Great Expectations 

 

 

 

By Travelling One

 

 

Email: travelling_one@yahoo.ca

Web:http://www.travellingone.com/

Summary: Lies and hopes, intermingled and deceptive. After a lengthy away mission, the team looks forward to Daniel coming home.

Related Episodes: Foothold

Season: 7th; could really be any season but I needed a longer time span.

Category: Drama, adventure, smarm, angst

Disclaimer: The theme and main characters have been borrowed from the Stargate SG-1 tv series, and are copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. This story has been written for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.

Notes: This story begins long past Daniel's descension, and carries on like any other SG1 adventure. Only minimal mention is made of the past year.

April/03

 

More notes: I've put part 3 back on this page. If anyone has trouble loading the full story, part three can also be found here.

 

---

PART 1

October tenth

 

 

Anyone who had passed by Jack O'Neill's office that morning had heard the whistling.

 

Anyone who worked closely with him knew how long it had been since they'd heard him in such a good mood.

 

As for everybody else, they probably understood anyway. And if they didn't, Jack really didn't care.

 

Excitement buzzed quietly around the SGC. Work continued as usual on this day, yet deep in the souls and hearts of three teammates and one general, a fresh feeling of anticipation stirred. For this would be the day that Daniel Jackson was finally returning home.

 

Jack was well aware that his case of nerves was nearly unjustified, logically. He'd gotten used to not having his archaeologist around, again. He'd long ago accepted that his team was minus one good friend, and had even stopped thinking of Daniel constantly, having given up wondering how the guy was doing out there. Yet now, knowing the time of Daniel's return was approaching and this nearly unpalatable eighteen-month off-world stint almost over, Jack once again was being bombarded with memories, expectations, and the desperate longing to again have a Daniel to talk to. He had to just accept the jitters in his stomach and hope that all would turn out well before the end of the day.

 

So why the case of nerves, just because Daniel was coming home? After all, this colonel had been through wars and hard times and traumas that most people would never have been able to cope with, and this was just another day at work. Except that this was something he'd been looking forward to, waiting for for the past year and a half. This was a day he didn't want spoiled, and yet so much could still go wrong. What if Daniel was …different? What if all they could do was stand there, not knowing what to say to each other? What if Daniel didn't really want to be coming back this time?

 

General Hammond, along with Washington, expected Daniel to have worked that long-elusive miracle, and be returning with extreme technology and a powerful ally. All Jack, Carter, and Teal'c really wanted was Daniel back, safe and sound. Anything else would be icing on the cake.

 

Perhaps after this, Daniel's soul would be at rest, his heart at peace. Maybe then they could get on with the most important thing - being a team.

 

No one knew exactly when Daniel would be contacting them, though. The agreed-upon date had obviously not included a time; having set a date eighteen months in advance was in itself a bit uncertain and maybe even preposterous. Yet Daniel was always one to keep his promises; he wouldn't let them down, of that Jack was certain.

 

So as the day progressed and business carried on, the papers Jack had to sign went unrecorded on his brain; the errands he set out to accomplish were left half completed; his destinations were forgotten before having reached them. Absent-minded perhaps; nervous, definitely.

 

The day grew late.

 

Daniel had not forgotten about them, no way.

 

"Carter?" He'd made it to one destination without getting sidetracked.

 

"Sir?" Sam paused, her calculations for an iris sensor, which would roughly and quickly analyze the molecular composition - human or non-human, that is - of incoming wormhole travellers, being momentarily suspended. Not minding this interruption, she was well aware that she had been distancing and daydreaming a lot the last couple of days, getting distracted at every thought of Daniel coming home again. Today.

 

God she was nervous, but she had never looked forward to anything so much in her life.

 

"Where is he?" Jack shuffled into the lab, uncomfortable and restless.

 

"He'll contact us when he can."

 

"So then where is he? Are you saying he hasn't because he can't? The Pentagon's already accusing him of selling out, of using the SGC for his own purposes."

 

"Colonel, I'm not saying that. I don't know any more than you do!" I don't have the answers to everything, Colonel. Sam knew she was on edge and had best keep her thoughts to herself. "And Daniel wouldn't do that."

 

Carter knew she had to give her CO something; he'd come by wanting consolation, wanting to vent, and needing reassurances for his frustrations. But she'd been through this with herself as the day had progressed, and the nagging fears that had tried to surface over the past weeks were becoming stronger.

 

"Maybe his watch stopped. If he had no real way to estimate our time, sir, we could be looking at several days' leeway." Not what she wanted to say, not what he wanted to hear, not what she wanted to think, and not really what she even thought. So much could have happened in such a long time span. Hopefully Daniel still wanted to come home.

 

"Eighteen months passes faster on their planet, Major. It's already been two years for them. If he'd lost track of time he would have used their calendar, and contacted us weeks ago." If he could.

 

Carter looked beaten, although she knew she was innocent in this attack. The colonel was as frustrated and worried as she was, and she didn't blame him for his outburst. "I don't know what to tell you, sir."

 

"I know." I shouldn't have hoped for a really good explanation anyway. There isn't one.

 

Defeated, Jack left the company of Carter and went to stand in the gateroom, gazing upon the silent gargantuan mechanism. A lot had happened in the past eighteen months, but thankfully that did not include a Goa'uld invasion. No overwhelming technology had been procured; nothing that Daniel couldn't get his hands back into. Their temporary fourths had been reassigned, twice, not having lived up to the requirements of O'Neill and SG1, and in the expectation of Daniel soon returning, had not been replaced this time. How much had happened with Daniel? Had he forgotten them? Fallen in love? Lost his GDO?

 

Did their gate even work, with eight coordinates? They'd said it would.

 

Had something happened to Daniel? Was he dead?

 

The time was late, nearing midnight. Most of the SGC personnel were asleep. Banners hung aimlessly from high on the walls of the gateroom, invisible now to all but Jack O'Neill, banners wishing Daniel Jackson a warm homecoming.

 

Jack turned his back on the gate, his eyes lowered as he made his way towards the exit. Daniel had not come home today.

 

---

 

PART 2

Eighteen months earlier

 

 

The wormhole spit them out into the varnished wooden room, already familiar from their previous viewings of the MALP data. Present were the eyes that had stared into the MALP camera, curious but not hostile, informing them of immediate life forms, as though the polished wood had not already done so.

 

As SG1 stepped along the shiny floor, so reflective they could nearly see their own images, the still curious welcomers remained at the foot of the mahogany rail, as if in serene waiting. Yet no one moved to join nor greet them.

 

"Hello," Daniel began, approaching the men in red and black uniforms. "I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel O'Neill, our team commander, and this is Major Samantha Carter. And this is Teal'c."

 

Arms stopped him from passing, agitated arms with fingers pointing to a shiny metal basin. "Baellisk."

 

"What?" Daniel queried.

 

"Daniel?" Jack asked, noting that they were not being allowed to pass. "What's up?"

 

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," Daniel addressed the man.

 

"Baellisk," he repeated, pointing into the basin. Peeking in, Daniel saw a collection of metallic circles littering the lined bottom. A variety of sizes and thicknesses, they almost looked like coins, although something about their appearance left an uneasy recognition or familiarity nudging Daniel's subconscious.

 

""Baellisk?" Daniel copied. "Baellisk. Baillit, bailar… bill… billet… billet?... ticket? He wants our tickets?" Either that or to dance, Daniel thought wryly.

 

"Wh… he wants our tickets??" Jack repeated in surprise. "What, like this is Grand Central?"

 

The men, the guards, were becoming agitated. "Baellisk!!" They were now all getting involved in the commotion.

 

"Oh-oh." Daniel bit his lip. "I don't think you're far wrong, Jack."

 

The men were becoming angry, as weapons were lifted towards the newcomers. "Na Baellisk, na vana libnara!" Daniel was roughly pulled from the tiled ramp, just as Jack's "Hey!" vocalization was interrupted with hands clamped on his own wrists, accompanied by a shove towards his linguist as he lost his grip on his weapons, his pockets and jacket roughly searched for additional supplies. Carter and Teal'c had their weapons grabbed and removed as well, as they were pushed forward with protest. Surprisingly, their packs were searched and returned to them.

 

"Daniel?" Carter studied her friend in earnest.

 

"I do not understand this behaviour," Teal'c said in a low voice.

 

"I think we just tried to come through the gate without paying." Daniel explained, frowning.

 

"What are they doing?" Jack was staring at two guards who were keying in an address at the DHD. "What are they dialling up?"

 

"I don't recognize the address, Sir."

 

The vortex splashed open, and the teammates were roughly pushed towards the event horizon.

 

"Well we know they're not sending us home," Daniel commented.

 

"Bet you we've won the cheap fare excursion to the free-gate planet," Jack muttered. "Think it's no frills?"

 

The responses were abruptly cut off as the four teammates were shoved back through the wormhole.

 

_____

 

Lights were flashing.

 

Blinding lights, bouncing around the room; no, over them, around them, above, and more powerfully blinding flashes of light…

 

Jack couldn't squint into it any more, and he joined his teammates in the heads-down stare-at-the-ground pose and therefore had no idea where they'd just landed nor who was there staring back at them.

 

But finally, the lights faded and the aftereffects were all that was left, pink and blue and white dots jumping all over his teammates and those silver-suited people with the eyeshades…

 

…who had their hands all over them now and were not so surprised to see them at all. They were probably used to getting the castaways from that P7R 546, call them now the Ticket People. The short but thick weapons had barrels sporting a dozen pea-sized holes, and in the background SG1 could hear sirens blasting.

 

"You kids okay?" Jack was blinking hard, squinting at his teammates as they were guided out of the room through doors bearing what appeared to be danger signs… and now Jack could at least see the room, with all its glorified shiny metallic lights beeping their crystalline high-tech splendour, and steel bars covering the walls and darkened windows.

 

"I'm fine, Sir."

 

"Couldn't be better, Jack. Are there spots floating all over this room, or is that just me?"

 

"Squares. I'm seeing squares, Daniel."

 

"They will indeed fade, Daniel Jackson. Mine already are beginning to subside."

 

"They are square, Sir."

 

The team was shoved into a small compartment lined in shining golden steel mesh, the walls sliding closed around them. For a moment this seemed to be an elevator, until, from the ceiling above and the walls beside them, a fine mist began to pour through hundreds of thousands of pinholes, down upon their hair, their clothing, their packs.

 

"What the hell is this?" Jack asked angrily, futilely blinking to avoid getting the mist in his eyes. His team was being sprayed with… what??

 

Uneasy and powerless, they each stood watching the spray surround and coat them, and then evaporate, as they tried not to inhale too much of it. Their clothing did not get soaked, and they remained upright and alert. At least the spray had not been meant to kill them. After several moments it cleared, leaving a pungent-smelling vapour in the air, and a thin drying sheen coating their clothing and the skin of their hands and faces. A recorded or computerized voice sounded as the opposite wall from which they'd entered opened.

 

"That language resembles Gorat, from P6X 252. I think they've just said something about contamination … but I could be wrong," Daniel stated, as the walls slid back to reveal the men who had pushed them in there in the first place.

 

"Is this any way to treat your guests?" Jack complained as they were ushered onward.

 

"I guess we've found the ultimate in paranoid societies," Daniel retorted.

 

"You can't blame them, sir. If we let uninvited aliens in through our gate, I'm sure we'd have similar precautions in place."

 

The room they found themselves in appeared to be a control room; the walls had a shiny metallic finish, and the crystalline buttons were flashing colours from every nook and alcove. There were domed cubicles bathed in white lighting, and the furniture - tables and seats - formed smooth contours around every rounded wall. Large panels on raised platforms displayed what looked like multiple segments of outer space, complete with a video show of planetary bodies.

 

"O'Neill. I believe we are on a spaceship."

 

The others stared at Teal'c in dismay.

 

Daniel turned to face the men behind him. "Where are you taking us?" he asked in a poor approximation of the language he'd heard.

 

"You had no tickets to arrive on Signatia. We will drop you off when we reach Benneadnik. There, they will deal with you."

 

Slowly interpreting some of the words, Daniel didn't think this sounded like a good thing, and three pairs of worried eyes focussed on him.

 

"Daniel? What?"

 

"I think they're letting us off somewhere." He turned to the men, trying to recall the words he would need. "They have a stargate... uh, uh, a ring? Can we not go home?"

