CHAPTER 72
EPISODE……………….The Fourth Horseman, part two
One hour later………..well, a little past an hour…….
"How is he? Please tell me he isn't…." Sam asked with worry as Lam was still looking him over in the bed.
She was holding her arms really close to her body and doing everything to not cry. Ford looked terrible. He was breathing rather hard, had sunken eyes and the fact he looked like he was now sixty something didn't help her.
"He's not going to die Colonel. I can at least assure you of that. All the test tell me he is dehydrated, a little on the malnutritioned side, and extremely fatigued." Lam said placing her stethoscope around her neck again. "Far as I can tell, it's because of whatever he did to your mother. All he really needs right now, is other than this bag of fluids and maybe a few other's we might get into him, is a lot of sleep."
"Might?"
"Depends on if he gets up and leaves again without me or someone else noticing."
"He doesn't have the sign of the Prior plague then?"
"No. I doubt he can get it, but his white blood cell count is down, so I've got him in this isolation room away from the other patients, just in case. You can tell everyone he's going to be fine, after he gives his body time to recover. I hope I've alleviated your fears now."
"Thanks doctor. And you have. I don't know what I'd do without him." she said grabbing his hand.
"Considering some of the things I've heard about what he's done around here, and for you, I'm not surprised. Wish I could get that lucky." she said walking toward the door. "I don't see any harm in staying here with him, but you should probably eat and get some rest too Colonel. I have to say though, there is a bright side to him being here."
"Such as?" she asked really curious.
"There's a female airman that was once a beautician and seeing as Ford has barely had time lately to ever get that appointment that he says he keeps having to put off, she's going to come give him the haircut he badly needs."
"He doesn't know it's going to happen does he?"
"He asked me to ask the airman when he was awake for…I don't know, maybe two minutes. Long enough for me to give a brief update and then he passed out again."
"You're kidding?"
"No."
"Well, he does need it. Kinda strange request with all the problems. I'm just glad to hear he's going to be okay. Thanks doctor."
Lam nodded and left. She pushed him over and sat down running her hand through his hair.
"You scare me again, I may have to shoot you." she muttered. "No, that won't work. Maybe no….no, that won't work either. I'd be punishing myself mostly with that idea. Damn, how do I get back at you?"
"How about we call saving Amy even?" he muttered so quietly she almost didn't hear it.
"What? You're awake? How long have you been listening?"
She shoved him and even smacked his chest once, but he didn't wake up. Even after she opened his eyes, only to find them unfocused and slightly rolled up. Since he refused to wake up, she got up and left in a slight huff. But she did feel a little better.
At Dakara, everyone watched as Gerak, now a Prior, walked into the middle of the room with his glowing staff and talked as everyone sat.
"Like you, my judgment was clouded by suspicion and trust, but the Ori, sensed my misgivings, forgave my weaknesses, and showed me their power. I stand before you today as proof, of their divine might." he said holding his hands up smiling.
Teal'c stood up as he spoke.
"They have poisoned your mind. The Ori's promises are hollow." he as he walked around the table behind everyone. "We have learned from the Ancients that they are not ascending their followers."
"Do you expect us to take your word for this?" Gerak asked as he spun around waving a hand at him, a upset tone in his voice.
Teal'c walked back to his seat talking.
"One of the Ancients returned to human form to warn us that the Ori, gain strength by sapping it from their followers." he said emphasizing strength. "That why they seek our support!"
Gerak waved him off and turned away.
"The Ori are not some benevolent gods, offering you the path to enlightenment, they are but manipulative beings, that will use you, and discard you once you have served their purpose…" Teal'c said making the short walk again.
"Enough." Gerak said waving a hand.
"They are no better than the Goa'uld!"
"Enough!" Gerak shouted loudly. "The Goa'uld are imposters. But the Ori, the Ori are real gods."
He spun around to everyone holding his hands up.
"Behold a gift, the Ori have bestowed upon me."
He lifted his hands making all the small books of Origin in front of them lift off the table. Everyone sat or moved back from the table in surprise. Gerak stood up and even Teal'c looked in wonder. Gerak waved his hands again after a few seconds and the books fell to the table.
The next day, a little after morning but before noon, Lam came back in to check up on Ford, who hadn't moved during the night, surprisingly. He seemed like he was still asleep, that was until she placed her stethoscope on his chest.
"That's cold doc." he muttered. "Suppose to breath on it first."
She jumped slightly.
"I thought you were still asleep General. How are you feeling?" she said going back to checking his heart.
"A little more rested. I could use something to eat though other than whatever you're pumping into my arm here." he said not opening his eyes.
"Electrolytes mostly. You're dehydrated and malnutritioned at the moment. This is your fifth bag."
"Wow. Got to make sure I eat something big and drink a lot before I try using that ability again."
"That might help. You should have told me what would happen if you planned on ever doing whatever it was to save Amy Carter." she said now checking his blood pressure.
"Didn't think about it. Besides, you were busy enough and still are. Might as well give me a report on what's going on while you're here."
"You've got to work on recovering yourself. Not worrying about everyone else."
"I'm feeling a lot better. Other than needing more sleep, I feel just about normal again." he said opening his eyes.
"Well, your heart is beating right again and your blood pressure is normal again too. I should be getting a status report on your latest blood sample in the next minute. Depending on what that says…."
"It won't hurt me to listen to a report and since I'm not getting up to leave, just give me the report please."
"Very well, we've had three fatalities this morning. Another twelve base personal are in critical condition and probably won't make it in the next 24 hours."
"Damn. Anything from Mitchell and them yet or Orlin on a cure?"
"Not yet."
"Go on."
"That's it. The other's I've got resting comfortably with sedatives, otherwise there's little else anyone can do. Even if you could go out there and heal everyone, the side effects to yourself are too great. You can hardly move as it is."
"True. I'll recover given time and not doing it again."
"The immortality factor?"
"Yeah. Hey Walter." he said seeing him in the room above.
"General. The CDC just called recently. I came down to inform you and the doctor here."
"Go ahead."
"As of 0800 this morning, the CDC confirms cases of the virus in both Canada and Mexico."
"Wonderful." he muttered. "Mitchell better hurry his ass up or else there won't be a home to come home too. Thanks for the update. Have someone send down some food and coffee for me please, my coffee. Preferably something I made."
Walter smiled as he said sure thing and left.
"Better tell Colonel Carter…"
"I've kept her updated General. She's doing fine. Not worrying anymore if that's what you're asking."
"Thanks doc." he said closing his eyes. "You're a credit to your job."
"Thank you General. I'm glad to have a General for a patient that doesn't fight having a check up, test or whatever other procedure needs to be done." she said as the phone on the wall rang.
"You doctors have enough to deal with as it is." he muttered as she grabbed the phone.
"Doctor Lam. Oh it is. That was quick. Probably because of what he is that did it. Thanks for the information." she said hanging up.
"I know that was about me." he said motioning for her to bring the bed to a sitting position.
"Yes. You're doing better. Not at full recovery, but better."
"How much better?" he asked with a yawn as he adjusted to being in the seated position now.
"Well, you're white cell count is still a little low. You're not dehydrated anymore thankfully, but you still could use a another bag or two."
"Can I leave then?" he asked sweetly.
"As much as I'd like to say no. There's no real reason why you should be able to. But after you eat first. After that, just take it easy."
"Thank you." he said holding his hands together like he was praying. "If I start feeling bad or worse or anything like that, I'll contact you."
"That would be a first. I'll let Colonel Carter you're awake. That should make her day."
"Thanks."
Several minutes later, a airman came in with a large tray and set it down.
"Thank you airman." he said seeing the large plate of lasagna, salad with ranch dressing, a bread roll with butter, one can of A&W root beer, a large cup of cold black coffee, and a orange. And one other thing.
"Someone who knows what I like made this plate. Must have been one of the chefs."
"I don't know General. But one of the chefs did give it to me."
"Must have forgot something though. I don't like Jello." he said setting it aside.
"Mind if I have it then?"
"Please do. Just knowing…I won't spoil it for you. Thanks again."
