Chapter Seventeen

26 May 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221 — 08:00 hours

 

Since sending the first message to Odoaker, letting him know that his friends would be arriving by ship in the not too distant future, Daniel’s mood was dark.  His vision never changed, and he was getting frantic.  Serin endeavored to reassure the archeologist, but every dream he had was the same, Vala flying the F-302 to her doom, and he would wake up soaked in sweat.

 

Serin often came into his room to wake him from his nightmares and held him as he wept, his body taut with grief.  And every time she did, the next morning he avoided eye contact, embarrassed.  She only mentioned his struggle once, for which he was very grateful.

 

“I had nightmares after my husband died,” she said one morning after another bout of terror and tears.  “It was Bran that held me in the night.  No one should ever have to face that kind of fear alone, Daniel.”

 

Shortly after Odoaker’s first communication was received and answered, Nesterio and Daniel began to formulate a plan for disabling the deadly chip imbedded in his body.  The only one they thought would work was sent on to the Proctor.  The note back was short— Message received. Will contact when the ship arrives.

 

The cabin that was used for communication with Ertieg was far into the woods in a small clearing.  It took Daniel an hour to walk there from the village, so he settled near the little structure, sleeping outdoors by a fire.  He also didn’t want his bad mood to wear out his welcome.  Since he wouldn’t leave his campsite until he got word his teammates had arrived, Serin, Bran, and Nesterio sometimes stayed with him at night so he would not be completely alone.  As one week turned into two, his dreams became unclear, foggy and distorted.  Visual snippets of his escape, the land bridge, and bloody combat sometimes flashed by in ever changing order.  He already knew that the bridge was both a source of imminent danger and a possible way out, yet these dreams lent no further understanding.  Sleep was not his friend and fatigue began to show on his face.

 

31 May 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221 — 21:00 hours

 

As he kept his vigil, Daniel thought about the visions.  The Imbas Forosnai didn’t seem to do what he thought it would.  Dagda said that it was Knowledge that Illuminates, so he figured he would see the future at times of great need.  But the fragmentary and disturbing nature of the dreams and the way he got sick after he had a lucid vision, made him think that it was a curse more than a gift.

 

Daniel sorely wished that Aisling was with him.  He wasn’t sure how, but maybe she would be able to shed some light onto this ‘so-called gift.’  Then it occurred to him that maybe the sickness was only because he hadn’t learned how to control the visions.  Maybe they wouldn’t be as bad if the prediction was good and not a disaster.  Dagda wasn’t very forthcoming in the explanation department.

 

“My brother,” a voice said to him.

 

Daniel jumped and reached for his non-existent sidearm.  He looked around the clearing, but no one else was there.  He began to think maybe he had imaged it.

 

“No, brother,” Ta’om came into the light of the fire and sat before the amazed man, “I am here.”

 

“H… how…”

 

The elven man smiled at him, “You are in the realm of dreams right now, Daniel.  I heard your questions and have come with some answers.”

 

Still reeling at Ta’om’s sudden appearance, Daniel had a hard time trying to get his thoughts together enough to ask anything.  Shaking his head slightly he was able to kick his brain back into gear.

 

“How did you know that I needed you?”

 

“Son, we are never very far from you.  Especially when your heart is in need,” Ta’om said with a smile and a tap on Daniel’s torque.  “What troubles you?”

 

Nodding his head in thoughtful contemplation, Daniel absent mindedly began to play with his silver collar.  Then his questions took form and he asked, “Why… why do I get sick when the visions come?”

 

“Your body is adjusting to having this gift, and it is a gift.  It may take a little time, but the sickness will ease.”

 

Jackson noticed that the fairy said ease and not stop.  He filed that away for later and asked, “Will I see everything that is going to come?  Will the facts change if I know about them?”

