A/N #1: The final chunk of this chapter is new compared to the corresponding chapters in "Ripples in the Deep." Some reviewers on the old story made some helpful comments plot/plothole-wise, and this should hopefully fill that gap.
A/N #2: I meant to get this chapter up hours ago, but uni restarted today, and the first day of a semester is always busy, at least for me.
34th of Xuxiq, Fall, 6544 A.S.
(c. March 17, 1998)
Uslisgas, Asteria
Even in the midst of his 'geeking out,' as Jack probably would have called it, over all the new opportunities for study and learning about the Furlings and their allies, Daniel could never forget why exactly he was not with SG1 any longer, not helping in earth's fight against the Goa'uld, not searching for Sha're and Skaara. Nor had he forgotten his conversation with Sujanha at dinner several nights before and her statement about the Fleet badly needing intelligence to further its way toward their war against the Goa'uld.
"I have need of detailed information about the organization of the Goa'uld, about their numbers, about their home worlds, and about what worlds or peoples could be possible allies or must be protected from the Goa'uld. Thor has been able to provide me with some information, via his contact with the Goa'uld over the Protected Planets Treaty, but his information is less in depth over some of those issues than I suspect yours will be, considering your exploration of the galaxy and the fact that you had a Jaffa as a teammate," she had said that night, rising from the table to put away dinner.
If the Fleet needs intelligence about the Goa'uld, they'd be better off with Jack … or Teal'c … both.
But Jack and Teal'c and Sam ... they weren't there.
It was just Daniel now.
But anything Daniel knew about the Goa'uld, their numbers, their worlds, about potential allies for the Furlings in the Milky-Way, anything that he had learned from Teal'c or earth's allies or on his missions, anything at all that he knew he would gladly share if in any way it might help bring Sha're and Skaara home. He had joined the Furlings because he needed shelter, yes, but he also wanted to help bring about the fall of the Goa'uld who had stolen his family from him, and that could not be done while he sat idly by far away from the fighting.
With all those thoughts floating around in his mind, by the time Daniel had been on Uslisgas for a week, he was ready to get to work. The information Ruarc had given him about Furling daily schedules as well as his new clock set to Uslisgas time meant that he could conform his schedule's more to the Commander's and actually speak with over breakfast before she left for work every morning.
Daniel rose a little earlier than his new usual on the 34th, a little before Sujanha's footsteps would usually be heard going downstairs for breakfast. She could move very, very quietly, ninja-like, much of the time, but a couple of unavoidable creaky spots on the second-floor hallway and one on the stars sometimes gave her away. Daniel, however, as quietly as he tried to move could never move quietly enough to not be noticed, and that morning like the last couple of mornings, the Commander had heard him coming and greeted him right as he appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Fair morning," Sujanha greeted him in Furling.
Under Ruarc's tutelage and with the aid of his 'vocab' program, Daniel had already learned a handful of basic greetings as well as "please" and "thank you" and some random other words or phrases. He was not even close to being able to hold even a basic conversation in Furling yet, but he was trying to use what he knew where he could for practice, and the others were reciprocating. As he began to speak some Furling and was able to listen more closely to the others speaking, he was starting to pick up on slight variations in speech pattern and accents between the Commander and her two body-guards.
"Fair morning," Daniel replied in Furling, before switching back into English and continuing as he fixed himself a plate of food. Yay, something besides breakfast sandwiches. "You said a few days ago that I might be able to help by telling you what I know of the Goa'uld and their worlds and potential allies and all that."
The Commander simply looked up from her tablet and plate of food and made a wordless motion of acknowledgement for him to continue.
"I know you said it could wait until I had had some time to adjust to Uslisgas, and I really appreciate all the time Ruarc has spent helping me, and I know it's only been a week, but I'm getting a handle on things, and I can't stop thinking …" The rush of words stopped.
About Sha're.
About Skaara.
About earth and my friends.
Sujanha put down her fork—she seemed to be picking at her food more than eating—and studied him intently, "I would be speaking not right if I said that your help would not be of great use, but you are a refugee here. You have been granted asylum. If you wished to live out your days in peace, studying, no one would lay a charge against you." I would hold it against myself, as desirable as that prospect might seem some days. "But if you wish to begin today, I have no objection. It would save me from a day of reading reports, anyway."
"Not a fan of paperwork?" Daniel asked dryly, hoping that the less familiar word would be clear in context.
The Commander gave a rough laugh, "Not especially. It grows tedious as the years pass by."
Daniel began to devour his food, not wanting to slow her down, but Sujanha shook her head and urged him not to rush, "It is not even half-past the sixth hour yet. There is time yet."
Slow down.
Don't make yourself sick.
When he had finished eating and had drunk a small mug of tea—I miss coffee—Daniel returned upstairs to collect his bag with his tablet, notebooks, and pen and get his jacket. By the time he returned downstairs, Sujanha had also collected her things, a tablet and a book in yet another unfamiliar script, and was waiting for him in the entrance hallway. She motioned him close without words and then inputted something on her gauntlet on her left arm. There was a noise that Daniel was growing quite accustomed to, since I've heard it at least twice a day for basically the past week, and a flash of light, and the two were beamed away.
The place they were beamed to was on the acropolis, Daniel knew from Ruarc's description of the layout of the city and from a translated map Ruarc had made for him later. The building they were in front of, however, was totally unfamiliar. He had spent a good amount of time in the Lower City but had only beamed into and out of any specific locations he needed to go to on the Acropolis, even the library.
What had to be military headquarters was a massive four-story stone-building abutting a large cobble-stone plaza. Spinning on one heel to quickly get a wider view of the entire area, Daniel picked out the couple of familiar buildings he could recognize, saw one large sprawling complex built up to edge of and even … down? Seriously? … the edge of the cliff face that he guessed had to be the Imperial Palace.
That vaguely reminds me of some palace in Europe. Was it Spanish? I can't remember now.
Headquarters was located some distance from the edge of the cliff, but there was an unobstructed view to the edge of the cliff itself, and Daniel could see down … down … down … down and pick out the far edge of the Lower City. That is a … long drop. Don't think I want to go to the edge to see exactly how far. He wasn't afraid of heights, but … nothin' doin'.
