Big thanks to kahuna, patriciaS, Judy for your reviews. Much appreciated. :-)

Chapter 12

The agony…

He curled up, hunched over his stomach. Arms hugging his chest. He scrunched his eyes tight. Waited for the wave to pass.

"I'm sorry."

He opened his eyes at the almost familiar cadence of the voice. Bushy eyebrows over eyes blue as ice were hovering over his face. He frowned briefly, trying to place the man when another wave spiralled outward in concentric circles from his chest to his utmost extremities.

"The pain will pass."

He didn't reply. Couldn't. Rode the agony as best he could until something like release came.

He remembered to breathe.

"Who are you?" the man asked. "You're not what I expected."

He grimaced. "You know…you're not the first one to say that." Another wave passed through his body. He thought he could hear the boy sob.

"You're nothing but a child."

Oh crap.

He looked down. Giggled in disappointment and the unfairness of it all. Wondered what he was to do if he returned back to the SGC in his current form.

"Sssh. We'll just have to work with this, don't we." The man said. Patted him awkwardly on his shoulder.

Another wave passed. The agony at least lessening a little. The man moved away. Stood in front of the pedestal and did something to open the doors at the bottom. He fiddled with two of the crystals. Swapping them around while muttering to himself.

"Who are you?" He manages to ask.

The man half turned from his task, surprise on his face. "Oh…right. I'm Merlin." He said with a dismissive wave of his hand, turning back to his task."

"Knights of the round table…That Merlin…" He managed to say before groaning loudly. Hunching further into his body and feeling tears dripping down his cheeks at the agony.

"Yes."

"G…good to kn…ow." He managed to say.

"Ah hah. I see where I went wrong." Merlin exclaimed. "This might hurt." He said and pressed two buttons in succession. Jack didn't have a chance to protest. Wondered what the man meant when he said hurt because currently hurting was agony.

White hot blades of glass slammed into his body. His own screams echoed back at him. It changed in cadence from high pitched to lower. He writhed on the floor, wishing for the sweet oblivion of unconsciousness.

"Make it stop." He managed to ground out. Panted and slammed his head on the ground. The action felt good. He did it again, a repetitive motion as wave after wave slammed into his body. Overrode his senses. He tasted blood. Felt bile rise. Swallowed the acidic taste of it.

And then abruptly it ended as it had begun.

He was exhausted. His eyelids heavy, pulling down. He rolled onto his back, hands on his chest, his breathing deepening and as he fell asleep he realised that he wasn't a boy anymore.


"Hello Jack."

He turned. Oma was standing in front of him. She looked different. More …shiny. A halo of light surrounded her and he wondered about it. He gave her a half-smile and a small wave of his hand.

"Hey."

"You did good."

He raised both eyebrows at this. "Oh?"

She nodded. "The battle isn't done."

"Oh, come on. You just told me I did good."

She chuckled. "Merlin is not to be trusted." She was serious. "Be careful."

"Hey, I've seen the movie. The knight gets the girl."

She frowned. "He needs you as much as you need him to get you back. Remember that."

"Fine."

"When you're done, come to the diner."

He found that he understood her. Watched as she disappeared. Light wavered…


"Sam!"

"I don't know, okay. He was here. You saw him."

"He was talking to someone…maybe there's another plane…"

"Daniel Jackson."

"What…oh right, Teal'c. The inscription."

"Can you read that?"

"I'll try Sam…let me see..."


He opened his eyes. The echo of his team members' conversation lingered. He felt if he reached out he would be able to touch them. But there was nothing but the empty chamber. Even Merlin was gone.

He felt alone.

More alone than lying on the floor of his cell in Anubis' dungeon. He sighed. Why was it never ever easy?

Dial in. Dial out. Everyone goes home safe.

Dammit.

He grunted as he rose into a sitting position. He was dressed differently. A grey tunic adorned his body and sandals covered his feet. He eyed the tussled rope that cinched his middle. Fiddled with it. Felt the texture of the rough-hewn fibre against his fingertips. He looked around.

