Chapter 14
Daniel followed Sam once again through the brush, trying desperately to avoid making any unnecessary sounds. He listened for Leske and Janet, but was relieved to find that they had already gone their own way and hidden themselves.
As they got closer and closer to the camp, Daniel could begin to make out voices again. The gruff, serious orders being given from one Jaffa to another, and Daniel focused all of his attention on staying with Sam, trusting her to take a path free of obstacles.
When they arrived at the clearing, Sam stopped and turned toward Daniel, silently drawing her Zat. Getting her message, Daniel did the same.
"You get the Colonel, while I go for Teal'c. Don't hesitate to fire, Daniel," Sam whispered. Daniel nodded, accepting that casualties in this situation were a necessary evil. Sam nodded back. They were about to head out, when Sam turned back to him, eyes wide.
"Daniel?" she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Be careful. Please." Daniel smiled at her, reassuringly, and they both turned their attention to their imprisoned teammates.
Daniel wished he could keep an eye on Sam as she skittered over toward Teal'c's cage, but he knew it was important for him to pay attention to his own task. Jack. Have to get Jack.
He moved quietly out of the brush that had been hiding him, and began running toward Jack's cage. He was aware of two guards keeping watch over each cage, and stopped just out of their lines of sight. He knelt down and took aim with his Zat, checking first to make sure that Sam was in position as well. From her location across the clearing, Sam gave a slight nod to show him that she was ready.
In the same moment, Sam and Daniel both opened fire, emitting two shots each, downing all four guards. Daniel could see Jack's head jerk up in surprise at the sounds. The young man couldn't stop a small smile from creeping to his lips at the sight of his best friend alive and relatively well.
Daniel stood up and ran the short distance to Jack's cage. crouching down next to it, he immediately began to examine the rather complicated-looking lock on the door.
"Hi, Jack," he said, barely sparing a moment to look up from his work.
"Daniel," Jack responded, dryly. His negligible response made Daniel look up.
"Uh, Jack?"
"Yes, Daniel."
"You're uh… you're not surprised to see me?" Daniel said, puzzled. Jack smiled. The most sincere smile that Daniel had seen directed toward him in a very long time.
"Are you kidding? I'm convinced you've got more lives than Apophis. You can tell me all about it later, but now, quit messing with the lock, and just go get that staff over there."
Daniel blinked, confusion gracing his features. Jack sighed. Death hadn't changed Daniel one bit.
"Shoot the damn lock *off*, Daniel," he clarified, nodding his head in the direction of one of the Jaffa.
"Oh! Right!" Daniel shook his head, cursing his occasional lack of common sense, and ran to pick up the staff. This was going to be a lot louder than those Zat blasts.
He glanced quickly over at Sam, who had picked up a staff weapon of her own, and gave a little nod. She nodded back, and they fired simultaneously. The locks blew off, and lights went on all over the camp. Daniel ran for Jack's cage to help him open the door. Jack struggled to his feet, and noticing the trouble he was having, Daniel moved immediately to support the battered man with an arm around his waist.
Jack gratefully accepted the help, and the two men ran as fast as they could, as bursts of fire rained around them. They ducked and weaved their way to the relative safety of the forest.
* * * *
It didn't take long for Sam to decide that she should have had Daniel go after Teal'c and get the Colonel herself. Teal'c was not in prime condition, and she noticed it the second he tried to stand up. While his symbiote must have been working on healing the damage… he had been performing kel-no-reem when she approached his confines… there was plenty of damage to be healed.
Sam did her best to support Teal'c as they ran for the forest, while Teal'c worked at keeping himself upright and supporting his own weight.
Staff blasts hit the ground all around them, and even a few impacted with the trees at the edge of the clearing. And the Jaffa's aim was improving with every bolt.
Sam couldn't help but start smiling with relief when she heard the repeated reports of P-90 rounds firing from somewhere in the trees. Janet and Leske. The staff blasts subsided some, and Sam's optimism forced her to imagine the Jaffa in the camp behind her dropping like little flies. Granted, she seriously doubted that either Janet or Leske had that great of aim, to be able to shoot them out one by one, but the rain of bullets must have at least forced the Jaffa to find cover.
