SG1-16 Four Dragons

by Botsford, Diana

  “Crushing the fingers,” Daniel finished. He got the picture.

  “On your honor, do you swear to not anger my Lord any further? Do not question him or his actions or you will find yourself in far worse circumstances.”

  Daniel held up his arms, ignoring the pain in his armpits. “I surrender.”

  Apparently satisfied, the First Prime opened the cage and assisted Daniel out. On rubbery legs, Daniel raised himself up to a full standing position and arched his back in a stretch.

  “If you can walk, I will return you now to my master.”

  His throat dry, Daniel saved his breath. He dipped his head in agreement. At Oshu’s lead, he stumbled past the cage and they headed toward the geometrically carved wood doors at the end of the corridor.

  “In your time on Earth, did you visit modern China?”

  “Err… once. My old roommate did his doctoral thesis on the Shang dynasty. He dragged me along to a dig right outside An-yang.”

  “What is a ‘Shang Dynasty’?”

  Daniel pushed his glasses up. “Ah… well… Let me see. The Shang dynasty. I’m pretty sure it was the second dynasty — after the Xia dynasty, that is. Roughly three thousand years ago, give or take. Some rebel leader who overthrew the last Xia ruler started it. Sorry, Ancient China isn’t really my area of focus.”

  Oshu knocked twice on the doors and then placed his ear up against the wall. After a moment, he nodded. Opening the doors, he asked, “What dynasty now rules in China?”

  “There really isn’t a dynasty anymore.”

  They stepped into the throne room. No surprise, Yu sat at the Go — or rather, Wéiqí — board, a hand toying with the lacquered bowl of black stones. The game pieces on the board were exactly as they had been when Daniel was dragged away hours ago.

  Oshu ushered Daniel inside the room, his questions ongoing. “Who rules China if there is no dynasty? And what of their warriors? Do they — ”

  “Sun Tzu! Kegalo,” Yu shouted. Silence.

  The First Prime pressed his lips together and bowed.

  “Your questions have no meaning here,” Yu stated. Daniel couldn’t see the harm — or the security risk — in telling Oshu about modern China. In fact, he’d hoped to connect with the First Prime, knowing that Teal’c had spoken of how he hoped one day to convince the Jaffa to rebel against Yu.

  But why had Yu called Oshu by the name Sun Tzu? That seemed odd, out of place on a planet light years from home.

  And more specifically, light years from China.

  Oshu obediently shuffled backwards out of the room.

  Daniel knew he’d promised to keep quiet, but he couldn’t help himself. “I didn’t mind answering your First Prime’s questions.”

  Yu harrumphed, and then the remarkable happened.

  He spoke without any boom in his voice. Whether it was the host talking, or not, Daniel hadn’t a clue.

  “As head of my Royal Guard, Oshu leads my Jaffa with great care. For this, I am grateful.”

  Daniel’s mouth gaped open.

  “Sit, Dr. Jackson,” commanded Yu, his booming voice returned.

  “Our game has only just begun.”

  STARGATE COMMAND

  STATUS: STANDBY/PERSONNEL MIA

  2 JUL 03/1130 HRS BASE TIME

  Jack had been asked to do a lot of insane things over the course of his military career, but this took the cake. He looked around the briefing room table at the pale, drawn faces of his teammates and allies, knowing full well they shared his conviction to rescue Daniel.

  But not under these terms.

  “There’s no way in hell we’re going into enemy territory without weapons.” He jabbed a finger at the metal box containing the Goa’uld communication balls. “And we’re most certainly not bringing in one of those.”

  “Colonel, you don’t have a choice,” said Major Davis. “The Oval Office has already agreed to China’s terms. SG-1 must retrieve Dr. Jackson without loss of enemy life. No P90s. No artillery of any sort — ”

  “For crying out loud, Davis. Doesn’t that smarmy shrub understand — ”

  Davis held up a hand. “The president fully understands the stakes, sir. That’s why he’s authorized the use of zats. Stun only.”

  “I would agree to such a mission,” said Bra’tac.

  Jack groaned. Good old Bra’tac, willing to jump into the fray… when he really shouldn’t.

  “Master Bra’tac?” Hammond swiveled his chair toward him.

  “Many Jaffa lives will be saved using such a tactic.”

  Jack stared at Bra’tac in disbelief. “Yeah, well… what about our lives?”

  “You are fortunate China finds this compromise acceptable,” Huang interjected. He patted the metal box. “Remember, I will be watching at all times. Any misuse — ”

  Jack leapt to his feet. “Listen to me, you nit. This isn’t a television show. A man’s life is at stake.”

  “Colonel!”

  Jack whirled toward the general. “We’re talking about Daniel, sir.”

  “I’m fully aware of the situation, Colonel O’Neill.”

  “It’s been more than twenty-four hours since that snakehead snatched him up. Now, we’ve got a choice. Either we go in, using all the resources at our disposal, or Oma Desala will do the job for us.”

  “Sir,” whispered Carter beside him.

  “Jack, take it easy,” Jacob said.

  “No, damn it. I’m not taking orders from a country hell-bent on getting their rocks off, just to watch us die.”

  Hammond stood up and pointed toward his office. “Colonel, a word.”

  “How’s ‘idiotic’? Seven letters. Does that work for you?”

  “In my office, now,” ordered the general. “That goes for everyone, including Major Davis. Ambassador Huang, if you’ll excuse us for one moment.”