He could see the dials. Both of them. The panels glinting in the fire flickering from the sconces set against the wall. He rose. Stumbled his way out the chamber and down the hallway. Looked at the stairs that led upwards.

It was going to hurt climbing all of them back up to the ruins. He glanced back at the empty hallway. Wondered if he was supposed to stay and wait. But for what exactly. Turning, he noticed the wall that Daniel had read from. The one with the writing on it that had been dusty and faded.

It wasn't anymore. It looked like it had been inscribed yesterday. He stepped closer, his fingers tracing over the edgings. He leaned his forehead against the wall.

So…it's going to be a trip back in history then.

"Hey." He finally said out loud. "Isn't there supposed to be a spirit of the past or something to guide me. You know…show me all my follies."

Silence met his question. He glanced back at the hallway, traced the letters to the one that he had seen Daniel use and pressed the letter. It gave surprisingly easy, a slight dimple into the wall. The gate slid down without a sound before slamming into the floor.

That's that then. He turned to the stairs and started climbing.


There wasn't ruins anymore. He stepped out of the pool into a silent, empty room. Glancing out the windows, he saw that it was nighttime. Probably the reason why he was able to go undetected for so long. When he stepped out of the pool area, it slid close behind him with a slight boom. He startled at the sound. Turned and took a step back when he heard footsteps.

"What are you doing here?"

He looked around to see a young man hurrying down the room towards him. He was dressed in a tunic. It was black, sandals adorning his feet. His dark hair was cut into a halo, the light glinting of his hairless top part of his head. A rope was tied around his middle, somehow elaborately tied in the front of the tunic.

"It's the emperor's sleep hour. No one is supposed to be awake."

He raised an eyebrow. "And yet here you are." He murmured underneath his breath. Wondered what Daniel would do right at this moment. Probably spout of some rules he had to follow. Well – he wasn't Daniel.

"Sorry. Bit lost." He said when the man stopped in front of him, clearly waiting for an answer.

"Pilgrims quarters are that way." The man said, indicating a door to his left. "I'll show you."

"Uh…okay. Thanks." He followed the man out the room, hoping to hell he'd find his way back here. Orientated himself as best he could and started to carve out a map in his head as they walked away. It didn't take long before they entered a big common room. Quite a few people were asleep on the floor on mats. He got pulled to a corner and showed an empty space, so he sat down. The man stood waiting and he lay down, getting himself comfortable. It seemed to satisfy the man, for he turned and walked off muttering something about playing nursemaid to lost pilgrims. That he'd be glad once the season was done.

He stared up at the ceiling. Wondered what the hell he was doing back here. He tried to remember Daniel's words exactly. Something about the secrets being revealed…well. He didn't feel particularly wise. And he wasn't about to throw himself on the sword either. Sacrifice only means something if it actually makes a difference.

Don't antagonise the locals, Jack.

He blinked. Daniel's voice was real enough. He looked around. Couldn't see anything. Decided that he was tired. Should probably get some sleep, so he closed his eyes and drifted off.


Breakfast was flatbread and what looked suspiciously like a pear. He took a tentative bite. It wasn't too bad, a bit sour but it was food so he finished it. Shuffled his way with the other pilgrims down the halls towards what was clearly a courtyard of some sort. He squinted at the brightness of the sun as they exited the buildings. A hushed silence fell over the crowd and then a gong sounded.

Crap.

It was familiar. He knew it. Just knew who the emperor was going to be.

He turned with the rest of the crowd at the steady steps of multiple feet echoed around the courtyard. Clenched his hands when the guards took up residence along the wall, staff weapons slamming down in unison. Kneeled with everyone as Anubis in all his glory ascended the throne.


"Daniel?"

"What?"

"Care to explain?" Jack turned to his team member. Indicated the cartouche in front of them.

"Oh…right. A cartouche was usually only worn by the Pharaohs. It used to protect them from evil spirits in life and after death."

"Yes Daniel. What does it say?"

