Stargate SG1: Cocidian (6/11)

[brihana25]

All disclaimers, notes, warnings and summary are in the Master post: Cocidian


Chapter Six

Jack shook his head in disgust. "Honor us, he said. Yeah. We were honored to be too drugged to walk back to the gate that night. Tuathal said it hadn't been intentional, that we just weren't used to their wine. It sounded plausible at the time, I guess. He said he felt bad about it, and offered us quarter in the village for the night. So we stayed ..."

Jack sat down heavily on one of the four pallets that lined the walls of the small dwelling and raised his head groggily. "You don't look very tired, Daniel."

Daniel shook his head. "No, I feel fine. They didn't give me any wine with my dinner, though." Daniel glanced around the room and noted that both Sam and Teal'c seemed as tired as Jack did. "Are you guys okay?"

"Sleepy," Sam mumbled as she pulled a rough, woven blanket up to her shoulders.

"I, too, am most unusually tired," Teal'c added as he settled himself onto another pallet. "My symbiote is similarly lethargic."

"Strong enough to take Junior out for the count?" Jack asked in alarm. He looked up at Daniel. "That wine packs one hell of a punch, doesn't it?"

Daniel looked back at Jack. For the briefest of seconds, Jack thought he saw panic in Daniel's eyes, but before Jack could respond to it, it was gone and had been replaced by determination. "Tuathal said it was an accident, Jack. He told me it was stronger than I was used to; that's why I wasn't given any."

Jack snorted and leaned forward to untie his boots. "Too young for the good stuff, Daniel?"

"No," Daniel answered with a shake of his head. "Just too weak."

"What were you two talking about, anyway?" Sam asked. She yawned deeply before continuing. "You seemed pretty enthralled."

"We talked about a lot of things, actually. I learned quite a bit from Tuathal."

"Okay, Daniel, I'll bite," Jack responded tiredly. "What did you learn from Tuathal?"

"They are Celts," Daniel answered. "Or at least, they're descendants of the Celts. Cocidius - they worship Cocidius."

"And Cocidius was ...?"

"A Celtic god," Daniel replied.

Jack rolled his eyes. "I gathered that much. What was he the god of?"

"Um... hunting, mostly. Also the god of strength, the woodlands, and animals. Sometimes, he's the god of youth, luck, and trickery. Sometimes, he's a god of war."

"Busy guy," Jack remarked with a smirk. "Anything else?"

"Um... yeah. Sometimes, he was the god of death, too."

"God of death, war, and hunting, huh? Does anyone else suddenly not like this place?"

"I have disliked this planet for quite some time now, O'Neill." Teal'c shifted around on his pallet, trying to find some comfort despite the fact that lying down was an unusual position for him.

"Me too," Sam put in from her pallet.

"Guys, look, it's not really so bad here. They're actually very peaceful. It's just a different culture, that's all. They have a way of doing things that we don't understand. I really don't think it's going to be a problem. I talked to Tuathal; I explained why I'm still alive ..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up there, Danny. He thinks you should be dead?"

Daniel bit his lip and nodded quickly. "But it's okay; he understands now ..."

Jack pushed himself to his feet, shaking his head as he walked closer to Daniel. "I don't think he does, Daniel. Even if he does, the rest of these people sure don't seem to. Did you see how they're looking at you?"

"I know, Jack. But it's going to be all right. The purification ritual tomorrow ..."

"Purification ritual!"

"Um, Daniel, that doesn't sound so good," Sam observed.

"I'll be fine, Sam. And after it's over, we're going to have a strong ally in Tuathal and his people. That's worth a little discomfort, isn't it?"

"You aren't exactly making me like this place any more than I did before, Daniel. They've been eyeing you up like a piece of fresh meat since we got here. Accidental or not, the three of us are too drunk or drugged or something to leave. And now you say you have to go through some sort of purification ritual?"

"Jack, it's not a big deal. I've just got to prove myself ..."

"Oh, come on, Daniel! In case you haven't noticed it, these guys don't seem to like you very much!"