"You're welcome General." he said taking the bowl away with a spoon. "I hope to see you up an about soon."
"I will be after this." he said digging in.
Carter came in a few minutes later seeing most of the plate finished. He was currently finishing the orange and roll.
"Hear you're feeling better."
"Much better seeing you're doing okay." he said as she sat on the edge near him.
"Lam said you could get up and leave too."
"I will in a few minutes."
"Good. Had a lot of people out there worrying, including mom." she said with a small smile.
He saw her lifting her right hand and thought she was going to touch his face or something. He didn't expect the hard punch into his right arm.
"Ow!"
"That's what you get for scaring the hell out of me."
"I wasn't trying to." he muttered rubbing his arm.
"Next time you want to use that power, or whatever it is, you better have me there with you." she said pointing a stern finger.
"Deal."
"Good. I missed you being there with me. Sleeping alone is so strange." she said grabbing his hand.
"I'm sorry to say I never noticed it, last night anyway. I remember walking down the hallway, saying something to you and then waking up to cold metal on my chest." he said rubbing the back of her hand. "How's Sally?"
"She misses you. Not surprisingly. Otherwise, healthier than you at the moment."
"True. Hey, did Lam check your mom out to see if she might…"
"Yeah. Nothing in her blood work showed anything that could be used as a cure. Why dad, me and Sally are so far safe along with a few some other's in the base she doesn't know either. Me and dad, probably because of the naquada in our blood. Something like that she guesses. They have some people looking into it."
"Wish I could be more help."
"Getting out of that bed and getting back to work will help. The longer you're in here, the more people think maybe Lam isn't telling them everything."
"Yes. Moral."
"That and a lot of people are hungry for your cooking."
"I knew it." he said chuckling. "They all want me out of bed to cook."
"Partially. So let's go."
With some help back to their room, and help getting dressed, he found out if Walter needed anything, done a few things then got to cooking. He'd do paperwork later, if it even matter. Seeing as the coat seemed a little to heavy at the moment, as did the gun, he didn't wear them and used the walking stick to still get around, just in case. Doctor's orders.
At the village of the Sodan warriors, life was going on around them as usual. Mitchell and Daniel were in the hut that Mitchell was placed in before when he was hurt. The other men were placed elsewhere. The two were eating something out of a bowl when the door opened.
"Jolan. Hey it's good to see a familiar face." Mitchell said putting his bowl down.
"Lord Haikon wishes to see you." Jolan said pointing a finger at him then the door.
"Let's rock and roll." he said spinning his black hat around.
The door closed as they left leaving Daniel alone. He looked outside seeing children looking in the bamboo bar window and ranked his cup across it as they smiled at him. Jolan and Mitchell walked away from the hut going to Haikon's large house. Some people looked at them, but mostly left them alone.
"It was foolish for you to come. The other's are distrustful of you."
"Yeah, I kinda got that." Mitchell said as they walked by the large round circle where he and Jolan fought. Currently, a couple of men were sparring. "Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Haikon will have your answers."
Haikon was being helped with placing the leather armor on a large bamboo set up for holding weapons and the leather armor as Jolan brought Mitchell up.
"Welcome Mitchell." he said as he turned around to the small table.
"Thank you Haikon." he said standing at ease with his hat behind him.
"Please, sit." he said with a hand gesture as he sat down.
Mitchell and Jolan sat across from him as he picked up a ladle in a bowl and poured some food substance into a smaller bowl in front of Jolan and Mitchell, then himself.
"I apologize for making you wait, but I just came back from a mission of great importance."
"We were informed
of a world of non-believers who were conspiring against the Ori."
Jolan said as Haikon was serving whatever it was in the bowl. "The
Prior dispatched us to, deal with them."
"You mean kill
them." Mitchell said with some distain as he also picked up his
bowl like Jolan did.
"We were told they posed a considerable threat." Haikon said. "Leave not the smallest pebble, for any hindrance will slow your people's progress. So say the Prior."
Mitchell took a drink, small drink and then put the bowl down.
"Yeah, the Prior's say a lot of things. Look, I am the last person to criticize someone for what they believe, but.."
"If your intention is to convince me to withdraw support for the Ori, you need not bother." Haikon said.
"You're making a big m…."
"I have already decided as much." Haikon said.
That surprised Mitchell.
"What?"
"We went to the planet as the Prior instructed." Jolan said. "Two hundred strong to eliminate any threat. We expected an army. What we found were, simple farmers. To naïve to understand the consequences they faced for daring to defy the Ori."
"The Sodan are, proud warriors. We do not kill innocent people." Haikon stated. He had obvious sadness in his voice.
"So you didn't follow through." Mitchell said.
"We left them unharmed, but before we returned here, he had to put all doubts to rest, so we traveled to another world, one rumored to have opposed the Ori." Jolan said.
Mitchell could see Haikon was sadden by what they found, even though they hadn't even told Mitchell what he already knew.
"The entire civilization was decimated. By a mysterious plague. There was no one left." Jolan said.
"Yeah, that's what they do." Mitchell said understanding it too well. "In fact, it's happening on Earth right now as we speak. And it will probably happen here when the Prior gets back and finds out you didn't follow his orders."
"How can we resist, so powerful an enemy?" Haikon asked. Some desperation for an answer in his voice.
"Well, I can tell ya, but you're probably not going to like it."
Orlin was working on the laptop, again, in another lab. Lots of papers were around him on the metal table. You could barely see the top of the table. Sam walked in seeing his holding his hands over his face.
"Orlin.."
"Sam." he said sitting back quickly. "Are you alright?"
"Now that Ford's up and about again, yeah." she said walking in and standing next to the table. "It's you we're all worried about now. We just got your test results back. They show significant and progressive changes in your brain."
"What sort of changes?"
"A degenerative process that has already started to impair your cognitive functions."
"I knew that when I took on human form, the memories I brought with me would eventually fade." he said after nodding slightly.
"That's only part of the problem. It's not so much of a result of you loosing memories, but the fact you're trying to hold onto them. Orlin, by not letting go of all that Ancient knowledge, you're damaging your brain."
"I know. My human mind is failing under the weight of so much information."
"You knew this would happen, didn't you." she said then laughed darkly as she knelt down near him. "As an Ancient you already knew."
"Yes. But I had no choice."
"But you have that choice now. Your brain is stripping away whatever it can to salvage those memories you're holding onto. Give them up and you could stop this from progressing further."
He turned away and started typing.
"I can't do that. There's to much at stake."
"What about Ford then? Can't he heal…."
"No. They knew he would try and will not allow it."
"Fine, you have the memories." she said holding his hands. "Write them down. Give me what I need to know. I'll complete the vaccine. Or give them to Ford and both of us…."
"It's too complex. You won't fully understand the process. He might, but there isn't enough time."
"Try us." she practically begged. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself. Let go before it's too late."
"I can't trust anyone to do this job, but myself. I have to see this through Sam." he said as her head dropped. "I'm sorry."
She got up and walked away quick, wiping her eyes as he went back to work.
Haikon had a lot of his people ready to hide out if things went wrong, until then they were to go about as if nothing was about to happen. Jolan and a few other's stayed with Mitchell and his team, just outside the large sand ring for sparring, getting ready to be the help involved. Mitchell had just buried the device under the sand, activated the remote and was currently making the ground look like normal again. Daniel, who was standing in the middle of the sand ring, gave them all a explanation on what the device was to do.
"We're good to go."
"Okay, this device will emit a high ultrasonic frequency targeting a specific portion of the Prior's brain, blocking his ability to use any of his powers. Now, the good news is it won't have any effect on us. The bad news is, it may not have any effect on the Prior either."
"In order for this thing to work the way we want it to." Mitchell said as he got finished and stood up. "It has to be working on the correct frequency. Unfortunately, we don't know what that frequency is. So, we'll use a trial and error approach. The remote, will allow us to adjust the signals. Sooner or later, we'll get the right one."
He pulled the remote from a upper pocket.
"Any questions thus far?"
"How will we know when it is working?" Jolan asked.
"Oh, we'll know as soon as he looses his powers."