Sam spared a glance behind her and gasped. Optimism might be more fun, but pessimism usually got one closer to the truth. The Jaffa were regrouping. Teal'c looked back as well and urged the Major on with a slight nudge, directing more of his own energy into their harried flight.
Carter allowed herself only a moment of relief as they made their way into the trees.
* * * *
"Shit, shit, shit! Time to go, Leske!" Janet shouted as the bolts from many, many staff weapons grew closer and closer to their *formerly* hidden position, silence no longer being an issue. Both women hastily drew their guns into their bodies and got up, trying not to stumble over the debris they displaced when they moved.
Janet firmly decided as she ran as fast as she could, lungs burning and legs cramping, that she would *never* envy the SG-Teams again. Give her a nice, cozy infirmary any day.
In fact, as a bolt of searing heat bit into her hip, she decided that she would just about sell her soul for a nice, cozy infirmary.
Janet's first instinct was to scream as she fell gracelessly to the forest floor, but her voice caught in her throat, and it came out as more of a distressed squeak. "Janet?" Leske said, noticing that her companion was no longer behind her. Rather curious, Janet took a peek at the damage while Leske ran back to help her. It really wasn't that bad, contrary to the intense pain it was causing. She sighed as she realized that the bolt had merely grazed her.
Leske reached her within seconds and leaned down to help the Doctor back to her feet, ducking unconsciously as another blast barely missed her head. "You okay?" she shouted over the din. Janet looked up.
"Uh, yeah. Fine, fine," Janet responded. They had more important things to worry about than a little burn. She scrambled to her feet and continued stumbling through the brush, her only thought becoming reaching the Gate.
* * * *
As their progression brought them closer to the gate, the Colonel was able to take some of the burden off of Daniel. Jack had felt Daniel falter once or twice, but he never lessened his hold on his friend. Jack had a million questions running through his mind, not the least of which regarding Daniel's ascension; but now was neither the time nor the place for them.
"Ow, Jack!" Daniel cried as he felt Jack pinch the tender part of his inner arm. "What the hell did you do that for? Ow!" With no time to stop and rub the minor wound, Daniel did a quick turn towards Jack.
"Just checking to see if you were solid. Not some white wispy thing, Danny-boy. Sorry."
Daniel was about to comment, when Jack pulled him up short so they wouldn't slam into the halted bodies of Sam and Teal'c. Teal'c looked slightly better than when he had been freed from the cage. His eyes met Daniel's and he bowed as much as his injuries would permit. "You are looking better, DanielJackson."
"Thank you Teal'c…I wish I could say the same for you."
"My symbiote will take care of healing me."
"I truly missed…"
"As I have missed…"
"Enough of this reunion crap… Carter, what is it this time…Plan A?"
"Actually, sir, no time for questions or answers, Big Brother is watching."
Jack spun around, eyes upwards. "Huh, Carter?"
Sam exhaled. "We really have no time for a full explanation at this time. Just think 1984, sir."
"Why? What happened in 1984?"
"Sir, just trust me please." She pleaded, rolling her eyes. "We are rendezvousing with Janet and Leske at the gate. Now Colonel, it is imperative that you keep your voice…."
"Janet…Janet? What the hell is Fraiser doing here and who is Neste?"
"Leske, Jack…promise to fill you in later. Not now." Daniel shut his eyes in discomfort, Jack noticed obviously in pain.
"Daniel…something I should know about?"
Sam looked with abject horror at Daniel. She couldn't afford for him to lose consciousness now. They needed to get to the Stargate to find…."There Daniel," she said, pointing to an outcropping of trees to her right. "There're Leske and Janet." She placed an arm around Teal'c to assist him, but was waved off.
"My symbiote has repaired much of the damage, MajorCarter. I am able to walk unassisted." Thankfully, she handed him the staff weapon she carried and drew her weapon. Jack refused assistance from Daniel, who actually looked like he could use the assistance himself. He relieved Daniel of his staff weapon. Suddenly, another thought dawned on him.
