From: Susannah
Part 8
In the soft glow of a dressing table lamp, an accomplished scholar was slowly transforming back into an idealistic young woman. Not merely the layers of makeup and perfume that were stripping away the years, something beneath the surface was changing too. Catherine Langford glanced at her reflection in the mirror one last time. *There. That just about does it,* she mused. *Still, something is missing,* Catherine began rummaging through her jewelry box to find something suitable to finish things off. She wanted to look perfect tonight. Earnest was taking her out for a night on the town: dinner, dancing
-- the works. Funny how she used to take all of those things for granted. Used to take Earnest for granted too for that matter. Right up until...until that terrible day. The day of the "accident".
Catherine shook herself back to the present. None of that mattered now. Somehow, through the miracle of the stargate, Earnest had been returned to her. She had know from the first moment that she had seen it, that her fate and that of that wondrous circle would be forever intertwined. Suddenly, Catherine knew exactly what was needed to complete her attire for the evening...
****
Daniel figured that he had been walking for about fifteen minutes. He could hear voices getting louder and more excited. *The caravan must be approaching the city,* he thought. The group came to a sudden stop and Daniel bounced into four or five smelly animals before managing to regain his balance. Two rough hands dragged Daniel out of the herd. He felt himself being shoved roughly through what might have been a doorway.
Assuming that he was being taken directly to the temple, Daniel was surprised to note that the voices of the crowd had faded into the distance. The guard wrenched off the blindfold and quickly undid his ropes, shoving him to the ground.
"You will remain here until Ra is...ready to be entertained," he said mockingly. Before Daniel had a chance to open his mouth, the guard had slammed the door shut.
Daniel quickly pulled the gag out of his mouth. His chafed wrists burned in protest from the sudden move, but it was worth it to be able to breathe freely again. He took a deep gulp of air and quickly suffered for his thoughtless haste. After he had managed to cough most of the coarse sand out of his mouth and throat, Daniel began to look around at his cell.
The first thing he noticed after the heavy door that the guard had slammed and the dirt floor that he had been thrown onto was the fact that he was alone. *They must not be booked too full this time of year,* he thought looking around at the large room with its many sets of chains fastened to the walls.
Daniel slid over to a wall and buried his head in his hands. *What have I done? Why did I have to open my big mouth? Jack's always telling me that I should shut up. I guess he was right this time.* Daniel's mind raced from thought to thought while his fingers played absently with the chain around his neck. When he finally ran out of frantic thoughts, he noticed what he was holding.
He couldn't believe his eyes -- it was a medallion just like the one that Catherine had found at Giza. *Won't Catherine be amazed when she sees this!* He was astonished by the similarities: same size, same shape, same carvings, same little moon-shaped dent up by the chain...
Daniel didn't have too long to contemplate his discovery. As heard the loud footsteps approaching, he tried to think of how he could use the medallion to send a message back to his friends on earth, uh, in the twentieth century. The inscription on the medallion caught his attention: "Ra lives forever." Quickly he picked up a stone and made a careful mark on the medallion. He was just in time to let go of it before the guard opened the door...
****
Catherine reached down to pull the amulet out of its familiar place hanging by her heart. It went perfectly with her dress, and it symbolized what this evening was all about -- what her life was all about. As she turned it over so the front would show, she glanced at the inscription: "Ra lives again." Not believing what she had just read, she read it once more: "Ra lives again." *No, it should be "Ra lives forever.",* she thought. She knew that inscription like she knew her own name. She had read it every night before going to sleep since she was a small child. As she took a closer look at the writing, she noticed that someone had carefully changed the last symbol. The word 'forever' had been cleverly changed to 'again'. Not that it would have been that difficult. The words shared a similar symbol. But who would have done that and why? And even more importantly, when? She hadn't taken that necklace off for even a moment after Jack had returned it to her. She thought about it for a few minutes, but couldn't come up with any possibilities. Tomorrow she would call Daniel. Maybe he would have some ideas...
****
Sam had been pacing most of the night and into the early morning. She and Teal'c had gone over the last few moments of their mission more times than she could count, but they were still coming up empty. *Think, Carter! What are you missing?* She had asked herself that same question a hundred times in the past few hours and still had come up with nothing.
"Captain Carter," said a technician at the door, "There's a phone call for you."
"Thanks." *Great,* she muttered, *Just what I need, another distraction.* "Hello."
"Hello. Sam?"
"Catherine? What are you doing calling here? I mean, what can I do for you? How have you been? "
"Actually, I was calling to talk to Daniel, but they wouldn't let me talk to him. They didn't give any explanation. What going on with him?"
"Um, he's not here."
"Do you know when he is expected back?"
"Actually, he's missing. The colonel too. They disappeared the last time we came back through the gate. They were..."
"What do you mean by missing? Do you have any idea where they are?"
"No. I was hoping for a clue or a message of some kind, but I haven't been able to find anything helpful yet."
"I think I may be able to help you there. Why don't you come over to my house, and I'll explain. Do you still remember how to get there?"
"Yeah. I'll see you in about twenty minutes."
