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Chapter Text

Sha’re knew there was something familiar about the people who had just arrived through the Chappa’ai. From her vantage point in the corner of the great pyramid, she could see they had arrived in sand-coloured uniforms and carried large packs on their backs. She didn’t immediately recognise any of them, but Daniel’s voice drew her attention as he greeted their visitors with an overwhelming familiarity.

“Hello, Jack. Welcome back.” He said, with a hint of confusion in his voice.

She could see her brother walking up to one of their new visitors, and she finally recognised them. They had come from Daniel’s world. What did he call it? Arth? No, that did not sound right. Daniel had described its wonders to her many times during the long desert nights they lay awake stargazing. While she could only imagine it now, she would soon find out what it was really like.

“Skaara!” Jack O’Neill said, pushing through Daniel to reach her brother.

“O'Neill! I did not think to be seeing you again!”

Turning back to her husband, O’Neill began to converse in a much friendlier manner than she recalled him possessing.

“Daniel, how you doing?”

“Uh, good, you?” He stammered, clearly, he had not been prepared to see O’Neill again.

“Much better, now that I see everyone's okay.” O’Neill seemed to calm slightly as he examined the room.

One of the other sand-clad visitors began to make an unusual gesture with his hands, before nudging Daniel’s arm.

“Greetings from Earth, Doctor Jackson.”

Of course! His planet was called Earth.

Daniel smiled, recalling the mission to Abydos the year before and how Ferretti had helped the people he called family.

“Hello, Ferretti!”

It was at this point that Sha’re began to recognise the other members of the team. They were the ones who had helped Daniel and O’Neill defeat Ra. Major Kawalsky handed Daniel a small red object that rustled like a sheet of papyrus in the breeze. Sha’re recalled Daniel had used many similar items of varying colours during his first few days on Abydos, but his supply ran out far quicker than he had anticipated. Sha’re’s foot slipped forward, revealing her presence in the room. Daniel’s gaze shifted towards her and he beckoned her forward.

“Sha're, don't be shy.” He said, extending his arm to welcome her into his embrace.

“Hi, good to see you again.”  O'Neill greeted, extending his hand towards hers. With a quick look of reassurance to Daniel, who simply nodded his approval, she extended her hand to embrace his.

While O’Neill and Daniel conversed, she noticed one of the visitors intently examining the Shal Tek device. Sha’re had not seen this person before, but her intense curiosity reminded her of her beloved archaeologist.

“Amazing. This is what was missing from the dig at Giza. This is how they controlled it! It took us fifteen years and three supercomputers to MacGyver a system on Earth.” She even appeared to speak in the same tone of excitement Daniel did.

“Captain?” O’Neill said towards the newcomer.

“Look at how small it is!”

“CAPTAIN!” He said a little more forcefully, gesturing to Daniel.

Turning to face him, with a sheepish grin on her face, she finally introduces herself, shaking hands with Daniel.
“Oh right, excuse me. Doctor Jackson, I presume. I'm Doctor Samantha Carter.”

“I thought you wanted to be called "captain"?” O’Neill replies, but his question falls on deaf ears.

Sha’re notices a slight change in Daniel’s demeanour. She knows him well enough now to notice how he appears to have deduced something from O’Neill.

“What's going on, Jack?” He asks, knowing there had to be a reason they had arrived so suddenly.

“Six hostile aliens came through the Stargate on Earth. Four people are dead, one's missing.”

Kawalsky moved forward and joined their conversation.
“One of them looked like Ra, Daniel.”

Looking perplexed, Daniel responds defensively. “Well, they didn't come from here. I mean the boys take shifts guarding it 36 hours a day, every day. We'd know if they came through here.”

“Well they came from somewhere, Daniel. I'm gonna have to look around.” O’Neill retorts, moving to wander the cavernous space.

“All right. I think I can help you find out who it was, but, uh, it's going to have to wait until this sandstorm is over. Uh, we were about to have our evening meal. Why don't you join us?” Daniel offers, moving towards the fire in the front of the room.

During the meal, Sha’re giggles. Skaara has given O’Neill some of the drink he had been working to brew over the past few months. It is clear that O’Neill is not used to such a strong beverage, as he continues to cough even after passing the drink to Carter. They even begin to talk of what has changed since Daniel was last on Earth. Eventually, their conversation drifts back to the topic at hand.

“So this…this man who looked like Ra, he must have come through another 'gate.” Daniel informs them.

Carter and O’Neill look at Daniel with equally confused faces.

“What other 'gate? The Stargate only goes here.” Carter responds.

 “Another Stargate?” O'Neill questions, looking to Carter for confirmation.

Rebuking their claims, Daniel replies “No, no, I think you're wrong about that.”

“I was there, we ran hundreds of permutations. It’s just not possible.”  Carter explains.

“But you didn't have what you need. Come on, we’ll show you.” Daniel says, walking over to Sha’re.

“Daniel what are you talking about?” O’Neill questions, moving to turn Daniel around.

“Sha’re? Could you take them to the vili tao an? I need to grab one of my notebooks first. I will meet you there.” Daniel instructs, moving in the opposite direction to their group.

“Bonni wai?” She asks, before he reassures her he won’t be long. Before he goes, she kisses him, unaware that it will be for the last time.  “Goodbye, my Dan’iel.” She says as he departs.

Sha’re leads their team towards the vili tao an, a place Daniel calls the map room. While she is unfamiliar with their way of speaking, Sha’re tries her best to keep up a conversation with them as they make their way across the desert. When they finally arrive, she removes a large torch from the wall, and uses it to light the other torches inside the cavern.

“Dan’iel found the vili tao an around one lunar cycle after you returned to Earth.” She explained, moving closer to the glyphs that lined the walls. As the flames of the torch illuminated the walls, Carter let out a sudden gasp.

“Oh my God. This is amazing. This is the archaeological find of the century.” It was clear that Carter marvelled at it in the same way Daniel had when she had explained the significance of the room to him.

“Daniel had a chance to translate this yet?” O’Neill asks her, gazing around the walls.

“He has tried, but it is not a grouping of words. He believes it to be a chart or map.” Sha’re explained, turning back towards the group.

“Of what?” O’Neill asks.

“Dan’iel believes that each grouping of glyphs contains seven symbols. They all appear on the Chappa’ai as well. I think he believes they are addresses to other Chappa’ai.”

“Uh, I don't think that can be.” Carter replies, further examining the glyphed walls.

“Why is that?” Sha’re asks, confusion clear on her face. Daniel had spent many long nights in this room trying to decipher its meaning. It did not seem appropriate for Carter to discredit his theories when he was not here to defend them.

“Well, because after Colonel O'Neill and his team came back, my team tried hundreds of symbol permutations using Earth as the point of origin, and it never worked.” Carter responded. After a while it was clear that she thought Sha’re did not understand, so she rescinded her response and simply said “Our team tried hundreds of addresses but it never worked”.

“I may not understand every word you use to explain the Chappa’ai, but do not mistake my hesitation to respond for a lack of intelligence. Dan’iel and I tried to find some of the locations from the cartouche, but they did not yield any results. Dan’iel believes these addresses are to other planets in the galaxy that still have Chappa’ai.” Sha’re explained. She noticed Carter was taken a back slightly by her efforts, but she did not seem to mind Sha’re standing up for herself.

“I don’t think so, if they were, we would have found one by now.” Carter replied, dishearteningly.

“Then where did this alien come from?” Sha’re questioned, leaving Carter lost for words.

“I do not know much of the stars, but could they change the way the moon does as it goes through its cycle?”

“OF COURSE!” Carter yelled, spinning around to face Sha’re. “Daniel’s taught you a lot about astronomy hasn’t he?” She smiled this time, looking extremely happy.

“I am right?” She asks, looking between Carter and O’Neill. O’Neill just shrugs and gestures back towards Carter.

“Sort of. According to the expanding universe model, all bodies in the universe are constantly moving further apart.” She began, looking across the walls to make her point.

“So in the many generations since Ra brought our people to Abydos…” Sha’re continued.

“All the coordinates could have changed.” Carter concluded.

“If that is true, why does the Chappa’ai still work between Abydos and Earth?”

Carter began to ramble. “Abydos is probably the closest planet in the network to Earth. I mean the closer they are, the less the difference in relative position due to expansion—the further away, the greater the difference. In a few thousand more years, it won't work between Earth and Abydos either.” Moving further towards the walls she continued. “Right, now with this map as a base, that should be easy. All we have to do is correct for Doppler's Shift. Then I should be able to arrive at a computer model that can predict the adjustments necessary to get the 'gate working again.”

Sha’re was lost but understood that Carter seemed to understand the Chappa’ai even better than Daniel appeared to. She now wondered what was taking him so long. Should he not have been back by now?

Kawalsky and O’Neill glance at each other, before inquiring what conclusion Carter had come to. After confirming that the Chappa’ai can indeed go to more than one planet, Sha’re felt an unusual tension arise within. Daniel was known to take his time but it seemed like this was far too long, even for him. She couldn’t have known at the time, but his tardiness was not of his own volition.

By the time Sha’re leads their group back to the Chappa’ai room, they are met with a truly gruesome scene. Several of her fellow Abydonians are either injured or have been slaughtered and her brother and husband were nowhere in sight.

“DAN’IEL?” She yells, though no one answers her. Running forward, she sees one of her friends lying in a heap on the floor.

“Bolaa! yishsi khipr Dan’iel ?” Sha’re asks, moving to one of the injured.

“So many..” Sha’re does not know of what he speaks.

“So many? What do you mean” She questions, helping him to sit more comfortably.

“It was Ra.” He rasps, voice barely above a whisper as though he might be overheard.

“Ra is dead. Tao qua Ra .” She quietly soothes, confusion evident on her face.

“What’s going on?” O’Neill questions, surveying the damage.

“No…Ra. I saw…he took Dan’iel, he took Skaara…into the Chaapa'ai.” She feels her blood run cold and she steps away from Bolaa. Looking down at her hands, she begins to mumble and tears begin to fall heavily. She had failed to be here to help them. Her brother and husband had been taken from her.

“Bolaa, did you see? Where did they-” She begins, but soon sees her efforts are in vain. Bolaa has already passed on. He is with the ancestors now.

Kawalsky moved forward, looking towards O’Neill for answers. “What's going on? Could there be another Ra?”

“This is my fault.” Sha’re cried in a broken whisper.

Stepping towards her, O'Neill places a hand on her shoulder and brings her closer to him to embrace her in a hug. She leans into his embrace and sobs as he reassures her.

“This is not your fault you hear? None of us could have predicted anything like this would happen today.  We will find whoever did this and kick their asses, okay?” He placates her, though it doesn’t last long. Carter grabs his attention. She’s trying to treat one of their team. It looks like Ferretti has suffered some of the most severe injuries Sha’re has ever seen.

“Colonel Ferretti needs medical attention now!” Carter cries, trying her best to keep him alive.

“You must help him. I will send you back.” Sha’re sniffs, breaking out of O’Neill’s embrace and looking up at him.

“I don’t want to leave all of you here again.” O’Neill says wistfully. “I was supposed to bring Daniel back with us, but now I-” He continues, but it is clear he does not know how to finish.

“I will accompany you.” Sha’re states, a newfound confidence building in her resolve.

“That’s a nice idea Sha’re, but I've got orders.”

“I don't care about your orders, O’Neill. My husband is out there. So is Skaara. I will not abandon them to the gods.” She rebukes, watching as O’Neill considers his options.

Turning back to Carter, he asks “Ferretti might have seen those coordinates. Captain, do you have the video?”. Sha’re is not sure what a ‘video’ is, but Carter seems to understand wholeheartedly. Ferretti attempts to speak, but his condition does not make it easy.

As Sha’re thinks about their ordeal, she recalls what Daniel had said for them to do once O’Neill and his team had returned to Earth. She knows what she must do. While she is not the leader of her village, she has had the most experience with the people of Earth. She begins to gesture to all of her people who are still able to move and brings them closer to her. She knows she must leave soon, so she implores them to listen to her speech.

“Please listen to me. After we have gone through the Chappa’ai you must bury it like Dan’iel showed us.” She is met with resounding rebuttal, it is clear they do not want her to go. “Nobody can use the Chappa’ai until one year has passed. You must cover it with the stones of the ancestors and not allow anything to return. I will try to bring Dan’iel and Skaara home exactly one year from now but if I do not, tell my father to bury the gate for all time. Joa qua ?” She explains, but can not keep the emotion out of her voice. Her people move to hug her, and while she would rather stay with them, she eventually has to break free to help O’Neill and Carter use the Shal Tek to dial Earth.

Her arrival to Earth is not as glamourous as Daniel would have made it seem. Upon stepping through the Chappa’ai, she is met with large grey walls, made of a material she would later know as concrete. A flurry of chaos explodes in the room upon their arrival as several people in white uniforms take Ferretti away on some kind of padded cart. Looking bewilderedly at her surroundings, she sees more people dressed in blue enter the room. A devastatingly loud creaking sound makes her jump, before Carter simply explains it is their ‘iris’ that works to stop anything coming through the gate.

O’Neill seems perplexed and begins to speak to a man in blue who has very little hair. “What the hell’s that, Sir?”  As Sha’re looks closer, she notices the man has a word on his jacket. ‘ Ha-mm-ond’ She notes that might be of great importance, so she decides to ask someone about it later.

“That's our insurance against any more surprises. It's pure titanium, hopefully impenetrable. What happened out there, Colonel?”

“Base camp was hit while we were on recon, sir. Jackson and one of the Abydonian kids were kidnapped.”

“Same hostiles who attacked us?”

“That’s a fair guess”

“Who is this woman?” Hammond asked, gesturing to Sha’re.

“I am Sha’re. Dan’iel is my husband. I want to be on the team that searches for him.” Sha’re says emphatically. Hammond was definitely not pleased by her introduction.

“You're not in any position to make demands, Ma’am.” He replies before moving out of the room.

A few hours later, Sha’re finds herself alone with her thoughts. The doctors at this facility had her examined to make sure she did not bring any pathogens to Earth, but the officials did not know what to do with her. She found herself in one of the endless passages of the base and soon came upon O’Neill, who seemed to be heading towards one of the large numbered doors.

“C'mon, let's get out of here.” He says to her.

“Is that allowed?” Sha’re asks, slightly fearful of Hammond’s reaction.

“Sure, it's not like they tell me what to do all the time.” He replies with a smug look on his face.

Leading her to the elevator banks, O’Neill brings her to his home away from the base. Once there, he offers her a beverage housed in a green bottle that painfully reminded her of the drink Skaara had been brewing back home. Her mind began to wander once more. It must have shown on her face because O’Neill immediately changed the topic of conversation to asking about what happened when they had gone back to Earth.

“We were free.” She began, becoming slightly misty-eyed at the memories. “We had festivals and celebrations to enjoy what we thought was the end of terror. Dan’iel was a hero to us all.” Wiping at a tear that began to stream down her face, she began laughing. “Dan’iel always tried to help us with the chores. Even though he did not know how to complete them. He always made us laugh whenever he tried to grind the yaphetta.” When O’Neill looked slightly perplexed, she clarified “It is a type of grain used to make bread. Have you ever tried to press grains?”

O’Neill could just imagine Daniel bungling something so simple as milling flour. Sarcastically he turned to Sha’re and replied, “I'm trying to kick the flour thing.” But she simply smiled at him.

“Do you have family, O’Neill?” Sha’re asked innocently enough. Based on the stonewalled expression O’Neill gave her, it was clear this may have been the wrong thing to ask. “Forgive me, I did not mean to make you upset.”

“s’okay. I had a son. And a wife. Not anymore though.”

“I am truly sorry O’Neill. I did not know.” She consoled.

After coming to a lull in the conversation, they began to eat some strange new foods before retiring for the night. The next day, O’Neill drove them back to the base, where they attended something called a ‘briefing’ in the large room that overlooked Earth’s Chappa’ai. It was clear by the way the room silenced upon Hammond’s arrival that he was in charge of the team O’Neill had been part of.

“People, what is spoken of in this room is classified as SCI top secret. Colonel, what do we know about these hostiles that we didn't yesterday?” Hammond said, addressing O’Neill with a title Daniel had told her was a rank of some kind.

“Not a hell of a lot, General. The Abydonian boys who survived the attack on the base camp thought it was Ra.”

“I thought he was dead, Colonel. Which is it?” Hammond inquired.

“He is dead. We saw his pyramid explode in the skies above the Chappa’ai.” Sha’re helpfully responds. All eyes in the room suddenly lock onto her, causing her to shrink a little in her seat.

“Then who's coming through the Stargate?” Hammond asked. It may not have been a question of who, but rather what. Sha’re was not sure if she should voice this opinion but chose to anyway.

“Dan’iel believed the gods had returned.”

General Hammond did not look convinced by this statement. Instead, he looked more confused by it than anything else that had been said at their meeting thus far. “What?” He questioned.

“Not the gods of creation. Dan’iel believed that Ra was a creature that had borrowed our belief in the sun god and enslaved us. Dan’iel always thought he was not the last of his kind as he claimed.”

Carter looked at her. It was clear the blonde woman had started to piece together Daniel’s theory from what Sha’re had shared. “So you're saying Ra's not the last of his race after all?”

“Perhaps. I do not know all of Dan’iel’s thoughts.” Thinking more about it, Sha’re recalled a distant memory from when Daniel had first come to her planet. She had brought him to the ancestral cavern filled with the forbidden writings of old. “Our ancestors told tales of Ra taking over a human boy because his race was dying. Could there be more creatures out there doing this?” Her statement seemed to resonate with the General. His face became even more stern than before. He turned over to O’Neill and began to question him in terms Sha’re did not yet understand.

“Colonel, you've had the most experience of fighting this hostile, assuming you have to defend yourself in the field, are you up to it?”

O’Neill looked confident in his reply. “We beat 'em once.”

Turning his attention towards Carter, he implored her with the same conviction as O’Neill. “I'll take that as a maybe. Captain Carter, you're confident that Stargate will take us where we want to go with this new information?”

“Well, they're feeding the revised coordinates into the targeting computer right now. It'll take time to calculate but it should spit out two or three destinations a month.”

Hammond nodded and moved to address the other people in the room. “People, let's not fool ourselves here. This thing is both vast and dangerous, and we are so far over our heads we can barely see daylight. We would all be much better off if the Stargate had been left in the ground.”

“With respect, sir, we can't bury our heads in the sand. I mean think of how much we could learn, think of what we could bring back.” Carter challenged. It was clear the use of the Chappa’ai was something that greatly intrigued her.

“What you could bring back is precisely what I'm afraid of Captain. However, the President of the United States happens to agree with you. In the event your theories pan out, he has ordered the formation of nine teams, whose duties will be to perform reconnaissance, determine threats and if possible to make peaceful contact with the peoples of these worlds. Now these teams will operate on a covert top-secret basis. No one will know of their existence except the President and the Joint Chiefs. Colonel O'Neill?” Hammond explained, turning once again to O’Neill.

“Sir?”

“Your team will be designated SG-1. The team will consist of yourself, Captain Carter…” Hammond began.

“And me?” Sha’re interrupts. It appeared that they had forgotten the reason why she had come with them from Abydos. 

“Mrs Jackson, while your expertise in matters of your own culture and language are well suited to relations between our two planets, I don’t believe it is a good idea for you to go into combat situations.” Hammond explained. Sha’re did have to give the man credit. He was right after all. She was not well trained for combat, but that did not mean she would give up so easily.

“General. I am willing to learn all of what you can instruct me about what I can expect when we travel through the Chappa’ai. Dan’iel is out there. I need to bring him home. While I may not speak all of the tongues Dan’iel could, I refuse to let you stop me from trying. I will endeavour to learn all that I can to help you establish relations with these other planets.”

Hammond softened a little after her speech. “I'll take that under consideration. Major Kawalsky, you will head SG-2.”

Kawalsky looked shocked. “I will?”

Hammond smiled. “Colonel O'Neill keeps telling me it's about time you had a command.”

O'Neill shrugged as Kawalsky looked at him. “I had a moment of weakness.”

Their meeting concluded with the arrival of an airman who informed them that Ferretti was finally conscious. Sha’re was glad the man had survived his brutal injuries. As they filed out of the briefing room, Sha’re was left bewildered once again by the size of the base. Sensing her confusion, Carter strolled up to her.

“This place must be so confusing for you. Come with me, I’ll show you the way.” She said with a smile. It was nice to see Carter again. After Sha’re’s slight outburst at being perceived to be dumber than the people from Earth, it was clear she may have misjudged Carter a little bit. She was simply trying to be helpful in scaling her explanation down.

“I am sorry for my outburst in the star room.” Sha’re apologised. “I was under the assumption that you had thought I was too primitive to understand your Earth science. I do not want others to assume I am less intelligent because I am from a desert society.”

“Oh, I’m sorry too! I only did that because I always have to. Being a scientist in the military means that I’m constantly having to explain things in smaller words because I’m ‘not making any sense’” She emphasised with her arms. It was a common problem it appeared.

“I absolutely did not mean to make you think I thought you were dumb. I just assumed you wouldn’t understand some of the words. I mean English is not your native language, so it stands to reason there wouldn’t be words in your language that mean the same thing, right?”

“Of course. I try my best to understand the words you use on this planet but they are very complex.” Sha’re lamented. She again wished that Daniel was here with her to help her through it. Perhaps it showed on her face, because Carter placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m not anything close to being a language teacher, but I could definitely help you if you get stuck?” She asked with a smile. Her kindness had such an air of warmth to it, it was definitely like Carter and Daniel were cut from the same cloth.

“Thank you Carter.”

“Please. Call me Sam.”

“Thank you. Sam.” Sha’re smiled for the first time in the last day. Moving into the room, Sha’re was amazed by the number of bigger cots that housed patients. She saw very large boxes with moving pictures on them and made a mental note to ask Carter- No - Sam about them later on.

Sha’re saw a bandaged figure sitting in one of the cots. Apparently, it was Ferretti, but to her, he looked more like a mummy being prepared for burial than the man she had seen just hours earlier. He had a strange rectangular object in front of him that had small squares with letters on them and a large piece of glass on top. Sam moved over towards him, moving to release one of the healers from their station.

“I’ll take over now. Thanks.”

O’Neill moves towards the foot of the bed. A calmer expression crosses his face as he sees Ferretti will pull through. “Ferretti, I know you're probably not feeling so hot, but we need something from you.”

Sam examines the strange device in front of Ferretti. “Look's like he's way ahead of you, Colonel.”

Looking at the device, Sha’re can see it contains the glyphs of the Chappa’ai. Remarkably, Ferretti recalls seven glyphs and nods towards O’Neill.

“You saw all seven symbols? This is where they went? You sure?” O’Neill’s question is met with a resounding mumble that solidifies their destination.

Several minutes later, Sha’re is whisked away to a room of clothing that contains many outfits that look similar to the sandy uniforms O’Neill and his team came to Abydos in. She can see there are many types of uniforms for missions. Hues of green, blue, black and a strange combination of all three were on display. Sam politely directs her to the green option, and they begin to change into their gear. Sam hands her a large round object that Sha’re recalls seeing on their heads. It is apparently a combat helmet. The large oval-shaped clear pieces on the front are goggles that are worn on the eyes.

As they walk into the corridor towards the Chappa’ai, Sha’re overhears the stoic Samuels speaking to O’Neill. They appear to speak in whispered tones, but from what she understands, Samuels does not care for the wellbeing of her husband.  

“Colonel I'd like to remind you that rescuing Doctor Jackson is a secondary objective. In the event you fail to notify base camp within 24 hours, SG-2 will scrub the mission and return without you.”

O'Neill looks back towards her, a sympathetic look on his face. “Understood.” He says stoically, evading Samuels’ gaze.

“Not going to happen, Colonel. SG-2 won't leave without you.” Kawalsky notes with great confidence.

Samuels frowns at this but continues to speak. “All right let's confirm transmitter codes. Remember only the right code will open the iris, and if you lose your transmitter, you cannot get home.”

“Understood, sir.” Sam replies, finally re-entering the conversation.

Sha’re looks to the large glass panel above her head. She sees Hammond standing over a small black reed. His voice begins to boom into the room “SG-1, SG-2, if you do not return in 24 hours your remote transmitter codes will be locked out, and the iris will be sealed permanently. At that point there will be no return. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.” O’Neill says, gesturing with a salute. Turning back towards the team, he gives the order to move out.

Although Sha’re has travelled through the Chappa’ai before, this trip feels different. After a few moments, the portal spits them out on a colder planet than Sha’re is used to. She shivers slightly and notes that she is covered in small crystals. Pulling herself to her feet, she realises that the planet is not as cold as she believed. It is warmer than Abydos after the sun sleeps.

She is not the only one who shares the desire for warmth. Kawalsky begins to complain.
“Damn it, it's cold.” When no one answers him, he moves on with a hint of disappointment. O’Neill then orders them to get moving and they begin their large journey.

The Chappa’ai is surrounded by large stone monoliths that have an obvious pattern to them. Perhaps it is a part of their culture? Surveying the planet, Sha’re notices another Shal Tek device and moves to examine it. She notices that the glyphs are all identical to the Chappa’ai on Abydos. However, one symbol is different. In contrast to the Abydos glyph of a pyramid and their three moons, this Shal Tek contains a symbol of a small triangle with intersecting parallel lines. “O’Neill. I have found the seventh glyph required to return to Earth.” She states beckoning him over. O’Neill and Kawalsky come over to the device and she points out the different glyph. It does not take long before they are both disinterested in her finding, as they begin to talk of setting up camp. Sam also becomes involved in their conversation, talking about “claymores” which are devices of some kind. Sha’re will need to become more familiar with their words just to keep up with them. O’Neill then issues a warning to Kawalsky to return home if they are not back within 20 Earth hours.

SG-1 moves off towards the forest trail noted before by one of the airmen. Sam begins to walk alongside Sha’re and begins a conversation with her.

“So, Sha’re, tell me more about Daniel. How did you meet?”

Sha're begins to speak. “Well, my father believed Dan’iel to be a god. I was an offering.” Sam looks perplexed at this.

O'Neill chooses this moment to intervene. “She was a gift.” Sam looks horrified.

Sha’re continues. “I was bestowed to Dan’iel by the elders. Yes.”

“And you were okay with that?” Sam questions. Sha’re can’t respond however, as O’Neill motions for them to take cover. From their vantage point they can see several hooded figures on the trail below them. They wear large cloaks unlike any material Sha’re has ever seen. Each of them hold a large staff and Sha’re realises they could be the elders of this planet. Before O’Neill and Sam can react, Sha’re jumps out towards the figures.

“Oh for crying out loud!” O’Neill exclaims, moving to meet Sha’re on the ridge.

“Hello. We came through the Chappa’ai-” Sha’re begins. Before she can finish her explanation however, the figures begin to bow in front of her and O’Neill. Sha’re moves to lift one of them back to his feet. “You do not have to do that.” She says, with a small note of kindness in her voice.

“Chula a lazla?” One of the figures says. While the language is definitely different to Abydonian, Sha’re notes a similarity between them.

“I believe he wants us to choose.” She is met with a handwave from O’Neill.

