SG-1: Indiana Daniel (PG-13), Gen.

[laytoncolt]

Daniel goes on a dig in Egypt as a favor to an old friend, and his team members tag along.



Part One

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Part Four: The Cat and the Mice
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Looking to the counter behind him he saw a zat-nik-a-tel or as Jack called it a ‘zat gun’. He grabbed and activated the weapon in one swift move, bringing it around to point directly at Sakhmet.

Sakhmet looked up sharply, her eyes glowing as she saw what he held in his hand. “You will not harm me,” she growled. “You are not brave enough.”

Daniel licked his lips, he could feel Mira and James hovering behind him, he thought he even heard one or maybe both of them whisper ‘shoot her’.

Aiming the gun Daniel fired. Sakhmet’s eyes lit with hatred.

The orange crystal exploded with a burst of blue light, crashing to the floor around its pedestal. Sakhmet took a step back and turned her attention back to Daniel.

“You will play dearly for that *slave*! I assure you. But you’ve not changed anything. You’ve done nothing but stall for time.”

Daniel didn’t hesitate as he turned the zat gun on Sakhmet, with a dismissive wave of her hand it was torn from his grasp.

Daniel winced as the zat gun landed on the other side of the room. He mentally berated himself acknowledging he should have taken a shot at Sakhmet, knowing that the opportunity to gain the upper hand may not present itself again. Maybe he would have been able to render her unconscious, but glancing at the weapon across the room, it was too late to walk down that path now.

Just as Sakhmet began to advance on Daniel to administer his punishment the four occupants of the room turned towards the pounding on the east wall.

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Jack, Sam and Teal’c raced through the corridors, looking for any trace of their missing friend and the two other archeologists. They had reached yet another dead end but this time had been unable to get it to open by pressing the lion sign.

“This has got to be the right room,” Sam said. “It’s been locked from the inside like Sakhmet did before. She’s probably in there with Daniel and his friends and doesn’t want anyone to disturb her.”

“Yes, well let’s not fail to disappoint her,” O’Neill said as he tried to pry the trap door open.

Sam’s eyes went wide at his futile efforts, “Sir, I don’t believe that will work,” she began but Teal’c had joined the Colonel in trying to forcibly move the heavy wall.

“Come on, Captain,” O’Neill said with a smile, “We have no other options and there’s no harm in trying.”

“Jack!”

The cry came from the inside of the room. Jack’s eyes turned four shades darker. “Daniel,” he said quietly his worst fears confirmed. “More aside,” he told Sam and Teal’c.

Teal’c and Sam stepped back as Jack raised his gun firing off the remainder of his clip into the stone. The barrier remained unaffected, still looming in front of them and adding to their already growing feelings of helplessness.

“Maybe there’s another way in, O’Neill,” Teal’c said.

“We don’t have the time,” Jack hissed. “Daniel! You okay? Can you get this door open?”

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“Daniel! You okay? Can you get this door open?”

‘Oh, yea. Sure Jack, I’ll get right on that.’ Daniel thought channeling Jack O’Neill.

Sakhmet had done nothing more than swing her hand in his direction… and Daniel had been thrown back into James and Mira, knocking them all down into the corner. Daniel gave thanks to the gods that protected archeologists that she had not as of yet used her ribbon device.

Sakhmet’s eyes were lit up again, but it was her posture that showed just how much he had angered her this time. Her whole body was practically trembling with barely restrained emotion, “All of you, fools! I could have made your lives easy, I could have protected you.”

“Protected us?” Daniel laughed. “How? By making us your personal slaves? Maybe turning us into hosts? No thanks, I don’t want your kind of protection.”

Jack’s pistol could be heard firing into the wall again. Just what did he think that was going to do anyway?

Sakhmet turned her steely gaze back to the door, “I believe your friends wish to join us,” she said with a deceptively sweet lilt. “Should I oblige them?”

Daniel was suddenly happy his friend’s were protected on the other side of the wall. “No, they’re more trouble than they’re worth. Trust me.”

Sakhmet glared at the young man but there was the ghost of a smile dancing about her lips, “I believe it would be my undoing if I were to do that.”

Turning to the door she slammed her delicate hand onto the emblem near the door and it began to lift upwards.

The three members of SG-1 had their guns held ready as the door clicked and finished opening. “Come, join us,” she said as she motioned for the three to go to the corner that the archeologists’ were in.