"And how will we know when the Prior looses his powers?" Haikon asked.
"Well, someone is just going to have to test it and find out." he said. There was a brief pause as everyone looked at everyone else. "Don't worry fellows, that someone, is me."
"If Ford was here, he would have said himself." Daniel said.
"I know, that's why I'm doing. Besides, it can't be that hard. The plan is simple people. We disable the Prior, take a blood sample, send it back to the SGC, they finish the cure, we turn the Prior against the Ori, and call it a day. Here Jackson, you're driving." he said handing the remote over.
"Ooh, yay." he said as Mitchell told SG-22 to take defensive positions in areas he pointed out. Mitchell walked back and stood in front of Haikon and the other's.
"There's one other small problem, we're not exactly sure of the range of this thing, so Haikon, I need you to get the Prior as close as possible. Is that a problem?"
"No, no, it is not." Haikon said as he made a few hand signals to his people. They took off in different directions.
"You are confident this will work?" Jolan asked tapping his arm.
"Well, if it doesn't work, then we're out of options. But the General says it should."
"I know Ford's confident but…"
"He said when he turned it on, it gave him a slight headache, so we know it's doing something." Mitchell said.
Teal'c and Bra'tak left the Council and were currently walking down the central hallway from the Council chamber as they spoke. A few Jaffa were around, but it didn't stop them from speaking freely.
"I fear we have lost them." Bra'tak said.
"This battle is far from over."
"But clearly, the council was swayed."
"The task before us is daunting, but not impossible. The Jaffa nation has no appetite for war. Particularly one that threatens to divide us."
"Indeed. That much is certain."
"The Ori on the other hand, will not abide opposition. They have already ordered Gerak to quell the dissension within our ranks."
"Then we must retreat into the shadows and evade their attempts to find us."
Teal'c stopped him with a hand on Bra'taks chest.
"No. We must make a stand…on Chulak. Faced with the prospect of inciting civil war that would kill millions, the council will be left with an impossible choice. But ultimately, they must decided between the Ori and their fellow Jaffa."
"It is only by forcing their hand will they see reason." Bra'tak said understanding where Teal'c was going.
"So I believe."
"An enterprise this bold, will require much support." he said smiling at the idea.
"Then let us gather a fleet to defend Chulak."
Bra'tak nodded and they left quickly.
Orlin was using the computer and writing things down, as Sam had requested earlier. Despite the trouble he was having with doing it. There was a lot of paper he had torn from the notebook and tossed away in crumbled balls. He placed his head on his hand as he looked at the wall thinking. Sam came up to see how he was doing and leaned on the doorway quietly.
"It's like catching the glimpse of someone, from the corner of your eye, then turning around, and they're gone. You begin to doubt if you ever actually saw them in the first place." he said then dropped his arm as he turned to her. "Tell me Sam, how can you regret loosing a memory you can't even remember?"
She shook her head and slowly walked in.
"What are you working on?"
"On the instructions for assembling the cure, in the event I become incapacitated and can't complete it myself. It's ah, precaution we have to take."
She nodded with a smile.
"The most frustrating part in this, is that I am unable to control what I can hold onto." he said picking up the notepad. "Even for a little while. Crucial information I need to finish the cure is slipping through my fingers, while insignificant minutia about my experience as an Ancient are still fresh and clear in my mind. In time, I'll loose it all, but right now, it isn't fair."
She couldn't hold back the sadness she felt for him as her eyes started watering again, and he even noticed it.
"Is there anything I or anyone else can do to help?"
"No. At this point, it's best that I work alone."
She nodded and started walking out.
"Wait a minute. What about K-9?"
"Who is he?"
"A robotic dog that Ford made me, for protection and helping me with work if and when I got stuck on something."
"A robotic dog." he muttered looking like he was thinking. "What does it do?"
"He's basically a A.I. computer…here." she said lifting her watch to her mouth. "K-9, come here please. It's urgent."
Orlin went back to writing things and typing. Several minutes later, K-9 rolled up.
"I am here Mistress."
"K-9, I need you to help Orlin with the cure. He'll tell you everything he can, you just record it and give us the information later. Scan the laptop he's using as well."
"Yes Mistress." K-9 said rolling into the room.
"Orlin, this is K-9. All you have to do is tell him what needs to be done and he'll record it. We'll figure it out from there. Think that will work for you Orlin?"
"It should. All I have to do is talk to him?"
"Yeah." she said smiling.
"I'll try it then."
She left smiling and feeling better as he started talking. It was a long shot, but maybe this way, Orlin might have his brain more intact.
"Despite the best efforts of all involved, the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate." a news reporter said on the screen Ford was watching as he held the walking stick with both hands and leaned on it. He was down in the room where they monitored the on goings of everything happening on Earth. "The CDC advises anyone who suspects they have the virus or come into contact with someone who did, to quarantine themselves and…."
Walter walked up making Ford look away.
"General, we just received word that China, Great Britain and Russia have grounded all air travel and closed their ports to all foreign ships."
"Not a bad idea, but I doubt things are going to get any better. Anything else?"
"We also got a call from General Hammond's office."
"Damn. He got it too." Ford muttered sadly.
"Um, no. The call was about our cover story. Our allies are expressing concern about it and hold long are we going to continue to maintain it."
"What am I suppose to say? If they have a better idea of a cover story, then tell them to tell that I.O.A. or the President. I don't know anything until Mitchell gets back. Until then…well."
"They've requested a meeting with you."
"I'm not leaving this mountain Walter."
"They're um, upstairs in the briefing room."
Ford dropped his head and made a fake crying noise.
"I need some good news, or I'm going to go crazy." he muttered as he headed for the door. He almost ran into Sam as she was coming up. "Please tell me that smile is for more than because you're seeing me."
"K-9 is helping Orlin with the idea I told you about. Only sorry I didn't think about it sooner. He might be able to get this job with the cure done quicker and then be able to stop trying to remember and let his condition stop getting worse."
"Well, some good news finally. I can only hope that it works." he said as they walked to the elevator.
"Where are you going?"
He told her what Walter said.
"Ugh. I think I'll stay up on these levels and help around here."
"Lucky you. Catch you later then." he said as the door started closing.
He got off on level 28 and went to his office, got his coat and guns back on then sat down at his chair at the table, keeping his staff next to him as the people at the table opened files and started talking. It was the people in charge of the oversight committee and a few others, including Colonel Chekov, who was on the right side and end of the table.
"So, it is the estimation then General, that the decision to send SG-6 to this planet was the right one?" Chekov asked.
"Look. We send many teams out everyday. They were sent to that planet, whatever it is called in those reports, to gather whatever intel they could. We did the same thing when we were at war with the Goa'uld and are still doing the same with the Ori. Hell, Atlantis sends out teams to gather intel on the Wraith. It's SOP. Hell, we do it on this planet as well. We have no weapons or anything else that seem to be able to effectively harm or incapacitate the Ori or the Priors. And won't know anything until Mitchell and them come back with any news." he said fighting the fatigue he was still feeling.
"But admittedly, the mission was a total failure in the worst possible way." a blonde haired man with glasses that sat on his left said. From his accent, he was either from Germany or one of the countries nearby. "And as a result, millions, perhaps billions will lose their lives."
"Woolsey signed that mission statement in agreement."
"There is some concern that Mr. Woolsey was not informed of all the possible ramifications."
"What do you want us to do hmm? Shut down the gate? Bury it or destroy it? Seclude ourselves from the rest of the galaxy? I got news for you people. We've been out there. A lot of people know we've been out there and some know where we are. So either we can continue to send out teams and try to find out a way to fight back, just like we did with the Goa'uld or we can shut it all down and wait till someone, such as the Ori more than likely, comes along and wipes this planet's inhabitants totally out. Or just destroy the whole planet to make sure we are never a nuisance to anyone ever again. We have already made it quite clear to the Ori that we will not join them, so we are the enemy in their eyes. Sooner or later they were going to attack, so get used to the fact. If not now, then we would have been doing this same damned discussion later." Ford said as he voice started getting a little louder as he also stood up.