 

The men looked at Daniel in surprise. "You wish to return home? Those who arrive on Signatia wish to escape their homes."

 

"No…. No! We... we wander, we explore. We..." Daniel frowned in frustration, searching his memory for the means to communicate. This language wasn't exactly the same as that on Gorat, and he had never mastered that one. "We try, we find worlds, new... new worlds. Look for... meet people. We talk, we share. We go home." Eloquent, Daniel, way to go.

 

There was muffled conversation as the men in silver turned away from SG1 and discussed the situation amongst themselves. A fifth man entered the room, joining his group in subdued discussion.

 

"I think it's a misunderstanding, guys. They thought we were refugees." Unless he'd been mistaken in his interpretation. Heartened by newly rooted hope, Daniel noticed the tension in his facial muscles easing.

 

The men turned back to Daniel, the fifth one speaking. "We apologize. You have not been deemed as a threat to us and you may return to wherever you wish."

 

"Hey! I thought you guys didn't speak English. They speak English, Daniel!"

 

"I do. I have spent much time on certain… planets with speakers of your tongue. Forgive my errors in speech."

 

"No… you speak well," Daniel sighed in relief, not having cherished the thought of engaging in a verbal battle with words he could barely remember. "So… we can go?" A misunderstanding; he could definitely deal with those.

 

The man tilted his head. "We have agreed. You arrived here by accident."

 

There were so many questions to be asked. Daniel spoke before Jack could lasso his own thoughts. "Why did those people send us here? I mean, what are the tickets for?"

 

"Their protection. It separates their enemies from their allies. You refused to identify yourselves."

 

The danger seemingly over, Jack grabbed his opportunity. "How about showing us around the rest of this ship before we go?" He threw a quick glance at Carter. They might be able to find out about some of this technology; these people could possibly even end up becoming allies themselves. Jack remained uncomfortable without his weapons, but his team hadn't been threatened, and given a few hours here, Daniel could even try and make friends. "I have to use the facilities anyway."

 

Dark glances seemed to pass between the aliens when the request was translated to the other men. "How are we to trust that you are not spies, intent on gaining our information and then destroying us?"

 

Daniel took a chance. "The Goa'uld are our enemies."

 

"The Goa'uld. We have heard of them. They are not in our galaxy."

 

"Uhhh… your galaxy?" Daniel repeated, stunned.

 

"Yes. This is more your world, than ours."

 

"Who are you?" Jack blurted out.

 

"You do not need to know."

 

"Mind if I ask what you're doing here, then?" Jack asked.

 

"We are returning to our homeland. We place our new rings and relocate those non-citizens refused from Signatia. We have been gone now for almost three sun orbits. Come, adjourn to the speaking chamber and we will answer some of your questions. Then you will answer ours."

 

_____

 

"You said you are here placing new rings… what do you mean by that, exactly?" Daniel continued the conversation with the English-speaking one named Reemer Indir'na va spelk'Trista.

 

"Those travel rings. The ones you came through to get here."

 

"Stargates? You're erecting new Stargates?" Jack was incredulous, his expression mirrored by his team members. "Where do you get them from?"

 

"My people build them."

 

"Now that's not…" … possible… the Tollans built one, didn't they... a thousand thoughts were racing through Jack's mind. "Who'd you learn that from?" A race that travelled outside it's own galaxy, knew how to build stargates… a definite possible ally.

 

Reemer stared for a moment before speaking. "Perhaps you should just leave now. The way is open."

 

"Why can't you…" Jack was cut off by Daniel.

 

"Please, we need your help. Maybe we can trade you something for information. We need technology to help our world." Daniel's wide eyes gazed in earnest at the tranquil alien.

 

"We could not help you even if we chose to do so. We are not the engineers or scientists of our world. All the technical information is back home. Which is where we are now headed," he added.

 

Major Carter broke in. "Would we be able to visit your world? Use your gate, ring, to meet with your scientists?"

 

"My people do not think it is wise to invite strangers. After all," he looked around at his crew, who had not understood any of the exchange, "we do not know for what true reason you tried to get onto Signatia with no ticket. Our world is mostly free from danger and we have worked hard to keep it that way."

 

"And we'd like to keep our world free from danger, and we're not your enemies." Jack announced. "If you don't want to give out your gate coordinates, how about if we ride along in this thing? We could at least gate home from your place… couldn't we?" Too much technology to let slip through his fingers. Hammond would certainly approve a couple more weeks for collecting vital data.

 

Reemer chuckled. "Are you certain you'd like to do that? You know nothing of our world."

 

"So tell us."

 

"Well, first of all, it will take us two more sun orbits to arrive."

 

"Meaning…"

 

Carter cut in. "Two years, sir, give or take, depending on the size of their planet and sun, and the distance betw…."

 

"Two years?" Jack cut her off. "To get back home? Why don't you just use the stargate system?" Jack was flabbergasted; his dreams of high technology were swirling out the window into the black of space. So near, and yet so far.

 

Reemer laughed once more. "Because to use a ring, we have to erect one first. Which, as I have already told you, is what we've been doing." Eyes still chuckling, he bowed slightly, offering to get the team food or drink before sending them on their way.

 

_____

 

"A shame, sir."

 

"Yeah, it does seem as though all the good stuff is in other galaxies." Leaning back as far as the malleable seat would allow, Jack was finding his present comfort level more than acceptable. Flexing his jaw muscles, he paused to consider just what state-of-the-art equipment might be dangling six inches out of their reach.

 

"Can you imagine, Colonel? Having the technology to build stargates?"

 

"For what reason would this knowledge be of benefit to us, Major Carter?" It seemed to Teal'c that having more gates on Earth would just make things even more politically complicated.

 

"Teal'c, just think… if we knew all the capabilities of the gate, we would have a much greater knowledge of wormhole physics."

 

"Not to mention the possibility of understanding them when things go wrong." Jack added fuel to Carter's excitement. "And if we find out who taught them how to build stargates in the first place, we might just find ourselves with more potential allies."

 

"…who have the knowledge of the Ancients." Daniel offered.

 

"It's a world that probably has much more technology than just stargate-building, Teal'c."

 

"Right, Carter. Just think of all those cool new toys you could play with."

 

"They did say they've worked hard to keep their world safe," Daniel commented pensively. "They must have fairly advanced weaponry or shield technology."

 

"I am now convinced that this is a world with which we should indeed attempt to make contact, O'Neill."

 

"Yeah, well… it's all for dreaming anyway. They won't tell us how to get there."

 

"Jack?"

 

"What?"

 

"Um…"

 

"Daniel?"

 

"Nothing."

 

Silence ensued, the conversation having met an unnatural end. There was nothing left to do but return home.

 

"Carter, did you do the math, by any chance?"

 

"Yes sir. Based on the figures Reemer gave me, their year would equal slightly more than eight of our months."

 

"Sixteen months then. Look, Daniel, why don't you try one more time to get them to give us their gate coordinates?"

 

"What good would that do, Jack? Outside of our galaxy we need to use eight chevrons, and our gate doesn't have that ability. Your Asgard invention self-destructed, remember? And you left it in an alternate reality anyway."

 

After a pensive stare, Jack relented. "Well kids, let's forego those desserts and say good-bye to our new acquaintances, shall we? We're wasting our time here."

 

"Wait."

 

Three pairs of eyes turned towards Daniel, who was staring at the floor. Slowly, he brought up his head to meet Jack's curious countenance.

 

"What if I go with them?" Holding his gaze steady, he prepared for the backlash.

 

"What?"

 

"We need their technology. Maybe they won't be intimidated by one person."

 

"Daniel," Carter began, "do you realize what you're suggesting?"

 

"I'm just saying we need to get to their world. Somehow."

 

"Sixteen months, Daniel. Are you nuts?" Jack's eyes were mere slits, his scowl deepening.

 

Daniel sighed, looking again at his boots. "Apparently."

 

"Daniel Jackson, you do not appear to have considered the consequences of such an action."

 

Daniel faced his team, a look of wistful determination clouding his eyes. "Does anyone have a better idea?"

 

"As a matter of fact, I do, and that's you coming home with us. You're not leaving this team for sixteen months, Daniel." Jack glared at him. Daniel had already been gone for a year, lost to them as dead, and had only returned a few months before. No way was SG1 losing him again. No way in hell. "You've just come back to us, Daniel. You are not going to keep doing this to us."

 

Daniel's wide blue eyes carried sorrow and hope. "I wanted to make a difference, Jack. Maybe this is what will do it. Maybe I can get technology that will once and for all keep Earth safe. It's worth it to me." And the hurt will subside, in time, for both of us.

 

Carter spoke up. "Daniel, you can't seriously be considering this. First of all, you won't even understand all the terminology and physics you'd be accessing in their logs."

 

"Sam, you can't just be willing to give up what they may have to offer. I'm sure they have duplicating machines, their version of photocopiers or printers. I'll ask questions, take notes. Then you can work on everything when I get back."

 

"Daniel," Jack interrupted Carter's response. "A word?" He motioned to a more distant spot in the room, making sure Daniel was following.

 

"You don't know what's out there," Jack began.

 

"No. But they're going straight home, and once we get there they'll have a gate."

 

"You're assuming their people will welcome you."

 

"They haven't hinted otherwise. Jack, maybe they're like the Tollan, or the Nox, or even the Tok'ra, welcoming when they're not suspicious or afraid."

 

"You'll have no weapons. Last I saw, they did."

 

"They don't see me as a threat."

 

"Sixteen months, Daniel." May as well say it. "I don't want you to be away that long."

 

"I know. Pretend I'm on a dig." Daniel's voice was soft. He understood. "Or a sabbatical. People do it all the time."

 

"Not in other galaxies, Daniel. And you've already been away for a year."

 

Daniel observed his fingers. "You didn't know I was coming back that time."

 

Jack tried a different tactic. "You won't miss us?" Some part of him wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer to that. Maybe Daniel wouldn't, really. Maybe he'd already become too used to surviving without them.

 

"Yes, Jack, I will. Very much." Daniel's somber eyes searched out his friend's. "But this isn't about me. Or even SG1," he added.

 

Frustration was building in Jack's soul. Daniel had returned to them confused, uncertain, determined, but very much alive, and Jack had sworn to do a better job of protecting him and keeping him safe this time around. Second chances were precious, and not to be taken for granted. This was not his idea of carrying out that self-imposed promise. "It could be dangerous," he stated softly, his words edged sharply with annoyance, with concern.

 

"I know," Daniel admitted. "So could any mission we're assigned to in the next eighteen months."

 

Jack was silent for a few moments, but eye contact with his friend was not broken. He was running out of arguments and precautions, growing more and more certain and afraid that he was about to lose Daniel once again. "You really want to do this."

 

Daniel sighed. "In the grand scheme of things, Jack, I think I'm supposed to. What I want is irrelevant."

 

Jack frowned. "What you want is never irrelevant, Daniel. You have as much right to choose your fate as anyone else."

 

"I'm choosing to be of service to Earth." And with the finality of this statement, Daniel felt the ache in his inner soul over what he had just chosen for himself and for his friends. He would miss them dearly.

 

Jack knew Daniel had learned the hardest way how to go solo; would he have to get used to Daniel doing things like this from now on? Was it time to relinquish Daniel to the universe? Yet Daniel wasn't really different than he'd been before his supernatural experience; he'd always been ready to sacrifice his personal happiness for a cause. But the SGC wasn't in the habit of sanctioning single person missions, and if Daniel wanted to continue this way of life he'd have to remain a part of SG1.

 

Without another word, Jack nodded over towards the rest of his team, and made his pensive way back.

 

The first words out of Carter's mouth hit him like a curve ball, snapping him back to the reality of the situation.

 

"Sir…" she faced Jack with a forced smile. "I'm the physicist. I think I should be the one to go."

 

"What?" Jack's growl echoed through the chamber.

 

Daniel's exclamatory "What?" was vocalized at the same moment. There was no way he would let Sam be the one to do this. Besides the SGC needing her desperately, he was not, as Jack had pointed out, anywhere near certain the journey would be without danger. "Sam, the manuals wouldn't be in English. Their scientists don't speak English; you wouldn't be able to communicate your needs. There'd be no point in your going."

 

"You don't know much of this language either, Daniel," Carter pointed out.