“You three okay?” Jack asked as he reached their side.

At the three nods, Jack turned his attention back to Sakhmet, “Okay, Salmon, you’re obviously outnumbered, what do you say you just give in gracefully?”

Sakhmet laughed, pulling all the weapons from the humans grasps, “Only in number, not in power, I am much stronger than any of you could imagine…”

“Yea, yea, yadda yadda… I’ve heard this all before,” Jack said impatiently. “But we haven’t been beaten yet.”

“Nor have I, and nor do I intend to fall to slaves such as yourselves. The damage caused by the young one can be easily repaired. And once my ship is functioning again we will leave here and I will have you all punished.”

Daniel pushed past the human barrier his three teammates had formed in front of him and dodged Jack’s hand as it reached out to pull him back. “You’re alone here Sakhmet, you don’t have anyone here to help you guard us, why don’t you just let them go… they can’t harm you if they aren’t here.”

Sakhmet’s eyes narrowed, “And what would I get in return for my kindness?”

“I’ll stay here,” Daniel told her.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Jack said firmly as he moved beside Daniel and jerked him behind him.

Sakhmet now turned to Jack, “I do not understand you slaves. Why this need to protect each other? You would be much better off if you were to worry only about yourself.”

“That’s a matter of opinion,” Daniel said, “Maybe we’d be better off physically but at what cost to our souls?”

“Slaves have no souls,” Sakhmet said vehemently. “You’re nothing but animals. Things to be corralled.” Sakhmet placed her hand over the remains of the orange crystal and her eyes lit up.

The pieces on the ground began to lift and swirl around the pedestal, eventually coming to rest in their original place and recreating the crystal as good as new.

“Now, we will leave,” Sakhmet said. “And *all* of you will be coming with me.”

“And where will you go?” Daniel asked.

“To Ra’s second world.”

“You really think you’ll be able to control the people there?” Daniel asked. “Ra is dead and they’ve tasted freedom, they won’t be made into slaves again.”

Sakhmet glared at him, “They won’t be given a choice.”

“They’ll have a choice,” Daniel said. “The choice to fight you, and don’t doubt that they’d win.”

Sakhmet continued to glare, “No slaves will defeat me, I am more powerful than Ra, you called him false but I assure you I *am* a god.”

Jack laughed, “You’re no god. Haven’t you got it yet? We know what *you* are. And we’re not afraid.”

“You should be,” Sakhmet said with a smile as she raised her ribbon device. “I am in control, you have no power here.” Placing her hand on the orange crystal her eyes lit up in concentration.

Nothing happened.

Six eyes watched Sakhmet as she frowned down angrily at the malfunctioning device.

Jack fought back a smirk and began to edge towards the door.

Sakhmet lifted her palm without taking her eyes off the crystal, “Not another step,” she told him softly.

“Engine trouble?” Jack asked as he obediently stopped moving towards the door.

Mira gave him a sideways glance, you had to admire a man who could keep his sense of humor at a time like this.

“There is no problem that I cannot solve,” Sakhmet growled as she moved over to another wall.

James and Mira sighed simultaneously, they were getting quickly annoyed. The others may be used to this and see it as nothing but ‘routine’ but they weren’t and they were growing restless of playing the helpless slaves.

“Well,” Mira prompted Jack. “You’re the big army man, do something already.”

Jack glared at her, “That’s Air Force, and if you’re patient I’m thinking of a plan as we speak.”

“Thinking?” Mira asked. “I take it this is a rare occurrence for you?”

Daniel and Sam bit back smiles as Teal’c raised an eyebrow, surprisingly it was James who reminded them of their situation. “As amusing as this banter is, don’t ya think we should be working on a way out of here?”

Jack nodded, “That’s what I was doing, until Cruella here--“

“Colonel,” Sam cut him off. “Escape plan?”

“Right, well, Selma doesn’t seem too extraordinary for a Goa’uld. All though there is that thing she does swinging her arm and taking our guns from us without moving.”

Daniel nodded, “Yea, that was kind of like the Nox, don’t you think? How Lya was able to pull the guns from the marines surrounding me and the Tollans?”

Jack cleared his throat and nodded to the twins who were now staring at Daniel with wide eyes, “Do the words ‘need to know’ mean *anything* to you.”

Daniel sighed, “I think we’ve got past being cryptic, Jack. We’re in a situation here and James and Mira have a right to know exactly what they’re up against.”