He picked the folder up in front of him and tossed it across the table scattering it's contents.
"I've told all of you, okay, some of you before, so the new people better listen up. You have no idea what we deal with out there. We are at war with an enemy that has a lot more power than the Goa'uld ever did! And until any of you have even been in close personal combat with an enemy with powers you can't understand, I suggest you start thinking about all the lives that have been lost over the last nine years keeping this planet safe and allowing you people to sit on your asses and make decisions that sometimes have helped or hindered this place and its operation! So if you want to start blaming people for this attack that is going on, you better blame yourself for now being…."
"General! General!" Chekov said standing up and shouting. "The purpose of this meeting is not to assign blame or to point out this you have already stated to us in the past. We are here to try and understand how this happened and try to avoid something like this from happening again."
"You aren't getting anything I am saying?! Over the last nine years there have been more than a number of viruses or some of the form of bacteria or biological thing that has hit this base and on occasion made its way into the general public. And as long as we go forth out there, to the great unknown, final frontier or whatever the hell you people want to call it. There will be dangers. Either from some life form, whether that be predator or someone that wants us dead, or maybe even some bacteria or virus. That's what is out there people. Unknown dangers and unknown great discoveries. The only way we understand and get over these obstacles is to confront them and find out everything we can. The same sort of hell happened to a group of people, which included Einstein when the Atom bomb was made. Pointing fingers and such will continue every time a team is sent out and comes back with something very bad to fatal. That's how it just works. There's always a chance of something bad coming back. Just watch all those Sci-Fi shows. Take Star Trek. Even in that future they encountered dangers that ranged from environmental to bacterial, virus and god knows what else. Why, because such shit is out there and will always be out there. You can't avoid it. So get used to reports saying bad things are going to show up. And when they happen, you can damn well bet we are trying everything we can to find a way to stop and it and prevent it from going further. This virus that the Ori has placed on us is just another obstacle out there that we're facing at the moment. If we overcome it and get a second chance, you can damned well bet we're going to fight back, hard. If Mitchell and his team fail, then we lost, because there is nothing we have that's working, so I suggest you quit wasting my time here, and yours. Go home and pray or something. Bothering me with this and the other people here only hinders what work we are doing." he said grabbing his stick and walking away.
As he left the room, he had a couple of airmen escort them out of the mountain.
At Dakara, Teal'c, Bra'tak and another Jaffa were standing behind a large column talking. They hushed up as a couple Jaffa walked by and out of the room up the stairs.
"What you propose is madness."
"So it may seem, but if the Council sees that we are mad and cannot be dissuaded from sacrificing out lives, then all the better. We must stake everything on the belief, that in the end, that the Council will value the lives of their brothers over the empty promises of the Ori." Teal'c said.
They stopped talking for a moment as another Jaffa walked by. Teal'c grabbed the man by the arm gently.
"Time is short brother, we must gather our forces, for the bigger our army, the more lives Gerak must choose to take. We must make this decision as difficult as possible for him."
"Gerak is no longer one of us. He is a Prior now."
"He may be a Prior, but I have no doubt that part of him remains Jaffa, and that is the part that we must seek out."
"I still believe this plan to be madness, but then, I once considered the defeating of the Goa'uld a mere fantasy. Prove me wrong yet again Teal'c." he said holding his arm out as Teal'c clasped it. "You have my support."
They nodded to each other and then the Jaffa clasped Bra'taks arm as well.
"Thank you brother."
He nodded and left.
Mitchell was up on a ridge looking through a one lens binocular seeing the Prior approaching. A couple of Haikon's men walked past the area in his view as the Prior entered the village.
"He's on his way." Mitchell reported. "Jackson?"
"Ready." Daniel reported back from behind a wall that was near the large ring of sand.
"Alright everybody, sit tight and wait for my signal." Mitchell said as he slowly took off and activated the cloaking device he was borrowing.
The Prior walked up and into the large stone ring circle of sand that Haikon and Jolan were standing in the middle of.
"You went to the planet as I had asked you to?" the Prior asked as he stepped into the middle.
"We did." Jolan said.
"And yet, the non believers still live." the Prior stated as Daniel was working on the remote.
"Yes." Haikon said.
"Why have you disobeyed the will of the Ori?"
"Because," Haikon said stepping forward. "We take orders from no one."
"The Ori offer you enlightenment, immortality."
Daniel muttered yeah right as he activated the device to do what is was suppose to and tried not to chuckle at the same time.
"Even if that were true, their price is too high." Jolan said stepping forward next to Haikon. "What they ask of us goes against the very spirit of the Sodan."
"You doubt the power of the Ori?"
"It is not their power we doubt." Haikon said. "It's their worthiness as gods."
They all heard beeping noises and the Prior turned to see Daniel's location. He made a large sweep with his hand making a wave of light come forth throwing Haikon and Jolan out of the ring. He turned around and did the same thing blasting Mitchell into the air and onto the ground making his cloak shut off.
"That's not it." Daniel said.
Mitchell got off the ground quickly and raised the zat gun. The Prior raised his hand and pushed Mitchell back.
"That's not it either." Daniel muttered he said pressing more buttons.
The Prior then pulled Mitchell toward him and as Mitchell's feet hit the stones, he was brought him into the air. He tried to aim, but lost his grip as he was pulled into the air and suspended about ten feet from the sandy ground, barely able to move.
"Andras chose to hunt the lion and was eaten by his prey!" the Prior stated as he kept his hand up facing Mitchell.
"Oh, come on." Daniel muttered as he kept pressing buttons.
"It was unwise of you to challenge me."
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't mind another crack at it." he said glancing in Daniel's direction.
"What did you hope to achieve by attacking me? Did you honestly believe that it was possible to capture me?"
"Well, that was the plan." he said with urgency in his voice he hoped Dnaiel heard.
"And what purpose would that have served?"
Mitchell threw up his hands in a I don't know gesture. The Prior gripped his fist and Mitchell started choking. About ten seconds later and Daniel hitting the buttons, Mitchell fell to the ground, hard. The Prior was surprised and shocked as Mitchell slowly got up, though he tried again to use his powers. Daniel came out and watched. Mitchell grabbed his zat and shot the man at point blank range. He dropped as everyone else around moved into position and aimed a variety of weapons, just in case.
"Damn, took the thing long enough." Mitchell muttered as he hunched over holding his side.
"Sorry. I was pushing as fast as I could."
"Let's get that blood sample before he wakes up suddenly."
Ford just got back from the world monitoring room and was heading to his office, having to use the stick to still get around. He figured he could get around without it if he didn't wear the coat and guns, but he didn't feel right without them.
"Oh man, I wish I had time to make those brow….General Hammond sir." he said seeing him standing there in a suit. He started standing at attention when Hammond waved him off.
"Don't bother son. I know you're not at the top of your game. Just knowing you'd do it is fine with me."
"No one told me you were here. Sorry or I would have been here sooner."
"I haven't been here long. Short as it was, I was reminiscing."
"Some good memories huh?"
"Very good. Heard about the grilling thy tried to give you."
"I think it was more one sided. You want my chair or one of these, because I got to sit down."
"It's your chair now, so go ahead." he said sitting in one as Ford took his seat behind the desk.
"Thank god. Sometimes think I should try walking around without the coat, but I'm so use to it."
"Looks like the weight is getting to you."
"Only because of what I did the other day."
"Heard something about that. Anything new I should know about?"
"CDC told me something. Some flight left Salt Lake city three days before this all started, made a stop over at O'Hare before continuing onto where ever it's final destination was. Somewhere in France."
"It's already in Paris?" he asked shaking his head.
"Yeah. That airport. Three people on the flight tested positive and the French authorities are doing what they can to limit exposure. But it doesn't matter seeing as touching just about anything organic can spread the virus. Who knows where all those people on the flight went after that or if they were quarantined. Didn't catch if they told me that part of the message."
"At this rate, it will be in the Middle East…"
"Days after that, Africa, China, Japan, the whole world before the end of this month. The stock market is practically crashing, people are panicking. If we don't get some sort of break through soon, the virus won't be the only thing that wipes out this planet. Global panic and rioting will finish off any survivors. Another few days of this and there won't be any law, government or civilize-ness anymore."
