The Moon Is Not a God (Part 1)
Title: The Moon is Not a God
Author: muck-a-luck, posting in brainofck
Pairing: Daniel Jackson/Jack O'Neill/Sam Carter, Teal'c/Sam Carter, Teal'c/SG-1 UST
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Teal'c fears the curse of D'eb Al'ealm, but the Tau'ri do not listen. Now SG-1 has fallen to the plague, and Teal'c must save them from their own people. But can he save them from themselves?
Content/warnings: Character death.
Words: Approx. 20,500
Disclaimer: If anybody is planning a script like this for SG-1, I'm certainly not going to claim any rights to it. However, I'd be delighted to work in a co-writing/consulting/first-reader/advisory-type capacity, with my fee to be negotiated at that time. :D
Archive rights: Absolutely none. My journals only. muck_a_luck and brainofck
Beta: Many thanks to
princessofgeeks anduisgich for the alpha read, which was critical to the decision to change from Jack's to Teal'c's POV. And thank you so much to zats_clear for her help with the beta.
CLWilson2006 has a masterpost of her art located here: http://clwilson2006.livejournal.com/89251.html. I told her to keep some of it for a surprise, so I haven't even seen it all yet! *is excited* As soon as I have all the art, I will incorporate into the post!
Teal'c entered the council chamber with some trepidation. He rarely felt the need to interrupt the flow of these consultations with General Hammond. He preferred to allow the Tau'ri to consider their resources and goals and make their decisions as they saw fit, only contributing his own input when directly asked. O'Neill of the Tau'ri, not Teal'c of Chulak, was First Prime to General Hammond. They consulted Teal'c as needed, and that was his duty.
But in this instance, this planet they proposed to explore, P2X-179, might be more dangerous than they could anticipate based upon their usual methods of preparation.
"Alright, people, what have you got for me today?" General Hammond opened the meeting, as if he were not more familiar with the proposed mission than anyone in the room.
DanielJackson presented first.
"Well, based on M.A.L.P. telemetry," he began, "we don't expect to find much in the way of first contact possibilities on P2X-179. However, I was reviewing the tablet that SG-11 brought back from the ruins of the goa'uld library on Belote, and came across a reference to P2X-179, which matches the gate address in the tablet for a planet know as D'eb Al'ealm."
DanielJackson paused, eyes alight with the excitement of his next pronouncement.
"D'eb Al'ealm is a forbidden world. Like Cimmeria."
"So there is the possibility that it became taboo to the goa'uld for similar reasons? There is a possibility that we could find another device like the one Thor left on Cimmeria, that would allow us to remove a symbiote from the host?" General Hammond quizzed DanielJackson.
"Yes! Exactly!"
"Maybe you should sit this one out, T," O'Neill murmured to him.
Teal'c shook his head and replied in low tones.
"I will certainly accompany you if you explore this world. There is nothing to suggest that there is a guardian at the gate of D'eb Al'ealm."
"Teal'c, I understand that you do not share Dr. Jackson's optimism? Your pre-mission statement suggests that you have reservations."
"Yes, General. It is my concern that D'eb Al'ealm may be much more dangerous to the Tau'ri than to myself."
"It just looks like a bunch of woods to me," O'Neill stated.
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed. "However, the story of D'eb Al'ealm told among the Jaffa says that no goa'uld should go to this world. It is said to be inhabited by terrible monsters that even a platoon of Jaffa cannot defeat. They rip their prey to shreds, leaving the corpse devoured and destroyed beyond the ability of any symbiote or sarcophagus to heal or repair."
"Wow," Captain Carter said with her usual succinctness.
"Still, my concern is not in regard to these supposed monsters. The legend states that the monsters were once humans. According to the tale, D'eb Al'ealm was once a prosperous settlement of slaves providing agricultural and forest goods to Ra. The people there began falling victim to a new, never-before-seen disease. It ravaged the villages, killing many. Those who survived were changed into the monsters the goa'uld so fear."
"Any human population that could frighten a goa'uld so badly that D'eb Al'ealm got placed on a taboo gate list sounds like a culture we want to meet," DanielJackson proposed. "Who knows what really happened there?"
"And what if the legend is correct, Dr. Jackson, and in fact there was some kind of plague on this planet?" General Hammond cautioned.
"Risk of contagion seems minimal, sir, considering that there isn't a human settlement within UAV flight distance of the gate," Captain Carter replied. "The M.A.L.P. data suggests that the gate is sitting right on top of some of the richest and most easily extractable deposits of naquadah we've identified to date. Whatever disease outbreak there might have been in the mists of goa'uld history, the mineral wealth there makes exploring P2X-179 a necessity."
General Hammond met the eyes of each member of SG-1 in turn, weighing their contributions. He finally turned to O'Neill.
"Colonel, you haven't had much to say."
"Well. I'm not that excited about fighting the corpse-shredding monsters in a CBRN suit, sir, but I figure, we go in ready, get the necessary information for the minerals lab, see what biological samples we can bring back for Dr. Fraiser, then get the hell out. The naquadah seems worth the risk."
"I agree," the general stated. "OK, SG-1, you have a go, but I want the highest epidemiological protocol. I'll be alerting Dr. Fraiser that you need a briefing. Follow her instructions to the letter."
"Yes, sir," O'Neill said, standing as General Hammond rose and withdrew to his offices.
The necessary rites of departure had been performed and SG-1 was attired for battle. Teal'c now understood O'Neill's misgivings. Teal'c was quite concerned about the ability of his comrades to defend themselves in the awkward protective gear. He would need to be even more alert, knowing that O'Neill and Captain Carter would not be able to bring to bear their usual instincts and combat skills. As the event horizon established, he set aside his unease and prepared for the task at hand. He brought his heart rate back to the usual calm rhythm, and regulated his breathing. With a focused mind, he stepped into the unknown.
"Yup," O'Neill commented, his voice muffled by the suit. "Lots of trees."
DanielJackson was striding away from the Chappa'ai. He removed his pack and began laying out the equipment for taking the environmental samples. Captain Carter was doing the same in preparation for her mineral survey. O'Neill signaled to Teal'c that they would begin to establish the perimeter by walking in opposite directions. There was no need for silent communication, but Teal'c noticed that often in the field when O'Neill needed to speak only about military matters and only to Teal'c, that the human found the hand signals effective. Teal'c nodded in acknowledgement of his orders, and began his review of the terrain.