The Commander gave Daniel a moment to look around but then touched his arm to regain his attention. (He noticed that as she usually did, she touched him with the back of her hand. A cultural quirk? Or are you watching your claws?) "As you have probably already thought," guessed, "This is headquarters for both the Fleet and the Army." Sujanha's brother Anarr was the Supreme Commander of the Army, which I'm pretty sure wouldn't fly in the US. "The top floors are my brother's, the bottom mine." She said, motioning for him to precede her across the courtyard toward the main entrance.
Work did not officially begin until the 8th hour, and it was not even the 7th hour when Daniel and the Commander arrived, but Furling Headquarters was already quite busy with many peoples of many different races coming and going, heading hither and thither on the way to whatever they were doing. All made way immediately for Sujanha when her arrival was noticed, and she was slowed down by the number of salutes—hand over the heart and a deep bow—and by several soldiers … sailors? Do you even call spaceship crews sailors? … who stopped to speak with her. No one seemed to be wearing uniforms or BDUs like the US military did, but all seemed to be wearing dark, unobtrusive colors, and the exact shape or cut of the clothing seemed to vary by race. Most seemed to bear either a silver insignia shaped like a five-pointed star or a gold insignia in the shape of something Daniel could not make out.
Probably distinguishes the fleet from the army. Though which one was which, he had no idea. Though … stars are probably for the fleet, if I had to guess. It would fit.
From the lobby, a lift took them up to the second floor. The ride up was short and smooth, and soon the doors opened, revealing a long-hallway that seemed to stretch the length of the building. The hallway was as plainly decorated and as utilitarian as the rest of the building. At regular intervals multiple doorways led off the hall to other rooms or offices. Sujanha made her way half-way down the hall, stopping in front of one particular door. What looked like a small blue stone was set into the wall a little above waist-height, and the Commander waved one paw across the stone.
With a soft chime, the door slid open silently, revealing a large office within. A large desk, large enough for two people and covered with papers and tablets, dominated one side of the room directly across from the door. The wall behind the desk was lined with shelves covered with more tablets and papers. A large table was set up along one wall, ornate blue lamps set high on the wall casting a strange glow over the table, its contents, and the rooms. The rest of the furniture in the room was only several chairs. Another door inside the office—opaque this time—led off into another room.
Probably her personal office.
There were four people inside. Ragnar was sitting in one chair along one wall, while Ruarc was half-sitting on the edge of one desk, speaking to a slight human with weary features, next to whom sat a humanoid figure that bore a striking resemblance to a Wookie with grey eyes, black fur, and unusually flat features … and a mask of some sort. All looked up as Sujanha entered with Daniel a half step behind. Ruarc and Ragnar greeted them both in Furling as did the other two people, probably her aids.
"Dr. Jackson, may I introduce to you my two aids: Asik Geatam and Jaax Nenth," said the Commander, gesturing first to the 'human' and then to the 'Wookie,' "They both understand a very little English."
"Can you tell them, 'I am pleased to meet them'?" He asked Sujanha. Daniel wanted to get off on a good footing with both aids. He knew from his career on earth what a valuable resource someone's aid or secretary could be.
Amazing how much they know. Good for advice.
The Commander gave him what seemed to be an approving look and nodded, rattling off a quick sentence in Furling to which both aids gave a shallow bow of greeting in acknowledgement. With introductions apparently then complete, Asik rose from his desk and followed Sujanha and Daniel into her inner office, all the while speaking quite rapidly in Furling. From his tone, nothing seemed to be amiss. Asik just seemed to be one of those people who talked like a machine gun, a habit that did not quite fit with his frail appearance. Though thinking he'd be soft-spoken might be a stereotype. After sinking into her chair with a noise that was half-sigh and half-groan, Sujanha replied in the same language briefly. Whatever she said seemed to satisfy Asik who then departed, leaving the door between the outer and inner offices open.
(Daniel was starting to get a feeling that there was something not quite … right … with her health. He knew that he could be rather oblivious and laser-focused on nothing but the artifact, text, etc. of the day when he was "geeking out," as Jack'd say, but Daniel was not stupid or blind.
Foster care had taught him how to study people, watch for small tells, and there was something not quite right with Sujanha: the slight groan sometimes when she rose or sat down, the limp that she sometimes had at the end of a long day, the way she kept a hand sometimes on something solid when she rose like she was afraid her legs might not hold her, the way she barely ate at some meals.)
And the way she bumped her leg on the counter the other day, and I heard a very non-fleshy thunk.
"Asik will bring us both something to drink," Sujanha said, bringing up several holographic screens and paging through them quickly, "Then we may begin. Take a seat wherever you like."
Daniel took a quick look around her office as she spoke. Besides the large desk and chair straight in front of the door, there was a large table with several chairs on the left side of the room and a medium-size pedestal with something … with several control stone sitting on top of it on the right side of the room. In front of Sujanha's desk was also another chair. Behind her desk was a large mostly opaque window that let in some light but did not allow one to see out … or in, probably more the point. A lamp stood on Sujanha's desk along with two tablets, a sheaf of papers, and a handful of control stones.
Daniel took the seat across from Sujanha, who worked in silence, probably checking those reports that she had mentioned at breakfast, until Asik returned bearing two mugs of spiced tea several minutes later. He had drunk a cup at breakfast, but given that he was probably going to spend the next several hours, at least, talking the entire time, he was going to need something to drink … badly.
"Thank you," said Daniel, switching quickly into Furling. I'm glad Ruarc taught me that phrase already. When thanking someone, tone and body language could often convey the intent behind the words, even when there was a language barrier, but actually knowing basic polite phrases in a foreign language … just makes everything easier.
After passing out the tea, Asik turned to Sujanha and said several quick sentences in Furling. From his tone and the way his second sentence ended on a higher note, Daniel guessed that it was a question of some sort. I really wish he'd speak slower. Sujanha shook her head and replied briefly, and with that Asik then departed, though the door between the two offices remained opened, and the indistinct murmur of voices drifted in.
"Let us begin then," said the Commander.
"What do you want to know first?" said Daniel, wishing again that he had his mission notebooks from his office in the SGC or SG1's mission reports. That'd would make all this a lot easier. His memory was excellent, but he couldn't remember every detail of every mission and debriefing, and what stuck in his mind was more cultural and personal. Some of the comments that Jack or Sam or Teal'c made would make explaining any military aspects easier as well as providing extra notes on the Goa'uld.