Hammond shook his head.
"I don't know about you sir, but I could use something to eat, and from what I remember, you've never had any of my cooking."
"With everything that has been going on, I have to admit, I haven't eaten in awhile either. Jack has informed me on occasions that I should come down and try it sometime."
"No time like the present." Ford said standing. "Got a variety of things we can try. Get to even see Sam and the baby. Jacob is here too."
"Are they all okay?" Hammond asked with worry as he got up.
"They're all just fine. I had them come to the mountain, just incase rioting or something started. They don't have the plague and don't seem to be able to get it, so they'll be able to leave to the Alpha site or wherever any survivors we can get go. If things get to bad, which I'm praying against."
"So am I. So am I. I'll be glad to see the baby though. Never thought Sam would be a mother. Always thought she and Jack would keep up what they had going. I was waiting for them to come forward and ask for some sort of help, but when they never did and you showed up, then actually got her to come out of her shell, I knew then she'd have a chance. And I'm glad to get to see her. Even though bad circumstances brought me here."
"Well, try not to be a stranger around here. A lot of people miss seeing you and hey, to me, you're part family."
He laughed as the entered the elevator and Ford called Sam on his watch, telling her to bring the rest of the family for a surprise. And it was a great surprise to them, and they enjoyed eating together for the short time Ford was able to join anyway.
The Prior was still on the ground, and the device was now on a rock stone standing nearby emitting its field still. The sample had been sent back a little less than an hour ago and they were now waiting to hear results and to talk to the Prior. His stick was taken away, being held by Mitchell.
"Yeah, we took the liberty of borrowing a sample of your blood." Daniel said as the guy slowly woke up and then looked at his exposed left arm. He got up slowly as SG-22, which was surrounding the whole stone ring along with a few of Haikon's men watched him carefully. "Hope you don't mind."
"You looking for this?" Mitchell asked knocking the staff back and forth between his hands.
The Prior reached out with his hand and tried to pull it towards him. The guards all pointed weapons. Mitchell made a joke and acted like it was being pulled away, but only for like three seconds.
"Whoa! No, that's not going to work."
"Very funny." Daniel muttered as he kept his arms crossed.
"I thought so."
The Prior lowered his arm, still confused.
"That warm fuzzy feeling you may be experiencing may be the effects of the device that is inhibiting your ability to concentrate and focus your powers."
"Symptoms may include dizziness, irritability…" Mitchell began saying.
"Nausea." Daniel supplied.
"Nausea, and a condition know as, hot dog fingers." he said waggling his fingers.
"Maybe even a headache too." Daniel said.
"Yeah." Mitchell said.
"It makes no difference what you do to me, but no this, the Ori are all seeing." the Prior said.
The two looked up.
"They are already aware of this, affront to their eminence, and shall strike down all that defy them."
"Nothing yet, you?" Mitchell asked.
"Drawing a blank." Daniel said. "Though I wish Ford or Jack were here."
"Why the Generals? We have this covered."
"It's not about covering. It's about the laughs from hearing them make jokes about the situation and such. Though Ford does a good lecturing joke from time to time."
"Maybe the next time."
"I am a little thirsty though."
"So am I, but that's doesn't count anyway."
"Their movements are not so easily divined, their ways unseen and veiled in mystery." the Prior stated.
"Right, right. They, have a plan."
Mitchell used his fingers to make quotation marks as Daniel said, have a plan.
"Don't suppose you want to tell us what that plan is? Why did they send you to this galaxy in the first place?" Daniel asked.
"We are beckons of light on the road to enlightenment."
"No, you guys are dark side intergalactic encyclopedia salesmen, unfortunately, the home office has been quite upfront with you yet." Mitchell stated. He started to continue and turned to Daniel. "The General would have gotten a kick out of that, right?"
"Knowing him, he would be laughing pretty hard." Daniel said nodding. "Nice work though."
"Oh, good. At least someone gets my sense of humor. Your turn Jackson."
"Okay, for starters Prior, did you know that the Ori need people to worship them because that's how they gain their power."
The Prior turned away, like he was thinking.
"He didn't know that."
"Nope he didn't." Daniel said nodding. "It's true. We're not exactly sure how it works, but from what we've heard, that actually drain power from their followers, that's why they need worshipers."
"You should talk to them about it the next time you are home." Mitchell said.
"Yeah, they might do a better job explaining the process to you." Daniel said.
"Ours is not to question but to rejoice in their service, for they are perfection." the Prior stated.
"No, because a perfect being wouldn't need to lie to ensure their belief in their followers." Daniel stated. "They wouldn't need to promise you ascension if they had no intention of delivering it."
The noticed he took a moment before speaking.
"Those who seek the path of righteousness shall be raised up high."
"No, they won't. Because the Ori do not share power." Mitchell stated a little forcefully. "They're using you."
"Pity not the blind man, for he is hindered not by the visions of this world…."
Mitchell turned and started walking away.
"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."
"For he shall see the light before you!"
"I'm going to get something to eat." Mitchell said.
"You want to call this in or me?" Daniel asked.
"I'll do it."
Orlin was back in the isolation lab area working again. He brought up a screen that showed what some blood cells at the microscopic level. Carter turned to look at him to see how he was doing. Lately, he had been doing pretty bad in the paying attention to finer details cases. Such as when he turned from the screen as she watched him and accidentally knocked over a collection of vials full of blood samples and other samples. They hit the floor shattering everywhere.
"Orlin!" she said walking to his side and holding his arms as another guy in a suit walked up.
"Dammit!" the man said as he rushed over and hit the bio hazard alarm.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine." Orlin said as the man came back over.
"No. No, he is not fine."
"Colonel…" she began saying.
"He has been showing lapses in judgment for the last two days that have put everyone in here in danger!"
"Colonel, that's enough."
"No Sam. He's right. I can't help you anymore. I'm just in the way here." he said then left as a clean up crew came in and poured stuff on the floor to sterilize then clean up.
At Chulak, several Hal'tak vessels orbited the planet. Bra'tak and Teal'c were on one, keeping watch and waiting to see who and what would be sent to destroy them, if it came to that. They, along with the rest of the Jaffa that felt the same way about the Ori, were all dressed in full battle armor, except the helmet's were not on.
"Reflecting on your ill spent youth old man?" Teal'c asked as he came back onto the bridge.
Bra'tak smiled as Teal'c stood next to him.
"In truth, I was thinking of you." he said turning to him. "If this gamble succeeds, you will have once again proved yourself to be a great leader. Perhaps the only one to be able to rejoin this fractured Jaffa nation."
Teal'c nodded.
"My heart is indeed with our people, but as long as the Ori are a threat to this galaxy, my place is with SG-1."
"I understand." Bra'tak said taking a step forward, closer to the window. "Even so, there is no doubt we are the poorer for it."
"I disagree. After our great victory this day, Gerak's influence over our people shall wane. Then our nation shall rally, under the command of a great leader."
Bra'tak nodded, but didn't look back as Teal'c smiled and looked out the window at his next statement.
"That is if he has the, courage to accept such a challenge."
Bra'tak turned to him quickly.
"Me?"
"Who better? Tell me." Teal'c asked.
"No, there are many others." he said shaking his head.
"There are many other's who cover the position, but none who possess the strength and wisdom that only you can offer."
"It was not to long ago that we faced a similarly impossible task." he said nodding and smiling. "And yet, on that day, despite the odds. We finally ended generations of oppression and struggle, by securing victory over Ba'als fleet."
"Hmm." Teal'c said in agreement. Bra'tak walked behind him to the control station that another Jaffa was working on.
"I remember, standing on the Pletac of that mothership, just as I am doing now, waiting for the battle to begin. Yet knowing, no matter what the outcome, it would be the last time I would have to take the life of a fellow Jaffa."
Teal'c watched him as he walked back to the window.
"No Jaffa blood will be spilled this day. On that, you have my word."
Bra'tak looked at him, unsure, but nodded with him anyway. He could see Teal'c had some plan and mind and hoped it would work as Teal'c left the bridge.