SG-1 had been working together for many Earth months now, and Teal'c appreciated the efficient working relationship they had established. The scientists conducted their surveys methodically, relying on himself and O'Neill to protect them as they performed their scholarly duties, but never dependent. Even DanielJackson, who was only a historian, not a warrior as was Captain Carter, understood how to remain alert and assist in his own defense, or the defense of the group, if it were needed. Though he would not say so to O'Neill, there were no better Jaffa fighters than O'Neill and Captain Carter. Yet after all these months, Teal'c remained amazed at the flexibility and resourcefulness of the Tau'ri. A Jaffa contingent was specialized. Teal'c could never have participated in a mission such as this, with scientists and soldiers blending so that their areas of expertise were nearly indistinguishable.
There was nothing of note in the perimeter of the Chappa'ai's clearing.
"Daniel and Carter need to move out into the woods to do their surveys," O'Neill commented as he met Teal'c at the end of his own circuit.
"You are not attired for mobility, O'Neill. Perhaps you should not venture into the forest until we are certain the area is secure."
"No. We'll do the sweep together," O'Neill said. Teal'c inclined his head. "Stay alert, Carter, Teal'c and I will be out of line of sight."
"Yes, sir!" she answered smartly. Teal'c stepped forward into the brush.
The moved through the heavy vegetation for several uneventful minutes. Teal'c found the density of the trees unsettling. Visibility was poor. He and O'Neill might establish a perimeter even as an enemy lurked only an arm's length away. He felt vulnerable. He also had the feeling of pending danger, as if the enemy's eyes were upon him. He tightened and eased his grip on his staff weapon, a nervous habit he had never fully quelled.
The attack came swiftly and with little warning. Although Teal'c had anticipated it, he was not prepared. The undergrowth rustled and a roughly human-shaped form flew at Teal'c's chest, crashing into him and knocking him over. Teal'c rolled with the blow and came to his feet again. He took aim at the creature with his staff, but it moved as quickly as a Setesh guard running towards the Chappa'ai. Its renewed attack was on O'Neill. His friend had turned, weapon raised, at the noise of Teal'c's fall, but the beast was too close and too fast as O'Neill tried to fire upon it. It bore him to the ground and sank teeth into his arm.
O'Neill punched the creature in the head, and it yelped and released its bite. There was a shout from DanielJackson and weapons fire from the clearing, now to their right. Teal'c turned and ran, dodging between trees and shoving through the vegetation. He found Captain Carter and DanielJackson under attack. Captain Carter had been caught from behind, and was extracting herself from under the twitching body of one of the monsters. DanielJackson held his Beretta in his hand. Clearly he had slain the beast that had threatened Captain Carter, but now one of the monsters had gripped his forearm in its foul jaws. As Teal'c raised and engaged his staff, DanielJackson kicked the animal. Teal'c fired at the same moment as Captain Carter. The creature was blasted across the clearing, away from their friend.
O'Neill stumbled out of the treeline. Captain Carter was already activating the Chappa'ai. Teal'c caught O'Neill, raising his leader's good arm to lay across his shoulder, assisting him toward safety. DanielJackson held his arm tight against his body, but appeared to be steady on his feet. Captain Carter was scooping up what samples she and DanielJackson had already collected.
They retreated through the Chappa'ai with a new battle to add to their lengthening tale.
"I am pleased that your wounds are not serious, Captain Carter," Teal'c said as they observed the live feed from D'eb Al'ealm.
"Just a few scratches," she said absently. Teal'c knew that wasn't completely true. There were deep scrapes into the skin and musculature to either side of her spine, long painful gashes that would leave vivid scars. Still, superficial and not life-threatening or maiming. Teal'c wished she had a proper prim'ta to take away the pain and heal her skin to flawless smoothness again, but he knew she would not appreciate the sentiment, and in any case he found it one of the most honorable aspects of Tau'ri culture that they valued scars.
She stood up from the screen in exasperation. "There must be fifty individuals we've seen so far."
"I don't see how you can tell them apart," Dr. Lee replied.
"They appear to be humanoid. Perhaps this is the result of the sickness described in the legend," Teal'c commented. "Dr. Lee continues to refer to them as 'werewolves.' The plague on D'eb Al'ealm could be the root of more than one legend."
"Do you think they are intelligent enough to dial the gate?" Dr. Lee asked.
"It's hard to tell," Captain Carter said. "If they are werewolves, they may have a more human form that we haven't seen yet. P2X-179 has four moons."
Teal'c was not very good at distinguishing irony and sarcasm, but he was fairly certain Captain Carter was expressing her disdain for Dr. Lee's werewolf theory.
"Well, I'm glad I wasn't bitten by one of them," Dr. Lee said, which Teal'c felt was quite thoughtless under the circumstances.
"Indeed, Dr. Lee, we are all in agreement that you should not be placed in the role of the warrior," Teal'c said mildly. Dr. Lee looked properly shamed.
"There's no such thing as werewolves," Captain Carter resumed.
"I don't know how you can say that as a scientist when you see the evidence right there," Dr. Lee insisted, indignation helping him to regain some of his aplomb.
"Those are some kind of indigenous aliens. Daniel and his staff will figure out how to communicate with them, SG-9 will work out an arrangement for mining. This is a waste of time. SG-11 brought back those cubes with the weird power signatures. I'm going back to the lab. Want to get lunch today, Teal'c?" she asked as she headed out into the corridor.
"It would be my pleasure, Captain Carter. I will join you at 1300 hours in the dining room?" Teal'c replied, feeling some internal embarrassment at how much it pleased him to have the friendship of this woman.
"See you!" she said, walking toward the elevator.
Teal'c felt restless. Dr. Lee had explained werewolves to him extensively over the breaking of the fast earlier, and while everyone Teal'c had met since had dismissed werewolves as "fairy tales," Teal'c was disturbed by how much the creatures they had seen on the video feed appeared to be wolf-men, and how well the legend of D'eb Al'ealm would explain how they became such creatures. Teal'c turned to the infirmary. He would seek reassurance from Dr. Fraiser. Surely the healer would be able to give him more facts than the physicist, Dr. Lee.
"Good morning, Teal'c," she greeted him when he entered her office. "What can I do for you today?"
"Dr. Fraiser, I would like your opinion of Dr. Lee's werewolf hypothesis," Teal'c said. "Captain Carter dismisses it out of hand, and yet, I see the similarities to the legend."