 

Ta’om ducked his head for a moment.  When he looked up again, he had a curious expression,  “You will not see everything.  The magic is… indiscriminate.  Chaotic.  Sometimes you will see, and other times it will not reveal what may be very important.  We do not understand the magic completely.  It comes from a place that even we know not.”

 

“Then what good is it?” he barked and tossed a stick into the fire, sending sparks to dance in the night sky.

 

The elf’s thin eyebrows inched a little higher.  “Have you not already benefited from the images?  Were you not able to use the laws of this world to save your friend and your lover?”

 

Daniel frowned, “Well, yeah, but…”

 

“This is not a crystal ball, my brother.  Nor will you be able to predict an outcome of something.  It is for guidance only.  You know that nothing is set in stone when it comes to the future.  Impending events swirl and weave, come into focus and slip far away.

 

“You will learn to decipher the images.  Some you will disregard as merely idle fears, while others will help you to manage a situation.  When the crowd was screaming in the small room, you found it arduous to gather your thoughts.  The Imbas Forosnai helped you to focus on what you needed at that time.  Your nightmares of Vala are merely that— nightmares.”

 

The man was confused, “But it was a vision.  There was a lot more to it than just Vala.  And… and then I got sick.”

 

“It was a vision in the hut of the old man, yes.  But now, you have changed some of the events already by informing the Proctor of your pack’s intentions of rescue.  So that prediction is no longer.  You will learn to discover what is needed and what can be let go.  Dagda would not have given you this gift if he did not think you would be able to manage it.  I will tell you this, it is best for you to keep Aisling with you at all times.  She will help to keep your mind clear, and the connection with Tir Na n’Óg open.

 

“My time has come.  I must leave you now.  Peace be with you, brother,” Ta’om said as he began to fade into the firelight.

 

“WHOA!  WAIT!” Daniel shouted out, “Ta’om!!”

 

Daniel jerked awake with the shout still on his lips.  Scrubbing a hand over his face, he looked around.  Everything was as it should be, but now he had a little more to mull over.

 

Just how much can one brain hold? he wondered.

 

***

 

04-05 June 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221

 

Late in the afternoon, as Daniel sat in the cold drizzle and poked at his fire, a boy came out of the hut and handed him a note.  The scrawl was hard to read—  To Daniel of The Island, from Odoaker of Ertieg.  A Tau’ri ship has entered our orbit and has requested a meet in the morning.  Will inform you when plan is confirmed.  Do not contact again.

 

Feeling somewhat better, and tired of being cold all day long, he went back to Serin’s hut to warm up and get some food.  That night Daniel spotted the blinking lights of what he was sure was the ship from Earth.  The following morning, he went back to his campsite.  When the others joined him that night, they sat around a roaring fire, cooking some stew and chatting amiably together.  The Tau’ri pointed out some of the stars to Bran, telling him about his time among them.  The boy was fascinated by the stories Daniel recounted and by the lights from the ship.

 

“So… the lights that shine above are really planets?” asked the boy.

 

Daniel smiled at him, “Not all of them, no.  Some are suns.  My friend Sam could tell you more about them.  She’s a scientific wiz!”

 

Bran looked at him in shock, “You mean that the women on your planet can go to trade school to become scientists?  Your planet must be an amazing place to live, Daniel.”

 

“It’s not all good, Bran.  We have problems just like here.  They just wear a different coat.  In some countries, they still don’t let women go to school either.  I’ve been to hundreds of worlds and not one of them was perfect.”

 

An older boy came running out of the cabin.  He handed Nesterio a scrap of parchment.

 

“Is that the message?”  Daniel asked, hoping it was going to be good news.

 

The old man read aloud:  To Nesterio of The Island, from Odoaker of Ertieg.  All is well with our guests.  The plan is in action.  The protest will commence the day after tomorrow.  Be ready.

 

“How do we know it’s really from him?  This could be a set-up,” Daniel worried.

 

Nesterio smiled at him, “The message also says— on our way, Space Monkey.”

