Chapter 2
That night at the evening meal, SG1 was feasted as a new ally. Obviously the Anasazi knew that there was something momentous about to occur. Jackson's questioning about the Tribe's oral history had revealed that a 'False God' had come to earth many ages ago and brought this small nation of American Indians through a Stargate. Hence the pyramid temple's existence. The Indians soon realized that they had made a bad bargain and were successful in defeating and running the Goa'ulds off from this new place. However, every so many years, a Goa'uld force would enter through the Stargate and try to take back their old slaves. Usually, through 'a Vision from the Great Spirit' they would be forewarned and could drive the evil intruders back into the 'God's Mouth' thus preserving their way of life. It was coming time for this to happen again. It had been over twenty winters (two hands twice) since the last incursion. And the signs were beginning to be indicative of a repetition occurring soon. The Medicine Oaks didn't have acorns, the birth of a white Big Hump in the main herd. (American bison evidently made the trip with them.) and the women were giving birth to more warriors (male babies). All of these things sounded pretty circumstantial to O'Neill but as Jackson said. "If it works Jack, don't complain".
And by all appearances it was working. This was a thriving, living community of stone age primitives who had by skill, luck and the blessing of their Great Spirit managed to not only rebel against a superior high tech civilization but to maintain their freedom and re-establish a way of life long lost on their home world.
The main tribal leaders and clan members were all identified by names that fit their personality and character. Painted Face was easily figured out with his scarlet face paint and decorative black and yellow dots. Grey Badger had explained his by his fighting style, from an easily defensible fortification. The second Chief, or War Leader, was his eldest son, Two Spears. He was known by his cautious habit of carrying two weapons on a hunt after a wild pig had turned and gored him as a teenager. Crow Woman was a Grey Badger's old wife who apparently had a fast tongue and not shy to use it but a large heart. Moon Woman, his young wife, was a large jovial girl of about twenty-three (and obviously pregnant). There were various other descriptive names such as One Eye, who described the incident of its loss in great and gory detail. Little Bird was Painted Face's toddler daughter who had attached herself to O'Neill in a proprietary manner. Young Deer was the older teen-aged son of Two Spears who sat quietly and listened to all the stories with unabashed interest.
Conversing with Grey Badger, Painted Face and somewhat with Two Spears in an ancient Egyptian (read Goa'uld) dialect, Daniel learned that they had also been given call names. O'Neill was 'Grey Chief', Carter was called 'Medicine Woman' since it was considered unusual for a woman to travel with a hunting party, Daniel was 'Yellow Shaman' due to his fair hair and Teal'c was universally called 'Large Warrior or The Really Big Guy'.
After a large meal of roasted meat, squash, corn and some unknown variety of fruit, Grey Badger pushed Painted Face to tell the story of the tribe's trip here under the guidance of Chief Stupid Nose, so called because he couldn't smell the danger to his tribe. How the great warrior Big Bear grasped and killed many of the Evil Gods warriors by ripping their false heads off and in the process taking their real ones too. And the stories of finding some few of their own tribesmen being used as skin-walkers by the False Gods. People obviously being used as hosts.
SG1's storyteller, Daniel Jackson was up to full linguistic fluency as he explained in cultural context of how he and Grey Chief went through the God's Mouth in search of knowledge. How they found the Evil Gods and other tribes of people suffering their wrath. He briefly touched on his staying behind with his new wife and O'Neill returning with the great news to their Big Chief. How when the Evil Gods threatened O'Neill's tribe and The Big Chief Hammond sent Grey Chief and Medicine Woman back to get the knowledge from Yellow Shaman; and then the tragedy of his wife's being turned into a skin walker. How when Large Warrior saw the wrongness in following the orders of the Evil God, that he stood against the false god and left his tribe to fight with this new tribe to help end the Evil God's reign.
By now the time was late and the stars clearly seen in the night sky. Everyone was well fed and had enjoyed the evening's festivities immensely. SG1 was just about to head back to their campsite when a young boy of about nine years came running into the camp and up to the little knot of leaders. He spoke quickly to Gray Badger and Two Spears pointing back the way he had come.