Daniel blinked owlishly up at him. Back at the symbol etched onto the stone. His finger traced briefly over the individual symbols, his lips moving in unison. "Uh…I guess taken in context. Kebechet, daughter of Anubis."

"Oo-okay." He was on guard immediately. Gripped his P-90 firmly, taking in the ruins they were currently exploring. He indicated with his head. "She dead?"

"I have no knowledge of her, O'Neill." Teal'c piped up, his bass filling the space around them.

"You think dear old dad killed her?" Jack asked.

"According to legend she is the serpent who refreshes and purifies the pharaoh."

"Serpent huh?" Jack quipped. "Funny, didn't see that coming." He deadpanned. Looked around, making sure that there were no hidden surprises ready to spring out at his people.

"Carter?"

"The DHD is secure, sir. There isn't much more to see. The cliff is stable for now but I wouldn't recommend us staying too long."

He looked pointedly at Daniel, who had shuffled onto another rock. He had a notebook out, was making notes, barely aware of them.

"How long?" he asked with a sigh. Took a step closer and toed Daniel. The man grunted. "Come on, Jack. Not much is known about her."

"Cliff Daniel."

He looked up at him and blinked. "Oh…right. Can I have ten minutes at least."

"Not one minute more," he said when Carter nodded, hiding her brief grin behind her hand. He wasn't sure if the man even heard him, his head already down and reading the next line of symbols on the rock.

The ground shuddered. Stilled.

He looked at Carter with concern. She frowned, turned back to the tablet in her hands. Did some calculations. He left her too it, walking away slightly to check one of the alcoves that were set in a corner. Light barely reached the space. He sat down, eyed his watch and counted the minutes until they were leaving.

"We're still good, sir." Carter piped up. Placed her tablet in her bag, gathering up her bag and shouldering it. Teal'c stood sentry at the other end of the room. His staff weapon rested comfortably on the ground. All of them watching Daniel shuffling on his knees, tracing symbols and writing down words in his haste to get done.

He looked to the left. Frowned when he saw a picture etched into the wall. He reached out a hand. Traced the square box. Above the box, five lines were drawn at angles. Starting at a point just above the middle and spreading outwards to what even he recognises as the eye of Ra above the lines. He shuddered.

"Daniel, come here." He called the archaeologist.

"Did you find something?" The other asked, rising from where he was seated. Making his way over to Jack who had stood up and was facing the alcove. He leaned in, pushed his glasses back against his nose.

"Oh."

"What does 'Oh' mean, Daniel." Jack asked, turning his arm to watch the timer tick down.

"Uh…not sure. I'm thinking we're looking at Pandora's box…"

Jack frowned. "I know I'm a bit hazy on my history there, Daniel but wasn't that supposed to be from Greek mythology."

Daniel looked at him with sudden interest. "How do you know…"

Jack grinned. "Dated this girl once from one of the sororities. She told me all about it one evening."

Daniel turned away from him. Investigated the alcove with tracing fingers on the walls that made up the opening. When he came to the box and the eye of Ra, he pressed down. The eye moved under his fingers and with a soft click, the back of the alcove slid away sideways.

A clay tablet lay in the space just behind the opened wall. Daniel picked it up. Held it close to his body as another tremor rattled the walls. Dust trickled down and one or two small stones clattered to the floor.

"Okay. That's it. We're out of here." Jack said, stumbling as yet another deep throated tremble shook the building. Carter was already at the DHD, dialling out. Daniel was struggling to get the clay tablet into his bag, fumbling with the catch as an ominous rumble came from outside.

"Carter…"

She pressed the next symbol. Six already lit and with the seventh symbol the wormhole engaged, the event horizon spreading out horizontally and with a slurp settled back between the rings. A crack resounded above their heads. He grabbed Daniel. Shoved him towards the glimmering circle of light. Teal'c had already gone through, Carter right behind the big man.

"Nooo."

He ignored Daniel's cry as the tablet tumbled out of the archaeologist's hand onto the floor. Felt the floor see-saw beneath his feet and with his arms around Daniel, pushed both of them over the event horizon.