"Well, of course they don't." Jack rolled his eyes and turned away. Daniel followed him. "I am everything they don't believe should exist, Jack. They're warriors, hunters. They don't just believe in survival of the fittest; they live it. You, Teal'c, even Sam - you they respect. You they see as worthy. Me? They can't figure out why I'm even alive, let alone why you let me tag along with you."

"Tag along?" Jack spun suddenly, his anger and frustration at the situation and his inability to control it eager to be vented. "Is that what you think you do, Daniel? Tag along?"

Daniel sighed and smiled. "No, of course not. But that's what they think I do. They can't imagine any other reason why someone like me, who is obviously not a warrior by any definition of the word, would be in the company of someone like you, who obviously is." Jack sat back down on his pallet, and Daniel turned to face Sam and Teal'c. "They revere strength. They reward it. They look at me, and they don't see it."

"They're wrong," Jack declared. "You're one of the strongest people I've ever met."

"Physical strength, Jack. You, Sam, Teal'c ..." Daniel's voice trailed off when he realized that two of the people he'd been talking to had fallen asleep. It shocked him to see Teal'c actually lying down on a pallet and sleeping, but he managed to keep it from showing on his face. He continued, keeping his voice low. "The three of you could kick the butts of half the men in this village, and they know it. They also know that I couldn't. And no matter how strong you might think I am, Jack, you know it, too."

Jack leaned back against the wall, rubbing at his tired eyes. "So you have to fight somebody?"

Daniel crouched in front of Jack's bed, realizing that Jack was running on nothing more than determination and willpower. "It'll be a symbolic fight only, Jack, I'm sure. I explained to Tuathal that things are different on our world, that we value people for strength of spirit as much as we do for strength of body. He said he understands, and he'll take that into account. I've got a good chance of winning, Jack. He'll be fair."

"What if it's not quite as fair as you think it's gonna be?" Jack couldn't hold back the yawn that came out with the question.

Daniel smiled and put a hand on Jack's shoulder, easing him down to the pallet. "Let me worry about that, Jack. You just get some sleep. You're probably going to have one heck of a hangover in the morning."

"Have to keep watch," Jack muttered.

Daniel shook his head. "I've got first watch, okay? I'll wake you up in a few hours."

Jack nodded in reluctant acceptance, and his eyes fell closed.

Daniel sighed and stood up. Thinking Jack already asleep, he closed his own eyes and let his head fall back. "I swear I'll get you guys out of this mess I've gotten you into," he whispered to the ceiling. "No matter what I have to do."

Jack heard the soft declaration, and somewhere in his drug-addled mind it occurred to him to ask Daniel what he was talking about. He opened his mouth to do just that, but darkness swept over him and pulled him into the peaceful bliss of sleep.

"So Dr. Jackson wasn't as oblivious to the situation as you thought he was."

"Oh, no, sir," Jack answered quietly. "He knew. He knew a hell of a lot more than we did, actually."

"Why didn't he tell you?"

Jack straightened on his stool and looked Hammond directly in the eye. "This wasn't his fault, sir. He didn't endanger us by not telling us. Fact is, the only person in danger on that planet, at the time, was him. And he thought he could handle it himself."

"Looking back on things now, sir," Sam interjected, "Daniel knew that we wouldn't be able to get off the planet unless he went through with the ritual. By the time any of us realized anything was wrong we were already in the village, and it was already too late to stop it from happening."

"So what happened next?"

Jack glanced at Sam and nodded, and she took up the narration.

"The next thing we remember is waking up in the morning and finding Daniel, and most of our weapons, gone. We still had our knives; that was all. There were clear signs of struggle by the door, so we knew that Daniel hadn't gone willingly with whoever it was. We went to look for him ..."

The search didn't last long.

The remaining members of SG-1 found themselves in the center of the village. The altars they had seen the day before were no longer empty. Daniel stood on one of them, head down, eyes closed. His arms were pulled up above and behind him and twisted in a rather painful-looking fashion, and his wrists were tied to the post behind his head with thick rope. His shirt was gone, and his chest showed the signs of a recent beating. His face looked worse.

"Daniel!"

