"Max is sick I need to get her back to the states." Adam snarled. He had half carried Max back to the living tent and tucked her into her cot. He had slipped her a tranquilizer and waited until it took effect.

"What? Dr. Pierson you are contracted for-"

"Dr. Robinson, I have tolerated your outrageous manners for almost a week now, my assistant, whom I consider a friend needs medical attention. I will fax you a copy of my translation at my earliest convenience." Adam snarled. The tent grew silent as the two doctors faced off.

"Very well Dr. Pierson, but do not expect to receive credit when we publish our work here."

"One day Dr. Robinson you will realize that people, the living breathing people around you are far more valuable than any byline on any article, or maybe you won't and you'll die alone and even more bitter than you now are, radio for an evac." He ordered. She tried to stare him down but her gaze dropped first.

Twelve hours later he and Max were on their way to Seacouver. Adam apparently knew a ton of people in very important places because their entire journey had been expedited from on high. Max sat shivering and staring out the window on their plane. The landscape swept by far beneath unheeded by her sightless eyes.

Adam had kept her heavily sedated. She was a killer tried and true, and she longed to bleed him. He knew the powerful pull that any kind of family relationship could have for an immortal; he also remembered the relief on Max's newly immortal face when he had informed her that all immortals without exception were foundlings. The glowing mother as she had called her had an undoubtedly powerful hold on the younger immortal. Max could not be trusted. They had to find this Daniel Jackson; he could hold the key to everything.

He picked up the satellite phone on the seat back in front of him and then replaced it. He wasn't sure who to call just yet. There were a few options. He was hoping to get Max back to Seacouver and under control first off, from there well; he would see what he could do. Although something about Daniel Jackson was ringing some very deep bells, the name was extremely familiar.

Adam checked on Max again and noted her vacant gaze. He picked up her limp wrist and counted her pulse out. He frowned she was going catatonic. He slipped her another dose of tranquilizer which seemed to have no effect. Finally the aircraft began to descend and landed roughly. He levered Max out of her seat and managed to support her as she stumbled off the plane. A wheelchair waited for them at the bottom of the steps. He spoke softly, comfortingly to her and helped her to sit comfortably. He managed to secure a rental car and drove them to one of his many personal safe houses.

Adam settled Max in the bedroom and insured all weapons were safely locked away. He called a local market and phoned in a grocery list for delivery. Finally he powered on a laptop and began a search.

He tried Daniel Jackson and got a few hundred thousand hits. Groaning he began to scan through after a few hours his head aching and eyes sore he decided to attempt to refine the search. He got up and poured some coffee and the doorbell rang. He picked up his wallet and went to the door.

Two men in military uniforms were waiting for him.

"Dr. Adam Pierson?"

Adam blinked and stepped outside closing the door behind him.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" He asked folding his arms.

"Are you Dr. Pierson?"

"No, I'm not." Adam said coldly.

"I see." The higher ranking man said and turned to leave.

"What that's it?" Adam challenged.

"Sorry to have disturbed you Sir." Adam glared after them, every inch the deeply offended homeowner. As soon as they were out of sight he darted back into the apartment locked the door, and began packing. He normally had a bag ready to go but had not counted on using this location so soon. He cursed and threw the bare essentials into a gym bag. He ducked into the bedroom and shook Max awake.

"I need your help Max, you have to stay awake, we need to run."

She managed to stand with very little help. Adam slipped an arm around her waist and helped her walk to the front door. He ducked his head out and took a look around, it seemed clear but he didn't have time to wait and be sure. He hauled her out and down the short flight of stairs to the rental car. She slumped into the passenger's seat and managed to buckle her belt. Adam pulled out and headed for the center of town, he ran a list of safe houses through his head trying to choose one. Finally he found a fairly deserted alley and parked the car. He sat thinking Max stirred.

"Adam, she's calling me, she's so angry Adam." She whimpered.