 

"It won't take long to brush up. It's coming back," Daniel lied.

 

"Before you say another word, the two of you are not going. That's an order, Carter."

 

"You can't order me, Jack."

 

"Daniel…"

 

"Do you not want this technology for your world, O'Neill?"

 

Jack glared at Teal'c, momentarily understanding the designation of traitor. You're supposed to be helping me here, Teal'c. His blood pressure was rising, as was his voice. Time to stop this now and knock some sense into his teammates. "Of course I do, but we're talking sixteen months! Not days, not weeks, but months! More than that. Think of it, Daniel. Stuck on this ship for well over a year before you actually get anywhere, and then who knows how long making friends, getting permission to study their logs - which, I might add, they may never agree to let you see anyway and your time will have been wasted." Jack was staring hard at Daniel, Carter was staring at the floor, and Teal'c aimed his vision from one to the other of his teammates.

 

Jack was right, but so was Daniel; they may never get another chance like this again. How long had they been doing this? Over six years, and never had they met advanced aliens who were actually willing to share anything. No, they were still too primitive. Wait a couple hundred years, then ask their allies again. Only by then it would definitely be way too late.

 

"What if they're like the Tollans, Daniel, or the Nox, and refuse to give up their technology?"

 

"I'm willing to take the chance."

 

Damn it.

 

He knew Daniel was right; they all did, and could think of no additional arguments other than those personal ones that wouldn't go over so well with Washington.

 

Four of the aliens arrived with breads and drink, but none of the SG1 team members felt like partaking.

 

"Um… Reemer… can I speak with you?" Daniel spoke softly, a frown squeezing his features. As the alien looked up questioningly, he continued. "I'd like to stay on board here with you until you reach your homeworld, if I may. I'd like to see if your people will share with us some of what they know."

 

Reemer looked puzzled. Seeing that Daniel was serious, he retreated to the back of the room to confer with his own colleagues, Daniel's teammates remaining pensive.

 

"A year and a half, Daniel." Jack wouldn't let up; he had to give this one last try. "Boredom, frustration, possible dangers out there in space, not to mention worrying about us…"

 

Reemer swivelled from his position, having heard the exchange. "No, actually that is not necessary. We have chambers."

 

When four sets of eyes fell upon him, their lack of comprehension clearly evident, he continued. "To put us to sleep. About half of us use it at any one time, and sleep for long portions of the journey. Otherwise, continual long-term expeditions would be unbearable. Daniel would be able to remain in a chamber for as long as he wished, perhaps for the entire period, as he is not one of the crew."

 

"Sleepy, Daniel?" Jack quipped, no humour in his voice.

 

"Uh… I think I'll pass on sleeping for a year unless I get a little bored, actually," Daniel was uncomfortable even at the thought.

 

"Whatever you wish," Reemer bowed slightly.

 

"Does that mean I can come?"

 

"We have agreed. You may."

 

"Oh…" Daniel felt a strange queasiness within, an intangible dread of what lay ahead. "Oh." He was really going to do this.

 

Jack didn't miss the look of doubt that passed across Daniel's features. "You sure about this, Daniel?" No one to watch his back; a new team comprised of aliens they had only just met. Would the promise - no, not even a promise, more of a hope - of advanced technology justify Daniel's mission?

 

"I think so."

 

"Not good enough, Daniel."

 

"Jack, we both know this is the first time we've had the chance to get some technology that may actually benefit us."

 

"Yes, we do."

 

"We may not get another chance like this."

 

"Maybe not."

 

"So I'm okay with this. Sort of."

 

"I'm not." Jack had only one more option, but didn't know how to put it into operation.

 

"O'Neill, should we not notify General Hammond of these plans?" Teal'c's question caused Jack to turn his head away from his two scientists.

 

That's the one, Teal'c. Got any ideas? Hammond would surely veto this mission of Daniel's, and the archaeologist would have no choice but to return with them.

 

"We can't contact the base without a MALP, Teal'c. And if we return to base, these nice folks won't tell us how to get back here."

 

Reemer broke in. "We have a communications device. We will be reaching a nearby planet shortly, and we will orbit. You will be free to disembark at that time, or use the ring to contact your world."

 

Ah. Good job, Reemer. Jack grinned a thank you towards Teal'c.

 

_____

 

Damn it.

 

Damn it.

 

Jack was inwardly fuming; this couldn't have happened. This was so not what he'd wanted them to say.

 

Hammond had contacted Washington, and the president himself had not only encouraged him to authorize Daniel's mission, but had made it an unofficial order. There were no more arguments; if Daniel wanted to do this, Jack O'Neill and SG1 couldn't stand in his way.

 

_____

 

 

While many more convincing persuasions had been sacrificed in order to get Daniel to really and truly understand what he was about to do, and though debate continued surrounding the pros and cons of the solo mission, by the time the ship was ready to leave the orbit of Shnza……something-or-other that Jack couldn't pronounce, Jack, Carter, and Teal'c were back in the gateroom with all its glorious metallic lights - not flashing now - and shiny metal bars along the walls, ready to head home. Daniel was not geared up.

 

"Daniel Jackson. Are you certain you wish to undertake this endeavor?" Teal'c asked for the final time, some hope still evident in his tone. The White House could request, and Hammond could authorize, but it was still Daniel's prerogative to change his mind.

 

"No, Teal'c, I can think of better things to do with a year and a half of my life. But if I'm successful and I do get some useful technology, we'll be a lot better off a couple years from now, don't you think?"

 

"I do indeed, Daniel Jackson. I agree with your decision, no matter how difficult it will be for those of us leaving you."

 

Behind. You left out the word behind, Teal'c, Jack couldn't help thinking.

 

Daniel focussed on his two other teammates. "Look guys, if I really want to come back early, maybe I can get them to orbit another planet along the way."

 

"Daniel, you do realize you're leaving our galaxy. It won't be so easy to get home if you change your mind."

 

"I know that."

 

"Daniel," Sam had been deep in thought for a while, "do you know if their gate can even send you back to our galaxy? It'll need to use eight coordinates."

 

The pause preceded moments of silence. "I didn't ask."

 

"Ask." Jack ordered.

 

Reemer had been standing quietly near the DHD-like panels. "Do not worry. If our home ring could not access this area of space, we would not have the need to put up more of them, true? It is only while aboard this vessel that one cannot do that."

 

Four teammates breathed in relief, but Jack was troubled. He was out of rebuttals, and could no longer try to deny that Daniel was actually going to do this.

 

"Well, then."

 

"Well." Daniel shuffled, not making eye contact.

 

"I guess this is it."

 

"Looks like it."

 

There was a lingering silence as the teammates all looked at each other, sometimes down at the floor, but mostly three pairs of eyes fell upon Dr. Daniel Jackson, archaeologist, linguist, explorer of galaxies.

 

Jack stepped forward, pulling Daniel into an embrace. "Take care of yourself," he whispered, tightening his grip.

 

"You too." The contact had been missed, during his lost year. But he would see these people again, a thought with which Daniel could console himself.

 

"October tenth, Daniel. Eighteen months from today, Earth time." Jack partially released his grip, still holding onto Daniel's shoulders, the two friends' eyes just inches apart. "That gives you two months leeway to find out what you need to, and then I expect you back if you haven't already returned. And, if you get a chance to communicate before that, take it."

 

"October tenth, Jack, at the latest. I promise." I promise.

 

Jack reluctantly backed away, and Sam put her arms gently around Daniel's neck, holding him tight. "We'll miss you."

 

"Same here, Sam." Closing his eyes, he held her, memorizing the reality of her presence, of her touch.

 

"We'll be waiting."

 

"Good. That means you won't die out there on any missions." With a gentle kiss to her forehead, Daniel straightened up.

 

"Daniel Jackson. It deeply affects me to once again have to let you go." Teal'c grasped Daniel's forearm, locking arms with his friend.

 

Jack turned to face Reemer. "You're positive your gate and dialing device will work, when Daniel wants to come home?"

 

"Most definitely."

 

Jack turned back to Daniel, who had now wound his hands around Sam's. "So." He sighed. "Take care, kid. Doctor Jackson."

 

"Take care of yourself, Jack. I expect a big welcome home party when I get back." He locked eyes with Jack, then rubbed a hand through his hair. "This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

Suddenly the room lit up in a brilliant flash of orange, then went dark. Several more golden-red flashes had the teammates rubbing their eyes, when the lights came up once again in full. "What was that?" Jack demanded.

 

Reemer chuckled. "That was our holographic operations. Here," he handed Jack a small metallic device. "Press that panel."

 

After a moment's hesitation, Jack did as he was instructed, and a life-size hologram of Daniel, as he had appeared moments ago, swished into the airspace beside them. The Daniel hologram locked eyes with Jack, then rubbed a hand through its hair. "Take care of yourself, Jack," it stated quietly, "I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

"Wow!" Carter exclaimed, as Jack and Teal'c, along with Daniel, all stared wide-eyed.

 

"We thought you might appreciate having your friend around in some respect," Reemer grinned, and his colleagues, who had entered and remained in the farther recesses of the room, all watched in amusement.

 

"Quite a camera you got there!" Jack commented. And if all their other technology is as good, you've got quite a task ahead of you, Danny my friend. "Get the designs for that camera, Daniel."

 

"Jack, I'm really not sure I can get the copyrights of all the inventions on … what is your planet's name?" He looked at Reemer, then back at Jack. "It could take me a lifetime," Daniel joked, only half noticing that Reemer hadn't answered.

 

Jack turned serious. Knowing Daniel, he might very well get carried away and spend a lifetime. "No, Daniel. I'm releasing you for travel time and a few weeks to get whatever else you need. Then I want you back, got that? October tenth."

 

"Got that, Jack. And Jack? Don't get off on that hologram not talking back to you. It won't last." Daniel grinned.

 

"Eighteen months, Daniel. Eighteen." God, eighteen months, Daniel.

 

"Are you prepared to leave? We must continue our journey. It has been a long one for us too, and we wish not to be detained for much longer," Reemer now spoke up.

 

As the three teammates hesitantly headed towards the open wormhole, hearts heavy and eyes moist, each one having mixed feelings about what they were letting Daniel do, only Jack dared turn around one final time to wave.

 

---

 

"I sure hope you're okay out there, Daniel. I can't believe you actually did this. I can't believe you'll be gone for so long."

 

"Carter?" Jack looked through the doorway of Sam's lab.

 

Cater jumped, blushing. She was aware she'd been talking out loud. "What is it, Sir?"

 

Jack eyed the holographic Daniel, so life-like and real, watching them both. Carter had been studying the machine, or so she'd said, but this was the first time Jack had seen it working in their present environment. "Just came to see what's up with you." He nodded towards their friendly apparition. "It won't answer you, you know."

 

Sam felt her face warming up again. "No, sir. I just… I just wonder how he is." Her voice ended in a whisper.

 

"Probably aggravating the hell out of those aliens with all his questions. He's probably got six journals full of information already." Jack frowned. "Think those aliens have extra writing paper?"

 

Carter ignored his irrelevant question. "Colonel, what if he's not okay, not happy? We would never know."

 

"That's the chance he took, Carter. And he can always go to sleep for a year or more."

 

"I hope he doesn't, sir."

 

"Me too. Too vulnerable in case the ship is attacked." Both friends paused, deep in their own thoughts.

 

Sam turned back to her table, frowning and pretending to focus on her notes. Jack walked around the hologram, Daniel's hand moving now and then to brush his fingers through his hair. Every hair was visible, every crease in Daniel's clothing, every vein in his hands. The likeness was total and exact, a seemingly solid 3D replica and holographic clone. The eyes seemed to bore their way into Jack's thoughts, even though he knew that wasn't really happening. Intense blue, behind glasses that Jack could not remove. That incredible likeness of his friend disintegrated when one tried to actually touch him, spoiling the effect.

 

Was this one technology that the people of Earth would really need or benefit from? What possibilities it held. Families could keep replicas of their children as they went off to war, or even to college. They could forever have full-sized life-like reminders of their loved ones who had died, so much better than photographs or home movies. But really… was that healthy? Would he want to have had Charlie by his side forever, a reminder that would never fade, never grow, of the most painful mistake he'd ever made? Would he have become dependent on the image of his lost son, becoming more depressed in the desperation of never letting go? Constantly re-experiencing a hurt that would always remain fresh?

