Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG1. If you recognize a character it belongs to the Franchise. All that belongs to me is this specific plot and my characterization of the Furlings.

Author's Note #1: I am sorry for the long delay since the last chapter was posted. College is keeping me really busy, but I have found that I have had some very short periods of time that allowed me to finish up some mostly finished short-stories. Now I am returning my attention to Ripples in the Deep. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon.


After the High Council meeting adjourned, Ohper and Lya along with Daniel and Omoc soon returned to Gaia. Daniel needed to collect what few belongings he had before making permanent return to Uslisgas. He was sad to leave Gaia, since he had become quite close to Ohper, Anteaus, and Lya during the past week and was going to miss Nafrayu as well. At the same time, he was excited about the opportunities that lay ahead.

By the time Daniel and the Nox had returned to their dwellings on Gaia, it was late afternoon or early evening. It only took a couple of minutes for him to gather his belongings. He only had what he had been wearing and had in his pockets when he fled earth, along with what the Nox had generously given him: one set of BDUs, one set of clothing from the Nox, a beautifully woven blanket, a woven bag, and a spare picture of Sha're that he kept in a small pocket over his heart.

Ohper, Anteaus, Lya, and Nafrayu were all waiting for him by the fire pit as Daniel emerged from his hut. Daniel started to make his way toward them but was met in the middle by Nafrayu who bounded forward to hug him.

"I'll miss you," the boy said, his eyes wet, "You'll come back and visit, won't you?"

"I'll try," Daniel said, wrapping one arm around the boy's shoulders.

After a minute Nafrayu pulled back, and the two walked the rest of the way to the fire pit. Lya gave Daniel a short hug and said, "Farewell, friend."

"Thank you for everything, Lya," Daniel replied.

Anteaus said, "You will always be welcome here, Dr. Jackson."

"Thank you for your hospitality. Your people's kindness has been appreciated more than you can ever know."

To Ohper, Daniel said, "Thank you for all your help and advice these last two days."

Ohper replied with a slight incline of his head, "I am pleased to have been able to help. The Furlings have been our allies for countless years. You will be happy there."

With goodbyes complete, Daniel left the encampment and made his way back along the now quite familiar path to the Stargate. Ohper accompanied Daniel, as he had the dialing stone that would open the wormhole to Uslisgas. By the time they made it to the open field where the Stargate stood, the sun was starting to set. After a final round of goodbyes, thanks, and well-wishes, Ohper opened the Stargate, and Daniel, after taking a deep breath, stepped through. One chapter of his life had closed, perhaps for a short time, perhaps for forever. Yet, a new chapter had opened, one that was opening boundless opportunities for studying among and learning from an ancient, advanced culture. The archaeologist side of him was almost jumping with glee. He was ready to embrace this opportunity with both hands.


As Daniel emerged into the massive hall on Uslisgas that housed the Stargate and made his way down the steps, he automatically looked around for anyone who might be waiting for him. He knew he was to return to Uslisgas but did not who was going to be waiting for him or where he was to go next. For a moment, he saw no one. Than out of the corner of one eye, he saw a flicker of movement. Commander Sujanha was waiting next to the one of the alcoves, one with a statue of an Asgard, about ten yards away. With her black fur, she had gone overlooked, half-hidden by the long shadows thrown by the great statues of the dead. Daniel had only caught sight of her when she started to move. She was alone now: both of her bodyguards absent.

Unsure of how best to address her, considering his status now as an asylee, he settled for a simple nod of his head in greeting.

"Dr. Jackson, I trust you had a safe journey," she said.

"I did. Thank you."

"Is that all you have?" She asked, gesturing at the bag slung over his shoulder.

"Yes, I only escaped earth with the clothes on my back. The Nox have been generous and supplied me with some extra things."

For a moment, anger seemed to flash across Sujanha's eyes, before becoming expressionless just as quickly. "Money will be supplied to you soon, and you will have the opportunity to buy what supplies you need and desire."

"That's very generous. Thank you."

Sujanha motioned him to follow her, before starting her reply. Daniel noticed thankfully that she was moving more slowly than she had the previous day on Uslisgas. He had struggled to keep up with her, but now she seemed to be deliberately slowing her pace.

"The High Council does the same for all those who seek sanctuary among us. It takes time to start over among a new race whose culture and language is unknown. Money is supplied to help ease that transition."

The two passed through the various checkpoints more quickly than earlier that morning with Ruarc. Soon they were making their way carefully down the steep steps that led from the Stargate building in the city proper. The sun was starting to set. A third larger moon had risen to join the two small moons that had been in the sky that afternoon. The three moons reminded him of Abydos, which also had three moons: one large and two small. Sujanha let the silence linger, giving Daniel another chance to study the sights, until they had reached level ground. She started them on the road toward the Great Square, before breaking the silence.

"Have you broken your fast this evening?"