Sujanha nodded, mimicking human body language again. (At least nodding works better on them than smiling. Smiling was supposed to a friendly gesture. For the Furlings it lost any friendliness because of … all the teeth. Even when they were trying to be friendly by mimicking a smile, the gesture ended up looking more like a threat. I've seen her do it once. Once was enough). "It is the hope of the Furling Empire to soon begin a war of deliverance against the blight that is the Goa'uld and bring their reign over your galaxy to an end. However, to do that we need information. We used to control many worlds in your galaxy, but that was ages ago, and only recently have we started trying to reestablish bases on abandoned or uninhabited worlds."
Considering how long the Furlings lived, Daniel wondered what time period was long enough for them to consider it an "age."
She continued, "Supreme Commander Thor, whom you met once not long ago, has provided me all intelligence that he can through his contact with the Goa'uld during negotiations over or disagreements about the Protected Planets Treaty. However, that intelligence is greatly limited. My brother and I need more than he can provide before we battle the System Lords and limit the death-toll at the same time. We need intelligence from the ground, information about homeworlds and numbers of troops and ship, lists of potential allies, and lists of worlds that will need to be protected. Some of that the Asgard can provide but not enough."
Makes sense. You want to know the ground before you stick your neck out.
I really wish Teal'c was here. He'd know this better than I do.
"What is the Protected Planets Treaty?" Daniel asked, puzzled.
"The Protected Planets Treaty is an ongoing armistice between the Goa'uld System Lords and the Asgard High Council. Under the treaty, twenty-six planets currently are kept free from Goa'uld control, habitation, and enslavement. Any violation of the treaty where the offending Goa'uld does not retreat will be met with force by the Asgard. All the Treaty planets are guarded by Asgard technology."
That explains Cimmeria then.
Cimmeria had been lingering at the back of his mind since that … incident … and meeting Thor. The Hammer had been repaired with an exception for Teal'c, and maybe if … when. When. He had to keep believing that … he or the Furlings now found Sha're, maybe that device could be used to free her like he had hoped in the first place.
Before I broke it.
At least, it's fixed now, though not before their actions had spawned diasters for the Cimmerians. Many had died because of the loss of the Hammer.
"That's explains the beat down with Heru'ur on Cimmeria," said Daniel quietly to himself, slipping back into English slang for a moment
"Cimmeria?" replied Sujanha, "Oh, yes, Thor spoke to me of that encounter."
Not all of that was exactly our finest hour.
Destroying the Hammer to free Teal'c had left Cimmeria free to be invaded, and they had not considered that risk enough after the mission. Many Cimmerians had died because of SG1's actions. We wanted tech to protect earth. We wanted alliances. They had made a new ally, but the whole thing had come at a cost, and it had not been the SGC paying the price.
The reminder of how Thor's timely arrival had saved all of SG1 from a stent as Goa'uld prisoners made him think of all the Jaffa who had disappeared, taken away by Thor's beaming technology. Thinking about the hatred of the Free Jaffa for the Goa'uld and how Teal'c had switched sides, Daniel asked, "What happened to the Jaffa of Heru'ur who Thor removed from Cimmeria?"
Sujanha looked up. She had pulled one of her tablets over and was doing … something, maybe making notes or preparing to. "Thor brought them to us, since he was unwilling to set them free," she replied, "They are our prisoners and are currently confined on a world with no Stargate. They are well cared for and not mistreated. My people have several worlds where prisoners taken during our war with Goa'uld may be safely confined without being a danger to us or those of an opposing alliance. Hopefully, one day we will be able to show them the error of their ways and may set them free." She paused and took a sip of tea.
Eight days, and all three of them are basically fluent in English … aside from the idioms and technical language. There was nothing like knowing multiple languages or having to teach someone your own to make you realize how odd some phrases or idioms that had seemed normal really were. I wish I could give her a dictionary. Doesn't Oxford have a dictionary of idioms or phrases or something?
After a minute Sujanha continued, "Since the intelligence I need is very wide, which makes answering some questions difficult, why do we not start with several specific questions? First, are there any peoples that you know of that might make worthwhile allies for the Furlings? Second, what worlds have you encountered that are not currently under Goa'uld control that must be carefully avoided or protected so as not to be caught in a crossfire? I know that any planet without the technology to oppose the Goa'uld, including Midgard, could fall under that category, but are there any worlds that especially come to mind? Third, though this is not a question, I need you to list any addresses of currently Goa'uld-controlled worlds, especially homeworlds. Any other information you have would be useful as well, however random or inconsequential that it might seem to you."
So basically, if I know something about the Goa'uld, just tell you. I can do that.
Allies … so the Furlings always know of the Tollan because of my coming. They're certainly advanced enough for the Tollan to consider sharing tech with, I'd think. The Furlings already knew of the Nox and the Asgard, of course, because of their ancient alliance.
So who does that leave? Most of the worlds the SGC had encountered were at least a millennium or two behind earth when it came to technological advancements.
The only obvious ones are the Tok'ra and the Free Jaffa.
"As to possible allies," said Daniel after thinking for several minutes, "There are two groups you should try to make contact with: the Jaffa Rebellion and the Tok'ra."
That certainly got Sujanha's attention if the sudden gleam of interest in her coal-black eyes was anything to go by. Does she understand Goa'uld? She looked past Daniel to Ragnar who was leaning against the wall just inside the door to the outer office and asked him something. I can understand "Tok'ra" and the question particle. Not exactly helpful yet. Once Ragnar had answered, Sujanha turned back to Daniel and said, "I have heard nothing of either group before. Tell me of them in as much detail as you can, please."
"I'll cover the Tok'ra first as I know less about them," I know precious little about them except what Teal'c has said, "and most of what I know is second or third hand," at best, "A few months ago, my team and I were on a mission to a planet called Nasya," the SGC's system of naming planets will just be confusing, "While we were there, the planet came under Goa'uld attack, and we were trying to evacuate the people to safety. During the evacuation, Samantha Carter, one of my teammates, was taken as a host against her will by what we first thought was a Goa'uld. In later discussions with her symbiote after it was discovered and Sam was put in custody on our base, we learned that her symbiote was Jolinar of Malkshur, not actually a Goa'uld, but one of the Tok'ra, a body of Goa'uld resistance fighters and enemies of the System Lords."