“Do you children think I can not hear your whispered plots?” Sakhmet asked softly from her position at the other side of the room. “You will not escape here. I will not allow it.”

Jack cursed and looked up. Sakhmet wasn’t even looking at them, seemingly lost in her task but he knew better. She was listening and watching their every move.

Sakhmet raised her eyes and they briefly met with Jacks, he was a little disturbed with what he saw hidden beneath the deep green irises.

“My ship no longer functions,” Sakhmet said the words as though they were distasteful. Obviously not a fan of admitting defeat. “You will take me to the Chappa’i.”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Jack said. “You see it’s very far away and we can’t--“

“Don’t lie to her, Jack,” Daniel interrupted. “She isn’t stupid. I’ll take you to the Chappa’i.”

Daniel’s companions turned to him in disbelief.

Daniel smiled at the Goa’uld. “It really isn’t very far at all.”

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Part Five: Hall of the Two Truths

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“Daniel what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jack cried.

Daniel shot him a glare, “Maybe you don’t want to get out of this situation alive, Jack. But I’d like to, what does it matter if we let her go through the Stargate?”

“Daniel,” Sam said quietly. “You can’t be serious, I mean how do you expect to even get there?”

“Mira, the temple of Ma’at is only a mile away isn’t it?”

Mira nodded hesitantly, unsure of what it was Daniel was planning. “Yes, why?”

Daniel smiled, “Because that’s where the Stargate has been hidden,”

“What’s the Stargate?” James asked, as Jack, Sam and Teal’c wondered what Daniel was thinking and what this temple of Ma’at was.

“Enough,” Sakhmet. “You,” she said pointing to Daniel, “Will take me to the Chappa’i. The rest of you will die,”

Sakhmet raised her ribbon device but Daniel stepped in front of her, “No, you allow them to live or I won’t take you where you want to go.”

Cold eyes leveled in his direction, “If I leave them here how can I be sure you *will* take me where I want to go?”

“Because frankly I’d like to get you off my planet as quickly as possible,”

Sakhmet’s gaze didn’t waver from the young man as she studied him, he wasn’t a warrior like the three standing behind him and she guessed he wasn’t quite as aggressive as the two glowering at her from behind the three warriors.

But of all of them it was he whom she feared. There was an intelligence in his eyes that promised justice. Judgment.

“You will take me, and I will bring this one as insurance,” Sakhmet grabbed Mira by her long brown hair and pulled her to her. “The others may live and remain.”

Daniel nodded, he knew he wouldn’t be able to talk Sakhmet into leaving Mira as well so he decided this was the best he could hope for, for now.

“Deal,” he said assuredly.

“No!” Jack yelled, getting frustrated at having matters taken out from his hands. “No deal, you want a hostage then you can take me.”

Sakhmet turned smiling eyes in O’Neill’s direction, “For a warrior that isn’t a very sound tactical request. I get the feeling that this one will cause less trouble than you would.”

Mira, who was in the process of trying to disentangle her hair from Sakhmet’s grasp growled. “We’ll see about that,” she muttered.

Sakhmet opened the door and tossed Mira through, motioning that Daniel should precede her through as well.

Daniel looked back to his friends who were watching him with varying expressions, anger, concern, acceptance, and uncertainty.

“Sorry,” he whispered as he walked from the room.

“Daniel, don’t--“ Jack’s protests were cut off as Sakhmet exited as well and sealed the door, locking it’s four occupants inside.

“You can’t just lock them in there!” Daniel cried.

“I can do whatever I wish,” Sakhmet said coldly. “They will find another way out, I am simply assuring that we will be gone before they succeed.”

Daniel sighed, hoping he was doing the right thing, and praying he was right about his theories. He’d read some of the hieroglyphs adorning the walls, and what he’d seen had fascinated him. And hopefully had given him a way out of this mess.

Looking over at Mira he began to have serious doubts. The plan had been to get Sakhmet away from his friends so they would be safe. So if he were wrong he would be the only one hurt.

But now Mira’s life hung in the balance.

And if Ma’at wasn’t who he thought she was, and her temple didn’t have what he thought it did…

“You will lead,” Sakhmet ordered prodding both Mira and Daniel in front of her.

Daniel sighed and began to make his way out of the pyramid.

Mira gave Daniel a sideways glance, “So what is this Stargate? And why is it in the temple of Ma’at? Ma’at was the goddess of truth and justice.”