“Yeah, yeah, all right whatever. Just ask 'em to take us to the nearest village or town.”

Turning back to their new acquaintances, She says to them “Would you take us to arush? Arush?”

Seemingly convinced, the aliens begin to lead the way. They begin to chant an unknown phrase. “Yah, alla. Chulak. Chulak.”

O'Neill nudges her shoulder. “Chulak, eh?”

Eventually, they come towards a village. The aliens begin to chant once again. The village below them looks fairly ordinary, but to Sha’re it is a marvel. The stone buildings and large roofs are quite an engineering feat. At least compared to the tent-like structures her people called homes. Sha’re wonders if the people of this planet had been instructed by a kinder god than Ra. Rather than large naquadah mines surrounding the settlement, there was nothing but trees for as far as Sha’re could see. She hoped that the people of this planet lived in freedom, but as she would later come to know, they sadly did not. O’Neill moved over towards her now, quipping over his shoulder. “I hear it's nice this time of year.”

Their alien guides motioned for them to keep walking. They came into a large building the colour of the desert ochre and were led inside of it. Once in the room, Sha’re notices large adornments on the wall and many people seated at a large table in the centre. They all appeared to wear silks of many different colours. It is clear, especially from their disregard for the newcomers that they are of high status. It becomes even more clear that they are of great standing and do not suffer the poverties of other worlds when they begin to waste precious food.

“Atuhara a lazla.” Their alien guide announces them. He begins to lead them to the wealthy people and urges them to take the empty seats at the end of the table.

“Why are they treating us like this?” Sam whispers, clearly unnerved by their special treatment.

“They believe us to be gods.” Sha’re realises, as she takes notice of the intricate detailing of the wall hangings. They depict an ankh encircled with a serpent. A sense of familiarity strikes Sha’re. She remembers from days long past that the ankh was a forbidden symbol on Abydos, but she cannot recall why.

“Okay, we're gods. Now what?” O’Neill whispers. Sha’re does not have a chance to think before a large horn begins to blow. Their table companions begin to bow down, almost in worship as her team looks around in confusion. She adopts the same stance as their companions and urges Sam and O’Neill to do the same.  While they cannot immediately see the party that enters the room, they hear their heavy footfalls long before they enter the room. Several warriors clad in silver armour enter the room. Each appears to have a great serpent head with glowing red eyes. Sha’re shivers slightly. They remind her of Ra’s guards. One of them does not have a serpent head however and Sha’re can see his face. His broad features are kept stoic as he surveys the room. In the centre of his forehead is a large golden emblem that features the symbol from the walls. Sha’re wonders if the glyph is similar to the Eye of Ra that used to be displayed heavily around her village.

Alongside the serpent guardsmen, a dark-skinned woman clad in hues of rich reds and purples enters and moves to stand at the front of the room. She has unusual twin crowns? Sha’re is not entirely sure what the decorations that adorn her hair could be called. Her silk robes move in effortless waves around her. Sha’re could see that she was beautiful, but did not understand why the people in the room were bowing in such frivolity. She is joined by a very pale man with a large veil covering his face. His gold outfit would also reflect a great status. There is definitely something unusual about the two of them. Before Sha’re can react however, the woman speaks.

“Behold, your God.” She says, moving to lift the veil. As soon as she locks eyes with the man in front of her, her heart drops. She would know her husband anywhere.

“Dan’iel?” She questions, leaping towards him.

“Kneel before your God!” The woman’s voice booms. Her warning stops Sha’re in her tracks. There is an unnatural tone to it that shakes Sha’re to her core. This woman is like Ra.

“Dan’iel my beloved. It is me.” She pleads with her husband. He just stares right past her. Does he not recognise her? What has this woman done to him? Sha’re shakes her head. It does not matter. She will bring him home. She begins to walk slowly towards him, when Daniel’s eyes begin to glow an unearthly white. His female companion lifts her arm and throws Sha’re across the room using a golden beam. Sha’re drifts into unconsciousness, but in her last moments of awareness, she sees O’Neill try and shoot the woman. Her Daniel steps in the way but no sounds come to her. She finally slips into a world of darkness, leaving her husband to his cruel fate.

“-re. Sha’re” She hears in her dreams. The voice is calm but strangely familiar. They repeat themselves several times before she begins to feel a shaking sensation in her arms. “Sha’re… Sha’re.” Slowly, she begins to wake.

“Dan’iel!” She gasps, looking around the room. It appears they have been moved from the room of the wealthy to a dungeon of some sort. Surveying the room, Sha’re notices dozens, if not hundreds of people in the same predicament. Sam’s hand grabs her arm, pulling her back to their reality.

“Whoa, easy, you've been unconscious for hours.” Sam says, concern evident in her eyes.

“I saw him, Sam. I saw Dan’iel.” Sha’re mumbles. Her Daniel would never have met O’Neill with such force. What had happened to him since he had been taken through the Chappa’ai? Why did his eyes begin to glow in such a demonic way?

“I know, we all did.” Sam says softly, helping Sha’re to her feet.

“I was… Dan’iel, he was…” She begins, but caught up in the many possibilities of Daniel’s fate, she can no longer speak the words she intended. O’Neill has noticed them by now, and begins to approach them once again. He must have tried to figure out a way to leave the dungeon, but that must wait. All that is important is getting her husband back.

O'Neill must sense her concerns as he comes back to their group. “Well if there's way out of here I haven't found it yet. But look what I did find.” Sha’re looks confused for a moment before a familiar face approaches them.

“Skaara!” Sha’re says with as much enthusiasm as she can muster.

“Sha’re! You are okay.” He says. She pulls him into an embrace and whispers to him softly. “ Thank the gods you are unharmed. What happened back at the Chappa’ai?”

“ Soldiers in serpent armour ambushed our group.” Skaara begins. Sha’re can sense the anger building within him. She places her hands on the sides of his face to centre him and urges him to continue. “ We were cleaning up from the meal. It all happened quickly, sister. I-We could not stop them. They began to shoot from the weapons of Ra. After they had wounded many, Dan’iel tried to speak with them. They did not listen. The leader simply spat at him and ordered the men to take him away. As soon as I saw they had grabbed Dan’iel, I tried to attack as well. But my weapon did not fire, and they grabbed me as well. I am sorry, Sha’re. I could not protect our people.” Skaara said, crumpling into her embrace.

“ All that matters is that you tried, Skaara.” She says, gently rubbing his back.

“O’Neill we must find Dan’iel. We must free him from this place.” She says, looking towards her Earth Friends.

O’Neill sighs. “Sha’re, don't. If we can't find our way out of here, the mission's a bust anyway. They seal the 'gate in just over 90 minutes. C'mon, Skaara, let's find a way out of here.” Sam smiles sympathetically at her, partially to make up for O’Neill’s rough dismissal. “We’ll find him.”

Sha’re notices several serpent guards have been patrolling the dungeon as she had been unconscious. One stops his patrol and grabs O’Neill roughly. She begins to move to try and assist O’Neill but Sam lightly urges her to remain where she is.

“What is this?” The guard says. His voice booms in the same forceful tone as Ra’s former guards.

“It's a watch.” O’Neill grunts. The man must have a considerable amount of strength to weaken even someone as seasoned as O’Neill.

The guard seems displeased with this answer. His serpent head suddenly retracts and he brings O’Neill’s arm closer to his face. “This is not Goa'uld technology. Where are you from?” He questions.

“Earth. Chicago if you want to be specific.” O’Neill jests, but the guard does not seem to understand.

“Your words mean nothing. Where are you from?” He booms.

“Excuse me, This is where we are from.” Sha’re says, drawing the glyph she observed on the Earth Chappa’ai in the dirt below them. The guard looks confused for a moment before using the end of his weapon to erase the drawing. Was writing outlawed here too?  Rising from the floor, she made her way back over to her brother to see what could be done.

O’Neill began to scout the room, looking for a way to breach their containment. Eventually, he comes to one of the room’s windows. Though the gaps between the small bars are not exceptionally large, O’Neill tries to pry them open anyway. His efforts are in vain however, because they do not budge. Skaara also tries to assist him, but without something to pry the bars off, there simply is no way to escape. Sam brings her attention back towards her as she begins to ask questions.

“So Ra isn't dead after all.” She questions, and Sha’re can easily see why she would come to this conclusion.

“No. That is not Ra. The woman is Amaunet. However, I am not sure what use Dan’iel is to her.” Sha’re clarifies.

“Who?” Sam remarks.

“Dan’iel told me of the myths of old. He called it ‘ The Book of the Dead’ . The woman is the goddess of the unseen. Of the darkness. She is said to have guided the dead on their journeys into the night. She is but one of many deities Dan’iel told me stories about.”

Sha’re can hear the faint whispering of O’Neill and her brother. Though they are some distance from her and Sam, it is clear Skaara is imploring O’Neill to save Daniel. O’Neill’s expression betrays Sha’re’s worst fears. O’Neill does not think it is possible to save Daniel. However, his expression changes and he smiles slightly at Skaara. It appears her brother does not notice the reality of their situation as he continues to try prying the windows open.

Before Sha’re can blink however, the large iron doors burst open, revealing the stoic soldier from earlier and dozens more soldiers.

“ Shaka ha! Kree hol mel, Goa'uld!” The soldier booms.  Panic immediately explodes throughout the rooms. The other people trapped in the dungeon are terrified of the man and his words.

O'Neill looks to Skaara. “What’d he say?” He asks.

“They're going to choose.” Skaara replies, casting his gaze down to the floor.

“Choose what?” Sam questions.

Skaara looks briefly at Sam. “Who will be the children of the gods.”

This just seems to confuse O’Neill and Sam further. These people- no - demons are just as Ra was on Abydos. O’Neill was right. They needed to escape this dungeon if they were ever going to have a chance to free Daniel. Several more guards piled into the room, carrying a large box decorated in ornate golds and reds. Amaunet emerges from the box, escorted out by more of the serpent-like guardsmen.

“JAFFA!” She orders. Her voice echoes around the dungeon, inciting even more terror from their fellow prisoners. Amaunet places her hand back inside the box, and begins to help another out. Sha’re’s heart drops. Amaunet brings Daniel to stand at her side, his cold gaze sweeping over the room.

“Dan’iel. O’Neill, help me please.” Sha’re begs, feeling her legs propel her forwards. But before she can get too far, Sam and O’Neill restrain her. “What are you doing?” She yells, but O’Neill just quietly whispers to her.

“Sha’re, don't, don't.”

The lead soldier begins to yell towards the prisoners once again. “ Benna! Ya wan, ya daru! Kneel before your masters!” He orders the guardsmen to force the unwilling to comply. O’Neill exchanges glances with the man and kneels to avoid an altercation. Skaara unfortunately does not.

“Skaara.” O’Neill nudges, and reluctantly, Skaara complies.

Two figures clad in burgundy robes begin to patrol the prisoners. They are escorted by the lead soldier once again. “ Benna, ya wan ya daru! Choose!”

One of the guardsmen brings a terrified prisoner to the robed figures. “No.” One spits at the man before the guard tosses him to the floor. The robed figure simply moves on.

“This one. We choose this one.” It says. A guard grabs a terrified young woman. Sha’re feels at a loss. She would love nothing more than to help the woman. As one of the guards comes towards them, Sha’re springs into action. She grabs one of the robed figures and tightens her grip on their arms. O’Neill darts around behind her, but before he is able to interfere, the serpent guards restrain him as well.

“Sha’re!” He pleads.

The robed figure looks at Sha’re for the first time. “This one is passionate.” It says, speaking in the same distorted tone as Amaunet.

Mustering her courage, Sha’re returns the stare. “How much would I remember if you chose me?” She questions.

“Sha’re, what are you doing?” O’Neill warns. The guards in turn apply more force to O’Neill and turn one of the weapons towards him.

“Something of the host must survive.” Sha’re mumbles. The soldier in front of her, the leader from before shakes his head. Sha’re is taken aback. His behaviour is unusual. Does he not agree with this either?

 The robed figure gazes upon the rest of their party before locking eyes with Skaara. “We choose…him.” It says, pointing for the guards to take him away.  

Two serpent guards grab Skaara. “Na-nay, na nay! O'Neill! O'Neill!” He cries.

“Skaara! Skaara!” O’Neill yells, jumping forward. One of the guards moves quicker however, as he is quickly swept off his feet with one of their staff weapons. Sha’re’s heart cannot take much more. Her brother screams in terror as the guards whisk him away.

“SKAARA!” Sha’re screams, but she is once again restrained by Sam.

Amaunet looks to their party with disgust. “Kill the rest.” She yells to the guards. The already panicked prisoners begin to scream even louder as they push themselves towards the back of the room. Sam, O’Neill and Sha’re are among the only people in the room to stand their ground against their ‘gods’.  Amaunet takes her guardsmen and Daniel before leaving the room. The next sound Sha’re hears is weapons fire. It appears the guardsmen are firing into the ground to frighten the prisoners. They begin to advance, with the lead soldier drawing them closer to Sha’re and the others.

“I can save these people! Help me! Help me.” O’Neill implores the leader.

“Many have said that.” The man says, a spark of recognition flares in his eyes before he begins to turn on his own guards. Sha’re gasps. She did not expect his actions would come so easily. The man throws his weapon to O’Neill. “But you are the first I believe could do it!” He yells, joining their fight against the guards. Sha’re feels a large tug on her combat vest. Sam moves her to the other side of the room. Sha’re watches O’Neill and their new companion kill the remainder of the guards. The ones at the door simply flee and O’Neill turns to face the wall.

Addressing the crowd, O’Neill yells “Get out of the way!” before he fires at the wall. The weapon blasts a large opening into the stone.

“All right, let's move!”

Sha’re watches as Sam and O’Neill take charge. They begin to corral the prisoners through the opening of the wall. “Come on, come on!” Sam instructs, guiding the uncertain prisoners into the opening. “Come on, move, go, come on!” She urges, and Sha’re becomes aware of their time constraints. It is unlikely that Amaunet and her guards had not heard the commotion they had caused. They needed to get further away from this place before she could recapture them.

“Come on!” O’Neill calls. Sha’re moves to help more of the prisoners escape while O’Neill looks to their companion. “You going to be okay?” O’Neill says to her, motioning for her to leave. Nodding, Sha’re exits the dungeon, waiting for O’Neill to join her.

“Hey, c'mon!” She hears O’Neill call towards the soldier.

“I have nowhere to go.” He sighs.  

“For this you can stay at my place. Let's go.” O’Neill says, as they both exit the dungeon.

“What's your name?” O’Neill asks, as Sha’re looks over at them both.

“Teal'c.” He says.

“Teal'c, where will they take Skaara, the boy?” O’Neill asks. Sha’re’s breath hitches in her throat.

“To the Chappa’ai. After they have selected hosts for their children, they will return home.” Teal’c informs them. Sha’re deflates a little. First Daniel, now Skaara? Could it get any worse?   O’Neill began to lead their large group towards the Chappa’ai.

“We've got less than an hour, how we doing?” O’Neill asks, surveying their current terrain.

“We lost a few when we got to the forest.” Sam replies, continuing to guide prisoners to stay on the path.

“They will be hunted down and killed. Anyone who does not exist to serve the gods is their enemy.” Teal’c tells them, gaze firmly fixed on the path ahead.

O'Neill turns to the larger man. “And that makes you…?” He trails off.

“I am a Jaffa. Bred to serve, that they may live.” Teal’c replies, a hint of anger in his voice.

“I…I do not understand.” Sha’re stammers, looking at the man.

Teal’c stops ahead of them. He removes a large metal plate from in front of his stomach.  Pushing aside the chain armour he wears, he reveals a horrific sight. There is a large slit in his abdomen, that appears to move from within. Sha’re is shocked. Before anyone can begin to speak however, a small creature emerges from the pouch. It resembles a small snake, but it is unlike any Sha’re had seen back on Abydos. Its body was a sickly white colour and it had large pincers where its mouth should be. Sha’re feels her eyes widen with shock. Some of the prisoners around her scream in terror at the sight.

O'Neill stares with wide eyes. “What the hell is that?” He stammers, stepping backwards.

“It is an infant Goa'uld, the larval form of the gods, I have carried one since I was a child, as all Jaffa carry one.” Teal’c replies calmly . How can he have endured this since childhood Sha’re thinks. Have his people been suppressed like her own were?

After a few moments to gather their composure, their group resumes their trek towards the Chappa’ai.

“Get it out of there.” O’Neill commands.

Teal'c shakes his head. “In exchange for carrying the infant Goa'uld until maturity, a Jaffa receives perfect health and long life. If I were to remove it, I would eventually die.”

“Yeah, well if I were you, I'd take my chances.”

“All right come on people, let's go, let's move!” O’Neill urges their group forward and over a small hill. Sha’re can see the Chappa’ai in the distance, but it is guarded by a small craft. Below, countless warriors march in and around its stone steps.

Sha’re sees Teal’c turn to O’Neill. “The boy you seek is no longer who he was.” He tells O’Neill stoically. It can’t be true. Skaara must still be out there . Regardless of what Amaunet has done to him, Sha’re knows her friends will help recover him at any cost.

“I don't want to hear that.” O’Neill snaps, promptly ending the thoughts in Sha’re’s head before she can spiral further. As they begin to get closer to the Chappa’ai, the gliding craft that was guarding it swoops overhead. Rapid weapons fire begins to burst around Sha’re and the other prisoners.

“Take cover!” O’Neill yells as he and Teal’c try to down the craft. Despite the weapons being different from Earth’s own, they make little difference in hitting the craft.

“Colonel, we're sitting ducks here!” Sam replies, trying to return fire. Sha’re can see the craft looming ever closer to their position. She desperately wishes she could help bring it down, but with the rush of coming from Abydos to Earth and learning of Daniel’s new condition, she has barely had any time to learn how to use one of the weapons she had been given. She looks towards the Chappa’ai in the distance. Amaunet appears to be dialling out with Daniel and Skaara at her side. They are surrounded by others clad in the same silks as before, but they are so heavily protected by guards it is unlikely that even O’Neill could stop them. Suddenly a large burst hits the glider, destroying it in a large fireball. Sha’re looks over and sees one of the men from SG-2 with a large cylindrical tube on his shoulder. A launcher of some kind. Amaunet looks back over at them and descends into the open wormhole of the Chappa’ai. The prisoners around them begin to cheer as O’Neill looks towards SG-2.

“Kawalsky.” He says as he breathes a sigh of relief.

“Yeah!” Kawalsky replies, hints of a smile on his face as his team waves towards them. He moves over the hill and down towards their group.

“C'mon, folks, up the hill!” O’Neill calls as Kawalsky helps him up the steep terrain. “Great shot! How many are there?” He asks.

“A dozen, maybe more. They're headed back through the 'gate.” Kawalsky tells him.

“What about Skaara?”

Kawalsky sighs. Sha’re can see his demeanour change as he looks back towards O’Neill with a saddened expression. “He's with them. Colonel, we don't have much time before they lock us out.” Moving away from the group, Kawalsky takes the lead as he and the other members of his team help lead the prisoners up the hill. “Warren, Casey, on my right!” He calls as they assume a covert position that overlooks the Chappa’ai.

“No. No.” O’Neill yells, barrelling down the hill towards the group. Sha’re does not understand what has made him do this, until she looks closer at the group before them. Skaara. O’Neill believes he still has a chance to get him back.

“O’Neill!” Sha’re yells, attempting to run towards her friend. She is once again unable to, as Sam moves into her field of vision.

“You’ll only get yourself killed, Sha’re.” She says, concern laced in her voice. Beside her, their new compantion Teal’c nods in agreement.

“Your determination is strong, but you do not appear to be trained to use a weapon. It would be most unwise to attempt to rescue your friends at the cost of your own life.” He says in a low voice. Sha’re knows logically, that his words are true. She does not have any experience in battle, aside from the simple aid she provided during the battle with Ra. Her heart does not follow logic, however, and she is left feeling helpless and devastated as she can only stare at O’Neill.

“Colonel! Sir!” Kawalsky yells but it is too late. O’Neill has already reached the Chappa’ai.

“Skaara!” Sha’re hears him yell. She sees her brother – or at the very least, his body- turn around. He begins to walk back to O’Neill. He raises his arm like Amaunet had done and O’Neill is blown backwards several feet. Skaara exits through the Chappa’ai as it closes down. Sha’re breaks free from Sam’s hold and runs over to him, the others several feet behind her.

“Did you see the glyphs?” She asks, helping O’Neill back to his feet. He shakes his head.

“Sir, we've got movement in the trees, a lot of movement in the trees. We've got hostiles, sir, hostiles closing in!” A member of SG-2 informs them from the treeline. Kawalsky moves forward and gathers everyone around him.

 “All right, people we're going on a little field trip. Sha’re get busy on that Stargate, we've got company. Captain, arm your claymores. Me, Casey and Warren'll be the last men out.”

O'Neill shakes his head dismissively. “Negative. That's my job. Captain, help Sha’re. Once you've sent the signal I want you to go through, tell them we're bringing company.” Sam nods and moves with Sha’re to dial the Chappa’ai.

Kawalsky breaks off from their group and begins to ready the claymores that line the ground towards the forest. The other members of his team rally the group of prisoners towards the Chappa’ai.

“Sha’re?” Sam calls as Sha’re looks shakily over the notes she had made on the glyphs of the Chappa’ai.

“I have got it, I know I have it here, I know I do.” She says, her voice rising ever so slightly with panic. She can feel her hands shaking slightly but feels a sudden determination to press on.

“Come on!” Sam whines, urging her to pick up her pace. Before Sha’re has a chance to reply, their radios crackle into life.

“Sir, we've got hostiles coming out of the trees.” Sha’re can feel the pressure mounting as she knows if she does not dial now, they may never be able to return home. She can hear the sounds of weapons fire and imagines the sheer force of the battalion of soldiers they must be facing.

“Sha’re!” O’Neill yells to her. She continues to flip through the small notebook she was given and laughs as she finds the address they need.

“I have it, O’Neill.” She yells back.

“Go!” Sam urges her, taking a defensive stance behind her and the Shal Tek device. Sha’re begins to enter the glyphs that will take them back to Earth.

“We can’t hold them, Sir!” Warren yells into their radios, the sounds of distant gunfire almost drowning him out.

“Send the signal as soon as it opens, Sam.” Sha’re yells behind her.

“Pull 'em out!” She hears O’Neill yell to Kawalsky.  The Chappa’ai explodes in a massive surge of light. The vortex begins to swell and extend out towards them before settling back into the stone ring.

“Fall back, Fall back!” Kawalsky yells to the remainder of his team.

“Is it working?” Sha’re asks, staring into the large blue abyss.

“Oh, let's hope so. If not, I'll be the first to know.” Sam jests, looking towards the Chappa’ai in dismay.

Sam goes through the Chappa’ai and Sha’re sees SG-2 have begun to return from their outpost. The soldiers however are much faster and continue to fire at them as they begin to make their way towards the Chappa’ai. She sees the group of prisoners have come closer to the opening.

As the last of the prisoners make their way through, Sha’re moves to join them. “Come on, please, two of you, two of you!” She pleads as they hesitate to leave. O’Neill and Kawalsky are still stuck behind the large rock formations that line the path to the Chappa’ai.

“Hit the claymores!” She hears O’Neill yell. Kawalsky produces a large device and a few seconds later, the ground leading towards them begins to explode. Several groups of soldiers are hit and fall to the ground with a frightening force. One of the prisoners screams in agony behind Sha’re. She looks back and sees they have also been hit by the soldier’s weapons.

“Hurry! Come on, come on. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon. We need help here!” Sha’re yells. Kawalsky leaps out from behind the rocks and fires indiscriminately at their encroaching enemy. Sha’re uses the distraction to guide the final prisoners through and turns back to where O’Neill is.

“That is the last one!”

“Go!” He yells. Sha’re hesitates for a second. How will O’Neill escape if everyone who was providing cover has gone?  She shakes her head. This is the same man who helped defeat Ra . If anyone can do it, O’Neill certainly can. She turns towards the swirling blue puddle and runs through. The journey back is much calmer than she had expected. Perhaps she was getting used to the feeling? Re-entering the gate room, Sha’re feels unnerved. There are now soldiers lining the exits of the base, pointing large guns at their group.

“They behind you?” Sam asks as she walks up the ramp towards her.

“I hope so.” Sha’re says, gazing back at the Chappa’ai.

A prisoner suddenly remerges through the vortex and the soldiers aim their weapons and prepare to fire as Teal’c makes his way through.

“Whoa! Hold your fire! Hold your fire!” She and Sam call out in unison.

“They're with us!” Sam clarifies, walking up to Teal’c. She holds her hands out towards him and he places his staff weapon into them. He nods his head as a formality and Sam lightly smiles.

O’Neill and Kawalsky fall through the gate with a third man. The man promptly collapses onto the ramp beside O’Neill.  Sha’re cannot remember his name, but she does recognise him from the SG-2 team.

“Now! Lock it up, lock it up!” Sam yells towards the control room.

“Closing iris!” A man calls over the intercom, with a slight echo to his voice. The iris closes behind Sha’re in a loud scrape of metal. Four loud thuds impact just as the iris finishes closing.

“Wormhole disengaged.” The intercom calls again, as the iris reopens.

“What were those sounds?” Sha’re asks Sam.

“Not sure, but its likely they were soldiers sent after us.”

“What happened to them?” Sha’re asks, perplexed.

“The iris stopped the molecular rematerialisation of the soldiers. Basically, they’re gone. If the gate doesn’t finish transporting them, they simply don’t exist anymore.” Sam clarifies. Sha’re is shocked. She was not aware of the serious implications of travelling through the Chappa’ai.

The gate room begins to burst into life again as several more people enter the room. “Medic! Medic!” Someone calls, ushering the healers to some of the injured prisoners.

“You got him?” O’Neill asks Kawalsky, motioning to the injured man they came back with.

“Yeah, I got him, thanks. Hold on here, get these people back.” Kawalsky replies, leading him down the ramp. The prisoners, now refugees surround their group hugging them and thanking them with so much gratitude, Sha’re feels a surge of emotion. Their group is broken up however, as a healer comes towards them.

“We've got to help these people, please.” He says, leading them away. Sha’re sees General Hammond has made his way up the ramp, as the medics remove the injured man from Kawalsky’s hold.

“Let's get him to the infirmary, let's get him inside.” They say as they lift him onto the same type of cart they used to transport Ferretti a few days earlier.

“Colonel O'Neill. Care to explain?” Hammond asks, looking among the members of their party.

“Um, we can use the Stargate to send these people home, sir.” Sam interrupts.

Hammond does not look pleased, and motions to Teal’c. “What's he doing here?” He asks sternly.

“General Hammond, this is Teal'c. He can help us.” O’Neill says, standing his ground.

“Do you know what he is?” Hammond booms.

“Yes, sir I do, he's the man who saved our lives. And if you accept my recommendation, sir…he'll join SG-1.”

Hammond looks resigned. “That decision may not be up to you.” He says in a much calmer tone.

“Stand back. Let's get 'em off the ramp.” Samuels says, leading the group away.

Sha’re can see Kawalsky standing behind them. Something is not right. He kneels on the ramp gasping for air. He looks just distressed enough that Sha’re begins to ask if he is alright, but O’Neill beats her to it.  