Dr. Fraiser stood up from her desk.
"I've been thinking about that myself this morning," she admitted gravely. "I don't know about the 'werewolf' part, but I read your report on D'eb Al'ealm, and I am very concerned that those aliens might have transmitted some infection or toxin to SG-1. I'm having everything analyzed now. Would you like to walk with me? I'm going to inspect the troops."
By which Teal'c knew the doctor meant that she wanted to strike fear into her subordinates; to remind them of the price of failure, should they fail to bring her quick and clear results. Teal'c found that Dr. Fraiser's leadership style was much more like his own had been when he was First Prime. O'Neill and General Hammond had so much respect for loyalty, intentions, and caution in attaining mission objectives. Dr. Fraiser demanded results, and she got them.
The doctor reviewed the work of her deputies. She took the stack of files and clipboards with raw data over to a work table, spreading the materials out before her. She checked one page, then another, then moved on to another set of paper entirely. Teal'c waited patiently, hands clasped behind him, noting the continued work of the lab, awaiting some comment from her.
She finally sat back on the hard chair where she had perched as she began her study of the data, and seemed surprised to find that Teal'c was still waiting. She smiled and blew out a long breath.
"I can't see anything," she said. "But of course, I always have that lingering question: 'Would I know it if I saw it?'"
Teal'c nodded. He understood that feeling well.
P3R-201 was a beautiful, restful world. After years by the side of Apophis at the helm of a ha'tak or inside one of his many palaces, or leading Apophis's troops, Teal'c relished these opportunities to see the natural beauty of the galaxy. He paced well past the edge of the dig, weapon laid aside for now, just admiring the unusual yellow and orange flowers growing in the tall, brilliantly green grass.
He almost sighed when he heard the screams and gunfire from the archaeologists' encampment. He felt weary resignation to his fate. There was never an escape from responsibility. Perhaps it was a regrettable influence of the Tau'ri that a warrior such as Teal'c of Chulak would wish that he could set aside his burdens, even for a few moments.
But he did not pause or spend more than a few seconds on that one sigh of regret before he ran toward the fighting. He found evidence of combat immediately. The tent SG-1 had been sharing near the edge of the encampment was ripped to shreds, and inside he noted with dismay that O'Neill had been injured. He writhed in apparent agony. His arms and legs were oddly flexed and not fitting together at the proper angles. If Teal'c had not reacted so quickly, he would have thought that O'Neill had been severely beaten, but there had not been time for anyone to wreck this much damage on his friend's body. He approached to offer assistance, only to witness the horrifying transformation of O'Neill's face and head before his eyes. Suddenly, all of O'Neill's disjointed body seemed to reform, and he rose from the puddle of his tattered jacket and shirt, his trousers hanging oddly around the middle of his torso. He shook his boots off his rear legs. His naked skin had sprouted fur.
Teal'c faced a monstrous canine creature of roughly O'Neill's mass and general size. The beast confronted Teal'c, pawing the earth, hackles raised, tail lowered. He bared his teeth, revealing great, heavy fangs.
Teal'c stared into his dark eyes and found nothing but animal there. He spoke to his friend anyway.
"O'Neill, you must control this animal that has taken over your being," Teal'c ordered calmly. O'Neill's response was a snarling growl. He launched himself at Teal'c, but Teal'c was ready. No animal was a match for a Jaffa warrior. He easily blocked O'Neill's leap with a blow of his own forearm. O'Neill crashed to the ground with a yelp. Teal'c attempted to take advantage of O'Neill's disorientation to tackle him, thinking perhaps his friend could be bound or restrained, but O'Neill rolled and leapt and then was moving with amazing speed through the rows of tents, away from Teal'c and toward the sounds of the battle. Teal'c scrambled up from his missed grab and ran behind him.
The scene at the dig was chaotic. Soldiers lay wounded everywhere Teal'c turned. Every fallen warrior appeared to have been disarmed. He could not pause to assist the injured, but ran towards the yelling and snarling still hidden by tents.
He was not surprised to find three beasts, for he knew when he saw O'Neill's transformation and Captain Carter and DanielJackson nowhere in evidence that it must be SG-1, united as a pack as they were united as warriors.
"O'Neill, kree!" he shouted over the general din.
All eyes turned to Teal'c, who stood unarmed atop a pile of earth. "DanielJackson, Captain Carter!" The animal he knew to be O'Neill growled and crouched low, preparing to attack. Of the other two animals, one was slightly less massive, with pale golden fur - Teal'c presumed Captain Carter. She slammed into O'Neill full-force before he could leap and the two great animals rolled together. DanielJackson sat back on his haunches and bayed, a mournful long howl, then he fled, the other two chasing him toward the very meadow where Teal'c had stood admiring the flowers moments before.
"Find all the injured and assist them to the Stargate," Teal'c tersely ordered the frightened scientists. "Leave no one here. Evacuate as quickly as possible. Alert General Hammond and Dr. Fraiser that Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, and DanielJackson have succumbed to the plague of D'eb Al'ealm. I will observe the progress of their illness and report within twenty-four hours."
"Okay," Dr. Rothman agreed, breathless and frightened, but resolute. The civilians began to fan out in search of their erstwhile protectors. Dr. Rothman seemed to have taken command, shouting orders and organizing the group. Satisfied, Teal'c set off at a run to pursue his friends.
Teal'c spent the following three days listening and observing. The first day, he saw his friends only rarely. When he did see them, they appeared to be hunting the small, quick rodents that inhabited the grasslands. They stalked and pounced, with awkward lack of skill that made Teal'c smile in spite of the circumstances. He was convinced they were aware of his presence, but now that they had discovered the task of hunting, they no longer sought to attack him. In fact, as he did not threaten them in any way, they began to stay near him, so that by the third day, they brought their prey to the clearing where Teal'c sat peacefully enjoying the flowers again, and settled together near the edge of the woods, eating and, Teal'c thought, enjoying the warmth of the bright sun.
He noted that they also engaged freely in other activities. He observed every beast in coitus with every other, and they tumbled and played and slept together. They seemed happy and free. Teal'c felt a slight regret that these three great minds, leaders of the Tau'ri, heroes, could find so much obvious pleasure in laying aside their own burdens. And a more than slight regret that he could not join them.