 

Daniel laughed aloud, eyes bright, “It’s them.  They’re going with our plan.”

 

He was so happy, and then he noticed that Bran was starting to cry softly.

 

“Bran,” he pulled him close, “what’s the matter?”

 

The boy shivered in his arms, “You are going to leave… just like my dad did.”

 

Hugging the boy to him, Daniel rubbed his back. “Oh, Bran.  You knew I wanted to go home.  But things are going to change around here.  A lot!  And you get to be a part of that change.”

 

“Will you ever come back?”

 

Daniel sighed, “I don’t know.  It would be dangerous for me to show my face in Ertieg again.  They won’t know that I’m gone and if I suddenly walk through the Stargate… what do you think would happen to Proctor Odoaker?”

 

“They would hurt him.  Maybe put him to death for helping you to escape,” the boy sobbed.

 

“I tell you what,” Daniel looked at Nesterio and Serin.  “I’ll give your mama and Nesterio a special code so that when things do get better here, you can contact me through the ‘gate.  How would that be?”

 

Bran nodded his head into Daniel’s chest, “‘kay.  But I will still miss you, Daniel.”

 

“I’ll miss you too, Branimir,” he said stroking the boy’s hair.  “I’ll miss you too.”

 

The thought of sleeping warmly and as it was still relatively early in the evening, had Daniel suggesting they packed up the little camp and walked back to Serin’s hut.  By the time they reached her home, Bran was asleep on Daniel’s shoulders.

 

***

 

06 June 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221 — 05:30 hours

 

Since Daniel knew how sad Bran was about his leaving, the next morning he woke up the boy early.

 

“Hey, Branimir,” Daniel whispered, “wake up.  My best friend always said ‘Fishin’ has to start before the fish get up.”

 

Bran groaned and rolled over, “Fishin’?  We’re gonna go fishin’?”

 

“Yeah… come on sleepy head,” Daniel ruffled the boy’s hair.

 

A few minutes later, both boys were hiking to Bran’s favorite fishing hole.  It was a good distance from his home, but the morning was warm and Daniel loved the company.  Bran told him all about his father’s carving skills and the dreams of what he wanted to do when he grew up.  After meeting Daniel, the child decided he wanted to travel through the stars just like him.  In turn, his new friend shared stories about his time on Abydos and going through the Stargate.

 

They had a great time at the fishing hole and caught several large fish.  Daniel never had this kind of luck in Jack’s lake, even when there were fish in it.  When it was about midday, they decided it was time for lunch and since neither had breakfast, they hurried home.

 

“Mama!” Bran burst in the door.  “We caught a lot of fish!  Daniel and me!”

 

“That’s great, honey!  Go clean them up for dinner tonight,” Serin smiled at Daniel.  “Thank you for that,” she said and kissed him on the cheek.  “He’s missed going fishing.  You’ve been a great blessing.”

 

Daniel blushed and ducked his head down, “Yeah, well, I’m going to miss him.  And you.  I will try to find a way to keep in contact.  I really hope that I can come back to see him again.”

 

Serin knew that he would try.  She only wished that she and Bran could go with him.  Then it hit her.  Neither she nor Bran had a chip.  Maybe they could go with Daniel.  She had no ties to Ertieg and she really didn’t want to watch as the country began the pains of birthing a new way of life.  She studied the man for a moment.  She knew the approach to her question had to be worded very carefully so he did not think that she wanted to stay with him.  Serin knew how much he was in love with his girlfriend and she didn’t want to jeopardize that in any way.

 

Turning to him, Serin said, “Daniel, can I ask you something?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“Does your world accept refugees?”

 

The man looked shocked.  He certainly didn’t expect that question.  He thought for a moment and said, “Well, um… yeah, we do all the time on a temporary basis.  Why… what are you thinking?”

 

The woman pulled out a chair and sat beside the dining table.  She was trying to gather her thoughts, wanting to put her idea into a cohesive suggestion.