"Shit…Jacob. Carter, your dad…"
"Is not here, Colonel." Sam shuddered, realizing that Sorit's body still lay at the base of the DHD.
As the group neared the clearing with the Stargate, Jack waved his staff at Daniel. "We'll cover you, make a run to the DHD and dial home."
"Home?" Daniel questioned. "Umm…Sam?"
"Later, Daniel." The complete SG1 rounded the gate, approaching it along the right side of the tree line. Prodding Daniel, Sam motioned for him to run towards the DHD while they covered him along with Janet and Leske.
"Leske…" He hissed. "What am I dialing to get us off this planet, back to the SGC Environment?"
"Dial like you are dialing earth…" Leske answered.
"Huh? I'm not sure I understand."
Leske grabbed his arm impatiently. "Daniel, we have no time for me to explain the logistics to you *now*, just dial earth."
Daniel took off at a sprint, making it to the DHD without shots being fired. Talin may have called off his Jaffa but he had definitely started playing with Daniel's neurofilter again, as the pain increased in intensity.
Daniel put in the glyphs for earth, and was up to the 4th symbol when a staff blast hit the ground to his left, answered by numerous reports from his friends' weapons at his right. He bent for a moment, taking refuge behind the DHD, then continued with his dialing. With his hand raised to hit the crystal in the middle, the DHD exploded, sending him tumbling to the hard ground. He had the foresight to turn on his stomach and cover his head as pieces of the DHD rained upon him. Daniel turned over slowly and watched in mock horror as the planet melted around him, his companions, and the Jaffa they were battling. The players of the game were left standing in a cavernous room, surrounded by walls covered with voluminous wires.
Before he lost consciousness, even from forty feet away, Daniel could hear Jack expunge, "Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!"
* * * *
Daniel slowly opened his eyes to see his friends bending over him, expressions of concern apparent on their faces. "I *so* did not need that," Daniel said, adjusting his glasses. Moaning, he brought his hand up to massage his already aching head. He gently pushed Janet's hands away as she attempted to go into Doctor mode. "I'm really fine, I just had the wind knocked outta me. What happened?" he asked, using Teal'c's assistance to pull himself to a sitting position.
Jack snorted. "Jackson luck. Jaffa shoots, Jaffa misses, scores a hit on the DHD. Planet disappears and Jaffa disappear through that door over there. Carter, why is there a door on a planet? And why is there a dead guy next to the DHD, dressed in the outfit Jacob had on? Janet, you have a staff burn on your thigh. Why does Janet have a staff burn on her thigh? NOW will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?!"
"Leske, care to tell…"
"Whoa, whoa…Daniel. Me first, remember your commanding officer."
Carter turned towards Jack, unsure of whether Talin was playing with her filter or not as she answered her CO. "With all due respect, for once, sir, please shut the hell up."
Jack's jaw dropped and, totally chastised, he answered, "Shutting up now, Carter."
Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c listened while Leske gave them the condensed version of SG1's past year, during which time Carter found limited medical supplies in the packs provided by Talin and treated Janet's injuries. Janet kept a watchful eye on Daniel.
"In my head…the bastard has a device in my head?" Jack looked at teammates in horror. "All of our heads?"
"Tell him the rest Leske….the tweaking…tell him now." Daniel demanded, anger flashing in his eyes. Leske proceeded to inform the Colonel of what Talin had done to his and Daniel's friendship. Jack wasn't sure if he should be gladdened by the news that there was an explanation to his change of attitude towards Daniel, or ashamed that a technological device could have such an impact on a friendship that had meant so much to him. There was no time to research the answer to that one just then. The need to get home, to the real earth, needed to take precedence above all.
"Leske…this Environment…what happened to it? Where did it go?" Jack asked.
"Every Environment has two shut off switches. One in the control room which Talin and the technical advisor have privileges to and one in the actual Environment that the players are participating in. Obviously the shut off for this one was hidden in the DHD."
"Obviously," Daniel groaned.
"Leske, where is the main SGC shut off?" Sam asked.
