This host body is not cooperating. The transfer was incomplete. You're not listening. The fool humans must have known. Mission. Mission! That is all you can think of. Fool! Do not get yourself caught!
"You're not military."
The shots fired out silently, only the abrupt flashes of light told of the bullets' departure from the pistol's barrel. Flashes of fire in his chest then accompanied the flashes of light. Burning, burning. Can't breathe. Sha'uri. God, I'm sorry-
A hand on his forehead kept Daniel from bolting up from his bed. It gently pushed his head back down onto his pillow. Daniel, however, probably didn't need much to push him back down. The constant ache in his chest was enough to stop him and Daniel knew that once the painkillers fade away, it would be a lot worse.
"For crying out loud, Daniel." An exasperated voice said as the hand lifted away. "You're not exactly ready for acrobatics yet."
"Acrobatics?" a deep voice inquired. Teal'c.
"Yeah. It's something that Daniel shouldn't be doing right now." Jack's face came to focus. He sounded annoyed but the worried eyes and crooked grin betrayed the colonel's concern. "Only thing he should be doing is to lie down on this bed and stare at the ceiling."
"That does not sound like doing anything, O'Neill." Teal'c pointed out.
"Exactly."
Daniel smiled wanly; knowing Jack was doing the comedy routine for his benefit. "Where's Sam?"
"Nice to see you, too." Jack sarcastically said, not angry at all.
"Captain Carter is blowing a picture." Teal'c tried to explain as Jack sputtered.
"Blowing up a picture, Teal'c! Blowing up!"
"Is it not the same?"
"No." Jack said firmly. "Not by a looong shot."
"My apologies."
"S'all right."
"Jack?" Daniel interrupted, despite the fact that he was enjoying the exchange, "Picture?"
"Of the elevator where you were shot." Teal'c explained, not catching the warning look Jack was trying to give him.
"Of the elevator where you were shot." Teal'c explained, not catching the warning look Jack was trying to give him.
Jack passed another look to Teal'c with a frown. "Yeah, Danny. Just take it easy-"
"I wasn't military." Daniel whispered.
"What?" Jack remembered Teal'c saying that before. "What do you mean? What are you remembering, Daniel?" Jack leaned forward, his curiosity taking over his concerns for upsetting Daniel.
"He said that I wasn't military." Daniel's eyes glazed over at the memory. Jack placed his hand over Daniel's forehead again. The slight heat that was emulating from Daniel's forehead worried Jack. "H-he said that I was a problem." Daniel shifted uneasily in his bed.
"Easy, Danny." Jack tried to soothe the younger man. His voice was calm, but inside Jack was boiling. Not military? What the hell did that bastard mean by that?
"Do you remember a face?" Jack hesitantly asked, eyes on Daniel's face. The younger man frowned, trying to concentrate. After a few moments, he regretfully shook his head.
"No. Sorry, Jack." Daniel started to say when Jack stopped him.
"Don't worry about it." Jack said, stressing the point. "Carter is blowing up," Jack's eyes darted back to Teal'c, getting a lifted eyebrow from the Jaafa, "a frame of the elevator's security cameras right now so we should know at any moment. We'll get the guy, Danny."
"B-but-" Daniel wanted to say something, but he stopped, as he couldn't extract what it was. Frustration was written in his pale face. Jack absently patted his arm reassuringly.
"Doc said it would come back sooner or later. Or not at all." Jack studied Daniel for a moment. "Don't worry about it, Daniel." Maybe it's better that you don't remember at all, Jack added mentally as he recalled the video.
"His eyes." Daniel said suddenly. He almost sat up anxiously, but Jack firmly pushed him back down onto the bed.
"We know, Daniel."
"You told me before you loss consciousness, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c reminded the young scientist. "You said that his eyes were glowing."
"No, no." Daniel shook his head. "They were glowing, but-" Daniel didn't realize he was shivering until Jack placed his hand on his arm again.
"Take it easy, Danny." Jack darted a concerned glance to Teal'c, wondering if they should get the doctor over here.
"They were glowing," Daniel started again, "but they were red. Jack, they weren't glowing like the Go'uald. It was like something else totally." Daniel shivered again.
Jack frowned as he considered this new piece of news. "Daniel, a re you sure? Maybe you're not remembering things correctly-"
"No! I'm certain, Jack!" Daniel clutched at Jack's forearm, his eyes wide with alarm. "You didn't catch him yet? God, Jack. He might not even be Go'uald!"
"I believe he is, Daniel Jackson."
Jack turned his head sharply towards Teal'c. "You know what he's talking about, Teal'c?"
"Perhaps." Teal'c reluctantly replied.
"Well, give!" Jack said, his voice a lot sharper than he had intended. He uncurl Daniel's fingers from his arm, absently give Daniel's hand a pat, "Last I recall, Go'uald glowed but they weren't bloodshot."
"Guada." Teal'c simply said. Jack shrugged as the term gave him no particular clue.