 

“Well, I’m not a prisoner, and now that my husband is gone I have no anchors here.  Well… I was just wondering if maybe… Bran and I could come with you— to your planet… to live,” her voice trailed off.

 

His eyebrows were sky high as he stared at her with his mouth hanging open.  Clearing his throat, Daniel also sat down.

 

“Well, um… I guess that… ah… well, I might be able to take you.  I would have to ask if it would be…” he stopped.  Daniel thought of Bran and how happy he would be.  How much the boy would gain by living on Earth.  He really didn’t think that Jack would be too upset.  Especially when he met Bran.  O’Neill was always a sucker for kids.

 

“Don’t you have any family that will miss you and Bran?”

 

Serin shook her head with a soft smile, “My mother died quite some time ago, and I have no siblings.  No one will even miss us.”

 

Daniel looked out the open door and watched Bran as he cleaned the fish they had caught.  He really loved the boy and wanted to stay in contact with him.  If he were on Earth, that would be a lot easier.

 

“It will be hard to get used to living on Earth.  It’s very different.  Much faster and many more people.  And you’d will have to stay at the SGC— that’s Stargate Command, for a little while.  Recently, they’ve eased the rules around new off-world residents.  In the past, refugees had to stay on the base for a long time.  I guess we’re getting used to the idea of being part of the whole universe and that we’re not alone.

 

“Our doctors will check you out.  They’ll run a few tests and have both of you speak with the mental health counselor to evaluate your adjustment to the new place.”

 

“It still sounds much better than here, Daniel.  Much better for Bran too,” Serin said pleadingly.

 

Daniel nodded his head, “Why don’t go with me to the rendezvous point tomorrow.  I’m not going to promise anything, but I’m pretty sure Jack will be sympathetic to your request.”

 

Serin flashed him a smile that lit the room.

 

***

 

06 June 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221 — 23:40 hours

 

The evening before the protest the city was quiet as a grave.  Sitrik scampered through the shadows as he made his way to the Barracks of Officers.  He just knew something was going to happen on The Island.  The Proctor was in too good of a mood and that set-off alarm bells for him.  The off-worlders were planning something and he was going to make sure it didn’t happen.

 

Entering the building, the Regent went directly to the Master of the Guard.  Rapping his knuckles on the door and opening it, he was almost jubilant.

 

“Good evening, Timbac,” Sitrik said, “I have a mission for you that is of the utmost importance.  Tomorrow there will be a protest by the skrunilecs.  I know this to be a distraction.  I feel that actually what is going to happen is a bid to free the off-worlder by its comrades.”

 

Timbac leaned forward and said, “What will you have me do, Regent?”

 

“Station one of your soldiers on The Island dressed as a prisoner to man the lookout post they have there.  Also, I want you to put a squadron of your best, hidden amongst the trees and under the bridge.  Before the off-worlders get the chance to rescue that skrunilec, I plan to kill it!”

 

“You will be going to The Island, Regent?” the man asked with complete surprise on his thick face.  “You have never been to The Island… have you?”

 

“That’s not the point!  I will not let the Proctor get away with whatever he is scheming.  This will be his undoing!  And then, I will become Proctor and quash the skrunilec’s movement once and for all.”

 

The look of utter joy was rather off-putting to Timbac.  He didn’t like the idea of anti-separation any better than the next real man; but, this… this was extreme.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better if one of my men killed the skrunilec?  That way your hands won’t be dirty,” Timbac said.

 

“No!” Sitrik almost screamed.  “I will be the one killing it.  I want to see the life ebb away from its eyes.  I want it to know that I was the one that exterminated it like the vermin it is.  Your men are only there to protect me from the others.  I don’t care about them.  Kill them if you want too.”

 

“Should I post more men at the guard hut too?”