Daniel paused, took a sip of tea, and then continued, forcing himself not to speak at his usual rapid-fire pace, "Jolinar was a former Goa'uld who became infamous for mounting a rebellion against Cronus. She was successful until Apophis interfered, and Jolinar was forced to flee, later becoming a member of the Tok'ra. Ever since, Jolinar was wanted by the System Lords. Teal'c had heard the legends of Jolinar and the Tok'ra from his master Bra'tac, the former first prime of Apophis and a leader among the Jaffa Rebellion … uh … maybe I should have just started with Bra'tac."
Definitely probably should have started with Bra'tac.
"Do not concern yourself. Please, keep going," said Sujanha, still making notes on her tablet, "We can clarify points later."
Okay … so where was I?
Oh, yes, what Teal'c told us.
"Teal'c had previously thought the Tok'ra were just a legend, which is not that surprising given the ideology and power structures of the Goa'uld who need to keep the Jaffa and their slaves believing in them and under their thumb. Widespread knowledge of an internal fifth-column would not exactly go to further the claim of the Goa'uld that they're, uh, 'gods.'" But now you're lecturing, and Daniel stopped himself from rambling further.
Sujanha, however, didn't seem ready to cut him off but was nodding along. She made a few more notes and then asked, "What happened to your friend, Carter?"
"Jolinar was killed by an Ashrak…uh, a Goa'uld assassin…who managed to infiltrate our base not long afterwards. Jolinar spent her strength making sure Sam would live."
That had scared years off of Daniel's life, seeing Sam collapsed on the floor of the holding cell, half-dead, and then spending the hours in the infirmary waiting to see if his friend was going to live or die.
"Showing that she was different, despite her … mistakes. Very interesting," Sujanha concluded, "Do you have a gate address for the Tok'ra?"
I wish. They'd be a good ally to have.
"No, I'm sorry," replied Daniel, shaking his head, "That was the only interaction that we … the SGC had had with the Tok'ra … before I left. Something could have happened in the interim for all I know." Considering the injury and mortality rate for the gate teams, sometime could have happened to Jack and Sam and Teal'c for all he knew, but that was not a thought he wanted to dwell on. "Teal'c wasn't able to tell us much else."
"That is not a problem. The information you have will be of great use to me and to my brother. Tell me of this Bra'tac and Jaffa Rebellion."
Where to start? Our very interesting first meeting.
"Bra'tac is a Jaffa and the former first prime of Apophis. For years he has been working secretly to foster rebellion among the Jaffa and teach them that the Goa'uld are false gods. Even though Teal'c had joined us, Bra'tac was rather suspicious of us at first but has provided us with invaluable help multiple times and has come to be a valued ally. With his help, earth managed to repulse an attack by Apophis and his son Klorel, whose host is my wife's brother, several months ago. Last I knew, Bra'tac was still on Chulak, one of Apophis' main worlds, though not his homeworld. I can give you the address," said Daniel before spiraling off into a lengthier description than he intended of Apophis's aborted attack on earth and Bra'tac's help in defeating him.
"Yes, I will need the address eventually but not this moment," said Sujanha, "Do you think Bra'tac and the Rebel Jaffa would be willing to work with us?"
"Yes," replied Daniel slowly, "Bra'tac is an old and skilled commander, but you don't survive as long as he has seeding rebellion by trusting easily. It would take a little while before he would trust you, but he had aided earth multiple times, and he wants to see his people free and the Goa'uld fall. Once he came to trust you … I think he would be willing to aid the Furlings. His knowledge of the Goa'uld would make him an invaluable ally."
I've not always been sure what he thinks of me, but … I'll put in a good word … more than just one.
"It is as you say."
There was silence for several minutes as Sujanha made notes on what Daniel had just told her about the Tok'ra and the Free Jaffa. While she wrote, Daniel went back over carefully all the interactions SG1 and the SGC had had with Bra'tac, other Free Jaffa, and Jolinar as well as all the intelligence Teal'c had shared to make sure that there was not anything vital that he had forgotten. Suddenly, his … time … with Nem, which had occurred not that long after SG1's first meeting with Bra'tac came to mind.
From what I saw of his … home, the Oannes seem pretty advanced.
"And there might be one other race, too," Daniel began in a rush of breath, his words about tumbling over each other in his haste to speak, "I just thought of them."
Sujanha looked up, a gleam of what looked like interest in her eyes, and motioned for him to continue. "Continue," she prompted.
"Not long after we first met Bra'tac, SG1 and I had a rather … interesting," one way of describing that mission and everyone thinking I was dead! "encounter with a creature called Nem, a member of a race called the Oannes …"
Sujanha had just taken a drink of her spiced tea as Daniel spoke, and at the mention of the "Oannes," her eyes went wide, she started violently, and she swallowed wrong, beginning to cough harshly. Her paws shook as she tried to put her mug down without sloshing the contents.
What the?
"Commander!" Exclaimed Ragnar, starting forward from his position in the doorway to assist her, but Sujanha waved him away.
Once she could breathe easily again, she asked in a rough voice, "You have had contact with the Oannes? Recently?" For some reason, that seemed shocking beyond belief.
"Yes," replied Daniel, cautiously, "You know them?" He then promptly kicked himself because the answer was rather obvious. Of course, they knew them from that reaction … or, at least, of them.
"The Oannes were near allies of ours ages ago when we still dwelt in your galaxy. They are a very advanced race technologically and physically, one of few peoples with a span of years that matches our own. I cannot imagine that they let the Goa'uld rise unopposed. At the beginning of this age, after we settled in this galaxy, we attempted to make contact with them but with no success. When we learned of the Goa'uld, we believed the Oannes lost and mourned their passing greatly. I am very relieved to hear some, at least, still live."
I really, really need a history book now … with a timeline of who dwelt where, when and why they moved.
Why did you leave the Milky-Way in the first place?
"I … we, SG1 … only met one once, and there were some … misunderstandings that did not exactly facilitate … lengthy discussion." Understatement of the century. "Nem, that was his name, has been around at least 4000 years-he and his mate were alive when Babylon, uh, a really old city on earth, still existed-so he must be pretty old for his race." Seemed pretty spry, though.
"Nem …" Sujanha cocked her head, "An ancient name, but not necessarily that ancient. Like us, the Oannes have … I am afraid my English is failing me … life-pausing chambers … A very literal translation, but …"
Life-pausing … stasis … like the sarcophagus?