 

"Let him go now, Carter."

 

Sam looked up, her expression pained. "Eighteen months is a long time, sir," she responded quietly.

 

And anything can happen. We can die. The Goa'uld could attack Earth. At least you'd be safe out there, Daniel, Jack thought, still looking at the hologram. Maybe you could get your new alien friends to help us. But it would take too long for them to get here; one thing they need is a faster ship, one like the Asgards', that doesn't take a year and a half to cross galaxies.

 

"Carter, put Daniel away and come to lunch."

 

_____

 

She was at it again.

 

"This is amazing sir, but without the photographic equipment itself there's not much more I can do with it. This is only the remote and storage."

 

"It is indeed a complete likeness. I believe even the representation of Thor in the cave at Cimmeria did not equal or do justice to this image of Daniel Jackson."

 

Jack silently agreed. This one was better, but the fact that it was Daniel had something to do with that. As long as you didn't touch it, anyway. "Make you feel like talking to it, Teal'c?"

 

"It does not. However, I do sense the desire to converse directly with Daniel Jackson."

 

"Yeah, same here."

 

Jack could see Carter longing to talk to it, to Daniel, to the real thing. It had been six days, and it was time to end this, to give Sam time to grow accustomed to Daniel's absence. He motioned to the remote in her hand. "Give it, Carter."

 

Reluctantly, Sam turned it over once more and placed it on Jack's outstretched palm.

 

"Say good-bye to Daniel."

 

Sam's eyes squinted, not meeting Jack's, her face downcast. She knew what he meant.

 

_____

 

Okay, he had to admit he missed him.

 

That previous year had been so hard. Daniel had always been in his thoughts, in his moments of daydreaming, especially after the guy had shown up at Baal's ball and stayed with him through his most torturous and desperate moments. His presence had been such a consoling comfort that Jack had panicked when Daniel had disappeared, his hope shattered.

 

Every mission after that, Jack had wondered if Daniel was around. It was hard not to think of someone when you couldn't get him out of your mind.

 

Daniel's arrival back in corporeal form had been a gift SG1 would never have dared ask for. Every moment since had been a blessing, and though the thrill of seeing Daniel sitting at the briefing room table or standing by the coffee pot in the commissary had begun to wear off just that little bit in the months since his return, every time Jack had started to get complacent he'd force himself to remember the horrific moments before Daniel's death, and the relief renewed itself.

 

How, now, was he supposed to forget his closest friend for another year and a half?

 

Jack had had no intention of ever talking to the hologram, but stopping by Daniel's empty office once more on his way back from meeting with Hammond, and that device just sitting there on Daniel's desk where they'd agreed it belonged for now… well, he couldn't resist.

 

Activating the remote just inches from Daniel's computer table, Daniel sprung to life beside him.

 

"Hey! Buddy! How ya doing?" Jack watched as Daniel locked eyes with him, combing his hair back with life-like fingers.

 

"Take care of yourself, Jack," the form stated quietly, "I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see." And then Daniel continued to look, and blink, and now and then comb a hand through his hair.

 

"Carter misses you."

 

Silence, and Jack played with the pen on the desk, scribbling on a notepad to try to get it to work, but that pen just left blank scratchmarks on the paper.

 

"The Pentagon likes what you're doing, by the way. They said it's about time we got something back for our troubles."

 

He tossed the pen in the trash. "You didn't want that, did you?"

 

Jack looked straight into the blue eyes that seemed to be searching his soul. Daniel blinked, but otherwise didn't move. Jack blinked, frowning. "How could you do this to me, Daniel?" he asked softly. The form didn't answer, and Jack broke his gaze and shook his head. This is nuts. Let Carter talk to a facsimile.

 

Shutting the machine down, Jack watched as the disappearing Daniel aggravated a knot in his own stomach. Eight days down. Only eighteen months less eight days to go.

 

_____

 

Eight days, a brand new week, according to his watch, and he was bored to death. He'd already toured the ship; they'd showed him where to get food, and then had basically left him alone. They had no time to answer questions, or so they pretended; maybe they still weren't sure what they could tell him. Daniel realized they still didn't trust him, and why should they, really? They had to take care of themselves, watch their own backs, in a galaxy they couldn't even call home.

 

His rooming quarters were interesting. A huge lump of warm rubbery plastic that melded into whatever shape he wanted to leave his body in, served as both bed and chair. Forms merged into one another, that of table, viewer for accessing the ship's logs, none of which they'd given him clearance for, and an object he couldn't define and could only believe to be purely aesthetic. All objects were a creamy white, except for the bed lump, which was a shimmery sort of blue. Lighting was built into the ceiling, and responded to voice commands.

 

They had allowed him free access to most of the ship, with only three areas designated as off limits. Other than that, they had agreed to nothing, and had not even given him chores to help out with. If they still wouldn't trust him, how would he get the engineers or politicians of their planet to do so?

 

Daniel had never felt so much in the way, and had spent the past seven days reading any and all unclassified materials that would allow him to practice the language. Food labels had been the most obtainable, along with their versions of computerized encyclopedias, and Daniel had been devouring everything. While he had the immediate basics of this language, courtesy of growing recollections from Gorat, he needed to learn so much more if he were to understand any of their technology. Maybe a year was a good thing.

 

One thing that helped was the music.

 

Few of the advanced cultures SG1 had encountered had introduced them to the sounds and entertainment of their worlds; these people had at least given him access privileges to the internally modulated selections from their equivalent of the outer galactic hit list. While the instrumentals themselves sounded otherworldly, with blended harmonics and muted tones, Daniel was able to isolate lyrics to aid in his oral comprehension of the language.

 

Besides that, the sounds soothed him.

 

Daniel lay on the bedthing and stared at the pearly contoured ceiling, instrumentals quietly playing. Refusing to admit that deep inside he was having second thoughts, he did acknowledge that he was homesick - or SGC sick - and questioned the foolhardiness of this venture. He missed his friends desperately, even more so now that he was corporeal again. He'd finally returned to his rightful place, gotten used to having friends he could touch. He'd been getting a thrill each and every morning out of his first cup of coffee; he loved the texture of MREs even though Jack thought he was insane, and the smell of the campsite fires seemed to be welcoming him home. His senses of touch and taste and smell had been so starved that he appreciated every opportunity to experience them once more.

 

So how could he spend sixteen months aboard this ship, or asleep? Teal'c was right; he hadn't given this much thought, but that had been intentional. Daniel hadn't allowed himself to think too deeply, because he'd known that if he had, he would certainly have backed out of this.

 

He had been disillusioned as an ascended being, a failure in his own eyes, and this had been a chance dropped in his lap to make it up to everyone, to put his own desires and needs aside and do some actual good for Earth while proving his worth to the people who paid him.

 

He felt compassion for his friends; he knew in his heart how badly they missed him. But they'd learned to live without him once; they would quickly grow used to not having him around again.

 

For himself, it was not so easy. As the songs soothingly blended into one another, Daniel longed for home.

 

_____

 

"We went to P5X 878 this week. The locals looked at us like we were aliens. We couldn't communicate with them so we finally had to give up." Jack was staring back at Daniel, who was in turn staring at him. The look on his friend's face had seemed hopeful last time, but now appeared more wistful than anything else. Sad. Jack had never looked as closely into that gaze as he was doing now, and this was not an expression that Jack particularly wanted to see for the next year plus six.

 

"Can't you look happier?" he asked the reproduction of his missing friend. Caught on camera, for eternity or what seemed like it at the moment. I hope the real you is, anyway. "We haven't found a replacement for you yet, Daniel. Temporary, of course. I've been pitching for Thor, but for some reason Hammond keeps ignoring that suggestion." Jonas was not in line for the position, having been happily reassigned to his own home world of Kelowna after Daniel's return, and Jack had no objection. Having Jonas back on the team would have seemed too much like Daniel was again lost to them forever.

 

Jack played with the device, turning it over in his hand. He'd give just about anything to have Daniel talking back to him right now.

 

"Jeez, Daniel. What the hell are you doing up there, anyway?"

 

_____

 

"What are your people called?" Daniel tried again; there were so many questions he needed answered. Lwein ignored him. No one would tell him the name of their planet, of their people; what could they tell him? "Can you tell me anything? I'm, I'm just really curious. And seeing as we're going to be living side by side for the next year and…"

 

"We are the Daisnis, Daniel. And I'm sorry. I will tell you only what you need to know."

 

Need to know. He knew all about that. "I understand." Daniel watched Lwein Andier'na va spelk'Trista at his monitors, viewing the area of space around them. This room was starting to feel like home, with its flowing spaces and contours, it's flashing lights kept dimmed when there were no intruders. No one else had come aboard this ship in the week and a half that Daniel had been here. "Is this your fastest ship? Do you have others in this galaxy?"

 

"There are others. All are different but none are faster."

 

"And your enemies? Who are they?"

 

Lwein looked at his partner Manande Endar'na va spelk'Trista. "That we will not say. It does not concern you. They are not the Goa'uld you talk about."

 

Okay.

 

"Are you all brothers?" Daniel looked questioningly into two startled faces.

 

"What? Why would you think this?"

 

"Oh. Um… your last names are all the same."

 

Lwein looked puzzled. "To what do you refer?"

 

"Va Spelk ...Trista?" Daniel replied hesitantly. Was he stepping on prohibited ground here as well?

 

Lwein almost smiled. "That is only the designation of all the crew members aboard this ship, signifying our positions and our mission." A small piece of information, but probably nothing significant that Daniel could actually work with, at least not without knowing more about their culture… or this mission.

 

"So, how did you get involved with the people of Signatia?"

 

"They are business allies, nothing more. They help us out and we help them."

 

"How?"

 

"You must go eat now, Daniel. It is your meal time."

 

Subtle hint, and Daniel knew when he was pushing too far.

 

_____

 

Daniel wandered and read, and wandered some more. Sometimes he ate, although no one else seemed to be eating at the same time, not that he could really tell though, for the only place to bring his unappetizing packaged food was to his room.

 

"Please, let me have something to do," Daniel begged again. "Can't we just speak for a few minutes, so I can practice the sound of your language?"

 

Jarrim Denda va spelk'Trista snapped harshly. "You chose to be here, Daniel. We are not meant to keep you entertained." He turned his back on the newcomer.

 

These aliens certainly were not as friendly as they'd first appeared to be.

 

_____

 

"More snags and pitfalls, Daniel…" Jack shut his friend's replica down quickly, as he heard footsteps approaching out in the corridor. But they passed right by the door, and Jack turned the mechanism on once more.

 

"Take care of yourself, Jack," the vision before him stated quietly, "I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

"Gotta get you a new line, buddy." Jack threw a glance towards the hallway, then made his way over to shut the door. Soon they'd find a replacement for Daniel, someone who would take over this office. Perhaps then he'd take the contraption home. Not that he wanted it to talk to, but no way was Area 51 or the NID getting their hands on Daniel, be it a facsimile or not. That would seem traitorous. And locking it away in some storage room… well that was just as bad, almost like imprisoning his friend. Jack cringed. No, he wasn't getting sentimental about this thing.

 

And he wasn't getting attached to it.

 

"Where was I? Yeah, snake pits. But not Goa'uld this time Daniel; more pressure from Washington. Cutbacks. They want to cut six teams from the SCG, cut our missions by ten percent, and they're even talking about having teams with only three members." Right now, Jack wouldn't have to worry about which teammate to cut, if it came down to that. Maybe that was the reason Hammond wasn't looking too hard to replace Daniel yet. "Probably a good thing you're not here."

 

No, I didn't mean that. Didn't mean that at all, my friend.

 

_____

 

So Jack, what have you been up to? Getting bored without me around? Who's the lucky guy - or girl - who's taken my place on SG1?

 

Daniel sat on the blue couch bed and checked his watch. Twelve days?

 

Sixteen months on this vessel. He couldn't do this for sixteen months.

 

Of course, there was always the chance that the others would grow to like him, and accept him as one of them. Or, he could go to sleep, for a very, very long time. Did he trust them to wake him up at the end of the ride?

 

Daniel pushed himself out of the rubbery blob, and watched as it filled in the dented patches left by his own form. This was ridiculous. Find Reemer, have a heart to heart chat. There was no way he could go on like this. He needed something to do.