Daniel blinked, surprised at the unexpected question, "No, not yet." He was already surprised that Sujanha was playing tour guide slash hostess. Thinking that Sujanha, as Supreme Commander of the Furling Fleet, would have had more pressing duties to attend to, Daniel had expected, before coming through the gate, that Ruarc might have been waiting for him. Yet, at the same time, Daniel had to remind himself that he was trying to judge the Furlings by human standards. Among the Furlings, perhaps, it was common for someone of higher rank to welcome guests. He did not have enough knowledge of their culture and ways to judge either way yet.

She changed her course slightly, hearing this answer, and said, "We will break our fast, and then I will show you to where you will be staying for a time."

Daniel almost told her that she did not need to go to so much trouble but cut himself off before he could speak, not wanting to accidentally offend through a misunderstanding of the local culture. After a few moments' contemplation, he replied carefully, "I hope I'm not keeping you from your duties."

"No, there are no matters that must be completed today, and my aids and my officers will contact me if any matter that requires my attention suddenly arises."

The Great Square, with evening having fallen, was less crowded than it had been that morning when Ruarc had given Daniel and Lya a tour of the city. Some shops were closed for the day, but many shops were still open. People of all shapes, sizes, and appearances were buying and selling goods. Sujanha expertly threaded her way through the small crowds but kept her pace slow enough that Daniel, tired after a long day, had no trouble keeping up with her. Eventually, she stopped at a large cart, selling food. The owner—tall, dark hair, wiry—at first looked completely human but, when he noticed their approach and turned, Daniel saw that his eyes were an inhuman shade of gold, similar to Sujanha's. Catching sight of the commander, he smiled widely and burst out with a flood of words, speaking almost incomprehensibly quickly (to Daniel who was trying to pick out the separate words) in Furling. The two spoke for several minutes, before Sujanha moved to introduce him.

"Dr. Jackson, this is Alaric, a merchant and teller of tales from many worlds."

Sujanha turned to Alaric and, gesturing toward Daniel, spoke several words in Furling, before (Daniel thought) repeating herself in English, "This is Daniel Jackson, a scholar from Midgard."

Alaric said something to Sujanha, which she translated, "He says that it gives him great pleasure to meet you and that you must return sometime to tell him of your world. He was once a wandering merchant, and it brings him pleasure to learn of different worlds and their tales."

"I would like that very much," Daniel replied. Sujanha translated his words back into Furling, a tedious but necessary job. Alaric grinned as she finished speaking and then spoke again. Sujanha replied before translating for Daniel's benefit.

"Alaric says he will give us our evening meal for free as a welcome to our new guest."

Daniel met the other man's eyes and said, "Thank you." Alaric did not know the English but recognized the tone of voice and body language and nodded in understanding.

"Choose what you wish," Sujanha added.

Daniel took a step closer to the stand to see what Alaric was offering. After a moment, Daniel realized that looking was not going to do him much good because he did not know what he was looking at.

"What is he offering?"

Sujanha replied, "Bread, meats, and …" She stopped for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words. After a few moments she continued, "And plants. If there is a more precise word in English, I know it not." As she gestured to each group of food on the stand in turn, a blue light flared across the food as her paw got close. The food that Daniel had originally thought was in the open air was protected by some kind of force shield, it seemed.

"Something simple, please."

"Do you prefer you food cold or hot?

"Cold is fine."

Sujanha relayed Daniel's request to Alaric, and within a couple of minutes, Alaric handed Daniel a thick sandwich wrapped carefully in paper. At the same time, he handed Sujanha a round blue…plant…of some variety. It was about the size of large apple but had skin more like a nectarine. After thanking Alaric, Sujanha led Daniel away towards the center of the Great Square where a small reflecting pool, which Daniel had missed during his earlier visit, was. Along the edge of the pool was a thick raised stone wall, used as seats.

As Daniel took a seat and began to unwrap his sandwich, he realized that he was actually quite hungry. It was evening now, and he had not eaten since that morning and had eaten little then. His sandwich was quite good. Alaric or his suppliers were excellent cooks. The bread tasted homemade, and the meat reminded him of chicken. He looked around as he ate. As the evening slowly darkened, the crowd in the marketplace slowly grew smaller. After a few minutes, he returned his attention to Sujanha who was studiously gnawing on her own dinner.

"Where will I be staying?"

Sujanha was silent for a moment. She had looked up immediately when Daniel had spoken, but it seemed to take her a moment to mentally translate what he had said back into Furling.

"With me," she replied, "I have a large house outside the city."

Her answer was shocking. It was true that Daniel had stayed with Jack for a time after he had returned from Abydos after Sha're … after Sha're had been taken by Apophis. But Jack and Daniel had already known each other from the first mission to Abydos and were friends. Sujanha had known him for less than two days and still was opening her home to him.

