A/N: Okay, this is a little later coming than I had expected, but I ended up giving my storyline a complete overhaul, so that took a bit. Thanks to all of you that have been taking the time to read and review this! Oh, and SGS1-POTC, you should be happy, because I did figure out a way to bring Sam Carter back into the story. And for any of you who are really picky, I'm taking a bit of liberty with the Belenus/Belus route. Although the show never actually gave the connection, Belus is normally thought of as another name for Marduk. But for obvious reasons, that isn't the case this time. Just thought you should know. Alright, enough with this, lets get to the chapter!
Chapter 7
At a loss, Daniel just stood there, staring at Jack, his mouth slightly open. Finally, he snapped it shut and cleared his throat. "Well, Jack. I don't know. Isn't it enough to just have one less question, one less thing to worry about?" He was getting a bit frustrated now, he had worked hard to figure out this problem and here Jack was, just blowing it off.
"Sure, Daniel. Now that we don't have to worry about that nagging problem, why don't we focus on some more important issues, like getting out of this damn cell!" The stress was getting to both of them, and Jack gestured angrily as he advanced toward Daniel.
Before either one of them could do anything they would regret later, strong arms descended upon each of their shoulders, effectively stopping them. Looking over to see what had prevented them from tearing each other to pieces, they saw the calm yet stern face of Teal'c. In all their arguing, they had almost forgotten he was even there. "You are tired," he said. "And are thus unable to think clearly. Perhaps it would be more productive to rest before doing anything further." Teal'c gave each of them a pointed look, which neither could hold for long before they ducked their heads in disgrace.
"You're right, Teal'c. We shouldn't be arguing at a time like this." Daniel paused and rubbed his temples. "And I could sure use some rest." Jack merely mumbled something incoherent before settling down in one corner of the room. Daniel sat down next to the unconscious woman, resting her head back on his lap. Thinking of something, his head whipped up to face Teal'c.
"Do not worry, Daniel Jackson. I will stand watch for any danger." Teal'c paused, seeing the still worried look on Daniel's face. "The woman will be fine, Daniel Jackson. You must rest."
Daniel gave Teal'c a reassured nod before getting more comfortable. Within a few minutes, the only sounds were Daniel and the young woman's slow breaths, and Jack's not so quiet snoring. Teal'c merely shook his head and sat down by the door to the cell, immersing himself in a light state of Kel'no'reem to regain his strength as well.
Daniel awoke hours later to strong hands grabbing him. Thinking he was being taken somewhere by the Jaffa, he lashed out, struggling the best he could. He was quickly subdued as he heard a voice he recognized.
"Daniel Jackson, you are in no danger. I only wished to wake you because…" But before Teal'c could say more, Daniel felt more hands grasping at him. This time they were small, grabbing and scratching. Opening his eyes, he saw that the young woman was thrashing around in her sleep, muttering and calling out strange words.
"Do you understand what she is saying, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, now that the reason for him awakening Daniel was apparent.
Frowning, Daniel listened to the woman for a while, noticing she kept repeating the same things over and over again. "Uhmm, well she keeps saying something about not wanting to be like someone else…doesn't make much sense if you ask me." Daniel shook his head.
"What language is she speaking?" Teal'c asked.
"Well it sounds like Greek to me, maybe a little off, I can't quite hear her." As if to oblige him, the young woman started to speak more frantically, almost shouting.
"Den thélo na páo!" She shouted, pushing away from him. Her eyes were wide open but she didn't seem to be seeing anything.
Teal'c gave Daniel a look. He replied, "She said 'I do not want to go'. Go where?" He turned back to the woman. "Go where?" he asked her.
"Ochi to dásos!" she seemed to reply.
"Not the forest…okay. Why don't you want to go to the forest, what's there?" He spoke to the girl as if to a child.
"Do you think it wise to encourage her, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c said apprehensively.
"I don't think she's going to harm us, Teal'c. And this may be our only way of finding out what's going on with her. Did you notice she used—" he was cut off as the girl spoke again.
"To dásos eínai apagorheyméno éos ótoy eínai chrónos." This was said much more calmly than before, almost as a mantra or a saying one was taught to repeat.
