Stargate SG-1: Broken

by mirwalker

Chapter 7

Daniel sat beside the Infirmary bed, as he had for hours, leaving the others to handle whatever back-to-base tasks there were. Except for a quick change into the non-bloodied clothes Sam had brought him, and then only on the health order of an adamant chief medical officer, he had not moved from Britain's side since hand-delivering him to the medical team in the hallway outside the Gateroom.

He also hadn't stopped counting the injuries that lay before him as open evidence for mistakes he had made on Menagerie: Three different IV tubes in Britain's arms. A rat's nest of wires hooked up to a panel of machines and monitors as wide as the patient was tall. One arm in a soft cast only slightly less thick than the seeming bolt of fabric encircling his bony ribcage. Bloodied bandages down the side of an oddly peaceful face that was a mix of deep pallor and rich bruises. And that was just what was visible above the draped sheet. Just a sample of what he'd let transpire to a community, and to this person, who had welcomed him, trusted him, even…

Britain stirred ever so slightly, as a groan gurgled up and his eyes fluttered open. Coming to quickly—he'd probably learned that survival skill back in his inhospitable home—he was instantly and obviously in pain, confused and terrified. Despite his injuries, he flailed against the agonizing consciousness and unfamiliar surrounding, rousing Daniel, who gently took his hands and tried to offer reassurance, "Britain, it's Daniel. It's OK! You're safe. You're at Stargate Command."

As Britain recognized the familiar presence, he calmed quickly but continued to clutch at Daniel, seeking an anchor from which to make sense of the wash of new sounds, smells, textures and painful reports from across his body. Turning attention to himself, he became aware of the pressure of the sensor contacts on his forehead and chest, the oxygen tube at his nose, and the IV drips in his arm; and he misunderstood the truly alien technology. "Why am I tied?"

"They're not restraints," Daniel explained, urging him to lie back. "They are just a means of delivering medicine. You were badly hurt in the creatures' attack at the Ring on Menagerie; I brought you here, to Earth, so our doctors could treat you."

Almost distracted by the mention of Earth, he kept his grip on Daniel's hand and shifted his attention quickly from the news to known friend. "Earth…? Wait, are you well? You fell; the creature lunged…"

Touched by the patient's concern for him, he nonetheless buzzed for the doctor while catching up Britain on the ravine battle. "I'm fine; you saw to that. But you took a really nasty blow for getting in the way. How do you feel?"

"Tired... Sore…," he answered honestly, before a slight grin crept over his face. "And, oh no, everything's dark; I can't see…" Feeling Daniel tense, before relaxing at the joke, he confessed, "Breathing hurts, and I tingle all over."

"Try to lie still; you'll be fine now that you're here."

But the leader of the Broken couldn't relax too soon. "The village? The others?"

"They're fine. Between us and the villagers, both the creatures were killed before… before they could hurt anyone else."

If Britain felt any anger at being the sole casualty, he didn't show it. Instead, he returned to the voyage it had garnered him. "You brought me through the Ring? Am I really on Earth?"

Dr Fraiser hurried over, having apparently arrived in time to hear her patient's approving disbelief. "You are, indeed, Britain. But you have a lot of healing to do, before doing any sightseeing."

Daniel made introductions and a report, "Britain, this is Doctor Fraiser. He says his breathing is painful and he's tingling…"

The good doctor nodded, beginning to explain to her colleague that, "He took a severe-"

Jackson interrupted her, earning him a grateful hand squeeze. "Doctor, he can hear. Please speak to him, not just about him. And be honest, he can handle it."

"Of course," she corrected immediately and with her own grateful nod. "Britain, the animal that attacked you inflicted some severe lacerations across your abdomen and arms, as well as some significant blunt trauma to your ribs and chest. You're feeling the effects of that bone, muscle, and nerve bruising. You really do need to lie still and rest to give it all a chance to heal."

Before she'd finished, the intercom summoned the two staff members. "Doctors Fraiser and Jackson, report to the briefing room. Doctors Fraiser and Jackson, report to the briefing room."

Fraiser nodded that she was apparently done, and stole a quick peek at several screens as Daniel took his leave, with a squeeze of his own. "That'll be my boss; I have to go. You rest, let the staff take care of you; and I'll be back as quickly as I can."

Reluctantly, Britain let go of his hand and only as the duty nurse arrived and began introducing herself and taking vitals.

As Jackson and Fraiser got to the door, Britain called out after them, hoping they hadn't gotten beyond earshot. "Daniel! What does it smell like?"

