General Hammond got up and went down to the command room. He ordered the Iris opened and two Tokra stepped through accompanied by SG2. General Hammond talked briefly with them before leading them to the conference room.
"The Tokra have agreed to help Dr. Jackson."
The Tokra glanced at the pictures on the table and then turned to Hammond.
"You did not tell us the Heroties were responsible for Daniel Jackson's kidnapping." Freya said accusingly at Hammond
"You know of them?" Hammond said
"Of course they are a scourge, a pestilence that needs to be destroyed. They have murdered two Tokra and destroyed several of our bases." Anise said
"Don't forgot all those innocent people they've killed." Jack said.
Anise didn't even look at him, but Jacob glanced at Jack and nodded a bit shamefully, acknowledging Freya's callousness.
"How is Dr. Jackson still alive? Most captives die in battle or commit suicide after they're released." Selmac asked turning to Hammond
"I told him I needed time to pass sentence on his crimes and he is awaiting my judgment." Hammond said.
"Freya I would like to discuss the surgery with you and Jacob Carter immediately with General Hammond's permission of course." Dr. Fraiser said quickly clearly uncomfortable with Daniel being discussed in front of the two other SGC teams.
"Of course." Hammond said "I'll join you as soon as the briefing is over."
The three left and Teal'c continued his history of the Heretics.
"Not much is known about them, they have been around for over a century. A town will be destroyed and the Heretics will leave their mark by torturing the Jaffa and Goa'uld and displaying them in the manner you saw. As far as I know they have managed to kill five Goa'uld and burnt their cities to the ground." Teal'c said
The briefing went on for twenty minutes but it soon became clear they needed more information. General Hammond dismissed everyone and headed for the infirmary with Teal'c and O'Neill. When they arrived they found Sam looking over Daniel's brain scans with Fraiser, Jacob, and Freya.
"Sir we've found a way to deactivate the device but we can't come up with a way to remove it." Sam said
"Without knowing specifically how it was implanted it would be extremely dangerous to try and remove it." Selmac said his eyes flashing.
"As soon as the device is turned off, I will have Dr. Jackson give us the coordinates for the planet he was imprisoned on." Hammond said
"Good, we will accompany you and destroy the Heretics." Anise said
General Hammond didn't respond and Sam spoke "It will take dad and I twenty minutes to get the lab set up."
"Very good, I'll have Dr. Jackson sent down in half an hour." Hammond ordered
Half an hour later Daniel was once again in Sam's lab translating an old machine. Jack, and Sam were the only ones in the room. Sam turned on her equipment and Daniel screamed and fell to the floor before Jack could catch him.
"It's okay Daniel, your safe on earth in Sam's lab." Jack said as Teal'c and Dr. Fraiser hurried in.
Daniel scurried away from jack and then used the table to leverage himself to his feet. He looked around the room and then grabbed the machine he had been working on. He dug his hand into a sharp edge and very quickly blood started spattering onto the floor. Jack snatched the machine out of Daniel's hands, while Sam took hold of his shoulders and Dr. Fraiser prepared a sedative.
"I'm fine; I needed to make sure this isn't a dream." Daniel said trying to pull away
"This is real, you made it home Daniel you're safe." Sam said hugging him
Daniel turned and embraced her briefly. When they parted Dr. Fraiser took his hand and applied a white bandage.
"We need to go the infirmary you need stitches and a Tetanus shot." Janet said
"Dr. Fraiser hauling me off to the infirmary the evidence could go either way." Daniel said with a slight smile
Jack slung a gentle arm around Daniel's shoulders and they all left the lab. After Dr. Fraiser fixed up Daniel's hand they went to the cafeteria. Daniel had been eating the main meal served in the cafeteria so that was what Sam got him. As he ate though Daniel seemed to actually taste his food and half way through he pushed his tray away.
"What's wrong Daniel?" Jack asked surprised Daniel always willing to eat everything on his tray since ordered to by Dr. Fraiser
"Some of this food doesn't taste good and." Daniel licked his lips nervously "some of the food I see and smell is more appetizing." He said quickly bowing his head waiting for a reprimand or a blow.
"It is fine DanielJackson, what would you like?" Teal'c asked
Daniel returned to his tray, but Teal'c got up and grabbed several desserts and handed them to him. Daniel smiled and ate them with relish.
"Daniel, General Hammond wants to meet with you after dinner." Sam said as they were finishing up their food.
Daniel paled but nodded in agreement. He pushed back his food and waited for the others to be done. As soon as they entered the conference room Daniel dropped to one knew and bowed his head.
"Lord Hammond, I have returned here as duty and honor demands. To make right the many wrongs I have committed. I do not ask for mercy, and do not seek to justify myself or excuse my actions. I only ask that justice be swift." Daniel said repeating what he said when he first came back.
Jack sighed and bowed his head, Sam gave a gasp of dismay, while Teal'c walked a few steps away. General Hammond walked over to Daniel and looked at him for a few seconds.
"Daniel Jackson I know your crimes those you have confessed to doing while under my command and those you committed while serving with the Heretics. The sins you have committed here under my command, even those you have killed where justified and I forgive you and offer you full pardon. For the crimes you committed as a Heretic you were under the influence of an alien device and therefore not fully responsible. For those crimes I can not pass judgment." Hammond said placing a hand on Daniel's head
Daniel had been perfectly still as Hammond spoke, unmoving even when Hammond put his hand on his head. However after Hammond finished speaking and moved away, his shoulders started shaking and he put a hand on the ground. Jack hurried to his side and placed a hand on his back Sam came over as well and they got Daniel to his feet and into a chair. Teal'c brought him a cup of coffee which Daniel slowly sipped trying to regain his composure.
"What do mean by an alien device?" Daniel asked after two minutes had passed
"An artificial intelligence was placed in your brain making you compliant and docile with the Heretics wishes." Jacob explained
"Artificial intelligence like the Hal 9000?" Daniel asked
"Correct, the machine was implanted in your brain and influenced your emotions and we believe clouded your judgment. How much the machine was responsible for your behavior and how much your captivity was is impossible to determine." Selmac said his eyes flashing gold.
Daniel instantly threw his mug at Selmac where it shattered drenching the Tokra in scalding coffee and glass shards.
A/N Let me know your thoughts, or just follow, favorite so I know I still have readers.