"The glowing mother? The Goa'uld from the chamber?" She nodded and tears filled her eyes.

"She's so angry Adam, it hurts me."

"Is she talking to you? What is she saying Max?"

"South, she says we have to go south, she says Daniel Jackson is near the Chapa'ai." Adam's stomach lurched.

"Okay, south it is." Adam said he put the car in gear and headed for the highway. He would drive until they needed gas or the mother spoke again.

"Does it hurt less now Max?" She nodded and gave out a low sob.

"She still wants me to kill you Adam, she still requires it."

"Shh Max, I won't let you hurt me Max." She whimpered and pulled away from him. He reached into his coat for another syringe of sedative but came up empty. He cursed and reached for the gym bag in the back seat.

"Adam hurry!" Max begged gritting her teeth and wringing her hands. He flipped his emergency lights on and veered to the shoulder. Slamming the brakes on he grabbed the bag and pulled out a syringe, he flipped Max's left wrist over and inserted the needle; he depressed the plunger and watched her slide away into unconsciousness. He was breathing hard and felt sweat beading on his face. He sat back and turned off his emergency lights signaling he pulled back into traffic.

His heart was racing he continued south until the gas light came on. He was exhausted but didn't dare stop. He couldn't tell if he was being followed but if they were pros he wouldn't be able to. He ground his teeth and pulled off at the next exit. He found the first gas station he could and filled up. He stared around the nearby vehicles as the gas sloshed and rattled into his tank. None seemed familiar but he didn't lower his guard.

Heading back onto the highway he floored it risking a speeding ticket but not caring he couldn't stand the feeling of being watched any longer. He raced along at ninety and hoped he wasn't caught. The road was almost deserted which didn't surprise him since it was past three A.M. Finally as he approached the Oregon/Washington border he eased off the gas and dropped to the legal limit.

He drove until he was a few miles from the California border. Eyes heavy and dry he admitted defeat and pulled over at a rest stop. Max was still asleep but he gave her a dose to insure she wouldn't wake while he rested. Tilting his seat back he forced himself to relax and drifted off.

Adam sat up with a jerk. Somewhere someone's car alarm system was going off. He groaned and struggled to sit up. Max was still unconscious, mercifully. He put the car in gear and pulled out. After another three hours on the road Max woke.

"She says to go east." She murmured sleepily. Adam drove on following Max's occasional directions and sedating her when she began to fear her own actions. Eventually they reached Colorado.

"Where to Max?" Adam asked her. They were parked in a Jack in the Box parking lot eating burgers. She stared at him with a strange expression for a moment.

"She said he is close, the rest is up to me."

"Max, what is it?" She glared at him with a weird rictus grin on her face.

"Nothing." She hissed and leaned toward him.

He nailed her with a right hook and caught her falling body. He glanced around the parking lot but no one was reacting. He carefully lowered her into the back seat and threw away the remnants of their lunch. Their options were rapidly becoming impossible. Adam made sure Max was secure and wouldn't hurt herself and locked the door. He walked into the restaurant.

"Excuse me, do you have a phonebook?"

"Uhm sure." The sixteen year old at the counter said, he dug around in the back and returned to the counter with a tattered out of date phonebook.

Adam took it and stood to one side of the register and began paging through. If his luck had finally turned he would be very, very lucky and find a Daniel Jackson in the white pages, if he wasn't or the book was too old the ridiculous circus of their journey would continue. He reached the Js and began scanning the list. He absentmindedly flexed his right hand as he searched. There were four D Jacksons but no Daniels. Adam sighed but committed the names to memory anyway.

"Thanks." He said and handed the book back to the young cashier.

"Uh, sorry but can you tell me the next large city around here?"

"Uh, Colorado Springs probably. But it's not huge or anything."

"Thanks."