O'Neill motioned to Jackson back to the group of Indians to listen in with a jerk of his head. Daniel went back to the group. After a few minutes he returned to his 'tribe'. "Well," O'Neill demanded. "What's going on?"
"The boy, Little Fox, says the God's Mouth is grumbling and making light like a bad bellyache is about to happen." Daniel reported, translating the wording exactly. "They think that this is a signal for a new invasion."
"Sounds like the Stargate is being test powered by someone." Carter agreed with a nod of her head. "We know it works so it's not SGC."
"Perhaps, whoever is attempting to open it received such a strong reception last time that he is testing it now." Teal'c considered. "It would be a cautious move on their part."
O'Neill nodded, grimly. "Are they going to keep monitoring it or are they going to take action tonight?" He glanced back to the knot of the chiefs and their shaman.
Daniel looked back at the growing cluster of warriors gathering around the tribal leaders. "Gray Badger is sending a group of warriors to stay there tonight. Tomorrow Painted Face will take his Spirit Journey and seek wisdom from the Great Spirit on how they are to fight the Evil God this time."
"Do they want our help?" O'Neill looked over towards the knot of tribal leaders who were still discussing the occurrence.
"Well, uh, actually yes" Daniel looked down and pushed his glasses back up his nose. "It's more expected than to be offered."
"What do they want us to do exactly Daniel?" O'Neill asked. He liked these people; he wanted to help them, if they could.
"Well, the first thing," Daniel started, wrapping his arms around his torso. Jack went on alert; Daniel's self hug was not a good sign. "They, uh, want me to go on a Spirit Quest along with Painted Face."
"So you're going on this 'Spirit Vision Quest Thing' along with him...?" Jack pressed the younger man.
"Well, actually...I'm doing my own Vision Quest at the same time." The younger man almost looked embarrassed at this announcement. "They think that two shamans communing with the Great Spirit has twice the luck of getting the right answer."
Jack continued to look expectantly at his friend. "And that means what, exactly?"
"Well, ah..." Daniel ran his hand through his hair. "Actually, Jack. I'm not really sure." He crossed his arms in front of his torso again and rocked back on his heels. "Most Amerindians used a combination of meditation and pharmacological means of attaining their instructional visions. Usually, involving fasting and the use of native herbal stimulants such as... Peyote buttons, mushrooms...you know... like that."
"Meditation and...herbal stimulants." Jack made a face and sighed. "Danny, that sounds like a really bad trip waiting to happen." He shook his head. "I don't think this is a good idea." O'Neill thought a split second longer and then raised his hand; index finger pointed up into the air. "No, wait! I'm sure it's not a good idea. In fact I'm so sure that the idea is off." He turned and started to stalk back to the camp.
"But Jack..." Daniel followed him determinedly. "Jack," He caught up with the Colonel and grabbed his sleeve, turning his friend and team leader back to face him. "Jack, this isn't a Just Say No situation. If I don't do this, it could cause us to lose face with these people." He stood his ground as Jack turned back to face him.
"Daniel, just tell them that this isn't your way." O'Neill shook his head and ran his hand back behind his neck. "I've never known you to do anything, like this, before." He looked into Daniel's blue eyes. "This is too much. I know that you love to immerse yourself in the culture that we're dealing with, but you've never even done anything like this have you?" He demanded.
Jackson met his gaze for a moment then dropped his eyes. "Actually, Jack. No I haven't. But I've known people who have tried this..."
O'Neill raised his hand to stop him. "I thought not. Look Daniel, I appreciate your willingness to go the distance for the team but I have known people who have done these 'herbal stimulants'. I grew up in the sixties remember, and some of the side effects can be pretty nasty." The Colonel shook his head. "I do know that they can bring up buried memories, that they can intensify your emotions. Hell, they can blow you into another dimension on a one way ride. This stuff is nothing to fool with and you;" He stopped dropped his hand back to his side. "You, my friend are a cheap drunk."
Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose with his index finger. "But Jack..."