 

Daniel checked in all the places he was allowed to go, all the rooms Reemer was likely to be in. No Reemer, Lwein, Jarrim, Manande, Edenka; where were they all? Few crew members seemed to be about anywhere; when all were accounted for, there only were nine of them in total. The two that Daniel did meet looked annoyed and refused to answer his questions, no surprise there.

 

As he reached the corridor designated as off limits, he hesitated. What was it they didn't want him to see? What would they do to him if he ventured in? Lock him up? They didn't seem like a harsh class of people, just vague and secretive.

 

Daniel took a few steps towards the first doorway and paused once more, the rounded whitewashed intersections of this pod not very concealing should they notice him lingering or sneaking around. Just as Daniel was about to turn back, a voice stopped him.

 

"The General gave us the go-ahead to set up an operation on P3X 201. Intel has it that the Goa'uld are up to something there. Although we usually leave that kind of thing to the Tok'ra, they're a bit short on numbers right now and the Pentagon thinks this might be important."

 

Jack??

 

These people were communicating with Jack?

 

What was going on??

 

Daniel stepped forward to enter the room, when another message stopped him.

 

"Still three on our team, Daniel, and we like it that way. Carter still misses you, by the way."

 

Wait, why was Jack talking to him?

 

Reemer's voice sounded next, but it was not to Jack that he was speaking, yet the message was in English. "They do know of the Tok'ra, as we've been told. Perhaps we can find out what this P3X planet is they are going to."

 

"Agreed. They still do not appear to have adequate defenses, or this Daniel would not have been so eager to come with us," another of the men responded, and Daniel felt a jolt in his gut as he realized that they all could speak English. They must all have spent some time on Goa'uld occupied worlds. And they had lied.

 

"They may lead us to the Tok'ra, or perhaps even to the Asgard."

 

"Jack has not mentioned the Asgard yet." A new voice; so there were at least thee others in that room.

 

"Perhaps in time. O'Neill will give us much information. He misses Daniel." Make that four.

 

"As you had predicted. Very predictable, these Tau'ri."

 

"Yes, Manande. We have as much time as it takes; they still believe we have given Daniel two of our years."

 

"God forbid. Two years on this vessel?" The others laughed. Daniel cringed, shutting his eyes. What, exactly, had he walked into? The voices were not always clear, and he strained to hear and to understand, leaning as close to the doorway as he possibly could get away with.

 

"I did not think they would allow him such an absence. I nearly told them six of our time spans, the distance to Benneadnik. Four of their own months."

 

"Then they may all have wished to come. We would not have been able to retrieve additional information."

 

"Your plan was good. They even believed we could build the rings."

 

"Men… Jack does not seem to be continuing. I believe his speech has ended."

 

"He must have put the device away once again."

 

"No matter. He is bringing it out more often these days. We will be able to gather much information." Footsteps sounded from within the room, and Daniel softly jumped back, pressing himself against the wall.

 

"Wait, Pirah. What of Daniel?" The voices were louder, closer to the doorway.

 

"We will leave him on Benneadnik, or perhaps Dolamo, when the time comes. They will trade us well, for the information he holds."

 

"No, I mean now. He asks questions, and he wanders."

 

"He is becoming restless, and will soon become a nuisance. I suggest we put him in the chambers, as planned."

 

"Forcefully?"

 

"While he sleeps. He will not know."

 

Daniel inhaled sharply, then hurried off around the intersection, quickly heading back to the main hallway.

 

Oh damn oh damn oh shit, now what?

 

_____

 

"Damn it Daniel, if you'd been there we might've saved that kid. Where the hell are you when we need you the most? Gallivanting around on some snazzy high-tech wonder bird, playing with the natives and worrying about nothing more than what colour water to have at dinner? Well fuck you, Daniel. Hope you're having fun, 'cause we're out there dodging electric arrows because no one's around to explain that we didn't really mean to touch the family mascot. It looked like a damn cat."

 

No. He wasn't really mad at Daniel and he knew better than to believe Daniel was having fun and wanted to be up there alone and bored on an alien ship for the next year and a half.

 

Talking to his friend, or rather, his friend's hologram, was not really as satisfying as he would've liked to believe, but Jack found it to be an outlet for his frustrations in much the same way as kel'no'reem had always been for Teal'c. When he was angry, ticked off, or just plain bored, he took it out on Daniel, a Daniel who would neither mind nor remember. A substitute for an ear or shoulder that wasn't there.

 

I miss you, Daniel.

 

He would tell his friend anything, just before realizing that he was really just talking out loud to himself. Who was he trying to kid?

 

Good thing Carter was occupied with other matters, for the time being.

 

Jack pocketed the device. This wasn't helping. He'd force himself to get used to missing Daniel, without that thing.

 

_____

 

Daniel walked endlessly, no direction in mind. How long could he go without sleep? And would they drug his food, if he tried to fool them? Could he bolt his door while he slept? The crescent-shaped doors pulled back in on themselves sideways, so no barricade would work, and anyone who wanted to would be able to enter.

 

Daniel found himself near the food repository, and grabbed a vessel of water and some bagged meals. Best to get more now, before they had a chance to tamper with them.

 

"Daniel."

 

Daniel jumped at the voice. "Reemer."

 

"You are thirsty, or not well?" Reemer glanced at the three water vessels Daniel was balancing.

 

"I'm, um, I'm just getting tired of the long walk from my quarters all the time." Daniel answered. "Look, Reemer, maybe later this week you can answer some of my questions about the sleep chambers. I'm not really sure I want to be awake for the next fifteen months. I'm getting pretty bored here." Hopefully, this would buy him some time. If they thought he'd sleep voluntarily, perhaps they would leave him alone for a while.

 

Reemer looked almost relieved. "Yes, Daniel. Yes, tomorrow we can talk."

 

"Uh, no rush, Reemer. Whenever you have the time. It doesn't have to be tomorrow."

 

"Daniel, tomorrow I have the time."

 

Of course he did.

 

_____

 

Daniel ventured, once more, to that prohibited area of the ship, at a time when it seemed that most of the crew had once again disappeared. Was Jack's timing this predictable, or did they have some kind of sensor or incoming signal that told them when the hologram was being activated? Maybe they recorded everything in the room at all times, and listened to it later? Or maybe they kept a regular watch, 'round the clock.

 

He held his breath as he drew closer to the doorway. So far, all he could hear were the subdued voices speaking a language he could not make out at this low volume.

 

Daniel waited, listening, his heart racing.

 

Then, a voice he knew so well, a voice that was betraying his world's secrets as well as those of its allies, all in the name of friendship, sounded in the former silence. "Take care of yourself, Jack. I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

"Hey, Daniel! I see you're still hoping for that big party. Forget it, too many budget cuts. Maybe we could afford a new color jello in the commissary though, what do you think?" A pause. "Carter still misses you." If he couldn't admit this out loud in the privacy of his own company, then this machine would be worth nothing. "So do I, Daniel."

 

I'm so sorry, Jack. I wish you could know what you're doing just because you want to talk to me. You have no idea how I wish I could talk to you.

 

Silence. Jack seemed to be moving around the room. "You'd like this one, Daniel. There's a new Asgard protected planet that we're invited to visit, great new technology and all, that the Asgard are willing to show us. So we'll be heading for P… what was it? P8X 032…. Too bad you won't be there. Might not be talking to you for a while, we leave tomorrow. I'll say hi to Thor for you." Some shuffling ensued, and Jack's next line was barely audible. "Take care of yourself, buddy. It's never the same here without you."

 

God, Jack.

 

"We know many who would pay a great price for this information." Reemer seemed to be beaming.

 

"Capture of an Asgard would bring in plenty."

 

Daniel closed his eyes. The Daisnis had no right to be hearing this.

 

Because of him, Jack had just given away information that could innocently bring misfortune to their Asgard friends.

 

_____

 

Jack watched the hologram silently. He really could pretend that was Daniel standing there, if he wanted to. But where was the real Daniel, now? What part of space? What was he doing? Maybe they'd have to land for repairs at some point, and would allow Daniel to contact them. Too bad they had to be in orbit around some planet for the gate to work; they probably wanted to head straight home without stopping much, if at all. But would a few minutes of contact help, or end up making the longing worse?

 

There was no way he wanted the others to find out he was talking to this thing. He'd refused to even acknowledge to them how much he missed the team's archaeologist. But he knew they were starting to get suspicious; he'd shut the hologram down suddenly on too many occasions, and had been discovered once by Teal'c sitting at Daniel's desk. No, this would have to stop.

 

The mission to P8X 032… 023… was happening tomorrow. He'd say his good-byes and put Daniel in the safe. This wasn't really his friend and there was no use pretending that it was.

 

_____

 

They had all left the prohibited area; Daniel had made sure of that after dumping more food in his quarters, and he now cautiously retraced his steps to the pod. Ducking quickly into the presently unguarded meeting room, he looked around for the intercom that had been used to listen in on Earth; a device that could impose upon a friend's wistful thoughts directed at a missing teammate, its counterpart carefully embedded into a mechanism that unsuspecting friends innocently thought had been a helpful, considerate gift.

 

Daniel would never have imagined that Jack would actually give that hologram more than a sarcastic passing thought.

 

There were a lot of strange pieces of equipment in this room, and Daniel had no idea what he was looking at or for. Consoles, metallic and white; small, large, round, and all melding into the furniture.

 

Judging by their voices, they'd been standing about four yards from the door, to the left of his position.

 

Daniel paused at a small cylinder embedded into the wall. This thing had a panel on it like the one on the holographic device.

 

What the heck was he looking for, though? What was he intending to do?

 

Taking a deep breath Daniel touched the panel, and the far side of the room lit up sharply, bright lights flashing around the equipment. He quickly turned them off again, his heart pounding. Oops.

 

There were knobs on the consoles, and little gadgets. It could be any of these things, or none of them. What was he going to do if he found it, anyway? Sabotage? They'd know. But he couldn't let them keep listening in on classified information, and from the sound of it, Jack spoke to him - his hologram - often. Anyway, his own situation couldn't be worse; they were already planning to put him to sleep and holding them off wouldn't work for long. He had to at least get rid of this thing before that happened.

 

Over on a side desk panel - was that a desk? - was something that looked promising. A flat, slightly perforated panel that could pass for a speaker, sort of. Maybe. With his luck it would probably broadcast his whereabouts to the rest of the ship, or function as an internal intercom, Daniel thought as he pressed the metallic buttons. Or it could be be an air vent, for all he knew.

 

Nothing happened, which was probably a good thing, although this realization was peppered with disappointment. Then all of a sudden, Daniel jumped at the sound of his own voice. "Take care of yourself, Jack. I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

Oh God, had he done that? Had he turned on the hologram, or just accessed the recording?

 

Daniel's heart leapt. "Jack?" Could this device work both ways? Would it transmit to his own world? Oh please don't let anyone be recording this or listening in.

 

"Jack, can you hear me?" but there was no answer. "Jack? Please please please come into the room." But still the response was nonexistent. He had to talk fast. "Look, Jack, this speaker probably doesn't record and I don't even know if it works both ways, but the Daisnis have been listening in on you. You know… when you talk to me, um, my hologram? This has been one giant set-up, Jack, right from the start, and we walked right into it. The Daisnis aren't going home to some other galaxy; they steal information wherever they can get it. The ticket people - the Signatians - send them trespassers to do with as they please. I misjudged them, Jack; I'm sorry. They're nothing but space pirates. They just want you to tell them about the Tok'ra, the Asgard, and who knows what else. I'm in trouble, Jack. They intend to put me to sleep and then use or trade me as a source of information."

 

Daniel knew he had to get out of there quickly, not knowing whether or not his message would ever be heard. He had to add one last thing, though, before he hurried away. "I miss you too, Jack. All of you. You have no idea."

 

_____

 

Daniel lay awake most of the night, afraid of being ambushed in his sleep, afraid of waking up in a sleeping chamber, or not, and feeling like prey in his own quarters.

 

Not his own, though, for his own quarters remained empty in an apartment back on Earth, while he had naively offered himself up to scavengers in the hope of finding knowledge. This hadn't been a personal mission, though; Daniel knew what he'd done had been in Earth's best interests. Now Jack was unsuspectingly giving away all of Earth's vital and classified information, because of him.

 

_____

 

"So, what do you think?"