Adam climbed back into the little rented sedan and typed Colorado Springs into the GPS unit on the dash. A list of directions and a map with a blinking cursor popped up on the screen. He glanced at Max but she was still dead to the world. He did some mental gymnastics and figured they could be in Colorado Springs in an hour if he pushed it. He pulled a syringe out of the glove box and doped Max. He decided to keep her under for as long as he could. That last time she had turned on him in seconds.

Adam headed for the road as he neared Colorado Springs he called information on his cell.

"City please?"

"Colorado Springs, residential."

"Name?"

"Daniel Jackson."

"I have one Daniel Jackson. Would you like me to connect you?"

"Uh no thank you can I just have the number?"

"555-7430."

"Thank you." Adam said struggling to hide the glee in his voice. He hung up and put more pressure on the gas. He got control of himself and slowed down to match traffic. Outside the city he pulled over at a rest stop and dosed Max again. He picked up his cell phone and went for a walk.

He flipped the phone open and dialed the number he'd been given.

"Hello?"

"Please don't hang up."

"Who is this?"

"Just promise me you won't hang up for the next thirty seconds."

"What? No, look pal-"

"I need your helpplease just listen, I . . . does the name Goa'uld mean anything to you?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Adam Pierson –"

"Where are you?"

"Uh I don't know hang on." Adam lowered the phone and jogged back to the car. He peered in at the GPS.

"I can give you my GPS coordinates."

"I can't meet you myself but I'll get someone to you."

"No just you. I can't I can't trust anyone else. I . . . look my friend has to be kept sedated, she . . . she's going to try to kill you."

"Mr. Pierson I can't get to you before an hour, can you wait that long?"

"Yeah, yeah I can but please hurry." Adam said and snapped the phone shut. He hopped in the car and drove across the street. As hiding places went it wasn't great but it might give him an edge. He got out and climbed into the back seat, he laid Max's head in his lap and rested his fingertips on her throat measuring her pulse.

An enormous weight lifted off him knowing that Jackson was coming. He knew it was stupid to pin so much hope on one mortal man, a complete stranger at that. Still if Jackson couldn't help Max then Adam would have to kill her. No one controlled by a Goa'uld could be allowed to survive. Slowly Adam drifted off and began to dream.

He sat up startled as a fist crashed against the passenger's door. Adam opened it up and crawled out.

"Pierson?"

"Jackson?" The man nodded. He was six foot, dark blonde, handsome with piercing intelligent eyes. Adam sighed and nodded.

"What is going on? How do you know about the Goa'uld?"

"Look I would love to hang out and chat but see my friend in there? She's being controlled by a Goa'uld, this Goa'uld has programmed her to kill me and gain a book you have. In about forty-five seconds she's going to wake up and probably go into a homicidal rage and try to remove my head. You can let me dose her and get us out of here or we can play twenty questions."

Jackson's eyes narrowed but he nodded and gestured at the car. Adam snatched open the front door and grabbed his last syringe from the glove box. He primed it and opened Max's door.

Max leapt up and booted him squarely in the face with both feet. Adam gasped and fell backwards the syringe hit the ground and skittered under a neighboring car. Max did a handspring and emerged from the car. Landing on her feet she stared around at Jackson. She bared her teeth and lunged at Adam. Adam rolled dodging her reaching hands and kicked her in the gut. She doubled over and hit the concrete. Adam reached for the syringe but it was gone. Scrabbling away from Max he got to his feet at the same time she did. She laughed hysterically and charged Adam. He blocked her and tried to get a grip on her throat; she slithered around his grip and sank her teeth into his throat. He gargled in shock and began beating her face and trying to force her away. Jackson appeared behind her, syringe in hand he jammed it into her jugular and depressed the plunger, her jaw released and she crumpled to the sidewalk.

Adam clapped a hand to his throat and felt the hot spurt of blood against his palm. He was going to bleed out. He fell to the ground and peered up at Jackson. Jackson was leaning over him a worried look on his face. Adam smiled through the blood flooding his throat. He heard rapid footsteps and saw more faces; there were shouted commands and movement outside his range of view. His vision began to gray out he felt hands on his, pressure being applied to his throat, and then nothing.