“Kawalsky, are you all right?”

“Yeah, I'm good.” Kawalsky says unconvincingly. He pulls himself up so he stands once more, and rubs his hands over his face to regain composure.

“Colonel O'Neill, Major Kawalsky, this sure-to-be-very-interesting debriefing for SG units 1 and 2 will be at 0730.” Hammond informs them.

“Yes, sir.” O’Neill says as Hammond leaves the room.

“All right, let's get these people situated.” Samuels says, leaving in the opposite direction to the General.

Soon, it is just SG-1, and their new companion Teal’c standing on the steel ramp. Turning back to the Chappa’ai, Sha’re stares at the base’s large concrete walls looming above her.  

“Dan’iel is out there, O’Neill.” She says distantly as she drifts onwards.

“I know. So's Skaara.”

“What do we do now?” She asks, turning to look the man in the eyes.

“We find 'em.” O’Neill says, leading their team out of the room.

Chapter Text

In the year she had been with Stargate Command, so much had happened, and yet Sha’re’s longing to return home with her husband had never waned. The Earth doctors had told her that she’d soon become adjusted to life on the planet, but it just didn’t seem possible. It wasn’t her home. Sure, Earth was a more stable environment than Abydos. They didn’t have to bear the harsh desert winds or brave sandstorms almost every day, but in Sha’re’s mind, nothing could really compare. The green trees of her temporary home were a welcome sight as she made her way back into the mountain complex. O’Neill had helped her secure an hour or two of recreational time in the small town a few minutes’ drive from the base. She still had to be accompanied by a few personnel of course, but the fresh air did wonders for her reeling mind.

This week marked exactly one year since her journey had begun. She really couldn’t believe it. What would Daniel think of all the adventures they had been on? How might he react to everything they had done? It had really all begun right after that fateful mission to Chulak, hadn’t it? That was when Kawalsky- whose death was still a sore spot in Sha’re’s heart- had left them. Of all the fates the gods could have bestowed upon him, possession by the same kind of demon that had taken Daniel from her was the cruellest of all. While they did not know it at the time, their very first mission would ultimately be Kawalsky’s last. A dying jaffa’s symbiote had taken him as an unwilling host and tricked them all into believing they had removed it. How must it have felt to die an outsider in your own body?

Perhaps if they had found the device on Cimmeria in time, they could have saved him. Thor’s Hammer could have removed the parasite, but the device came at a cost too great to even Sha’re. She could have used it to free her husband and brother, should they have brought them to it in time, but she would never leave a member of her team behind. Teal’c had become such a staple in her time on Earth that the thought of him never returning made her grow even more attached to him. It was strange, her feelings towards him were nothing but gratitude. Deep down, she often wondered why she wasn’t furious with him for his attack on Abydos that day. She had been at first, she remembered. This man had indiscriminately killed many of her people and kidnapped her beloved and her brother. But he too was a victim of the chaos the Goa’uld rained down across the galaxy. Enslaved from birth,  his people were victims just as Sha’re and hers were.

Her team were just as much her family as Daniel and Skaara were. Their efforts to help her locate and rescue them had shown her that. From their trip to Oannes and her desperate attempts to help Nem find his beloved, Sha’re’s presumed death had solidified her place in her team’s hearts. Their collective outrage at the potential attack launched by Klorel and Apophis on a parallel Earth and subsequent plans made on their own demonstrated how far these people would go to defend their planet. Of the past year, perhaps stopping the attack from Klorel’s ship had been the hardest. Coming face to face with the parasite who had stolen her brother’s soul had been a terrifying ordeal.

She could barely see traces of the kind young man her brother had been. The terror that ripped through her as she watched her brother die to aid their cause had nearly killed her as well. She had nearly sacrificed herself to save her team after all. She was intensely fortunate for the sarcophagus that had been on Klorel’s ship, but perhaps this was the beginning of the curse she came to know. After Sam’s unlawful invasion by a “Tok’ra”, they had journeyed to a planet where Sha’re had unwittingly won the affection of a desperate royal who had fostered an unhealthy addiction to the healing abilities of the Goa’uld device. Although it had been several months since this incident, the experience still gave Sha’re nightmares. What would Daniel think? Had he been subjected to such danger because of his own demon?

Sha’re hoped that one day soon, she would find her husband again. She did not, however, expect that day to be today. When she finally re-entered the base, she thought there may be some time to go over the translation SG-3 had picked up on their recent mission to a newly discovered world, but a large buzzing sound interrupted the journey back to her office instead.

“SG-1 REPORT TO THE BRIEFING ROOM.” The base intercom boomed. Of course. The one time Sha’re thought she’d have free time, someone else needed her to do something. Making her way up to the briefing room, she crosses paths with Sergeant Siler, no doubt on his way to the infirmary for the thousandth time this week. Unusually, Sam is standing at the main door of the briefing room when Sha’re arrives. She can see Teal’c, O’Neill and General Hammond are already sitting, so the fact that Sam is here makes her feel uneasy. Furthermore, Sam has a slight grimace on her face, and Sha’re can sense something is definitely wrong.

“Sam? Is everything alright?” Sha’re asks.

“You might wanna sit down, Shar.” Sam says, guiding her towards the table.

“Why? What has happened?”

“It’s Abydos. They’ve unburied the gate.” Sam says, moving to switch on a small television set at the head of the table. The machine whirs into life and demonstrates some familiar sights. The recording taken from a recently deployed MALP shows the familiar interior of the Chappa’ai and its pyramid back on Abydos. The footage splutters for a moment as the MALP readjusts its position and a familiar face falls into frame.

“Father.” Sha’re whispers as she sees his face once more. He has a quizzical look on his face as he examines the MALP more closely. Sha’re can’t help but smile. It has been too long since she had seen or heard anything about her people.

“That was just a few moments ago.” Sam explains, directing her attention back to Sha’re.

“He is waiting for my return.” Sha’re says sadly, knowing she has failed on her mission. She had promised to bring her husband and brother home by now, but how can she tell her father that Skaara is dead and Daniel is still missing?

“One Abydos year to the day. They kept their word.” Sam says with a hint of surprise.

“And I have to keep mine.” Sha’re concedes, her mind filling with thoughts of dread at her father’s reaction to such bad news.

“Sha’re, you said you'd go back there in a year with Daniel.” O’Neill says.

“I can tell my father that I haven't given up, that I won't give up.”

O'Neill sighs. “That he's a Goa'uld?” He questions, clearly trying to get Sha’re to change her mind.

“Of course.”  She replies. Her father does not deserve to be kept from the truth, regardless of how cruel a fate Daniel’s possession may be.

O'Neill pauses for a moment. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting Sha’re to be so blunt. “Does he really need to know that?”

“Father loves Dan’iel as if he were his own. I owe him the truth, O’Neill.”

“I have nothing against you returning to Abydos, Mrs Jackson, but Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter are due in Washington, and I can hardly ask the President of the United States to change his schedule.” General Hammond interrupts, his strong yet calm tone breaking through their disagreement.

“If I do not return now, my people will bury the Chappa’ai for all eternity, General. I am going to return to them. If he will accompany me, I wish to return in the company of Teal’c. After all, I could not possibly be safer with anyone else.” Sha’re says, turning towards Teal’c with a small smile.

“Thank you, Sha’re Jackson.” Teal’c replies with a slight bow of his head.

“You are most welcome.”

“Sha’re Jackson assures me the Abydonians are a peaceful people.” Teal’c informs them.

“They're a great people, are you kidding? Carter, what do you say you and I blow off this medal ceremony thing and go with the team?” O’Neill jests, hoping General Hammond may change his mind.

Hammond smiles at them, clearly O’Neill has not been so fortunate. “You may leave when ready.” He says, dismissing their group.

As they leave, Sha’re rushes off towards her quarters. She has been waiting for this day for a whole year. She does not want to leave her father waiting any longer than necessary. Selecting her most treasured desert robes, she dresses hastily, wanting to get going immediately. Running into the gate room, she is almost out of breath by the time she makes it to the bottom of the ramp. Teal’c soon appears at her side dressed in the standard military fatigues he often wears and they make their way through the swirling wormhole.

Sure enough, as they arrive through the Chappa’ai, Sha’re sees her father jump backwards slightly at their sudden intrusion.

“Father, this is my friend Teal’c.” She says, to calm his nerves.

“Tel ma tiak. Mal we-ai. I am honoured.” Teal’c says calmly, bowing his head towards Kasuf.

Returning the sentiment, her father places his hand over his heart and bows deeply. “Bai ah kawk ma tee.”

Sha’re moves off of the stairs and kneels in front of her father, in a plead of forgiveness. “Father, I have returned without Dan’iel and Skaara. I am sorry.”

Kasuf shakes his head slightly. “So it is.” Sha’re is taken aback. While she hadn’t been expecting a punishment or anything similar, she didn’t expect her father to react so apathetically.

“I fear that my search will continue for many seasons.” She continues, again met with her father’s indifferent gaze.

“Come.” He beckons, turning to leave. Sha’re looks to Teal’c beside her. He also doesn’t know what to make of her father’s behaviour. They both decide, however, that it would be best to follow Kasuf, so they make their way out of the pyramid. Kasuf has not gone far, thankfully and continues to lead them through the endless desert towards their small settlement. Sha’re is confused. Why would her father react this way? Why is he leading them to their tent through the marketplace and half of the village? Kasuf has chosen to lead them through the village in an unusual way. There are several more direct paths to reach their tent, but it appears Kasuf is stalling them in some way.

“Father, why do you lead us through the entire market? What do you hide from us?” Sha’re says, and her father stops in his tracks. Clearly she’s on the right track. However, he stops only for a moment before shaking his head, and continues to lead them wordlessly towards the tent.  When they finally make it to their tent, Sha’re is so shocked, she can barely manage to speak. There is a very familiar man standing in the tent.

“Dan’iel?” She chokes out.

At the mention of his name, Daniel turns and smiles at Sha’re. He looks just as she remembers him. His brown hair is exactly the same length as it was a year ago. It’s almost as though no time at all has passed for him while he’d been gone. Sha’re almost misses it, but there are three unusual things about the Daniel in front of her. The first is that he can see her. Her Daniel of a year-long past had never been seen without his glasses, and should have been squinting at her form from such a distance. Two, he does not appear to be in the luxurious golden robes that Amaunet would have no doubt adorned him in. He has settled for the much more modest and darker Abydonian robes that Sha’re wears as well. And the most obvious, Sha’re can’t believe she missed this one to begin with, Daniel is cradling a very small infant. The child cannot be more than a week old and Daniel’s eyes are so full of kindness as he gazes upon it. What is happening right now?  Teal’c  has reacted much quicker to the supposed intruder, and stands defensively with his Zat aimed at Daniel who doesn’t flinch in the slightest.

“Daniel Jackson is no longer the person he once was.” He says stoically, his aim unwavering.

Finding her strength, Sha’re pushes through the questions spiralling in her mind. “Father, we are in danger. How long has he been here?”

“Only a few hours.”

“What?” Sha’re gasps.

“Why are we in danger?” Kasuf asks, oblivious to Daniel’s “condition”.

“Sha’re!” Daniel calls, moving towards her.

“Dan’iel is my husband. Who are you?” Sha’re questions defensively.

“Sha’re, please! I swear it’s me. I’m Daniel, your Daniel.” He pleads, with a strangely soft sentiment.

“Come no further.” Teal’c yells, unintentionally waking the sleeping child in Daniel’s arms.

“Oh, no, don’t cry my darling.” Daniel says, rocking the child slightly from side to side. He is so gentle with the baby, Sha’re is even more confused. She’s never seen this kind of behaviour in a Goa’uld before. It appears Teal’c hasn’t either, as he continues to look perplexed.

Kasuf moves and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Daniel. “Daughter. Do your eyes not see?” He implores Sha’re.

“Dan’iel has been taken by a demon, Father. A Goa’uld lies within him. One of great power and evil.”

Kasuf’s face explodes in shock. He turns to face Daniel in disbelief and shakes his head at him. Daniel in turn bows his head.

“She’s right, Good Father.” Daniel says after a moment.

“But you said you returned to me. That you would return to Sha’re?” Kasuf asks.

“And I have.” Daniel says.

“Stop it! I do not know who you are but you are not my Dan’iel. I know your true form Goa’uld. You are nothing but a spineless parasite who steals the lives of unwilling hosts.” Sha’re declares, her gaze on Daniel set in stone.

“Please, believe me!” Daniel pleads.

“No.” Sha’re retorts, unwilling to give this imposter any of her time.  

“I-I have an elixir. I have to keep taking it because if I don’t, well you know-” Daniel starts, clearly trying to convince them of his innocence. Sha’re looks on stoically, unmoved by his story. “Listen to me, Sha’re. Amaunet implanted me with a Goa’uld symbiote. He’s called Apophis. Apparently, he ran all of the major schemes she cooked up against the other system lords, but his host was killed a long time ago. She put him in me to get me to control her armies again but I refused. I have this elixir. I have to keep taking it, but it makes Apophis go away for a time. I can be myself again Sha’re, we can be together again.”

“What?” Sha’re can barely understand what is happening. He can make Apophis relinquish control?

“And this, is my daughter.” He says, gazing at the child in his arms. Share is stunned. A child?

“I have never known a Goa'uld to birth a human child.” Teal’c says, with an equally shocked expression on his face.

“Amaunet is the mother of this child?” Sha’re asks, as if her world wasn’t already spinning, now this demon had taken the life her and Daniel should be sharing at this very moment.

“Y-Yes.” Daniel says sadly.

“Then Amaunet is here also.” Teal’c declares and Sha’re’s heart skips a beat.

“No, she’s hidden me here. She doesn’t want her enemies to learn of our child’s existence.”

“Dan’iel. What does Amaunet want with a human child?” Sha’re asks as her voice begins to break.

Daniel’s own resolve begins to falter at her question. “She wants our child, a Harcesis, to one day become her new host.” He says sadly, and Sha’re can see tears well up in his eyes.

Sha're looks at Teal’c with a pleading expression. “What is Harcesis?” She questions.

Teal’c looks at her with sad eyes. This is not an expression she has seen from the man before, and it makes her own tears begin to fall.

“It is the child of two Goa’uld hosts. A forbidden and most dangerous item in battle among the system lords.” He finally responds.

Sha’re begins to sob loudly at this. “Who would use a child in such a way?” She questions, looking at the helpless infant in Daniel’s arms.

“She has been born with the genetic knowledge of the symbiotes that birthed her, Sha’re Jackson. She would be a useful pawn in the many wars among the Goa’uld. Imagine what could be accomplished if the system lords gained a hold of her.” Teal’c replies, casting his gaze down to the floor.

“But… She is only a baby? Who would do such a thing to a small child?” Sha’re says, as her tears begin to flow harder than before. Strong arms wrap around her and she falls into place. Daniel has come to console her, and while her hatred for his demon is great, she has greatly missed the comfort of his embrace.  As soon as she settles herself, Sha’re looks back up at Daniel.

“You are yourself again?”

“Yeah, I am.” He smiles.

“But how? What is the elixir you have?”

“I have never heard of a device or any medicinal potion that can suppress the consciousness of a Goa’uld symbiote. I too wish to know how you have done this, Daniel Jackson.”  Teal’c agrees.

“Well, it’s a little complicated, but it basically releases a countertoxin that causes the Goa’uld to hibernate. It only works for a short amount of time, so I have to keep taking it to remain myself.” Daniel explains, producing a small vial of green liquid from his robes. He quickly downs the contents of the vial, before stashing it away again.

“This is information I have never encountered in all my time with the Goa’uld.” Teal’c says, confused by Daniel’s words.

“Well, that’s the point, right? They wouldn’t want anyone to know or some of the hosts might be able to fight back.”

“But how did you learn of this Dan’iel? How have you been able to do this?” Sha’re asks. Her knowledge of the Goa’uld has grown significantly over her year at Stargate Command, but this is nothing she is used to.

“That’s the funny thing, I don’t know what happened, but one day I just woke up as me again.” He says, slightly shrugging off her question. Turning back to Teal’c he studies the man’s face for a bit.

“I’ve seen you before.” He says, rising to meet the man’s gaze.

“As first prime of Amaunet. I was present when the Goa'uld invaded your body. For my part, I can only ask your forgiveness.”

Daniel nods slightly. “Hmm. No, I think there’s more to it.” He says closing his eyes. After a moment, his eyes fly open again. “Shol’va. You’re the one they’re all saying is a traitor, right?”

“That is correct.” Teal’c replies, turning his head slightly out of confusion.

Kasuf looks between Daniel and Teal’c at this. “How can you know this?” He asks.

“My mind’s full of images. All sorts of things, mostly Amaunet railing and cursing your name. She doesn’t hold the place she once did among the system lords now, and I imagine that’s got something to do with you. Albeit indirectly, of course.” Daniel explains apologetically.

“Then these are the memories of the Goa'uld that now sleeps within you.” Sha’re concludes, fitting all the pieces together, finally.

Daniel nods. “Yes.” He simply says. Sha’re lets Daniel lead her over to Kasuf, who has placed the child in a small bassinet. Her olive skin and dark hair remind Sha’re of herself, as strange as it seems, but all she can see in the small child’s face is Daniel. It must be so heartbreaking for such a delicate soul to be caught up in such a bloody war. She deserves to live the life of a normal child, but it seems the gods have orchestrated a cruel fate for her instead.

“Does she have a name?” She asks, leaning down to stroke the baby’s soft curls.

“N-no, trying to get away from our enemies and keep both her and myself alive hasn’t really left me much time to think of one.” Daniel admits sheepishly, and Sha’re can see his cheeks flush ever so slightly.

“Dan’iel!” Sha’re chastises. “For someone so good with words, you should have had plenty of ideas by now!”

Daniel can only look down at his feet. He seems much like himself again, and Sha’re can only wonder how long it’ll be until Apophis breaks free.

“Hmm. What about something like your mother’s name, but different enough that she can make her own mark on the world?” Sha’re suggests, remembering Daniel’s uneasy feelings about his parents. He’d told her many times before that while he loved and cared about his parents deeply, they’d died so early in his life that he could barely remember anything about them. Anything he did remember he couldn’t ever attribute to them or the foster parents who’d raised him in their stead.

“Actually, if it’s okay with you, I was thinking of naming her after your mother. Well, and your brother I guess.” Sha’re is stunned. Daniel had of course never met her mother but the fact he was considering this demonstrated just how much he had listened and cared about her stories. Sha’re and Skaara’s mother had been a kind woman, always teaching her children to stand up for themselves and to help others whenever they could. Sha’re didn’t remember much about what she looked like anymore, a plague had taken her from them when Skaara was just a newborn, but from what all of the Aunties in the village said, Sha’re took after her mother in appearance. Her brother had even been named in their mother’s honour, so her legacy could continue to shine bright.

“Kara Jackson.” Sha’re whispers to the sleeping child. “I think it is a wonderful idea, husband.” She says, smiling at Daniel.

“Sha’re Jackson. We must return through the Stargate immediately.” Teal’c says after looking towards the tent flap.  

“Why?” Sha’re says, turning around to face Teal’c.

“As long as the Goa'uld within him sleeps, Daniel Jackson shares its memories.”

“So…so…so what?” Sha’re stammers, not understanding what Teal’c is getting at.

“It would be of great strategic benefit to have access to the Goa'uld genetic memory, even for a few days.” Teal’c says, looking over at Daniel beside her.

“What? Access? Has Dan’iel not been through enough? What are you saying Teal’c? Are we going to hand him over to Colonel Maybourne so he can be mistreated even further?” Sha’re yells, storming over to Teal’c.

Teal'c remains unnervingly calm at her outburst. How can he suggest torture with such a calm demeanour? “The knowledge he possesses could one day save Earth.” He tells her.

“No. I-I will not put him through that!” She exclaims. She sees Teal’c is unmoved by her words and realises she’s gone too far. “I am sorry Teal’c.” She sighs.

“More sorry for yourself, it appears, than for him. The Goa'uld within him will reawaken. Amaunet will take this child and leave Abydos forever. That is the fate you choose for Daniel Jackson by allowing him to stay!”

“Dan’iel, would you accompany me back to Earth?” Sha’re asks, turning on the spot towards him instead.

Daniel doesn’t answer her. He looks longingly into her eyes before sitting down by the fire in the tent. Sha’re moves to sit with him, while Kasuf and Teal’c contemplate sitting with them. Teal’c is more hesitant to move, but Kasuf sits eagerly awaiting Daniel’s reply. Eventually Teal’c decides Sha’re cannot be persuaded to leave on her own accord and sits down next to the couple.

“I can’t Sha’re.” Daniel finally says, and Sha’re is perplexed. “You know what they’d do to me if I came with you. They’d interrogate me to no end, lock me in a cell and study me like I’m some specimen in a petri dish. Plus, imagine what Amaunet’d do once she knows where I’ve gone.” He says defeatedly.

“Dan’iel is right. Amaunet would destroy the whole village.” Kasuf adds.

“Perhaps we could tell them an enemy of Apophis came to steal him and the child away?’ Teal’c suggests, instilling a fear in Sha’re she wasn’t expecting.

“And it will be the truth, yes?” Kasuf questions, looking at Teal’c. The man simply nods his head and Kasuf turns back to Daniel. “Go with them!” He implores.

“Good Father, I could cause more harm than good-” Daniel trails off.

Teal'c doesn’t wait for Daniel to decide. “Amaunet may return at any moment. We must leave now.” He rises to his feet, and offers his hand to Sha’re.

“Dan’iel, you must decide.” Sha’re says, taking Teal’c assistance.

“Okay. I’ll go with you.” He says after a moment’s decision. Gathering their things, the trio (and child) head back towards the pyramid.

It isn’t long before they reach the Shal Tek device at the base of the Chappa’ai. Sha’re reaches out to dial Earth, when Daniel stops in his tracks. Dust has begun to fall from the ceiling of the pyramid room, and Daniel shakes his head.

“Sha’re, do you hear that?” He says as he adjusts his hold on the baby.

“I do not hear anything, Dan’iel. What is wrong?” She asks, looking into her husband’s confused face.

“A Goa'uld ship approaches.” Teal’c explains. The group listen for a while, when Daniel suddenly backs away from them.

“Dan’iel?”  Sha’re asks, but he doesn’t seem to hear her. Instead, his eyes glow and his body grows stiffer.

“My queen comes for me. You must go, now.” Apophis says in Daniel’s unnaturally echoing voice. Teal’c takes aim almost immediately and Sha’re jumps in between them.

“No!” She yells, emphasising the baby in Daniel/Apophis’ arms.  

“Dan’iel you must fight back. You have to hold on a little longer, for Kara’s sake.” Sha’re says, placing her hands on his face.

Daniel’s head hangs low, and before long he appears to be back to normal. “It’s okay, I’m back.” He says, but Sha’re is not wholly convinced.

“How long does the elixir last?” She asks, hoping they would have more time before Apophis showed himself again.

“About-” He starts, but stops abruptly. Before Sha’re can ask him to continue, she notices the reason he stopped. A mothership has begun to land on the pyramid. The transport rings are beginning to open, and Teal’c rushes over to her.

“Sha’re Jackson. We must leave now!” He urges, leading them out of the pyramid.

After a while, they make their way into the cave systems in the dunes far from the gate. It’s deathly quiet inside, save for the sounds of Daniel starting a fire. As Sha’re cradles the baby, she notices how Teal’c has finally returned from no doubt securing the area.

“Amaunet will not rest until she has recaptured us both. She will likely make you her prisoners.” Apophis says, startling Sha’re. Never before has she communicated with a Goa’uld in such a conversational manner. They’ve only ever been trying to kill her up to now.

“It was not the ship of Amaunet.” Teal’c says gravely, looking at Daniel with contempt.

“Then whom?”

“It was the ship of Heru-ur.” Teal’c replies.

“We're safe here. After all, this is where we hid from Ra.” Daniel says, returning to his own body once more.

Teal'c looks unphased by the change of control. “You are incorrect, Daniel Jackson. If it is you whom Heru-ur seeks, he will find us. We cannot remain.”

“Well, I am not leaving here.” Daniel insists.

“Husband, we may have no other choice.” Sha’re suggests, looking over at him.

“I said I am not leaving here, Sha’re.” Apophis yells and Sha’re is overwhelmed. Why did it sound like Daniel was speaking this time, not Apophis?

“Then I will do what I can to keep the Horus guard away from you.” Teal'c says before leaving the cave.

The unusual quiet settles over the cave once more. Daniel looks over at Sha’re again and appears to lose control of himself. He groans in pain and stumbles over his feet.

“Dan’iel!” Sha’re says, trying to steady both herself and keep him from falling onto the hard stone floor.

“Sha're. I’m sorry, I don’t have a lot of time left here. Apophis is trying to take control again. I need to tell you something. I love you. Nothing is ever going to take that away from us, okay? I need you to take Kara away. Far away. Don’t let anyone find her, alright? I need you to remember that for me.” He says as his eyes glow once more.

“No.” Sha’re whispers, backing away from Apophis.

“Give me my child, Sha’re.”

“NO! I PROMISED HIM!” She yells back. Kara begins to scream and cry in her arms at the sudden outburst. “It will be okay, my love.” She coos.

“Onak sha kree, shel Goa'uld.” Apophis says looming ever closer. Suddenly, a Horus guard, clad in birdlike armour appears from the entrance to the cave and shoots toward Daniel, who drops to the stone floor.

“Bring me the child of Amaunet.” The guard booms. Sha’re knows that voice.

“Onak sha kree, shel Goa'uld.” Apophis repeats.

“I serve Heru’ur. He shall take the child as his own.” The guard says, firing at Daniel who convulses before losing consciousness. His helmet retracts, to reveal Teal’c as Sha’re’s rescuer.

“Did we have to shoot him?” She asks, looking at Daniel’s sleeping form.

“We have little time. We must go.” Teal’c pushes, taking Sha’re’s arm and guiding her towards the mouth of the cave. He leads her back to the village, and her father’s tent at its centre. As they enter, Sha’re thrusts the baby into her father’s arms.

“Father, you must take her. You must hide from them.”

“The demon has come to reclaim Dan’iel?” Kasuf asks, his eyes glazing over with tears.

Sha’re sighs, wiping several tears from her own eyes. “Yes.”

“Then, I will need a nursing woman.” Kasuf declares, stroking the baby’s hair gently.

“You must find one whom you can trust. One who is not afraid of hardship.” Teal’c offers, with a gentle prompt for Kasuf to get going.

“So, we may never see Dan’iel again?” He asks, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Our Dan’iel is strong, Father. He will not give up, and neither will I.” Sha’re declares, placing a kiss on the baby’s forehead. Sha’re turns to drink in the sight of her father and Kara once more, before running off back towards the pyramid. Teal’c has come up with a plan. If they can trick Heru’ur into leaving Abydos because the child is gone, then hopefully, the people of her village will remain safe for many more seasons.