O'Neill took a deep breath and reached his hand up to put it on Daniel's shoulder. "Look let's quit fighting in front of the nosey neighbors." He turned back towards the campsite, bringing his friend with him. "Let's go back to camp now. We'll figure out what we can do to help these people and exactly how to do it." O'Neill looked back at Carter and Teal'c, indicating they should follow. "Come one, let's go. We need some team think time."
Later that evening O'Neill and Jackson were sitting at the campfire over two cups of Air Force Instant coffee. Carter and Teal'c had already turned in, preparing for their guard mounts later that night. The Colonel was still trying to dissuade his friend while they were alone, but not very successfully.
"Daniel, you don't have to do this you know." Jack repeated, sitting across the fire from his friend. "This isn't something that's a big deal."
The younger man thought he sensed a weakness in Jack's armor and leaned forward towards his team chief. "Actually, Jack, it is. This is a golden opportunity for me, as an archeologist to really experience..."
"Daniel." Jack raised his hand. "Stop. Please. You don't know what will happen when you do this. You only have what American Indians do, not what Px42753 Indians do. Besides, what value is this in our present circumstances? "O'Neill shook his head."It's not going to help us fight the Gould's. It's not going to help us in the battle later on, whenever it comes." He turned and looked directly at his friend. "In fact, it may hurt you, take a man out of the fight." He looked down into his coffee cup. "It doesn't make any sense to me."
Jackson thought a moment to find a way to explain this need, this requirement to his friend. He knew that Jack was worried about the effect the ceremony would have on him. And he couldn't truthfully say what good it would do, he just knew in the long run it would be valuable. "Jack," He started. "I have thought about this. It will make a difference. Not only to the Anasazi, but also to me."
"Damn it, Daniel. You aren't Anasazi. Hell, you're no more Indian than I am, and you certainly are not a Shaman." O'Neill wouldn't let up on the point he was trying to make. "Look, I admit I played around with some of that stuff back in the sixties. There were lots of people were hurt by it, physically and mentally. Daniel you don't need any more grief in your life."
"Jack, I'm not dropping LSD, for Pete's sake. It's only peyote buttons."
"Yea, only the most hallucinogenic of the herbs." He leaned over and laid a hand on Daniel's arm. "I can order you not to do this, you know."
"I'd really like you not to do that Jack." Daniel dropped his eyes and stared into the flames.
"Yea, well I'd really like not to have to do that Danny." Jack was not very happy with the way this conversation was going.
Daniel sat for a moment, and then looked at his friend. "I'm going to do it Jack."
O'Neill let his hand fall back to his side and looked sadly at the younger man. "I was afraid of that, but I don't know why."
"Because it's the right thing to do."
Jack looked up again across the flames. "Are you so sure? You know you already have enough crap in your subconscious to drop a bull elephant. Do you really want to see it, maybe have to live it, all over again?"
"Maybe that won't happen." Daniel met his eyes with a look of his own. "Maybe it will show me a way out of my nightmares."
O'Neill stood up and looked down at his friend. "God, I hope so Danny. I'm just afraid that you may find more bad trips than good answers out there." He turned to go to his tent.
Danny spoke without looking up. "Jack, I can take a 'watcher', a guardian to stay with me. Will you do it?"
The Colonel paused at the flap door of his tent, his back still to Jackson. "If that's what you want."
"Yes, it is." His friend replied softly.
"Then I will be there for you, Daniel. You know that, don't you?" He turned back to look at the younger man.
"Yea, I do." Jackson smiled shyly at him. "I guess I just wanted to hear you say it."
The next morning, Painted Face came to the campsite and politely called out a greeting in his language. Jack was sitting back on 'his' log, nursing his second cup of morning coffee. Carter was still abed as she had pulled late watch and Teal'c had gone on to the Stargate to see if anything else had happened during the night, so O'Neill was alone. He waived the young Indian into the fire circle and offered him a cracker from the MRE he had opened earlier. The young man accepted it and a cup of water and sat down comfortably. They could hear Jackson still in his tent rummaging around, looking for something. The Shaman nodded to O'Neill, got up and went over to the tent opening. He scratched on the flap. "Dan-yel, are you ready?"