"Okay that's cryptic." Daniel said with a frown. Receiving the telltale raised eyebrow from Teal'c, he continued. "Well she said, 'The forest is forbidden until it is time'. Time…time for what?" He directed this last part to the girl.
For a while, the young woman was silent, only occasionally mumbling something about not becoming like another. Just when Daniel and Teal'c thought that perhaps she was falling back into a calmer sleep, she sat up with a jolt.
"Arith!" she screamed, turning to Daniel and looking straight into his eyes. "Parhacaló me boethéote." She pleaded, seeing him and yet looking through him.
Stunned for a moment, Daniel sat there with the girl's hands clenched painfully into the flesh of his arms. "Help you…help you." He muttered, then blinked out of his daze. Gently shaking the girl, he spoke to her. "Hey, its okay. Snap out of it."
Having been woken up when the woman screamed, Jack rubbed his face with his hands and got up. Walking over to the others, he saw Daniel shaking the girl, who seemed to have quite the iron grip on him. "What's going on?" he asked.
The others turned and looked over at him, Daniel with a concerned look on his face, Teal'c with his usual expression, albeit a bit strained. "This…Ninsar is experiencing vivid dreams, and has been calling out in a foreign language." Teal'c informed Jack.
"She's speaking Greek, Jack! That must mean her people influenced the Greek culture on Earth, meaning they may have lived there at some time! Aghh!" He stopped short, gasping as the girl gripped into him again.
"Parhacaló me boethéote." She said again, even more desperately this time. Jack turned his gaze to Daniel, waiting for an interpretation.
"She said this once before. It means 'please help me'. I'm trying to get her to wake up, but nothing seems to be working." He shook his head in frustration and began trying to pry the girl's hands off his arm.
Stepping forward, Jack scooted in next to Daniel. "Let me give it a try." Daniel nodded in encouragement. "Hey, kid. I know you probably are pretty confused right now, but you really need to snap out of it and let go of Daniel's arm." He chuckled. "I sometimes feel the need to dig my nails into him too, but trust me; he isn't as bad once you get to know him."
Daniel gave him a scathing look. He just shrugged and turned back to the girl. "We can't help you if you don't wake up. So, come on. Get your butt back to the land of the conscious." He added a more rigorous shake than Daniel had attempted, hoping for better results.
"Den thélo na páo." The young woman whimpered one more time before shuddering. Her eyes slowly shut.
"Don't worry, you won't have to." Daniel said reassuringly. This seemed to do the trick, she began to straighten and open her eyes. Although her awakening could have started when she closed her eyes after speaking, he couldn't be sure.
"It is too late." She said, looking around at all of them. Returning her gaze to Daniel, she noticed her hands still digging into his arms. She quickly pulled away, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from Daniel. "We are truly sorry. We have injured you yet again."
Daniel shook his head. "No, no, it's all right. It wasn't your fault then and it isn't this time either." He paused in thought. "But what did you mean, it's too late?"
"We were reliving memories. The dream you witnessed was a memory. What was feared has already come to pass." She seemed slightly embarrassed.
"What fear? What happened?" Daniel asked, hoping he wasn't pushing her too much.
"It was a foolish fear." The young woman glanced down at her hands which she flexed open and closed in front of her. "On the planet from whence Union comes, people are not born as you see us now." SG-1 looked shocked. "The humans and amphelos live separately, to a point."
"Uhmm…amphelos?" Jack asked, moving his gaze back and forth between the woman and Daniel. Daniel won.
"Amphelos…uhhh…its Greek. It means…vine?" He turned a questioning gaze to the woman; she gave an imperceptible nod back. "That must be what these plants are called."
"You are correct. The amphelos are sentient plants that have evolved on our planet. When a human reaches the age of understanding, they are sent to the forest to become Union." The others exchanged looks, then Jack spoke up.
"Age of understanding?" He didn't think he qualified, but he just wanted to check.
Daniel intervened. "Uhh, I think what she means is…well, it's obviously some type of coming of age ceremony. Once the individual is old enough to understand what this change in their life means, they are able to accept it."