 

“No, in fact, I want you to empty the building.  This way, the off-worlders will think that their plan is working,” the Regent leaned back triumphantly.  “And no one else is to know about this.  Understand?  This will be my greatest achievement and I don’t want others to think they can take the credit for destroying this unholy movement!”

 

“Yes, sir,” the officer said and saluted.

 

***

 

07 June 2009 — USS Eos BC-304 — 09:30 hours

 

The two days that Vala was forced to wait for the rescue to commence seemed longer than the six months Daniel had spent with the Tuatha.  She couldn’t sleep at all.  She knew he was only on the planet below, but the distance could have been thousands of light years.  Sam tried to keep her busy, but there really wasn’t much for the former space pirate to do aboard an idle ship locked in orbit.  Vala wasn’t that interested in the techie stuff Sam was doing and she really didn’t want to be involved in the mission planning since she could not go with them.  She took to shadowing Jack around until he got sick of it and told her to back off.

 

“Vala,” he said that first night, “if you don’t stop following me around, I’m gonna tell Daniel that you and I are having an affair.  A hot, steamy, sexy, no-holds-barred affair!”

 

She glared at him but knew it was an empty threat.  Still, she kept to her quarters after that.  When the time came for the team to head out, Vala decided to listen in on the mission briefing.

 

“Gentlemen,” O’Neill barked as he entered the room, “our only objective is to extract Daniel Jackson, alive and in one piece.”

 

“Yet again,” one man mumbled.

 

“You got something to say, Barns?” the General stared angrily at the soldier.

 

“No, sir,” he snapped.

 

“Glad to hear it, Marine.  Now, here’s how things are gonna go down.  The Eos will deposit us near the guardhouse.  There’s a possibility that said guardhouse will be empty, but we’re not gonna assume so.  We’ll enter and neutralize anyone still in there.  And I said neutralize… not kill.

 

“When that’s done, Team One will take one of their trucks over to The Island.  If everything goes the way it’s supposed to, Daniel will be waiting near where the bridge ends.  While we’re doing that, Team Two will cover our ass, just in case.  Once we have Jackson, we’ll be coming back across and The Eos will beam us back, easy-peasy.

 

“Team One will be myself, Mitchell, Teal’c, Andrews, Kors, and Hamlin.  Team Two will be all of you jarheads.  Any questions?”

 

Barns raised his hand, “Sir, what happens if someone comes while Team One is on The Island?”

 

“Good question.  The Proctor is pretty sure that most guards will be too busy keeping the peace during the protest.  But if hostiles do show up, you neutralize them.  Try not to get into a firefight.  We don’t want to alert anyone else that we’re there.  This whole thing is laid out not only to get Jackson back, but also to protect the Proctor.  We don’t want anyone knowing that Daniel is gone until the Proctor is ready to make that information public.  This is as much a relations mission as it is a rescue operation.  We’re using the chaos that will be going on already as cover.

 

“In the off chance that things start to goon up, The Eos will beam Team Two back onboard A-sap.  Once Team One gets clear of the dome, we’ll get beamed up also.  Oo-rah?”

 

“OO-RAH!!” the men answered back.

 

“Okay then gentlemen, stay frosty and fangs out.”

 

The men stood, saluted.  As they were gathering their equipment Vala slid up next to Mitchell.

 

“Please… try not to kill him,” she told Cam quietly, “I’d really like to have him walking and talking when you come back.”

 

“That is the plan, Vala,” he said.  “I promise we’ll do our best not to have to zat him too many times.”

 

She reached up and gave him a kiss on his cheek.  As the troops readied, Sam came into the weapons room, “Good luck, Cam.  Bring him home.”

 

“We will,” Mitchell replied.  Then he pulled Sam off to the side, “You need to keep an eye on Vala, Sam.  Daniel’s got this crazy notion that she’s going to try and fly a 302 down there to get him.  If she does, she’ll be killed.”

 

Carter nodded, “I’ll keep her busy.”

