What?!

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Seven

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Daniel found it hard to believe he was looking at the Mayan god, Itzamna. He was identical to the drawings found on Mayan pyramids. As in the drawings, he appeared to be an elderly man. But his eyes, they seemed to be ageless. Everyone nearly jumped when Itzamna spoke, it was a booming voice, like thunder.

"Huehecoyotl, you will come with me."

Coyotl clung tightly to Daniels shirt. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm so sorry," he cried. "Please don't let him take me."

Jack couldn't stand hearing Coyotl crying. He cleared his throat. "Come on, grandpa."

"Jack, no," Daniel gasped.

"I got this, Daniel. Give the guy a break."

"Jack!" Daniel hissed.

"He was just having…"

Itzamna ignored Jack. Lightning played across the ceiling. The room began to grow dark. A bolt of lightning hit the floor in front of Jack.

Jack quickly leaped back. "So, god of gods?" he said to Daniel.

Daniel nodded his head, "Yep."

"Right, well I've done all I can do." Jack waved to Coyotl. "Have fun in the box."

"Forgive me, Itzamna," Coyotl begged. "Please don't put me back."

Daniel swallowed hard, he hoped that the Mayan god of gods would allow him to speak. He took a small step forward. Bowing his head, he said, "Màaya t'àan, Itzamna. I am Daniel Jackson."

Looking up, Daniel's blood stopped flowing when Itzamna's dark eyes seemed to gaze right through him. His deep voice boomed, "Màaya t'àan, Daniel Jackson."

'Okay', Daniel thought. 'I'm not a pile of ash, he spoke to me, now what?' He needed to show no fear. Looking straight into his eyes, Daniel said, "I humbly ask, mighty Itzamna, what crime Huehecoyotl has committed?" Daniel could see his eyes were bottomless, he saw suns exploding in his pupils.

Daniel could feel Coyotl shaking as Itzamna said, "He has committed the worst of crimes, he broke my most sacred law."

Coyotl peeked around Daniel. "I just wanted to share what we had. We have so much, it was just the one little mirror, only the one."

"One in every reality, Huehecoyotl!" Itzamna roared.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Coyotl said, as he dug his head in Daniel's back.

Staring at the gate, it suddenly came to Daniel what was Coyotl's crime. His hand reached back and pulled Coyotl's grip off him. Turning he said, "The Quantum mirror, the one that can send you to different realities. We found it on a dead world. It was you that gave it to them, wasn't it?"

Coyotl slowly nodded his head. "It was just the one. I fell in love with this galaxy. I wanted to share, so I gave it to the Zi-cu's. Itzamna was so angry, he put me in that box. I only wanted to share, that's all. So that you could have as much fun as we did."

"Daniel," Sam said. "They're the ones that built the multiple reality mirror."

"Yes, Sam. I think they are."

Itzamna beckoned Coyotl. "Come Huehecoyotl, you must leave these sparks, and go back to the box."

"Sparks?" Jack said.

"Because your lives are so short," Coyotl said.

"Don't go with him, Coyotl," Daniel said.

"Daniel," Jack said. "What are you doing? You said that's the head honcho of gods. You don't tell him what to do or you might end up a saltshaker."

"Jack," Daniel said. "I have to find a way to help him, I have to try."

"Why, Daniel?" Daniel being Daniel he wasn't surprised to see him wanting to help Coyotl. But this time he was standing up to an alien with god-like powers.

"Don't you see, Jack? It's because of what he did for us. For all of us. I have to try."

Before Jack could stop him, Daniel stepped closer to Itzamna. "What Huehecoyotl did was wrong."

"That's helping?" Coyotl sung.

"But from that one wrong, came so many rights. I myself used the mirror. I went to another reality and brought back information that helped save billions of lives on our world. We used it again, to save another realities world. Yes, he broke one of your rules, but so much good came from it. So many lives were saved. We may be sparks to you, but does that make it right to dismiss our deaths? Please, I ask you, was he not punished enough?"

Itzamna crossed his arms. "I have laid sentence upon him, he broke my most sacred law, he must go back to the box to finish his time."

Daniel looked at Coyotl. He looked so scared, so frightened. He looked at Itzamna. He stared right through him as if he wasn't there. He was not going to change his mind. Daniel knew there was only one thing left to do.

"If you still wish to continue his imprisonment, then let me take his place instead."

"Damn it, Daniel," Jack hissed. "You did not just say what you said."

"He saved our world, Jack. If I didn't find that mirror, if I didn't go to that alternate reality and see their world destroyed and get that gate address, our entire world would either be dead or enslaved by the Gould's. We owe him, Jack. We all do, I have to do this."