Turning back with a puzzled look, Daniel shrugged, "What does what smell like?"

"Out there," Britain clarified. "Earth…"

Smiling, but not able or willing to grant that experience yet, he just threw back a playful, but firm, "Rest!" His glance to Janet as they continued toward the meeting room six levels up, asked her whether and when he might offer.

Minutes later, they'd passed an inbound SG team heading for their post-travel exams, and joined the rest of SG1 team on the way to the Level 27 conference room, overlooking the Stargate. Looking a little tired from hours of meetings, phone calls and flights of late, General Hammond was reading the team's initial After Action Report, to refresh himself on the latest on the Menagerie situation, while Fraiser updated them all on their unexpected patient.

"Britain's internal injuries are significant, but not imminently life-threatening; and he's lost a lot of blood. I've treated the wounds, given him transfusions. I'm waiting on some final blood work to come back; that may give us a little help in trying to customize some nutrient IVs for him, since he arrived anemic and more than a little malnourished. Beyond that it's up to time, rest and him."

Without looking up, Hammond pressed for a more specific outlook, "Doctor, what's his overall prognosis?"

She glanced at Jackson, knowing he hoped to hear something more positive and certain. "Good, sir; to survive as long as he has on that planet, he's obviously a fighter."

"I'm sure you're doing everything possible," Hammond assured, with a look up to punctuate his confidence. "That brings us back to the question of the situation on Menagerie. We've now killed the village's leader…"

"In self-defense," O'Neill reminded, with a little less anger than had been his initial reaction on the planet itself.

The general ignored the addition. "...And now have the leader of a significant minority group in our Infirmary. I wonder where there that leaves the village in terms of viability and stability both internally and in relations with us."

Carter spoke up to offer more positive contributions of their visit. "We did also kill two predators before they were able to reach the village or hurt anyone else. That should buy us some goodwill."

As she'd spoken, a medical technician had knocked, nodded an apology, handed Fraiser a medical file and whispered something to her. The physician's face wrinkled as she flipped through it urgently; and she let out a disappointed sigh as the major finished her report.

"Hey, Doc?" O'Neill asked on behalf of everyone. "Anything you'd like to share with the rest of the class?"

Fraiser cast another mournful look toward Jackson, before explaining as she continued to read. "They're the lab results on Britain. The MRI shows that his optical nerves have degenerated very badly, apparently due to an untreated viral infection in early puberty. I'm afraid that damage is irreparable."

"What about the optic regenerator that Nyan used when I had been blinded?" asked Teal'c.

"Daniel and I had talked about that already," Carter shook her head, "but he didn't bring it from Bedrosia with him when we all made our escape."(1)

"Damn!" shouted Fraiser.

"Doctor?" Hammond politely demanded an explanation.

"I'm sorry, sir," she replied, sparing no energy for any additional indicator of remorse. "I'm reading Britain's detailed blood series that shows something the earlier tests missed. "

"Which is…?!" Jackson asked, on the edge of his seat when she seemed to slip back into silent reading.

"There's a dilute, slow-acting, but extremely toxic compound in his blood; the creature's bite or claws were venomous."

"What?! How did you not…?" Jackson shouted, barely beating her to his feet.

"I'm not sure, but I need to get on it. Excuse me," she didn't ask as she bolted from the room.

As Jackson and Carter made to follow, Hammond called them back to the table. "Major, Dr. Jackson, I think Dr. Fraiser can handle it for the moment."

They grudgingly complied.

"As she does, and since we're all in one place for the first time since all this started, I'd like to talk through the security issues from our end of Menagerie. In addition to the situation with the village inhabitants themselves," he glanced at the open file before him to make quote the team's report, "we also have 'evidence of relatively recent, non-Gate abductions of human beings by an unknown, off-world power.'" He looked up, signaling he expected an update or further explanation.

"You had contacted our allies for any information they have?" reminded Carter, knowing the team had nothing more to add from the visited planet.

Hammond nodded, "The Tollan don't know anything. The Asgard reminded us that there are any number of interstellar-capable species. And the Tok'ra…"

O'Neill's hand shot up like a school kid's. "Ooh, ooh, I know. They don't know anything. Or… at least aren't willing to tell us anything. Am I right? What did I win for guessing correctly?"

"Actually, they're sending representatives to hear more about this Menagerie planet and its technologies."

O'Neill flopped back in his chair, "That's the same thing as what I said. They're coming to steal our reconnaissance and then rub our nose in our ignorance."