 

With a warm smile, Mitchell turned to go.

 

***

 

07 June 2009 — Planet Designation: P5X-221 — 07:30 hours

 

The morning of his extraction, Daniel got his meager belongings together and headed to the kitchen of the small dwelling.  Serin was already awake and preparing some food for them.  She turned with a smile and handed him a biscuit.

 

“Should I pack some things for Bran and myself?” she asked hopefully, fearing that he might have changed his mind during the night.

 

Daniel nodded as he ate.  “Yeah, it would be good to be prepared to go right away.  You haven’t told Bran yet, have you?”

 

“No,” she answered, “I thought it best not to get his hopes up.”

 

“Good thinking.”

 

Once she packed, Serin went to wake her son.  He stumbled out sleepily.  His eyes were already watering, knowing that Daniel was leaving today.

 

“Bran, you and I are going to go with Daniel, to see him off… okay?” she told the sad boy.

 

He shrugged his shoulders but wouldn’t look at either adult.  It wasn’t long before they were ready to go.  Bran walked with his hand in Daniel’s but kept his head down, sniffling from time to time.  The man felt sorry that he couldn’t tell the boy that he may be coming also, but Serin was right… it was better not to get his hopes up.

 

When they passed Nesterio’s hut, Serin ducked inside to let him know that she and Bran might be leaving with Daniel.  The old man was sad that they would be gone but very pleased for them to have an opportunity for a new life.

 

When they reached the place where the lookout post was, Serin seemed concerned.

 

“I don’t know this man,” she told Daniel in a quiet voice as she waved to the sentry.

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“No,” she replied haltingly, “maybe he’s from the Northfield Camp.  It’s just that at this time of day, it’s normally our rotation at the post.”

 

Daniel’s gut was telling him something was not right.  He scanned the area with the trained eye of a soldier.  Nothing seemed to be out of place.  The noises were consistent with the forest… it didn’t look as if anyone had a truck through there recently.  He noticed more boot prints in the mud than he thought would be there.  Still, it was quiet and the forest line would be the only place someone could hide, and that was a good distance from them.  If someone broke cover, Daniel would see them in plenty of time to get Serin and Bran to safety.

 

He shrugged the uneasy feeling off and went to sit on a large boulder.  Serin sat next to him and Bran, on his other side, snuggled close as if he could keep Daniel from leaving.  They didn’t have to wait very long when Jackson saw the truck speeding over the bridge.

 

They grabbed their stuff, headed to meet them.  As the truck got closer, Daniel smiled and closed his eyes for a moment— he was going home, back to the arms of his love.  But then a vision blasted through his brain.

 

The pain was intense.  In fact, that pressure was so severe he thought he was going to pass out.  His eyes burned and through a blood-red haze, his vision solidified— the truck was almost to them when men with guns came up from below the bridge and surrounded Daniel, Serin and Bran.  Pain… Screams… Serin and Bran ripped away from him brutally…

 

Opening his eyes, he collapsed to his knees and puked.  Serin knelt by his side, holding his shoulders while the man wretched.  Bran stared at him fearfully, a small hand on Daniel’s shoulder.

 

“What’s wrong?” she whispered loudly, focused entirely on him.

 

“This is wrong… they know…” he wiped his hand across his mouth.  “There are soldiers here… now.  They’re waiting for the truck to get here.  I’ve got to get you to safety!”

 

So focused on getting his getting his head clear, he never noticed the camouflaged soldier that came up behind the trio until…

 

“MAMA!!” Bran screamed as he was tossed aside.  Serin turned with a scream and was backhanded to the ground.

 

As Daniel looked up, he was hit on the side of his head with a gun butt.  Falling into the mud, face first, he could hear more people rushing around and then Serin screamed.  Pushing himself up, someone grabbed his shirt collar spinning him around and putting him in a headlock, nearly choking him unconscious.  Struggling to breathe and blinking the mud from his eyes, Daniel groaned when his vision cleared.