Jack shook his head, he softly said, "Oh, Daniel." He had seen that look a thousand times before, and he knew nothing he could say would change his mind.

"No, Daniel," Coyotl said. "You can't. You're just a tiny spark."

Daniel brightly smiled. "Thank you, Coyotl, for giving us that mirror. You saved my world. Now you go and have your fun."

Taking in a deep breath, Daniel stepped closer to Itzamna. "Great Itzamna. Even after all the good that was done from Huehecoyotl's crime, if you still want to put him back in the box, then I ask that you take me instead. For if not for that crime, my world would not be here." Daniel bowed his head, "I hope that my small spark is enough. Take me instead."

"No, Daniel," Coyotl said. He walked up to Daniel and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I can't let you do that, it was my crime, not yours." Coyotl fell to his knees in front of Itzamna. "I am sorry for disobeying you. I will go back to the box and stay there. But please, promise me that you will not punish the sparks for helping me leave the planet. They are my friends."

The room was suddenly filled with deafening thunder. It grew as dark as night. Itzamna's voice filled the room. "These sparks, these small flashes of life. You call them friends?"

Coyotl held his head up high. "Yes, Itzamna, they are my friends. I will not let one die for my crime. Please do not punish them. I will go back to the box and finish my sentence."

"I did not expect a spark to want to take your place."

Daniel suddenly felt like an ant, as Itzamna stared at him. It felt as if he was looking into his soul. A small grin parted the god's lips. He softly said, "Perhaps your punishment has been enough."

The thunder died down; the darkness faded away. Itzamna was smiling at Daniel. "Little one, you are a great ah dzib, like myself. Your words have opened my eyes. I only saw the bad of what he had done, not the good. What's done is done. It is my judgement then that Huehecoyotl's crime has been forgiven." He clapped his hands. A shock of energy flew out, it spread out of the room, and into the open stargate.

Coyotl jumped up. "Thank you, thank you Itzamna. I promise I will not cause any more trouble."

Itzamna chuckled. "Huehecoyotl, you are what I made you. You will get into trouble again, that is your nature. Until then." Crossing his arms, he turned back into a large grey cloud. It moved up the stone steps and passed through the gate. The stone steps slowly changed back into the metal ramp.

As soon as the metal ramp returned, another grey cloud passed through the gate. It drifted down the ramp and stopped at the bottom. It began to change, dressed in Aztec clothes Daniel immediately recognized the man that stood before him.

"Who's this guy?" Jack said.

"A good guy, Jack," Daniel said. "He's Xbalanque, Coyotl's brother."

Coyotl ran to Xbalanque. "Balan, Balan! I'm free! Itzamna ruled me free of that box." He hugged his brother. Balan's eyes closed in thanks.

"I heard, my brother."

"I had so much fun, brother. Look!" He showed him his vest. "See they open and close. It's fun."

Balan warmly smiled, he gently stroked his head. "Yes, Coyotl, they look fun." Daniel could see the deep love Balan had for his brother. But it was a fatherly love, and Coyotl looked at him like a son.

"I had so much fun here, Balan." Grinning widely, he looked back, "I made some very good friends." Seeing Teal'c frowning he said, "And maybe friends." He spun around. "I fought a giant plant."

"Did you?" Balam said.

Looking down, he kicked the floor. "But I just can't seem to have fun without something going wrong." Proudly standing he said, "But I helped fix it this time."

"I am proud of you, Coyotl. Who are your new friends?"

"Oh, that's Jack." He pointed to Jack. Coyotl whispered, "He yelled at me a lot, but it's all right. I got used to it." He shyly smiled at Sam. "That's Sam, I think she likes me." His cheeks blushed, "She kissed me."

Coyotl frowned, "That's Teal'c. He frowns a lot. I tried to fix him, but I guess he likes frowning."

Coyotl softly smiled at Daniel. "That's Daniel Jackson. He liked me, Balan. Even when my fun turned bad, he still liked me. That's my new friends, do you like them too?"

"They are wonderful friends." Balan bowed his head. "I wanted to thank you all, for being so patient with my brother. I know he can be, uh troublesome."

"Are you taking him with you?" Jack said.

"Yes," Balan replied.

"Well then, he was no trouble at all. We had a blast, had a wonderful time. If you plan on coming back for a visit again, do it in say, 100 years. I should have my calendar cleared by then."

Smiling Balan said, "I understand." He walked to Daniel. "I wanted to thank you, Daniel Jackson, for keeping your promise."

"You mean telling Coyotl he wouldn't have to go to the gate room?"

"No," Balan said. "The promise you made to me, that you would help me free my brother from the box."

Daniel had no idea what he was talking about. "I'm sorry, I'm confused."