“Yes,”

“Well, Sakhmet is pretty much the opposite, why would she want anything of Ma’at’s?”

“The Stargate doesn’t belong to Ma’at.”

“Then who does it belong to?”

Daniel shrugged, “I don’t know who built it,”

“But you do know what it is?”

“Silence!” Sakhmet ordered.

Mira lowered her voice but wasn’t quite intimidated enough to stop talking all together, “What is it, Daniel? Don’t you think I’ve got a right to know?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can tell you. I’m sorry, but there are some secrets that are best kept.”

Mira glared at him, “So I’m just being led to slaughter, you’ve got no plan, do you?”

Daniel narrowed his eyes, “Nope, you’ve got me. No plan, I’m just giving Sakhmet what she wants.”

“That’s not like you,” Mira said, unwilling to believe that Daniel would allow this creature to go free even for the sake of his friends.

“I do a lot of things nowadays that would surprise you. I’m not the same person I was all those years ago. Please stop expecting me to be,” Daniel said quietly.

Mira looked behind her and saw Niven in the distance, she nudged Daniel but he quickly shook his head. He didn’t want to involve any more people and Sakhmet would have no reason to keep Niven alive.

With a sigh Mira continued to lead the way to the temple of Ma’at.

“I do not sense the Chappa’i,” Sakhmet said.

“It’s in a protective field, built by my people,” Daniel lied.

Sakhmet’s eyes narrowed but she seemed to accept the answer.

“Have you been in the temple of Ma’at yet?” Daniel asked Mira.

She shook her head, “No, we were planning on exploring it after we finished with this one,”

Nodding Daniel stared ahead into the sands, the sun was halfway past the horizon and had turned a dull orange. He hoped that Jack was able to escape from the temple before dark and get Niven to take them back to the camp.

“How much further?” Daniel asked.

Mira pointed in front of them and Daniel looked up, the pyramid was slightly smaller than the other and the stones seemed newer. He guessed it would take about another twenty minutes to reach it.

More than enough time to perfect his plan.

If you could call what he had in mind a plan…
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Jack pounded his fist against the wall in frustration.

It looked like he’d be having that martyrism lecture with Daniel again.

Carter winced sympathetically, “I’m sure Daniel has a plan, sir,” she said quietly.

“Right, unfortunately Daniel’s plans usually involve him almost getting himself killed.”

“O’Neill,” Teal’c said. “We must leave this place and reach Daniel Jackson.”

“Damn right we do,” a recently familiar voice snapped. “We have to get to them before that goddess realizes Daniel has no intentions of giving her what she wants. Daniel ran a good bluff, I almost believed the act but he can’t keep it up forever,” James said solemnly.

O’Neill turned to James, “Well, you’re the grave robber can you find us a way out of here?”

James pointed to a spot over O’Neill’s left shoulder and Jack turned around. Across the room was the narrow staircase that James had come down earlier.

“Right,” Jack said as he spotted and picked Daniel’s gun off the floor. “Let’s go.”

The staircase led them back to the old bedroom. “This is where Sakhmet brought us earlier with those rings.”

O’Neill nodded, “Carter, do you think you’ll be able to reactivate the rings?”

Carter shrugged, “I can try, there should be some control switch somewhere, they usually have them on the ribbon devices but there may be a permanent one around here somewhere.”

O’Neill, Carter and Teal’c began to search the walls as James walked to the middle of the room. Seeing a familiar blue jewel he reached out to touch it.

O’Neill turned around just in time to see his fingers caress the diamond. Cursing archeologists everywhere for being so impulsive he called out to Teal’c and Carter.

They could hear the hum of the rings warming up and reached James just in time to be caught inside the rings as they collapsed to the ground.

When they appeared back in the mass tomb O’Neill shot James a glare and James returned it with a cheeky grin, “Floor One, ladies’ wear and lingerie.”

“Come on, kids,” Jack said ignoring James unsuccessful attempt to lighten the mood. “We should be able to find our way out of here now. James, can you take us to this temple of Mat?”

James nodded, “Ma’at, and yes but it will take a while to reach it on foot.”

Jack nodded, “Alright, I’d like to get a report in to Hammond but I don’t think we have time to get back to camp and I certainly don’t believe we should split up.”

“I can send Niven back to the camp for help,” James offered.