****
After Sam heard Catherine explain what she had found the previous evening, she realized why she had asked to talk to Daniel. "Maybe we could go over to his apartment. He has lots of journals and private notes. Maybe we could find a clue in there."
"If you don't mind my asking, how do you know about his journals? I've known Daniel for quite a few years now, and he won't even share them with me."
"Um, that's a long story."
"Why don't you tell me on the way over there," Catherine asked, intrigued.
****
Catherine and Sam searched through Daniel's journals for hours. At first, Sam felt funny rooting through Daniel's private stuff. But she had been through most of it before, and, after all, they were doing it for his sake.
Around noon, Sam found what she was looking for. Or, at least, she hoped so. Buried in the middle of one of Daniel's earliest journals there was a symbol of two circles and a triangle. At first, Sam didn't think anything of it. But then she realized that the middle figure wasn't really a triangle after all -- it was a pyramid. And, it bore an uncanny resemblance to the symbol they had found with the two circles and the pool while exploring on P4X357...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Dee Tervo
Part 9
Sam knew the answers remained back on that mysterious world where the team had become separated. She also sensed a totally unreasonable explanation of the missing men's whereabouts, but wouldn't allow herself to focus on the possibility. 'Sure Carter,' she mused to herself, 'start running around insisting on time travel and looking into the past to find Daniel and the Colonel, and they'll have you under observation and off the recon team.' As they prepared to ship out, she found Teal'c her only willing confidant, "Did you mention once that the Goa'uld were experimenting with time travel?"
Teal'c seemed mildly surprised at her question, but obliged with an answer "Yes, I believe there was great interest in using the Stargate to gain control of time, but the experiments were never successful. Why do you ask this, Captain Carter?"
"I've uncovered a few clues, feelings mostly, that have me wondering if the overload on the Stargate from two wormholes converging might not alter space - time in such a way as to enable time travel. The wormholes converging... bridging... LINKING!" Sam was very excited now, having a good idea what the nature of the 'linking' device might be, "Teal'c, we need to move quickly. I think I have an idea where the others are!"
"Where?" asked Teal'c greatly intrigued.
"Earth!" was Sam's enigmatic reply. "I'll tell you more later!"
****
SG-3 lead by Captain Carter and Teal'c exited the Gate on P4X357 to a bright sunlit afternoon. They made their way, weapons drawn, to the second Gate - this time being careful not to set off any alarms. Teal'c signaled that he had spotted some activity in a building just over a set of dunes, and the team fanned out to investigate. Coming closer to the stone structure, they could hear voices. Sam took up a position under an open window and listened. The voices were Goa'uld.
"But there is no way visitors to this place could understand the technology and use it at will. They must have stumbled on it, or are experimenting with it much as we are," a calm and reasoned voice was stating.
"What if one of the System Lords has solved the mystery? They would become most powerful if they could use the Place of Eternity," another proposed.
"They were not Goa'uld. The equipment they left behind is unlike anything we've seen before," the third commented.
Peeking inside, Sam noted there were no Jaffa guards and only three men seated at a table. They appeared to be unarmed. She motioned for SG-3 to advance, and quickly the building was surrounded and the people inside held at gunpoint. The men offered no resistance, and seemed truly afraid. Sam approached the seated men warily "We won't hurt you as long as you tell us what we need to know. Members of our team are missing and we think it has something to do with your Stargates here, and that linking device. We are familiar with the Goa'uld, and have been very successful in defending ourselves, so don't try anything foolish!"
One of the men seemed to relax a bit, and then smiled "The only ones behaving foolishly here are the ones running about waving weapons. We are not soldiers, we are scientists. The ways of the System Lords both amuse and terrify us."
Teal'c quickly asked "You are Goa'uld?"
"Yes, Jaffa! We are Goa'uld, but we have set ourselves as a class apart from the warlike ones. It is because of us that the Goa'uld thrive. Ra, Apophis, the others, they would like to believe they are the ones who control the fate of the Goa'uld as well as all the other races they dominate, but we are the ones who provide them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to use the technology they appropriate from other worlds. It is because of us that the Goa'uld advanced enough to begin using the... what did you call them... Stargates? Nice word for them, actually." The man triumphantly finished, as his eyes flashed with excitement over the shocked reaction of his captors. He now addressed Carter, "You are familiar with the Goa'uld? You have not met us. Seems you have no knowledge of us, am I correct?"
Sam chose her words carefully. This would explain so much of what she had long wondered about. The Goa'uld she had encountered did not seem to understand the technology they were using. She had never seen a laboratory, any signs of advanced research or experimentation. The knowledge these scientists must possess intrigued her greatly, but she also knew her trust could not be handed to them. Their motives were clearly those of maintaining and contributing to the Goa'uld planetary domination. "What I know or don't know is not important. You should be aware that I too understand and appreciate the value of science, and I expect your full cooperation in finding my missing teammates."
"Please, sit down and join our discussion," the man offered.