 

The rat himself, Sitrik.  The gun in his hands seemed too big for him to hold.

 

“You lose, skrunilec!  Your deviance will never taint our society.  I’m going to make sure of that.  Then I will take Odoaker down and burn this island and all that live here.”

 

Struggling against his captor, Daniel could see that Serin was on her stomach, her hands pinned behind her back and Branimir valiantly hitting the man that held her.  The soldier turned to Bran laughing, then clobbered the boy, sending him flying.

 

Daniel roared and elbowed the guard holding him in the gut, only to receive a powerful punch in his already sore ribs.  He was sure he had felt them crack under the blow.  The guard shoved Daniel forward with a hit to his kidneys.  Winded for a moment, Jackson leaned down, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.  The gun shots that ripped the air didn’t really register with him because out of the corner of his eye, he saw the butt of a rifle rushing towards his head again.  He managed to block the blow with his arm, fracturing a bone in the process.

 

Fighting through the pain, Daniel kicked backward and knocked Sitrik off his feet.  He jumped upon the Regent and began to bash the man’s face with a berserker’s rage.  Gentle intellectual his ass!  Enough was enough.

 

Why?  Why am I always in these fucked up situations?

 

Daniel hit and hit—the knuckles of his hands cracking with every blow—  The pain only a distant awareness.  He hit and hit…  This sorry excuse for a human and his agenda was just as bad as any Goa’uld or Ori.  Daniel continued his assault until the fractured bone in his arm finally gave way and sliced open his skin.

 

“Daniel!!  Danny—” he heard a familiar voice and felt himself being pulled away from his victim.  “I don’t think that weasel is going to mess with you anymore!”

 

Jack was holding on to him with a smirk on his face.  Daniel looked down at the bloody mess that had once been Sitrik’s face.  Blank eyes staring into the sky, no longer able to see.

 

“Oh, god… oh, god… I, I…” Jackson stammered seeing what he had done.  “I didn’t mean too— Jack?  I killed him?”

 

“Ah, he got what he deserved.  Come on, Teal’c, grab the woman… I have the boy.  We have to fly.  they obviously know what we’re up to,” O’Neill said.

 

“O’Neill!” Teal’c pointed towards the trees, where around fifty men were running towards them… fast.

 

“Yeah!” Jack said, “I see’em… let’s go before they get in range.”

 

Teal’c took Serin’s arm, started towards the truck, trying to avoid tripping over the bodies of two fallen soldiers.

 

“I hit one of them in the throat… hard.  He was hurting Bran,” Serin said in a panicked voice.

 

“You are a woman of courage,” said Teal’c with a nod of his head.  “But we mustn’t delay.”

 

While Mitchell helped Daniel to the truck, O’Neill reached for his radio, “This is Sierra Golf One Niner, Eos, do you copy?”

 

“This is Eos, go ahead”

 

“Milkrun is over, beam us up as soon as we clear the dome.  We’re coming in hot!”

 

“Copy that!”

 

O’Neill’s radio crackled again, “Team One, you’re gonna have company soon!” one of the marines by the guard’s shack warned.

 

Looking across the bridge, the General saw three trucks moving towards them.

 

“We got more bandits on the way!” he yelled to the rest of Team One guarding their vehicle.  Then into his radio he said, “Mission status: Alpha Foxtrot Uniform…Team Two— punch out!!”

 

“HUA!”

 

Andrews, Kors, and Hamlin laid down cover fire as O’Neill, Teal’c, and Mitchell got Daniel’s friends into the back of the truck.

 

“Why do all our plans always turn into such clusterfucks?!” Jack yelled to Mitchell.

 

“Does seem to always be a football bat… especially when it has to do with Jackson!”

 

Teal’c was busy pouring something that smelled foul all over the road in front of the truck.