Jack nodded his approval, “Good idea, I’ll tell you what to say though… I don’t want you to lead him to believe we’ve run into some dead goddess.”

“But haven’t we?” James interjected.

“No,” Jack said firmly. “Not even close.”

“What then?” James snapped irritably. “Is it some alien? God, all this time and Daniel’s been right! There is no way that technology we encountered belonged to the ancient Egyptians! So why don’t you just tell me what the hell that was!”

Jack looked at him with real regret, “I can’t, and you’re better off not knowing anyway.”

James remained quiet as he led the way out of the temple. He hoped that Daniel knew what he was doing and he and Mira were unharmed.
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“Well?” Daniel prompted. “We’re here,”

Sakhmet was staring at the temple with wide eyes, “Ma’at was one of my greatest enemies,” she said as she made no move to enter.

“I’m sure she’s dead by now,” Daniel said as he started for the entrance.

“She is,” Sakhmet nodded, “I’m the one who killed her.”

Daniel grimaced, “Then why are you afraid to enter?”

“I fear nothing!” Sakhmet growled grabbing Mira’s arm and propelling her into the temple.

Daniel took the hint and helped steady and lead Mira into the temple. Sakhmet followed them in and as she crossed the threshold the entire pyramid began to shake.

Daniel threw Mira to the ground and shielded her from the falling rocks.

Sakhmet let out a cry of out rage as cold metal walls slammed down around them, sealing them in.

A woman flickered to existence in the center of the hall and the shaking began to calm. “Welcome to my temple,” the hologram said.

It reminded Daniel of the hologram of Thor Jack had described to him. Maybe Ma’at had been an Asgard.

“You have come here despite my warnings to stay away and now your fate is sealed. Only the pure and the judged may exit here. You may stay until you are ready to face judgment in the Hall of Two Truths.”

As the hologram disappeared Sakhmet wasted no time in redirecting her attention to Daniel who was being pushed away by a haughty Mira.

“You did this! You knew what was here, there is no Chappa’i! This time you shall pay true and dearly for your deceit.”

“Hey,” Daniel said as he stood. “You were the one who said trusting me would be your undoing, is it my fault you didn’t take your own advice?”

“I can bare no fault, so yes, you *are* the one to blame. I am above reproach.”

“Really,” Mira drawled as she stepped forward, seemingly every bit as fearless as Jack had been earlier, and he was used to this. “You want to put that theory to the test? Because I have a few things I’d like to say about what I think of you…”

Daniel grabbed her arm to stop her forward progress. “You’re trapped now, do what you want with us but you can’t escape.”

Sakhmet’s gaze traveled to the only exit in the room, the narrow hallway with an inscription engraved across the top. “Dai truva me soventra.”

“The Hall of Two Truths,” Daniel translated. “Are you prepared to weigh your worth?”

Sakhmet eyed the innocent passageway with suspicion. “I have killed Ma’at,” she repeated. “Her tricks are most likely inactive now.”

“So test it,” Mira challenged.

Sakhmet turned cold eyes on her two slaves. Her two *expendable* slaves. “No, I will not, but you will.” Sakmet motioned to Daniel. “You slave will weigh your worth, if you may pass judgment then I know there will be no worry for me.”

Daniel stared at the imposing entrance. Remembering Thor’s hammer and how it only harmed those with parasites he took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Daniel!” Mira called as he stepped forward, terrified of what this Hall of Two Truths might entail.

Daniel made it to the other side unharmed. Sakhmet smiled evilly. “A slave would never be judged worthy. It is as I said, these tricks no longer work.”

Sakhmet pushed Mira through to Daniel and the young woman muttered, “She does that just one more time…”

“Now that you’ve used up your worth slave,” Sakhmet sneered at Daniel. “I can inflict your punishment at last.

Daniel grabbed Mira’s hand and subtly pulled her back as Sakhmet approached.

He braced himself as the goddess reached the entry. A flash of orange lit the hallway and Mira gasped and stepped further back.

Sakhmet was caught in the energy field, obviously in pain. Daniel had no pity for the god but he couldn’t help but feel for the host.

With a final crackle the metal barriers lifted and the limp body of Sakhmet fell to the floor. Daniel rushed to her side with Mira calling after him not to get close to her.

Daniel knelt beside the woman and felt for a pulse. “She’s alive,” he said with relief.

Mira eyed him dubiously, “And this is a good thing?”