The lady seemed to read the utter surprise on his face for she continued after a moment, "At the present time, Doctor Jackson, there are only three people on Uslisgas who speak your tongue: myself and my two bodyguards. Because our ways and our technology are much different from Midgard, it would violate the rules for the proper treatment of guests, strangers, and newcomers to place you where there was no one who spoke your tongue. Yet, it would also violate those rules just as much to give you a bed in the soldiers' housing on the Acropolis where my bodyguards stay at night. Thus, you will stay with me."

"I don't want to intrude."

Sujanha seemed puzzled at first by Daniel's choice of words and responded slowly, "You will not be, if I understand what you mean correctly. My house is large, and I am its only inhabitant." She paused before adding, "I will be glad for the company."

Daniel was not going to object. From what he knew of her, Sujanha seemed nice. He nodded and thanked her before returning his attention to finishing his food.

Once he had eaten, Sujanha asked, "Are you ready to depart?"

Daniel nodded and rose. Sujanha rose more slowly. Instead of starting walking, she made several small tapping motions on thick, silver-colored arm-guard on her left arm. A small holographic figure appeared hovering over the gauntlet, and the two spoke quickly.

"The walk to my home is not overly long, but we are both weary, so we will be beamed to my home outside the city," Sujanha said to Daniel.

Daniel was becoming rather accustomed to the beaming technology of the Furlings by now. Their technology was seemed similar, considering what little he knew, to the Asgard beaming technology which he had also seen and experienced the previous month during SG1's mission to Cimmeria. A hum sounded, and there was a blinding flash of light.


When Daniel could see again, the landscape around him was completely different. He was standing along a walking path, wide enough for two to comfortably walk abrest, that was paved with stones and overshadowed by tall tree-like plants. Sujanha led him a short distance down the path until a lane broke off to one side. About ten meters up this lane the trees grew sparser and sparser until Daniel caught of a large stone house built in a clearing. A small garden with trailing vines, a few small shrubs, and some brightly colored flowers grew around the house.

The front door of the house slid open as Daniel and Sujanha climbed the steps to it. Inside, lights began to come on. The door automatically slid shut as soon as the two were clear. An automated voice greeted Sujanha in Furling. She replied in brief, seeming to give it, whatever it was, a few instructions.

"That," Sujanha said, motioning in the vague direction of the voice's speakers, is a modified and simplified version of what I believe your people would call an "auto pilot," sometimes used on our ships. This version runs the interior and exterior lights, the heating and cooling, and several other more minor things. It also can send messages. I will try to update its language files so it can speak in English. Once I do, I'll teach you the commands."

Sujanha motioned for Daniel to follow and led the way up a hallway. "I do not know the terms you would use for such terms, but that is the sitting room," she said, motioning to a room on the left with a number of comfortable-looking and dark colored seats and a pleasant view of the garden, "and this is the eating area," motioning to a room with more austere seating and a number of cabinets and something that might (emphasis on 'might') be the Furling version of a refrigerator.

She continued her way up the hall to its end and stopped by a steep, spiral staircase. "Straight ahead is my library. You are allowed to examine my collection at your leisure, but for now you will only be able to understand the maps, star charts, and arts. On your right is the wash room."

They climbed the steep staircase slowly. Coming off the stairs, there was a closed door to the left and a hallway to the right. "On the left are my quarters. Down this hall, there is a storage room on the left, and what will be your room on the right."

The bedroom door, to Daniel's surprise, did not automatically open at their approach. Sujanha waved a hand across a small stone to the right of the door frame, and then the door opened. She stepped back to let him enter first, saying "Wave your hand across this stone to open the door from the outside. Wave your hand across the stone on the inside of the door to open it from the inside. If you are inside, someone from the outside will not be able to open the door unless you say 'enter.'"

"In English?" Daniel asked.

"Yes," Sujanha replied, "I will make the update to the program before I retire for the evening."

The room Daniel entered was about as large as his quarters in the SGC. The room had a good size bed with two large pillows and a dark colored spread, a small chest of drawers, and a medium sized desk. Two small doors led out from the bedroom to other rooms.

Sujanha, who had stopped just inside the door, said, "That door," motioning to the one by the chest of drawers, "has room for your clothes; the other door is a private wash room. Most things should be…" she hesitated again, seeming to search for the right word in English, "easily and quickly able to be understood as to how they function."

"Intuitive. The word you want is intuitive."

"Ah, thank you, Doctor Jackson." Preparing to leave, she waved her hand across the door-opening stone, "To turn the lights off and on tap the blue stone on the bed frame once or tap and hold to dim the lights. If you have need of me, I will be in the library. If not, I wish you a pleasant rest of the evening and a good night's rest."

"Thanks. Same to you."

Sujanha departed, and Daniel was left alone. He placed his bag on the desk and sat down with a tired sigh on the bed. He had a new home now and welcoming hosts. What lay ahead promised to be the time of his life. All he had to do first was adjust to a new planet, a new culture, and a new language.