond's office. As he moved towards the General's office, Daniel passed by the gym just in time to hear Jack O'Neill cursing Maybourne and Kinsey.
Stepping into the gym, Daniel smiled as Jack beat the punching bag, cursing Maybourne and Kinsey. Knowing how Jack's mind worked, Daniel was pretty sure he was picturing the two men's faces as he worked the bag. "So what did they do this time?" Daniel asked, not really surprised that Jack wasn't even slightly startled. Given his background with black ops, Daniel knew that Jack was always aware when somebody entered his space.
"Causing trouble, what else? Maybourne got wind of Hammond trying to get clearance for one of Bo's cousins and he called Kinsey. Kinsey's threatening to go to the president if Hammond doesn't stop and he'll fix it so Bo never gets to go home." Jack answered, giving the bag several more hard punches as he spoke.
"Well then, maybe you'll want to come to the General's office with me," Daniel suggested mysteriously.
Raising an eyebrow, Jack smiled in anticipation, "Just give me ten minutes Danny." Jack told him as he went into the locker room for a quick shower. Coming back out a few minutes later, Jack clapped a hand on Daniel's shoulder, "So Danny tell me, how do you plan to tame the lions?"
"Come in," General Hammond called in response to the knock on his office door.
"General, could we have a few minutes?" Daniel asked.
"Of course Dr. Jackson, what can I do for you?"
"Actually it's not for me, it's for Bo," Daniel began with a smile. "Jack told me about Kinsey's threat General, how would you like to ruin his whole year?"
"Colonel O'Neill what is he talking about?" Hammond barked at his officer, his patience thin after having already dealt with Kinsey.
"I don't know General. Danny how do you plan on doing that?"
"Have either of you ever heard of Senator Davenport?"
"Isn't he from Georgia?" Jack asked.
"Yes he is, and he's also an old friend of Bo Duke's," Daniel told the other two men. "He's also gotten to be pretty friendly with the president, so if..."
"If we could get him clearance, he could help us with getting clearance for Bo's cousins in spite of Kinsey and Maybourne." General Hammond finished for him, a big grin spreading across his face. "Thank you Dr. Jackson, now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have some calls to make."
"Good idea ya had there Danny. Come on I'll buy ya a cup of coffee in the cafeteria," Jack offered, grabbing Daniel's arm and leading him out of the office. Jack couldn't wait to see the look on Maybourne's face when Senator Davenport arrived, and ruined his plans.
TBC
Okay y'all know the drill. I'm sure the low number of reviews on the last chapter was due to the server move and ensuing problems. However now the muse for this story is really hungry, please feed the muse with reviews.