"We'll dial that Gate when we get to it, Colonel," his Commanding Officer suggested. "In the meantime, I'd like the Major to continue her analysis of the scans you made to see what more you can discover about these 'Keepers' you're hypothesizing are monitoring things. Threat, ally or trading partner, the Tok'ra and we are interested in knowing who we're dealing with here. And Dr. Jackson, I'd like you to think about how they may react to our recent arrival and its consequences. Dismissed."

His eyes fluttered open, providing no information on where he was; but he quickly recognized the chirp of the medical tools around him, and a steady breathing beside him. Reaching out with a weak smile, Britain's hand landed squarely on a face, whose body jerked upright at the light smack.

"Huh? What?" Daniel shook himself awake, and half-stood in expectation of needing to do something. He'd also managed to grab the attacking hand, and quickly followed it back to its source. "Britain? Oh, I'm sorry; I must have dozed off."

"I know," was the shaky response, as Daniel sat back down and situated himself and the chair to make the connection comfortable for them both. "You should go and get some rest," he was encouraged instead.

He patted the weak hand that was worried about him, asking, "How do you feel?"

"With my hands," Britain smiled and lightly wriggled his fingers, before clenching and unclenching his fists, as if sore. "Everything itches now."

Jackson smiled at the persistent humor, but said nothing.

"Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to go back to Menagerie."

Jackson sat up straighter still. "Oh. But I haven't had a chance to take you outside yet, to show you the sounds and smell of your ancestral, home world…"

"I don't have to leave this mountain to know that this world is not my home."

"What do you mean?" This turn of thinking surprised Daniel on most levels, as he had expected there to be some adjustment to the new place; but not enough to make Britain wish to leave it so soon.

"I can hear your people talking, the doctors and soldiers, about governments, money and sporting teams, wars and problems. From just the little I've heard, I know this is not the perfect world I have imagined it to be; not the paradise I believed in."

"No world is, Britain," Daniel reminded. "But you'll be much better treated here than on Menagerie."

"As fascinating as all the new things would be, we have challenges enough on Menagerie, where people need me and I can make some difference. Rors is dead; Anjal will carry on his legacy; and the Broken will have it all the worse for our friendliness to you. You and your friends all have a role to play here, people who count on you and about whom you care. Even a blind orphan can recognize that as a home, Daniel, in whatever language. But it is not mine. My place, my people and my relationships –my home is through the Ring."

Daniel held the near hand in both his, insisting, "We've got to get you better first, and then we'll make travel plans… Rest now," he suggested firmly, easing it with a gentle run of his hand through Britain's hair.

Needing to stretch, and to cut off further discussion, he walked out into the corridor, where he rested his forehead against the concrete wall as deep and impenetrable his guilt and helplessness.

Carter found him there some time later, as their teammates and Fraiser arrived to try their next unorthodox fix.

"Hey," she called to him with a consoling pat on the arm, "Hammond's agreed to let me give it a try." She nodded to a locked box in her hand.

As a nurse ran a few tests on Jackson from the next bed over, Teal'c and O'Neill stood by in case something went wrong, and Fraiser monitored the prone patient, Carter finally exhaled and slumped back from beside Britain's bed. Wiping sweat from her forehead, as he shivered and glistened with sweat himself, she walked over to join her colleagues beyond his possible earshot. Frustrated, she removed the ornate Goa'uld healing device, and flexed her fingers after the intense exertion. "I'm sorry; I just can't get it to work. Nothing!"

Teal'c quickly locked the relic back in its container, as O'Neill patted her on the shoulder. "We know you tried."

Visibly disappointed beyond wearied, she sighed, speculating on what else they could try to salvage the attempt. "Maybe it's easier to work when the patient has a symbiote or had one, like when Osiris was here."(2)

Dr Fraiser approached with two sets of charts, to share some good news. "Well, Dr Jackson, as we thought, it looks like you got too little venom from the indirect exposure to be affected; and you seem less susceptible to it. Britain absorbed quite a bit, and has some blood proteins that apparently are particularly vulnerable. Could be a result of his childhood viral infection, could be his possible interspecies pedigree. I'm not sure."

"But whatever the reason, it's not good?" O'Neill deduced.

The base physician shook her head sadly.

"What about a sarcophagus?" Jackson asked, grasping for another possibility to turn Go'auld horrors to their advantage.

"Remember what your exposure to the sarcophagus caused for you, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c suggested.(3)

"That was prolonged and repeated exposure; this would be a one-time fix!"

"It's moot, Daniel," O'Neill cut him off. "We haven't got one regardless."