Teal’c closes his helmet and assumes his role as one of Heru’ur’s Jaffa. Pushing Sha’re hastily into the room as if she is a prisoner, he shoves her forward so she meets Heru’ur’s line of sight. Even though he’s standing on the steps that lead up to the Chappa’ai, Sha’re can see how much fear he must strike into his Jaffa. The system lord is significantly taller than her, so his presence is even more intimidating than she was expecting. She’d only ever heard tales of his cruelty, so coming face to face with the so-called god was much stranger than she was expecting.

“My lord!” Teal’c yells, directing Heru’ur to his presence.

“Kel shak, Jaffa?” He asks, looking at Sha’re in disgust.

“Kel shak, Heru-ur. The Serpent guards of Amaunet have taken the child.” Heru’ur grimaces at this, then looks back at Teal’c.

“Who is the human?” He spits.

“She claims her people are the Tau'ri, enemies of Amaunet.” Teal’c replies.

Heru'ur scoffs. “You? Among the warriors who defeated Amaunet?”

“As a matter of fact, I was. The Tau'ri are stronger than you think. An alliance would prove extremely useful against our common enemy.” Sha’re says, looking fiercely into his eyes.

“Alliance? You are nothing. Your world is nothing. Once I have conquered Amaunet, I will make slaves of your people. You will serve me.”

“No, I don't think so.” Sha’re retorts. Heru’ur is definitely not pleased with her. She can see a scowl grow on his face, and if its even possible, his deep booming voice reaches an even lower register.

“Kneel before your god!” He booms, and Sha’re resists. Teal’c intervenes to make it look convincing, by swiping at the back of her legs, forcing her to kneel. Groaning, she makes a mental note to get him back for this.

Heru’ur moves closer to her. Holding out his left hand, Sha’re can see he intends to torture her. Before he can however, Sha’re can see several chevrons on the Chappa’ai have begun to glow. Someone is dialling in!

“My lord, the Stargate!” Teal’c yells and Heru’ur turns to look at the gate.

“Amaunet comes. Stand ready.” He says to the remaining Jaffa that surround the gate. Teal’c moves into position as though ready to fight. As the Chappa’ai swirls into life, Teal’c shoves a guard into the vortex. Before the other guards can react, he shoots at another before being shot at himself. He falls into the wall just as Heru’ur activates a small yellow forceshield. Sha’re sees a familiar pair of people step through the gate. Sam and O’Neill have arrived and are very clearly bewildered by the sight of the fallen guards.  

Heru'ur wastes no time in raising his kara kesh. Holding the ribbon device towards O’Neill, he yells to no one in particular. “Tau'ri, kree!” Sam and O’Neill run for cover behind one of the obelisks that line the room. They find cover near Teal’c and the many fallen Jaffa around him. Sha’re seizes the opportunity to escape whilst Heru’ur is distracted. She manages to push him away slightly, but she isn’t strong enough to topple him. He strikes her across the face and she falls to the floor in shock.

“Cover me!” She hears O’Neill yell. She sees Sam has stunned more of the guards, while O’Neill attempts to take Heru’ur on alone. His weapons aren’t effective against Heru’ur’s shield, however, and he’s forced to stop.

“You dare challenge me?” Heru’ur says, aiming his device towards O’Neill again.

O’Neill shrugs his shoulders. With a smirk, he looks back at Heru’ur. “I was thinking about it.” He quickly unsheathes his knife and flings it into the ribbon device. The device sparks wildly and Heru'ur groans loudly.

 “You will pay for this insolence!” He says as the transport rings descend from above. Sha’re staggers to her feet just as Heru’ur is taken away in the rings. Teal’c stands up, having opened his helmet, and moves towards their group.

“Teal'c?” Sam questions.

O'Neill looks across the room at the carnage. “Somebody explain to me what just happened?”

“It is a lengthy tale, O'Neill.” Teal’c begins, but struggles to find the words to explain.

“Long story, Teal'c.” O’Neill corrects, moving towards Sha’re to help her up.

“Good thing you remembered the shield's deflection capability's directly proportional to the amount of kinetic energy directed at it.” Sam praises, looking towards O’Neill.

O'Neill simply shrugs and pulls Sha’re up. “Right. We should get outta here.”

Unfortunately, before they can dial Earth, the Chappa’ai begins dialling once more.

Sha’re and Teal’c both realise at the same time who the visitor would be. “Amaunet.”

O'Neill looks incredulous. “What?”  He says, looking between them both.

“We must cover ourselves.” Teal’c says, as the Chappa’ai engages. They take cover just as two serpent guards arrive, with Amaunet. Another five serpent guards follow before the wormhole disengages.

“Jaffa. Kel Apophis.” Amaunet bellows. It appears her words are unnecessary, however, as Daniel emerges from the entrance of the room.

“I am here, my queen.” He says. Sha’re notices how he’s changed. When they’d left him in the cave, he was wearing the same kind of desert robes she’d been wearing. Now, he was clad in rich shades of gold and blue, an outfit befitting a true pharaoh.

Amaunet nods. “The child?” She questions.

“Stolen, by your enemy, Heru-ur. Forgive me, my queen. I have failed you.” Amaunet doesn’t reply. She simply strokes his cheek, but Sha’re can see she is angry.

“Jaffa! Shal tek!” She orders, turning to distribute orders. One of her Jaffa goes back and begins to dial the gate without a word. Sha’re comes to the startling realisation that Daniel is staring right at them. Looking among the members of her team, they all seem shocked that Daniel hasn’t said anything to give their position away.

Amaunet holds her hand out to Daniel. “Come my pharaoh. Let us return home.” She says.

Daniel looks at Sha’re for a moment, a longing sense in his eyes. He looks to Amaunet and they soon depart. Sha’re runs out from behind their cover, but it is too late. They have already gone through the gate.

Sam steps forward, towards O’Neill. “Sir, there's still a Goa'uld ship on top of us.” O’Neill nods, and simply asks her to dial the gate. Sha’re stares into the distance.

“You all right?” O’Neill asks. It takes Sha’re a moment to realise he’s speaking to her.

Sha’re contemplates how to reply. After a while she simply says “No. No, I am not.”.

“He looked directly at us, Sha’re Jackson, yet he did not reveal our position.” Teal’c says, but Sha’re can only nod.

O’Neill claps a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go home.” He says, guiding her towards the gate. Sha’re hesitates for a moment as she tries to process everything that happened.

“Teal’c. What did Dan’iel mean?” She asks, turning to the Jaffa.

“I do not understand. What are you speaking of, Sha’re Jackson?”

“Before you shot Dan’iel, he said something to me. Onak sha kree, shel Goa'uld. Why would he ask me what god I serve if Apophis and Daniel know of Ra’s defeat?”

Teal’c ponders her question for a moment. “I do not know. But I am sure we will find out, Sha’re Jackson.”

Chapter Text

“Should they not be here by now?” Sha’re asks as she surveys the barren planet they’d come to. It’d been over three hours by now and there still hadn’t been any indication as to who they’d come to meet. A mysterious set of co-ordinates had been dropped in their laps without so much as a note to tell them why. Thus SG-1 had wasted the last few hours sitting in front of the Chappa’ai with nothing more to do than sit around. Sha’re was on one of the bottom steps leading up to the Chappa’ai, with O’Neill sitting a few steps above her, and Sam sitting beside her. Teal’c on the other hand, ever the warrior, has chosen to patrol the area for any signs of their mysterious summoner.

O'Neill looks down towards her. “Yes.” He sighs, clearly just as frustrated as the rest of them.

“I do not believe the Tok'ra would mislead us.” Teal’c reminds them as he circles back towards them.

“That is assuming it was the Tok’ra who summoned us here.” Sha’re replies, lazily leaning on the hard steps.

“But on our radio frequencies, who else would send us a signal like that?” Sam questions, mentally listing off potential allies.

O'Neill turns towards Sam as she speaks. “You know, I’m not really too crazy about this 'don't call us we'll call you' policy.” He says.

Sha’re sighs. While the Tok’ra have been a good ally thus far, they are so mysterious and closed off, Sha’re wonders why they agreed to a treaty in the first place. A loud rumbling in the distance pulls her out of her thoughts however, and she sees Teal’c has sensed something as well. He turns in the direction Sha’re can only assume the sound came from before pointing into the sky.

“There!” He yells and Sha’re looks up. A large sleek craft is being pursued by several other vessels. It appears to be a death glider, though Sha’re cannot be sure from this distance. O’Neill reacts quickly, ordering them to drop for cover as the glider swoops overhead. The glider then crashes into the next hill over, and SG-1 follow suit.

It’s not immediately clear exactly what happened to the glider. All the smoke and dust emanating from the wreckage makes it a little hard to see. As they approach, however, O’Neill orders an air of caution. They could be walking into a trap for all they know. Carefully approaching the craft, O’Neill takes a defensive aim, whilst Sha’re hangs towards the back of the group. Even after a year of training her combat abilities, Sha’re still feels safest when she lets the more experienced members of her team take the lead. As the dust clears, Sha’re gets a better view of the carnage. The glider cockpit is empty, but after close inspection, the team see someone crawling out of the impact zone. As they approach the pilot, they turn over and Sha’re is speechless. Far from the usual golds and purples that adorn her normal clothes, the pilot is clad in drab grey armour, most likely taken from a Jaffa in her service. Their visitor is none other than Amaunet herself. She’s in rough shape, Sha’re notices. Blood trickles down the side of her face and she appears to be severely injured, despite the healing abilities of her symbiote.

“Holy buckets.” O’Neill says in disbelief.

Amaunet’s eyes glow for a moment before she practically begs. “Help me!” She says, before falling limp onto the ground.

“Weeellll…” O’Neill begins, as Sha’re moves closer.

“Amaunet?” Sha’re questions, standing a few feet from the Goa’uld.

Amaunet appears to notice her and tries to speak but she doesn’t appear to have the strength. “Tau’ri, please.” She whispers and Teal’c flies into action. Raising his Zat, he aims towards the goddess when Sam appears at his side.

Sam puts her hands up to stop him. “Teal'c! Amaunet is much more valuable to us alive than dead.” Teal’c hesitates for a minute before agreeing with Sam. As he puts his weapon away, more ships appear on the horizon. Amaunet points upwards and the team survey the enemies. It appears a whole squadron is coming for her. Raising her weapon, Sam turns back towards O’Neill. “Sir. We’ve got incoming.”

O'Neill looks on at the approaching crafts. “All right, dial us up. Get us out of here!” He orders and Sha’re gets to work. Gliders swoop overhead as Sam and O’Neill try to fire back at them. Some of their shots damage the gliders, but others do nothing but bounce off. Teal’c lingers at Amaunet’s side as Sam turns towards him.

“What are they doing?” She yells, returning fire on the closest glider overhead.

“They wish to take Amaunet alive.” Teal’c replies, picking up the goddess before moving closer to the gate. The gate wooshes into life and the team run towards it. As they cross the event horizon, O’Neill continues to try downing the gliders. Back on Earth, Sha’re looks around at the stunned faces of the personnel as they come through. General Hammond has come to greet them as he usually does, but his face is emblazoned with shock. No doubt because of their visitor. Moments later, O’Neill falls onto the ramp before the iris clamps shut.

“Colonel?” Hammond asks, looking at Amaunet, who’s being placed onto a gurney by the medical team. 

“General Hammond. Amaunet. Amaunet. General Hammond.” O’Neill says smugly as she’s wheeled down the ramp by Doctor Frasier and her medical team.

Hammond grimaces. “We’ve met.” He says stoically.

Amaunet turns to look at the general before her unnerving voice cuts in. “I demand Kal Mah!” She bellows. O’Neill turns to Sha’re in confusion.

“I do not know for certain, but I believe she wants-” She begins, but Teal’c jumps in.

“Sanctuary.” He spits with disdain and Sha’re nods.

 “Why?” Hammond asks, looking between the group.

“I think some rival Goa'uld just kicked her ass.” O’Neill says. Sha’re thinks she can hear a little smugness in his tone, as he appears to revel in Amaunet’s defeat.

Sam shakes her head. “There were several other death gliders in pursuit when we took her prisoner, sir.” She says in a much calmer tone. If she feels anything towards Amaunet’s defeat, she doesn’t express it as obviously as O’Neill does.

Amaunet grows impatient. “I demand Kal Mah!” She yells once more.

“You're not in a position to demand anything, ma’am. Lock her up.” Hammond orders as more personnel move to wheel Amaunet out.

“Sir, with all due respect, she is badly injured. She is not going to be any good to you at all unless we get her to the O.R. right now.” Doctor Fraiser advises. Sha’re has grown quite fond of the new Doctor. Although she hates Amaunet for all she has done, Janet is right. There comes a need for decent human compassion. While Amaunet is a monster of unfathomable proportions, her host, the unwilling party, deserves to be treated as the human she is.

Hammond nods. “Do what you need to keep her alive, Doctor. We've got a lot of questions that need answers.”

“Yes, sir. OK, let's move her. I'm going to start her on two IV's and run Ringer's Lactate wide open. Let's go.” Janet says as her team move back towards the infirmary.

Hammond turns towards a soldier. “I want four SFs posted at all times. If she attempts to escape, you're authorized to do whatever is necessary to stop her.” He orders as the soldier assembles a team who follow Janet towards the infirmary.

“SG-1, We'll debrief at 1100hrs.” Hammond says to them before making his way back to his office.

“Yes, sir.” O’Neill says.

A few hours later, they get a call from Janet and make their way down to the infirmary. From the observation deck, they can see Amaunet. Docile for now, she’s strapped to the bed as a nurse checks over her vitals.

“Both femurs were smashed, and there was internal bleeding. Surgery and transfusions have stabilized her for now.” Janet explains, moving towards a monitor.

Teal'c looks at the Doctor in disbelief. “The Goa'uld symbiote within her will repair those injuries.”

“Well, I think it's kept her alive so far, Teal'c, but take a look at the monitor.” She says, pointing towards several sets of scans. Selecting the brain scan, Sha’re sees exactly how a symbiote controls their host. The scan shows a large patch connected to her brain, as the body of the symbiote encircles her spine. Sha’re shudders away from the image. This is what Daniel has inside of him?

Janet points at the monitor once again. “See, what you're looking at is the actual symbiote attached to the host's brainstem. Now, do you see all these lesions? I mean, there's dozens of them. I can treat the human part, but as for the symbiote itself…”

“There is no treatment.” Sam says. Sha’re looks at Sam with confusion. How can she be certain?
“She's been tortured.” She continues, and Sha’re sees Sam flinch.

O’Neill places a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Sam?” He asks quietly but she shakes it off.

“I-I just had a memory of Jolinar. Pain, when she was killed by the Ashrak. The Ashrak had this device. He used it on us. It was meant to cause incredible pain. Amaunet was tortured by the same thing.”

General Hammond looks sadly at Sam before he leads them back to the briefing room. Seated at the table, Janet pulls the scans up on the monitors once more as the team plan their next moves.

“So she's dying.” Hammond says bluntly.

Janet nods. “Yes, sir.”

“You're sure about that?” Hammond asks. Sha’re knows he doesn’t doubt Janet’s abilities, but this is not a human medical issue they’re dealing with, so it pays to be sure.

“As sure as I can be, sir. Considering what we know of Goa'uld physiology.” Hammond nods in agreement before taking his place at the head of the table.

“Good!” O’Neill says, turning towards Janet. “When?” He asks with a hint of excitement.

Janet looks on stoically before taking a seat at the table. “Without access to a sarcophagus, the Goa'uld body will continue to deteriorate, so we're looking at days, weeks, certainly.”

Sam looks at Janet. “This kind of torture wasn't designed to extract information, it's a method of execution.”

O'Neill looks at Sam in confusion. “So, what does she really want?”

“O’Neill, you heard her ask for sanctuary with your own ears.” Sha’re says with a hint of annoyance. What was so confusing about that?

O'Neill scowls back. “I'm not buyin' that.”

“She took the chance that we would show compassion even to our enemy. She was right, O’Neill.” Sha’re says looking at O’Neill, as she begins to unravel Amaunet’s likely plan.

O’Neill’s eyebrows fly up. “You think she orchestrated this? Let me tell ya something.” He says, taking a seat at the table. “The only compassion I showed was not blowin' her head off.” Sha’re doesn’t know how to respond.

“I have witnessed once powerful Goa'uld enter the service of their conquerors in exchange for life. When Amaunet herself was a conqueror, it gave her great pleasure to see her enemies so weakened.”

“Yeah, but we're a long way from being her conquerors.” Sam says, looking down at the table.

Teal'c smiles. “But we are greatly responsible for her downfall.”

Hammond agrees. “She lost an Army when you destroyed those two ships in orbit.”

“Bra'tac did say that that seriously weakened her place amongst the Goa'uld System Lords.” Sam adds.

“As did Apophis back on Abydos.” Sha’re adds sadly. She wondered what Daniel was doing right now. Did he have any part to play in Amaunet’s downfall?

“And she has come here seeking refuge.” Teal’c says, and Sha’re can see he is enjoying this. How could he not be? The once powerful ‘goddess’ who’d controlled his people for millennia has finally been brought to her knees by an even more powerful enemy.

“Well, that's tough. I say we beat whatever information we can out of the old snake, open the Gate, and toss her back to the sharks.” O’Neill says.

Hammond dismisses his fantasy. “Not so fast, Colonel. She's essentially a prisoner of war. That gives her certain rights.”

O'Neill is taken aback. “Rights, General?”

“We also have to consider the host.” Sam replies, and Sha’re nods in agreement. O’Neill on the other hand looks offended she’d even suggest such a thing. “I'm sorry, sir, but we are dealing with two beings within one body. The symbiote may be an enemy, but the host is innocent.”

O'Neill rolls his eyes. “Oh, come on! How much of the host do you think is still around after all this time?” He says, exasperatedly.

Teal'c contemplates for a moment before speaking. “Amaunet will have that knowledge.”

Hammond nods. “We also need to consider military intelligence. I have informed my superiors of our situation. My orders are to extract whatever information we can in the short time we may have.”

Teal'c shakes his head. “She will tell you nothing of use, General Hammond.”

“If she believes it's in her own interest, she might.”

“We are the only thing that stands between her and the Goa'uld that is after her on the planet.” Sha’re interrupts.

Hammond looks back at Janet. “We need answers. Let me know when she’s conscious.”

Janet nods. “I'll inform you the moment she's ready for questioning, Sir.”

“Dismissed.” Hammond says as he moves into his office.

Sha’re can see O’Neill is not happy with General Hammond’s decision. He furiously slams his stack of files onto the table.

“Sir?” Sam questions. O’Neill simply ignores her. Picking up his stuff, he breezes past her and Sha’re hears him snarl under his breath.

“I should've shot her.”

Sha’re sighs. Of all of them, perhaps she should have had the strongest reaction towards Amaunet when they’d found her lying a few feet from her downed glider. The woman had forcibly kidnapped her brother and her husband just to implant them with symbiotes against their wills and continued to rain chaos on not only Abydos but Earth as well. She had even stolen parenthood from Daniel with the birth of their Harcesis child. But Sha’re knew just as well as Sam that Amaunet was responsible for this. The symbiote that is, not her human host. Who knows what kind of life the poor woman had been abducted from all those centuries ago? The biggest problem, Sha’re realised was the American government’s inability to distinguish the two parties. It was inevitable that her human host would succumb to the injuries and millenia kept alive due to the powers of the sarcophagus, but that didn’t mean they shouldn’t try and make the best and most humane decisions for her.

Sha’re is startled out of her work when O’Neill races into her office a few hours later with even more startling news. Apparently, Amaunet has been demanding a new host in exchange for the information she could give them to aid their fight against the Goa’uld. Calling the rest of the team into Sha’re’s office, O’Neill tells them of an even greater piece of information Amaunet was willing to share.

“Apparently, our new ‘friend’ was being hunted by some guy named Sokar? She also politely informed me that she wants to take us out too, which is why she wanted us to bring her here. Charming, isn’t she?” O’Neill recounts, telling them of his conversation with the disgraced goddess.

“Sokar is a Goa'uld of ancient times. He once was the ruler of the system lords but was defeated by an alliance of Goa'uld many centuries ago. Amaunet and Ra were among his conquerors.” Teal’c explains, and Sha’re remembers something she read on the internet. Sitting down at her computer, she begins to search for the information as their conversation continues.

“Where did he go?” Sam asks.

“Amaunet herself believed him destroyed, but, obviously, she was mistaken.” He replies.

O'Neill looks over at Sha’re, before turning back to their conversation. “Well, if he was almost wiped out, how bad could he be now?” Teal’c looks inquisitively at O’Neill, who simply holds his hand up gently. “It's rhetorical, Teal'c.”

“I have found it!” Sha’re exclaims, beckoning the others towards her monitor. “Sokar also appears in ancient mythology on Earth. My ancestors believed him to be the original God of Death.” She says, pointing at an old hieroglyphic caption on the bas relief on screen.

O'Neill frowns. “Got anything a little more up-to-date?” He wonders.

“Nothing as recent as yesterday, O’Neill. However, the book of the dead tells tale of a time he ruled all of Earth. Around the lands of Memphis. They were filled with darkness and serpents. But I think we know those serpents as something else.” She says, pulling up another image on the screen.

Teal'c looks to her screen, then back to O’Neill. “Unas. The first hosts of the Goa'uld.”

Sha’re nods along before speculating herself. “That is correct. It is likely that if the Unas were the first ones, they had to have existed with ancient humans as well. Perhaps this is where some of the Goa’uld gathered their hosts from?”

“Which is he?” O’Neill inquires, pointing back to the monitor.

“I am unsure. Sokar’s area of the Tuat was filled with lakes of fire, where he threw wicked souls to be damned after their torture and mutilation.”

O’Neill looks at Sha’re with wide eyes. “Hell.” He realises as he looks to her for confirmation.

“Mmm. It appears Sokar served as the inspiration for Devils in some modern Tau’ri religions.” She replies.

“Well, isn't that special?” O’Neill sneers. Before Sha’re can reply, the base alarms sound to signify an incoming traveller. Sha’re doesn’t recall any teams being away at the moment, so this does appear to be suspicious.

When SG-1 make their way to the gate room, Sha’re can see dozens of soldiers taking defensive stances. Walking up to the control room, they hear a loud thud before the wormhole disengages. That seemed awfully quick for it to have been an actual traveller, and the fact the Chappa’ai has powered down implies an interference of some kind. Perhaps someone trying to send something, not someone through?

General Hammond looks at Sam. “Captain, Is there any way to determine what that was?” He asks, calling for Sam’s scientific background for once.

Sam nods. “Yes, sir. We can get a radiation team in there to check the decay signature on the iris.” A lieutenant then speaks into his headset, summoning the team to conduct research on their phantom traveller.

O'Neill looks back at General Hammond. “In the meantime, sir, I'd like to get back to the interrogation, if I might.”

“Okay.” Hammond says, dismissing the Colonel.

Sha’re ponders her position before seizing the chance to speak to their dying enemy. “General, As I have knowledge of the mythology of Sokar. I too would like to speak with Amaunet.”

General Hammond frowns. It is clear he thinks Sha’re is too close to the issue, given Daniel’s abduction but he looks towards O’Neill for clarity.

“Yeah, go ahead.” He says with an air of uncertainty, following Sha’re out of the room.

When Sha’re enters the infirmary, Amaunet is being attended to by a brown-haired nurse. Sha’re thinks her name is Stacey? She isn’t too sure, as she isn’t wearing a name badge. Walking over to her, Sha’re quietly asks if Amaunet is conscious. Before the nurse can reply, Amaunet beckons her over.

“Come, Sha’re.” She whispers just loud enough to hear. Sha’re cautiously walks to her bedside, unaware of the danger the restrained goddess may still pose.

“Y-You know my name?” Sha’re stammers.

Amaunet moves her head in what Sha’re can only assume is supposed to be a nod. It’s difficult to say when she’s restrained to the bed. “Because of what we hold in common. Apophis, my beloved pharaoh.”

Sha’re feels anger burst throughout her body. “His name is Dan’iel. He is MY husband.” She hisses, enraged at Amaunet’s unlawful possession of him.

Amaunet laughs. “They are one and the same.”

“My Dan’iel is a kind and wonderful man. He is possessed by the malevolent demon you forced upon him. You will tell me where he is, or I will end your life right now.”

“You are strong. Daniel has chosen well. But Apophis, my love, is stronger.” Sha’re frowns. How can such a despicable creature speak of love when all the Goa’uld know is cruelty? “You do not believe me.” Amaunet notes, seeing the disgust on her face.

“I do not think beings who reign heartbreak across galaxies are capable of understanding love.”

Amaunet looks at Sha’re with smugness. “How could you fathom our existence? Our very being is so much greater than your pitiful existence.” Sha’re fumes. She has to fight the urge to retaliate. If she does anything now, she’ll never learn anything about Daniel. Then, she gets the idea to turn their conversation back to Amaunet. To make her feel everything Sha’re feels now.

“I know where your child is. Your Harcesis.” She whispers. Amaunet tenses. She’s struck a nerve with that line, she thinks.

“My daughter? She was taken by Heru’ur.”

Sha’re shakes her head. “No. By me.” She says, glaring at Amaunet.

Amaunet stares back. “I have no use for the child now. Apophis betrayed me…” She says, and Sha’re knows what she’s doing. She’s trying to rile her up again. “I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him, he was the perfect vessel for my pharaoh.”

Sha’re clenches her fists. She leans closer towards Amaunet and whispers “If you do not tell me where my husband is, I will kill you.”

Amaunet laughs. “You have neither the strength nor the will.”

Before Sha’re has a chance to reply, Sam pulls her away. They stop in the corridor, and Sha’re runs a hand over her face. “What is it, Sam?” She asks after regaining a little of her composure. She can hear Amaunet’s pained screams from the doorway behind them.

“We…we think that thud we heard hitting the iris was a Sagan box. Its radioactive signature matches the one we gave the Tok'ra. They're coming here.”

“That is good, no?” She asks. Sam nods. With a final glance back towards Amaunet, she follows Sam back to the control room.

Eventually, three Tok’ra emerge through the wormhole, no doubt ready to aid them with their ‘visitor’. Jolinar’s beloved, Martouf is among the delegation sent to speak with them. He holds Sam in such high regard, Sha’re can’t help but smile. His next words, however, send a chill down her spine.

“We know you have Amaunet as your prisoner. You must return her to the planet you retrieved her from immediately.” What did that mean? She wondered. How much trouble had they gotten themselves into?

As Sha’re would find out, it appeared to be a lot of trouble. According to Martouf and his symbiote, SG-1 had most definitely been taken advantage of. Thanks to O’Neill’s earlier conversation with Amaunet, they knew she wanted to take them out too. The many Goa’uld such as Sokar that would benefit from her death and the destruction of Earth were insurmountable. The Tok’ra had advised them to return her for their own safety. Fortunately, the Tok’ra want to see the disgraced goddess, so their tumultuous briefing soon ends. As they enter, Janet appears to be injecting something into Amaunet’s veins. As the Doctor explains the various procedures they’ve administered to aid the dying symbiote, Amaunet suddenly arches back in pain. Her eyes snap open and Sha’re notices how different her demeanour has become. Instead of gazing upon them with disgust, she appears to look at them with sheer terror. By the Gods! This is the host!

“See-mu-we! See-mu-we!” She cries. O’Neill looks to Sha’re for answers.