"What the hell just happened?" Jack O'Neil demanded. He was bristling with annoyance. The parking lot looked like a slaughterhouse, there was an unconscious woman lying in a pool of blood with a hunk of meat hanging out of her jaws and a syringe sticking out of her throat and some guy bleeding out of a massive wound in his throat.

"Daniel I thought you said this guy needed your help?"

"He called me Jack, started babbling about the Goa'uld, he said his friend was being controlled by one, said she was being compelled to kill him and get a book I had, that's all he said."

"Great, is he going to live?" Jack called to the technicians working on the bleeding man. By way of answer they stopped working. The man's skin was almost white with blood loss, the hideous wet sucking noises from his throat wound had ceased.

"Nice. Load them up guys. Daniel you're with me."

The techs obeyed loading both inert bodies into an unmarked van. Another group emerged from the van and began cleaning up the parking lot, O'Neil and Jackson climbed into the van.

They zoomed off at a legal speed and disappeared into traffic. The woman was built like an extreme athlete or a soldier. Jack watched as the techs secured her arms and legs to the gurney and checked her vitals.

"Dr. Jackson how much of the substance was she given?" One of the techs questioned.

"The whole syringe, it was as full as it could be."

"I don't mean to doubt you sir but are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure, she was a madwoman, and she bit out Pierson's throat. I gave her the whole damn syringe."

"I don't doubt you sir, it's just that with this much sedative she should be dead." Jack and Daniel exchanged identical 'oh boy' looks.

"I was supposed to be off tomorrow." Jack said mournfully.

"What's up with him?" Jack asked gesturing at Adam.

"Blood loss sir, other than I couldn't say." Max moaned and started to come around.

"Airman you better prep a syringe of something and fill the damn thing." Jack ordered. The technician complied and slipped the tip of the needle into Max's arm ready to administer as needed. Max stirred and opened her eyes. She coughed and stared around.

"Hey what's up? Why did you kill your friend?" Jack asked. Her bloodshot eyes glared around, she spotted Adam and bared her teeth.

"She demands he die!" She growled and tugged at her restraints.

"Hey wakey wakey, you tore his throat out, he's dead relax."

"Fools he hasn't died, not for real, not yet!" She yelled hauling at her restraints, the nylon holding her right wrist started to give way and Jack nodded at the tech he pressed the plunger. She settled down but didn't go under.

"You don't know what he is." She mumbled drunkenly.

"Uh Sir that should have put down a water buffalo with 'roid rage." The tech said.

"Knock her out. I don't want her getting frisky till we have her caged." Jack ordered. The tech complied without complaint refilling the syringe and administering a second dose she finally slipped away.

"Okay, Daniel what the hell is going on?"

"I don't know Jack." Daniel said irritation tinging his voice.

"Daniel, this guy called you out of the blue, asked if you knew anything about the Goa'uld and then gave you some story?"

"Yeah Jack he did."

"I want these two locked up and under guard as soon as we hit the mountain." Jack grumbled.

"Sir this one's dead."

"Not according to her he isn't." Jack pointed out.

Finally they arrived at Cheyenne Mountain. Max's unconscious body was hauled to a holding cell. They didn't bother drugging her settling for a locked cell instead. Adam's still cold body was treated the same. Both cells contained closed circuit security monitors.

"Colonel what have you brought into the mountain?" General Hammond asked.

"Well sir, as Daniel said this Adam character called him up. We met at the rendezvous and his 'friend' went berserk and tore his throat out, only according to her rantings he isn't actually dead."

"Sir you may want to look at this." One of the technicians from the gate room interrupted.

O'Neil, Jackson, the General, Major Carter, and Teal'c filed into the gate room. The technician had Max's cell camera displayed on her monitor. Max was up and angry. She was battering her cell door and screaming at the camera.

"Do we have audio on this feed?"

"Not from this location sir, one of the security rooms will though."