"It's in the control room, but the interface is encrypted. Only Talin has access to it," she replied. Sam nodded her acknowledgement.
Leske leaned down, helping Janet to her feet. "Ready Daniel?" Sam asked, as Daniel got up slowly.
"Let's blow this Popsicle stand." Daniel echoed one of Jack's best used euphemisms.
As they made their way to the door, while covering their six, a glint of metal caught Sam's eye. With a nervous glance she quickly bent down to snag the item which had captured her interest. A Zat…probably dropped in haste from a departing 'Jaffa". Sam slipped the Zat into one of her BDU's multiple pockets. Leske's snapping of fingers brought Sam back to reality as she began remembering something. "Oh, by the way, guys…while your weapons worked in this Environment, they may not work in the SGC Environment." Leske anxiously explained, chewing on her bottom lip. Sam patted her pocket containing the newly acquired Zat, functionable or not, she felt more in control with it in her possession.
"Oh, peachy. This just keeps getting better and better."
Sam took point and Teal'c their six as they exited the door into what looked like… "Jesus…is this the ladies' room?" Jack asked.
Leske did her best to stifle a laugh at how indignant the Colonel was over the situation. Teal'c just kept his eyes straight ahead, though thoroughly embarrassed.
"I'm so stupid…that's it!" Leske said, louder than necessary.
"Sshh!" Sam whispered.
"No you don't understand. The cameras are switched off as soon as the Environment shuts down. There are numerous doors in the Environment, leading to different areas of the SGC…hidden doors. Doors workmen use to travel in and out of a working environment. The cameras are off…the cameras are off in the bathrooms at SGC. No cameras…Talin hasn't a clue where we are."
Jack was still stuck on the bathroom issue. "Privacy…you gave us privacy…Peachy."
"Uummm… not all the time…the cameras in your homes were also in the bathroom…those stayed on."
"Eww, too much information," Jack said. Sam just ducked her head and Daniel turned a bright shade of red on every piece of skin that was exposed.
There was really no time to go into this but Leske couldn't refuse the dig. "An enormous amount of money was made from a magazine full of the bathroom shots; called 'SG1 Exposed'."
Though the situation was dire, Janet smiled when she realized SG1 couldn't bring themselves to even look at each other. Suddenly, she began to laugh. "Janet…" Sam began, with the hint of a smile beginning, soon she succumbed to the laughter. The Colonel even saw the humor in the situation and soon joined them, followed by Daniel. They even received a smile from the normally stoic Jaffa.
The laughter stopped abruptly as Daniel sank to the ground in obvious pain. "Talin is getting really pissed, guys. Can we move this along?"
Janet leaned down in front of him, concern apparent on her face. "Sorry, Daniel. Leske, any ideas?"
Leske closed her eyes in thought. "Daniel…still have the DaD that Talin gave you?"
Eyes closed against the onslaught of pain, he nodded yes.
"I need to use my IHFG to morph and gain access to your records…hopefully they are still in the infirmary. Or, I need access to a computer terminal in the infirmary without anyone knowing what I am doing. Sam and I can leave the bathroom without anyone becoming suspicious, hopefully. We'll get the codes, come back for you, and gain entrance into the real gateroom. I can't think that far ahead. We'll get the codes and then return back here. Janet, let me have your IHFG." Janet removed the device and handed it to Leske. "Janet, you stay and keep on eye on Daniel and the rest of the boys."
Sam stood to join Leske and let the woman attach the device under her uniform. Seething slightly from Leske's calling her team, 'her boys'. Sam clenched her fists in anger, realizing that the terminology was gleaned from her memory. Jack was unhappy that the team was again being split up on an alien world. No matter how much this place resembled SGC, it wasn't home.
He followed Carter to the door. "Carter, I just got my team back together. Let's keep it that way, okay?. Play safely with the aliens."
"I promise, Sir," she said gently, moved by the words usually left unspoken from the Colonel.
Leske adjusted both her and Sam's IHFG's and the remaining members watched the duo morphed into a charge nurse and lab technician from the infirmary. Four pairs of eyes watched and said silent prayers as the bathroom door swung shut.