"They have not returned to human form," Teal'c informed Dr. Fraiser in his report at the end of the second day. "However, I am seeing them more frequently. I believe that I will soon be able to get near enough to them to shoot them with the tranquilizer darts. However, they easily disarmed the warriors here. I believe they will recognize any weapon I carry near them and seek to avoid it."
"I understand," Dr. Fraiser replied. "I believe the best thing for the moment is to continue to observe them. If the course of this disease follows the pattern of werewolf legend, they should eventually revert back to a human form."
"I will stand watch and report to you within a day, or earlier if there is a change," Teal'c replied.
"Thank you, Teal'c. They need you now."
"O'Neill," Teal'c called to his friend softly.
O'Neill responded slowly as Teal'c demanded his attention. SG-1 was steeped in warm lassitude, drowning in deep contentment, or perhaps exhausted by their return from the beast form, or the other exertions of the last few days. Teal'c felt melancholy at the need to leave those days behind them and return from the illusion of freedom to the reality of the fight. Duty called them all.
O'Neill gradually woke. He cracked open an eye. He grunted as he realized that he was sleeping on the bottom of the pile. Captain Carter's tousled golden head lay on one shoulder, DanielJackson's heavy, bony knee pinned his chest.
"Whoa, there, flyboy," O'Neill muttered to himself, his voice rough and scratchy with sleep. The genuine shock of finding himself in a naked tangle with his team appeared to wake him up more effectively than Teal'c's persistent calls had done. O'Neill finally caught sight of Teal'c.
"T?" O'Neill murmured to him. "Why is everybody naked?"
"Your clothes were destroyed when you transformed into wolves," Teal'c replied calmly, matching O'Neill's low tones. He did not want to disturb them, and frowned as O'Neill began trying to nudge SamanthaCarter awake. He frowned even more severely when O'Neill prodded DanielJackson in the cheek with his foot. They continued their deep sleep undisturbed. O'Neill finally muscled himself out from under them.
"We weren't wolves," O'Neill argued. "We were monsters like those things on P2X-179. I guess we caught the plague after all."
"So it would seem," Teal'c agreed.
O'Neill appraised the situation with what Teal'c respected as his usual detached professionalism. SG-1 was sleeping in the bright green grass. All three of them had bits of flowers and other flora in their hair and adhering to their skin.
"Where the hell is everybody?" O'Neill demanded, as he got to his feet. He stood unashamed of his nudity, staring toward the dig site and the tents. "It must have been a helluva party. Did everybody bug out home and leave you with the hung-over werewolves and the cleanup?"
"Indeed," Teal'c said. Though Teal'c perceived no sign of hangover in O'Neill's demeanor. He appeared physically rested and mentally alert.
"Are they okay?" O'Neill asked, looking down on the sleeping remainder of his team.
"I believe so," Teal'c said. "We should bring them clothing and water for when they regain consciousness."
"Sounds like a plan," O'Neill agreed. He began walking toward the encampment and quickly found the shambles of SG-1's tent. He grumbled in annoyance and began searching through the wreckage until he found his own clothing. He brushed away the dirt and grass from his skin and got dressed, as Teal'c located attire for the other two. O'Neill headed deeper into the tent village to the mess tent, and emerged with water bottles and power bars.
"Weird," he said, as he opened a bottle of water. "I'm pretty thirsty, but I don't feel hungry at all. Kind of full, actually. Tell me we didn't eat SG-3 or something? I think Marines would not agree with my digestion."
"What do you remember of the time you were in the beast form?" Tea'lc asked.
"Not a lot," O'Neill admitted. He walked with Teal'c back toward their sleeping comrades. As they passed by SG-1's tent, O'Neill lifted a light blanket from the ruins. "I remember… running. And smells. Everything has a smell. Trees, grass, flowers, rocks. Different kinds of trees smell different." He inhaled a deep breath. "I can still smell a lot of that, even now… Besides that, I don't remember much of anything. But I'm not hungry at all, I know what trees smell like, and something is definitely wrong with my ass." He made the last statement quite emphatically.
"There is much to discuss, O'Neill. It will pass the time until Captain Carter and DanielJackson wake."
"Good. Let's start with which SG team we ate."
"Is everyone okay?" Daniel asked, horrified. "Did we kill anyone?"
"No, DanielJackson, there were no deaths, though there were many very serious injuries, and it is possible that Captain Ritter may yet die," Teal'c said.
"On the upside, Teal'c says that when I tried to jump him, Carter wouldn't let me," O'Neill commented. "And apparently once you noticed the Near Rabbits, we forgot all about trying to attack Teal'c."
"Indeed. I believe you all came to recognize and trust me," Teal'c agreed.
"On the down side," O'Neill continued, "on top of nearly ripping three members of SG-11 to shreds, and severely injuring a couple of Daniel's staff, I'm excited to tell you that Teal'c got front row seats on the three of us having lots and lots of sex."
SamanthaCarter visibly paled.
"What?" she managed to say.
"All of us?" DanielJackson asked. "Like you and me? Like me and Sam?"
O'Neill nodded.
"Well, that's… awkward," DanielJackson said. He turned to SamanthaCarter. "I feel like maybe I should apologize."
"What? I don't get an apology?" O'Neill demanded, in what Teal'c interpreted to be an attempt at levity.
"It's nobody's fault, no apologies are needed," SamanthaCarter said firmly.
"Even if I can't sit?" O'Neill grumbled.
"Even if I get pregnant?" SamanthaCarter countered angrily. O'Neill frowned deeply.
"Nobody's fault, remember," DanielJackson interjected.
Silence fell over the group. The three Tau'ri seemed lost in their own thoughts. Finally, O'Neill stood.
"Well, it's time to let the general know we're up and about," O'Neill stated, stepping back into his role as their leader. "We'll place ourselves in the hands of the good Dr. Fraiser. Hopefully she can figure out what to do before the next full moon."
"Oh, God," SamanthaCarter whispered, resting her head on her bent-up knees.
"Good to hear your voice Colonel," General Hammond's response came crackling though the wormhole.
"Thank you, sir. Teal'c says he has been keeping you up-to-date?" O'Neill replied.
"Yes, he has. It sounds like you've had quite an interesting few days. We have a medical team standing by on this end. You can come home."
"Okay, team. Let's go," O'Neill said with false cheer. Teal'c could feel the palpable apprehension of his friends.