Ford got off the elevator heading back to his office when Walter told him reports of cases in several areas of Europe and reported cases in Africa that made leaders start declaring martial law. Ford sighed heavily as he leaned on the staff.
"Oh man. If anyone calls Walter, tell them we are trying to get a cure, but we can only do so much. That's if I'm not around."
"Yes General."
"Hey, you feeling okay Walter?"
"I haven't got it General. Doctor Lam says I'm completely clear at the moment."
"Try to stay clear. Thanks."
He nodded and walked off as Carter walked up.
"Hey Sam, you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. No sign of it at all in me. Little tired. How about you?"
"Little tired still too." he said as they walked. "Anything new yet, progress or such?"
"Well, Mitchell did send us that Prior's DNA."
"Knew about that already."
"So far no help."
"Damn. Sam, I have a idea, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but with how bad everything is going, it might be the only way to get something good to happen." he said leaning up against the wall.
"If you are thinking of using what….."
"No. Not that. Can't do it anyway like this. What do you think about me taking Orlin to talk to the Prior?"
"Oh." she said realizing what he meant. "That might make things worse on him, even though K-9 did help him get things out better. Are you sure about that idea?"
"That's why I'm asking you if I should do it. It could finish off what's left of his brain, or it might not do anything. Lam says there's a good chance he's going to become permanently brain damaged to the point he'll have little if any long term or short term memory."
"What are the odds of him not losing himself?" she asked sadly.
"Something like 13. Probably less." he said looking at the ground a moment. "I don't want him to become like that and I know you don't either. That's why I wanted to see what you wanted to do."
"I'd rather we wait and see if he makes it. But I know he'd hate it if he had the chance to help and we didn't let him when we had the chance. You might as well ask him if he wants to do it and tell him what's going to happen."
"We'll both do it then." he said getting off the wall.
"Okay."
Orlin was sitting on his bed, tying his boot when they came in.
"Orlin." she said softly.
"Sam, Ford. Is something wrong?" he asked getting off the bed.
"Not really, no." Ford said leaning against the door as she sat on the end of the bed. "I heard about some of the things that have happened in the labs and why you quit helping."
"I only wish I could have done more."
"You've done enough. More than enough. We've got everything else covered so you don't have to strain yourself any further. But there is something else you could help with, but there is a problem."
"Orlin, Lam says that there is a chance, though very small, that you may just stay the way you currently are, and though loose some more memories, you may keep recent ones and remember us and such." she said holding his shoulder. "If you strain yourself again…."
"I may loose everything anyway. I know Sam. I've always know. I want to help any way I can, before I loose it all."
"Are you sure Orlin?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Numerous vessels dropping out of hyperspace." the Jaffa at the controls said as Bra'tak and Teal'c came onto the bridge.
They watched as 11 Hal'tak ships came out and flew up near them, effectively keeping them from doing little else but fight back if it came to it. The Jaffa that were against the Ori only had five ships to fight back with. The screen came on and Gerak was sitting there in command.
"You are outnumbered. Retreat is no longer an option. I do not want to slaughter you, but I will if you give me no choice. So what say you Teal'c?" Gerak asked.
Bra'tak and the Jaffa at the controls looked at Teal'c to see what his plan was.
"I still have hope that this situation can be peacefully resolved Gerak. Let us meet on the planet surface and discuss."
"Very well."
Teal'c nodded to Bra'tak and then walked off the bridge as the screen shut off.
The Prior was standing there, not doing much as everyone was still keeping watch on him. Mitchell was walking around the outside of the stone ring, eating some fruit that he peeled chunks off with a knife as he spoke about some omelet recipe.
"I hate avocadoes." Ford said as he entered the village with Daniel and two of the SG-22 members. He had his coat on, guns and was still using the walking stick.
"General. Hey, are you okay?" Mitchell asked as he started coming around.
"A little tired. Prior probably knows why." he said as he walked up to the stone ring and stepped into it.
"We have been told about you. You are the son of the evil ones. Another small obstacle in the way of the Ori." the Prior said.
"Evil ones?" Ford said with a huff. "Yeah, very evil. They let us alone to live how we want and that's wrong. Man, you are really screwed up in the head. There is no ascension for you. Me, I could if I wanted. Be pointless, since once you ascend, you have all this power, but little freewill on what you can do with it. Think about this idea Prior, if the Ori, which are suppose to be gods, are all powerful, why is it they need someone like you, to go out and eliminate threats and such? If they are gods, why can't they do it themselves? And if someone was worthy enough, such as you maybe, to ascend, why don't they let them ascend right away? Because they don't want to share their power. I don't ascend because of one reason, family. Something I never thought I'd have, but now do. My point here is that I got some info that you had a family. A wife, and children. Can you even remember them? What it felt like to have that sort of love?"
There was a small sad look on the man's face as Ford sat down on one of the large raised stones.
"I got a daughter, though she is still a baby, but I'm looking forward to being there with her through the years. Even when she becomes a teenager, and rebellious." Ford said with a small shudder. "I can only hope that a lot of what I teach her and the times we'll share together will help her remember the love and care I have for her when she is off on her own. Can you remember your kids and anything you did with them? Can you even remember why you wanted to have them?"
It was obvious that the man was thinking about it.
"Now I know you don't like me, from what your teachings are. And whatever I tell you will probably be considered lies since I'm the sons of the evil ones." he said emphasizing evil ones with his fingers. "That being the case, I brought someone who you should or might know, that knows the real facts."
They all looked or turned to see Orlin standing several feet behind the Prior, next to Mitchell.
"Hello Damaris."
"Who are you?" he asked. "How do you…"
"Know? Your whole life became a open book to me the moment you set foot in this galaxy." Orlin said walking a few feet closer. As he spoke, you could hear the trouble he was having with forming words. "I was once, ascended. But I took this form, because it was, the only way, to warn the humans, about the Ori. Since I made that decision, I have paid a heavy price, in terms, of the effect, it's having on my mind. The memories I've lost."
"Life and death, light and darkness, hope and despair, the rift was open, and on that day, the Ori were born." the Prior said as he obviously was having trouble coping with the information.
"But every so often, something will stir inside me, if I push myself hard enough, I'll remember, one more time, before it leaves forever. Your name, Damaris, your wife Adina, your sons, Jaden and Allon."
"But the hatred of those who stray from the true path festered and bloomed in the dark corners of Avernakis from where they have been cast!"
"Oh brother." Ford muttered standing up.
"And the fact that the Ori have never ascended any of their followers…"
"And consumed by this hated, they poisoned all they touched, bringing death, darkness and despair!"
"You know, as and Ancient, I wouldn't lie to you."
"And the souls of their victims knew no peace!" Damaris said spinning around. "Until the Ori came and whispered to them, 'sleep', for the end draws near!"
He lifted his hand and Ford suddenly went ridged as he was being pulled forward, or was until he managed to slam a foot in the ground, but was still dragged forward. The Priors hand was inches from Ford's throat as Ford managed to grab it and was barely keeping him at bay. He flicked the walking stick and swung it sideways at Damaris. Mitchell barely ducked out of the way as a long section of the end of the stick came past him. The other hand of the Prior came up stopping the hidden blade inches from his side.
"He's overcome the device!" someone yelled.
"And all on that day, will all rejoice as the Ori come and lay them low!"
Mitchell was still getting off the ground and getting his gun out. Ford let go of the man's hand, as Damaris spoke, and let himself get choked. His hand now free, he hit the guy hard in the chest and swung around quickly to stab the sword into the man's chest. Damaris fell to the ground dead as Ford dropped to his knees barely keeping himself up with his hands.
"General!" Mitchell said rushing up as Daniel did the same.
"You okay?" Daniel asked.
"Give me a minute." Ford said rubbing his neck. "What the hell was he going on about Orlin?"
"He just told you why the Ori are coming to this galaxy. They are coming to destroy the Ancients."
"I guess he figured as a last act, he'd start with me then." Ford said as he was helped to his feet and coughed a few times. "Damn, he had some grip for an old man."
