Child of the Mind
By Ldynwaitin
Chapter Sixteen
Taking down a God
Tai quickly swallowed the symbiote back. He had to release his hold on Daniel to protect himself.
"Leave him alone!" Zi screamed. She jammed her knife in his hand, piercing the Kara Kesh. Pulling her knife out, she kicked Tai away. Standing by Daniel's side, she tightly gripped her knife. The Kara kesh sparked and sputtered. Tai had to pull it off. He threw it on the ground.
"You will hurt him no more," Ying Lee said. She stood next to Daniel. She smiled down at him, "We came to save you, Daniel."
Tai pulled a thin knife from his sleeve. "Two women, no, one woman and a little girl. I am not afraid of you."
Zi smiled, "You should be, I was taught by the best." She lunged at Tai, Tai blocked Zi's blade. Their blades rung in the morning mist as they hit. Ying Lee slashed her blade at Tai. He moved to keep between them. Daniel couldn't believe what he was seeing, Zi and Ying Lee was fighting Tai. He struggled to get up to help them.
Tai realized that Zi was as good a fighter as she professed. But there was something about him that she did not know. Smiling, he lunged at her, she managed to stick her blade in his shoulder. Tai lurched to the side, pulling the blade from her hand. He drew his arm back and slapped Zi across the face. She fell, dazed to the ground.
Tai pulled the knife out and threw it away. He angrily roared, "Foolish woman, I am a god!" He howled as Ying Lee slashed him in the face. He grabbed her pigtails and threw her on the ground.
"I will kill you for that," Tai furiously spat out. He felt the deep cuts in his cheek. "Look what you have done to me!"
Tai plunged his blade into her stomach and kicked her away. He held the bloody blade before him. Panting hard he looked at Daniel. He managed to sit up.
"I am not done with you, Daniel Jackson. I will take your body and use it to become the god I was meant to be."
He moved towards Daniel. He stopped when he heard someone whistling. Looking back, he saw Daniel's friends standing at the foot of the path. Cameron fired his gun, the bullets tore into his body. Clutching his chest, Tai fell to the ground. Yong and Teal'c ran to Daniel.
"Daniel," Yong said. "Are you all right?" Daniel clutched the wound on his arm. "I will be fine, but I do not know if Zi is all right." Daniel pointed behind Yong.
"Zi!" Yong shouted. He saw her on the ground. He ran to her and kneeled by her side. "What are you doing here? We agreed that you would stay home."
Zi tried to smile, she cringed and touched her reddening cheek. "I am sorry, but I could not stay there. I was worried for you and Daniel. I went to the festival, it was there that I met Ying Lee. We both saw Lord Zhong take you and Daniel into the Jungle. We could not stay in the town, we had to follow you. Are you mad at me?"
He hugged her tight. "I will be, when we return home."
Teal'c helped Daniel stand up, he stumbled to where Ying Lee lay. He saw her holding her stomach. Her fingers were blood stained.
"Ying Lee," Daniel said. He sat next to her. "It was dangerous for you and Zi to follow us."
Ying Lee looked up at him. "It was my fault that you were taken. I had to make it right."
Daniel shook his head, "There was nothing to make right."
Her hand reached up and touched the wound on his arm. "You are hurt."
"Ying Lee, why did you come?"
She sadly smiled, "You know why. I fell in love with you from the first moment I saw you." She touched his eyes, "So beautiful," she sighed. Her hand dropped.
"We need to save her," Daniel said.
"We can take her across the stargate," Sam offered.
"No, we can't, I jammed the DHD. It won't be operational for nearly an hour, she may die by then." Daniel looked at Zi and Yong. "Zi," Daniel cried out. "Can you help her?"
"I will try, Daniel." Yong helped her to stand up. She walked to Ying Lee. Kneeling by her side, she examined the wound. "The flowers, Yong I will need some of the Yǒngyuǎn. It is the only way to save her."
"Zi needs the flowers we saw, Sam," Daniel said. "Yong is going to get some."
"I will go with him, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said.
Yong ran back with Teal'c to get the flowers.
Fifteen minutes later they saw them running back. Yong's shirt was loaded with white flowers. He threw them on the ground.
"We need to crush them first," Zi said, "Then apply them to her wound."
Finding rocks Daniel, Zi and Yong worked on crushing the flowers. With Ying Lee injured, Sam, Ru and Cameron watched for any predators. Teal'c guarded Tai.
"Did you see what happened to Zhan and the guards?" Cameron asked Teal'c.
"Yes, I did, Cameron Mitchell. The guards were gone, we found what was left of Zhan."