He poked his head out of the tent flap. "Uh, hello." Jack waived at him from the campfire. Daniel hurried out of his tent, still putting his Desert Camo Shirt on. "I thought the ceremony was tonight?"
"The ceremony is tonight, Dan-yel. Now we must go to purify ourselves and make ready to receive the Sacred Visions the Great Spirit will send."
O'Neill had watched the exchange warily and when Jackson had translated the words to Jack, he asked concernedly. "What does he mean 'purify' and all that stuff'? Suspicion coloring his tone.
Jackson was fully out of the tent now, pulling on his DCU Fatigue shirt. He looked at the Indian standing at their fire. "I'm not sure Jack, I'll ask."
The Shaman looked at O'Neill, and then spoke. "Your Chief does not approve of your taking the Spirit Trail." It was a statement, not a question.
"My Chief doesn't understand the ways of your people. He is worried that I may be hurt by the peyote." Daniel shrugged. "I have never done this before. How do I purify myself for the ceremony?"
"How do you seek wisdom to know how to advise him in his actions if you haven't taken a spirit journey?" The young Shaman asked confused.
"We study the wisdom of our ancestors by reading the writings and drawings they have left us. I read them and tell him what their wisdom says, and then he makes the choice of what we will do." Jackson was trying to explain, but it sounded lame to him too when he had to actually say it.
Painted Face frowned. "That sounds very difficult. You must guess what your ancestors would want. Our ways are better. When the spirits speak to me, I am sure I can give Grey Badger the truth."
"That is why I want to do this thing." Jackson replied to the young Shaman. "To see the truth through your eyes."
"It is a good thing you do to bring our people together. But I understand your Chief also. Two Spears doesn't like me to do this either." He shrugged. "I think they are much alike. They do not like their clansmen to go with dangers they cannot protect them from."
Jackson looked over at where O'Neill was staring into the fire. He had been listening to the language that he didn't comprehend, trying to understand. Daniel smiled back at Painted Face. "Yes, this is so." Then he changed the subject back. "How do we prepare for the ceremony?"
"First we will go down to the river and bathe in the cold water, then we will go to the mineral springs to bathe in the hot water, then the Kivas and bathe in the hot dry smoke. There we will have the ceremony tonight and we will eat the sacred peyote. Then we will go to the mountain, me to my place and you to yours, and wait for the Great Spirit to come to us. Our watchers will protect us from enemies and animals. We will not speak unless the spirit tells us to." He shrugged. "Usually, I do not speak until after. But Old Tree, before me, would cry out and speak in the old language. It depends on the seeker. That is why we take the watchers. Before Old Tree, who was my teacher in the way, the old Shaman Long Bow fell from the mountain and he went under too early. That is why we lost that battle to the false gods that time. We didn't have the truth from the Great Spirit to guide us. It was a very bad time. We nearly lost our place."
"So what must I do now?" Daniel asked.
"Now we go to the river to wash off the dirt, then to the sacred spring," He pointed towards the mountains. "It is a gift of hot waters from the Great Spirit. It is medicinal for the old and sick. For us it will relax our bodies and make us more receptive to the visions."
"I understand. I will tell my chief, then we can go." Danny turned to Jack to fill him in. "Right now, I get to go to a mineral pool and soak for a while. Later we'll go to the Kivas, and then have the ceremony. The Spirit Quest will be tonight. That's when I need you to stay with me." He smiled and shrugged at Jack. "Evidently an old Shaman fell off the mountain and died during a vision. It's strictly precautionary."
Jack rolled his eyes at Jackson and grunted. "Ya think? Geez Danny, the things you do to yourself are beyond belief." He stood up and threw what was left of his coffee on the embers of their campfire. "OK, you go soak your head and I'll go into the village and see what I can do to help there." He pitched his shirt jacket back into his tent. Too warm for this climate and some hard work would be good for his mind. "Just be careful, OK?"
"OK, Jack. I won't drown myself in the pool." Jackson called back as he followed Painted Face up the trail towards the Village.
O'Neill watched the two men as they walked off towards the river. Then he poured Carter a cup of hot coffee and went to wake her.