“It is alright, you are safe here.” Sha’re replies. The host looks knowledgably at her, clearly the language she knew before her possession was somewhat similar to Sha’re’s modern Abydonian. “O’Neill. That is the language of my ancestors. The ones Dan’iel spoke of who were taken by Ra to Abydos. We are speaking to the woman who is Amaunet’s host.”  She says, looking at the members of her team. Sam’s eyes widen as the implication sinks in.

The host writhes in pain once more, her pleas even more desperate than before. “She-rawh-tai! She-rawh-tai!” Sha’re opens her mouth to speak, but the woman has lost consciousness once more.

The quiet that had swept over the room was broken once more. The klaxons began to sound and the P.A system was flooded with repeated messages. “Incoming Traveller. Incoming Traveller.”  O’Neill directs them back to the gateroom for what felt like the thousandth time that day. If traversing other planets didn’t count as a cardio workout, running backwards and forwards in the rabbit warren of a base surely would! As they arrive, countless thuds hit the large titanium iris.

Martouf looks stoically at the iris before turning to O’Neill. “Sokar has found you.”

“How?” O’Neill asks in disbelief.

“His pilots saw your kind flee with Amaunet through the Chappa'ai. Symbols for the Tau'ri are well known among the Goa'uld.” O’Neill frowns.

Teal'c’s eyes linger on the iris. “Something is appearing.” He says, and Sha’re can see he’s right. Though the iris is made of a strong metal, it appears to be warping and growing redder in colour. Sam looks on in disbelief.

“How is this possible?” She says, inputting commands into the control computer.

“The space between your metal barrier and the wormhole may be enough for particles of extremely high energy to reintegrate.” Martouf says, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on the iris.

“Subatomic particles?” Sam inquires. Martouf simply nods at her.

Sam looks shocked once more. “Are you saying he's firing a particle accelerator at the wormhole?”

“Captain?” Hammond interrupts, looking as confused as Sha’re feels.

“Sir, we may be witnessing the decay of subatomic particles as they’re being bombarded against the iris. Small enough to reintegrate but moving at nearly light velocity. If Sokar can modulate the particle stream enough to create an actual image…” Sam rattles on, before an image appears at the gate.

A red face has projected itself before them. “People of the Tau'ri. You have taken what is mine. For this, you will be destroyed.” Sha’re and the others around her are stunned to silence.

Taking a look at one of the monitors before him, one of the young lieutenants jumps back in alarm. “The iris is beginning to heat up, sir.”

Hammond looks at the screens. “How long can they maintain this?”

Sam looks back at the General. “The longest single Goa'uld attack against the iris was 38 minutes. We think that's the maximum a wormhole can be maintained before it collapses.”

“That will not help us much, Sam. They will just continue to dial until we are destroyed.” Sha’re says, looking sadly at the Chappa’ai.

Hammond nods. “This changes things. I better get on the phone with the President.” He says, marching up the stairs to his office.

“Can you help us?” Sam asks, looking to her Tok’ra friend.

Martouf shakes his head. “I know of no way.”

O'Neill looks at Sam, an idea on the tip of his tongue. “All right. In the meantime, Carter, why don't you see what you can get out of Amaunet. Her neck's on the line here now, too.”

“Yes, sir.”

Teal'c looks between them both. “I will accompany you.” He says, before he and Sam leave the room. Sha’re feels helpless. Perhaps if she had more knowledge of the gate, she could be useful too. O’Neill places a hand on her shoulder as if to say “I know you want to help, but there’s nothing else we can do.” Sha’re can only sigh. What can they do now? A team of specialists has finally arrived in the room clad in fireproof suits but Sha’re can see they don’t know how to stop the beam either. Sha’re stares off into the distance before an idea hits her. General Hammond has returned from his office, so Sha’re seizes the opportunity.

“General. Perhaps if we can dial the Chappa’ai, Sokar will no longer be able to maintain his control over it?” She muses, and the General’s eyes light up.

“Good thinking. If we can keep our Gate open for the same link of time…” He trails off.

Lieutenant Simmons looks up at them. “Coming up to 38 minutes, sir.”

“Stand by.” O’Neill says, before the wormhole closes. Although it’s still continuing to increase in temperature, they now have the perfect window of opportunity to execute their plan. “Go ahead, dial it up.”

The first two chevrons lock in no time, but before the third can engage, the computer system blares a warning. “Caution: Incoming Traveler.” It’s no good. Sokar can apparently dial his Chappa’ai almost instantaneously.

O'Neill swears under his breath. “Damn it.” He yells as the bewildered Lieutenant looks on.

“Sorry, sir. Next window is 38 minutes away.” He says sheepishly. O’Neill looks at the Lieutenant dismissively before leaving Sha’re alone with her thoughts. She doesn’t get any time to think, however as she’s summoned back to the infirmary. The woman has regained control of her body once more, and Sha’re’s needed to translate her mutterings. As Sha’re enteres the infirmary, she can see just how frail the woman has become. Mere hours ago, she looked as though she was no more than thirty years old, her dark hair was full and framed her face. Now? The woman looks much older, as though she’s aged several decades in only minutes. Her dark curls now rendered white by age sit limply across her face. She is whispering something so quiet, Sha’re has to lean in just to make it out.

“Rech yah gereh. Per nejes ha gereh. She ma tai. She ma tai.” She says.

“She speaks of an unending dream. One she could not awaken from. She speaks of her children and husband, whom she wished to see once more.” Sha’re relays, and her heart drops. The cruelty this woman has endured at the hands of a monster is unbearable.

The woman cries in despair. “Sesh achet per taa ra sejem ched.”

“She was a scribe in the temple of Amon at Karnak, but that was another lifetime ago, before the…before the nightmare.”

“Depet reshwet herew…herew.”

Sha’re sighs. “and now she awakens only to die again.” Looking at O’Neill briefly, she returns to the woman. “Ar ko-me di-ya tuw qu-ris Yam-yakh-cle. Ip-yak, shur-see-buy, sof-khow, miy-yak, hee-ma-ta she-rahw-tak. Hiy-yak, han-vy-sun heyh-hu. Heyh-hu.” The woman nods weakly, and Sha’re relays her words.

“I said I will speak the words of power and do the rites. She will be returned to Egypt and buried with honour. She will pass through the seven gates and see her husband and children again and rejoice with them forever.” O’Neill nods solemly as Sha’re leaves the room. Making her way to her office, she retrieves a small figurine from Daniel’s collection, one used for funerals even on Abydos before returning to the infirmary.

Janet’s eyes when she re-enters the room tell Sha’re all she needs to know. The woman has already passed on. Regardless, Sha’re tells her what she would have said, had she been alive.

“Yet-yau tau-ti ky-puum ni fadet oo-ra-eyu. In yaf ki-yaak a ku-mayi.” She says as she holds the statue before the woman. Turning back to Janet and O’Neill she translates. “I have told her this statue shall hold her last breath and carry her soul back to her homeland.”

Teal’c hurriedly bursts into the room, locking eyes with O’Neill. “Captain Carter has succeeded in creating an outgoing wormhole. Sokar cannot attack during this time.”

O'Neill looks relieved. “That's good.” He says as Teal’c approaches Amaunet’s body.  Teal’c is frozen for a few minutes. It must take a while to sink in, Sha’re thinks. The cruel oppressor who has tormented him for so long is finally gone. It took many days to accept Ra’s death, so Sha’re understands exactly how her Jaffa friend feels.

After she performs the rites, Amaunet’s body is taken into the gateroom by Teal’c. He looks at her wrapped form for a moment before passing it through the wormhole. The room is solemn as no one dares to speak during the process. Eventually, Sha’re musters the courage to ask her questions. “What do we do now?”

O'Neill looks at her. “We wait.” He simply says.

Sam on the other hand looks worried. “If Sokar wanted her alive, he'll just start up the attack again.” She says, but Martouf belays her fears.

“No. I don't believe he will. Sokar has a sarcophagus in his possession. With it, he can revive Amaunet even from death and torture her as long as he pleases.”

Sha’re looks at him with a horrified expression. Martouf cocks his head in confusion. “Surely, a fate she justly deserves?” he questions, but it is clear no one in the room quite agrees with that statement. Minutes later however, they make their way back into the control room. Martouf looks at the dialling program, before entering some coordinates. “These are the coordinates we would like you send us to.” He says to Sam.

Sam looks disheartened. “But not to anywhere we'll be able to find you again.”

Martouf looks at her, a small smile on his lips. “To contact us, you may use this.” He says, handing Sam a small device. Sha’re studies it intently before blurting out.

“That is a Tollan device.”

Martouf nods. “Yes, we are friends of the Tollan, and we are friends of the Tau'ri.”

“Thank you.” Sam smiles.

O'Neill reaches into his pocket, and produces a similar device, one of their GDOs. “Well, if we're going to be friends, you're going to need one of these.” He says, handing the device to Martouf.

Martouf turns it over in his hands before looking at O’Neill. “It's called a G D O. It sends out a signal that lets us know who you are and if it's ok to open the iris. Otherwise, you could end up splattered against the…well…”

Martouf smiles. “I understand.” He says as he turns to leave.

“Martouf?” Sha’re asks and he turns back.

“Yes?”

“Amaunet spoke of Apophis. She said he had betrayed her. What was she speaking of?” Sha’re asks, recalling both her time with Daniel, and what the former system lord had said as she lay dying.

“I am sorry, I do not know of what you speak, Sha’re.” Martouf says dismissively.

Sha’re frowns. “What does Onak sha kree, shel Goa'uld really mean?” She asks, and Martouf’s face distorts in anger.

“You should not know that phrase.” Martouf says coldly, only Sha’re realises it isn’t Martouf at all. His symbiote has taken control. Sha’re shrinks backwards. O’Neill, Sam and Teal’c look shocked by his behaviour, and step closer to Sha’re in defence.

“A-A-Apophis spoke the words when Dan’iel was back on Abydos with the Harcesis child. Dan’iel could suppress the symbiote for a time but Apophis soon regained control.” She stammers.

Martouf looks into her eyes as if to say more before reaching into his pockets. “Onak sha kree, shel Goa’uld.” Martouf whispers, before spraying a green powder into her face, and that of her team members. The last thing Sha’re sees is Martouf looming over her body. Succumbing to the substance, Sha’re falls into endless darkness.

Chapter Text

Everywhere she looks, all she can see is carnage. Bodies of her fellow Abydonians and those of Jaffa lay strewn around the ravaged battlefield. Sha’re can only stare in horror at the sheer devastation reaped in a single battle. Her team had been summoned to a wooded planet by her father, who had warned them of their current predicament. The Abydonians had been abducted in order to determine the location of the Harcesis child. Sha’re hoped that Kara was safe, but that was an unlikely possibility now. She can see O’Neill off in the distance, helping people out of the cages they’d been placed into. Everything is hazy to Sha’re. She can barely move her feet as her head races uncontrollably. An insistent tapping on her shoulder pulls her back to the present. It’s her father.

“Daughter, you came.” He says, but Sha’re barely recognizes his voice. She struggles to find the words but eventually, she hears a voice reply.

“We got your message, Father.” Was that her voice? She couldn’t place it either. Why was everything so hazy?

“He has taken the girl.” Kasuf says, and Sha’re comes back to the conversation.

“Who, Father?” She asks, but deep down, she knows who he speaks of.

“The Demon. He has returned to claim the child of Dan’iel.” He says and Sha’re’s world fractures once more.

“Come on Sha’re. We gotta go.” O’Neill says. When did he appear by her side?

“Where? Where is the demon?”

“There.” Kasuf says, pointing toward a canvas tent in the distance. The green canvas looks akin to the tents set up by the SGC, not the traditional tents on Abydos.

“Keep everyone together, Father. Go with the Tau’ri.” Sha’re says. She hears O’Neill give the order to fall back, but she cannot let him slip through her fingers again. Bolting for the tent, she hears her team members cry out in protest, but nothing can stop her now.

As she approaches the tent, a Jaffa aims to strike. Sha’re quickly dispatches him with her sidearm and she enters the tent without a second thought. Daniel’s cold gaze soon meets her eyes. Clad in robes of rich blues and golds, he looks befitting of the title of pharaoh. Sha’re looks at him in amazement. The blues of his robes match his eyes so beautifully, Sha’re has to wonder if all Goa’uld coordinate their outfits in this way. Daniel cocks his head slightly as she approaches. He’s a far cry from the Daniel she knows and loves. He holds himself with an air of pretentiousness that Sha’re knows doesn’t belong to him. She sighs before drawing her gun once more.

“Don't move.” She orders as she searches the tent from top to bottom. She quickly discovers the tent is empty, and she turns her attention back to Apophis.

“Where is Kara?”

Daniel’s eyes glow and Sha’re flinches. This isn’t Daniel, she has to remind herself.

“Where you and the System Lords will never find her.”

“No.” Sha’re whispers. Apophis looks on with anger and raises his left hand clad adorned with a golden device. A Kara Kesh. Sha’re aims at him once more with her own weapon but hesitates. Daniel has no part in this. Is it fair to end his life so hers may continue? Before she can react, Apophis activates the device. A searing pain erupts in her forehead and she sinks to her knees. Groaning through the pain, she presses on. “Dan’iel my love, you must fight this.”

Apophis smirks. “My host cannot help you.”

“Dan’iel…” Sha’re gasps as her strength slowly diminishes. She can barely think anymore. Her body won’t move and her sidearm clatters to the floor. Sha’re sees another figure enter the tent. Teal’c stands motionless as he lifts his staff weapon into the air. He aims at Apophis.

“No!” She screams, but it is too late. Apophis’ limp body crumples to its knees before collapsing onto the hard dirt floor. Teal’c has killed Daniel to save her life. As she comes to her senses once more, Teal’c looks apologetically at her.

“I am sorry, Sha’re Jackson.” But his words mean nothing. She feels anger explode inside her chest and she launches herself at the larger man. She beats his chest with all she has but it is no use. He quickly restrains her arms. “I have ended the life of your husband because there was no other way. I know you are angry, but we have saved him from Apophis’ control.” He says stoically. Sha’re knows he’s right, but how could this have been their only option?

“It is not fair…” She cries as hot tears slip down her cheeks. In an unusual first for her warrior friend, Teal’c gathers her into his arms and hugs her tightly.

“I know.” He says as her tears continue. Sha’re hears shuffling and two more people enter the tent. O’Neill and Sam, no doubt.

“Oh god.” Sam says as she looks at Daniel’s body. O’Neill’s eyes look heavy, but he remains composed.

“Teal’c?” He asks.

“Sha’re Jackson is injured, O’Neill. She has been subjected to torture at the hands of her beloved.”

“Let’s get her home then.” O’Neill says before Sha’re loses consciousness.

Å

Sha’re opens her eyes and finds herself once again on the planet the Abydonians had been taken to. The rich green hue of the tent on the horizon is unmistakable. Sha’re’s feet move on their own and she once again acts disobediently towards her team. Once more, the Jaffa comes to protect Apophis and she finds herself working automatically to dispatch him. Hadn’t she already done this?

This time, however, as she approaches the tent something different happens. Daniel appears behind her, as though appearing out of the air itself.

“You’re finally here.” He says and she turns to face him. Again, he is clad in luxurious golds and blues, but unlike last time, Sha’re senses no malice in his voice.

“You’re the only one who can save her, Sha’re. Apophis took the Abydonians to mask his true goal from Heru’ur. He never intended to hurt them.”

“He did it to take his daughter back?” She asks and Daniel shrugs his shoulders.

“Not exactly. Amaunet showed up a few months after you left and absconded the girl. Her Lo’Taur sent her into hiding.”

“Where?” She asks, hanging off his words.

“Kheb.” Daniel replies and Sha’re instantly recognizes that name.

“The place where Osiris hid from Sutekh? It is but a myth.” She says but Daniel shakes his head.

“Oh, it's real alright.”

“Where? How do I-” Sha’re starts, but her hands begin to shimmer.

“Promise me, Sha’re. Promise me you’ll save her.” Daniel says as she disappears. Sha’re can’t be sure what happened next, but she felt as if she was falling through an endless void. The only thing she knows for certain is that she’s awake now. She looks around. The infirmary?

“Thank god, you’re awake.” O’Neill says as she blinks to refocus her senses.

“What happened?” She croaks, her voice thick with disuse.

“Your brain almost melted, that’s what.”

“I do not understand.”

“What the Colonel’s trying to say, Sha’re, is that you were subjected to a Goa’uld ribbon device.” Janet clarifies, and Sha’re notices how many of her friends are at her bedside. O’Neill, Janet, Sam and Teal’c are all huddled around her bed with worried looks on their faces.

“Dan’iel.” She whispers.

“That is correct, Sha’re Jackson.” Teal’c says stoically, but Sha’re can sense the guilt in his voice.

“You killed Dan’iel, did you not?” She asks and her friends look at her in shock. It appears they hadn’t expected her to be so blunt.

“Yes.” Teal’c says, bowing his head deeply.

“I do not understand. How could you have killed him, Teal’c? How did we get to that planet?” She asks, as she sees Sam looks at Janet with even more concern on her face.

Teal’c cocks his head to the side in a gesture of confusion. “You do not recall our trip through the Stargate, Sha’re Jackson? We received a set of coordinates leading us to rescue the Abydonians. Apophis was there also. He tried to end your life with his Kara Kesh. I had to intervene to save you.”

Sha’re shakes her head. When had they gone on such a mission? She looks among her friends, who all look at her with pity. What was really going on? “I must see for myself.” She says, flipping the blankets off her legs.

“Woah woah woah. You’re not in a position to go anywhere young lady.” O’Neill says as he grabs her hands to stop her. She pushes him away.

“Sir, we should let her figure it out.” Sam says, and Sha’re feels spurred on by her friend’s support. Moving to her side, Sam begins to help her out of bed. Although Janet looks on with a face that displays her true feelings about Sha’re leaving, she remains silent as Sam leads her out of the room.

“I wish to go to the Chappa’ai.” Sha’re says, and Sam leads her towards the gate room. Why do I want to go there? She thinks. As Sam guides her through the corridors, she notices something. While she can’t quite put her finger on it, it's clear something is very wrong about this place. Perhaps it is a stomach feeling. Like the ones O’Neill talks about. Where you know something isn’t right, but nothing wrong appears before you. As they finally reach the gate room, Sha’re notices something clearly different. The Chappa’ai is glowing. Though it normally glows, this is different. She steps closer out of confusion. Sam has let her walk towards the ramp on her own, but she lingers behind, as though she’s played her part already, now Sha’re must play hers.

The glyphs of the Chappa’ai glow white against the dark naquadah. Has it always been capable of doing this? Sha’re blinks once more. It is not all of the glyphs that are glowing. There are only seven that shine into the darkness. Sha’re looks back at Sam. Her friend remains motionless.

“Sam, is the Chappa’ai supposed to glow like this?” She asks, but Sam looks through her like she isn’t there.

“Onak sha kree, shel Goa’uld.”  She says.

“What does that mean?” Sha’re cries, but the floor gives out beneath her.

Å

Sha’re bolts upright in her bed for what feels like the hundredth time that night. Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath. She looks around the room. It’s just her quarters on base at the SGC. Glancing over at her nightstand, she observes the time on her clock. 3:87am. What had she just been doing? Was she on another planet?  Wait. 3:87am? That was not a time on Earth. Her confusion only grew as she felt a warm presence beside her.

“wasswrng?” Daniel grumbles, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

“Dan’iel?” She asks in disbelief.

“Mmm. Who else would I be?” He asks, sitting upright.

“But you… Abydos… Goa’uld..” She stammers.

“I was taken as a host for a Goa’uld, that’s right.” He says as his eyes glow in the darkness.

Sha’re scoots away from him. “Sha’re, I need you to listen to me.” He begins, but Sha’re has reached the end of her bed. “Onak sha kree, shel Goa’uld.” He says once more. Sha’re backs even further away, but falls unceremoniously onto the cold concrete floor. All she can do is scream into the darkness as the world shifts once more.

Å

Sha’re feels groggy as she opens her eyes. Her head pounds as she attempts to sit upright. “Easy. You’ve been out for hours.” She hears O’Neill say, his soft tone sounds as if he’s speaking to a child as he reaches out to her. Sha’re looks into his eyes.

“O’Neill? I was- I do not know where I was…” She starts, confusion threading its way through her mind. He gives her a smile.

“Yeah, we’ve all been through the wringer today. What do you remember?”

“We were on a planet. The people of Abydos had been taken to try and find Kara. Oh- Dan’iel.” She cries and O’Neill gathers her into his arms.

“Yeah I know. We went through that too, Sha’re. You’re safe now though.” He says as he tries to console her.

“The last I remember, O’Neill, we had just sent Amaunet’s corpse through the Chappa’ai. Then I awoke on the planet- a-and then Teal’c killed Dan’iel to save my life.” She mutters. Looking around, she notices where they are for the first time. She and the rest of SG-1 are in an enormous cavern-like space. Large crystals adorn the walls and glow without the need for torches. It looks familiar, but Sha’re can’t place it, yet.

“We do not believe that occurred, Sha’re Jackson.” Teal’c says from behind her. She turns to look at the Jaffa.

“What do you speak of, Teal’c? I feel as if I have just awoken from a never-ending dream.”

“Because that’s exactly what happened.” Sam says as she looks towards a particular wall of the cavern. Sha’re can see what almost looks like a cutout for a door in the wall, but she can’t be certain it isn’t a feature of the crystal’s growth.

“I have been dreaming of Dan’iel’s death?” She asks and Sam nods.

“Remember after we sent Amaunet through the gate, you asked Martouf something?” She begins. Sha’re nods. “Well, I don’t think he liked your question very much, because he threw something in our faces. Though, it didn’t work on Teal’c.”

“It was as if I were in a trance or a dream, Sam.”

Sam nods. “Same with us. Well, the Colonel and me at least.” Sha’re blinks in confusion.

“I believe the three of you were exposed to Nish’ta. The hallucinogenic compound that Seth used to control his cult of followers. My symbiote protected me from its effects, a fact Martouf no doubt planned for. I was rendered unconscious by Zat’nik’tel blast instead. I believe our captors are Tok’ra.” Teal’c explains. Sha’re looks at him with disbelief.

“Why would the Tok’ra do this? They are our allies?” She questions as O’Neill looks at her.

“Well, whatever the reason, it’s a sure as hell way of breaking our treaty!” He yells, trying to anger their captors. His outburst must’ve had some kind of effect as the wall slides open in front of them.

“We didn’t do this to anger you, Jack.” Jacob says as he steps into their ‘cell’.

“Dad! What’s going on?” Sam says, rushing to hug her father.

“It’s good to see you too, kiddo. We were hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but I’m afraid we’ve been lying to you right from the start.”

“What?!” O’Neill yells. “We trust you snake heads and this is what you do to us in return?”  Jacob sighs.

“I’m here to escort you to the main chamber. I promise we’ll explain things when we get there.” He says, before leaving the room.

“Are we really gonna trust them?” O’Neill asks, but Sam looks at him in disgust. “Okay, obviously, Jacob’s a good guy. I mean the other snakes.”

“I do not understand it either, O’Neill. I trust Jacob Carter, though, so we should at least see what he has to say.” Teal’c says and Sha’re can see Sam’s mood improve.

“I agree. We should see what Jacob says before we decide any further, O’Neill.” Sha’re says as O’Neill lets her out of his embrace. He nods at the members of his team before they move out. In the corridor, Jacob patiently awaits them along with three other Tok’ra. Sha’re doesn’t remember if she knows their names, so she stays quiet as they traverse the halls. The familiarity dawns on her. These were the Tok’ra tunnels! It appeared their friends had finally set up a new base since they had first encountered them. The more Sha’re thought about their situation, the more it perplexed her. Why would the Tok’ra kidnap and expose them to such a dangerous compound? Sha’re would soon find out as their guides abruptly stopped in front of a large set of doors. 

“I thought you did not use doors, Jacob?” She asks in confusion. When they’d first met, the Tok’ra had told them that they didn’t use doors as they had no use for secrets among their ranks.

“This is a different arrangement. We use these doors to guard our most precious secret.” Selmak says as they turn to face the team.

“Secret? What kinda secret would you wanna keep from us, Jacob? Aren’t we friends?” O’Neill asks, feigning a hurt expression to mask his annoyance.

“You must swear to us that you will not divulge the information we are to share with you.” Selmak warns.

“We promise.” Sam says confidently. Jacob turns to the other Tok’ra with a nod of his head. They heave open the large crystalline doors and SG-1 steps within. The room doesn’t look very different to the others they’ve been in, so Sha’re wonders why they’re treating it so unusually. Inside the room, Sha’re can see two familiar faces. Martouf stands next to Garshaw and they speak in hushed whispers as SG-1 and Jacob arrive. They turn to greet the team and O’Neill leaps forward, pinning Martouf to a large central column.

“What the hell, Marty?! You drug us, then kidnap us and bring us to- where are we anyway?”

Martouf looks calm, despite O’Neill’s rough treatment. “I can understand your anger, O’Neill. But I do ask that you listen to everything Garshaw will tell you, and what He has to say as well.”

Garshaw beckons the team towards rough crystal benches. Who might He be anyway?

“I am sorry we had to deceive you, friends. But it was of the utmost importance that you did not interfere with our mission.” She begins, as the Tok’ra around her look on. Jacob isn’t with them, Sha’re notices, even though he’d entered the room with them. Why had he left?

“Friends don’t turn on their friends like you did.” O’Neill sneers.

Garshaw sighs. “Martouf and Lantash were only playing a part. They did not intend to cause you harm, but we needed to bring you back to our base. We could not have you compromise us again.”

“Why? What might we have done?” Sam asks, and Garshaw freezes for a moment.

“Perhaps it is better to have him explain it to you. Prepare for Night’s arrival.” She says, standing as a Tok’ra moves to open the doors. Sha’re is astounded by what she sees next. There, standing next to Jacob as if nothing has happened in the past three years, is Daniel. He looks sheepishly around the room, and his eyes widen as they land on Sha’re.

“WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?” O’Neill explodes, attempting to run towards Daniel. Teal’c is faster, however and wraps a single arm around O’Neill’s torso, pulling him back.

“Well it's nice to see you too, Jack.” Daniel smirks. Sha’re and Sam look at each other, their equally confused faces reflected back at one another.

“Dad?” Sam questions, turning her attention towards her father, the only one so far, who’s been forthcoming about the whole thing.

“I didn’t want to have to do all this, but we really didn’t have a choice.” Daniel says as he looks around the room.

“Enough with the sob story. Tell us what you really want, your majesty.” O’Neill spits. Daniel’s face crumples. Quickly regaining his composure, he gestures for them to sit on the benches once more.

“Dan’iel?” Sha’re asks, having finally worked up the courage to speak.

“First, I want to apologise for everything I’ve put you through sweetheart. Not being able to tell you about all this has been eating away at me. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I needed to. To protect you, to protect Kara and keep Amaunet away from you. Let me start at the beginning.” He says, taking Sha’re’s face in his hands. Sha’re nods, leaning into his warm hands. He lets go, as he begins to tell them his story.

