Origin

Briar Elwood

A/N: Okay, as Wings90 pointed out to me last chapter, there is something I need to clear up and, well, apologize for. If Daniel/Orionus was frozen, there would be no vital signs no matter what. But I needed to prove he was actually dead and didn't really realize that until Wings90 pointed it out. So, yes, Daniel/Orionus really was dead, and why he was frozen will be explained eventually. I promise.

Chapter XXIII

Remember & Return

"You are wasting your time."

Orionus jumped, whirling around in what he had thought was an isolated room, to see Mryddyn giving him a very disapproving stare.

"What?"

"Do you remember?" Mryddyn asked, ignoring Orionus's question. Orionus nodded.

"I do."

"Teal'c?"

Orionus nodded again.

"Cam? Sam? Jack? Rose? Ettan? Vala?"

"And Vala's son," Orionus added.

"Who is also your son," Mryddyn agreed. "What did you do with the necklace?"

"I drew the memories out of it," Orionus told him. Mryddyn squinted at him.

"And it gave you a very interesting eye color, I can see."

Orionus inclined his head. "A side effect."

"And where is the necklace now?"

Orionus pulled out the colorless jewel from under his robes, presenting it to Mryddyn. The ancient man brushed a fingertip against it, lips pursed thoughtfully. Then he drew back, looking at Orionus expectantly.

"So what will you do now?"

"I remember my original thinking and still believe it," Orionus began, feeling more and more like a high school student. "I am their founder. I can lead them away—"

"No, no, no!" Mryddyn interrupted, shaking his head. "You are not immortal, Daniel Jackson. You will die eventually and all your teachings of free religion will be forgotten. They will become the villains you know in the future, despite any effort you can put forth. You're simply wasting you life."

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"Well. I guess we should go," Cam said, trying not to let on how much Daniel's body had unnerved him. No one said anything in reply but moved to leave the cave. Still silent, Teal'c, Cam, Jack, Ronon and John pushed the stone back in place, which (to Sam's satisfaction) was still in good shape.

"I wouldn't go in there," a voice from behind them warned. Cam frowned. The voice was recognizable yet more rugged, wise, and weary than the last time he had heard it. He turned from the stone to see a man in large Ori robes standing before him.

"Jackson!" the colonel exclaimed. Daniel looked different; he realized that right away. His hair was starting to grey and the skin on his face sagged somewhat, giving the linguist a very tired look. He inclined his head in a greeting as the rest of the group turned to face him.

"Nice eyes," Q commented. Cameron frowned.

"What?"

Daniel sighed, closing his eyes. "They're green now."

"They seriously look like emeralds!" Q exclaimed. "Like they're actually jewels!"

"How'd that happen?" Jack asked.

"It's a long story," Daniel told them. "You guys were right, though. And I'm back for good."

"That's great!" Sam proclaimed.

"So…why wouldn't you go in there?" John asked, jerking his thumb at the stone monument.

"It's dangerous," Daniel replied.

"Uh…the power levels just shot back up to what they were before," Rodney informed them.

"Dr. McKay," Teal'c called. "Is this what it was before?"

Rodney looked up to Teal'c who was indicating the script on the monument. "Yeah!" Rodney said, surprised.

Daniel frowned. "The script and the power levels changed?"

"Power levels went down," Rodney explained.

"The script was shorter. And a lot different," Q added. "It'd take a long time to translate now."

"No it wouldn't," Daniel argued. "I wrote it."

"Really?" Cam asked.

"What's it say?" Jack questioned. Daniel shook his head.

"It doesn't matter. You guys stay here. I'm gonna check what's in there."

"I thought it was dangerous," Ronon interjected.

"I'm not a normal human being, you must remember," Daniel pointed out. "My power will protect me."

"What's in there?" Sam asked. Daniel shrugged.

"That's why I'm going in." With that, he turned and walked through the stone. Jack pursed his lips, leaving over to Sam.

"Then how does he know it's dangerous?"

Everyone turned to settle down to wait for Daniel but the stone shimmered and the robed archeologist came running back towards them. John frowned.

"That didn't take long," he commented. Daniel shook his head.

"I was right," he said breathlessly. "It's too dangerous. Even for me."

"What's in there?" Sam repeated. Daniel shook his head again.

"Doesn't matter."

"Okay, look," Jack interrupted, walking up to him. "We just went in before you showed up. The script was shorter and the power levels were lower but we went in all the same. There wasn't anything dangerous in there."

Daniel frowned. "What was in there?"

Jack looked uncomfortable, glancing at Sam. "Uh…you."

Daniel blinked. "Me?"

"Yeah," Jack said slowly. "Uh…old."

"And dead," Teal'c added bluntly. Daniel looked shocked.

"Um. Well. I'm not there anymore."

"I suppose we can't use the power whatever's in there is generating?" Rodney asked, sounding annoyed. Daniel laughed humorlessly.

"No. No way in the depths of the universe."

A/N: Oooooo….he's SOO cryptic!!!!!!!! Stinker. ;p

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