"The Tok'ra might," he insisted.

"They won't use them; remember?" said Carter.

Clenching his fists in growing frustration, Jackson challenged his friends' quick naysaying at the glimmers of hope he offered. "Just because they don't sleep in it, doesn't mean they don't have one lying around somewhere! We've got to try something! Give him some of my blood if it doesn't affect me…," he turned to Fraiser.

"The transfusions we've given already didn't help; in fact they probably just made it worse—diluting some helpful enzymes also unique to his blood chemistry. I'm working on synthesizing some that will allow us to successfully transfuse to him, but that's going to take time. And with the severity of his wounds, his initial blood loss and the venom's already having moved into his tissues and organs, even that…" She lay her hand briefly on Jackson's arm, "While we work on it, we'll ease the pain and keep him hydrated. Beyond that, it's up to him. Anything we can do to keep him resting and upbeat…" With a doleful glance behind her dutiful smile, Fraiser moved off with all but Carter, who stepped up to Daniel.

"I'm sorry. I…"

"You tried, Sam; thanks."

"Maybe the Tok'ra can try when they get here," she gestured to the healing device. "My Dad, Martouf… they'll be better with it."

The base alarms rang out, as the on-duty technician's voice announced through the PA system, "Unscheduled off-world activation. Unscheduled off-world activation."

Carter batted Jackson on the shoulder, smiling, "We don't have any more teams scheduled for return today; so that must be the Tok'ra. See, right on time to save the day!" Pulling him after her, she headed toward the control to greet the visitors in hopes of good news.

The Gate was already open behind the closed iris, as SG-1 joined General Hammond at the main station.

"We are receiving a radio transmission," the sergeant reported, "but it's not an IDC code."

"Let's hear it."

A burst of static was replaced by a scratchy, but clearly recognizable message, "Personnel of Earth Stargate Command, we are they you call the 'Keepers' of Menagerie."

Each word was seemingly said by a different speaker, as a collage of several voices, most notably Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill's.

"How…?" asked Hammond, as the others reacted to the unexpected caller.

"…You have interfered with our project on Menagerie."

"The observation devices," Carter whispered, as the speakers continued, "They must have recorded our radio and other conversations, and seen us dial home…"

"Your unplanned presence, your introduction of unintended technologies and supplies, your intervention in the natural social structure and your removal of one subject have greatly compromised the integrity of the project."

Jackson broke in, not caring whether they could hear him, "Your experiment is an exercise in base injustice and social engineering!"

The patchwork warning continued, "Further disruptions will not be tolerated. Any attempts to visit, contact or otherwise contaminate the project settlement may necessitate the elimination of the project population."

With that, the transmission ended and the Gate closed abruptly.

Gaping, Hammond turned to his various personnel, expecting an explanation, a reconnection, a solution –something. As the technician and Carter punched at the controls to make sense beyond the obvious, Jackson ran his fingers through his hair and nearly hopped away in frustration, as a surface read meant he would not be able to provide what Britain had just asked him for.

An island of calm amidst the others' turmoil, O'Neill tutted with disappointment, "They couldn't've slapped on a 'thanks' or an 'over and out'? Something?"

Beside himself, Jackson resumed his own problem-solving and persuasion, "We can't just stay away now; we've done too much, and the Broken need Britain. Once he's better, sending him back wouldn't violate their conditions. Removing him in the first place is one of their issues, so putting him back would resolve at least that one."

Not able to unpack their communiqué beyond what it clearly was and meant, Carter turned to resolving her friend. "But how can we be sure that they won't consider him another contaminant, now that he's been here, learned about us, been treated by us… Do you really want to risk him?"

"Why don't we just call 'em and double check if it's OK?" O'Neill nodded toward the Gate.

"Jack, this is serious," Hammond chided.

O'Neill feigned hurt and surprise; but Carter's eyes lit up. "Actually, the Colonel may be right." She turned to the General, "Sir, we could send a radio transmission to Menagerie through the Gate, without actually sending anyone or any thing through. The Keepers can obviously send and receive radio signals as they did ours; but the villagers don't have a radio, so that wouldn't 'contaminate the project.'"

"Do it," he seized the opportunity immediately. "We'll apologize for the intrusion, see if we can return Britain and try to build a relationship from there."

Daniel cast his eyes back to the Gate, adding a silent plea for success to the dialing instructions already underway.

NOTES

1. Episode 319, New Ground.

2. Episode 303, Fair Game.

3. Episode 205, Need.