Daniel nodded. He didn’t quite know how to explain that Sakhmet was dead, and it was someone else entirely he was kneeling beside.

A host that had been lost within themselves for centuries upon centuries.

Daniel sighed. One problem solved. Two more coming into play.

Working out exactly what to say to Mira and James about all they had encountered today. As well as taking care of a recently imprisoned refugee from ancient Egypt.

Routine, indeed…
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Security Risks
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Jack, Sam, Teal’c and James stumbled out into the fading light. It was nearly night now and if they were going to reach Mira and Daniel they’d have to hurry.

Wasting no time, James took the lead, heading to where Niven waited anxiously. Once he’d reached the native he turned to Jack who was jogging up to him. “What do you want me to tell him?”

“Tell him to go back to camp and talk to David, was it?” James nodded and Jack continued, “Have him contact the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. All he has to do is mention the Stargate and he’ll get through.”

“He just has to say ‘Stargate’” James asked.

Jack nodded, having David say that would cause an uproar but that was exactly what he wanted. The breach of security would cause an investigation and there would no doubt be teams sent within hours. And once Hammond realized where the call had come from he’d waste no time in sending back up.

James turned to Niven and translated, the man nodded and left on his way, obviously happy to put some distance between himself and the temple. Jack couldn’t blame him.

“Alright, kids,” Jack said, “Lets go to this temple of Mauve.”

James opened his mouth to say Ma’at but decided it wouldn’t do any good and silently began to lead the way.

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Daniel sighed as Mira paced beside him, he’d tried to convince her that ‘Sakhmet’ was no longer a threat but she’d hear none of it.

“Daniel! How can you say that? Just ‘cause she got a little fried you think when she wakes up she’ll be rehabilitated? She’s trying to *kill* you, for Christ sake!”

God but she was *exactly* like Jack, sometimes.

“Trust me, Mira,” Daniel pleaded softly without taking his eyes for the Egyptian woman.

“What reason have you given me to trust you, Daniel? You’ve done nothing but lie since you got here.”

“Look, I *know* you’ve got no reason to… but you still have to trust me. I don’t know what will happen if you don’t.”

“What does that mean!” Mira snapped.

“Look, you know I’ve been working for the military… and well, they are pretty closed mouth about their research, even more so than you and James.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Daniel rolled his eyes, “No, I’m not threatening you, I’m warning you. It’d be in your best interests to believe whatever story that they give you.”

“But it won’t be the truth, will it? You’re asking quite a lot of me, Daniel. I happen to know for a fact that you would never accept anything but the truth but that’s exactly what you’re asking me to do. Listen to lies.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t do that.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“You’re going to have to tell me the truth, Daniel. All of it, starting with why this psychopath is suddenly not a threat.”

“He can’t do that,”

Daniel’s head snapped up at the voice behind him, “Jack!”

“Hey, Daniel, what happened?”

“The same thing that happened with Thor,” he told his three teammates, knowing they’d be the only one’s to understand.

“Mira,” James said as he stepped forward to embrace his sister. “I was worried.”

“I’m fine,” Mira assured.

“We have to contact Hammond,” Daniel said vaguely, his eyes straying back to the beauty lying unconscious at his feet.

“It’s taken care of,” Sam assured. “How is she?”

“She hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but her pulse is strong,” Daniel reported.

“Good,” Jack said. “Hopefully she’ll stay that way until we can get back to the SGC.”

“O’Neill,” Teal’c said. “What shall we do until the ‘backup’ arrives.”

Good question, buddy, Jack thought. “Um, set up camp, I suppose,” was all he said aloud. “We’ll never make it back to the site in the dark.”

Teal’c nodded, “I will take the first watch.”

Daniel shook his head, “No, that’s alright, I will. I don’t want her to wake up and become scared.”

Teal’c stepped forward, “I will wake you if there is any change in her condition but you need sleep.”

Daniel sighed and acquiesced. He was too tired to argue anyway.
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Alease Suvant the first daughter of Morgin opened her eyes of her own accord for the first time in over a century.

The absence of her malevolent inner voice filling her with a sense of confusion and loss. But also of relief.

Had the demon inside her at last been slain?

Alease heard whispered voices and turned towards the noise.

“We can’t go back,” a male voice whispered harshly.

“I spent a good fifteen minutes talking them into giving me a ‘watch’ did you really believe I’d waste it?” an equally haughty female voice raged back.