Balan nodded his head in understanding. "You said that you may not remember your promise, if the Ancients returned you to life. So, I helped you keep your promise, with a dream."

"That was you," Daniel said.

"Just saying," Jack said. "Next time check the warning label."

"Yes, Daniel," Balan said. "I traveled every reality in search of one that could help my brother. It was only in this reality that I found a Daniel Jackson that ascended. You promised that you would help me free my brother. Free him from that box. You said you would try to change Itzamna's mind with your words."

Balan took Daniel's hands, and bowed his head on them. "I am happy to see that you kept that promise. Thank you, for giving me my brother back."

Daniel felt awkward, what do you say to a god like alien? He dropped his hands. Warmly smiling his said, "You're welcome."

Coyotl happily laughed. "I've had so much fun here, Balan, and you can too."

Before Jack could say anything, Balan shook his head. "Coyotl I believe you have troubled these sparks long enough."

"Long is not a strong enough word," Jack said. "

"Do not worry," Balan said. "We are not staying. I am anxious to explore again with my brother."

"Then we can finally continue our travels?" Coyotl said.

"Travels?" Daniel asked Coyotl.

"I told you, Daniel. I'm an explorer, like you."

Daniel recalled the first time he spoke to him. "Yes, you did say that."

Coyotl anxiously looked at Daniel. "Daniel, do you want to go too? Do you want to come with us?"

"Go where?" Daniel said.

"Oh, Daniel, anywhere! I can show you worlds where the skies are on fire, and the life there is living flames. Where metal animals fly to their homes in the skies. I can take you to a place where suns are born, and where they go to die. We can visit alien civilizations from long dead worlds that would feed our bottomless curiosity. Daniel, what you and your people have visited, it is but a drop in an ocean. A grain of sand on a beach. Be my ya-te-aj, Daniel. Come with us."

Daniel had to catch his breath. He was being asked to travel to unknown galaxies with aliens powerful enough to be gods.

Balan nudged Coyotl. "My brother, his path here is not at its end. There is still much he has to do." He took a small object from a leather bag and handed it to Coyotl.

Grinning, Coyotl gave it to Daniel. "When you're ready, use this to call me."

Daniel saw a small drum. He looked up, he was touched to see Coyotl crying. "You were willing to give your life for me." He wiped the tears on his face. "You were ready to give up your little spark. You will always be my friend, Daniel."

He hugged Daniel tight. He whispered in his ear, "Know that when you die, you will live forever. For I shall never forget you."

Breaking off the hug, he tapped the drum. "I'll wait for your call." Grinning, he pointed up. "Don't forget to try sliding down the bannister, it's so much fun!"

Daniel blinked his eyes and nodded his head. "I will."

Coyotl stepped back, he stood next to his brother.

"Are you not going to change, Brother?"

Coyotl grinned. "I like this shape." He winked at Jack. "It keeps me from getting hit." He waved at Daniel. "Ye niauh, Daniel."

"Ye niahu, Huehecoyotl. Major god of mischief."

"Only better," Coyotl said. "Jack, I bet you're going to miss me."

"Not in 2,500 million years," Jack said.

"I'll be back on my birthday for that box of sticky pockets."

They walked up the ramp and through the gate. The dark waters quickly disappeared.

"I really need to start a diary," Jack said. "Dear Diary, today I fought a giant plant, and met the Mayan god of gods. Just another boring day in SG1."

Sam gently touched Daniels' shoulder. "What was that word he called you, Daniel? The one he said he wanted you to be."

"Ya-te-aj, Sam. It means companion. In his legend it was said that he always had a human companion that traveled with him, and he carried a drum." He tightly held the tiny drum.

"Are you going to use it, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c said.

"Well according to Balan I still have important things to do. Who knows, someday the Gould's might fall out of power. Maybe then."

Jack laughed. "Like that is going to happen."

Sam hooked her arm in Daniels. "Keep me in mind as your plus one."

Daniel stared at the stargate. "Spooky knowing I'm the only Daniel Jackson that ascended in all the realities."

Jack patted Daniel on the back, "Always knew you were special, with such special unused cleaning talents."

Daniel looked around. "You were going to make me clean up that mess, wasn't you?"

"Remember it was you that brought Coyotl here in the first place. I was even going to get you some help. From Mr. broom and Mr. mop. You're lucky that Itzzy did it for you."

They looked up; they could swear they heard the faint sound of laughter.

Jack whispered, "Guess I'm going to have to put in an order for vests."

"With sticky pockets," Daniel and Sam said.

As they left the gate room, Daniel put the drum in a pocket. He realized they just dodged another bullet, but in the long run they made a new and powerful friend.

The End?