The group jogged headed out of the room and down the hall. They burst into the security room for that level and brought her camera up on the main monitor.

"You unworthy fools! The glowing mother commands me! She loves me, she will destroy you all!" She began laughing and pounding the cell door again.

"Sir she's going to severely injure herself if we don't do something."

"Major she bit out the throat of a man who claimed to be her friend; I am not willing to send any of my people in there at the moment. If she batters herself unconscious so be it." Carter frowned but didn't object.

"General Hammond, the dead man is awake." Teal'c said solemnly. He gestured at the portion of a second monitor displaying Adam's room.

"Major, Dr. Jackson see what our guest has to say, I'll have Dr. Frasier meet you at his cell." The two officers nodded.

"Dr. Jackson see if you can figure out what book this Goa'uld wants, Sam please accompany Dr. Jackson." Teal'c inclined his head and followed Jackson out.

Adam woke up slowly his throat hurt. He felt for the wound with his right hand, relieved to find the skin whole and untouched, throat wounds on immortals could heal strangely. He sat up slowly surprised to see he was in a cell and not a morgue. The room was the same pale gray, furnished with a steel table in the center and two chairs. He threw the thin army surplus green wool blanket off his chest and stood up very slowly. He was desperately thirsty.

"Hello?" He called to the silent room.

"Hello? I'm awake now, I'm very thirsty." He called loudly but in an unthreatening manner. After ten minutes passed without a response he sat down at the desk and waited patiently. There was little else he could do.

Finally a pair of eyes appeared at the double thickness wire reinforced window on his door. He heard the lock being opened and the door opened. Three people stood in the doorway.

"Hello." He said softly smiling at their wary expressions. He recognized Jackson from the rest stop but the two women with him were intriguing. One was a tall strong looking blonde with short hair, she moved like a professional. The second was a shorter red head with a lab coat.

"I'm fine Doctor, really." Adam said and smiled again. He knew he had an intriguing and disarming smile and used it to full effect.

"I would like to take your word for it Mr. Pierson but I'm required to do a medical clearance on everyone in the facility."

"Of course." Adam said. Jackson and the blonde watched without comment as Dr. Frasier drew blood and checked him over.

"I'd like to do a more thorough evaluation at some point but for now he's cleared." She said to Jackson and his companion. Adam sighed and regarded the blonde woman.

"Who are you?" Jackson asked.

"Dr. Daniel Pierson, linguistics. My friend and I were working on a dig in Central America. She somehow came under the influence of a Goa'uld, the Goa'uld looked like a woman and claimed Max as her daughter, she ordered Max to kill me and steal a book in Mr. Jackson's possession."

"It's Doctor actually, uh archeology. Where in Central America?"

"I'm not sure, the dig was very sensitive and security was tight." Adam lied.

"Why aren't you dead?" The blonde asked cutting to the chase.

"I . . .well that's a long story."

"We don't have any plans." She said.

"I'm different; I heal almost any injury, including most fatal ones."

"Most?"

"Well, I've never been decapitated or dismembered."

"I see."

"Okay Dr. Pierson we're going to need you to level with us."

"I've told you everything I know."

"Well, no, no you haven't. How do you know about the Goa'uld?"

"I'm a linguist, I was asked to the dig to decipher some writing they had found. The writing spoke of a race that masqueraded as gods, the Goa'uld. They came to earth thousands of years ago and enslaved the people until the people rose against them and disabled the Chapa'ai. It described the Goa'uld as speaking with voices of thunder and having eyes like lightning- that's a rough translation. Max meditated one evening and then sleepwalked into the chamber with the writing. When I found her she was speaking to a person with a weirdly deep and harsh voice with glowing eyes. She demanded that Max kill me and then seek out Daniel Jackson in America and take a book he owned. She said it would have her mark on its cover. Incidentally Dr. Jackson do you have any idea how common your name is?"