"Like a Goa'uld sarcophagus?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, and no. The Goa'uld sarcophagus is designed primarily to heal, but has the unfortunate side-effect of driving one mad with over-use." Yea, don't I know it. (That mission to Terella was one Daniel would rather forget.) "Secondarily, it can preserve the body for long periods like our life-pausing chambers, the primary function of which is to slow down aging greatly. Ours are not designed to heal. Using technology to speed the healing process can be … tricky."
"How slow is slow?" Daniel asked curiously, though he knew they were going off-topic.
"Well," Sujanha began and then quickly paused again, "Our design is based off that of the Ancients from a past age, though we have made some improvements in the ensuing years. I think the current rate, in our years, is 1 to around 250, so for every 250 of years by our measurement that past, the being in the chamber ages a single year."
Daniel's eyes went wide, "Wow!" He shook himself. "If you have something I can write with, I can copy the gate address for the Oannes, well for Nem's planet."
Sujanha rummaged through a desk drawer and finally found a stylus which she handed to Daniel. She then pushed a holographic screen across to him. Daniel quickly drew the gate address for Nem's planet and labeled it. When he had finished, Sujanha pulled the screen back and turned it around with a flick of her wrist so she did not have to read the address backwards.
I probably could, but I'd really rather not.
Tricky enough with English.
"I do not recognize this address from the archives. This planet was not known to us as one the Oannes dwelt on."
"It was not exactly the most hospitable of worlds," Daniel noted, "but I had guessed it was their homeworld, and since they live underwater, they might not have cared as much about the surface."
But I know basically nothing about them as a species or about their culture.
"Homeworlds can change for many reasons," Sujanha noted, "outside attacks, natural calamities, famine, loss of water supplies. Many advanced races have multiple homeworlds throughout their history. My people have. The Asgard have."
"Interesting…. Should I go on to your second question?"
"Please."
On this subject, Daniel had the most to say.
With requisite bathroom breaks and a pause for lunch—some sort of flat bread with meat and a spread that tasted similar to hummus—Daniel talked for several hours the worlds that he had traveled to during his time with SG1. If not for the supply of tea that Asik fed him, Daniel probably would have gone hoarse as he told Sujanha of Abydos, his home with Sha're for over a year, adding in details about the cartouche room in the pyramid with its list of gate addresses that the Furlings might find useful; of Simarka, the Mongolian-like world where Sam had been kidnapped as barter; of the land of the Touched; of Argos, a former world belonging to Pelops where Jack had been infected by nanites; of Hanka, the world infected by Nirrti's virus, which might need to be avoided for safety's sake; of Cartago; of Altair; and of the many others worlds visited by the SGC that would stand no chance if caught in the crossfire between the Furlings and the Goa'uld. When Sujanha gave him another holographic screen to write on, Daniel wrote down and labeled all the Stargate addresses that he could remember.
In time, Daniel came to a discussion of the Goa'uld themselves and their home worlds. On this subject he mostly spoke of Apophis and Chulak, using as sources his own observations from his couple of visits there and the information he had learned from Teal'c. Of Nirrti and Hathor, Daniel spoke briefly, not wanting to dwell on what memories he had of the latter. Of the other System Lords, Daniel knew very little at present, apart from tidbits gained from surviving mythology on earth and anything he had learned from excavations or heard from Teal'c. By the time Daniel had told he could, answered all of Sujanha's questions, written down yet more gate addresses, and told her a few more details about the Abydos Cartouche, it was early evening.
While Sujanha took a break to speak with Ragnar for a few moments, Daniel got up to stretch his legs and walk around. As he did so, a question that he had been wondering about for a while came back to his mind. The Furlings clearly hated the Goa'uld. That much was clear from the periodic flashes of anger in the Commander's eyes and the disgust with which she spoke of them. Yet from what Ohper had said when he had first told Daniel of the Furlings, there seemed to be a special reason why the Furlings hated the Goa'uld and wanted to bring about the fall of their empire, beyond a general abhorrence for their behavior and actions.
I'm not sure just sheer horror and disgust would drive them to get involved in a major war in another galaxy far removed from theirs.
Not like the Goa'uld are actually a threat here.
After Ragnar left (he had been in and out all day), Daniel retook his seat and after a long pause posted that question which he had been wondering about since Ohper had first told him of the Furlings, hoping he wouldn't be putting his foot in something by asking, "Commander, why do your people want to bring down the Goa'uld so much?"
Sujanha tensed visibly, looking somewhat discomfited, and it was an interminably long minute before she finally replied. "It is time that we put an end to the blight that is the reign of the Goa'uld, and by doing that we shall right an ancient wrong. My people are the cause of the rise of the Goa'uld to power. It is only right that we bring about their end."
What the h**l?
How the h**l?
A wave of confusion mixed with a hefty dose of horror and almost betrayal swept through him and across his face. Of all the reasons Daniel had expected Sujanha might have given, that would have never made the list. What the h**l? He had grown to trust and like Sujanha even during his very short time on Uslisgas so far, but despite that and the Nox's regard for Sujanha, he still felt slightly apprehensive as he stuttered out a flabbergasted, "What?"
"Knowing what you do about the Goa'uld, did you really expect that all the technology that they use was made by their own hands?" The Commander countered his question with a question of her own.
Welllllll … they are parasites.
Daniel did not reply, and Sujanha continued in a tone that suddenly seemed so very weary, "Very little of the technology that the Goa'uld now possess was actually designed by them originally. Most of their technology is ours, though they have made modifications over the last thirty-thousand years.[1] A slight part belongs to a few other races, and the rest is their own creation."
Thirty. Thousand. Years?
How old is the Goa'uld Empire?
"Staff weapon?" Daniel asked, naming one of the first pieces of Goa'uld technology that came to mind.
"Ours."
"Zat'nik'tel?"
"Ours."
"Sarcophagus?"
"Ancient technology mostly, though it is slightly influenced by our healing chambers, which are separate from life-pausing chambers."
"Kara Kesh?" This Daniel choked out. He could feel for a moment the phantom pain of the ribbon device burrowing into his mind.
"Ours: an ancient and outdated version of our gauntlets that has been so corrupted as to be almost unrecognizable as formerly our own design," Sujanha replied, lifting one arm up slightly and tapping her gauntlet with one long, sharp claw.
"How? Why?" Daniel finally choked out after a long and tense silence. He wanted to understand, but he could not make sense of it all.