"You sure you're okay?" Mitchell asked.
"Yeah, just get my stick back. I still need it to walk."
"Your walking stick is a hidden sword?" Daniel said as Ford sat on the stone again rubbing his face.
"You should know me by now Daniel." Ford said rubbing his forehead with the back of his coat.
Jolan and Haikon walked up to them as everyone else started going back to things and such. SG-22 started gathering things as Mitchell directed them to get ready to go home.
"I always have some sort of weapon nearby. Always prepared, or try to anyway."
"General, this is Lord Haikon, and this is Jolan. The guy I talked about in my report." Mitchell said handing the sword, which he did clean off first, back to Ford. "I didn't see where the other end went and have someone looking for it."
"No problem. Forgive me for not standing. Little tired at the moment." Ford said holding out a hand.
Haikon clasped his hand and shook it, Jaffa style.
"I must express my gratitude for helping save our village."
"I look at it as they aren't only threatening everyone else, but my family, so they instantly go on my enemy list."
"You must be the General that Mitchell here referred to many times while he was with us." Jolan said.
"I hope they were good remarks Mitchell."
"I was telling him, occasionally how much Jolan sounded and fought like you." he said with a roll of his hands.
"Hmm. I wish I could spar with a few of you guys. Mitchell and Teal'c say the Sodan warriors fight pretty well. Your brother fought better than most, but I have to admit that I have fought more skilled individuals. No offense."
"My brother did indicate he fought with you. You were, a very difficult opponent." Jolan said.
"Difficult? He never hit me."
"He also indicated that he stabbed you with a sharp spear like weapon."
"Yes. Something like this." Ford said as he stabbed the end of his sword through his hand. They watched as he grunted, pulled it out and then watched his hand heal up quickly.
"Then what Mitchell said about you being an Ancient is true." Haikon said surprised.
"I wasn't lying to you man. We just got so busy that bringing him here to…"
"I'm not….yes, I am an Ancient. My parents are ascended, sometimes hear from them, but otherwise, I am not ascended or have any powers really. Got a couple, one of which you saw." Ford said standing up.
"The other we know about is he can heal someone by touching them. Which unfortunately has a side effect. Which is why there's some gray hair here and why he's so tired." Daniel said pointing at Ford's sideburns.
"By gray hair, I'm guessing you mean that it makes you older, because you look a little older General."
"That's the side effect. It takes my life force, in a sense. As much as I'd like to talk more Lord Haikon, open up diplomatic agreements and such, we've got to get back and see if there is even a base and planet to return too. When we get this virus figured out and things settle down, we'll send someone back, with Mitchell and open trade and such."
"We look forward to seeing you and your people return." Haikon said bowing slightly before turning and going to his people.
"Let's go home."
"So how old are you now then?"
"55 or 56. Not sure." he said as they walked out of the village with SG-22. "Probably sixty something actually."
When they started back to the gate, after using the transporter.
"Daniel mentioned something you said to the Prior that I would have thought funny. Let's hear it, cause I could use a good laugh right now. Everything else has been bad news."
"Well…" Mitchell said as he retold it. As soon as he said dark side, Ford lost it and fell to his knees. "I didn't think it was that funny."
"Probably all the stress, you know. He just needed something to relive the tension and your joke was more than enough. I'm just guessing here but then, he always did laugh at even some of the lamest jokes Jack had." Daniel said.
They had to help him back up and through the gate. He passed out barely getting out of the gate room.
Teal'c was standing next to a river with lots of trees and bushes around, trees and bushes that are found around watery areas. He hadn't taken his armor off and looked up as Gerak walked up to him.
"You have made the right choice. There is no honor in fighting a un-willable battle."
"Hmm. Nor peace at the hand of a tyrant." Teal'c said as they walked.
Gerak laughed.
"I assure you, the Ori are not the Goa'uld."
"Have we truly lived as slaves for so long that we must fear being free?"
"It has nothing to do with freedom." Gerak said as they came upon a small section of handmade bricks that were overgrown with small plant growth. They formed a L shape that went to the water's edge. "Enlightenment, is just within our reach."
"Or so the Ori would have us believe." Teal'c said as he walked past the stone to a large stone that was made with a pyramidal look.
Writings were on a small section of the side for all to see as they walked up in front. Another section of the stone were on the other side as well. Gerak looked and came closer slowly as he realized where they were. Teal'c laid a hand on the stone as he looked at Gerak to see his reaction.
"Why have you led me here?"
"I thought it fitting, that on this day where we must sacrifice our short lived freedom, that we do so here, at the site of the battle of Tazek-sur, where your father gave his life for this very cause." Teal'c said with pride and sadness.
"He began to doubt the Goa'uld long before this rebellion took shape Gerak." Teal'c said as he walked around the memorial grave stone. "It is his death at their hands that made you begin to question what god is deserving of my worship."
"You were not the one that was chosen. You were not witness to the wonders I beheld." Gerak said standing up straighter. His tone showed he was in conflict with the act he had to perform.
"Did they raise the dead? Heal the sick and the wounded?" Teal'c asked with the same tone as before. "Destroy their enemy but with a wave of their hand?"
"The Goa'uld deceived us." Gerak said fidgeting. "The Ori's powers are pure."
"Then, what is the measure of a god Gerak, is it the scope of their power, or how they chose to wield it? Would a god, who is prepared to lead us down the path to enlightenment, so contradict this divine benevolence, by destroying all those who would refuse to believe in them."
"Those who refuse to believe, must die." Gerak said after a few seconds.
Teal'c slowly walked up and stood in front of Gerak.
"I understand how difficult this must be for you Gerak. Nearing your final years, so desperately longing for the enlightenment that we all seek. This is not the way to save yourself."
"I only wanted to avoid bloodshed." he said fidgeting slightly as he gripped the staff tighter.
"Stay this course, and you will have no choice but to shed the blood of your brothers." Teal'c said, then grabbed the staff and pointed at his neck as he stepped back. "And you may start with me."
Gerak looked at his staff then back at Teal'c. Teal'c could see that Gerak was having trouble.
"For if I have the choice between resistance or returning to a life of slavery, I choose to die free."
Ford awoke feeling terrible. He was having trouble breathing and wasn't really sure where he was. Lam was looking down at him saying something, but he barely made any of it out. He noticed her yell to someone off to his left, but never knew who showed up as darkness over took him again. Lam hadn't told everyone the truth yet, just her staff of Ford's real condition and was keeping it that way for the moment. Though if Ford didn't get better soon, on his own, then she'd tell everyone. For a few moments, he would spring back, then he'd get worse. Whatever was going on in his body, that she had yet to understand or figure out, was a fight to stay alive, despite whatever the Prior did to him.
Carter, Daniel and Mitchell were upstairs in the briefing room, sitting at the table, just doing nothing. They had no ideas, no plans, nothing. Everything that could be done, was being done by those left that hadn't gotten the virus yet. So far, no cure was found, even with the autopsy that was done of the Prior. Orlin had lost just about everything after coming back from the Sodan planet. His memories were pretty much all gone and only the basics of what to do were about all he had left. For the moment, he was resting in his room from a sedative. They didn't know what to do with him at the moment and until the President said something, he was to stay on the base for the time being.
"After all these years, we are finally down to having no idea what to do." she said slowly.
"It's a waiting game now." Daniel muttered.
"And the General being down just makes things worse." Mitchell said. "I don't know him as well as you guys, but from everything I've heard and learned, if he goes down….."
"So does moral?" Daniel slightly suggested.
"I was thinking more like….things are pretty FUBAR'ed."
"Yeah." Sam said slowly. "On the bright side, Ford just needs to rest."
"Wish it was the same for everyone else." Daniel muttered.
"It's always darkest before the dawn."
They all got up quickly seeing Hammond walk into the room.
"My uncle used to always say that, he was a wedding planner."
"Hey General." Daniel said.
"Sir." both Mitchell and Carter said.
"At ease. Good to see you three are still doing okay, or so Doctor Lam tells me. Sorry to hear about Ford though."
"She says he needs to rest more. After that, he should be okay." she said.