 

"Give me a few days to think about it, Reemer. I'll let you know." Daniel had no idea what good a few days would do, but he had to buy some time. His previous backup plan of asking to be let off while orbiting another world would no longer work; these people wanted to get the most out of him and would not give him up without a profit. They'd never had any intention of allowing him contact with his team, or to return home. Anyway, they'd probably just take him to the place called Ben… Bennick… Bendanick, or something like that.

 

"Certainly." But don't take too long, Daniel, or we shall decide for you. Then again, why bother waiting when the decision has already been made?

 

_____

 

Daniel lay against the door, knowing that any movement would wake him and hoping that the Daisnis - if that was their real name - would not be so quick to take him while awake.

 

It had been hours, and the sleep he so desperately needed would not come. He was nervous, jittery, and completely at a loss for what to do next. He had to find out if Jack had received his message, had to know if he could actually communicate or warn his team. If this ship was heading for a surprise rendezvous with his teammates and the Asgard, there was no way the Daisnis would want him around. Tomorrow he would have to destroy the device and accept the consequences.

 

There were footsteps in the hall, and then people were pushing at his door. Daniel jumped up, his heart pounding, as Edenka, Pirah, and Bosond quietly stepped inside.

 

"What do you want? These are my private quarters," Daniel asked nervously, looking for a way past them should it come to that.

 

"Daniel! You do not sleep?"

 

"If you thought I was asleep, why are you entering my quarters without announcing yourselves?"

 

But instead of answering, the three men rushed him, and suddenly Daniel was pinned against the wall, a swab of liquid being painted across his lips.

 

Limbs went numb, and he fell forward into their arms.

_____

 

 

Not more than five minutes later, Daniel felt himself being set down and propped up, his motionless body still conscious. His eyes were closed, and only sounds and slight sensations still penetrated his awareness.

 

Until, that is, the bonds and headband being secured in place by struggling hands forced the sudden realization of what was taking place, and Daniel understood with a gripping shock who these people, or their allies on Benneadnik, really were. Aliens of one mind, of one name. No wonder they had been able to predict his desire to remain with them; they'd been inside his head, once. They knew everything about the SGC, about him, and about his team.

 

The ice of absolute terror permeated his fragile shield of self-preservation, knowing now what he'd gotten his team and his people into. For in the moments before succumbing to his new state of nothingness, the sudden awareness of those coins, tickets, and people of Signatia caused his bones and muscles to scream with the chill that set in under the masquerade of unconsciousness. There was no way out of this, and his very home was in dire trouble.

 

_____

 

The mission had gone well. Better than well, actually, and some new allies had been procured, new friendships made. Daniel would have gotten along well with these free and thankful people, Jack couldn't help thinking, although all the moments on Vaiesna had been so busy, their minds so constantly preoccupied, that Daniel had been placed at the back of his teammates' thoughts. Only now, resting after having completed his mission report, did Jack finally stop to ponder his archaeologist's absence and whereabouts.

 

Time now to tell Daniel all about it; about the planet, the people, the Asgard influence and technology; technology which unfortunately wouldn't work on a planet the size of Earth. Jack rose to go get the holographic clone out of its safe. He really needed to talk to his friend; even though Daniel could neither hear him nor talk back, there was definitely some comfort in this piece of alien equipment.

 

"Sir?"

 

"Carter. What's up?" Sam had been dropping by more often these days, but he'd barely had time to complete the mission report this time. He knew she had things to take care of as well, projects that had been put on hold for the past nine days while they'd been offworld. Something had to be going on.

 

"I've just been speaking to the general, sir. He thinks he has a fourth for us."

 

"Who is it?" Jack's eyes narrowed. Who had the general found to replace Daniel?

 

"He didn't say, sir. He wants to meet with us in twenty."

 

"Fine."

 

Carter stared at her commanding officer; then, realizing the conversation was over, she nodded. "Give him a chance, sir."

 

"Who?"

 

"Whoever it is."

 

"Never said I wouldn't."

 

"Right, sir."

 

"I'll see you down there, Carter."

 

"Yes sir." Turning, she left Jack alone in his office.

 

A fourth. Their new team member.

 

Jack waited until the footsteps had faded into silence. "So, Daniel. That's it, huh?" Jack said quietly. Daniel wouldn't answer, whether Jack was looking at his replica or not. They were getting their fourth, and it was time to move on, time to let Daniel go. He'd see him at the end of this long and unsavoury mission, one which neither wishful thinking nor delusional conversations could cancel or replace. No hologram could substitute for the man himself.

 

He would leave Daniel… no, he would leave the hologram in storage where it belonged.

 

 

---

 

PART 3

Present; eighteen months later

 

 

They'd been waiting a week. Against SG1's wishes the banners were now coming down. Time, it seemed, was not constant throughout the universes. And Daniel had stood them up.

 

Jack watched silently through the briefing room window, Carter and Teal'c somewhere behind him, as technicians balanced on their ladders trying to grasp the huge signs. Welcome home, Daniel.

 

What's a year and a half between galaxies?

 

He'd gotten used to having a friend missing from his team. Allowed himself to get used to it, out of self-preservation and the knowledge that this wasn't permanent, that Daniel would one day be coming home. Deep in the back of his mind he'd always feared Daniel might change his mind.

 

But something had happened, Jack was certain. Daniel wouldn't have used his new allies to further his own needs, no matter what the politicians were saying about him. Daniel would never do that, never forget his family here at the base.

 

Couldn't the guy be caught up in some wonderful explorations and be finishing up, right now?

 

Sure.

 

Couldn't they have had mechanical problems on board the ship, and have been delayed getting back?

 

Sure.

 

Couldn't they have been attacked out there somewhere in space?

 

Yasureyabetcha, damn it.

 

And they had no idea where Daniel was.

 

_____

 

The last time had been right before that Asgard mission. He hadn't taken this out for over seventeen months. Hadn't allowed himself the luxury, hadn't given in when times had been rough and he'd needed a friend. He hadn't done this again because it did absolutely no good and just prolonged the misery.

 

But now with broken plans and promises and hopes he needed too much to see Daniel again, one way or another. He needed to see his friend's face, hear his voice, maybe yell at him; so here he was, accessing the safe where the holographic remote had been kept for so long. Out of sight but not totally out of mind, like chocolate cake to a dieter. This afternoon he was breaking his abstinence.

 

He couldn't take it to Daniel's office; the room was in use.

 

Pocketing the device, Jack locked up the safe once more and headed for his own office.

 

_____

 

Shutting the door, he paused. This idea was nuts. This would do nothing but make him grumpy, open old wounds.

 

Placing the device inside his desk drawer, he hesitated, then closed the drawer and sat down. If he needed a friend, he'd seek out someone who was actually here for him.

 

He'd go find Teal'c.

 

_____

 

Two hours of CNN had lingered and dragged, until Jack was forced to remove himself from his teammate's presence. How could Teal'c keep himself so engrossed for so long, anyway? That man had patience O'Neill couldn't comprehend. Certainly the hours in heavy armour, standing guard at the doorway of a palace room occupied by a vain, egotistical parasite calling itself a god had imposed such a necessity upon the former First Prime, but still...

 

Jack could go home to an empty house, but a general meeting of SG COs had been called for 1530 hours, just four hours from now. No point in leaving the base.

 

Sitting once again in his office, the temptation was too much. He would activate the thing just one last time, and use it to say good-bye. Jack sat with the remote in his hand, flipping it upside down. He pressed the panel.

 

It had been a year and a half, and Jack found himself taken aback once again at the wondrous technology practically bringing his friend's charismatic form to life. "Take care of yourself, Jack. I expect a big welcome home party when I get back. This will all prove worthwhile, you'll see."

 

"Yeah, well, Daniel, about that party…see, you didn't sho…" Jack's oncoming tirade stopped abruptly as his friend's hushed voice cut him off.

 

"Jack?…… Jack, can you hear me? …… Jack? Please please please come into the room."

 

Jack froze. Daniel?

 

"Look, Jack, this speaker probably doesn't record and I don't even know if it works both ways, but the Daisnis have been listening in on you. You know… when you talk to me, um, my hologram? This has been one giant set-up, Jack, right from the start, and we walked right into it. The Daisnis aren't going home to some other galaxy; they steal information wherever they can get it. The ticket people - the Signatians - send them trespassers to do with as they please. I misjudged them, Jack; I'm sorry. They're nothing but space pirates. They just want you to tell them about the Tok'ra, the Asgard, and who knows what else. I'm in trouble, Jack. They intend to put me to sleep and then use or trade me as a source of information."

 

Jack's entire state of being had gone numb, horrible visions cascading across his thoughts, and he heard the final words. "I miss you too, Jack. All of you. You have no idea."

 

Oh crap, oh damn, oh shit Daniel.

 

They'd heard him talking? Daniel had heard him talking?

 

Daniel had left him this message, way back when he used to talk to this thing?

 

Oh damn oh damn oh…

 

Daniel had left an eighteen-month-old SOS and no one had been around to hear it.

 

Damn him for putting Daniel in storage.

 

_____

 

"General!" Jack was out of breath, and he didn't give a damn that he'd knocked and not waited for an answer or invitation to enter. "Daniel's in trouble."

 

Or had been.

 

_____

 

Those in the briefing room were silent, listening to the message for the seventh time. Jack was still hugely embarrassed at having his world know he'd been talking to a machine. A machine that looked like his closest friend, but still…

 

…still, if he hadn't, they may never have received this warning, this SOS, at all. And had he continued, it wouldn't have come eighteen months too late.

 

"What exactly had you given them, Colonel?" Hammond's eyes were deep and penetrating.

 

"Oh crap, who remembers…. oh, sorry, sir. I think I talked about some missions just after we left him. I'd have to look them up, General. And maybe the one to P8X 023. I never took the device out of the safe after that one."

 

"You gave them intel on our mission to an Asgard protected world?" Hammond was incredulous.

 

"It's not like I was actually talking to anyone, sir." Jack tried to un-incriminate himself.

 

"You were being bugged, Colonel."

 

"How was I to know that? It's not like we keep secrets between ourselves around here. And I have a feeling I gave them the wrong coordinates; I mean, you know me sir. Actually, I don't think I gave them the coordinates at all, it's not like they can use our computer's planet designations."

 

Hammond glared. "Never mind, Colonel. It's just lucky that nothing seems to have come of that; we don't know what they had intended for us."

 

"Or for Daniel Jackson," Teal'c added solemnly.

 

The general continued. "Are you saying that they didn't want all of you, Colonel, because they could get more information about Earth's activities from you alone?"

 

Feeling somewhat foolish, Jack nodded. "Yes sir. If they had taken all of us, the only new information they could have gotten would've been up until our time of capture. This way," Jack looked sheepishly down at his hands, "they would have received ongoing information for at least eighteen months. Or so they thought."

 

"After which time period they could have gained access to this compound using whatever information they had received from Daniel Jackson himself," Teal'c commented, "if they had so wished."

 

"Then why have they not already done so?"

 

"Well… I guess when things didn't pan out and their plan backfired, they gave up on us."

 

"Or used Daniel in other ways." Carter's voice was subdued.

 

"Well it's a damn good thing, Colonel, that you put that device safely away where it belonged."

 

"Except that we would have received this message long ago, General, if I hadn't." Guilt brandished its hold on Jack's psyche, curbing and replacing his last traces of embarrassment.

 

"Perhaps this has not turned out well for Dr.Jackson, Colonel, but it has been in the best interests of this base as well as this planet."

 

Jack couldn't bring himself to agree.

 

"So what now, sir?" Carter looked up, needing to get on with the most important matter.

 

"Major?"

 

"We have to try to help Daniel, sir."

 

"Major, may I remind you that we have no idea as to Dr. Jackson's whereabouts, nor do we know what they have done to him in the intervening time period. For all we know Dr. Jackson may be dead and they may know everything about Earth and the SGC." Hammond's sympathetic but intense gaze was penetrating, disturbing. He knew what Daniel meant to these people, and such openly harsh words, however realistic, were bound to sting. But the sooner they faced the truth, the better. Daniel Jackson had already been gone far too long; sorry now for having authorized this mission in the first place, he, too, knew that things did not always turn out the way one hoped.

 

The dread within Jack was rising. "Then don't you think we should try to find out, General?" Jack's stare was intense.