"It doesn't seem like it's been three days," Captain Carter commented nervously, following her commanding officer up the dais toward the Chappa'ai.
DanielJackson bumped her with his shoulder, then made a show of turning and looking back over the dig site toward the horizon.
"I'll miss Near Rabbit. It was so tasty," DanielJackson said, flashing her a smile. She responded with a small laugh.
"And easy to catch," O'Neill mused, which made her laugh more, until he gasped and stumbled at the top of the steps.
"Sorry," he said gruffly, straightening and finding his footing, though his grip on Teal'c's arm was vice-like. "Flashback," he explained.
"I remember their fur was soft, and they were fun to chase," DanielJackson volunteered.
"Let's get the hell home and see if Fraiser can fix us," O'Neill ordered.
"Yeah, good idea," Captain Carter agreed.
They passed through the event horizon and arrived back in the gate room. Teal'c felt unexpected relief upon seeing Dr. Fraiser waiting for them. A relief that was quickly dissipated.
"Oh, shit," O'Neill groaned, doubling over in obvious pain. "Here we go again."
DanielJackson and SamanthaCarter were similarly collapsing with cries of surprise and pain.
"Quickly," Dr. Fraiser ordered her technicians. "Tranquilizers! Now!"
Teal'c spent many hours by the cells where General Hammond had decided to secure SG-1. He watched them through the bars. All three of them paced continuously. They snarled at the attendants who brought them food from the commissary, which none of them would eat. They whined and whimpered softly to one another, clearly unhappy not just with their confinement, but also with the enforced separation of the group.
When they commenced baying, General Hammond appeared to investigate the cacophony.
"Isn't there something we can do about this, doctor?" he asked.
"I don't know, sir. Short of tranquilizing them again?" Dr. Fraiser was showing her stress.
"Well, if we can't stop this, I am going to have to request that they be moved to another facility. This is unacceptable."
"I believe you could attempt to offer them more appropriate food," Teal'c suggested. "On P3R-201 the spent most of their time in animal form hunting small mammals, which they consumed raw. Perhaps they would prefer to eat uncooked meat."
He did not suggest that the three be placed in a single cell. While he was certain they would prefer that at the moment, he was also certain that if they engaged in sexual activities while in wolf form, upon return to their usual existence they would be humiliated to know that people had observed this behavior.
Their change lasted longer than the first one on P3R-201 - nearly eight days. However, in accordance with the werewolf legend, they reverted to their human forms two days after the moon waned from full.
The doctors had witnessed the metamorphosis with extreme excitement, loudly proclaiming their regret that they could not attach equipment to their transforming patients quickly enough to gather data.
DanielJackson stirred first, groaning pitifully as he sat up on the bed, swinging his legs over the side with apparent stiffness. Dr. Fraiser hastened into the observation area.
"Daniel? How do you feel?" she asked with concern. Teal'c did not understand the Tau'ri need to ask questions with obvious answers. However, perhaps it was partially their scientific process, to confirm every data point to the extent possible, rather than making assumptions. Teal'c was neither a scientist nor a scholar, so he reserved judgment.
"Horrible," DanielJackson admitted. "Like I was hit by a bus, then it backed up, ran over me again, poured a bottle of vodka down my throat, and then drove off."
"Running you over a third time?" the doctor asked, her joke making her patient smile as she went through the familiar routine of checking vitals.
"What made us change?" DanielJackson asked.
"I don't know," the doctor said regretfully. "Maybe Gate travel sets it off. Maybe it happens randomly. This time was longer, though, which may account for your discomfort now. Teal'c said that after the three days on P3R-201 you all seemed fine, almost refreshed. But this time, it was eight days."
DanielJackson blinked at her in confusion. Or perhaps it was just the headache Teal'c presumed he had been referring to when he commented about the vodka.
"That does not sound good," DanielJackson said. "The three days on P3R-201 corresponded to the time of the full moon. I don't have any idea when the moon was most recently full on Earth…"
"Two days ago," the doctor told him. "That should account for about three days of the time you were in the wolf form. I'm sorry, Daniel, but we just don't have a lot to go on yet."
Teal'c was displeased to learn that the medical staff were making their long-awaited report to General Hammond on the condition of SG-1 not in the council chamber, but rather in the observation deck of the isolation rooms. His friends were forced to attend the meeting as specimens of scientific study, rather than as equals.
"Even in human form, Col. O'Neill, Capt. Carter and Dr. Jackson all exhibit heightened sense of smell, and more acute vision and hearing," Dr. Fraiser was saying. "We found that they also have vastly increased strength and cardio-vascular stamina."
"Super-strength freaks me out," DanielJackson muttered to SamanthaCarter, audible over the sound system.
"Me, too," SamanthaCarter agreed.
"I wonder what could be causing it?" O'Neill said with mock thoughtfulness. DanielJackson chuckled. General Hammond turned a disapproving gaze on his elite team and they fell silent, though only SamanthaCarter appeared chagrined.
"We have identified a retrovirus in all their blood samples that we are currently hypothesizing is what triggered their change, but we have not been able to form a theory about the pattern of the metamorphic cycle."
"How much observation will be required before you can form an hypothesis?" Teal'c asked. SG-1 had been medical prisoners of the SGC for over two weeks.
"We will probably need to observe several cycles of changes to see if they actually seem to stabilize to occurring around the time of the full moon," Dr. Fraiser said unhappily. "I'm concerned that we don't know enough about the epidemiology of this virus for them to be out of isolation, much less moving at large through populated areas."
"But it seems the contagion is spread through the bite of the animal form," Teal'c objected.
"We don't know that for a fact, Teal'c. If they go through a contagious stage of the human period of the cycle, they could bring on an epidemic that would make Earth another P2X-179."
Teal'c nodded grimly.
"So we're talking months, then?" O'Neill stated. DanielJackson and SamanthaCarter exchanged looks of dismay.
"Yes, realistically," Dr. Fraiser said. "General Hammond, I'm recommending off world quarantine, were we can safely observe SG-1, without having to confine them to isolation for extended periods of time."
"Gee, thanks," O'Neill interjected. The doctor ignored him.
"That would also more effectively limit the possibility of contagion here."
"SG-1 it looks like you just brought Dr. Fraiser's offworld quarantine and medical research facility to the top of my priority list," General Hammond sighed. "I'll put staff on determining an appropriate site, with your input," General Hammond said to the doctor.
