Patefactio chapter 5

~oOo~

Cam and Averill finished collecting the scattered weapons while Teal'c stood guard over the Ori soldiers. Jackson's brief warning had been immediately heeded; they'd all learned to trust each other without hesitation. Well, except for Averill and Thance, who been tossed around with the rest of them. As the ship righted, Cam and Sam had taken charge of the bridge while the soldiers were still trying to recover from the dive the ship had taken.

Teal'c and the other villagers had arrived soon after and were effectively keeping the soldiers contained to a small area of the bridge.

"How's Jackson?" He'd seen Daniel slump in the control chair as soon as the ship had leveled off.

"Passed out," Vala replied. "I think the poison is spreading."

"Poison?" Sam left her position next to Cam and leaned over her unconscious teammate, feeling for his pulse.

"The doctor said there was poison in his wound and that he couldn't treat it because he didn't know what it was," Vala explained.

Great. Didn't they have enough problems? Cam turned to Averill; the poison must have been in the arrow, so maybe he'd know what it was.

"Do you know what this poison is?"

"We have a poison that is rarely used. Morven must have been desperate to find something that would kill the Prior if he used this."

"Is there an antidote?"

"Yes; we have a mixture that will counteract the poison if it is given soon enough."

Cam exchanged glances with Teal'c and Sam, his eyes coming to rest on Vala whose own eyes were moist with tears. He knew they were all thinking the same thing: how long was 'soon enough'?

"Okay, then we'd better get Jackson back down to the planet ASAP. Sam, why don't you and Teal'c stay and try to get control of the ship. Averill and I will take Jackson."

"I'm going with you," Vala declared.

"Fine."

Sam pulled out her laptop from her backpack, went to one of the control panels, and began connecting to it.

"Teal'c, think you can keep these guys under control?"

"Most definitely."

Cam turned to the commander. "How many more soldiers are on board?"

"Enough that you will never make it to the ring room."

"Right. That's what I figured."

"We will hold the bridge, Colonel Mitchell. Take Daniel Jackson to the planet and retrieve the antidote."

"That's the plan," Cam replied as he moved to Daniel's side, preparing to lift him.

"Cam, we have a problem."

So not what he wanted to hear. "What's wrong, Sam?"

"I'm using the same interface Daniel gave me before, but it won't let me in."

~oOo~

" . . . but it won't let me in."

The urgent voices of his teammates pulled Daniel back to awareness, in time for him hear their plans to try and make it to the ring room.

"It's too big a risk." Daniel reluctantly opened his eyes.

"There you are." Vala's voice was light, but held an element of concern.

He turned his head and found her kneeling beside him. "You know it's rude to fall asleep in the middle of a tense situation," she admonished, smiling at him.

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

"Well, just don't let it happen again." She was trying for sarcasm, but Daniel felt her hand lying warmly on his arm and he knew she was scared for him.

"Save the banter. In case you haven't heard, we're kinda pressed for time here," Cam countered.

"Daniel?" Sam leaned over him, drawing his attention.

"Sam. Everyone okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine, but the ship's not letting me interface with it. It's like I'm locked out."

"Perhaps the ship is configured to a specific Prior, or safeguards have been installed to prevent anyone but a Prior from operating the ship." Daniel was relieved to hear Teal'c's voice behind him. He had obviously survived the nosedive the ship had taken.

"Carter?" Cam was obviously waiting for her to confirm or deny Teal'c's theory.

"Teal'c might be right. They know we were able to fly their ships—they could easily have put something in place to prevent it."

"Which means Jackson needs to unlock it."

"Can you get around it?" Sam asked.

Daniel didn't think he had the strength to move, much less operate the chair again. As if to reinforce his thoughts, a shiver rippled through him, every muscle responding with pain.

"Help me . . . up."

Vala took one arm and Sam the other. They pulled him upright and he squeezed his eyes shut against the vertigo that enveloped him.

"Look, I'd like to get this ship running as much as the next guy, but I don't think Jackson's up to this. And even if we get control of it, we still have to get to the ring room. I think that should be our first priority."

"I agree," Vala added, still holding on to Daniel's arm.

There was no way Daniel would let them risk their lives just to get him off the ship. He had to try another way. "Revis?"

The commander stepped into Daniel's line of sight. "I am here."

"Although I admire your devotion, don't you think it's time to consider your men? Do you want to be stranded here permanently?" He didn't think the man needed to know that someone would eventually find them, whether it was another liberated Ori ship or the SGC.

"The Ori will send someone for us. We must be patient."

"And how long have you been waiting already?"

Revis shifted uncomfortably, but answered unflinchingly. "The length of time is not important. It is a test of our faith."

"Jackson, I don't think you're gonna convince these guys," Cam stated. Leaning closer to Daniel's ear, he said sotto voce, "The word 'zealot' comes to mind."

"Well, maybe there's someone else who can convince them."

"To whom do you refer, Daniel Jackson?"

"Tomin."

The name was obviously familiar as Daniel heard the soldiers whispering in response.

"Well, if you hadn't noticed," Vala interjected, "Tomin isn't here."

"Not yet," Daniel replied with a small smile. He sobered as he returned his attention to Revis. "You know of Commander Tomin?"

"Of course. He is a great commander of our armies."

"So, you would believe his words?"

"Yes. But I do not understand why you speak of him as though he were here."

"Maybe he will be." Daniel closed his eyes, summoning all of his dwindling strength to connect once again with the ship. As before, he felt his pain muted into the background as the ship's systems became his own. Locating the communications link, Daniel opened it, hoping his earlier message had gone through.