 

 "How do you propose to do that, Colonel?"

 

There was silence in the room.

 

"Would it not be wise to set a trap, as they did for Daniel Jackson and O'Neill?" Teal'c suggested.

 

"Catch them at their own game, Teal'c?" Jack was picking up the scenario.

 

"What sort of a trap do you have in mind, gentlemen?" Hammond queried.

 

"Oh, give them what they want - a nice juicy helping of holographic Asgard," Jack decided for the group. "On a quiet little undeveloped planet like P7X 521."

 

"What if we can't contact the Asgard, sir, or they're too far away?"

 

"So we'll do it without them. We're getting good at bluffing."

 

General Hammond interrupted the plans. "SG1, the Daisnis, if that's what they're really called, have more than likely given up listening to whatever devices were connected to the holographic remote. More than likely Dr. Jackson has been deposited elsewhere and the Daisnis have moved on."

 

"Doesn't matter sir, I have another idea." Jack revised his own previous thoughts. "We may not know where Daniel is but we do know how he got to where he was. Why don't we just board the ship that took him in the first place?"

 

"I'm not sure I follow you, Colonel."

 

"We were sent to the ship when we weren't allowed access to Signatia. So let's go back to Signatia and try to not be allowed there again."

 

The general stared at Jack, as did the owners of two other pairs of eyes.

 

"Colonel, you want to be captured aboard a ship of hostile aliens who could possibly trade you to their allies for information?"

 

"Well, I wouldn't say I exactly want it to happen that way, but … yes. We can pretend to have no idea we're onto them, General, and just want to check on Daniel. If he's not there, Carter can try to sneak a peek at their files, maybe find a gate address, before we peacefully leave."

 

"That's if they have any intention of allowing you to leave, peacefully or otherwise, which I doubt, Jack."

 

Jack squinted. "I was thinking we could grab their weapons."

 

"As was I, O'Neill."

 

Jack focussed intently on the general. "We can do this, sir."

 

"I'll have to give this some thought, SG1."

 

"Gener…"

 

"I'll have to give this some thought. Dismissed."

 

_____

 

Damn it to hell.

 

Jack sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, eyes closed. Daniel was out there somewhere, with who knows what happening to him. You misjudged them, Daniel? We all did. Only difference was I didn't want you to go with them in the first place. No matter where he was or who he was with, the linguist would have long ago given up on his team, given up on being rescued. Daniel knew well over a year ago that his SOS attempt had failed. Jack tried to close his mind to the despair and terror his teammate must have been going through, must be going through still. Would they be able to find him? Would he forgive them? Was he still alive?

 

Didn't matter. They had to try something, anything, to find him. And if it came to that, Colonel Jack O'Neill was willing to die trying.

 

_____

 

Pleading, promises, bribes, jokes, more pleading, yet all his best angles were wasted on the general, for in the end it was plain logic that won Jack's battle. Daniel could still be alive, healthy, and in need of help. And at the SGC, no one alive was ever knowingly left behind. At least, not once the presence of danger had been established.

 

"Sam. Teal'c. You know we may end up being captured," Jack had warned. "I'm willing to do this alone."

 

"I am not willing to allow you to do this alone, O'Neill. I will indeed come with."

 

"So will I, sir."

 

Jack had known that's how it would go down, but he also knew he had had to allow the decision to be voluntary.

 

"Carter, when the Signatians send us away, you remember the first two coordinates. Teal'c, you remember the third and fourth. We all pay attention to the seventh."

 

"Sir," Carter whispered hesitantly, "what if they send us elsewhere this time? I mean, we don't know that the same ship or aliens still or ever did make the same runs."

 

"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it, Major." Jack stared at her. "You don't have to come."

 

"Yes I do. This is about Daniel, sir."

 

They stepped into the wormhole.

 

_____

 

They were again spit out into the now familiar varnished wooden room, while guards remained at the foot of the mahogany rail, as if in serene waiting. No one moved to join nor greet them, and no one seemed to recognize them. Visitors must come fairly regularly, Jack surmised, for them to post continual watch at their gate. Of course, the SGC posted constant watch as well, although visitors to Earth were highly infrequent.

 

The men looked at them in curiosity. "Baellisk?"

 

Jack shook his head, and attempted to pass. Hands grabbed him, as Carter and Teal'c were pulled out of the way.

 

"Na Baellisk, na vana libnara!" And their weapons were removed. Jack hated that part, but otherwise he had to admit that the plan was working. This might be an insane plan, however, and end up with his whole team in captivity. But it had been a chance they'd all been willing to take.

 

"Check out the chevrons, people!"

 

_____

 

Was this the same ship?

 

Looked like it… sort of.

 

The lights were there, but this time nothing was flashing to express their uninvited presence. The room was so dimly lit they could just make out the doors bearing what appeared to be danger signs, and the steel bars covering the shiny walls. There was a chill to the room, and a silence so eerie it seemed to cause the mingling of hyper-alertness and dread.

 

"Abandoned?" Jack's eyes darted to his astrophysicist.

 

"Or docked?" Carter suggested.

 

"Is it my imagination, or are we on a tilt?" Jack had been having a bit of trouble with his balance, a disconcerting sensation.

 

"O'Neill." Teal'c was gazing out one of the barred windows. "I believe this vessel has met an unfortunate end."

 

"What?" Jack and Sam were at his side in a moment.

 

The sight before them was horrific, fascinating, intriguing, devastating, beautiful. For the ship was indeed on the surface of a planet, but this planet definitely didn't look like home for any aliens. The atmosphere cast an eerie orange glow, and the ground was riddled with steaming vents and fumaroles. Far into the distance, clouds of water vapour and gases rose and swirled, fading and rising, geysers blasting their spray up into the air. Gushing mud and liquid bubbled to the surface of mudpots surrounding them and near enough to see. Electrical currents streaked through the atmosphere.

 

"Everyone must have gone through the gate when they crashed, sir." The disappointment in Carter's voice could not be contained.

 

And now we have no idea how to reach Daniel.

 

"Why would the Signatians send us here?"

 

"This must've been the last known planet the Daisnis had been orbiting to collect their trespassers, sir."

 

"Perhaps they are unaware of what has occurred, O'Neill. All those who are forced to arrive here would most likely free themselves through the stargate."

 

"Which we'll do after we have a look around. Maybe we can dig up some files or intel." Jack turned, leading the way towards the door.

 

He tried pushing, with little luck. "This thing is jammed. Help me, Teal'c."

 

As the door slid three or four inches and a blast of cold air hit him, Jack jumped back, coughing. "Shit! The air's bad in there!" The sulfuric odor penetrated the narrow opening, seeping into the gateroom. Gripping the door heavily, he managed to slide it closed. "And it's cold."

 

"Life support must have been cut off in the rest of the ship, sir. They must keep auxiliary power on in this room in order to keep the DHD and gate constantly charged."

 

"Whatever. There's no way we can search the ship."

 

The three teammates looked at each other, at a loss for an alternate option.

 

"Then we must retreat through the stargate to the SGC," Teal'c remarked.

 

"And get oxygen," Jack finished. "We'll come back. I want to know where these people went." I want to know where Daniel is.

 

_____

 

Returning hadn't been a problem, the threat of danger seemingly negligible. It had been deemed that space suits would only be needed if gravity was found to be lacking and the air too frigid, so they had returned with lined field jackets covered in full hazmat protection. On that point, Hammond and Fraiser had not been willing to take any chances. Gripping the door once more and forcing it open, they found themselves in solid, enveloping blackness. Flashlights immediately illuminated a contoured hallway, familiar from their original visit.

 

"Oh!" Carter had rounded a corner, her beam of light now aimed at two badly decomposed bodies clothed in silver.

 

"Looks like they didn't all make it to the gate."

 

"Why would they have left anyone here, sir?"

 

"No life support, Carter. I suppose no one had time to stop for them. Maybe no one gave a damn."

 

"How long ago do you suppose this to have occurred, Major Carter?"

 

"It's hard to say, Teal'c. The bodies are almost completely decomposed but the cold temperatures and lack of oxygen probably slowed down their decay."

 

"What's with your voice, Carter?" Jack asked, aware that his own sounded strange as well. Deeper, slower, distorted.

 

"It's being affected by the atmosphere, sir. My instruments indicate there is some oxygen here, but there's a disproportionately high concentration of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia. You should hear yourself, Colonel."

 

As if following them into the control room, the blackness continued. None of the projectors were running.

 

"Crap." Didn't look like they'd be able to access any files at all. What they did find, however, were six more rotted bodies.

 

"It does not appear that any of these crew members were successful in reaching the stargate, O'Neill."

 

"They must have lost life support suddenly, sir. Maybe that's even what caused the accident."

 

"So… either they let Daniel off before they crashed, in which case we have no idea where to look for him, or he's still on this ship."

 

In which case he's dead.

 

"Let's keep looking."

 

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't catch that."

 

"I said let's keep looking."

 

The search continued, turning up no working modules or consoles, and only a single skeleton more. No corpse in BDUs, although Daniel would likely have changed into "local" attire if he'd been here for some time; it wasn't as though he'd taken along an entire wardrobe. This accident could have occurred many months after SG1 had left Daniel behind.

 

"It does not appear that Daniel Jackson remained aboard this vessel at the time of its demise." Teal'c had finally said the dreaded words aloud. Concern had been growing; they all knew that if they were to return empty handed, their quest for Daniel would be starting from zero, and there was no where else to turn. Since he hadn't contacted them, he was most likely imprisoned... and being used how? for what?

 

But not finding him meant that there was still hope that he was alive, somewhere. They really did not want to find Daniel's decomposing body.

 

"We're not done here yet, Teal'c," Jack responded with a bit more vigour than he'd intended. There had to be some clue, somewhere. Could Daniel have left another message?

 

"Sir!' Carter pointed.

 

They'd entered what looked like a den or comfort area, and there on the floor was a deep green military pack.

 

Jack's subdued voice echoed, sounding louder in the stark shadowed chamber. "So he's still here, somewhere." He didn't want to picture what they would find. "Or they kept his stuff." Jack's eyes scoured the room, convincing himself that no traces of a body were camouflaged, although there weren't many places here in which to hide. His vision roamed back to Teal'c, settling on the object dangling almost gingerly from the Jaffa's fingers.

 

"Daniel's glasses," Jack whispered to no one. If Daniel had been delivered into enemy hands, he would be needing those desperately.

 

But more likely he no longer needed them at all.

 

Carter was already flipping through the journal that had been packed away so carefully. "There's not a lot in here, sir. I don't think he'd discovered much before this happened." She paused. "Everything that may have been about the SGC has been scratched up or ripped out, Colonel." Carter looked up. "He didn't want them reading this."

 

"Daniel Jackson was concerned about his fate, as his message warned us. O'Neill, do you think perhaps Daniel Jackson remains in the stasis chambers even now?"

 

Jack stared at Teal'c for only a moment, before the realization dawned possible and plausible. "Oh yes, I think Daniel remains… might still be in the stasis chambers!" Jack spat roughly. "Damn right I do! So… where do you think those are?"

 

The increasingly hesitant search resumed, for now that they knew what to look for, they feared what they would find. Finally, the team members opened the door to another black room, different only from the rest of the ship in that a very dim glow radiated from a nearby alcove. It wasn't their flashlights that informed them that the luminescence emanated from a lost comrade, or rather, from the bindings that held him upright, and not from a rotting body. That was definitely Daniel, bundled up in the corset-like harness with a metallic band across his forehead. Strands of rubbery fibres led from Daniel to the power source above him. Last time they'd seen this confinement, the victims had been at the SGC, strung up from the ceiling.

 

"Crap." Who were these people, or their allies? The aliens who had once tried to infiltrate the SGC? Was there someone out there pretending to be Daniel, right now, or had they been about to try before the ship had crashed? Jack realized with a shock what those tickets on Signatia really were; those guards had wanted them to remove and deposit their mimic devices… to reveal their true identities. Anyone not complying was subject to investigation and capture. That "decontamination" spray aboard this ship had probably revealed that they were not imposters.

 

His flashlight aimed at his friend, Jack slowly made his way towards Daniel. Sam was already checking for a pulse. "Oh god, he's alive. His pulse is so slow, sir, but he's alive!"

 

He's alive.

 

After a year and a half?