With a long sigh, Sujanha leaned her head against the back of her chair and closed her eyes for a long moment. Her lips moved with silent words. What she was saying, Daniel did not know. When she had reopened her eyes, she asked, "What have the Nox told you about us?"
"Ohper said that you were a powerful race and an enemy of the Goa'uld. He said that you had dwelt in our galaxy long ago but had been caught up with other problems that had kept you from dealing with the Goa'uld long ago."
"What Ohper said was correct but is too brief and vague to be of much use. The hour grows late. Let me dismiss my staff for the day, and then we will return home, and after the evening meal, I will endeavor to explain in as much detail as possible how our technology came to fall into the hands of the Goa'uld, aiding them to subjugate your world, and why we have not put an end to them before now."
An hour-and-a-half or so later, the two had returned home and had eaten a quick meal. When they had eaten and had mugs of tea, Sujanha led Daniel to the living room and motioned him to a seat. She took her own seat with a half-stifled hiss of pain and then began, "I will tell you all that I know, but most of what I know comes from our histories. I hope you are comfortable: my story will take some time."
"I don't mind," Daniel wanted to hear the entire story, hear some explanation for how the Furlings, who were supposed to the good guys, could possibly be the cause of the rise of the Goa'uld to power.
How do you just let your tech get stolen by galactic megalomaniacs?
"This story begins in a past age when the Furling still dwelt in Avalon. Your galaxy was not our original home galaxy, which we lived in when we met the Asgard perhaps … a hundred thousand of your years ago, but it was our home for … thirty-thousand of your years. Around … thirty-thousand of your years ago a deadly disease swept across Avalon, aided by the breadth of the Stargate network, which made it easily for disease to pass from world to world through travelers. Some humans were killed, but the disease was more deadly to those non-human races, especially to us. Those who died were without number. To survive, we were forced to leave. We closed up our cities, and any technology that could be moved, we deposited in hidden, protected storehouses. Then we left Avalon, though we hoped to return within at most a generation once the plague died out, and when we returned, we would reclaim our storehouses. Several of our close allies—the Asgard, the Nox, and the Oannes—knew how to find those storehouses in case of need, but none others."
How long exactly is an age? By age do they mean an "age" like a long period of time or "age" as a historical period … or both?
A generation for theirs … that's probably high three digits or low fours … at least.
And this is why we always got checked over by medical before and after missions!
Let's not be the next group to wipe out populations by introducing disease they've never dealt with to their environment … or wipe out our own population by bringing something back.
"For an age we wandered the galaxies, traveling and learning of other races, their culture, and their technologies. We were wanderers without a home save for our ships for so long that those who remembered Avalon finally set sail." Died? "Eventually, my people wearied of such an existence and began to search for a new galaxy to call home. Avalon had changed in our absence, so we settled here, though we planned to return to Avalon to reclaim our storehouses. We settled here in Asteria around six-and-a-half thousand of your years ago. Settling in a new galaxy, making new allies, renewing old ties, setting up trading networks, building and planting crops, creating a place for our people took time, and given that our technology had greatly advanced in our absence, we were not in a hurry to return to reclaim our goods in our storehouses. The goods there were hidden and safe, we thought. It would do no harm to wait."
Sujanha paused, "We were wrong, though it was already long too late."
So the Goa'uld are using technology that is thirty-thousand years out-of-date?
She said there've been some changes, though, but SOME.
Goa'uld tactics are just about out-of-date … well, ineffective for enemies that cannot be subdued by shows of force and troops who shoot like Stormtroopers.
"A generation passed," Sujanha continued, "We are a long-lived people. Most of our allies in Asteria are long-lived peoples, though not to the same extent as us. When you are long-lived, time and haste have different meanings, and we were too slow to return to Avalon. Around three-and-a-half-thousand years ago," probably by their measurements since she didn't specify, "we finally sent ships back to your galaxy to rebuild our alliances with several of our ancient allies and to empty our storehouses for what good those supplies might do us or our new allies now. To our surprise and dismay, our storehouses were long since broken open and made to ruin, and these Goa'uld whom the Asgard had mentioned to us, these false gods, we found that they were using our mostly unchanged technology."
Daniel could feel himself calming as Sujanha's story continued. There was a good explanation for why the Goa'uld had Furling technology. It seemed the height of irony and yet so fitting … and almost laughable … that the Goa'uld were using tech that was thirty-thousand plus years out-of-date. Parasites leached off of others to survive and advance.
"King and Council were horrified by this discovery, and we hoped then to put an end to these false gods using our weapons and technology that was used for defense to enslave a galaxy. However, around that same time, we first made contact with a race, our Great Enemy, whose real name has been forgotten."
Why do I have a feeling that the 'forgetting' is intentional?
Damnatio memoriae?
"They were a great power in the galaxy, greatly respected for their skill as fighters and workers of plants."
Plants … I've got a bad feeling.
Sujanha's voice quieted, "Though we had heard mention of them before, that was our first meeting for they largely kept to themselves and controlled little territory, and others came to them, not they to others. We first thought that the Enemy would be a valuable ally, but soon we realized that not all was as it seemed. The Enemy came to resent us and fear us, at least, for our growing power, perhaps for other reasons known not to us. Within a hundred years, war broke out, quickly enveloping all of our allies who came to our aid, turning the entire length of the galaxy into a battleground worse than we as a race had ever seen."
Oh *** … We thought the world wars were bad.
"The Asgard watched from the sidelines, waiting to see if their aid would be needed. They had and still have a Great Enemy of their own in their galaxy, which prevented them from putting their full strength behind us then and from dealing with the Goa'uld themselves."
That's not good.
Will that effect their work keeping up the Protected Planets' Treaty?
"For around one-and-a-half-thousands of years, we fought a war that raged across the galaxy by ship and on land. We were near-matches in strength for a time. Our technology was more advanced and our numbers greater, but the Great Enemy had a greater knowledge of the territory and employed any means to win."
I have a very bad feeling.
"As the years passed—I think it was around 4500 AS when it began—developments began on the side of the Great Enemy. Their skill with plants was always well-known, and water sources began to be found to be corrupted, crop-lands purged and dying. New illnesses began to emerge. As battles continued, more of our soldiers and our allies' soldiers began to be missing from the ranks of the dead or the living, and those corruptions and illnesses began to grow stronger and stronger and stronger still."