He heard a soldier's surprised voice. "We are receiving a message from another Ori ship!"

"The communications system was locked. The Prior has opened it for us," another reasoned.

A familiar voice resonated through the comm link. "This is Commander Tomin. I wish to speak with your commander."

Disconnecting from his link with the ship, Daniel opened his eyes and saw Tomin looking back from the video screen.

"I am Commander Revis," the man replied, stepping forward.

"Commander, Daniel Jackson has informed me of your situation. What he and his friends have told you is true: the Ori are dead. The Priors are now piloting our ships back to our home galaxy."

Tomin stepped aside to reveal a Prior sitting in the control chair. The pale face turned towards the video screen and spoke.

"Truth is elusive to those who refuse to see with both eyes. The Doci has shown us that we have been misguided on our path to enlightenment; where before we only saw with one eye, now we see with two. Just as Demah, the blind man, listened to the voice of the prophet and was able to find his way home even though he could not see where he placed his steps, we must listen to the Doci and make our way home, even though we do not understand the reason. We must return to our homes and find a new path."

Daniel was aware of the shocked voices of the soldiers as Tomin turned back to the screen and continued. "I know this is difficult to understand, but it is true. We are on our way to you now and will help return you and your ship to your home. But you must let these people go. They have done much for our people and we owe them a great debt."

Revis nodded slowly as he considered the words. He looked from Tomin to Daniel and back. "I admit that I find this very hard to believe, but I will bow to your wisdom, and that of the Doci. We will do as you say."

"Good. Our ship will reach you shortly. Please make sure that Daniel Jackson and his people are treated well."

The screen went blank and Revis turned back to Daniel. "Even though I do not understand what has transpired, we will do as Commander Tomin requests." Motioning to his men, he said, "Please escort these people to the rings."

"Thank you, Revis," Daniel said. "I'm sure Tomin will explain everything thoroughly when he arrives."

"I am sorry we were unable to cure you of the poison. Please forgive us for delaying you."

"Speaking of which, let's move before Jackson uses up another of his nine lives," Cam said.

"Give me . . . a hand," Daniel said, moaning as he shifted in the chair.

"Well, don't expect me to carry you," Vala said mischievously, "I might break a nail."

"You're so . . . considerate."

"I will assist you, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c stated, moving to take Vala's place at his side, reaching down to pick Daniel up.

"Thanks, Teal'c, but . . . I can . . . walk." If he could only get his body to cooperate.

"Sure you can, sunshine," Cam said, moving to his other side and grabbing hold just as Daniel slumped forward.

~oOo~

Daniel drifted towards wakefulness, faint noises becoming more distinct, blending into a familiar pattern. He was in the infirmary. He half expected to hear the sound of Janet's heels clicking across the floor. Three years and he still couldn't let go.

His thoughts drifted back to the last thing he remembered—being on the Ori ship. If he was in the infirmary, then he was missing a pretty big chunk of time. Deciding he needed to find out what had happened, Daniel peeled his eyelids open, an act that took much more effort than it should have.

"Well, it's about time!"

The voice was something else that no longer belonged here. He turned his head, blinking to clear the blurriness, and moaned as every muscle protested the move. "Jack?"

"Got it in one. At least you have a few brain cells left."

"What are you doing here?"

"Checkin' on you. I read Mitchell's preliminary report and decided this was one mission debrief I had to hear in person."

"You just want to be able to chew me out and a phone call wouldn't have been satisfying enough."

"You're thinking surprisingly clearly for someone who's recovering from being poisoned."

That explained why his muscles were screaming in pain, and why he was missing the details of how he'd gotten from the ship to the infirmary. "How long?"

"Four days."

"Four?"

"Yeah. Ya know, you're lucky you even survived. Sounds like it was a pretty potent poison. By the way, you wanna tell me how you were able to fly that ship?"

Daniel looked away. "I don't know. I shouldn't have been able to." He quickly turned back to face Jack. "If that's in Cam's report—"

"It's not. Don't worry; no one outside of SG-1 is gonna know. But, if you think you can do it again . . . ?" Jack raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Maybe it's better if we don't find out."

"Maybe."

"But what happened? How did I end up here?"

"Carter and Teal'c stayed to wait for Tomin; Mitchell ringed back to the planet with you, gave you the antidote, and high-tailed it back through the gate.

"They had a cure?"

"Fortunately. It just took this long to completely flush it from your system."

"Sure it's gone?" Daniel closed his eyes again; queasiness and light-headedness making him question Jack's statement.

"Doc Lam says your body just needs time to regain strength."

"That's an understatement."

"Damnit, Daniel! I thought we'd broken you of the almost-dying habit. Ya know, you may be on your second set of nine lives, but at this rate, you're gonna use them up before you're fifty."

"Then I have a few years left." He opened his eyes again, hoping to see a smile on his friend's face, but Jack was dead serious.

"You need to stop doing this, Daniel. I—we—don't want to lose you. I was hoping, now that the Ori are gone, that your missions would be less . . . "

"Dangerous?"

"Deadly. How long can you keep this up? Hell, I don't know how long I can keep this up."

"Thinking about retirement again?"

Jack paused as if considering it, brown eyes never wavering as they held Daniel's gaze. "Not as long as SG-1's still goin' through the gate."

"That's what I thought."

"But could you please space these death-defying episodes a little farther apart? Give me time to recuperate in-between?"

"Oh, forgive me for being so insensitive to your needs. I promise to check your schedule before getting injured again."

"That's more like it!"

"Ass."

"The one and only."

The End