"The damaged ones?" Daniel translated, recognizing a word from Abydos.
"Scarred." Teal'c corrected Daniel. "They are Go'uald, but different."
"Like the To'kra." Jack mused.
"Yes, but they were legend only. A child's tale to frighten the young to obedience."
"Like the boogey man." Daniel volunteered.
"Boogey?" Teal'c echoed, with another lifted eyebrow. At Jack's shrug, the Jaafa continued. "They were those born imperfect. Not of gods, but of demons. They were destroyed at birth once discovered and never to be mentioned."
"Go'ualds strive for perfection in everything, including in their hosts." Daniel mused, "It would be like them to destroy their own if their standards are not met."
"They corrupt their hosts." Teal'c recalled this fact.
"Like as if Go'ualds don't?" Jack commented with an eyebrow of his own.
Teal'c shook his head. "They have no need for memories or of balance like the To'kra. They just need a host. They enter the host's mind and change it until it suits their needs. They are more like animals, acting only on pure survival instincts." Teal'c had an almost disgusted look on his usually stoic face as if the idea of Guada repulsed him.
"Go'ualds just occupy the host's body, the existing personalities and memories still remain, but asleep. If they leave, the host body regains all of their original memories." Daniel explained, but Jack could hear a bit of hoping in his voice. Jack knew that although it wasn't truly proven, Daniel hoped it was true for his wife Sha'uri and Skaara.
"This is total conversion." Jack understood, getting a nod from Teal'c. Then Jack shook his head. "Wait a minute. Wouldn't it be to their benefit if the Go'ualds did this, too?"
"Parasites, Jack." Daniel explained. "They want to gain the hosts' knowledge, too."
"The Guada doesn't." Teal'c added seriously. "Only total control."
"But they were destroyed at birth." Jack repeated what Teal'c said before.
"Not necessarily, Jack." Daniel theorized. "One could always slip by. They are essentially the same. Just the eyes are different."
"Perhaps." Teal'c looked doubtful. "I believed it to be tales to frighten children, threatening to have them incubate a Guada instead of a Go'uald if they do not behave. However, if what Daniel Jackson is correct, then-"
"We have a problem, then." Jack finished grimly. "We need to tell the General." A thought occurred to him. "If they take total control, would they be able to conceal themselves from examination?"
"I am not aware of any, therefore I can not be sure, O'Neill."
"Well, I think Daniel has just proven that the boogey man does exist." Jack didn't look happy at all. "Whatever happen to the enemy being human?" Jack muttered as he got up. "Give me a nice homosa-homo-"
"Homo-sapien, Jack." Daniel helped out from his bed.
"Thank you." Jack said automatically then stopped short. He turned around and frowned. "Now is not the time for lectures, Danny. Get some rest. I'll be back in a moment. I need to debrief General Hammond about this new piece of news." Jack eyed Teal'c, who was making no move to leave. "Do you have anything else you would like me to know? Other half crazed, eye glowing, want to take over the world aliens that I should know about?"
Daniel smiled as Teal'c answered back in a puzzled voice. "Not to my knowledge, O'Neill."
"Good." Jack patted Daniel again in the arm and ruffled his hair. The colonel smiled at Daniel's grimace. "Sit tight, Danny." With that, Jack left.
Teal'c settled himself back into position, by the curtained area to guard Daniel. He could hear the younger man's breathing going slowly into sleep. The Jaafa didn't look at Daniel, just straight ahead.
"Teal'c?" a sleepy voice broke into his thoughts.
"Yes, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c didn't turn from his post.
"What's wrong?" Despite his weariness, the scientist had noticed how the Jaafa avoided looking at him. In fact, when Daniel tried to speak to him, the Jaafa would turn away as if he didn't hear him.
"I do not understand." Was the Jaafa's stiff response.
"I-" Daniel didn't know how to ask. He didn't even know what could be wrong. "I- never mind." Daniel tried to get some sleep. Perhaps he is just too out of it and was just misreading Teal'c. "Never mind, Teal'c." He closed his eyes, trying to sleep, but he kept hearing the soldier in his head. It was no use; Daniel couldn't get the voice out of his head.
You're not military.
I guess I'm not wanted here, Daniel thought but quickly corrected himself, no, it's someone who doesn't want me here. Not everyone thinks like that. Daniel could figure out why. I'm not exactly a soldier, probably will get in the way when the guns start firing. Was it the Go'uald or the host that wants me gone? Daniel suppressed a shudder as he wondered. Three years ago, who would had thought I would have been thinking about who would want me dead or even why? Three years ago, I would had been wondering if the university was going to pull my grant. Definitely not worrying about my own survival or of my wife. Daniel opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, half-smiling as he recalled that this was what Jack wanted him to do only. I was so certain back then that I was going to be alone for the rest of my life. Now I have a wife. I didn't think I could love anyone so much like I do with Sha'uri again. I have to find her. I have to tell her that. Daniel shuddered, just realizing that he almost lost the chance to wish for this.