"Hopefully soon. I've heard the reports and been hearing it around base that he's really made moral climb since taking over. When the commanding officer goes down, it doesn't help the look out any."
"No it doesn't sir." Mitchell said as the other two nodded.
"As I overheard from you Colonel, all he needs is some rest and he'll be back before you know it. Oh Colonel Mitchell, I wanted to say congratulations, as did Jack for getting the band back together."
"Thank you sir, but it wasn't easy."
"No, but worth it."
"Yes. You couldn't ask for four better people watching your back."
"I couldn't agree more sir."
"I'm only sorry I won't get to see Teal'c."
"You're leaving sir?" she asked.
"I'm off to Peterson, I've been called back to Washington."
"It was really good to see you again. Glad we got to talk some back there at lunch." Daniel said walking over and shaking Hammond's hand.
"It was great to talk to you all, and an even better meal. Take care of yourselves. Tell Teal'c I said hi."
"We will." she said as she gave him a hug. Mitchell shook his hand.
"Oh, and tell Ford to stay out of trouble and to get better."
They all laughed lightly and nodded. Hammond left and they sat back down again.
"I hate waiting." Daniel muttered.
"I'm going to go see how the rest of my family is holding up. About feeding time anyway." she said.
"I'm going to go get something to eat." Mitchell said leaving with her.
Ford awoke again feeling a little better, but not by much. He glanced off to his right seeing a couple beds next to his.
"Lam." he said weakly.
"General." she said from the observation room.
"Why the hell am I in here? What's going on?" he said seeing a few doctors in isolations suits checking out the other people.
"I'm sorry General. I don't know how, but when the Prior touched you, he gave you the plague, and something else."
"Something else?" he said coughing. "Great."
"Your body is trying to heal itself, but it is also no doing it. You're barely surviving and from what K-9 has told me from your scans, if you die, you won't be coming back. I have a few different bags of I.V.'s hooked up to you. They seem to be helping, but if a cure isn't found soon or something close, then you aren't going to make it, much less anyone else."
"Whatever….sort of cure or close enough solution, experiment on me." he said a wave of fatigue hit him hard.
"I can't and won't General. Other's have volunteered and we have tried on those that were close to death. So far, no success."
"How……does she know?"
"I've kept your condition to only my staff knowing."
"Tell her now." he muttered.
"General? General?" she asked. When he didn't respond, she had the other doctors in the room check on him instantly.
"Unscheduled off world activation!"
Carter came rushing into the room, just barely finishing feeding Sally.
"Who is it Walter?"
"It's Teal'c Colonel."
The men in the room kept their weapons at ready as Teal'c came through along with Gerak. They moved a little closer and kept their weapons pointed.
"Lower your weapons." Teal'c ordered.
The gate shut off and Teal'c stood more in front of Gerak.
"Lower your weapons." Carter said through the mike. "And stand down."
Teal'c came through the doorway out of the gate room as she walked up.
"What's going on Teal'c?"
Ford crashed and by sheer luck, they were able to bring him back. They were still checking him over again as the rest of SG-1 entered the observation room above. The door to the room with all the ill personal opened and Gerak walked in. The doctors looked up at Doctor Lam waiting for orders.
"What's going on?" she asked quickly.
"He's…."
"Why's Ford in here?" Sam asked very slowly and instantly afraid.
"The Prior infected him Colonel. I was….wasn't going to tell anyone anything until I knew if he was going to make it. He didn't want you to know either, until recently."
"What?!"
"Gerak can help him." Teal'c stated. "He is here to assist us."
Gerak looked around the room and walked over to Ford. The doctor's backed away after Lam nodded. He placed a hand on Ford's head, removed it and turned away to look at the other beds.
"Why do you hesitate Gerak?" Teal'c asked rather forcefully.
"If I help you, I will die. But I will die free!" he shouted smashing the end of his staff hard into the ground.
A very bright light shone forth from the staff. A shockwave of visible light spread out and went through the whole base, making everyone stop, showing what they were doing as they all noticed it. Gerak suddenly went up in flames and after a few seconds ceased to be there anymore. Teal'c placed his hands on the window's and yelled Gerak's name as he burned. Ford sat up quickly and grabbed his chest. The other's in the room started waking up and moving as well. The doctor's in the room began looking at the other people.
"What the hell hit me? Where am I? I was in the gate room, and now I'm here…." he said looking around then looking up into the room above. "Uh oh."
"We are going to have a nice long chat when you get out of there." she growled pointing at him.
Daniel stepped back as she rushed out of the room. Mitchell coughed lightly as he stepped back and let Lam leave as well. The doctor's, which were working on the other people, reported to her that the virus seemed to be gone, after Carter had left the room.
"He's in trouble I take it?"
"In many ways, he'd be better off dead. She's pissed."
"I saw that. Remind me of this moment in case I almost do something to piss her off. Since you're the resident expert on the non scientific parts of things, any idea on what happen to that reformed Prior?"
"I'm guessing that some sort of physiological failsafe, probably in the staff maybe or put into the people they make into Priors in case they ever turned."
The next day. The base and all it's personal were completely clear of having the infection. Because of what Gerak did, a cure was being mass produced quickly and given out quickly to the whole world, pretty much. Though Ford told her that he didn't remember what happened after passing out after coming back through the gate, she didn't care. He was stuck sleeping on the base, alone, and not allowed to come home for maybe three days. He coped and told the rest of SG-1 he deserved it despite the fact they told him to go tell her that he wasn't really at fault. He was watching the news the rest of SG-1 in the briefing room. Doctor Lam was also there watching. Sam was doing her job, as usual, but still not talking to Ford much on any other level than professional. Which was one of the reasons she was currently not at the table with the rest of the team.
"The final total of the pandemic has been estimated at a little over 3,000 world wide. But health officials are quick to point out that it could have been much worse. The distribution of the vaccine continues and many are beginning to ask how this could have happened in the first place, and more to the point, where did it originate?"
Ford shut off the TV and turned his chair around.
"I'm sorry that it took Gerak this long to figure out he was on the wrong side. Unfortunately, when something like this comes up again, we'll be damned lucky if we can get a Prior to help us again."
"Thanks to Orlin's work and the people on the base that were healed, we formulated the vaccine." Lam said.
"Well, at least we know they can't infected us again." Ford muttered. "I barely remember anything about it thankfully."
"The Ori will undoubtedly view this defeat as a minor set back." Teal'c stated.
"Yeah, and they more than likely have many more plans and other things at their disposal anyway." Mitchell muttered.
"Probably. They've been wanting to defeat the Ancients for centuries, what's another few years. Hopefully longer than shorter." Ford said.
"Since we know that the Ancients are personally threatened, and they attacked you specifically, have you, you know, heard or seen anything?" Daniel asked.
"No, to both questions. Since we haven't seen any attacks that would go to that scope, I doubt the Ancients are going to do anything until then, if at all." Ford muttered then looked at the ceiling. "I wouldn't be surprised if they all ran away instead of helping out!"
They all looked up, but nothing happened.
"See, they don't care."
"What about Orlin?" Mitchell asked.
"Damage was too great. He's currently in a home where people can look after him better. Other children like him are there. I took care of all the expenses and they'll update us if anything changes. But everything he knows is completely gone."
"What about you and Sam?" Daniel asked.
"We're talking again, even though she's still mad at me. But if you're wondering about a divorce happening, no. She already stated she won't go that far. She just doesn't want me at home at the moment. Yes, I get to see Sally, when she's here. Let's all get back to work now."
"When do you get to go home General Carter?" Teal'c asked as they got up.
"Tonight, maybe. Let's get back to work, seriously. I've got reports stacking up and so do the rest of you. People on the hill want to know things, so let's make sure they get it all in one large stack."
Daniel and Mitchell laughed lightly as they realized what he meant.
"Hey, did you notice you lost that grey hair?"
"Yes. I think I have Gerak to thank for that. Sam thought it was a little weird to look at and told me to get some coloring. Thankfully, I don't have to do that now."
"That is if the effect of whatever he did is permanent." Daniel said.
"True. Feels like it."