Sam and her team remained standing, guns ready to fire. "No matter" the man sighed, "if you do understand science, you are foremost military in nature. Too bad." The man shook his head and continued "We were just talking about where you might have come from and what might have happened when you left as you did. This world is called the Place of Eternity, both because it seems to hold the key to time eternal and because we have spent an eternity trying to understand it. I am willing to share with you what I know, but I am confident it will do you no good in finding your friends. Whatever race built this technology did not leave enough information behind for us to be able to adjust the controls. We seem able to influence time, but in a completely random fashion. My personal theory is that the race who built the "Stargates" left for a preferred time once they perfected the fine tuning of the time device."
Another one of the men spoke up "I was there when your friends departed. Two men, correct? One seemed as anxious to fire weaponry as you all do! We did not intend to harm them. We were simply going to send them off of this world as they had no business being here."
"Apparently, in their stupidity, they activated the Chappa'Ai at precisely the same time as you activated the one that was linked. It is most likely they have traveled in time, however you will not be able to determine to what time, and there is no way to retrieve them," the scientist in charge explained.
"What you easily call 'stupidity' was lack of knowledge, and you are wrong, I think I do know where in time they have gone to, at least roughly," Sam confidently stated. "The Stargate was functioning during an ancient time on our world, then it was buried for thousands of years, activated briefly about 50 years ago and now is operating in the present time."
The scientist erupted into critical laughter, "That's 'rough' all right. Even if you knew exactly when in the past they were, and you don't, we cannot reproduce the event which caused them to be transported there. The device seems to preselect, and we cannot find a way to alter it. Then again, you have no way to know if it is not the future they have been transported to as well."
"Oh, I think I do know," Sam remarked mysteriously. "Now, I need to see all the information you have on the alien device, then we'll send back to my world for some computer analysis." She stopped talking as she noticed the man shaking his head, no. "What? You will not help us?"
"We certainly will help you. It is mutually interesting to work on the linking device. But you will not return to your world, nor will you communicate with it. When we became aware that you had returned through the Chappa'Ai, the dialing devices were disabled and the Chappa'Ai locked." Instinctively, SG-3 raised their weapons in a threatening response to this news. "Please, put down your weapons. You need our help, right? We will all be working together for a long time, so we might as well get along." Again the scientist smiled, relaxed and put his feet up on the table.
Sam felt she had no choice but to order her team to comply, as she joined the men at the table to ponder the most difficult scientific puzzle of her life.
++++++++++++++
From: Jennifer Goll
Part 10
She stood in the dying rays of the evening sun. Below her, tired workers drudged from the pits of stone and mud. An air of disspiritness hung over them. Faith in their gods dying under their feet. Love turning into hate. Day after day of unending labor. And for what. Temples, pyramids built for the gods but no reward for them, for their devotion and loyalty. What had happened to the benevolence and abundance the gods had given them. When had they become slaves and not a cherished people.
[Mistress!]
She turned to see Bekhat bowing to her.
[What is it, child?]
[The visitors. The Ghaffir have taken them. The golden one, Daniel, has been thrown into a prison in Per-Ra. He demanded to see the most holy one, Ra.]
[Not yet. They are not ready to see him yet.] She turned back to the scene before her. Images of Daniel Jackson flowed through her mind. Images taken from O'Neill's mind Impetuous. Absent-minded. Prone to taking off in pursuit of something that aroused his curiosity. Yes, it appeared he was all of these things. But he and his friend would serve her needs in the end. She turned back to Bekhat. [Do not fear, Bekhat. This was unexpected but not unforeseen.]
****
Daniel paced in his cell. If his sense of time was accurate, an entire day had passed since he and Jack had been separated. Where was Jack now. Was he alright? Was he even still alive? 'No, stop thinking about that, Daniel. Jack is strong. He will be alright.' "I have to get out of here." Suddenly, the cell door creaked open. Daniel whirled around to see Bekhat enter. She smiled up at him. [I have brought new clothes and food.] She gestured to the basket she was carrying.
[How did you get in here?] he demanded.
[The guards let me in. They knew I was your servant. I am to prepare you for the arrival of the High Priest.] She set the basket down. [Come and eat. He will be here soon.]
Daniel sat cross-legged on the ground as she pulled out a loaf of bread, fruit and ale. "Who is this high priest? Will he take me to see Ra?"
Bekhat looked at him in alarm. [You cannot see Ra. Only the priests and gods may approach him. To be anyone else means death. The high priest I speak of is the keeper our past. He serves the temple I was training to join.]
He studied her as he finished eating. She seemed very adamant that he not see Ra. He wondered why. And who, exactly, was this high priest. Maybe he could convince him to take him to Ra. Or at least figure out where Jack had been taken.
Bekhat turned her back as Daniel reached for the clothes in the basket. The golden one was determined to go to Ra. But her Mistress had said that she would prevent this. She sent a brief prayer that Maeti was fairing well with her stranger.
****
"Damn."