"Would you be willing to allow Dr. Frasier to give you a more extensive examination?" The blonde asked.

"Why?"

"Your ability could be of huge benefit to mankind."

"No offense but I am not thrilled at the idea of being a guinea pig for an unknown military organization that is familiar with beings like the Goa'uld, particularly given my 'condition'." She frowned and stepped back.

"Before you go, can I have some water? I'm extremely thirsty."

"You lost almost all the blood in your body." She said impassively.

"Look I'm sorry if I piss you off, but I'm just a guy okay? I'm sorry I don't want to get poked and prodded for the benefit of 'mankind', put yourself in my shoes would you be willing?" She remained silent.

"Can I see Max?" He asked suddenly.

"Uhm, she tore your throat out with her teeth." Jackson pointed out.

"She isn't herself. Look, she's my friend would you do less?"

"At the moment she's hell bent on dismantling her cell. If she calms down we'll let you know." The blonde said.

"Can you help us? Because if you can't I'll have to kill her."

"Pardon?"

"She's like me, it's the reason you had to use so much sedative so frequently. She's building up an immunity. Can I have some water now?" He asked switching subjects. Jackson nodded.

"Sam?" She shrugged and left carefully bolting the door behind her.

"Dr. Jackson, your name is familiar."

"I haven't been publicly involved in-"

"The pyramid guy." Adam said the light bulb finally coming on.

"Yeah, okay I'm the pyramid guy."

"You were right." Adam sad admiringly.

"Well, yes but –"

"Screw the rest of them, you were right." Adam said. Jackson shrugged.

"How did you manage to translate Goa'uld?" Jackson asked. Adam launched into a long and complex explanation only interrupted when Sam returned with a tray complete with a pitcher of water and a full plate of hot food. He eagerly sucked down the pitcher and started in on the food. Jackson and Sam left while he ate.

"Colonel what's your verdict."

"Pierson is still hiding something, but it's pretty clear his friend is a total wacko."

"Major, Doctor Jackson can anything be done for her?"

"I don't know General. I'm guessing that whatever was done to her happened when she meditated. We need to go to the site of the dig, see if we can trace what happened, maybe find the Goa'uld there." Jackson said.

"I agree General. I also think we should take Dr. Pierson with us."

"Well what about his friend?"

"We'll have to sedate her. She's going to tear herself to pieces."

"Okay Colonel I want you to take SG-1 and scout this site, SG-11 will be on standby as back up. Take Dr. Pierson but I want him tagged with a locator."

"Excellent Sir, consider us on the way, provided of course Dr. Pierson will stop stonewalling us and give us the location of the dig."

"I don't think that will be a problem Jack, he genuinely wants to help his friend and if that means going back to the dig then he'll probably do it." Jackson argued.

"Try it, Major see if you can dig up anything about a Central American dig just in case Pierson decides to be uncooperative."

"Where is the dig?" Jackson asked coming into Adam's cell.

"Take me with you."

"We were planning on it."

"Good then I'll show you where it is as we go."

"That's not acceptable."

"It's the only way."

"You don't trust us."

"No oddly enough I don't. Don't take it personally I don't trust a lot of people, well anyone really. Okay that's not true either, I trust two people, used to be three but one of them got mind-fucked by an alien and now wants to kill me more than anything. So I'm sorry if I'm a little tiny bit paranoid about giving out information to people I barely know, and oh by the way the only reason I even know you exist is because that same alien knows about you which is a tad unusual considering its been sealed away for a few thousand years."

"He makes some good points Daniel." A new man entered the cell. He was in his late forties, probably prematurely gray. His face was creased with experience but he also had prominent laugh lines. His eyes were grave.

"You are?" Adam challenged tired of not knowing anything.

"Colonel Jack O'Neil United States Air Force." Adam nodded.

"I will take you to the dig Colonel, but I control the flow of information. Max is in deep shit and I'm willing to do what it takes to help her but I have limits."

"Fair enough. Feel like traveling?"