~by email~
TO: Dr. Daniel Jackson
FROM: Dr. Steven Rayner
RE: I'm alive
Daniel -
I don't know if anyone's gotten in touch with you yet, and this is the first they've let me have a computer, but I'm alive. I'm at Atlantis' Alpha Site - Ba'al let me go, erased my memories of anything vital to his security and said I was free to go back to Atlantis. It was too easy. I've asked Jonny O'Neil to figure out what the catch is - which means, of course, that he's cutting me no slack in terms of declaring me safe for human company. I'm sure he'll read this email before it gets sent, so if you don't get it, it'll probably be because it's got subliminal messages to Ba'al's minions on Earth encoded in it. I sincerely hope it doesn't.
I know I was a real jerk, and I hate that I left you like I did, but I had no choice - Ba'al had what basically amounted to a recall device implanted in my brain; he wanted me back, I had no choice but to go. I've still got who knows how many tests to go through before I'm even allowed to Atlantis, let alone Earth, and then there'll be the trial for treason - I think I can face that, now; the worst they can do is kill me, and at least with them, I'll be able to stay dead, not have to come back and face it all again the next day.
I'm not expecting you to forgive me or still love me or any of that. Honestly, Colonel O'Neill's probably better for you than I ever was, even if he is being a dick about it from what you've told me. I just thought I'd let you know, I'm still here, because I know you'll be tearing yourself to pieces thinking you should have saved me, and I don't want you doing that.
All my love (to you and only you, always),
Steven
FROM: Dr. Steven Rayner
RE: I'm alive
Daniel -
I don't know if anyone's gotten in touch with you yet, and this is the first they've let me have a computer, but I'm alive. I'm at Atlantis' Alpha Site - Ba'al let me go, erased my memories of anything vital to his security and said I was free to go back to Atlantis. It was too easy. I've asked Jonny O'Neil to figure out what the catch is - which means, of course, that he's cutting me no slack in terms of declaring me safe for human company. I'm sure he'll read this email before it gets sent, so if you don't get it, it'll probably be because it's got subliminal messages to Ba'al's minions on Earth encoded in it. I sincerely hope it doesn't.
I know I was a real jerk, and I hate that I left you like I did, but I had no choice - Ba'al had what basically amounted to a recall device implanted in my brain; he wanted me back, I had no choice but to go. I've still got who knows how many tests to go through before I'm even allowed to Atlantis, let alone Earth, and then there'll be the trial for treason - I think I can face that, now; the worst they can do is kill me, and at least with them, I'll be able to stay dead, not have to come back and face it all again the next day.
I'm not expecting you to forgive me or still love me or any of that. Honestly, Colonel O'Neill's probably better for you than I ever was, even if he is being a dick about it from what you've told me. I just thought I'd let you know, I'm still here, because I know you'll be tearing yourself to pieces thinking you should have saved me, and I don't want you doing that.
All my love (to you and only you, always),
Steven