“Mira, what if there’s more of… her back at the temple? We can’t go back there, Daniel said--“

“I don’t care what Daniel said,” the voice belonging to the one called Mira interrupted.

Alease felt faint, back to the temple? What temple? Were those the people who had freed her?

“Mira,”

“What?”

James pointed behind her and Mira turned to see Sakhmet sitting up and staring at them confusedly, a soft stream of morning light shinning through the doors bathing her with unearthly glow.

“Shit,” Mira cursed as she carefully knelt beside Daniel. “Daniel, Daniel, she’s awake…”

Daniel sat up groggily and looked across the room, instantly becoming alert at what he saw.

The former host was squatting across from him, now fully alert and looking like a scared rabbit about to bolt.

“Hi,” Daniel said softly, he’d been trying not to scare her but it didn’t work.

Alease jumped to her feet and turned to run deeper into the temple.

Daniel, cursing under his breath in Abydonian, darted after her, James and Mira close on his heels, all three calling out “Wait!” as they went.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jack’s eyes shot open at a shout of ‘wait’ as did Teal’c’s and Carter’s beside him.

Jumping to his feet Jack noticed immediately the absence of the three archeologists’ and of the host.

“O’Neill,” Teal’c whispered, his voice as tense as Jack had ever heard it.

As a shadow blocked the sunlight and he swung around he realized why.

At the entrance was Lieutenant Colonel Samuels, flanked by at least ten of his men and all geared up as though they were heading into a war zone.

“Colonel O’Neill,” Samuels said. “We heard you might be having a bit of trouble.”

“You heard?” Jack asked dubiously.

Samuels flashed an oily smile, “We intercepted a call to the SGC, you really should have called us you know. Matters such of this fall under the jurisdiction of the NID.”

Jack cringed at the name, “Right, well we’ve got it under control now,”

“I’ll be the judge of that, Colonel, now where’s Dr. Jackson and the two archeologists responsible for this dig? The man I talked to back at the camp said something about evidence of aliens. And you’ll never guess what we found in the first temple, a sarcophagus.”

“What are you going to do Samuels?” Jack asked tiredly.

“I’m assuming that Mr. and Ms. Reynolds have learned more than they should about what we do, Colonel. I’m going to act accordingly.”

“I’m not going to let you just kill them!” Jack exploded.

“Well then, Colonel, I suggest you find them first.”

Samuels and his men stormed the temple heading off in all directions. Jack helplessly ran a hand through his hair.

“Sir,” Carter said quietly. “Over there,”

Looking to where Carter was pointing he saw a small icon on the wall. Making sure that the NID officers were truly gone the three headed towards it.

“Another secret door?” Jack asked.

“It appears so,” Teal’c answered as he reached out to push it.

Jack lead the way through, “Well let’s hope it leads to Daniel.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As the archeologists’ chased the woman down the halls, their path became darker and darker, cut off from the limited sunlight.

Daniel stopped abruptly and Mira and James crashed into him.

“Hey!” Mira cried indignantly.

“I can’t see where she went,” Daniel explained.

“Look!” James shouted.

A light appeared at the end of the hall, emanating from around the corner, cautiously, Daniel headed towards it.

When he reached the source he found another control room, the woman hovering over a pedestal holding a very familiar orange crystal. It was exactly like the one on Sakhmet’s ship.

“What are you doing?” Daniel asked of her.

“Stay away from me!” the woman ordered. “I will not be enslaved again!”

“We won’t enslave you,” Daniel said soothingly, “We’re here to help. The demon has been banished please wait so we can explain to you. We will not hurt you. We got rid of the demon, you’ve no reason to be scared.”

Alease looked at him warily, her heart told her to trust him, but her head reminded her of how she’d once too many times been deceived.

“I’m Daniel,” the man said, “This is Mira and James. We won’t hurt you, you have my word.”

“I am Alease,” she told him reluctantly, listening to her heart.

The man named Daniel smiled and it was so genuine Alease felt her own lips curl in response. “Hi Alease, I know you must be scared but we won’t hurt you.”

Alease’s eyes widened suddenly, flashes of memories assaulting her. Pieces of her life she’d had no control over. She remembered the one named Daniel leading her here, telling her this is where she’d find the Chappa’i, but it had been a trap.

“I remember you,” she announced.

Daniel smiled again, “Then you know it was Sakhmet we wished to stop, never you.”

Alease nodded, “I believe I can trust you. You fight against the false gods as I once did.”