Once Daniel translated what was said,Yong said, "It was a fitting end. The villagers are avenged."
After Yong left, Cameron used a zip-tie to secure Tai's hands. Cameron managed to wound him, but his symbiote was already healing his body. He pointed at Tai, "What are we going to do with him?"
Daniel looked at Tai. "I think we should leave that up to the people of this world. We'll bring him back to the walled town. Guotin will decide what to do with him."
Finished grinding the flowers into a paste, Zi began spreading it on Ying Lee's wound. "The flowers are fresh, Daniel. It should not take long." She looked at him, "Let me see to your wounds now."
Daniel tried to brush her away, "I am fine."
She sternly told him, "Daniel, let me take care of your wounds."
"What did she say, Daniel?" Sam asked. When he explained, Cameron chuckled. "Jackson, I'd do what she says. She managed to go through that jungle with just that knife to protect her. I wouldn't mess with her."
"Okay," Daniel said with reluctance. Grinning, she tended to his wounds.
Zi used the flowers to heal the arrow wound on his arm. "I am sorry, Daniel, but the bruises and soreness is something the flowers cannot mend. The herbs at home and time will heal them." Once she was done, they waited for the flowers to work on Ying Lee's injuries.
It was almost thirty minutes later that they saw Ying Lee stir. Zi removed some of the flower paste. They were all surprised to see the wound had nearly healed.
"Daniel," Sam said. "It's amazing that she healed so fast. The Goulds must not know about this place. They could use the flowers to make their army unbeatable."
"I agree," Daniel said. "We can't let them know about this world. They would destroy it."
Daniel saw Ying Lee's eyes begin to open. A small smile parted her lips. "You saved me."
"We all did, Ying Lee."
She looked embarrassed. "I wanted to let you know how I felt about you."
"And I am touched, Ying Lee. But I cannot stay here, this is not my world. I care for you, but I do not love you."
She turned her head, "It is because I am an ugly child."
Daniel laughed. "Ying Lee you are going to grow up to be a beautiful woman. But you are still young. You have so much to look forward to. I have to admit, if I was fifteen years younger, things would be different. But I come from another world. I have committed much of my life to help other worlds like this. There is no place in my life for you. You need someone that will love you as much as you love them. I am sorry, but that is just not me."
Tears fell down Ying Lee's cheeks. She softly said, "I understand."
After she recovered, they went back to the walled city. Ru had run ahead, they saw him waiting at the gate with Guotin. Four guards stood behind them.
Tai angrily glared at Guotin. "Tell my father I am here," Tai said.
"I cannot, Tai Kang. Lord Qi went back to his palace. Before he left, I told him what you did. That you killed Lord Zhong. The guards are here to escort you to the palace. It is there that your father will lay judgement on you."
"I will not die on this world," Tai shouted as they dragged him away. "I am the grandson of Lord Yu. This is my world, I will burn it down to ash! I will…!" A guard tied a cloth over his mouth.
"Keep it there," Guotin told the guards. "You will remain in that body until you meet your father, Tai Kang. It is up to him what to do with you. Take him away!" Guotin said.
As the guards dragged Tai away Guotin proudly grinned at Daniel. "So, little one, you are back, in body as well as your mind."
Daniel shyly smiled, "Yes, I am."
"I am glad to see that your friends made it back as well." He bowed his head, "I thank you and your friends for helping us at a time of great need. If not for you, I believe Tai would have managed to kill Lord Qi as well and fulfill on the dark promise he made so many years ago. We all owe you and your friends a great debt."
Daniel bowed his head, "We did not do it alone, Guotin. Yong, Zi, Ru and even Ying Lee helped."
Guotin knowingly smiled. "When I first saw you, I could see something else behind those innocent eyes. I saw caring and compassion. You were willing to sacrifice your life for us, and your friends were willing to do the same. I am proud to know you, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel noticed some of the villagers gathering. They had just grown used to him, but now there were three more giants. He saw anxious and frightened faces. Smiling, Daniel stepped up to the villagers.
"Hello, I am Daniel Jackson," he said with a large smile. "My friends and I are explorers from another world. We came here hoping to call you friends. I want to thank everyone that helped me when I was ill."
Gui stepped up, he saw Teal'c carrying Ying Lee. "Do not worry, Gui," Daniel told him. "He did not hurt her. Zi took care of her, she will be well soon."
Gui bowed his head, "Guotin told us what Tai Kang had done. We all thank you, Daniel, and your friends for stopping him." Giving his daughter a stern look he said, "I am also sorry for what my daughter did. She told me before she ran off looking for you."
