NOTE: I made a couple edits here. So if you've read this chapter before October 2, you may wanna skim back through it. I didn't add much, and you won't really be lost moving forward if you don't!
Chapter 9
They met up in the morning in the square where breakfast was served by the entire village. Everyone ate together, SG-1 learned, during the season of The Wake. Carter and Jack had learned quite a lot during a couple visits with the villagers. It turned out that most of the villagers were friendly and willing to share their stories with Carter and Jack, though none of it was very helpful in answering their questions.
Jack stopped at one of the tables that had been set up during the early morning hours. Staring at the wanna-be System Lord who was already seated, he couldn't help but grimace. "Been invited back, I see."
"Not exactly an invite. It appears we are to be permanent guests."
"So, I've heard." Jack replied.
Just then, Teal'c joined them. He bowed his head to his team members. "Major Carter. O'Neill."
"Good morning to you, Teal'c," Ba'al replied politely, despite having been ignored in the morning greeting.
"Why has he returned?" Teal'c asked, without a glance at their rival.
"It seems that leaving this place is easier said than done. Where's Daniel?" Carter asked.
"I believe he has found what he was looking for, Major Carter."
"Ah, a library." Jack supplied. "Might as well leave him to it."
They sat down at the same table as Ba'al, though left a seat between them.
The morning sky was silver grey. The air smelled like dirt and was thick and moist. The ground was wet, muddy, and had sucked at their feet with each step they took. Everyone in the village seemed to be out in the open this morning, bustling about in their colorless clothes, caring baskets, tools, and food.
SG-1 noticed that none of the villagers who were in Danh'ai's house yesterday were outside, unless they were not dressing in their bright clothing.
Daniel joined them near the end of breakfast and afterwards, they walked towards the far end of the square. They used Carter's temporary quarters since it was the farthest from everyone else. Carter and Daniel sat down on the cot while Jack leaned against a wall support, and Teal'c stood stoically, hands folded in front of him. Ba'al had joined them without a word as if there was a silent communication that he was, for the time being, once again part of the group. He found a seat on the floor and leaned against another support post.
"What did you discover, Danny boy?" Jack asked.
"Well, we already know that Vishnu derives from ancient Hindu culture on Earth, so I'm guessing he means the same thing here, which means these villagers originated from Earth as well. According to one of the texts I translated, they've been here for while over three thousand years, and they don't travel or trade with others, which would account for their primitive living standards."
"And who is this Fishy guy? Why is he so great?" Jack asked.
"Vishnu is described as the essence of all existence, protector and moderator of order. Usually order fails through the foibles of humanity, and Vishnu overseas its restoration. He is depicted in many ways, but in the text I found, he is seen having four arms, and is blue in color. He holds in his four hands a lotus flower symbolizing creation and fertility. A mace, which was an invincible weapon. The conch is a spiraling sphere that symbolizes eternity, and the Chakra, which we think of as certain points in the body or universe that depict an eternal flowing of energy that restores balance. It was also used as a weapon. It's...think of it like a boomerang. His head is seen as the sun, and was a friend of Indra: god of rain, thunder, and storm."
"Lord Vishnu is also known as the Supreme Lord of the universe to many people on Chulak, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel had stood up and was pacing, thoughts swirling a mile a minute in his head. "That's...interesting, Teal'c considering most of the people on Chulak believed that Apophis was their God."
"It is indeed."
There was a moment of silence as they heard voices outside the tent. They couldn't make out what they were saying, but it sounded urgent. As Jack quietly strode towards the door, the voices drifted away. Jack cracked the door open and peered out. He could make out the backs of two men, but he didn't recognize them. They strode away quickly. Jack craned his neck out the door and surveyed the area. No one seemed to be paying any attention to the two men. Everyone was busy with their daily tasks or talking amongst each other in the square.
"Anything, Sir?" Carter asked after Jack shut the door and returned his attention to his team.
Jack shrugged. "If it's anything, we'll find out soon enough." He turned to Daniel. "So, what's this Vishy guy have to do with this these people and those...things down the hill?"
Pacing faster, excitement growing, Daniel continued, "I was thinking about that. Remember when Freya mentioned being rewarded with the rain and crops if they've been self-sacrificing?"
They nodded in unison.
"-I think whatever is going on down the hill has something to do with their sacrifices. I'm just not sure exactly how that works yet."
Ba'al had been listening quietly, but now he got to his feet and walked closer to the group. "If Vishnu was the protector of the universe, why would he allow this to happen?"
Daniel must have been waiting for this question from one of them, for he already had a theory. "He is the protector of the universe, but think about it: not everything can co-exist in harmony forever without some outside force intervening. When that happens what would Lord Vishnu do?" Daniel was talking faster as he worked through the theory in his head, one step ahead in his mind. Without waiting for a response, he went on. "Vishnu had the ability to create and to destroy. He would do whatever was necessary to restore the balance of existence, even if that meant death. Sometimes there has to be death in order for there to be life. Remember, Freya said that her ancestors used to travel through the Stargate, but then something happened, which upset the balance."
"Do you know what that was, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, raising his brows.