AS? Age marker like BC or AD for us?
More and more MIA soldiers …
More effective biological weapons …
Daniel could draw the line between A and B. Human experimentation? His stomach did a flip.
Her voice broke, and Sujanha paused for several minutes before she could force herself to continue, "Around 5000 AS, a worse disease emerged … worse by far. Troops began to fall ill. Non-soldiers on many allied worlds fell ill, also, and our healers did not know even how it was spread—water and food, at least—but this illness … it is a fate worse than even death itself."
Is … did you … catch it?
Wait … the limp, the unsteadiness?
Her voice broke again, and Sujanha rose and stepped across to the window that looked over the garden. She was trembling. After some minutes, she continued, voice rough with suppressed emotion, "This illness was a fearful thing. In the beginning, only around half died, but as the years passed, this number rose until perhaps eight or nine out of every ten sickened died. It was a terrible, painful, long death … like … being burned alive. No medicine could remove the pain. Touch was beyond painful. There was no cure, only a slight easing. Death was … a relief. There was nothing in common to help us learn why those who lived, lived and those who died, died."
"You were poisoned, weren't you?" Daniel asked in a low voice, for what she was describing sounded more like poison, instead of a disease … at least to him
Wouldn't a poison be easier to adapt faster with human … sentient test subjects than a disease?
Well, might depend on the diseases. Doctor Frasier would know better.
"Yes," Sujanha replied, "but I am coming to that. "Faced with such a … poison, the dead on our side grew greatly in number. Over the next seven hundred years of war, we began to lose ground at a quick pace, despite the help of the Asgard and our allies here who were also losing their own people in great numbers. Faced with so many deaths and the loss of much our food lands, we were struggling to keep our very people alive. Though we remembered the blight of the Goa'uld, we had no time or resources to turn to them."
Uh, yeah.
You have to save your own people first before you can help others.
"In 5967 AS, I became Supreme Commander of the Furling Fleet at age 800, the youngest in our long history. Leaders in both the army and the fleet died at a great rate. With great difficulty, I managed to slow our retreat by a small margin, but we were still losing ground. It began to be clear that without a change soon, this war would be the end of our people unless we left and our allies faced their own ends alone, which we were unwilling to do. They had lived and died beside us. Planets had found themselves cut off with no food except what lone ships could bring by night." By night … they snuck in? Blockades? "We would not leave, so … something had to change."
"Eight-one years later, I fell to the Enemy's poison. Somehow, I was one of the few who survived. My brother says that I was … too willful to die. Our allies here had paid greatly for aiding us, and eventually almost only the Asgard had the strength left to stand with us. Thor took my command and did all he could, but our losses continued rapidly, even after my return." Her having been poisoned explained the oddities Daniel had observed of her physical condition. A poison with a greater than 90% mortality rate and no known cure must have lasting consequences for those who survived.
Wait … Thor … Thor commanded the Furling Fleet temporarily?
How does that work? How is that allowed?
"The following year, the war of the Asgard with their foe, the Replicating Ones, reached a breaking point, and Thor had to withdraw his forces, and without their aid, the Enemy continued to advance."
Am I allowed to know all this?
Some look in Daniel's face made her pause and added as a side note, "I tell you nothing more than can be found in our histories, Doctor Jackson."
Can she read minds?
"And no, I do not know your thoughts. That is not a gift of our people. Your face tells much."
So there's another race you know who is telepathic?
Oh, my. Telepathy … that was supposed to be something only in comic books, but granted, Daniel would have never imagined himself living on other planets a decade ago either. That was something out of comic books and mythology texts, too.
"In 6100 A.S., we withdrew our forces to this system and two nearby and buried the stargates, allowing us to consolidate our forces and defend a … much smaller area. If something did not change soon," what do you mean by soon when you live for thousands of years? "our defeat and likely our death as a people seemed assured, though with only three systems to defend, we could hold out longer and with fewer forces. We were already fighting what seemed assured to be the long defeat. Without a change we would die, so in consultation with the High Command, I took a calculated risk. Leaving only what ships were needed to guarantee a hold on these three systems for as many years as possible, I led the remainder of my forces to Ida in a plan that Thor and I hoped would win us our wars. Alone, the Asgard and my people were both facing defeat, but together … we might conquer."
"And conquer we did. After some years of fighting, we won a great victory against the Replicating Ones and drove them back, giving us space and time. Thor then led his fleet to Asteria to aid us. After some more years, my gamble proved successful, and we began to drive the Enemy back and regain our old lands. In 6468 A.S., our war ended after two-thousand-eight-hundred-and-eighteen years of fighting. Over half of our population was lost, and many of our allies faced similar losses. A number of races had entirely been lost to time. Many lands were devastated, and it has taken us much time to rebuild, to ensure that we have the buildings and the food we need to get through every cold season. We have never forgotten the blight of the Goa'uld's reign, but only now do we have the time and the resources to devote to another war."
6468 … It's 6544 now … the war only ended 76 years ago!
Silence fell over the room for a long time. Daniel was stunned into silence by the enormity of the Commander's tale and by the mere thought of a galaxy-wide war that lasted for three thousand years. Earth's wars in the past had seemed lengthy and extreme, the loss of life catastrophic, but losing half your population!? This was war on an entirely new level that not even the two world wars could compare to.
He felt almost sick thinking of the loss of life.
"After such a war and all that death, why are you still willing to help us?" Daniel asked, his voice choked.
Turning finally from the window, Sujanha glanced across at him. Her eyes seemed so old, so weary. "It was not by our choice or our carelessness that our technology fell to the Goa'uld, but the consequences are yet the same. They used what they stole from us to enslave an entire galaxy and kill untold numbers. We feel that it is our duty make right this ancient wrong, and we will see that through to the end. That is our way. We will see Avalon free, the Goa'uld cast down, and those Jaffa who will listen set free, for they are in their own way victims."
Bra'tac will be glad to hear that.
"What will happen to the Goa'uld once you have captured them?" Daniel asked, "I know you've mentioned freeing the hosts, of course."
Intergalactic Nuremburg trials?
"They will be brought here and, once we have a way to free the hosts, judged. Whatever the outcome of the judgement, we shall free their hosts."
How do you judge galactic tyrants and megalomaniacs? I wouldn't want to be the judge of that.