His eyes glow and a different voice takes over. Apophis. “I too, would like to apologize for my behaviour. I hid my true intentions from you, and for that I ask you forgive Daniel. You have probably guessed by now, but I am not the fearsome system lord the legends speak of. I am Tok’ra. I infiltrated Amaunet’s ranks many centuries ago, and played the role of ruthless Pharaoh in order to aid our cause. To eliminate Goa’uld and free unwilling hosts.” Sha’re shakes her head.

“Tok’ra do not take unwilling hosts. Dan’iel said himself that Amaunet forced this onto him. Why did you do nothing to aid him?” She says as anger creeps into her voice.

“That was not something I could control, Sha’re. Daniel only agreed because I showed him that we could be a team and save your brother.”

“Klorel was Tok’ra as well?”

“Unfortunately not. Klorel is Goa’uld, the spawn of Amaunet. He is not like us.” Apophis explains as a wave of guilt washes over Sha’re.

“I could not save him.” She says sadly as images of her brother’s death play in her mind.

“There is still hope. Klorel’s followers placed him into a sarcophagus shortly after you left his chambers.”

“Skaara is alive?” She asks incredulously. Apophis nods.

“Indeed. However, we would need to locate him in order to remove the symbiote from his body.”

 “So, you played us for fools, then you talk about saving the universe. What’ve you really got planned? The Daniel I know would never let innocent people be slaughtered the way the goold like to kill ‘em.” O’Neill says furiously.

Apophis’ face contorts in anger. Daniel’s expression calms as he regains control. “Believe me, Jack. I tried my best to save everyone, but sometimes you can’t save ‘em all. I really am working to make a difference here.”

“The elixir. The Nish’ta?” Sha’re mumbles, and Daniel snaps his attention back towards her.

“No, there really wasn’t an elixir that could control the symbiote. I needed you to take the baby away so that no one else could find her.”

“So you were pretending? But how come I didn’t know?” Sam asks, having been quietly absorbing the information.

Daniel opens his mouth to speak to her, but Martouf jumps in. “Jolinar did not share that memory with you, Samantha. It was for your own safety. If you had known the truth, that Apophis was Tok’ra, you could have put both him and your team in greater danger.”

“So why tell us now?” She retorts, her face clouded with confusion, anger and betrayal.

“Because as Amaunet now rots in the hands of Sokar, we can finally ask you to help us. We needed you, Sha’re. You hold the key.”

“What key?” She asks.

“You know where Kara is. Amaunet relayed the information to you upon her arrival to Stargate Command.”

“We received no such information, Apophis.” Teal’c says with confusion.

“Not in a literal sense, Teal’c. I believe as she lay dying, Amaunet’s host was able to pass information over to Sha’re.” “What Apophis means is that sometimes, A Goa’uld can impart information onto someone else through physical touch. They usually do it to entice a new host, but it seems Amaunet was trying to tell you something instead.” Daniel clarifies.

“She most likely did it when you were translating, Sha’re.” Sam says as Sha’re thinks back.

“Why would she tell me, not Apophis? How did you betray her, Dan’iel?” She asks, remembering Amaunet’s words.

“I think she suspected something. I’m not sure if she knew we were Tok’ra, or if she just thought we were conspiring with someone else. I think she chose you because of me. Deep down, I think Amaunet’s host knew that Kara would’ve been taken or killed by someone else, so she trusted you with her true location.”

“But I do not know of any places?” She begins, but Daniel places a hand on hers.

“You do. It’s why I got Martouf to use the Nish’ta on you guys.”

“I dreamt of your death, Dan’iel. I do not understand how that could provide Kara’s location?” Daniel sighs, running a hand over his face.

“I told you, it was too much powder Martouf. Basically, in the right dosage, Nish’ta can be used to put someone into a dream. Like hypnosis. We needed you to remember what Amaunet had given you.”

“Kheb.” She says and Daniel’s eyes sparkle.

“That’s it. What exactly did she tell you?” He urges, stroking the back of her hand.

“Amaunet was not in my dream, Dan’iel. You were. Before Teal’c killed you, you told me Amaunet had sent the child into hiding on Kheb with a Lo’Taur. To protect her from harm. I do not understand one thing. Why did I see your death?” Daniel nods towards the others in the room.

“I’m not sure exactly, but sometimes the Nish’ta evokes a person’s greatest fears. Maybe that’s why you experienced my ‘death’ as the information was being relayed to you?” He muses.

“What does Onak sha kree shel Goa’uld mean? You repeated it in my dreams as well.” She asks after a moment.

“Ah. See the literal translation is ‘which god do you serve?’, but the Tok’ra use it as a password of sorts. The correct answer is ‘Goach, sha kree, lo Goa'uld’. That translates to something along the lines of ‘I serve no god. We use it as a way of identifying our allies. Something Martouf didn’t explain to you as it would’ve given too much away.”

“We do not know the address for Kheb. So this deception was devised to obtain it.” Apophis says, joining their conversation.

“What do you plan to do with Kara?” Sha’re asks accusingly. She won’t let anyone use a child to rule the galaxy.

“We plan to retrieve her, and have her live a normal life, Sha’re. She didn’t choose to be born into such carnage. Hell, she didn’t choose to be born at all. But what I want now is for her to be free.” Daniel explains, as his long hair falls into his eyes.

“I wish to go with you. To save Kara.” Sha’re says confidently.

Daniel smiles. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Å

True to his word, Daniel returns to Sha’re and the rest of SG-1 a few weeks later. Their relative peace is shattered, however, when an injured ally comes to them in desperation. Bra’tac informs them of a most terrible event. After returning home from the Tok’ra, several weeks had passed before they were recruited to attempt a rescue mission to save Jacob from the hands of Sokar. Armed with the knowledge Jolinar left in Sam, they eventually succeeded in defeating Sokar and returning home. In their stead, however, Amaunet had revealed herself and commanded Sokar’s broken armies. Amaunet acted swiftly, sending her newly acquired forces to decimate Chulak. Thus, Bra’tac had sought their help once more. From his words, Sha’re could only imagine the horror inflicted on the enslaved Jaffa. Amaunet truly was a despicable force. Sha’re looks up from her notebook. Daniel, too had been attempting to translate some ancient symbols, but Teal’c had interrupted them by entering her office with a serious expression. Well, a more serious one than usual.

“Sha’re and Daniel Jackson. I believe I know why Amaunet launched her assault on Chulak. She had been searching for the Harcesis child.” He announces to the shock of his mentor.

“Harcesis are forbidden.” Bra’tac says, his eyes wide with surprise.

Daniel sighs. “That didn’t stop Amaunet. But she’s not on Chulak, that much I do know.”

Bra'tac looks at Daniel incredulously. “You know where the child is?”

“No, he does not Master Bra’tac. I do.” Sha’re says after a moment. “She has been sent to Kheb.”

Bra'tac glances at Teal'c who looks at his friend curiously. “You have heard of such a place.”

Bra'tac nods. “It is an ancient legend. I did not believe it really existed. The Goa'uld fear and despise Kheb. They forbade anyone from speaking of it long ago. It is something my father once spoke of to me. An old tale about a place discovered long ago by a few Jaffa and kept secret from the Goa'uld. When they could no longer carry a primta, they would make their journey to Kheb. There their calak would learn the path through the darkness into the next life.”

Sha’re taps her notebook with a pen. “Calak is a soul, yes?” Teal’c nods.

Bra'tac looks at her. “When some of the Goa'uld finally found out about Kheb, they made their way there. They did not return. It was forbidden to speak of ever again. My father enjoyed telling me this story. If the Goa'uld truly are all-powerful gods, he would say, how is it that they fear anything?”

“I do not know the exact address.” Sha’re admits defeatedly.

“You know the glyphs at least.” Apophis says in an attempt to console her.

“What do you speak of?” Bra’tac asks, looking between the couple.

“Amaunet’s host gave Sha’re the symbols to Kheb, but we haven’t been able to get the Stargate to lock onto any planets.” Daniel explains.

“Why would she slaughter her own Jaffa if she knew of the child’s location?”

“Because I think Amaunet’s host wanted us to find her. She used the last of her strength to pass the information onto Sha’re through Ba’shut. I don’t think Amaunet knows at all. It seems her host is withholding the information.”

“We do not know the order of the glyphs. Sam has been trying to determine the combination, but she says there are too many.” Sha’re explains.

“May I learn the symbols of which you speak? I have heard tales of Osiris hiding from Sutekh on a Lok’na planet.”

“Lok’na?” Sha’re questions.

“A group of planets whose resources have been depleted by mining.” Teal’c informs her.

Making their way to the control room, Sam settles into the main computer. She pulls up a screen of more than 20 gate addresses all in hues of reds, whites and yellows. “These are the ones that look most promising.” She says as Bra’tac examines the list over her shoulder.

“There. That is the Lok’na planet.” He points at one address.

“What do the red glyphs mean?” Sha’re asks.

“We basically have two reference maps for Stargate addresses. Yellow represents the cartouche that the Goa'uld left on Abydos, and the addresses from the Ancients' original map of the Stargate is in red.” Sam explains, highlighting the chosen address.

“You don't recognise this address here?” She says to Bra’tac.

“No.” He confirms.

“I too, have heard these legends, Sam. The Goa’uld would never include a place on their cartouche. Like how they did not include the location of Cimmeria.” Apophis informs them.

Sam nods. “Well, this address is the only planet in the system that the Goa'uld didn't include on their map.”

Daniel looks relieved. “We found it.”

“What is it like?” Sha’re asks.

Bra'tac looks at her fondly. “The story I have heard says Kheb is an untouched wilderness with great mountains and a single temple in a valley distant from the Stargate.”

General Hammond looks over at them. He’d just come down from his office.

“If the Lo’Taur thought to hide the Harsesis on Kheb then Amaunet will presume so.” Teal’c realises.

O'Neill looks at the General after he’s brought up to speed. “Well scary stories on not, Amaunet is just nuts enough to go. I'd like some backup on this one, sir.”

Hammond nods. “SG-2 will accompany you.”

“As will I.” Bra’tac agrees.

Daniel looks apprehensive. “Let's just hope we're first.”

Kheb is as Bra’tac had described it to them. Thousands of trees line the singular path from the Chappa’ai into the mountains. The path itself looks old, but surprisingly un-trekked. Making their way down the path, they face no obstacles, aside from the looming danger of other visitors. Shortly after reaching the crest of a hill, the two Jaffa notice tracks. They were not alone, it seemed. As they walked, Sha’re took in the natural sights, a far cry from the deserts of her home world. They pass a small river and a clearing in the trees. Bra’tac stops in his tracks once more.

“What is it?” O’Neill asks, surveying the small area.  

Teal'c looks over at his friend. “Six of the Jaffa stopped here.”

“Two went on ahead. They returned with another…a woman.” Bra'tac continues.

O'Neill looks lost. “How do you know that?” he asks.

Teal'c points to the ground beneath their feet. “Here. The third of the prints are small and light, the shoe an open-toed sandal worn by Jaffa women.”

Bra'tac looks beyond the area, into the denser woods. “When they all met up again, there was a struggle, and they headed into the forest. Each print is spread wide. They were running.”

O'Neill looks at Teal’c, a smile on his face. “He's good.”

Teal'c nods. “Extremely.”

Bra'tac looks at them, a grave expression on his face. “The woman may be the priestess entrusted with the child.”

As they trek further through the forest, both Daniel and Sha’re stumble across bodies. Jaffa. From the looks of it, they’ve been there a long time. Their faces are blackened with age and decomposed beyond recognition.

Sam looks at the bodies with a puzzled look on her face. “This is really weird. These bodies are burnt to a crisp and yet nothing around them has even been touched. It's almost as if lightning struck.”

“Or maybe some kind of…” O’Neill starts, but Teal’c interrupts his thought.

“I have never before seen a weapon that could do such a thing.”

“…weapon.” O’Neill mumbles.

Bra'tac pulls their attention away from the bodies. He’s further away from their group, nestled among small bushes. “Over here!” He yells as the team runs to meet him. Another horrific sight awaits them. Bra’tac has found the body of the young priestess they’d speculated had been with the group of Jaffa. Unlike the other bodies however, she is unscathed. To the uninformed, it would appear she’d just been sleeping.

“She was shot in the back as she fled.” Bra’tac says sadly.

Daniel looks around before declaring his findings. “I count eight bodies total.”

O'Neill frowns slightly. “So, what happened here?”

Bra'tac looks thoughtful for a moment before theorizing what had happened. “The priestess was being escorted back to the Stargate by two of the Jaffa. When they met the others, she realized she was in danger. She attempted to flee. They chased her and shot her. Then someone or something attacked them.”

Sam looks unconvinced. “You can't know that for sure.”

Bra'tac shakes his head. “I am quite certain.”

Sha’re looks at the priestess. “What about Kara?”

“She carried the child.” Bra’tac says.

O'Neill looks frustrated. “Come on, how can you know that?” He says as he gesticulates wildly with his arms.

“Her hands are not bound.” Teal'c says calmly as Bra’tac turns the woman over. Just as Teal’c says, her hands are unbound.

Bra'tac continues. “Yes. And they shot low.”

Daniel looks down at his feet. “What happened to Kara?” He asks, but Bra’tac can only shake his head.

“That I cannot guess. The priestess died more than two days ago. When her Jaffa did not return the Harcesis, Amaunet should have sent more.”

A silence falls over the group as they realize where they are. A small temple stands off in the distance now, nestled in a large valley among the trees.

“Kheb?” O’Neill questions. Bra’tac can only nod. His eyes are filled with such wonder, he can’t bring himself to reply.  

The temple is a wonderful sight indeed. A small garden of miniature trees adorns the large structure. Intricate stone walls enclose the space and Sha’re feels oddly, at peace as she walks through. She looks fondly over at Daniel, who appears to be trying to catalogue the type of architecture used. This one looks so different to her own planet’s structures, it's no wonder both she and Daniel are amazed by it. Daniel beckons her over, telling her it seems to resemble ancient buildings in China back on Earth.

When they move towards the building’s entrance, Sha’re stops in her tracks, and drops her heavy backpack to the ground.

O'Neill looks at her quizzically, as Daniel mirrors her actions. “Sha’re? Daniel? Whatcha doing?”

She turns to face him. “I do not believe the spirits would appreciate us bringing weapons inside.”

Bra'tac nods at them both. “She is right. This is sacred ground.”

O’Neill looks around the courtyard before deciding to follow suit. He drops his pack and turns towards the group.

“Wait here.” He instructs but Sha’re shakes her head.

“I wish to enter, O’Neill.”

Bra’tac steps forward in anticipation. “As do I. I have dreamed of finding this place twice as long as you have been alive. I will accompany you.”

“Dan’iel?” Sha’re asks, looking at her husband.

“If they don’t feel weird about someone like me going in, I’d love to go.” He says and their group enter the temple whilst Sam and Teal’c survey the grounds.

The interior of the temple is unlike anything Sha’re has seen on her various trips through the Chappa’ai. The walls are a deep red, and ancient writing adorns them from floor to ceiling. A small cavity in the floor makes the room seem fit for a king. Sha’re glances around and sees no one, other than their small group in the candlelit space.  Almost like Daniel in her nightmares, a lone figure appears before them.

O'Neill jumps backward in alarm. “Hey, whoa! Where'd you come from?”

Their visitor remains oddly calm in response to O’Neill’s outburst. His dark hair is a solid contrast from the orange robes he wears. Daniel whispers to her. “He’s probably a monk.”

“I have been here for some time.” The monk says.

O'Neill shakes his head. “No. You weren't here when we just came in.”

The monk looks unphased. “Do you seek oneness with Desala?” He asks, as O’Neill stares at him in confusion.

Daniel taps a finger to his lips. “Desala. I know that word, it sounds…tribal, African maybe.”

“Desala is everything, everywhere.”

Sha’re comes to a realisation. “Nature.” She says. Daniel nods, indicating her studying had paid off.

The monk relaxes slightly. “Put no barriers between you and where you are. Your journey has only begun.” He says, but his words mean nothing to the group. “When the mind is enlightened, the spirit is free, the body matters not.”

“We have come to find a child. A baby girl.” Sha’re says as she removes her shoes to sit with the Monk.  

“Lightning flashes, sparks shower and one blink of your eyes you have misseen.” He replies and Sha’re groans. Not much of what he says makes sense to her, but if even Daniel is stumped, he mustn’t be speaking clearly. “The sun is warm, the wind is wild, the grass is green along the shores. Here no bull can hide.”

O’Neill looks confused as he whispers to Daniel. “I don't know about that.”

Daniel keeps calm, but Sha’re can see the frustration on his face. “Jack, he's speaking in the Zen Koans. Whatever theology he follows may be an original basis for Buddhism on Earth.”

“Well that's very nice. I'll be sure to call the Dalai Lama when we get home. But for now, how about why we came here.”

Sha’re looks at the monk. “Is there a child within these walls?”

“There is a child in all of us.” He replies cryptically.

“Oh come on.” O'Neill huffs.

Sha’re sighs. “This may take some time, O’Neill.”

“Really? What gives you that idea?” O’Neill jests as he leaves the room.

As they sit with the monk, Sha’re learns many new things about the universe. She learns that Desala is a force known by another much longer title. Oma Desala. Mother Nature. She also learns that her Jaffa friend and Tok’ra husband are unable to join her on the journey to reach enlightenment. The Jaffa stories Bra’tac spoke of were indeed correct. One could not achieve enlightenment with a symbiote inside their body, regardless of whether they were simply incubating or serving as host to it. The journey it seemed, would be one she had to walk alone. Part of the process she learned was being able to rid oneself of ‘burdens’. Sha’re wasn’t entirely sure what counted as a ‘burden’, but the concept enamored her.

After studying the walls, the Monk returns to the true purpose of their visit. “Why do you seek this child?”

“We wish to give her the life a child deserves. We wish to save her from the horrors of the Goa’uld.” She replies.

The monk looks thoughtful. “And you are sure she will be safe with you.”

Sha’re nods. “Yes. Absolutely.”

“Because it is so clear, it takes a longer time to realise it, if you immediately know the candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked a long time ago.” He says. Sha’re still doesn’t understand his words, but she nods anyway.

Sha’re’s journey towards enlightenment was an interesting use of her time. The monk had her sit and try to light a candle with her mind. He seemed to believe it was a relatively simple task.

“Within you is the capacity for trust. Trust Oma Desala. Do not believe you can light the candle, believe she can light the candle.” He tells her, as she once again attempts to light it. O’Neill enters the room and she pounces at the chance to tell him about her journey.

“O’Neill! The walls of this temple are adorned with guidance towards another plane of existence. Some kind of state of inner peace.”

“Whoa, slow down there, Grasshopper.” He jests.

She looks at him once more before moving towards practical demonstrations. O’Neill is unimpressed by her candle trick, so she moves on to something else. Her mind seizes his gun and it floats backwards towards her.

O’Neill leaps into action. “All right, that's dangerous. Put it down.” He chastises and Sha’re slowly releases the gun.

O'Neill stares at her in disbelief. “He taught you how to…” Sha’re nods. Before she can speak, a loud noise interrupts them. It appears a Goa’uld glider has found them. It was only a matter of time, Sha’re thinks.

Sam eventually enters the temple as well, to inform O’Neill of their defences. Sha’re once again demonstrates her newfound abilities. Sam stares at her as she explains the teachings of Oma Desala.

“I'm sorry, but something else has to be going on here.” Sam says, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Sha’re frowns slightly. Why does her friend not believe?

“I don't know, but under different circumstances I would bring the right equipment and check for some kind of concealed technology before I assumed…” She trails off.

“Do you not believe the spirits can guide you to become a better version of yourself?” She asks innocently.

Sam looks at her sadly. “I don’t think that’s what’s happening here, Sha’re.”

Teal’c, Bra’tac and Daniel rush into the temple before she can think of what to say.

“A Goa'uld Mothership has landed. As many as two thousand troops approach.” Teal’c explains.

“We must go, Sha’re. I am certain Amaunet has sent her forces to destroy us.” Apophis pleads, but Sha’re isn’t going anywhere.

Torchlight in the distance leads her friends away until only she remains. A beautiful light fills the room as a woman’s form appears. Oma Desala?  The woman dashes through the walls of the temple as if gliding through water. Sha’re places her hand on the wall, and to her surprise, it sinks through. As she steps through the wall, she notices the room on the other side is just like the rest of the temple, with one small exception. This room contains a crib.

“Kara!” She coos, moving towards the baby. “Thank you. She will be safe with me.” She says to Oma. Oma looks concerned for a moment before Sha’re comes to a realisation. “I did not do any of those wonderful things, did I?” Oma shakes her head. Then, Sha’re hears a voice in her head. You have the potential to do more, Sha’re. When the time comes, I will accompany you on your journey.

An enormous burst of light fills the room as Oma leaves. Sha’re looks on fondly, before reaching for the baby. A clap of thunder rumbles the room and Kara howls. “Shh. It is alright.” She soothes and Kara buries her head into Sha’re’s chest. Sha’re backs away from the walls when she hears gunfire. The Jaffa had found them after all. She positions herself behind the crib and closes her eyes tightly. Lightning blasts shake the room and Sha’re tries her best to console Kara.

Eventually, an eerie quiet settles as both Kara and the lightning calm down.

“re? Sha’re?” She hears Daniel scream, though his voice barely carries into the room she’s in. She slowly moves towards the wall she’d fallen through and walks straight into something. Or rather, someone.

“Dan’iel!” She cries in delight. He looks down at her and Sha’re’s heart flutters. He’s looking at her with so much love in his gaze she can barely breathe.

“You’re okay? Is that?” He stammers as he notices the small bundle in her arms.

“Mmm. I have found her, my love.”

Daniel smiles. “We can be together once more. If you would like to be, Sha’re. The choice is yours, but Daniel and I hope you would choose to be with us, to raise Kara as your own.” Apophis says and Sha’re looks up at him.

“I would not have it any other way.” She says, placing her lips on to his.

Chapter Text

Adjusting to life with a new baby, as well as the concept of her husband being Tok’ra had taken a lot out of Sha’re. Sleepless nights and lonely days became an all too familiar concept. Daniel’s duties as a Tok’ra continued steadily despite his ‘transfer’ to Earth. He was often away for weeks at a time, making Sha’re feel as though she’d never gotten him back. She understood, though. His duties were to try and aid the enslaved populations of the universe. Just like he had done on her homeworld.  Today was an unusual day. She’d gotten a call early in the morning, far earlier than their scheduled mission times. So she and the rest of SG-1 had been forced to come in to see what all the fuss was about. She was at least thankful that today, Daniel was back on Earth. Her current view of the gate room was as bland as ever. Standing in the control room, the team was surveying unusual gate activity. A wormhole had dialled in, but they hadn’t received any signal to identify the mysterious travellers.

The gate technician looks at the General. “Still no incoming signal, sir.”

Hammond looks as perplexed as the rest of SG-1. “All units are Earthside.” He says as his eyebrows knit together in confusion. Sha’re looks at the iris and sees something unusual. It’s almost as if the metal is warping and distorting. She almost pinches herself to make sure she isn’t dreaming again.

“Is it just me or is the iris moving?” She asks.

Sam nods. “It's losing integrity.” Before Sha’re can inquire further, a large plump ginger cat emerges from the iris without a care in the world. It waddles down the ramp as the soldiers prepare to fire on the poor creature.

Sam leaps into action, running into the gate room before anyone can stop her. “Hold fire!” She yells to the soldiers positioned in front of the Chappa’ai. She looks fondly at the cat before picking it up. She turns towards the control room window with a smile on her face. “It's Schrodinger. The cat I gave to the Tollan, Narim.”

O'Neill looks amused. “Cat.”

 “The Tollan possess the technology to walk through solid matter.” Teal'c recalls.

O'Neill’s demeanour sours. “A technology which, by the way if you all recall, they refused to share with us.” O’Neill opens his mouth to criticise them further but stops when a lone figure appears to step through the iris. Narim.

Narim looks up towards the control room and glances over the members of SG-1, before his eyes meet the General’s. “General Hammond, I am unfamiliar with Earth protocol in these matters. I sent Schrodinger so you would know a friend was coming.”

Hammond walks over to the intercom and engages it to speak with their visitor. “It's all right, Narim, the Tollan are welcome here. Defense Units, stand down.”

Narim looks over at Sam fondly before walking down the ramp towards her. “Samantha. It's good to see you again.”

Sam smiles. “It's good to see you too.”

O’Neill nods towards the doors and Sha’re and the others descend the stairs into the gateroom.

Hammond asks the question on all of their minds when he turns to Narim. “What can we do for you, Narim?”

Narim looks at the device in his hands for a moment before looking back at O’Neill. “I am here to deliver a message from our highest governing body. Colonel O'Neill, the Tollan Curia requests the presence of you and your team…for Triad.” He says, handing him a strange triangular device.

O'Neill turns it over in his hands as he tries to figure out exactly what it does. “I feel like I'm being served.”

General Hammond gestures towards the briefing room and the group make their way up towards it. Sha’re’s head spins as she tries to understand their situation. Why would the Tollan require them for Triad? What was a Triad?

O’Neill wastes no time in asking the most obvious question. “So what exactly is this Triad?” He says as he toys with the device he’d been given. Narim looks across the table at him.

“It's an ancient ceremony of justice, quite honourable.” He explains, but that doesn’t tell them much.

Sha’re thinks for a moment about the concept of justice. “It is like a trial?” She asks, but Narim now looks confused.

“I am not familiar with…trial.” He says and Sha’re racks her brain for the right English words. All the words she can come up with are Abydonian.

“It is where… Sam? How do I explain? All the words that come to me are Abydonian…” She says, turning to her friend.

“It’s a process where the person accused of a crime is judged to be innocent or guilty, usually by a neutral party. There’s a judge that presides over the whole thing, the one who decides their fate. You hear from witnesses to the crime or witnesses that defend the person on trial.” Sam explains effortlessly. Sha’re is a little envious of her fluid explanation, but her lack of sleep doesn’t really help her make sense of things. She nods her head in thanks.

Narim’s confusion quickly dissipates, replaced by an air of understanding. “Then yes, a triad is similar to your trial.”

O'Neill gets straight to the point. “So, who's on trial?”

“Triad.” Sha’re insists.

O'Neill rolls his eyes. “Triad…”

“The decision Triad must reach is of great concern to an old friend of yours. He is an Abydonian by the name of Skaara.”

Sha’re’s eyes widen in shock. “What?” She says in unison with O’Neill.

Narim remains composed. “It is he who requested your presence.”

“Skaara is alright? He is… what of his demon?” She asks in confusion. Apophis had told them Skaara had survived, but how did he come to be with the Tollan?

“He is well. But he does need your help for Triad.”

O'Neill quickly regains his composure. “Where's this taking place?”

“Our destination is the new homeworld, Tollana.” Narim explains. Sam looks confused, again.

“But we sent you to the Nox planet. There wasn't a Gate on Tollana.”

Narim nods. “The Nox and the Tollan were able to devise a way to get us there.”