 

Like the Gamekeeper's people, being kept alive and in good health for millennia.

 

They stared, for a moment not knowing what to do.

 

Carter found her voice. "This machine must have its own generator."

 

"Are we able to remove Daniel Jackson from this mechanism without injuring him, O'Neill?"

 

"Oh yeah. Did it to myself, last time."

 

"We can't, sir. There's very little oxygen in this room. He could probably stand the cold until we reach the gate, but not the fumes and lack of breathable air."

 

"Teal'c, go back to the base. Get oxygen for Daniel."

 

"I will do so at once, O'Neill."

 

Sam had stepped back from Daniel, but neither she nor Jack could take their eyes off their previously missing teammate. Perfectly preserved, after all this time. Not even a beard had begun to grow. The contraption must not only be supplying nutrients and liquids to his body, but also be regulating his body functions and temperature, keeping him in hibernation. Like the Gamekeeper's people.

 

And if they hadn't been able to find Daniel, the guy might've been here for the next thousand years. Surely he would have begun to deteriorate by then?

 

Not necessarily, but certainly someone else might have found him, someone else sent by the Signatians?

 

No, they wouldn't have survived past the gateroom. All newcomers would have made a quick retreat through the stargate, and Daniel would have spent centuries or forever locked away in this cold hostile darkness, or at least until the ship was finally sucked into the steaming, rebelling, acidic land precariously supporting its damaged structure. Or would this life support system have continued to keep Daniel alive even then, underground, buried... the flashing thought appalled Jack, causing a shiver to run through him. Hopefully his friend would never have woken up.

 

They would have taken your life, Daniel, to get information from me. Jack couldn't take his eyes off his friend, strapped to the wall like that, head lowered. How uncomfortable that looked. You lost eighteen months that you could have been spending with us. The anger and fury imploding within the colonel mixed with horror and fear for his friend's physical and psychological safety. Staring at the unconscious, seemingly lifeless body of his teammate, Jack wanted only to grab his friend out of that alcove and run like hell to the safe and comforting security of home.

 

There were tears under her hazmat mask and Sam couldn't do a damn thing to brush them away. We left you like this for eighteen months, Daniel. Dear God, I'm so sorry. She touched his hand, wanting to feel life.

 

Who were these aliens, and what had they wanted? How long had those SGC infiltrators intended to keep their victims alive at Cheyenne Mountain, that time? Come to think of it, why hadn't they just killed them all before stealing their identities? What had they planned to do with all of them? Were these people, these Daisnis, stealing for them, or were they all one and the same? Jack hated what they had stumbled into, what they had left Daniel to be used for.

  

Startled by the sound of movement, both teammates jumped as Teal'c made his way back into the chamber, oxygen connection and hazmat in hand.

 

"Okay kids… how do we do this? We need to wake him up."

 

"I believe you do so by disconnecting the headband from the main harness, O'Neill."

 

"But when we lift Daniel's head to do that, he'll disconnect from his oxygen support."

 

"Daniel Jackson may also struggle upon awakening."

 

"So, we should get that mask on him first."

 

"We have about twenty minutes of oxygen left, sir."

 

"I'm aware of that, Major. Let's wake him up."

 

As Teal'c carefully readied the hazmat mask, pulling it over the alien band, Jack lifted Daniel's head, disconnecting the equipment. Daniel jerked his head up, eyes flying open, struggling against the oxygen mask and filter being pulled down over his nose.

 

"Hey, hey, calm down, Daniel, it's us. It's me, Jack. Carter and Teal'c are here. This is oxygen. Breathe."

 

Daniel tried to focus on his surroundings, the artificial light rays casting shadows around the otherwise black room. So he was still here. How long had it been? He breathed into the mask placed over his nose by an entity in what looked like hazmat gear, speaking his friend's name. The voice was muffled, unusual, and the faces were hidden in semi-darkness. What would his teammates be doing here, anyway? Wasn't this ship still somewhere out in the galaxy? He himself was still harnessed to alien equipment; he had no reason to trust these people.

 

Daniel stared, flexing his incredibly stiff neck muscles, trying to see through the reflecting glares and into the covered faces. "How do I know it's you?" His voice, too, was thick and low, once he was able to get it to work.

 

"What?"

 

"I didn't see the Daisnis using those duplicating devices, but I know they have them on Signatia. How do I know you're not aliens trying to infiltrate the SGC?"

 

"'Cause we just came from there. We can get back on our own, Daniel."

 

"How do I know that?"

 

"Just trust me on this, okay? Come on, it's not safe to get you out of here until you get this gear on."

 

Daniel wanted nothing more than to leave here with his own people, but he couldn't put the base at risk. Jack hadn't known he was in danger… had he? Then again, if those aliens could impersonate him or anyone else they had in custody, they could have already gone back to the base. And Daniel really wanted to get out of here. "Okay. But if you want me to input the IDC I'm not going to."

 

Jack had to smile. As much as Daniel wanted to be rid of this place, his teammate's sense of loyalty still continued intact, putting the SGC before his own welfare. "Deal."

 

Daniel pulled the harness off, the chill of the air enveloping him with a shocking suddenness. Already the others were helping his legs and arms into the hazmat protection Teal'c had brought.

 

Daniel was helped to move, legs stiff and unsteady from disuse, but remarkably healthy. His entire body ached, but the grogginess had disappeared and adrenaline had taken over to propel him through the blackened hallways and past the human remains, and he suddenly realized what had happened here. A sense of numbness shocked his body, in the realization of what he'd kept waking up to.

 

The gateroom was not as he remembered it; no metallic or crystalline lights flashed, and the room was so dimly lit he could barely discern the DHD from the shadows. But in this room, Jack had already peeled off his helmet and the eyes searching into his own sure looked like his friend's. But those impersonating devices were completely flawless, and appearances could deceive. Daniel remained reserved, keeping his distance.

 

As the others removed their head coverings as well, Daniel followed, also finally removing the uncomfortable headband that had been left in place by Teal'c. It was so good to see those faces around him, friends from the past, even though he was unsure about trusting them.

 

It's us, Daniel; Jack understood his friend's uncertainty. "Dial us out, Carter,"

 

Daniel watched closely as the Sam person pressed Earth's chevrons, the matterstream billowing outwards in the most beautiful sight in the world to one who'd been trapped for so long in a solitary world of darkness. Watching over Jack's shoulder as the IDC was input, he realized those numbers had changed. Whoever these people were, they were definitely familiar with Earth. God, maybe his friends were here.

 

---

"I didn't know where you were." The gentle breeze on his arms was pleasant in the dusk of fall as Jack approached his friend, quietly interrupting Daniel's reverie.

 

Daniel remained staring out at the surrounding trees as he spoke, his voice soft. "I needed air." He'd been in that mountain for hours, what with medical check-ups and briefings, and though his relief at being home was sufficient to sustain his present sense of peacefulness and exhilaration, he'd longed to see daylight, to experience the freedom of open space around him.

 

Jack responded only by putting his hand on Daniel's shoulder, and together they stood, looking out at the trees but not really seeing.

 

"I was really there for a year and a half?"

 

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I didn't get your message."

 

"You did. Thank you for taking out the hologram."

 

"Yeah, about that…"

 

Again, there was silence, and Jack squeezed Daniel's shoulder. "If they hadn't put you in that contraption you would have died with them." Jack was still relieved they had not had to bring home Daniel's corpse. Relief couldn't even begin to describe what he was feeling. "And at least the time passed faster for you that way. Thank goodness you were unconscious."

 

Daniel's whispered response caught Jack off guard.

 

"What?" Daniel hadn't really said what Jack thought he'd said, had he?

 

 "I said I wasn't."

 

"What are you talking about?" Jack's eyes narrowed as he searched his friend's face.

 

The jolt startled him, and he looked around. It took only seconds to realize the mistake; futilely trying to inhale in a room filled with sulfuric fumes and very little oxygen was about the worst sensation in the world. Sticking his nose back inside the harness, Daniel tried to cope with oncoming panic. He could see that the room was in darkness; only the faint lights emanating from his own constraints and from the ceiling above him allowed him any recognition of his surroundings. Realization of his predicament swiftly engulfed his thoughts.

 

A few more rapid and sudden movements indicated that either the ship had come to a full stop, or they were docked on land and experiencing an earthquake.

 

"I kept waking up."

 

No, Daniel, that wasn't possible. It didn't happen that way. "You were in stasis when we found you." For eighteen months, Daniel. Tell me you were asleep.

 

"Although I didn't realize this at the time, the crash must have damaged or dislodged whatever part of the mechanism was being used to put me out. The headband, I think, kept coming loose. I kept waking up."

 

What happened? He was awake again, the room still bathed in blackness. How long had he been out this time? And why did he keep falling asleep?

 

He couldn't go on like this, waiting for someone to come for him. Something had happened, or they'd forgotten him here. He had to go through with it this time; he had no choice. He had to see what was out there.

 

Ripping open the harness, Daniel felt the frigid air blast his limbs. He could deal with this. All he had to do was get to the stargate room, and gate to somewhere. Or he could stop at his quarters, and get the GDO from his pack. He had no way of knowing if they'd changed SG1's IDC though.

 

He inhaled as deeply as he could one last time. The restraints, complete with life-giving oxygen, would no longer work once they were disconnected from the hanging fibres. He couldn't take them with.

 

Releasing the door and exiting into the hallway, the cold air penetrating his clothing, Daniel realized there was no life support left anywhere on this ship. Only his stasis contraption seemed to be generating any power, and there was no way he could make it all the way to the gate room. Unable to hold his breath, Daniel dashed back to the harness and shoved his nose inside the oxygen pockets, gasping deeply. Reluctantly he slipped back into the harness, its inner suction tubes making contact through his clothing, feeling some warmth seep slowly into his skin.

 

Was this how Machello had felt, coccooning himself in his own life support system, waiting for eternity to pass?

 

His friends had not received his warning. How long had he even been here? Had the Daisnis acted upon any of the information they'd received? God Jack… I don't want to be here, I don't want to be here, I don't want… you wouldn'twant me to be here, I know you wouldn't. But you don't even know that I am.

 

Eighteen months may end, but you'll never see me again.

 

He had no choices; all he could do was wait for life support to someday be restored to the ship, hopefully managing to keep his sanity intact, and try to sleep as much as possible.

 

"Oh shit, Daniel."

 

Daniel stared into the treeline, his voice barely audible. "I was terrified. When you came for me I didn't care who was taking me out of there, I just wanted to get out."

 

Jack had no words of consolation. How could Daniel have kept waking up for over a year, or however long it had been since the ship had crashed, knowingly confined to life support, alone in that darkness? He couldn't even begin to imagine. And what was worse, this might have gone on for years, decades, centuries. Daniel's psychological death would surely have preceded the physical. God, Daniel. At any time during these past months, his team could have taken Daniel out of there. Instead, he had done the unthinkable, and put Daniel into storage. He had literally locked his friend away.

 

"I shouldn't have put away the hologram."

 

"No guilt allowed, Jack. You knew you weren't really talking to me."

 

"I'd rather be talking to you."

 

"Same here."

 

Jack squeezed Daniel's shoulder once more. "Let's go inside. You're here now. I'm forbidding you to ever even think of going solitary again, ever, Daniel. Don't even try to think it. Don't even think of thinking it. Don't even think of the thought of thinking it. Don't even…"

 

"Jack, I think…"

 

"Ah! No thinking. I'm forbidding you to think or even think of thinking."

 

"… I think I've learned from this."

 

Jack paused. "So no more thinking you have to prove something to us, have to make a difference?"

 

"That, Jack, I will probably keep thinking."

 

Ah, crap. Well one out of two isn't so bad.

 

Turning towards the mountain's secluded exit, his hand on his friend's back, guiding him, Jack wasn't done yet. "Carter missed you, you know. And if you ever suggest doing something like that again, I'm going to give you my hologram to take with, and it's going to keep on saying some really nasty things in Jack O'Neill language. You understanding this, Daniel?"

 

Daniel smiled. I understand, Jack. "Right. I missed Carter too. And you don't want me to do that to her again."

 

"You catch on quick. Well not that quick. But better late than never. How am I doing with the clichés?"

 

"I didn't miss them."

 

"A stitch in time…"

 

"No place like home, Jack. Let's leave it at that."

 

---

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