"Jack!" Daniel lifted his head slowly and blinked. When his eyes fell on his three companions, he smiled and sighed in relief. "You're okay."

Jack started to step forward, only to find his way blocked by four of the largest villagers. Rather than risk a confrontation that couldn't have helped anyone, Jack stepped back again. "Yeah, Daniel, we're fine. How you doin'?"

Daniel closed his eyes and shifted his position to relieve the growing ache in his lower back and shoulders. "Oh, I've been better. This is a little uncomfortable."

Tuathal stepped forward on the other altar. He smiled at Sam and Teal'c before turning his attention solely to Jack. "We hath rid you of your burden, Bor-Shelgeyr. We beseech Cocidius to look with favor upon us now, and seek the Mearsuinn of the Com-Shelgeyr to guide us as we rid Domhan of this deibhleid."

Jack glanced at Teal'c and Sam over his shoulder, and then turned to glare back at Tuathal. "Does that sound like a threat to anyone but me?"

"Jack ..." Daniel's voice was soft, but the quiver of pain was audible.

"Tell me what he said, Daniel."

"It doesn't ..."

"Tell me!"

Daniel leaned his head back against the post and closed his eyes. "He's asking for the strength of the great hunter god to help them."

Jack's eyes widened as Tuathal pulled a large, jagged knife from his belt and held it up for the crowd to see. A chorus of cheers and shouts surged up around them.

"To do what, exactly?" Sam asked, her voice tight.

Daniel didn't answer her. He had opened his eyes in response to the roar of the crowd, and his attention was riveted to the blade in Tuathal's hand.

"Daniel!" Jack called out. "What are they asking for help with?"

Daniel swallowed hard, pulling his eyes away from the knife to focus on Jack. "To rid their world of the vile weak one."

"Okay, that's a threat." Jack's nod, while barely perceptible, was enough to spur both Carter and Teal'c into action behind him. All three assumed aggressive stances, and began to force their way closer to Daniel.

"Jack, don't!"

Jack ignored Daniel's warning and shoved his way past another of the large villagers. He reached the bottom of the steps and looked up at Daniel as he ran up them. "Tell me again how peaceful they are, Daniel."

"It's the only way they know."

"This is not a cultural difference, Daniel!" Jack reached the top of the platform and reached out, pushing the long hair out of Daniel's eyes and taking a closer look at the damage done to his face. Daniel's left eye was swollen and dark; the bruise spread out and covered almost the entire left side of his face. There was a large, deep gash in his forehead, and blood ran from his nose and trickled down his chin from the side of his mouth. "This is an act of war."

Daniel shook his head slowly. "They're only trying to help you, Jack."

"Help us? They're trying to help us? By dragging you off in the middle of the night?" Jack demanded. "By stringing you up out here like this? By beating the living crap out of you? By threatening to kill you?"

"They just want to prove a point."

"What point? That they're jerks?"

"That I'm a liability."

"Bull!"

"Jack ..."

"No, Daniel!" Jack stepped behind Daniel and reached for the ropes that bound his wrists to the post. "You are not a liability."

"Which one of us is tied to the post here, Jack?" Daniel asked tiredly. "Don't tell me they could have done this to you. Or to Sam. Or to Teal'c."

"Damn it, Daniel, that's not the point."

"Yes, it is, Jack."

"No, it isn't!" Jack felt someone approaching from the left. A quick glance confirmed that Tuathal was leaving the other altar and walking toward them. Jack sped up his efforts to undo the knots around Daniel's wrists. "And now is a really lousy time to be having this conversation."

"Jack ..."

"Little busy here, Daniel," Jack replied rapidly, shooting a quick glance across his shoulder to check on Tuathal's forward progress.

"But, Jack ..."

"Working on it."

"Jack!"

Jack's head snapped up at the urgency in Daniel's tone. Sam and Teal'c stood on the bottom step of the altar, facing the crowd. Both had assumed defensive positions, and their body language made it clear that anyone who tried to make it past them would not have an easy time of it. But it was immediately obvious to Jack what it was that had Daniel worried. Toward the back of the crowd, and making its way forward through them at a fairly rapid clip, was a line of large bearded men bearing large, heavy swords.