"In another text I came across, there was a story about how a group of travelers brought back the mtul iyna nyoki natila reumbo, which I'm pretty sure translates to 'man with serpent in belly'. I also saw references to the wafu hai, which literally translates as 'dead alive'."
"The Goa'uld" and "Snake heads, yippi," Carter and Jack said in unison.
"Dead alive." Teal'c said seriously. "An accurate assessment of what have encountered on this planet."
"You got that right, Teal'c," Jack said, hands in his pockets. "So, are you saying the Goa'uld were invited here and then did something to those things-, er...people?"
"The Goa'uld do not possess the ability that you are speaking of." Ba'al answered. "I have never seen this before."
"He is correct, O'Neill. This is not the work of the Goa'uld." Teal'c answered, defending Ba'al much to his chagrin.
"What do you think, Carter? You've been pretty quiet." Jack mentioned.
"It sounds like Lord Vishnu is responsible for what's happening on this planet; a curse for lack of a better term, for unknowingly and willingly bringing the Goa'uld through the Stargate."
Jack and Daniel nodded. That made sense.
"Any ideas what happened to the Goa'uld?" Jack asked.
"Perhaps they were some of the first to be sacrificed." Teal'c said.
That made sense too. A good possibility. Jack rather liked that possibility. It was not a very dignified death for a Goa'uld.
Perfect.
Daniel had found texts relating to an uprising in about 800 A.D. Earth years. There was mention of the serpent people with glowing eyes who appeared to be allies in the beginning, wanting to trade goods and technology that would benefit both parties. The Shok'hef, as the people were known, didn't have much to offer except a little food, tales of their adventures, and 'Gate addresses to other planets. When they told the Goa'uld that this was all they could offer, the Goa'uld accepted enthusiastically. This took the Shok'hef people by surprise. The Goa'uld offered the use of a healing device to stabilize their race since they were dying for lack of medicine and healers.
"Any mention if the snake heads received the gate addresses, Daniel?"
"No, Jack. But we could assume they received at least a handful since they eventually left or were sacrificed, but not before destroying most of the Shok'hefs' village and its people. We could assume also that they didn't get the healing device in return as I've found no more mention of it."
"I would not doubt it, O'Neill. Though the Goa'uld are an advanced race, new gate addresses would have given the Goa'uld a great advantage in the galaxy."
"Have you ever heard this story, Teal'c? Did Apophis ever mention anything?" Daniel asked.
"He did not."
"Ba'al?" Jack asked.
"There are many stories of the Goa'uld receiving 'Gate addresses from unknowing people, but I believe only a few to be true."
Coming from Ba'al, that information wasn't very reassuring.
"The 'Gate addresses we've found, like the ones on Abydos, are written in Ancient. If the Shok'hef did in fact give the Goa'uld 'Gate addresses, they're probably still here." Daniel's excitement was growing ten-fold. "Which also means that the Shok'hef knew Ancient and the purpose of the writings."
Even Carter's eyes lit up at the prospect of obtaining the 'Gate addresses.
"Great. And I bet I know just who to ask." Jack retorted with sarcasm.
"Sir, I doubt Danh'ai would reveal any knowledge of the addresses, if he does know about them."
Nodding, and swirling a finger around at Carter and Teal'c, he asked. "Could Danh'ai be a Goa'uld, posing as one of the villagers?"
"I did not sense the presence of a symbiote, O'Neill." Teal'c answered.
Carter shook her head.
"Well, that's good at least."
"I know you people would just love an adventure, but I would prefer to leave this planet." Ba'al responded. "Daniel Jackson, what did you find regarding these zombies as you call them?"
Jack was a little surprised that Ba'al wasn't interested in 'Gate addresses, which he could then use to travel to other planets and then do whatever he wanted to do to the people, like stick snakes in their heads. "You're not interested in finding the addresses so you can continue your attempt at universal domination?"
Ba'al laughed at that. "And do all that hard work? No. I would prefer to sit back and let SG-1 find the addresses, and then I'll just take them from you."
"You can try." Carter said.
Ba'al merely smirked at that.
"Okay, say we go looking for these addresses written in Ancient. How does that help us?" Jack asked.
"Well, we'll have proof that the Ancients were here. And what if there's a new set of coordinates we never saw before?"
"Okay. How does that help us get off this place?" Jack asked his next question, the more serious one.
"Since we're already here, shouldn't we at least check it out?" Daniel asked.
"We are coming up on a day past due to check in with the SGC. Reinforcements should be close by now. Let's not stray to far from radio contact."
"Perhaps Ba'al and I should remain in the village to keep a look out," Teal'c offered.
"So it looks like we have a mission here after all," Jack said, himself finally gaining some interest in this planet. "We'll look for these addresses and see if we can get any new ones. Danny, what about these zombies? We'll still need to get out of here."
"Right, Jack. Well, this is gonna be quite a story."
This is taking on a mind of its own, but I'm pretty excited. One of the reasons I love Stargate is because of it's depth. So, I'm excited that my own story is building some depth. I need to write lesson plans and do some article summary thing for my class, so you guys are going to have to give me time to create the story and move the plot forward! The more reviews, the quicker I might get the next chapter posted! ***wink wink***