“Of course you were.” O’Neill replies, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

Å

The new Tollan homeworld was truly a magnificent sight. Closely manicured lawns and industrial buildings adorned the area surrounding the Tollan’s home-made Chappa’ai. Sam looked utterly amazed by their technology, and to be fair, who wouldn’t have been? Not only could they walk through walls and create technologies beyond Sha’re’s understanding, they could also make their own Chappa’ai? They truly were on the level of the ancestors who built the Chappa’ai all those years ago, Sha’re thought. Narim leads them through a large doorway and into a white, well-lit corridor.

As they pass through one particular section, O’Neill cries out in alarm. Sha’re snaps her head over to him and sees what caused his reaction. A small light fitting in the wall scans each of them as they walk through. What their guide had neglected to mention, however, is that it disables all weapons that pass through it. That, Sha’re thinks is most likely the cause of O’Neill’s frustration. Sha’re shakes her head and follows the team into what she can only assume is the courtroom. A tall woman with a tight face and immaculately combed hair awaits their arrival. Her expression scares Sha’re. Perhaps that’s the point? They learn her name is Travell, and that she acts as High Chancellor for the Tollan.

Travell informs them of their role in the triad. One of them is to act as an archon and argue for a seeker. Two other parties make up the trial. Another like them and a neutral party that acts as a tie breaker. The seeker, as they are told, is to be Skaara. Sha’re instantly volunteers herself for the role, but O’Neill silently shoots her down. Not until we know what we’re signing up for. He says with a look. Narim continues to lead them into an antechamber and Sha’re recoils slightly. The room is adorned with two guards and a large forcefield, but apprehension still rises in her chest. This is the first time she’ll have seen her brother since his ‘death’.

Thankfully, Sam is the first to speak. “Skaara?” she asks as she approaches the room’s occupant. He isn’t facing them but when he turns around, Sha’re feels fear tighten her throat once more. Skaara stands before her, in presumably, Klorel’s royal robes. The brown and golden outfit is tailored but looks surprisingly ill-fitting. Perhaps it’s just because Sha’re knows her brother would despise such clothing, but she feels uneasy nonetheless.

“You. You will pay for what you did to my mother.” Klorel says, and Sha’re notices a strange glowing device on his chest. A large central panel glows red as he speaks.

O'Neill looks at him with an unreadable expression. “It's good to see you too.”

Klorel’s head drops and the panel flickers slightly, before settling on a royal blue. “I'm very happy to see you. All of you.” Skaara says, and Sha’re is overcome with emotion. This is the first time in a long time she’s actually heard her brother speak on his own accord.

O'Neill looks at Narim in confusion. “What's the deal? What just happened?” He asks.

“The Tollan designed the device worn about his chest. It suppresses the Goa'uld's ability to silence its host. The Goa'uld and host are free to speak at will. The device cannot be removed as long as Klorel and Skaara are our guests. The indicator on the front prevents one from pretending to be the other. Red indicates it is Klorel who speaks…blue Skaara.”

O'Neill nods. “Nice device. We'll take a dozen.”

“As you may recall from our last encounter, it is forbidden for the Tollan to give our technology to any culture less advanced than our own.”

“Still got that arrogance bug, I see.”

Skaara looks at O’Neill with a great sadness in his eyes. “It is I O'Neill. Are you not happy to see me?”

Sha’re can see O’Neill’s expression change slightly. He’s still wary of Klorel. Regardless, he walks up to Skaara and touches his shoulder. “Yeah. It's good to see you.”

Skaara smiles. “I knew you would come. Soon, with your help, I'll be free of this demon. Every day I fight him. I listen, I learn.”

“It is time for Skaara to choose his archon.” Narim interrupts.

Skaara looks at the Tollan. “O'Neill is strong. My sister is wise. May I not choose both?

Narim nods. “You may. They may both argue. However, they will have but one vote.”

“What are we deciding? What reason do we commence Triad?” Sha’re asks, noting a lack of explanation throughout the whole ordeal.

“Two days ago, a small Goa'uld vessel crashed in a remote area. The occupant was badly injured. It was Skaara.” Narim explains.

Skaara nods. “We were fleeing a battle group despatched by Heru'ur. My demon knew that the Tollans would stop them.”

“Which we did. We warned them, but…they came anyway. Our defence grip was forced to destroy them.” Narim confirms.

“So, Heru'ur is dead?” Sam asks but Skaara shakes his head.

“No. But two of his motherships are destroyed.”

O'Neill pauses as he thinks about their situation. “Wait a minute. You blew away two Goa'uld motherships?” He asks incredulously.

“We are not a warring people, but our defensive technology is far more advanced than that of the Goa'uld.” Narim explains, Sha’re thinks she can hear a splash of pride in his voice.

Sha’re walks over to her brother, and pulls him into a hug. He smiles at her and her heart soars. For too long she’d thought herself responsible for his death, but here he was. Alive once more. She turns back to Narim. “The triad?” She asks and Narim apologises for the tangent.

“Yes, of course. When our sentries reached the crashed vessel, Skaara asked us to free him of his Goa'uld. But the Goa'uld refuses. Therefore, under Tollan law we have no choice but to hear both arguments before acting.”

“And Klorel's archon is…who?” O’Neill asks as Narim escorts them back to the main chamber.

The team’s worst fears are realised as they re-enter the courtroom chamber. Klorel’s archon is another Goa’uld, though not one they’d previously encountered. Lord Zipacna stands before them in similar brown robes adorned with feathers and loose cloth while surveying their team with great prejudice. Sha’re had heard of him before. Daniel had mentioned that he served as an ‘under-lord’; a rank below the notorious system lords they had met. Apparently, he was a friend of Amaunet’s which is why he was chosen for Klorel. As Skaara enters the room, Klorel takes over, quickly ushering him away for some private conversation.

“So. When you were trying to get us to come here and then…disarmed us, you didn't feel it appropriate to mention the fact that a freaking Goa'uld is going to be here? Not to mention his associates?” O’Neill asks, once the Goa’uld have left.

Travell looks at O’Neill with a serious expression. “They are as unarmed as you.” Did that woman ever smile? Sha’re wondered.

O'Neill looks unamused. “You sure of that?”

Narim looks at O’Neill with more compassion in his eyes. “Our technology detects and disables any form of weaponry.” O’Neill simply nods.

“Narim spoke of a third archon. One who remains neutral. Is that a Tollan?” Sha’re asks, remembering that not all of the triad had arrived.

Travell shakes her head. “No. We have asked our friends to send someone capable of remaining neutral. I believe you have met.” She says as another Tollan draws a sleek grey curtain aside.

Sha’re looks on as a familiar woman steps into the room. Her grey tree-brushed hair and kind eyes are a welcome sight among all the Goa’uld. “Lya.” She says with a smile.

Lya looks fondly at the group. “It is good to see you once again, friends.” She says in her comforting tone. Sha’re always feels at ease whenever Lya is around, and now is no different.

A brief intermission awaits the team. As they make their way into a waiting room, they debate their situation once more. O’Neill has become wholly convinced that Lya will vote in their favour to free Skaara. As Teal’c swiftly reminds him that the Nox are not biased towards any particular side, O’Neill groans in frustration. They note that Zipacna isn’t going to want to give in to their demands, so they stick to trying to convince Lya to at least not side with the Goa’uld over the human host. A small bell rings before they’re told to make their way back into the court. With a quick dismissal, O’Neill sends Sam and Teal’c to survey the Jaffa that have undoubtedly arrived with Zipacna. Sha’re and O’Neill are left to begin the trial.

Å

Travell is seated at a podium as they take up their positions at desks on the left side of the room. The white tables curve around in a sleek metal in tandem with the opposite side of the room. Lya occupies a table at the very centre and Zipacna leers at them from his side of the room. Klorel/Skaara are left to stand in the middle of the space. The whole thing reminds Sha’re of Teal’c Cor-ai back on P3X-1279. It appeared that most developed civilisations had similar layouts for their justice proceedings.

“This dispute involves two sentient beings who inhabit the same body. Both have requested sole use of the body, therefore we must establish to whom the body should belong.” Travell begins.

O'Neill frowns. “Ostensibly, the one to whom it was born.”

Zipacna rises from his seat. “Your Eminence, I must request that the human contingent follow decorum appropriate to such an auspicious body as this one.” He growls, voice echoing throughout the space.

Travell nods. “I agree. The archons will refrain from questions or comments until their side is acknowledged. At this time, I recognise Lord Zipacna and Klorel.”

“Until three years ago, the humans on Abydos lived under Goa'uld law as administered by Ra. Now by that law, they were Goa'uld property. Lord Klorel merely took what was already his.” Zipacna continues.

“By force.” O’Neill interjects.

“Colonel O'Neill, please.” Travell silences. O'Neill looks down at the table before mumbling an apology. “I understand your desire to defend your position, Colonel, and I will give you that opportunity. I would first like to hear Skaara's perspective.”

As the device on his chest turns blue, Sha’re hears her brother’s voice take over. “I was born to this body. Free of the demon Klorel. He stole my body. On Abydos, I would have married, had children, grown old and died. The Goa'uld took more than my body…he stole my life.”

Travell nods before gesturing for them to rise. “Human archons.”

Sha’re stands and looks directly at her brother. “Skaara, did our people believe themselves slaves?”

“No.” Skaara confirms.

“Who was Ra?”

Skaara hesitates for a moment. Sha’re nods for him to continue. “We believed him to be an evil god.”

“And what did Ra do to our people, Skaara?”

“He controlled us using superstition and fear. It continued until Daniel and the Tau’ri arrived through the Chappa’ai.”

Sha’re opens her mouth to speak but Zipacna rudely cuts her off. “Tell me, did the people of Abydos hunt?” He asks.

Skaara looks confused. “Yes.” He answers, the look on his face tells Sha’re he doesn’t get why Zipacna would ask such a thing. Goa’uld weren’t exactly the caring type.

“Do they also use animals as beasts of burden for food, for clothing?” Zipacna probes.

“Yes.”

“Do you also eat the flesh of humans?”

Skaara’s eyes widen and he vehemently denies Zipacna’s claims. “No! Never!” He yells. The underlord looks oddly pleased by his reaction.

“Then you make judgement that animals are of lesser value than humans.” He concludes.

Skaara looks at the underlord with a strange sense of pity. “We care for our animals. We worship them, we thank them for the gifts they give us.”

“Yes, but you keep them to do your will and you kill them to survive.”

Skaara frowns. “When we have the need.”

Zipacna looks pleased. “As we do with humans, when we have the need. If a human has the right to take an animal's body and do with it as he pleases because he is a superior being…then so does a Goa'uld. And by that argument alone, the Goa'uld has priority. And the host belongs to Klorel.”

“Do the human archons wish to respond?” Travell asks.

O'Neill nods assuredly. “Yes, ma'am, you betcha.”

Sha’re sighs at his boldness. “We do, your Eminence.”

O'Neill stands and directs his attention towards Zipacna. “Your argument is flawed in oh so many ways. Humans are self-aware, animals aren't.”

“Animals are not because you deem them not to be. Just as we deem humans not to be.” Zipacna counters.

“What O’Neill means is that humans have intelligence, desires and dreams that wild animals do not.”

“Exactly.” O’Neill agrees.

Zipacna looks intrigued by their argument. “Is that not a matter of perspective? Just like a human considers itself more intelligent than a pig, might a pig consider itself more intelligent than a rat?”

“Speaking of rats…what's your point?” O'Neill taunts.

A flare of anger flashes across Zipacna’s face before he regains composure. “My point is that the Goa'uld consider ourselves more intelligent than humans. Our technology is more advanced than yours, our mere knowledge of the universe is more advanced than yours.”

O'Neill slams the table with his fist. “You stole that knowledge!”

“You stole the knowledge of the humans you took as hosts. You took knowledge from every race you encountered in this galaxy and you have the tenacity to imply we are inferior? You did not build the Chappa’ai, nor did you build any of the technology of the ancestors. You simply stole whatever you could find, as is your nature.” Sha’re retorts as she struggles to comprehend Zipacna’s arrogance.

Zipacna snarls at them. “The method of gaining the knowledge is not in question. We were able to obtain it. You were not.”

O'Neill scoffs. “Oh please.”

Travell speaks up for the first time since the argument began. “We seem to have wandered away from the central topic. Which seeker has priority over this body?”

Sha’re takes offence to her comment. Swallowing the spite bubbling in her voice, she turns towards Travell. “I do not believe we have, your Eminence. We are trying to display the fact the Goa’uld steal all of their possessions, therefore they have indeed stolen my brother’s body from him.”

O'Neill taps her shoulder. “Can I…sorry Sha’re…can I say something?” She nods, sitting down once more.

“Skaara, you once told me you'd rather die than live another day as a Goa'uld. Why?” He asks.

Skaara’s eyes cloud over with sadness and Sha’re’s heart drops. “What I suffer each day is worse than death.”

“For example.” O’Neill says, waving his hand for Skaara to continue.

Skaara’s voice breaks a little as he speaks, but Sha’re has never been prouder to hear her brother speak up for himself among this awful situation. “I remember the demon stretching out my hand to kill Sha’re, my sister. There was nothing I could do to stop it. And I have seen many more, far worse atrocities than this.”

“I demand that the human stay on topic!” Zipacna booms.

O'Neill scowls before raising his voice. “It is on topic. You just want to avoid talking about all the nasty stuff he's witnessed.”

“The host witnesses nothing, since nothing of the host survives.” Zipacna replies cooly.

Skaara hangs his head low. Sha’re can see the tears he struggles to fight off and it takes everything in her to not run towards him. Steeling her resolve, she turns towards the other Goa’uld in the room.

“Lord Zipacna, I would like to ask you a question, if I may.” She says, standing from her seat.

“I hope I have the answer.” Zipacna replies, his tone clearly showing he means to intimidate her. Sha’re walks over to him regardless.

“Is your host a part of you, somewhere?”

Zipacna looks amused. “Nothing of the host survives.”

“Are you sure? I have witnessed this twice before. Amaunet was tortured at the hands of Sokar only a few lunar cycles ago. Her symbiote form died and her host was able to speak unto me the horrors she had witnessed, like Skaara has done today. If nothing of the host remains, how would you explain this?”

Zipacna looks shocked for a split second before he callously replies. “What you call Skaara is nothing but a remnant. He can speak now only because the Tollan use their technology to silence Klorel.”

“How can you say that if nothing remains?”

Lya nods at her, speaking for the first time as she looks at Skaara. “And he spoke well. His words were not those of a remnant personality.”

As a short intermission is requested, they are once again left to their own devices. Sam and Teal’c have returned, informing them of the Jaffa patrolling the city. Zipacna has apparently sent his guards to survey the great weapons the Tollan had used to attack the motherships and they swiftly inform Travell. She isn’t pleased, it seems she thinks they’ve invented a threat to discredit the Goa’uld. She informs them that if they try and accuse them again, that they’ll essentially forfeit the right to plead for Skaara’s body to be returned to him. Sha’re doesn’t let herself feel discouraged. O’Neill would never sacrifice one of their own. He forbids Teal’c and Sam from intervening, telling them only to keep watch whilst the triad continues.

Å

They reconvene in the morning, after some much needed rest. Though, Sha’re didn’t find it all that restful, what with her brother’s life in the balance. They’ve been summoned much earlier than they’d been expecting. Lya too must’ve been unaware of their earlier starting time. She hurries into the room with an effortless grace as they take their seats at the table.

“I apologise for my tardiness.” Lya says, bowing her head.

Travell nods in acknowledgement before beginning the day’s itinerary. “We will resume. Lord Zipacna has asked us to reconvene early because he wishes to make a challenge.” Zipacna moves towards the middle of the room, to stand before her.

“Tollan law does not provide for a penalty of death. Is that correct?” He asks, and Sha’re frowns. What kind of play was he trying to make?

“It is.”

Zipacna smiles unpleasantly. “Then I wish to point out the futility of this trial. A Goa'uld needs a host to survive. This is a biological fact beyond our control. If you award priority to Skaara, then it is as a death sentence for Klorel.”

“Course, if you flip that around you've got Skaara on death row.” O’Neill reminds them.

Zipacna looks at O’Neill in such a way that Sha’re’s skin crawls. “Yes. But as you proved earlier in Triad, the host survives.”

“Yeah?”

“We concede this point. Therefore, if you award priority to Klorel, both host and symbiote live.” Zipacna finishes with a bow. He retakes his seat without leaving room for questions.

“Yeah, one lives freely, the other lives as a slave.” O’Neill points out.

“We see that life as a slave is not worth living. It is not life, but rather torture.” Sha’re announces, following on from O’Neill’s words.

“And if you want to save both lives, give us Skaara…and take Klorel. The Tok'ra can put him in another host for all I care.” O’Neill continues.

Lya looks earnestly at them. “Who Colonel? Perhaps you would volunteer?”

O'Neill shakes his head hastily. “Uh…no.”

“We hope to find someone who would choose to host Klorel. Someone who had not been stolen.” Sha’re clarifies.

Suddenly, Narim bursts into the courtroom, Sam and Teal’c at his heels.

“Narim, what is the meaning of this? You know Triad is held as a closed session.” Travell booms.

Narim bows slightly in apology. “Your Eminence, please adjust your viewer to the orbital observatory.”

Travell pushes a few buttons on the workstation embedded in her table. A small screen appears before her, displaying the image of a Ha’tak. She looks shocked as she stares back at Narim. “A Goa'uld mothership.”

Narim nods. “Yes. It approaches Tollana.”

Travell’s face looks thunderous as she turns towards them once more. “Explain.”

Zipacna sneers at them, another lie on his lips. “My vessel comes in anticipation of our victory in Triad. It is merely coming to take us aboard.”

O'Neill looks angry. His tone remains calm, but Sha’re can see it written across his face. “Why don't you just take a Stargate like the rest of us?”

“Not that it is of your concern, but there is no Chappa'ai where we are going.” Zipacna explains.

“Well, then Gate to where there is one and get picked up.” O’Neill responds.

Zipacna looks past him, speaking only to Travell. “Your Eminence, if our intentions were hostile, we would have attacked already.”

Travell looks at him and Sha’re can only guess what she’ll say next. “Even so, your ship's arrival is premature and in violation of Tollan space. I must warn you, that if your ship moves any closer before the conclusion of Triad, our automated defence system will destroy it.”

“The Goa'uld rest our case and we are prepared to vote. Therefore, Triad is over.”

Travell disagrees. “Triad is over when all parties agree, Lord Zipacna. Do the human archons have any further arguments?”

O'Neill looks back at her. “Nope. I think the Goa'uld made our case for us quite nicely.” He says, pointing at the ship on the screen.

Sha’re looks at O’Neill before speaking to Travell. “We are now prepared to vote, your Eminence.”

Travell looks toward Lya. “Nox archon?”

Lya nods. “Yes.”

“Then bring in the seekers.” Travell announces, and several Tollan file out of the room. Sha’re and O’Neill retake their seats. After a few minutes, the Tollan return to the room along with Skaara.

Travell looks down at him from her bench. “Klorel and Skaara. You can both hear the Triad's ruling?”

Skaara nods, his voice thick with nervousness. Sha’re can see even now, his hands are shaking. “Yes, your Eminence.” Looking down, she notices her own are shaking too, she can’t tell if it’s in anticipation or dread. The device on Skaara’s chest glows red and his eyes flash.

“I can.” Klorel booms in that disgustingly unnatural tone. Beneath it, if she strains her ears, she can hear what sounds like her brother’s voice.

Travell turns back to them. “Human archons, may we hear your vote?”

“We vote in favour of the human host. We wish Skaara to reclaim his body.” Sha’re says.

Travell nods before turning towards Zipacna. “Goa'uld archon?”

“In favour of Klorel.”

Travell finally turns to Lya. “Nox archon?”

Lya looks down thoughtfully before returning her gaze to Travell. “After careful consideration, I believe that both Klorel and Skaara have the right to live. But living as a host with no will of one's own is not life, therefore only one may remain in the body. To that end, I award priority to the original owner of the body. Skaara.”

Skaara’s eyes glow with such a righteous fury, Sha’re can tell Klorel isn’t pleased. Zipacna too, looks disgusted by such a verdict.

O'Neill punches the air. “Yes. Now get that mothership outta here.” He says to Zipacna.

Travell smiles slightly. Perhaps she did have a sense of compassion after all. “We will summon the Tok'ra to come to Tollana to assist in the removal of the Goa'uld Klorel. He will be removed from the host and if he survives, will be sent to the Goa'uld world of his choice.”

She presses a small remote and the device on Skaara’s chest locks into the blue condition. “I have locked the detachment device. Skaara, you have priority control until the Goa'uld is removed. Prepare yourself. The Tok'ra will arrive as soon as possible. And congratulations.”

Skaara smiles genuinely for the first time since they’d arrived. “Thank you.” He says with a bow of his head.

“Lord Zipacna, you are dismissed…with our thanks.” Travell says, though her voice lacks any sense of gratuity.

Zipacna bows towards her. As she gets up and leaves through the rear of the room, he removes a small ball-like device. A Long-Range Communicator! “Re'nuk'tok.” He says into the device.

Teal’c swarms into action, crashing into Zipacna. He then stumbles to his feet. He sways slightly before O’Neill runs over and punches him into Teal’c’s open arms. Teal’c wrestles him into unconsciousness before they leave the room.

Skaara follows along behind them, clearly caught up in the action. Sha’re turns to her brother. “You must stay here, please. Trust me.” She says to him. He looks crestfallen, but abides by her words, running into a small antechamber.

As they run into the main courtyard, Sha’re notices Teal’c has disappeared somewhere. Shaking her head she turns back to her friends.

“How's your technology looking now? Security system serving you pretty good, is it?” O’Neill yells as bolts of energy strike all around them. Undoubtedly Zipacna gave the orders just before they wrestled him to the ground.

“The ion cannons.” Sha’re blurts, remembering what Sam and Teal’c had observed the previous day.

O'Neill turns back to their Tollan friend. “Got a deadlock on all of them. You know, I hate when people waste my time like this.” He mutters.

A chill runs down Sha’re’s spine. Where had Teal’c gotten to? Was he alright? “Where's Teal'c?” She yells to the group, but no one answers her. They’re all transfixed on the ion cannons being destroyed around them.

“Colonel!” Sam yells as death gliders swoop overhead. They fire relentlessly into the surrounding buildings, large chunks of debris flying wildly around them.

“Take cover!” O'Neill yells, guiding them underneath a concrete structure. As they huddle under it, Teal’c and Lya appear. Explosions sound from all directions and Sha’re’s ears ring. It’s difficult to tell what everyone’s saying, its like the bombs are going off right at their feet now.

Narim runs off before they can argue with him. “I must inform Travell!” He yells over his shoulder.

“Zipacna has escaped through the Stargate.” Teal’c informs them.

O'Neill frowns. “Well, that's the least of our problems. Where have you been?” He says in an authoritative tone.

Teal'c bows his head to apologise. “I must inform you, O'Neill, that I have disregarded your orders concerning the Goa'uld.”

“Please explain.” O’Neill says. Before any of them can blink, Lya makes them vanish. Materialising in the woods on the outskirts of the city, Sha’re feels woozy. The Nox’s preferred travel method was a little hard to get used to.

O'Neill shakes it off, getting straight back to the point. “So, what's going on here?”

“I have requested Lya's assistance.” Teal’c explains, before an ion cannon appears in front of them.

Sam looks impressed. “You hid one.” She says.

Teal'c nods. “That is correct. Travell explained that it would take but one of these to destroy a Goa'uld mothership.” He opens his mouth but two gliders bear down on them. “It should have already fired.” He yells over the roar of their engines.

“Well it hasn't. Let's take cover.” O’Neill yells. They run for the treeline. The gliders fire relentlessly upon them, but thankfully, no one gets hit. Teal’c doesn’t follow them, choosing to remain behind with the cannon. With a few adjustments, the weapon opens fire on the gliders in pursuit before destroying the mothership once and for all. A massive fireball blares in the sky as they all look on in desperation. O’Neill smiles as he watches the blast. He seems quite happy for someone who’d nearly been downed by a glider.

Å

Back inside the courtroom, Sha’re runs throughout the halls. A familiar face pops out of one of the doorways. Daniel!

“We’re about to start the procedure, Sha’re. If you would like to sit with Skaara throughout the ordeal, you’re more than welcome to.” Apophis informs her.

“Of course. I would not leave my brother in his time of need.” She says, entering the room. Her heart beats a mile a minute when she sees the state of the room. Her brother is strapped onto one of the small couches with long leather straps. Three Tok’ra (including Daniel) stand around him and Sha’re can barely move. Daniel places his hand on the small of her back.

“Go to him.” He encourages her. She carefully moves toward her brother’s side and kneels on the floor.

“Are the bindings necessary, Dan’iel?” She asks.

Daniel nods sadly. “Unfortunately, yes. We’re not trying to hurt Skaara, but Klorel’s probably gonna put up a fight when we try to take him out. We’re doing it for Skaara’s sake. He’ll be safe once we begin. I promise we’ll release him as soon as Klorel’s been contained.” He says reassuringly. Sha’re still feels uneasy, but she knows Daniel wouldn’t do this if it would hurt Skaara.

“Skaara. I am here.” She whispers to him. He grabs her hand and squeezes tightly.

“I am grateful, Sister.” He says with a smile. Sha’re feels a pang of guilt in her chest. He’s doing this for her, she realises. Putting on a brave face so she won’t have to shoulder his burdens.

“Do not lie to me, Skaara. I know you are afraid. I do not want you to pretend for me, I am here to help you with your pain. That is what people who love each other do.” She says in their native tongue.

Skaara nods, swallowing the thick wave of nerves in his chest. “Thank you.” He says.

“Shall we begin?” One of the other Tok’ra asks. Daniel puts his hand up for them to wait.

He walks over to the siblings. “Sha’re. Skaara. This is going to be unimaginably painful. We’re basically going to inject you with a serum that forces the symbiote to leave your spinal column. You’re not going to be harmed, but it's definitely going to hurt for a while.” He informs them. Skaara nods slightly, and Daniel waves his hand for them to begin.

The process begins with a large vial of purple liquid. He winces as the needle enters his neck. Sha’re places her hand on his chest to centre him and he relaxes slightly. One of the other Tok’ra comes over to them with a large metal contraption. Daniel stands by their side with a large canister brimming with a salty liquid.  

“Skaara, you’ll start to feel it soon.” Daniel warns. Skaara erupts in pain. His back arches as he braces against his restraints. His screams echo in the small room causing Sha’re to flinch. Her heart aches as he screams and screams. She can only imagine what he’s experiencing as the Goa’uld unfurls itself from his spine. She eventually hears a wet squelching. Skaara’s eyes fly open in shock as he starts coughing up blood. Sha’re looks away in terror. Her grip remains tight as Skaara squeezes her hand so hard, she feels as if it's broken. Eventually, she looks back at him, seeing the symbiote appear in his mouth. Apparently, it had to burrow out through the back of his throat. Yuck! She swallows the bile in her mouth before Daniel swiftly grabs the symbiote and shoves it into the tank.

Sha’re moves quickly and loosens the straps across his body. She brings him to a sitting position and hugs him like she’ll never let him go. Daniel throws orders towards the Tok’ra who promptly whisk the cannister away. Then, it’s just the three of them. Daniel moves towards Skaara and places a large device onto his throat. Sha’re notices it’s a healing device as its centre flashes red. Skaara looks terrified until Sha’re puts a hand on his cheek.