"Daniel Jackson."
Pulled from his thoughts, Daniel twisted his head towards Teal'c, who had turned to look at Daniel quite seriously. "What is it?"
"I am sorry." Teal'c said simply, but his eyes conveyed what he felt.
"Huh? Sorry?" Daniel didn't understand. "For what?"
"This should not have happened, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c bowed his head slightly towards Daniel, his tone very serious as he continued. "I had thought it strange when the soldier had followed you out of the Stargate room, but did not realize the danger to you."
At first, Daniel wanted to dismiss this as nonsense, but then he saw how serious Teal'c was considering this charge the Jaafa was accusing himself with. He was a First Prime, Daniel reminded himself, and guarding their gods however false they may be is first before their own. I guess it is like our President's Secret Service. Somehow, Daniel thought the comparison was not entirely accurate.
"I should have been able to assist you, Daniel Jackson."
"No." Daniel shook his head, trying not to grimace as that movement caused some nausea. "I don't think so."
"Had I been there, you would not have been shot." Teal'c insisted, determined to prosecute himself.
"Had you been there, " Daniel said as he looked right at the Jaafa, "we both might have been shot. And Jack and Sam would have been left by themselves to fight this- Guada."
Teal'c thought about it for a moment, but Daniel could tell that his point wasn't really convincing the Jaafa. "Teal'c, what is it that really bothered you?"
"My failure to protect." Teal'c said as he looked at his friend and at all the strange medical equipment surrounding him that Teal'c couldn't even begin to understand. "My inability to do my duty."
"Duty?" Daniel echoed. It sounded like something Jack would say. "I don't understand, Teal'c. What duty do you think it is that you have?"
"To protect, of course." Teal'c looked surprised at the question. "I am a Jaafa. A Go'uald warrior."
"But, that doesn't mean you have to protect us." Daniel blurted out. He continued hastily at the Jaafa's lifted eyebrow. "I mean, it's great that you want to protect us and- but-" Daniel wasn't able to finish because he heard commotion at the other end of the infirmary. He could hear Doctor Fraiser barking orders out to her nurses. "What the-?" Daniel looked at Teal'c with a question. The Jaafa seemed reluctant to leave the area, but something had caught his attention that Daniel couldn't see.
"Teal'c?" Daniel said, trying to sit up. He couldn't hear anything too clearly, but the tones were urgent. Daniel winced at the failed effort to sit up and he gasped out abruptly in pain.
That caught Teal'c's attention. Teal'c turned back to Daniel and went over to the scientist. With a firm hand, he pushed Daniel back down onto the bed. Daniel didn't try to get up again, but he was still concerned about the commotion.
"What is it?" Daniel clutched at Teal'c's sleeve, refusing the silence for an answer. Something was telling him that there something was wrong.
"A soldier was injured." Teal'c told him, still refusing to leave Daniel's bedside. However, Daniel could tell that the Jaafa was staring intently at the area of commotion.
"Who?" Daniel asked insistently.
Teal'c paused as if he was thinking about how to answer. Then he looked back at Daniel and replied, "Captain Carter."
"The Guada?" General Hammond repeated. His face gave away no emotion. Jack wondered if the general believed him.
"Yes, sir." Jack said, wondering what the general was going to say. "Daniel remembers eyes that glowed-"
"Indication that he's Go'uald then."
"Yes sir, but they were red." Jack paused. "We haven't encountered anything like that in a possessed Go'uald. Not even with the To'kra."
General Hammond didn't look like he enjoyed that piece of news very much. "We have come up with a few possibilities, Colonel O'Neill. Several members of various teams who reported injuries."
"Injuries that might have been from a Go'uald penetration." Jack concluded.
"Precisely. We're tracking them down now. The gates are secured. No one is to enter or leave this base until all clear."
Jack didn't look reassured. General Hammond continued, "We'll be conducting examinations of these men to see if we-"
"General Hammond." A soldier knocked on his door.
"What is it, soldier?"
"Uh, just thought we informed you that we found Captain Carter shot by the labs and-"
"What?" Jack jumped to his feet before even remembering interrupting what the general was going to say. "Sir, Carter believed she could get a picture of our shooter. That's why we were down at the labs."
"I'm sorry, colonel." The soldier shook his head. "The lab was destroyed. We had some people down there now for forensics-"
"Is she are alright?" The general demanded.
Jack didn't wait for a reply. He pushed past the soldier, muttering to the general his leave and was out the door. The soldier looked at the general nervously, wondering if the general was angry for being interrupted. The general, however, didn't look angry. Only concerned. Hammond didn't like this turn of events at all. The general motioned the soldier over.
"Yes sir?"
"I want you to get me the whereabouts of the following men- Andrew, Belarus, Conner, Harper, Turner, Williams, Wonder, and Yearling. Have them report to the infirmary ASAP."
"Yes sir."
© 1998 The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-I, the Goa’uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.