Three hours.

That was how long Anubis sat on the throne while they kneeled and paid tribute. His knee was hurting. He pretended like hell. Kept his head down. Headed Daniel's earlier advice.

He really wasn't in the mood to be a guest of Anubis again. His body just ached thinking about it. Why of all the places did they have to send him here. It seems that this was Anubis at the height of his powers. The height of his empire. He thought he saw Ba'al at one stage, coming in and standing against one wall.

He followed the crowd back to the sleeping hall. Sat down in his corner and wondered what it was that he was supposed to be doing here. If only someone had given him the script.

He felt someone sit down next to him. Turned his head. Merlin looked back at him.

"You know, it would've been nice if you stayed down there and not left me to find my own way here." He said, indicating the hallway. "Care to explain?" He raised his right eyebrow. Tilted his head and waited the other man out.

Merlin met his gaze with a slyness that reminded him of one of the men that had guarded him in Iraq. It usually ended with him hurting somewhere. He had learned quickly not to trust anything the guard gave him. Not to take any food or water, no matter how thirsty or hungry he was. The man had enjoyed his role too much. His features tightened at the memory.

"What do you remember, Jack?" Merlin asked him.

"You know my name." He said. He shifted on the pallet, slightly away from the other man so that he had room to manoeuvre if he wanted too.

Merlin gave a secretive smile. It didn't bring any comfort to Jack or made him feel safe at all. "I know all about the great Jack O'Neill with two l's. You are …known." He said A gleam glinted off the firelight just above their heads. Merlin's right hand reached upwards, smoothed his beard down. "How is Oma?"

He shrugged. "The same I guess."

"Still pulling in strays I see. But in this case, I'm not going to fault her."

"Why are we here?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious." Merlin said. "Surely even you can figure it out."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you tell me instead of us playing these guessing games. Never liked those much, you know."

"Let me show you something." Merlin said. Got up and moved between the pallets and then down the centre aisle. Jack followed him. They stepped out of the room, moving deeper into the temple. Further away from the courtyard. They bypassed smaller quarters. At the end of the hallway, they stepped through a doorway. Jack found that they were outside, the desert spread out before him.

It looked familiar.

He stared at the mountains in the distance. At the basin stretched out before him. His stomach lurched. He turned his head to Merlin, his hands felt sweaty and he wiped them on his tunic. They turned around.

Jack took a step backwards unconsciously.

The outside of the temple had been constructed out of black granite. It seemed to absorb the sun, pulling light into itself and turning it into darkness. It was a blight on the land. An aberration. The underhang they had walked beneath turned out to be the long snout of a Jackal, ears pointed to the sky and twin fires lit in the holes where the eyes were. Legs stretched outwards and he recognized them now for what they were. Behind the Jackal, rose a ha'tak. It was enormous. The biggest one Jack had ever seen.

A wind swirled from the desert. Tugged against his tunic. He closed his eyes briefly. Thought he heard whispers riding on the wind.

"What did he do?" He asked with a mouth that went dry.

"He tried to open the box." Merlin said, "to let evil out into the world."

"The whispers…"

"The result of his meddling."

He frowned. "Daniel said that the whispers will decide my worth." He turned to the other man so he faced him fully. "If they're …evil, how can they decide someone's worth?"

Merlin gave a small sigh. "There are realms that the Tau'ri are not aware of. Other planes of existence. Not everything out there is evil, Jack."

Dammit. He wished now more than ever he had let Daniel grab the bloody clay tablet. Somehow just knew the knowledge it contained would've been helpful right about now.

"Not my experience. Besides, even if there is gonna be some great cosmic battle... Hello…seen the movie. The good guys always win."

"Jack, do you know why he wants you to open the box?" Merlin asked him. "In your time he's half-ascended. Has some of the knowledge of the ancients. He knows how to open the box."

He stayed silent as he alternated looking at the desert, the temple and Merlin. Pretended he didn't understand. Merlin saw right through him. Smiled.

"Because Jack. You were the one who locked the box."