“It is alright darling, that is a healing device. It will repair the damage the demon did to your throat.” She says in a calm tone. Skaara looks at her before bursting into tears. Daniel pulls back as Sha’re pulls her brother into a hug.

“You are free now.” She says as she rubs his back.

“I am responsible for many horrible things, Sister. I tried to kill you; I tried to kill O’Neill…” He cries into her hair.

“You’re not responsible for any of those things, Skaara. No one will blame you for that.” Daniel says calmly.

Skaara hiccups before looking at Daniel. “You are Goa’uld. How can I trust what you say when you have been stolen by a demon like I was?” He whispers.

Daniel’s heart drops a bit in his chest. “The demon who took me wasn’t like Klorel. Apophis isn’t loyal to any of the system lords. He hasn’t been for several hundred years. He witnessed so much chaos and destruction that he decided to do something about it. He defected to the Tok’ra. He chose me as host, even though it wasn’t exactly something I agreed to at first. We worked together to help others. People like you, who’ve been forced to host demons. We’re trying to make a better galaxy for everyone. I’m helping you, and I’ve been living on Earth to help Sha’re and O’Neill.”

Skaara looks at him with a new wave of confusion. “B-But you worked for her…” He stammers.

Daniel shakes his head. “I pretended to work for Amaunet. I didn’t mean to deceive you, but Klorel didn’t know anything about it. We lied to help so many others.”

“So your demon is within you still?”

Daniel nods. “Yeah, he is. You don’t have to speak to him if you don’t want to…” Skaara shakes his head.

“I am sorry for all the pain Klorel caused you, Skaara. I hope you will forgive me for my behaviour towards you, but I had to maintain my cover within Amaunet’s ranks.” Apophis explains, and Skaara looks at him with hopeful eyes.

“I will understand, in time. Are you really different from the demon who stole my soul?”

“I am the same creature, but I do not believe the same rhetoric the Goa’uld follow. I hope, in time, you will forgive me for my part in your abduction.” He says, head hanging low.

“I would like to get to know your demon, Dan’iel.”

“We’d like that a lot, Skaara.” He says smiling. “Though, you might wanna call him a symbiote instead of a demon.”

“Of course.” Skaara laughs, despite the wounds in his throat.

Sha’re smiles. “You can be an Uncle, brother.”

“You are with child?” Skaara asks incredulously.

“No, but we have a child. My Harcesis.” Daniel explains.

Skaara nods before breaking into a huge smile. “Your daughter will be spoiled rotten, Sister.”

Å

“Jack, we’ve completed the extraction.” Daniel informs the team as they re-enter the room.

“Yeah?” O’Neill asks as the Tok’ra carry Klorel out of the room.

Lya looks up at Daniel. “What will become of Klorel?” she asks, looking hopeful.

“We’re sending him to a Goa’uld planet. He’ll be free to choose a new host and continue however he sees fit.”

O'Neill scowls slightly. “To hell with him, what about…?”

“O'Neill!” Skaara yells, running up to him.

O'Neill smiles. “Much better.” He says taking the boy into his arms. Sha’re smiles at it all. To think, they’d nearly lost both him and Daniel once. Now they were both here, both safe. Skaara turns to her with a grin. She can’t help but giggle at his antics. Now her family was truly whole once more.

Chapter Text

What did it feel like to die a slow and agonizing death? Would she feel as though her burden had been released upon the final beat of her heart? Would she be content to leave everyone she’d ever loved and lost behind?

Fifteen Hours Earlier…

SG-1 emerge from the spinning vortex of the Chappa’ai in quite a hurry. None of them are quite prepared for the hours to come, but at the very least, they’d do all they could for her. General Hammond meets them at the bottom of the ramp with a sympathetic look on his brow. Sha’re doesn’t know how to feel just yet. At the front of the group, she pushes her way past any formalities towards the bulkhead doors out of the room. One arm strapped up in rudimentary bandages held out in front of her. Behind her, Sha’re can hear Sam explain her situation to the General.

“We have to get to the infirmary. Sha’re’s been exposed to radiation.”

She can’t see his reaction, as she can’t bear to turn back towards them, but Sha’re can imagine the confusion and shock that must’ve been on his face. He orders one of the Lieutenants to notify the infirmary and quickly catches up to the rest of SG-1.

“Colonel, what happened?” He asks.

“The details are a little sketchy, sir.” O’Neill says without conviction.

Teal'c agrees. “We were not present at the time of the incident.”

Two people in medical uniforms appear in front of them. They move towards Sha’re, but she yells out in defiance. “Do not touch me.” She says as she pulls back. She isn’t totally familiar with the concept of radiation, but from the little Sam had explained during their visit to P2S-4C3, she knows she could infect others.

“She may still be radioactive.” Sam says to the General.

Janet emerges from the infirmary, dressed smartly in her lab coat. “Let's get her scrubbed down.” She orders and the technicians move to begin working on Sha’re.

Sha’re’s immediate space is overwhelmed with technicians and nurses working to remove her clothing and get her into the decontamination showers. As the cool water flows over her body, she feels strangely calm. Janet informs her shortly after the decontamination that she shouldn’t worry as they’d try and do everything they could for her.

“What does that mean, Janet?” She asks in confusion. Janet’s face contorts in a mixture of surprise and sadness.

“Well honey, you’ve been exposed to a lethal dose of radiation. I’m so sorry. It’s going to be really painful from here on out.” Janet says, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Sha’re had heard that word before. Lethal. It meant something that could kill you. She looks back at Janet before she feels her throat constrict with emotion. “I am going to die?”

Janet looks at her and Sha’re sees tears in her eyes. All she can do is nod.

Å

Their mission that day had been to an industrial settlement known as Kelowna. It had been one of three major countries on the planet, but it was immediately clear, even to Sha’re, that the nations didn’t live in harmony with one another. Their methods were much more complicated than those used to settle disputes among the tribes of Abydos, but Sha’re could understand enough of what she’d seen. Kelowna was on the brink of full-out war with the two other major nations of the planet. Sam had explained to her something similar had almost occurred on Earth several decades earlier, and Sha’re wondered if this planet was going to deal with impending destruction, too.

Sha’re had immediately struck up a friendship with their representative, a young man named Jonas Quinn. His short brown hair and curious nature reminded her a little of Daniel, and she found herself smiling at the thought. Jonas had informed them that much of the tension between the nations had come from their discovery of the Chappa’ai, more than a decade ago. They didn’t know much about it, but they were keen to learn all they could from Sha’re and her team. Her mind began to drift back to when they’d met Jonas for the first time.

“This is incredible. It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Jonas Quinn, I'm a special advisor to our High Minister.” Jonas explained, his calm nature seemed so much like Daniel to Sha’re, it was no wonder she’d befriended him.

O'Neill looks at the man before glancing around. “Security's a little tight around here, I noticed.”

Jonas nods. “As you have undoubtedly been told, this is one of our most secret and important research operations.” He says as he stares curiously at Teal’c. He points to his own forehead, no doubt curious about Teal’c’s golden tattoo. Sha’re smiles.

“Sha’re Jackson.” She says, extending her hand towards him.  

Jonas smiles and takes her hand graciously.

O'Neill looks on for a moment, a puzzling look in his eye. “Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Sam Carter, and the tall, silent one is Teal'c.” He says, drawing them back to the present.

Jonas looks kindly at the group. “Teal'c. Well, your arrival on our planet is an extraordinary event. It's my honour to show you around this facility. Please, follow me.” He says, pointing out a large hallway.

Jonas, as it so happened was so much like Daniel, Sha’re thought they could’ve been brothers. He too had many degrees that overlapped with Daniel’s and Sha’re had felt worried. Did it matter that she bore none of these distinguished degrees? No, she thought. O’Neill would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep her on the team regardless of if someone with a fancy piece of paper thought themselves better than her. Her education had come from experience, and that, to her was far more important.

Jonas had led them to another room in the compound, and Sha’re felt her excitement bloom once more. “Could we see where your people discovered the Chappa’ai? Perhaps we could assist you in identifying the artifacts left behind. My husband, Dan’iel would be more than happy to help you. He is an archaeologist and can uncover much more about the temple than I.”  She rambled, eager to see more of the area.

Jonas looks surprised for a moment. He hadn’t been expecting her to ask that, clearly. He simply smiles at her. “I'm sure that can be arranged. Our archaeologists believe they have only begun to uncover the full extent of what may be buried. There were extensive alien writings.”

“Teal'c and I could help with the translation.” She says, catching a stern look from O’Neill.

“Sha’re?”

Jonas looks at O’Neill again. “I understand from our leaders that your knowledge and expertise will come at a price, Colonel. That is why you're here, right?”

O'Neill frowns slightly but looks earnestly at the young scholar. “Well don't get me wrong, we want to help out as much we can, it's just that we've been burned a little bit in the past.”

“We are not questioning what you have to offer us.” Sha’re politely explains.

Sam nods. “We just want to get to know you better first.”

O'Neill agrees. “That's it.”

“Still, hopefully, we'll have much of value to offer in exchange. This way.” Jonas says, leading them into an observation room. It reminds Sha’re of the medical observation wing back at the SGC. Though this one looks considerably older, its walls bear a dull brown hue, contrasting the heavy iron flooring. Several men in large suits are working on a device no larger than the table it sits on. A large flashing light changes from red to blue, and Jonas grabs their attention again.

“We can go in now.” He explains, as they move towards the entrance. As they enter, the men in suits begin to remove their large helmets. Jonas introduces them swiftly.

“This is Tomis Leed,” He says, pointing to one of the men. “He is chief physicist overseeing the development of our most critical project. Tomis, this is SG-1, of the planet Earth.” He says, waving his arm towards them.

Tomis bows his head. “My pleasure.”

Sam looks over at the table, where a large glass device sits. “What is this?” She asks, but Sha’re knows Sam’s probably already figuring it out.

Tomis points towards the device. “The core of this device was uncovered in an ancient temple of a race of people we believe were called the Guld.”

Teal'c shakes his head. “Goa'uld.” He corrects.

Jonas looks intrigued. “Really?”

Tomis ignores his comment, choosing instead to explain the device. “It's a mineral substance found to have highly unstable radioactive properties. This experiment seems to indicate the potential for great bursts of energy.”

“Our translation of the writings in the temple indicate that the alien element is called Naquadria.” Jonas pipes up, causing Sha’re to frown.

“I believe it is called Naquadah.” She says.

Jonas shakes his head at her. “No, we also translated that word in the same text. This is definitely Naquadria.”

Sam looks confused. “So, this is some sort of power generating device?”

“Not exactly.” Jonas says, his tone tapering off into uncertainty.

As they would come to learn, the Kelownans were actually manufacturing a bomb with the enhanced Naquadria. As they aimed to learn more, Sha’re had opted to stick with Jonas.  

Å

Back in the present, Sha’re was currently confined to the infirmary. The white patient clothing they’d given her was coarse, a much thicker material than the clothes she’d grown used to. It took much of her willpower not to change into something more comfortable. O’Neill had come to join her now, opting to sit in a chair opposite her bed.

“Janet has informed me of what I will experience in the coming hours, O’Neill. First will be nausea, followed by tremors, convulsions and ataxia. It is a failing of muscle control. My skin, brain and organs will inflame and degrade, Janet tells me that is something called necrosis? She also informed me that all of this will occur within ten to fifteen hours. Or I may drown from the effect it will have on my body. That or I may bleed to death. It seems unlikely I will survive this.” She says, and she can feel tears threaten to spill, despite how calm she wills her voice to be.

O'Neill doesn’t look at her when she speaks, and Sha’re knows he’s afraid to. “Maybe. Not that we know of.” He says, and Sha’re is acutely aware that he’s just saying things to fill the silence between them.

“We do not seek aid from our allies every time one person’s life is at stake, O’Neill. My life is no more valuable than anyone else’s.” She says, looking past him.

“What happened?” He asks, but she shakes her head.

“It does not matter, O’Neill. I cannot change what I have done.”

“Yes, it does. You didn't try to sabotage anything.” He says, and for the first time, he turns to look her in the eye.

“There was an accident. I believe the scientists thought they would be held responsible, but their government blamed me instead.”

O'Neill grimaces. “And you're okay with this?”

“Of course not. But I cannot change their minds.” She sighs.

“Yes, we can.” O’Neill says, but Sha’re doesn’t feel quite as hopeful.

“Their own history tells of the Goa’uld who controlled their planet nearly destroying it by using the same technology thousands of years ago. I tried to tell them that, but they will not listen. I cannot deny my own involvement because I did try and stop them. We are not going to be able to reach an understanding.” She says, feeling crestfallen. O’Neill rises from his chair near her bed, but Sha’re reaches a hand out towards him. “O’Neill, I need you to do something for me.” She says as the older man turns back towards her.

“Anything.” He says with a peculiar wetness in his voice.

“I wish to see Dan’iel one last time.”

“I’ll make the call.” He says, and Sha’re swears she can see tears in his eyes.

Å

Her condition has steadily declined since O’Neill had sat with her. Large wounds had opened on her arms, requiring bandaging in thick swaddles. She was beginning to feel like a corpse being prepared for burial.

Daniel was with her now, having been summoned from his duties to keep a vigil at her bedside. She knew this must’ve been torture for him, watching her die so slowly, but he was acting so bravely, it killed her even more to ask him to stop.

Sam strode into the room, and Sha’re noticed the determined look on her face. O’Neill, Teal’c and General Hammond were standing in the observation room, so Sha’re knew something was off. Taking a place at her bedside, Sam produced a large golden device with a red gem at its centre. The Goa’uld healing device they had received from Cimmeria.

“Sha’re, I didn't suggest this before because, well, the truth is, I'm not really sure what I'm doing with this thing. I could make things worse.” She says, nodding towards the device. It warms Sha’re’s heart that her friends would do so much for her, but she knows its unlikely they’ll succeed. Not wanting to let Sam down, she nods her approval with a forced smile. Janet too, nods her approval and Sam begins.

As she lies there, Sha’re can feel a spark of warmth emanating throughout her chest as the device glows. It feels as though she might be getting better, but Sha’re feels a sharp pain take hold. Her body convulses and she hears Janet yell, but she can’t make out her words. Daniel cries out at her side, and she sees him move over towards Sam.

She feels something enter her arm, no doubt Janet trying to save her and feels a light spread across her field of vision. She blinks, and sees herself standing in the empty gate room, dressed in her blue BDUs.

“Your fate is in your hands.” A woman says, or at least, Sha’re thinks it’s a woman. It’s hard to tell as the white light completely envelops her. Sha’re opens her mouth to speak, but falls away, bolting upright in her infirmary bed.

Å

She glances around, noticing her field of vision clothed in swaths of white. She’s now covered head to toe in bandages, and O’Neill and Daniel move at her side.

“O’Neill. Dan’iel?” She croaks.

“We’re here, Sha’re.” Daniel says, placing a hand on her cheek.

“Hey. I uh, I just wanted to… I'm really bad at this.” O’Neill says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yes, you are. I hear that Sam thinks the Naquadria might be an important discovery.” She says, a touch of humour in her voice.

O'Neill’s lip twitches upwards, perhaps into a smile before he settles back into their grim reality. “Yeah, apparently. If we can get some. For what it's worth, I tried to get your point across to Jonas.”

“He is in a tough position.” She says, trying to emphasize how much she feels for the man. He had wanted no part in this, but unfortunately, he’d found himself amongst it.

O'Neill looks sternly at her. “You're not gonna take the fall for this. I don't care what's at stake.”

“He’s right, love. It’s not your fault.” Daniel agrees.

Sha’re feels confused. “Why do you care so much, O’Neill?”

O'Neill sighs. “Because, despite the fact that you've been a terrific pain in my ass for the last five years, I may have, might have, uh, grown to admire you a little, I think.”

“You do have a way with words, after all, O’Neill.” She giggles.

“This will not be your last act on official record.” He says, but Sha’re isn’t listening.

“Oma.” She says, watching the woman walk through the infirmary. She blinks and feels herself being pulled somewhere else. When she opens her eyes, she’s back in the darkened gate room.

Å

“Oma Desala. Your presence felt familiar, as if we had met before, but… you look different.” She says, as Oma looks at her.

“Lightning flashes, sparks shower, in one blink of your eyes you have missed seeing.” She simply says, but her words don’t mean anything to Sha’re.

“What did you mean when you said my fate is in my hands?” She asks, hoping Oma won’t give her some lame riddle in response.

Oma looks at her with a great wonder in her eyes. “When the mind is enlightened, the spirit is freed, and the body matters not.”

Sha’re ponders her words for a moment, before coming to a realisation. “You speak of ascension, do you not? These were the teachings scribed on the walls of Kheb. Are you saying I could become like you?”

Oma nods, moving to stand in front of her now. “You must complete the journey you began at Kheb. Only then will you be able to find your way to the Great Path.”

“What do I do?” She asks, but Oma stands firm.

“Release your burden.”

“I am not burdened by anything, what do I do next.” She says, but Oma looks unamused.

“A tall man cannot hide in the short grass.”

Sha’re frowns. “I do not have time for your riddles, Oma.”

“One cannot reach enlightenment by running from death.”

“Tell me what to do.” Sha’re begs, but Oma doesn’t seem to notice her struggle.

“Many roads lead to the Great Path. Only the willing will find their way.” She says, speaking as if telling a story.

“I am ready, please take me away.”

Oma shakes her head. “The river tells no lies, though standing on the shore, the dishonest man still hears them.”

“Right. This will not be easy.” Sha’re concludes, watching Oma enter her memories. She watches herself speaking to Jonas about the discovery of the Chappa’ai, and an eerie feeling  washes over her. Is that really what she looked like? She seemed so hopeful just hours ago. Her memory continued, showing her and Jonas entering the laboratory.

“Given the chance, you would deny us this technology?” Jonas asks, but both Sha’re in the dream and the one simply watching shake their heads.

“I cannot see what will happen to your people regardless of your weapon, but I wish there was a more civil way. On my planet, we negotiate amongst ourselves and never have to rely on weaponry. We have become quite adept at ending disputes without shedding blood.” She says, but something’s wrong. The scientists in the room have all converged on the monitoring table. The energy readings have increased, but a large wave of energy bursts out of the device. The device beings to pulse erratically and Sha’re can see its begun to collapse. More and more energy pours out of the glass chambers as shrill alarms ring in the distance.

Tomis turns back towards her and Jonas. “Get down! Stay away from the glass. The radiation will penetrate the window.”

Jonas looks scared but tries his best to remain calm. “What's happening?” He asks as instruments spark in the lab below them.

“This device could explode.” Tomis yells, but it’s too late. One of the scientists has urged them to remove the core, but they’ve collapsed onto the floor. Tomis flees the room, no doubt in cowardice to try and play himself as the hero. Sha’re bolts towards the door, but its locked.

“Sha’re!” She hears Jonas yell, but she just walks back into the middle of the viewing platform. Drawing her gun, she fires at the glass window. Surveying her damage, she runs through the pane, diving into the laboratory. She runs to the device, intending to remove its core, but it’s too hot. She pulls her jacket over her hand and removes the core as Jonas watches from above.

The memory fades, and Sha’re is returned to the dim gate room. Oma has placed them there, sitting on the cool steel of the ramp.

“Millions could still die.” Sha’re says, knowing her actions that day may have no effect at all.

Oma looks at her, with a fondness in her eyes. “The future is never certain. You saved many without regard for your own life.”

“I could have destroyed the device.” She says desolately.

“You believe your journey is still not over.” Oma says, and Sha’re frowns.

“I do not know what the point of my journey has been, so far, Oma.”

Sam’s voice cuts through the dark, startling Sha’re. “Just so you know, Jonas had a change of heart.” She says, and Sha’re moves to speak to her. Oma places a hand on hers.

“She cannot hear you, Sha’re. You are simply hearing her because she is with your body.”

Sha’re looks at her friend in desperation. She can see heavy tears in Sam’s eyes, and her own tears begin to fall. “He stole some Naquadria for us. He took a big risk, he said it was because of what you did. I think it could be important, and I wanted you to know that. You have an effect on people, Sha’re. The way you look at things, it changed me too. I see what really matters. I don't know why we wait to tell people how we really feel. I guess I hoped that you always knew.” She says before she begins to sob.

“You can never reach enlightenment if you do not believe you are worthy.” Oma says, but this just confuses Sha’re even further.

“Then I guess we may have a problem.” She says, moving to wipe her eyes, but she soon finds she isn’t actually crying. Of course, she isn’t. This isn’t really her, after all.

Sam leaves her dreams after a while, and Teal’c begins to speak to her instead. Though her Jaffa friend is generally quiet, when he does speak, it’s always the most profound thing Sha’re has ever heard. Her heart aches as he begins to speak. In his hands he holds a small funerary statue she’d brought back from Abydos.

“You once gave me this. You said that its spirit would one day serve its owner in the afterlife,” He says as Sha’re feels herself pulled into another memory. She’s in her family’s tent on Abydos. Teal’c is there, somewhat out of place in his uniform, but Sha’re smiles sadly at him.

“If you are to die, Sha’re Jackson, I wish you to know that I believe that the fight against the Goa'uld will have lost one of its greatest warriors. And I will have lost one of my greatest friends.” He says, saluting her. Sha’re knows he can’t hear her, but she thanks him anyway.

Daniel’s voice cuts through the dark this time, and Sha’re is even more heartbroken than before. He hasn’t even begun to speak, but she can see he’s having great difficulty articulating his words.

“I don’t know how to do this without you, Sha’re. The three years I spent without you while I was working with the Tok’ra was hard enough, but I don’t want to live the rest of my life without you,” He says, as his voice grows thicker with emotion. Tears fall quickly from his eyes now and Sha’re wants nothing more than to envelop him in her arms. “I hope its alright, but I sent a message to Abydos. Your father, Skaara and Kara are going to be here soon.” She nods, then chastises herself for not remembering he can’t see her.

“I love you, Sha’re.” He says before he can’t speak anymore. Overcome with emotion, she sees him slump to the floor in front of her bed.

Oma appears before her once more. “Because it is so clear it takes a long time to realize it. If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, the meal was cooked a long time ago.”

“The monk on Kheb said that to me, but I still do not understand what it means.” She says, turning her attention back to Oma.

“Why do you feel you have failed on your journey? You helped defeat the Goa’uld that controlled your world.” Oma says as memories play out around her. She sees herself and Daniel on Ra’s ship, and as they take out the rest of Ra’s Jaffa.

“We should still be on Abydos. Dan’iel and I could have avoided all of this if we had simply left the Chappa’ai buried for all time. We should be safe, at home in our village with our children but every good thing I have done has been outshone by a greater evil.”

“These tasks of which you speak were great challenges. Perhaps they were even impossible to achieve. You feel your journey must continue until you have found redemption for these failures?” Oma asks.

“No. Not anymore, not if I am dead.”

Oma nods. “Exactly true.”

“You said I was the only one qualified to judge myself? What if I do not believe I deserve to reach enlightenment? What if I want to be laid to rest with my ancestors instead?”

 “The success or failure of your deeds does not add up to the sum of your life. Your spirit cannot be weighed. Judge yourself by the intention of your actions and by the strength with which you faced the challenges that have stood in your way.”

“I cannot.”

“The people closest to you have been trying to tell you that you have made a difference. That you did change things for the better.” Oma says, but Sha’re isn’t convinced.

“It is not enough.”

Oma looks at her with a frown on her face. Sha’re is slightly shocked. She’d never seen the woman show any kind of emotion before. “The universe is vast, and we are so small. There is only one thing we can ever truly control.”

“What is that?” Sha’re questions.

Oma looks at her again, and Sha’re feels as though her very soul is being judged. “Whether we are good or evil.”

Oma turns towards the ramp and begins to walk toward the dormant Chappa’ai.

Sha’re looks at her incredulously. How could she be leaving at such a crucial time? “You cannot leave me here.” She says.

Oma turns back, a smile on her face. “The rest is up to you.”

“Why have you given me this chance?” Sha’re yells as a bright feeling bursts throughout her chest.

“Anyone can reach enlightenment. Anyone prepared to open their mind as you did when you first came to Kheb.”

“They are trying to save me. I feel it, even here.” She says, coming to a realization.

Oma nods. “Then your journey will continue as before.”

“But what if I do not wish it so?”

“Walking the Great Path brings great responsibility. You cannot fear it nor hesitate in your resolve.”

Sha’re nods. She can hear voices now; her family has come to see her. She can hear Skaara’s screams of agony as he watches her from the observation room. Her father stands with little Kara at his side and she screams too for the noise is too much for her. She’s too young to understand it, but she must know something’s happening. Why else would her uncle and grandfather be so distraught? Sha’re wants nothing more than to dry their tears, but she knows she’s ready to ascend. Perhaps she’d come back one day. She looks at Oma, a fierce determination in her now.

“I understand. I'm ready to go with you.”

Oma nods towards her family. “Then stop them.”

Sha’re blinks in disbelief. “How?” She asks, but she finds herself in the infirmary. She’s watching what they’re doing to her. Its surreal. She can see Daniel standing over her with the healing device, trying his hardest to save her. Tears drop from his eyes, pooling on her bandages below. She walks up to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. In a flash of light, he’s suddenly inside her dreamscape.

Daniel looks at her, sadness turning to shock. “Sha’re?”

“Hello, Dan’iel.” She says with a smile.

“How are you-?” He asks, and she sees his eyes dart around the room.

“Oma Desala has offered me the chance to ascend. I want you to stop healing me, my love.”

Daniel shakes his head sceptically. “If I do that, you’ll die. We could get you a symbiote. We could-”He says but she holds her hand up to stop him.

“I am ready to move on, husband. I do not want that,” She says to him, placing a hand on his face. “I am not giving up. I wish to explore what Oma is offering.”

Sha’re looks behind him, towards Oma and Daniel follows her gaze. Oma silently sneaks through the opened wormhole, leaving the couple behind.

“I love you, Dan’iel. I will always be with you, even if we are no longer in the same place. Give my love to Skaara and Father, and please, take good care of our daughter.” She says with a smile, but even in her dreams, she can feel tears on her cheeks.

Daniel too, is crying now, watching her slowly slip away from him. She walks up towards the gate, watching its vortex puddle around in awe. She looks back at Daniel, who nods solemnly as she enters the portal.

Sha’re feels a light envelop her, a calm presence takes her hand. Oma has returned to lead her away. She feels like she’s floating now, and she can see below her the bandages of her old body collapsing as she releases her burden.

Daniel steps away from her and Sha’re sees her friends look to him in surprise.

“Why’d you stop, Daniel?” O’Neill yells at the man, but Daniel stands his ground.

“Because it's not what she wants, Jack!” He roars back. Sha’re can see an immediate guilt overwhelm him, and Jack reaches forwards to placate him.  

“Goodbye, my friends.” Sha’re says, willing herself to be heard. They all look up into the ceiling now, and Daniel is sobbing profusely as O’Neill holds him in his arms.  She knows her family will mourn for her, but she knows that this is the only decision she could’ve ever made.

Sha’re floats into the ceiling and off into the great beyond. Her adventure is only just beginning.