Daniel was at once intrigued, forgetting the presence of his other friends. “Really?”

Alease nodded, “On my planet, Suralin, we had slain the evil one and his mate had taken me as her host as retribution.”

“Your planet…” Mira echoed, her voice cracking.

“Suralin…” James said in succession, with equal disbelief.

“It is a beautiful place,” Alease said sadly, “With temples like these at every turn and three suns each twice as magnificent as the one here on the first world.”

“My god,” Mira breathed. She’d sell her very soul for the chance to explore a place like that and she knew James would do the same.

“I want to go home,” Alease said. “Please, Dan-yel, you must not try to stop me… I… I… my home…”

Daniel winced in sympathy, “I know you want to leave but--“

“Daniel!” a shout interrupted him.

Jack, Sam and Teal’c shot through a door on the other side of the room.

“Thank god we found you,” Sam said as she tried to catch her breath. “The NID are here… they…”

Jack got right to the heart of the matter. “They’re going to kill your friends and probably take her,” he motioned to Alease, “For a lab rat, we have to get them out of here.”

Voices echoed through the halls, and the occupants of the room stiffened.

“It appears to be too late,” Teal’c said.

“Not too late,” Alease said. “If your lives are in danger then I will take you with me,”

“Wow, wow, wow, wait a minute. With you? Where are you going?” Jack demanded.

Alease turned to him, “I am taking this ship and going home, you are welcome to join me,”

Two identical sets of eyes lit up at the prospect. Mira and James sharing a look that spoke volumes.

“We’ll go,” they said as one.

“What!” Daniel cried.

“They’re going to kill us, Daniel,” Mira said reasonably. “Choosing between going to an archeologist’s dream and staying to be killed is not a hard choice.”

“I don’t think you understand what you’re accepting,” Daniel said desperately.

“Daniel,” Mira said softly. “We do understand, and it’s more than we ever dreamed,” she paused as the gruff voices grew closer. “You’ve been living this life, now we want our turn.”

“We must go,” Alease said urgently. “This ‘NID’ grow nearer.”

Mira pulled Daniel into a hug, “We want this, Daniel,” she whispered fiercely. “This isn’t just because we’ve got no other choice.”

“You must hurry,” Alease urged.

Jack took Daniel by the arm and began to lead them to the exit, Carter and Teal’c were already waiting by the door.

“I…” Daniel started. “Good luck,”

Mira smiled at him, her green eyes sparkling as Jack tugged him all the way out the door and the stone began to lower.

The door shut and the walls began to vibrate as the ship took off. Daniel leaned against the wall in exhaustion, both physical and mental.

“You okay?” Jack asked.

Daniel nodded, “Yea, they’ll be fine.”

His teammates nodded their agreement and Daniel smiled slightly.

“Colonel O’Neill!” Samuels rounded the corner and glared at SG-1. “I see you found Dr. Jackson, now why don’t you tell me where the others are?”

“Oh, you mean Mira and James?” Jack asked. “Damn, you just missed them, they said to tell you hello, before they left in their Goa’uld ship with a former host.”

Samuels turned red, “You allowed them to take off in an alien ship!”

Jack’s eyes narrowed, “Of course not, I just didn’t stop them. I’m sure you understand, I had no back up or weapons and didn’t want to risk my team.”

Samuels only appeared to grow angrier. “My superiors will be hearing of this, Colonel, I assure you.”

Jack smiled patronizingly, “And Hammond will be hearing that the NID have been intercepting calls to *his* facility.”

“Let’s move out men,” Samuels said icily, “We’ll have to call in a sweeper team to recover all the Goa’uld technology. Colonel, I suggest you and your team return to the SGC, you’re no longer needed here.”

Jack smiled, “Now that’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all day.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jack grabbed two beers from his fridge and returned to his living room, tossing one to Daniel he collapsed in the lounge chair.

“That was some vacation,” he said smartly.

Daniel gave a half smile, “Yea,”

“So I guess I was right,”

“How so?” Daniel asked.

“About you always getting into trouble,”

“How do you know I wasn’t right?” Daniel asked.

“What do you mean,” Jack asked with narrowed eyes.

“Well, I said it was *you* that was giving us such bad luck and since you came with me…”

“What you think if you’d gone alone nothing would have happened?”

Daniel smiled and twisted the cap off his beer. “I guess we’ll never know.”