Maeti bit her lip as she helped O'neal ease his tattered shirt off. Working in the prison pit had not been kind to him. His back was a mass of red welts and cuts from the overseer's whip. Because he could not understand her language, he could not understand what the overseer wanted him to do. Taken as disobedience, his lack of understanding caused the whip to strike him frequently. The lashes grew deeper and harder the more he failed to obey. If only he understood the way the golden one did, for all his funny accent.
Jack cursed again as Maeti ran a damp cloth over his back, cleaning the wounds. His face, arms and hands were burned red by the sun, increasing his agony. She made a soothing sound as he hissed again. What he wouldn't give for Daniel to be with him now. He only hoped that Daniel was being better treated then he was. From what he had seen today, he was in some sort of prison where hard labor was the order of the day.
He looked out over the land. The sky was dark, the stars shining bright and clear. He could make several of the constellations. Familiar constellations that told him he was on Earth; thousands of years in the past. He sighed. The Stargate had taken him and the team to many places over the past years. Who would have figured that it would also take them to the past. He wondered where Sam and Teal'c were. SGC hopefully, trying to figure out how to find them and bring them home.
'My sidearm!' The thought that had been tugging at his mind for most of the day finally became clear. Where was his weapon. He had had it most of the day but it seemed to have disappeared during one of the frequent disagreements with the whip. Ignoring the pain in his body, he twisted around to look through what was left of his clothes. Nothing. It wasn't here. Dammit, where was it. If the natives had it, no telling what would happen.
[O'neal.]
He turned to look at her. She held a bundle of cloth. Pulling one corner free, she uncovered his gun. Jack took it from her. Turning it over in his hands he examined it. The safety was still on. But other than a coat of dust it appeared to be fine. He glanced at Maeti. She returned his glance calmly. For some unexplained reason, he felt that he could trust her. Hesitating a moment longer, wondering all the while why he trusted her, he gave the gun back to her. She wrapped it up again and placed it in the basket she had brought with her. Throughout the day, she had been near him, bringing him water when he needed it and a soothing touch after a punishing session with the overseer. When the prisoners had laid down their tools she had took him to this secluded spot, not too far away from the other prisoners' sleeping area.
Suddenly, a spasm gripped him. Jack cried out as pain swept over him from his injured back. Maeti laid a cool hand on his shoulder, offering him comfort as he writhed in pain. She could do no more for him. She didn't have any herbs to ease the pain. Softly, she began to sing, hoping it would help.
A deeper, feminine voice joined her. Gasping, she looked up to see her Mistress.
[So our visitor has had a hard time.] She moved to Jack's side. "Hush, O'Neill. The pain will soon be gone." As she spoke, the jewel in her hand glowed. His muscles relaxed under its glow, flesh partially healing.
Jack groaned. The pain in his back was subsiding. He rolled over to look up at the woman kneeling beside him. His mouth dropped open in shock. Her eyes were glowing. "You're a goa'uld!" He jerked away from her, forgetting that she wouldn't understand him.
She merely smiled at him. Then it hit him. She had spoken to him in English. "How can you understand me? English wasn't spoken when you guys were first here."
"I learned it from your mind." She replied. "The night you first came here. Do not worry, I have no plans to harm you. I have need of you. However..." Her voice trailed off as she studied him. "I think it is best that you remain here for now." Quickly, before he could react, she raised her palm to him. The red glow held him in place, froze his muscles. Her voice came to him from a distance. Whispering in his mind what she wanted him to do. Watch. Learn. Plan.
Maeti looked at the unconscious man then up at her Mistress. Uncertainty shone in her eyes.
With that she walked into the night, the darkness swallowing her whole.
****
[Bah. Pathetic. You are no more fellahin then I am the god Ra.]
The old man walked around Daniel, examining him from head to toe. He seemed to dislike what he saw. Daniel looked at Bekhat, who stood off to one side. She merely looked back at him. He sighed. No help there. The old man, or rather the high priest, came to stand in front of him.
[No wonder you were thrown in here. Demanding to see the most holy one. But for the Ghaffir to take you as a fellahin does the fellahin a grave insult.] He looked Daniel up and down again. Daniel tried hard not to fidget. He had not felt like a lowly undergrad student being dressed down by the top professor in Egyptology since his first year in university.
[You are a foreigner from a distant land, are you not?] Daniel started at this statement. Before he could answer, the priest was walking around him again. [It would certainly account for your sheer arrogance in assuming you would be allowed to see the most holy one.]
[I am a scholar, here to learn more about your country.] Daniel answered, grasping at the cover the priest had inadvertently given him.
[A scholar, eh. Perhaps. But you are too young, too impetuous. An apprentice is more like it.] The priest looked at him thoughtfully. [If you are really here to learn, I have need of a scribe. You do understand our written word, do you not?]
[Yes-s-s.] Daniel stuttered.
[Good. You will apprentice with me. As I am sure Bekhat has told you, I am keeper of the past. This means I maintain the records of our glorious past in our library, near the city of Ra. You will help me transcribe those records that are decaying. Do you think you can do that? ]
An ancient library containing the total past of Egypt? And he was going to work in it? Daniel was in shock. Not only was he in his favorite time period, but he was going to be able to study it up close.