 

“It would be wise to shield your eyes!” bellowed the Jaffa as he ignited the road.  Flames shot high into the air, shielding the team from the oncoming hoard.  Leaving Mitchell and Teal’c to keep the pressure on, O’Neill went to the back of the truck where his friend was trying to catch his breath.

 

“It’s good to see to see you, Danny Boy,” Jack smiled as pulled out his zat and pointed it at him.

 

Bran’s eyes grew wide with fear.  He jumped out of the truck and tried to shove O’Neill’s hand away, hitting the man as hard as he could.

 

Daniel grabbed the boy, “It will be okay, Branimir.  This won’t kill me.  Only make me sleep.”

 

The boy was crying in earnest, looking very scared.  Jack lifted the zat gun and aimed as Daniel squeezed his eyes closed, waiting for more pain.  He was so tired of the pain.  All he ever wanted was his damn books… peace and quiet… a cozy fire, with a glass of wine and Vala sitting in his lap.

 

Instead… one shot, and the archeologist jerked for a moment and then slumped to the ground, unconscious.  The General lifted Jackson’s injured arm to see if the red light was shining under his skin, but the blood sipping from the open wound obstructed his view.  He quickly grabbed a bandana from his pocket and cleaned the area.  Not seeing the glow, he pulled out his combat knife and carefully opening the wound, he felt around and found where the chip was embedded.  It was on the side of the fractured bone and attached to an artery.

 

The Proctor had been wrong about the location the chip.  O’Neill worried that the artery would to take the activated chip directly into his heart, but he had to get it out without causing further harm.  He took the bandana and wrapped as a tourniquet around the arm.

 

“What are you doing!” screamed Bran as he tried to hit Jack again.

 

“Bran!  It’s going to be alright!” Serin told the boy pulling him away from Daniel.  “He has to take the chip out so that we can go across the bridge.  If he doesn’t— Daniel will die.”

 

Praying to whomever gods may be in a good mood, Jack put the knife inside the wound and wedging it between the device and the artery.  Slowly and carefully he pried the chip out.  The light immediately turned back on and started to flash.  Suddenly, the device grew tiny filaments and blinked faster as it counted down to its lethal purpose.  O’Neill tossed the thing toward the wall of fire just as a soldier burst through.  A double tapped to the chest, without even looking, he returned his attention back to his friend.

 

“Grenade!” Mitchell yelled as a softball size yellow object landed near the truck.

 

Jack covered Daniel’s body with his as the explosion threw up mud and flame.

 

“Let’s pack it up, people!” the General hollered at the rest his squad.

 

Teal’c carefully moved Daniel into the truck and laid him on the bench, next to Serin and Bran.  The rest of Team One jumped in behind them to cover their retreat.  Mitchell got the vehicle turned around and headed back across the bridge.

 

Jack pulled out a med kit and gently wrapped Daniel’s broken arm.  When he was finished, he motioned Serin over to hold Daniel’s head in her lap.  He then sat up and toggled his radio mic to talk with the men in the cab.

 

“Mitchell, drive faster!  Teal’c, call The Eos, tell them we have two extras with us and to have the med team waiting!”

 

They were half way across when Cam pointed out the front window, “Those trucks are getting close!  We ain’t gonna make it!”

 

“A little more confidence, Colonel!  We’re the white-hats, remember?  This is what we were born to do!” Jack said into the radio.

 

“Born to pull Jackson out of shitty situations?!  Pretty sure my destiny has a little broader scope, sir!” laughed Mitchell.

 

There was only about a hundred meters between the rescue truck and the Ertieg ones.  A spectacular collision seemed inevitable to Cam.

 

“WE AIN’T GONNA MAKE IT!!”

 

Then the unmistakable feeling of being dematerialized overtook them all.  In the next moment, they were all safely aboard ship.

 

Mitchell looked around for a second, then threw his hands up and yelled, “WOO!  NOW THAT IS WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO!!”

 

***