"Ah!" Jack said. Not so much because he understood, himself, but more so that Daniel would not continue into some long-winded explanation. Daniel seemed oblivious.
"You spoke of Union before; I thought it was what your people were called. Now I'm not so sure." Daniel had turned back to the young woman, focusing his confused gaze upon her.
"It is true, all those who have become Union may call themselves Union. But you are right in thinking this is not a racial name. It is a…" she stopped, a look of contemplation on her face. "A metaphysical name." she finally came up with. "The next step in the evolution of all beings in the universe. One of the final steps on the path to the Great Union."
"Okay, I know I recognize this." Daniel interrupted confidently. "You must be talking about ascension. A-a gradual evolution to a higher plane of existence?"
The young woman tilted her head and furrowed her brow in confusion. "We do not know of this ascension of which you speak. But you seem to know of the basic principles of the Great Union." She began to gesture in a somewhat teacherly way. "All beings came from the same material, and at one time, all beings were one. This is called the Great Union. As time went on, this material began to change, diversify. The Great Union was broken in favor of individuality. This changing continues up to the point when a being becomes sentient of the truth of the Great Union. Then it is one's duty, one's purpose, to begin the path back." She paused for breath, but no one spoke.
"Our siblings, the amphelos, reached this conclusion before the humans. They attempted to show the humans the path back the only way they could. They merged with one. They became the first Union. The other humans were at first shocked and afraid, but soon the first Union was able to convince the others of the truth in this. They pledged to join in the path back to Great Union. From that day forward, every human child of the age of understanding was sent to the forest where the amphelos sprung from to receive Union. Once that is done, they return."
"So, you have a symbiotic relationship? Between the human and amphelos?" Daniel asked curiously. "Well, which one are we speaking to, and what are your names?"
The young woman shook her head. "We are true Union. There is no individual. We were once separate, but now we are indivisible." Seeing the disturbed looks on SG-1's faces, she continued. "But you may call us Neolaía if you wish."
"Neolaía, that makes sense." Daniel nodded to himself.
"Well I'm glad something is making sense to you, Daniel, but I'm still in the dark here. Care to elaborate?" Jack said testily.
Daniel's head perked up. "Oh, sorry Jack. The name means 'youth'."
"What of the name Belenus referred to you? Ninsar." Teal'c stepped in, guiding the conversation back.
"Your interpretation of that name was correct. It was the name your people gave to us when we first came to your world, searching for kin. Only a few returned, and none spoke of these kin who are not. We think we understand now why this was so." Neolaía nodded contentedly to herself.
"I was right! Your people did influence the Greek culture!" Daniel exclaimed, receiving a nod in return. "You must have been the basis to the stories of dryads, beings who could transform into plants, spirits of the forest! But wait, you never answered something…"
"Yeah, what about this Union were you afraid of?" Jack butted in.
"The girl who merged with the sentient plant that makes up our Union was afraid. Afraid of the loss of individuality. Those that come back know only what it is like to be Union. They are not the same as those that leave." Neolaía said plainly.
"So, for all intents and purposes, that girl is dead." Daniel realized.
The young woman nodded back. "As is the plant that merged with her."
A/N: Okay, an added note. I did finish this earlier, but I ended up getting my modem replaced, so sadly, my internet access was gone for quite a while. Also, a friend of mine ended up inadvertently betaing the first half of this chapter (I like to call it sneak preview, but hey) so here's a thank you to MissNikori, my inadvertent beta. I hope you enjoy the second half of my chapter! And to the rest of you, don't forget to send me a review! Your input truly helps. The few pieces of Greek in this chapter should be right, but to anyone who knows Greek, I apologize if it's off. I ended up having to romanize the words I translated from the Greek alphabet, so if some words are not how they are usually romanized, again, I apologize. Until next time!
A/N 2: Actually its authors note three, but hey, who's counting? Anyway, this is a note to say, these other notes were obviously written at different times in my wonderful internet fiasco, but now that it's finished, and thank you MissNikori again for the wonderful authors note, you can read it to your hearts content. And Ni-chan, good thing you censored that, cause you know what I would have done to you if you'd spilled the beans. Anyway, enjoy, and REVIEW!