Outside, in a building near the prison, she smiled. What better way to distract a scholar from the present than to lose him in the past records of the past he so dearly loved.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Dee Tervo
Part 11
Daniel spent days working in the ancient library. The High Priest treated him very well; daily he was rewarded with food and luxurious sleeping quarters. Bekhat told him Jack was being cared for, so he lost himself in studies of present time antiquity. Copying the scrolls for the priests, he used reeds and papyrus, but he had managed to salvage a few pens and used these to take detailed notes for himself on all he had read.
He had perfected his ability to speak ancient Egyptian, his accent almost gone - and with it his desire to return to the present had vanished as well. It was replaced by his quest for knowledge and the steadily increasing feeling that he could be instrumental in the rebellion against Ra. The High Priest continually praised Daniel, certain his choice for a scribe was a good one. Occasionally, messengers from the Most Holy One would inquire about the stranger, expressing Ra's curiosity to meet him and learn what he knows, but the Priest protected Daniel and sheltered him away. Life was truly good. Daniel knew he was born for this, and before he realized it, three weeks had passed.
Bekhat watched as the golden scribe, as she liked to call him, worked tirelessly. He would glance up at her once in awhile, smiling - telling her of some "new" discovery he had made. He never spoke of family, home; it was as if he came from another world entirely. He did, however, remain concerned about his friend and was once again asking her about O'neal.
"When will you take me to see my friend? I know you tell me he is well, but there are some things I need to talk with him about," Daniel asked her.
Bekhat responded reassuringly, "Do not worry so of him. My Mistress has brought him into her Temple to train. He no longer labors in the pit and it seems as if the servants of the Mighty One have forgotten about him."
Daniel asked once again, trying to remain patient "It's important that I speak with him. Could you ask your mistress for me if it would be possible to arrange a meeting?"
"If it will soothe your mind, I will ask." Bekhat felt great affection for this golden scribe, and could deny him nothing, although he rarely asked for anything, often trying to do things for her. His ways were strange indeed. She made her way down the corridors of the stone library, when she heard a commotion behind her. There was shouting and a pained cry - it sounded like her master! Running now, she returned to his room to see an assembly of Horus guard encircling the golden one, led by the High Priest himself! The Priest was angrily waving a collection of scrolls in the air, as her master was being forced to kneel at his feet, the point of a Horus guard staff holding him there. The golden one was in such pain, but she could see no injury. What had happened? Her heart pounded in fear as she slipped unnoticed to the back of the room.
The High Priest was shrieking and screaming now "What manner of writing is this? Are you a spy from a far off place? Or do you serve a god who opposes the Mighty One? Speak now or I will command the guard to break your other hand!"
Daniel knew he didn't have time to think of a believable explanation. The High Priest had found his notes, written in English - who had he written them for? The pain in his writing hand was intense - the guard had burst in grabbed him by the arm and slowly crushed his hand. "I am not a spy! What place greater than this could I have come from? And, I serve no gods of this place." He instantly knew he'd chosen his words poorly; as the Priest commanded - the guard flipped him onto his back and pressed his foot at Daniel's throat. He struggled to breathe - to stay conscious.
The High Priest was fearful now that he had brought an enemy of Ra to the Holy City; he must act quickly "You do not serve the Supreme Lord? I had dismissed the fellahin accounts of you coming through the Chappa'Ai - I knew you were not a god. Now these strange writings and this magical device" he held up a pen "tell me you come from a place of the gods. I have decided, you are now ready, it is time for you to see your Supreme Lord!"
'This is not as it should be' thought Bekhat. 'I must tell the Mistress' She continued to watch, too afraid to move, as the Horus guard yanked on Daniel's robes and pulled him - coughing and wheezing - back to a kneeling position.
The Priest spoke venomously into Daniel's face "What god do you serve? Apophis?" Daniel could only shake his head 'no'. "You are an ungrateful infidel! An enemy of the Supreme One!" the Priest shouted, striking Daniel with a hard slap across his face. "I will tell the Most Powerful One that you have been chosen as a child of the gods. It will not matter where you are from before." The Priest grinned wickedly, "You wanted so much to see Him? Now you will know Him very well."
Daniel was sick. Was the High Priest talking of making him a host? He moved to help Bekhat as he saw the Ghaffir dragging her off. This was met with a kick to his stomach, causing him to fall on the floor, clutching his broken hand to his side. As he was also dragged off, he heard the Priest order Bekhat to be brought to the Temple of Ra where she would dance and sing for her god's pleasure. He found himself returned to his prison cell and shackled to the wall by his broken hand. The throbbing pain would not ease. His feelings of hatred toward the Goa'uld intensified there in the pained darkness.
****
Sam felt strangely comfortable in the company of these alien scholars and scientists. They had allowed her to send a few messages back to SGC, but she imagined General Hammond was none too pleased at the thought of his missing team members. She never allowed herself to forget who and what these scientists were, but their knowledge astounded her. It had been exactly 22 days and six hours since the team had been separated. Very little progress had been made toward finding them.