"Damn it," Jack muttered, increasing his attempts to work Daniel's knots loose.

"You will cease your efforts at once!"

The voice was accompanied by a large hand coming down on top of his. Jack spun his head in Tuathal's direction, anger and determination making his eyes flash.

"Leave the deibhleid and you may go in peace."

"No," Jack answered menacingly.

Tuathal's confusion showed on his face. "Why do you refuse an offer of peace between us, Bor-Shelgeyr?"

"We will not leave this place so long as Daniel Jackson remains your prisoner," Teal'c said.

"And there will be no peace," Sam added. "Not unless you let him go."

"Cocidius, the Com-Shelgeyr, demands strength of his hunters. You have proven yourselves to be worthy of passing through Domhan." Tuathal sneered at Daniel's back. "Those who cannot stand on their own must not be allowed to tarnish our ground with their weakness."

Jack and Sam stared at the man with open hostility. Teal'c took several quick steps forward, placing himself directly between Tuathal and Daniel, and spoke.

"If you continue to insist on doing harm to Daniel Jackson, we would be most pleased to turn our strength against you."

"It is the will of Cocidius!" Tuathal declared, turning away. "This matter is done. He will remain. You will go."

"The hell we will!" Jack called out to his retreating back.

Tuathal turned back to them slowly.

"Let me explain this one more time," Jack said through clenched teeth. "He goes where we go. If we leave, he leaves. If he stays, we stay. We will not leave without him. Is that clear?"

"Jack, please ..."

"Damn it, Daniel, I brought you here! And I am damn well taking you home!"

Tuathal took a slow step forward. "Do you mean to challenge the Rule of Cocidius?"

"No!" Daniel cried out.

"Yes!" Jack declared simultaneously. "I mean to challenge every damned thing about this place!"

"Jack, no," Daniel pleaded softly. "You don't know what you're doing."

"The challenge has been put forth!" Tuathal announced, raising his arms to the anxious crowd. "By the Rule of Cocidius, the Rite of Sealg yn Deyrit begins at Dawnbreak tomorrow!"

Jack turned to Sam and Teal'c. "If this is the only chance we get, then I want to make sure we take advantage of it. Teal'c, no matter what happens, your first priority is to grab Daniel and get him the hell out of here. Is that clear?"

"It is, O'Neill," Teal'c answered with a nod.

"Carter, you stick as close to Teal'c as you can. First chance you get, I want you to make a break for the gate and dial it up. The sooner we get off this planet, the better."

"Yes, sir."

"Daniel ..." Jack's voice trailed off when he saw the expression on Daniel's face. He took a hesitant step forward. "Daniel?"

Daniel shook his head slowly. "You should have listened to me, Jack. You should have left when you had the chance."

"And leave you here to die? Wrong answer."

"At least then it would have been just me."

Jack exchanged looks with Carter and Teal'c and the words that Daniel hadn't said echoed between them. "And what is it now? All four of us?"

Daniel's smirk held no happiness. "Very possibly, yes."

"So what is this Rite of Shelge in Daylight anyway?"

Daniel looked directly into Jack's eyes. "The Hunt of the Doomed."

"Okay, so that sounds like it might be kinda bad. But we'll survive it, whatever it is. As long as we can do this together, we'll be just fine."

"The time of preparation has arrived!" Tuathal announced suddenly, stepping to Jack's side. "When next you open your eyes, Bor-Shelgeyr, you will see that the hunter can indeed become the hunted."

"What the hell is that supposed to ...?"

Tuathal simply raised his hand and a bright blue light flashed from his palm. Jack and Sam collapsed, unconscious, at his feet. Teal'c fought against the surging darkness, forcing his eyes to focus on the scene playing out above him. He watched as Tuathal looked down at Daniel Jackson, sneering at the obvious pain and fear on the archeologist's face.

"And now you see, Deibhleid, how your weakness infects even the strongest amongst your people. For if these fall tomorrow, the fault shall be yours, and no other's."

"I know," Daniel whispered. "Believe me... I know."

The light in Tuathal's palm flashed once more, and blackness followed.