Wait ... you don't have a way to free the hosts?
What about the Asgard's device?
You're allies.
Why not use that?
"You don't have a way to free Sha're … or the other hosts of the Goa'uld yet?" Daniel asked puzzled, "What about Thor's Hammer on Cimmeria or another version of it? Or your beaming technology?"
Wouldn't that work? Pluck 'em out and dump the symbiotes wherever.
"Advanced technology often does not make many problems easier to solve, or as easy as one might think," Sujanha replied, retaking her seat across from him, "We have a device equivalent to Thor's Hammer here in storage, and it is possible to use either method to remove a Goa'uld from a host, but both have great risks. I am glad to hear of these Tok'ra. Perhaps if we could find them, they might have another method or some intelligence that would aid us."
Technology isn't a magic fix-it, you mean? I can see that.
But what risks though? … it worked on the Unas and on Kendra. It was painful, yes, and I wish Sha're wouldn't have to go through that, but it worked.
Wouldn't the Asgard have dealt with any problems?
"Risks?" Daniel posed the question somewhat hesitantly.
"The device you call Thor's Hammer or others like it are somewhat old technology even to us," which would make it really, really, really old to us humans? "The war with the Replicating Ones has prevented the Asgard in great part," large measure, "from making changes to the technology. The symbiote is always successfully removed but not always without … dangers to the host. If you have seen the device work, then you know that it is slow and while it works both are in agony and the …" Sujanha's voice trailed off. "In English, is there a word that you use to refer to the race, the people of which the Goa'uld are one?"
"The species?" Daniel asked, "We always thought Goa'uld was the species. We refer to them as 'symbiotes' frequently."
Or snakes, but that wouldn't go over well.
"Symbiotes. Good. My thanks. That will be a word worth remembering if we are blessed enough to make contact with the Tok'ra and have time to discuss symbiote-removal technology with them. Calling them Goa'uld … well, insulting potential allies is rarely beneficial in making allies."
I know we're going off topic, and I really want to know what's the problem with those devices, but …
"How is that an insult?"
"Do you know what 'Goa'uld' means in their language?"
Did Teal'c ever tell me? Uh …
"'God,' if I recall correctly," Daniel replied with a pensive frown.
"That is right. Even if Goa'uld is the name of their … species," Sujanha noted, "The Tok'ra and the Goa'uld are so far apart in thought," philosophy? Ideology? "that I think that calling the Tok'ra Goa'uld even if referring only to their symbiotes in … technology talks would be a grave insult."
The Goa'uld think they're gods.
The Tok'ra would disagree vociferously.
Yea, I can see how that'd would be insulting.
"Okay. I see your point," Daniel conceded, "You were saying about risks…"
"Thor's Hammer works, but it is too slow, and while it works, the symbiote is still in control and in great pain. Even putting down the concern of many that since the Goa'uld would be our prisoners, putting them through that would be akin to some of what our lost ones faced during the Great War and make our actions too close to that of our Enemy, the slowness of the device puts the host at risk. The body is put under great pains and trials," stress? "and the symbiote has time to release a poison in it and kill its host so that both may die together." Poison? In the Goa'uld? That's a thing? Wait … wait … Jolinar died to save Sam … Saved her from their poison? "Some symbiotes are able to work past the pain and release the poison. Also, what does a body tend to do under great pains?"
Is that a rhetorical question?
"Move," Daniel replied, "You try to get away from the pain."
Sujanha nodded and then reached down to her left leg with one paw. There was a quiet shick of metal on metal, and then she was holding a small dagger in one hand. I would have expected energy weapons, not knives.
"Don't look so surprised," she said, though her tone softened the blunt words, "Just because we have advanced this far, does not mean that we have forgotten from what we progressed or how to fight with or against less-advanced weapons. And besides, at close range against an opponent with no personal shield, a bladed weapon can be more effective … and quieter if used correctly. But I digress."
Rabbit-trails are very informative.
"When taking a host, a symbiote is wrapped around …" Sujanha paused with a low grumble and tapped the back of her neck with her other hand.
"The spine," Daniel proffered the word she needed.
"And this?" She tapped her own head.
"The bone is called the skull. What is inside is the brain."
Where are you going with this?
"When taking a host, a symbiote is wrapped around the … spine … and its head is near the brain. A being in pain moves … sometimes violently, and so can the symbiote. Its movements can break a human's spinal-cord, and if you have seen a symbiote," Sujanha said, tapping the tip of her knife as explanation or emphasis, "You know that it has great teeth," fangs, and that … really … won't end well … ugh. "And the brain can suffer damage, leaving the host but a shadow of itself."
"D**n," Daniel muttered the oath automatically. So much for that being a good idea. "How often have you seen that happen?"
"From what intelligence the Asgard have given us, broken spines twice, the wounds to the brain once, and the poison twice. Out of how many, I do not know. This intelligence was from all the planets under the Asgard's protection. Only the fools among the Goa'uld dare to go there."
And it' would be the last mistake they made.
Sujanha took a deep breath, "As to beaming a symbiote from a host's body, it is possible but very dangerous because the symbiote can move. The calculations necessary for ensuring that only the symbiote is removed and not pieces of the spine or the brain are complex beyond thought. Even the Asgard think so and rarely do it and only at greatest of need."
I did not think of that.
"The Asgard have removed a symbiote with beaming technology four times. Twice it was successful, though one host died soon afterwards from other injuries. The method failed on the other two times. Once, the symbiote moved at the last moment, and only part of it was removed, leaving it whole enough to release its poison and kill the host before it died. In the final time, the entire symbiote was removed … along with parts of the host's spine and brain matter, killing the host. Thereafter, the Asgard thought to only use that method at greatest of need."
"As a last resort," Daniel murmured, before swallowed, feeling a little sick. As powerful and advanced as the Asgard and the Furlings were, Sujanha's words were a sobering reminder that even the members of the Four Great Races were not infallible, still made disastrous mistakes.
And that technology is not a magic fix-it.
"Have faith, Doctor Jackson," Sujanha finished, "One day by some means, your wife will be free if it is at all within our power to do."
[1] Not knowing the ancient histories of the Goa'uld at this time, Sujanha is referencing the time frame since their technology could have been discovered. As we came to know years later, it was actually over ten-thousand years later before the Goa'uld actually began to rise to power and, during that period, stole technology from the Furlings.