Now, as she stared at all the diagrams, notes, and inscriptions - a thought came to her. 'What if the process of time travel required not only two functioning gates, but two linking devices as well. That could explain why there appeared to be no way to set the time coordinates and they seemed totally random. If you attempted to travel to another world, in another time, you would gate to a time when there was a linking device present. If Katherine's necklace were a possible clue that Jack and Daniel were in ancient Egypt at the time of Ra, perhaps Ra possessed one of these devices.' She hurried to bring her ideas to the others. If this were true, it should be easy to repeat the process and return to the same period of time her teammates had traveled to. The problem remained, however, of how to return to the present. What if the second gate had not yet been constructed on Earth? So much remained to be figured out and tested. Constantly she was tormented by worry: what if it was already too late to save Daniel and the colonel? What if it was not possible to find them? And what if, in trying so desperately to rescue her team, she also gave the key for time travel to Earth's greatest enemy? Even the lives of her two closest friends could not be ransomed at that great of a price.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Jennifer Goll
Part 12
[You dare to defy me!]
The High priest cowered before her. Rage rolled from her in waves. Her dark eyes burned through him.
[Mistress. The strange tools he had. The writing on these papers. He is a spy from one of the other gods. He came through the chappa-Ai. I felt it was my duty to have the Ghaffir take him to the Most Holy one.] He couldn't meet her eyes. Never had he seen her so angry.
[Did you not think that I knew who he was. And where he came from.] She walked away from him. Anger filled her footsteps as she paced. Suddenly, she whirled back to face the priest.
[Do you not serve in my Temple? Did you not pledge to obey me and to honor me when you took the oath of High Priest? By calling in the Ghaffir of Ra you openly broke your oath to me. Through your actions you declared that it is Ra, not me, whom you obey and serve.] She moved closer to him.
[Priest. First and foremost, you serve me. Not Ra. Me. When I ordered you to take him as your apprentice I expected you to obey me. No matter what strange things he did. To call the Horus guard to imprison him is a clear violation of my orders.] She tipped his head up to meet her eyes. [You defied me. For that, you will pay dearly.] Her eyes began to glow. She placed her palm on his forehead.
[You will no longer serve in any temple. I strip you of your abilities to read, to write and to speak. You will always remember that you were once in an honored position. Even as age dims your mind. You will remember that once you could read and write and the glories and power that knowledge gave you. Further, you are to wander the streets as a beggar, silent and illiterate until a ripe old age.]
He collapsed to the ground as she moved away. Guards silently emerged from the shadows. They picked him up and carried him away. He would be left on the streets to begin his new life.
She stood in the balcony overlooking the city. Anger blinded her to everything around her. Betrayed by her own High priest. Daniel in the hands of Ra's Ghaffir. As a entertainer in Ra's court, Bekhat would be safe. She would have one of her spies in the court watch over her. As for Daniel, she could not help him right now without exposing herself and her plans. He would have to stay where he was. With any luck, he would not be killed.
As for his friend, Jack. Ah, Jack.. She smiled at the thought of him. Handsome and determined. But more important, a military man, with its cunningness and training ingrained in him. He was safe where he was in the prison pit with Maeti to watch over him. She wondered how he had reacted the morning he woke up and could fluently speak Egyptian. Laughter bubbled out of her. Shocked, undoubtedly. Confused and more than a little concerned about who had been playing in his mind. He would not remember her until she was ready for him to remember.
Gradually, the city came into focus for her. Her anger and betrayal had subsided, although not forgotten. Plans could be changed, they could always be changed. The men's arrival to this time was a gift. Had they not arrived, she would still have carried out her plan. Events had taken a unexpected turn with Daniel's imprisonment; not quite for the better. But she would have her way in the end. There could be no other outcome.
++++++++++++++++++++
From: Dee Tervo
Part 13
There was a somber air about the briefing room. General Hammond had ordered a meeting of all commanders of sg teams, topic of discussion: deciding the protocol for locking out the remote transmitter codes for sg-1 and sg-3. "We are faced with yet another unprecedented situation. It has been 23 days since contact was lost with Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson. Although Captain Carter has maintained intermittent contact between her party and SGC, it has only been through remote messages and repeated attempts on our part to send a MALP have failed. I don't think it's necessary for me to list the possible dangers if the transmitters and codes have fallen into enemy hands. I've called this meeting to determine if now is the time to lock out the transmitter codes - permanently." The General was obviously uncomfortable about even proposing such a drastic measure.
After much heated debate, it was decided that sg-1's code should be locked out immediately, as no one knew the situation of Jackson and O'Neill. Captain Carter would be given one more week, then at 30 days precisely - since the 'event' on P4X357, the remote code for sg-3 would also be locked out.
Captain Morse from sg-6 voiced what every one else did not want to consider "Sir, am I correct in my understanding that, as of now, if Col. O'Neill or Dr. Jackson do manage to free themselves and dial home - even if they enter their remote code - the iris will not open?"
Capt. Morse continued "Sir, they won't have any way of knowing this. They will enter the Stargate from where ever they are and that will be the last ride they ever take." No one responded to the Captain's remark. It just hung in the air for all to reflect upon, as the General dismissed them and they went about their duties.