"See if you can find something tropical," O'Neill suggested. General Hammond turned to the observation window and addressed his warriors.
"Meanwhile, SG-1, I am going to ask you to continue to remain in isolation. We cannot risk a major outbreak of whatever you've contracted."
"Of course not," SamanthaCarter said in agreement, as DanielJackson said, "Right."
O'Neill said, "Your wish is our command, mon General," which Teal'c felt was insubordinate, but then, General Hammond has always accepted a certain amount of flippancy from O'Neill.
"Thank you for your patience. The medical team is instructed to let me know if there is anything we can do to make this more comfortable for you."
"Thank you, sir," DanielJackson said.
Teal'c left the observation area without any feeling of reassurance.
"This is not tropical," O'Neill declared as they arrived at the selected quarantine site. They were surrounded by rolling grassland as far as the eye could see. A small encampment had been built of prefabricated buildings, outfitted with an advanced virology laboratory. All the SGC staff wore CBRN protection. Only Teal'c, with the protection of his prim'ta, could risk exposure to SG-1.
"Sorry, Colonel," Dr. Fraiser said, not sounding the slightest bit apologetic to Teal'c's inexperienced ear. "All the tropical real estate was too pricey for a scientific facility. How are you feeling?" She addressed the question to the three of them. Teal'c had regarded the shackles and restraints placed on his friends for the trip through the Chappa'ai as an insult, but the three of them had accepted them as a necessity of their condition, especially after the apparent consequences of their most recent travel by wormhole, over a month ago now.
"Fine," DanielJackson said, sounding surprised.
"Not the slightest bit wolf-y," O'Neill confirmed.
"Good!" Dr. Fraiser said, relieved. "Well, let's show you your new digs." They followed her through the small outpost to a large structure at the opposite side of facility from the Chappa'ai.
Earth had passed through another lunar cycle before this facility had been completed. The scientists and physicians had not made any progress on the basis of the careful and controlled observation of SG-1's predicted and expected change. Teal'c knew that on Earth such medical research could go on for years, conducted by hundreds of scientists in the case of cancer research or other prominent diseases, with only modest progress and the distinct possibility of no satisfactory resolution. It was unreasonable to expect a cure to a rare condition to be produced by one small contingent of scientists within thirty days.
And yet, Teal'c felt that the nature of his friends' condition made waiting even more impossible than if they suffered from a fatal, rapidly progressive illness. In such an event, they could face a dignified, if possibly early or painful death. His friends were confronted with a lifetime of imprisonment. Teal'c was determined that these three heroes would not suffer such a fate. He would see to it.
There was great relief in the encampment when SG-1 did not transform after their trip through the Chappa'ai.
"So if the wormhole travel didn't trigger it last time, what did?" Daniel Jackson was asking as they were brought to their new accommodations and their bonds were removed. The isolation area of this facility was set up as an apartment with two bedrooms, an entertainment area, a kitchen/dining area, and a quiet room for reading or using the computers separately from the entertainment area. It was an improvement over the cell-like single rooms of the SGC, but the doors remained secured, with his friends on the inside. And there were still cells adjacent for the times of metamorphosis.
"I've been thinking about that," SamanthaCarter volunteered. "What I've been wondering is, why would lunar cycles have the effects they do? We certainly couldn't be affected by the light of the moon while inside the SGC. I was entirely prepared to think it was coincidental, maybe that the virus ran on a 28 day cycle that sometimes coincidentally synched up with the moon, but then why would moons on two different planets impact us?"
"Gravity," O'Neill suggested.
"Exactly what I was thinking, sir," SamanthaCarter declared.
"P3R-201 was heavy," DanielJackson noted.
"So returning to Earth we came back to lighter gravity," SamanthaCarter said.
"At a full moon gravity would be lighter, too, technically, but it seems like it would be a micro-gravitational change. How could that make a difference to the viruses inside us?" O'Neill said. He sounded skeptical.
"It's just a theory," SamanthaCarter said.
"But an interesting one." Dr. Fraiser sounded thoughtful. "That gives me some ideas. We should brainstorm execution of a few experiments," she said to SamanthaCarter. "Meet you on the video feed in five minutes." Dr. Fraiser left the isolation area.
"So what's up, T?" O'Neill asked. "You're wearing your unhappy face."
"I am displeased by your continued confinement," Teal'c said plainly. He felt no need to hide his feelings, and had not done so at any time.
"Gotta protect the general population from the plague," O'Neill said blandly. But DanielJackson was suddenly very focused on their conversation. Teal'c had noticed that all three of them had become very intense since their infection, and more attuned to the emotions of others, including himself. He had used his inscrutability as a shield among the Tau'ri, but it seemed to hide nothing from them now. "I appreciate your concern, T, but the doc and General Hammond are doing their best."
"Teal'c doesn't think their best is good enough," DanielJackson said.
"Well, Carter isn't ready to give up on finding a solution yet," O'Neill countered. His gaze upon Teal'c was dark and serious. "We all move together, or not at all."
Teal'c nodded. There was no need to say more. He would be there for them when they needed him, and the two of them understood.
Teal'c returned to what had become his new life among the Tau'ri without SG-1. He had been reassigned to SG-3, which in some ways he found quite rewarding. The Marines reminded him very much of the Jaffa in their attitude toward battle and their internal cohesion and loyalty. He in no way faulted the other warriors of the Tau'ri, who were brave in the face of danger, noble, and honorable. But he felt a deeper warrior's bond with SG-3 that offered some solace when he missed O'Neill's biting wit or DanielJackson's open curiosity, or SamanthaCarter's enthusiastic scientific worldview.
SG-3 had a heavy schedule, but Teal'c made a point of knowing the lunar cycles of PKX-775, the planet of SG-1's banishment. He requested leave to begin two days prior to the full moon there. He was greeted by a member of the military contingent assigned to the facility.
"It's good to see you, sir. Everyone's waiting to see if they're going to wolf out again or not," said Sgt. McElvoy, by way of welcome. "Dr. Fraiser is planning to see if anti-viral medication will make any impact."
"I too will be interested to learn the result of this treatment," Teal'c said, ignoring the insulting sound of the term 'wolf out.'
When the treatment failed, Teal'c had not planned to stay to witness their entire period of wolf form, but rather to return to SG-3, which was leaving on a dangerous mission in the morning. But when he met the eyes of the O'Neill wolf through the observation room barrier, Teal'c felt compelled to stay. He felt in his mind the longing to be free and the confidence that the pack was now ready to move as one. Teal'c waited after all.