"Please do not be mad at her," Daniel said. "She was frightened. Her pledge to be married is no longer valid. She is free to marry anyone she wants." Giving her a sideways look, he added, "Just not me."
Gui stepped up to Teal'c, he took Ying Lee from his arms. "You worried me, girl." Hugging her tight, he said, "Do not do that again."
Ying Lee hugged him back, "I am sorry, Father."
"Will you and your friends be staying here for a while?" Guotin asked Daniel.
Daniel took in a deep breath. He was suddenly grabbed from both sides. He was being pushed and pulled down the street. "We need to bring him home," Zi told Guotin. "I have to give him some of my special tea to help him heal."
"You need to rest," Yong insisted.
Guotin happily smiled, "I guess the answer is yes. I will see you later."
"Help!" Daniel asked his friends.
They followed him as Zi and Yong dragged him down the street. "Sorry, Jackson," Cameron said. "You're on your own."
They stayed in the city for three days. The villagers welcomed Daniel's giant friends with open arms. They were all treated like royalty. Sam became quick friends with Guotin. He was fascinated with her tales of the different worlds they visited.
Teal'c took their time in the village to learn new fighting skills from Yong. Cameron visited the market often. He tried every food item they were selling.
Daniel spoke to Da all three days about his herbs. He would end up bringing several back with them for study.
The time came for them to go. Cameron, Teal'c and Sam stood at the activated stargate. Daniel was saying goodbye to Yong and Zi.
The headband to cover the mark on Yong's forehead was gone. They were both dressed in green. They no longer wore mourning white. Daniel struggled not to cry as he saw tear's in Yong and Zi's eyes.
"You saved me, Yong," Daniel said. "I do not know what would have happened to me if you did not decide to help me by the lake. Zi, you took care of me when I needed it the most, I can never thank you enough."
Zi hugged him tight, "Our house will be hollow without your laughter and your smiles, my Daniel."
Daniel caressed her head, "I will miss you too, Zi."
Daniel moved to stand in front of Yong. Yong sadly smiled when Daniel offered his hand. Yong squeezed it, his voice broke when he said, "I will miss you, Daniel."
Daniel squeezed Yong's hand tight, "And I will miss my guardian."
Yong hugged Daniel tight, "Be careful, Daniel. I will not be able to protect you."
Smiling, Daniel moved back. He pulled out the goat medallion. "I am not afraid. Junjie is watching me. This saved my life. I will never take it off."
Sniffling, Yong stepped back. Daniel saw Zi smile, he could swear she seemed to be glowing. Then it hit him. "Zi, are you pregnant?"
She happily smiled and rubbed her stomach. "I was not sure. But now I am. It is why we no longer mourn our Junjie. I believe he gave us this gift. If he is a boy, we will name him Daniel. And tell him stories of the giant child that changed our lives."
"Jackson," Cameron shouted. "Time to go."
Daniel heavily sighed. "I promise, we will keep this world's secret. No one will know about Yǒngyuǎns power."
Yong bowed his head, "Guotin told me to thank you."
Daniel saw Ying Lee standing behind Yong. She also looked different, the pigtails were gone. Her dark hair hung past her shoulders. Yong looked back, "I spoke to her last night. I believe she now understands that she cannot go with you."
Daniel walked to her. She looked up at him. "You are going back to your world." She put her hands behind her back. "I was a foolish lovesick girl. I know that now." Smiling she said, "But we can still be friends."
"Yes," Daniel said. "You will always be my friend, Ying Lee."
"And you mine, Daniel Jackson."
He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "I do not know when I will come back. But I promise that I will."
"I will see you then."
Daniel turned and walked to the stargate. Sam and Teal'c walked through. Daniel took one last look back. Waving he said, "I promise, I will be back."
Cameron walked through the gate. Taking one last look, Daniel walked through. The gate blinked out.
"I shall miss our Daniel," Yong said.
"I will, too," Zi said. "Let us return. There is much for you to do, my husband. Your new job of protecting the town begins tomorrow."
Yong put his arm on her shoulder. "And soon I will be protecting a new addition to our family."
As they walked down the path, Yong saw Ying Lee looking at the stargate.
"Ying Lee, it is time for us to go."
Ying Lee stared at the gate, she softly whispered. "I lied, Daniel." Her hand touched her cheek, then her chest. "You will always be in my heart." Wiping the tears from her eyes she said, "I will wait for your return."
Turning, she slowly walked back to the town. She would wait for the return of the blue-eyed giant that she would forever love.
The end