The General returned to his office and sunk back in his chair when his speaker calmly announced "General, sir, sg-1 code locked out."
"God help them," Hammond breathed.
****
Daniel had not slept well, perhaps not at all. He was unable to sit on the floor as his hand was chained too high on the wall, so instead he leaned against the wall - trying to press himself into it and get a precious bit of rest. He had managed to tear off a section of his robe and bind his hand, but it was of little help - the throbbing pain continued mercilessly. He was so thirsty. Maybe they were going to let him die there. Occasionally he had slipped into a delirium, seeing images of Sam - working to find them, Jack - probably in worse shape than he was, Sha're - smiling, encouraging him to hold on, and once he saw the image of a goddess - a beautiful woman with glowing eyes, calling him to serve her. Whoa, where did that come from?
He tried to clear his head and concentrate. How long had he been imprisoned? Now it was early morning, he could hear the sounds of people moving about. Some were excitedly talking about the High Priest. Daniel strained to hear and at once couldn't believe what he translated. It seems the Priest disappeared not long after having him arrested, and a few people thought a new beggar on the streets bore an uncanny resemblance to the High Priest. In hushed tones the voices were talking about a power mightier than Ra, and that if they continue to serve Ra a terrible fate will come upon them. One woman stated what Daniel feared most - the new stranger must be a powerful enemy of Ra, come to destroy all those who believe in Him.
Daniel knew Ra would have spies in the crowd, and tried to prepare himself for what must be coming next. He would no longer be brought before Ra for entertainment - he would be presented as an enemy. His planning was interrupted by loud noises outside his door; 'This is it,' he thought and prepared himself for the worst.
Two Ghaffir entered and roughly unchained him. Knowing how they enjoyed inflicting pain, Daniel fought back the urge to cry out and allowed himself to be pulled along without a fight. Two Horus guards and more Ghaffir joined the procession. They walked a great distance, miles through the sand. Daniel was so weak now, exhausted and thirsty - his delirium returned - more images of the beautiful and powerful woman. "Yes," he weakly moaned "Yes, Mistress, I will serve you, tell me how" then he collapsed to his knees.
One of the Horus guards, helmet lowered, approached Daniel "What god do you serve? Do you speak of The Supreme Lord? This night you will see Him, but you must be made ready."
An inner strength, unknown even to Daniel, began to take hold of him. He rose to his feet and stared defiantly into the Horus guard's eyes. He was certain he saw a flicker of fear as the Horus returned his stare. "I will not be made to serve your god, and if you continue to follow him it will mean your destruction as well! I have been to places you cannot imagine. I know the future - your future - and I know of powers even Ra..." The mention of Ra's name was forbidden, and reflexively the Ghaffir attacked Daniel and knocked him unconscious.
****
Ra sat in silent contemplation. He had ordered the removal of the strange device from the Chappa'Ai, and it now sat before him. He studied it and wondered if the device had somehow brought forth the stranger. Were not there two strangers? He would send spies to find the location of the other. Things in this world were not going well. Those who served him grew restless, almost defiant. Perhaps the stranger would bring him knowledge he needed to strengthen his power. How best to gain this knowledge. The High Priest had determined the stranger should become a host. Yes, this was possible, but there were other ways, unpleasant though they were, to take knowledge from such as these. Ra was amused. The strangers were interesting puzzles indeed.
****
"Off world activation, sir! SG-1's code, but no incoming travelers, yet," the Gate technician announced. All eyes at SGC were on the closed iris of the Stargate.
****
"Colonel, sir! Something terrible is happening! We had just attached the new piece to the artifact, when the whole thing began to shake and a huge blast of some kind of liquid... no... light... no... energy-liquid-light came out of the thing, then, well sir, you won't believe what happened then!" People were running in all directions, alarms blaring.
Sam felt herself falling as she exited the Gate. She was aware there was some sort of ladder or set of steps at the base, but she didn't have time to react to them and climb down, she simply tumbled down the entire length of them. She found herself sprawled at the feet of some very confused military men. It looked like Earth, but when?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Jennifer Goll
Part 14
The sun shone merciless above him. The desert stretched out to infinity, sand shimmering under the sun's rays. In the near distance, the half completed form of a pyramid rose out of the desert.
Jack paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Four weeks had passed since he had been in this hellhole. Daily, he and the other prisoners toiled. They carved huge blocks of rock out of the land; pulling them across the sand under a hot sun. Through sweat and blood, they were building a pyramid for the gods. Had Daniel been here, he would have been awestruck by the reality of watching an actual pyramid being built. But he wasn't here and Jack was growing more worried and frustrated as the days passed. His servant, Maeti had said that Daniel was being well cared for. Jack didn't buy that for one minute. The last day or so, a worried look had clouded Maeti's face. She wouldn't tell him what was wrong. Only that her Mistress was looking after them. Some Mistress, to leave her followers in this hell.