Teal'c did not hurry toward the sounds of combat. He heard repeated zat'ni'katel discharges and the cries of the fallen, but no gunfire. The facility was currently sparsely manned, with only a single security team, and very few medical staff. The outbreak of a particularly virulent stomach virus had caused General Hammond to recall his doctors from research off-world to patient care on Earth.
"You done in there, Carter?" O'Neill called as Teal'c approached the isolation building.
"Yes, sir," she said, emerging with the heavy pack resting on one shoulder. To Teal'c it was clear she was exerting very little effort.
"OK, Carter, I want you to grab a laptop or three and be sure you have everything the doc has been able to find out about us. Hopefully, there's something useful there. Then you're on generator patrol. I insist on all the amenities in my new seaside villa. Widescreen TV, VCR, enough hot water for a really long shower. Daniel, you're with me." O'Neill and DanielJackson set off toward the armory.
"Can I be of assistance, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked. O'Neill turned to him.
"T, it might be better if you can honestly say you had nothing to do with what we did here."
Teal'c nodded.
"My compliments to you, Captain Carter, for deactivating the door lock," Teal'c said as the two men left them.
"Electronic locks are stupid," she said bluntly.
Teal'c merely nodded again.
"May I offer this small contribution?" Teal'c suggested. He held out his hand, showing her what he carried.
She rewarded him with a bright smile and happily accepted the dialing crystal from the Chappa'ai's dialing device.
"Thanks, Teal'c. How did you know?"
"I happened to be in the control center when the unauthorized opening of the isolation area door raised the alarm. I do not believe my actions were observed."
"There will be footage from the security cameras," SamanthaCarter commented, looking quite serious.
"There might have been," Teal'c agreed mildly. "However, the cameras have been working poorly of late, and today were not operating at all. It was quite fortunate for me." That earned him another delighted smile.
"Why are we hauling three crates of ammunition to the Gate?" DanielJackson complained, as he and O'Neill returned on their way toward the Chappa'ai.
"Because the guns don't work that well without it," O'Neill retorted.
"I'm just saying three giant crates seems excessive," DanielJackson replied.
"Have we heard anything from the SGC?" O'Neill asked SamanthaCarter as he and DanielJackson continued past them.
"No," SamanthaCarter replied. She held up the crystal.
"Genius," O'Neill puffed approvingly, the crate quite difficult even for two super-strong werewolves to manage.
She shared another smile with Teal'c.
"Come on," she said to him. "Help me get this equipment packed up. If the Colonel is going to take the whole armory, we might as well raid the hospital."
Teal'c stood at parade rest in the office of General Hammond.
"And you expect me to believe that it was a simple coincidence that you were present on PKX-775 the same day that SG-1 escaped."
"I was not under the impression that my friends were considered prisoners," Teal'c stated, though in fact he had been thinking the very thing since the beginning. This was simply the first time their true status had been acknowledged. "And indeed it was a coincidence. I requested leave so that I could be there as Dr. Fraiser attempted her newest treatment protocol. When it failed, I waited to visit them when they returned to their human form."
General Hammond frowned.
"You don't know where they went?" he asked severely.
"They restrained me out of sight of the Stargate. I was unable to see the address they dialed," Teal'c answered truthfully.
"Did you offer resistance to being restrained or make any effort to stop them?" General Hammond demanded.
"No, I did not," Teal'c replied, more sharply than he normally would do, his patience close to an end. "They had been held captive by their own people long enough. If they no longer desired to participate in research toward their cure, I saw no reason to prevent them from seeking their freedom."
"Or taking an armory full of equipment and ammunition, crates of medical supplies, several computers containing valuable medical research, an entire commissary full of various personal care products and a naquadah generator?" General Hammond growled.
"O'Neill stated that the guns work better with ammunition," Teal'c commented in an attempt at humor. He was rewarded by a snort of laughter from the general.
"I'll bet he did."
The alarm sounded for unscheduled off-world activation. The general rose and moved swiftly down the stairs to the control center as the iris closed.
"Receiving SG-1's most recent code, sir," Sgt. Harriman said.
"SG-1, this is General Hammond. Your security codes have been cancelled and you are not authorized to travel to this facility unescorted. The iris is closed. I repeat, the iris is closed."
"Thank you for letting us know, sir. Wouldn't want to be a bug on the windshield," came O'Neill's response, made distorted and tinny in transmission. "However, I've considered the circumstances, and at this point I would like to officially let you know that I am not planning any return to Dr. Fraiser's lovely facilities. I am resigning my commission as of now."
General Hammond did not reply immediately.
"Colonel, if you surrender now, I'm prepared to consider the events of the last 24 hours an unfortunate result of your illness and to pursue no charges," the general finally said. "I am sure Dr. Fraiser will find a solution to this problem. I'd like to encourage you and your team to tell us where you are so that we can come get you and continue seeking a treatment."
"Be that as it may, sir," O'Neill said, interrupting him, "How long would that be likely to take, even if she had a team of experts available to her and unlimited time to work on the project? We are all happy to continue to contribute whatever we can to Dr. Fraiser's research, but we will do it remotely. Sir."
"This is not you decision to make, Colonel. Need I remind you of your duty as an officer in the United States Air Force…" he began.
"Not any more, sir," he said simply. "I believe Carter would like to have a word with you."
"Captain, if you tender you resignation…" the general sounded menacing.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I'm with the Colonel on this one," SamanthaCarter said.
"Does Dr. Jackson also agree?"
"Yes," DanielJackson said simply. "My experience with the Machello nano-machines has strongly informed our decision as a group. A decision that has only been reinforced by the promise of perpetual offsite quarantine as research subjects."
General Hammond considered, his face grim.
"Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter. I do not accept your resignations. You are officers on active duty. If you insist on following this course of action, I will declare you deserters and when you return to Earth you will face court martial."
To Teal'c's surprise it was SamanthaCarter who responded.
"You do what you have to do, general," she nearly snarled at him. "We've made our decision, and we've informed you. Sir. We'll contact you again soon to see if Dr. Fraiser needs anything else from us. Carter out."
They must have shut off their radios. The communications officer continued attempting to reach them for the full thirty-eight minutes, but it seemed SG-1 was no longer listening.