Then there was the unexplained fact that he could now fluently speak Egyptian. When he had awoken after his first day here, he had discovered this fascinating new ability. To complicate matters, the whiplashes on his back had been partially healed. He didn't like it at all. Someone, undoubtedly this Mistress, had been messing with his head. And messing with his mind was not a very good way to endear herself to him.
A whip cracked over his head. Jack jerked around to see the head overseer behind him. The man was riding a black horse. Grinning maliciously at Jack, he snapped the whip again, just missing Jack's face. Jack gritted his teeth and turned back to his work. Ever since his first day here, the overseer had taken great pains to harass him. From overheard comments from the other prisoners, the overseer was very skilled with the whip and took every opportunity to show off. Jack made every attempt to try and avoid him. Maeti's presence also help to divert some of the flack. She was the only woman in the prison and seem to come and go as she pleased. She claimed that her Mistress protected her and would punish anyone who would harm her. Since she was Jack's servant, some of that protection seemed to encompass him as well.
****
They were closing in on him. First Daniel was imprisoned by her former High Priest. Now, Ra's Ghaffir were on the point of discovering her other gift from the future. This would not be tolerated. She sat down in front of the pool of water. Staring into the calm waters she softly spoke a name. [Maeti]
****
"Oh hell."
There were Jaffa approaching them. More important, they were the Horus Guard from the looks of their headpieces and armor. Jack ducked behind one of the blocks of rock littering the base of the pyramid. Deep down, he knew they were looking for him.
He peeked around one corner. His fellow prisoners were being rounded up and taken to the guards. He had to get out of here. One look at him and they would have him. Weeks under a brutal sun had darkened his skin, but not as dark as a native Egyptian. But where could he go. Nothing but sand and thirst existed. Without water or provisions of some sort he would not survive very long.
[Oneal!]
He turned to see Maeti hurrying towards him. She carried a heavy bundle of cloth over one arm. As she said this, she pulled a hooded robe from the bundle. She donned an identical robe, leaving the hood down.
[Where exactly can we go. There is nothing but miles of desert. The guards are to heavily armed to overpower.]
[My Mistress has told me where to go.] She glanced at the guards. They were nearing the end of the prisoners and growing restless. [We have to hurry.]
Jack hesitated. Maeti, he felt he could trust. But her Mistress was another matter entirely. Especially after she had been wandering through his head.
[Stubborn O'Neill. Who do you think has kept you from Ra this long?] The voice in his head was feminine and familiar. [Follow Maeti. She knows where to go. Trust her.]
Maeti was already ahead of him. Sighing, he followed her. She was heading towards the entrance to the pyramid. Catching up to her where she was waiting impatiently, he saw the guards finishing up their inspection. One of them was talking to the head overseer.
[Hurry Oneal. They are going to search the area for you now.] She tugged at his robe.
[In there?]
She was leading them into the darkened chambers of the pyramid.
[Over there. He is the one you want.]The overseer's voice rang out.
Jack tossed a quick glance over his shoulder then entered the entrance after Maeti. Inside, torches light up the darkness. The cool air was a blessing after the sun's deadly heat. As they hurried down the long tunnel, deeper into the pyramid, Jack could hear the heavy footsteps and clanking armor of the Ghaffir behind them. The tunnel sloped downwards. Suddenly, Maeti darted left, into another, smaller tunnel. The torches were spaced less frequently, the darkness more encompassing. Even without the light, Maeti seemed to know exactly where they were going.
[Stop!]
A burst of light briefly lit up the area. Jack stumbled and fell, his side burning. His hand came away wet. Pain lanced through him. The staff weapon had caught him on his lower right side.
[Oneal!] Maeti tugged at him. Several more staff weapons fired. Rocks fell from the ceiling. A faint tremor flowed through the ground. [Please, you have to get up. Just a little further to go.] With both of them pushing and pulling, he managed to get to his feet. Blackness was beginning to cloud his vision. The pain in his side was intense.
The guards were almost on top of them. The ground shook beneath them, the intensity growing. Maeti looked ahead. So close. They were almost there. An energy burst shattered the rock in front of her. She screamed as a piece hit her in the face.
[Look out!] Jack shoved Maeti to the ground, throwing his body over hers as a large chunk of the ceiling came crashing down on them.
The pyramid shook as the earth rocked violently . Half finished pillars crashed and broke apart. The remaining Ghaffir struggled up the tunnels to the entrance. Walls crashed down upon them. Outside, from a safe distance, the overseer watched in horror as the pyramid collapsed into itself. Layer upon layer shattering under the fury of the earth.
"Jack!" Daniel woke up from his delirium. Fever shook his body. His heart was racing. He had been dreaming. Walls falling, the earth shaking, and his friend being buried under tons of rock. A dream. It was just a dream. But a sick feeling in his stomach told him differently.
A game piece toppled over on the board. Ra looked up from the game, feeling the distant tremors race through his feet. He looked out the window, seeing only the sights of the city, but feeling the release of power.
A cloud of dust hovered over the ruins of a pyramid. The air was still, almost silent.
Even the birds were quiet.
July, 2001 © 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.