"Let me know if they respond," the general ordered, and then indicated that Teal'c should follow him. Behind the closed doors of his office, the general took the seat at his desk with a deep sigh.
"Sit down, Teal'c," he said. Teal'c did as commanded.
"I want to keep the channels open to SG-1," he said frankly. "I assume that Col. O'Neill didn't take a whole armory's worth of munitions just so that he could fish himself into a state of zenlike bliss. I don't like the idea of them out there, trying to take the fight to the goa'uld alone."
"I too believe their good intentions may be unwise," Teal'c confided to the general.
"Well, since we are in agreement, I'd like you to act as go-between. I'm giving you carte blanche to use the gate and to transport through it whatever supplies you see fit, no questions asked. You can help Dr. Fraiser with any medical follow-up she requests and you can assist SG-1 with any intelligence that we can reasonably provide. Obviously, I would like you to persuade them not to undertake any activities, but I realize that may be a vain hope."
"I appreciate your confidence and trust in me," Teal'c replied. "But did you not just promise retribution to O'Neill and Captain Carter for their insubordination and desertion?"
The general sighed again.
"They contracted this illness in the line of duty. They escaped without injuring anyone. They have violated quarantine, but they have done so by further isolating themselves from Earth populations. The fact is, under the circumstances I am willing to disregard the assault on SGC staff and the missing supplies. I just wish we could have done more, so that they didn't feel the need to do what they did."
Teal'c nodded. He respected General Hammond above all other Tau'ri, primarily because of this honor and loyalty to his warriors.
"Unfortunately, General Hammond, I stated the truth. I do not know where they have gone. I believe I will be able to find them, but it may take some time," Teal'c said thoughtfully.
"Well, take the time," General Hammond ordered. He rose from his desk. "Talk to my secretary and get on my calendar for a briefing on your plans before you leave. I would like regular reports on your progress. Requisitions can be classified under the usual categories for establishing trade and diplomatic relations."
Teal'c rose to his feet, bowed, and regressed from the general's office, formulating his plan of search.
It took him two weeks of searching to find them. He emerged into the bright sunlight of MV8-988 feeling weary of the hunt. He had reviewed the gate addresses available to the SGC, and had already visited 27 planets he thought would appeal to SG-1 as a haven. There were eleven planets that had come up in conversation over campfires as possible places to "retire" or as hypothetical meeting points if the team ever became separated but for some reason were unable to return to Earth. When he failed to locate SG-1 on those planets, he began a search of other places he thought likely. Locations with mild climates, little or no goa'uld activity, and no local inhabitants. And of course, potential for fishing.
The Chappa'ai on MV8-988 stood at the foot of a road leading into the main square of an abandoned village. Teal'c saw no sign of recent passage, but he felt certain that O'Neill would have removed any indications of SG-1's presence near the Chappa'ai. As he proceeded into the village, he keyed his radio.
"This is Teal'c. Can any member of SG-1 hear my voice?"
He sighed when there was no answer. However, lack of response was not definitive evidence. SG-1 might not be using their radios, or might be out of range. The small island was mountainous. They could merely be on the other side of one of the large hills.
Teal'c spent the afternoon exploring. He first looked for tracks or sign around the edges of the main village. When he found nothing, he made his way down the road leading to the beach. There he found the evidence he was looking for. There were crab pots and lobster cages in the water, all of them full of living crustaceans. They were in good condition, untroubled by any bad weather. Teal'c took this as an indication that they had been set recently. He looked up into the sky to find the planet above was gibbous but not full. His friends should not be in wolf form. He wondered why the traps had been abandoned.
He searched the dunes until he found a faint path leading into the woods. He proceeded cautiously. He heard only the sounds of birds, insects, wind and ocean. He called again on the radio. He followed the path up a steep incline, emerging in a recently maintained clearing around a large building with several small outbuildings. The signs of recent habitation were very clear here. He was gratified to see easily identifiable boot prints. A quick review of the outbuildings revealed SG-1's supplies, carefully protected. Their packs were missing, but the large main building still housed the computers and the naquadah generator.
So SG-1 was gone, but intended to return.
Teal'c felt as if a large burden had been lifted, his relief was deep and great.
Of course, that raised new questions. From the state of their new home, he felt they had been gone for a week, at least. Where had they gone that would keep them for so long, and to do what? He felt a different concern grow. Had they attempted some mission of their own devising and been captured, with no one to notice or come to their rescue?
He began to examine the large shelter carefully. He powered up the generator and booted up the computers. He quickly found SamanthaCarter's notes.
His friends had returned to D'eb Al'ealm twelve days ago. Teal'c shook his head. They could be capable of such foolishness.
With a heavy sigh he returned down the mountainside toward the Chappa'ai.
Teal'c stood in the Chappa'ai's clearing on D'eb Al'ealm. The forest was full of birdsong and the fragrance of the evergreens, peaceful and serene. He keyed his radio.
"This is Teal'c. Can you hear me, SG-1?"
There was no response. Teal'c gripped his staff weapon more firmly and set out into the thick trees. He found their discarded uniforms and packs right away, just beyond the edge of the clearing. Far off, he heard baying. He carried their belongings and equipment back to the Chappa'ai, dialed MV8-988, and tossed them back through.
For lack of a better plan, he then turned in the direction of the calling werewolves. He soon happened upon a well-worn game trail. There were more howls, rapidly coming closer.
They burst upon him with the merest rustle of undergrowth, bearing him to the ground with excited yelps.
"O'Neill, DanielJackson," he said to them calmly as SamathaCarter sat back on her haunches with a long, mournful cry. They all bore nips and marks of fighting, but seemed not to be seriously harmed. SamanthaCarter suddenly growled, and the whole group became very still. O'Neill bounded away into the woods, followed closely by the other two. Teal'c followed as quickly as he was able.
They appeared to be stalking a deer-sized beast. Teal'c was pleased to see that by coincidence the creature was leading them directly back toward the Chappa'ai. DanielJackson suddenly stiffened, head turning as if he had scented game, and then he dashed to the DHD. He stood upright. Even in their wolf forms, they retained a strongly human appearance. O'Neill and SamanthaCarter watched him intensely. Suddenly he began moving his long furry arms, dialing MV8-988 confidently and without hesitation. With a series of yelps, he dove toward the wormhole. His companions followed him through the event horizon.
The Moon Is Not a God, Part 2