  Hammond about faced and strode off toward his office.

  Jack glared down at the ambassador all cozy in his chair.

  “The Chinese people protect their emperor,” Huang said. “No matter the cost.”

  “You self-righteous sonuvabitch.” Jack struggled to keep his hands from wringing the bastard’s neck.

  Huang shrugged. “If I fight, I win. So Confucius says.”

  Jack forced himself to walk into Hammond’s office, knowing that if he stayed any longer, he’d end up killing the ambassador… and not regretting it for a moment.

  * * *

  George Hammond hadn’t felt this boxed in since being caught between two MiG-21’s while flying his F-105 Thunderchief on a bombing run over North Vietnam in ‘67. Thanks to his wingman’s blowing both the enemy’s tanks, George was able to pull up and live to fight another day. But Operation Rolling Thunder had been a strategic failure. Too many airmen were lost because of restraints placed on the military, not to mention the unexpected force of the opposition.

  History may have a way of repeating itself, but as long as he was in command, no civilian ambassador was going to get away with putting his people at risk like that, Presidential Orders notwithstanding.

  George slid behind his desk, as Jacob and Bra’tac sat down in the visitor chairs. A barely contrite Colonel O’Neill joined Major Carter by the bookshelves. Jack began fidgeting, picking up model planes, pushing around books. George recognized his need for action, not more talk, but talk was what they’d have to do if they were going to figure this thing out.

  Major Davis took position in front of the plexiglas star chart, effectively blocking the ambassador’s view from the briefing room. Good man, Davis. Always thinking.

  Teal’c was the last one into the room.

  “Close the door, please,” George requested.

  Teal’c did so and then stationed himself in front of it, blocking anyone else entry. “General Hammond, I must report an observation.”

  George sighed heavily. “Can it wait, Teal’c? I think we have more important things to discuss.”

  “It cannot,” Teal’c said, stepping
forward. “I am unsure why, but there is something familiar about this Ambassador Huang. I recommend caution.”

  “Ya think?” Jack snorted derisively.

  George stared him down. “You’re in enough trouble already, Colonel. I suggest you — ”

  “Keep my big mouth shut, sir?”

  “Something along those lines, yes.” George sank into his chair, unsure how to pull their collective tails out of this predicament.

  “I apologize, General,” said Major Davis. “The zats were the best the president could offer. We can’t afford to allow the Chinese government to disclose the Stargate Program at this time.”

  “I know that, Major. Dismissed.”

  “General?”

  “Major, I need to speak with my team, if that’s all right with you?”

  Davis hesitated. “Sir?”

  George mustered up the best smile he could manage. “It will be fine, Major Davis. Now please…”

  The Major gave him a short nod and walked out the door.

  “What are you thinking, George?” This from his old friend, Jacob.

  George crossed his arms and considered their options. “I can’t order anyone to rescue Dr. Jackson under these conditions. It’s too dangerous.”

  By the wall, Jack straightened up. “As much as I hate the arrangements, I’ll volunteer, General. I can go in alone. A single infiltration might — ”

  George waved him off. “Can’t do that, Colonel. China has explicitly demanded that one of those damn communication devices go with whoever attempts this mission.”

  “So we don’t tell them.”

  “Are you suggesting we lie, Colonel? Because there are already several Chinese citizens working on this base thanks to the president’s call for mutual cooperation.”

  “I’ll go, sir,” Major Carter said. “I can operate the device.”

  “I will go as well,” said Teal’c.

  Bra’tac also chimed in. “As will I. The opportunity to recruit Yu’s Jaffa into our diminished Fifth Column is too great.”

  George fixed his eyes on Jack. His insubordinate behavior — to a foreign diplomat, no less — had placed them all in a difficult position. He said as much.

  “I apologize, General,” said Jack. “But something stinks here. Even Teal’c can smell it.”

  George couldn’t deny it. Something was wrong. The president would never agree to putting lives at stake just so China could deify a Goa’uld.

  On the other hand, the president was in a precarious position thanks to the amount of money the U.S. owed China.

  Money, politics and warfare — the three never could meet.

  He nodded at Jack. “We’re certainly missing something. That’s why we’re going to review the parameters carefully.”

  “So the mission’s on,” Major Carter said.

  “With one condition of my own,” he replied. “As difficult as this rescue operation has become, it’d be unfair to even consider asking SG-5 to accompany you.”

  “I agree, sir.” Jack nodded. “Less is more.”

  Jacob stood up. “If the mission’s on, I should probably go see about that cargo ship.” He headed toward the side door and opened it. On the other side, Dr. Janet Frasier stood, preparing to knock.

  The two exchanged nods and Jacob left. George beckoned the doctor in. Her timing was perfect, as usual. Janet Frasier’s cool head and attention to detail were exactly what would be needed if this rescue had any hopes of success.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Doctor. We could use your expertise, but before I outline the mission details, I want Teal’c to review what he’s observed about this Ambassador Huang.”

  Interlude

  PLANET DESIGNATION:

  LORD YU’S HOMEWORLD (P3X-042)

  STATUS: ENEMY OCCUPIED TERRITORY

  APPROX 0200 HRS LOCAL TIME

  3 JUL 03/1520 HRS BASE TIME

  When the moon finally dropped, it dropped like a rock. Barely a sliver hung above the snow-capped mountains which surrounded Yu’s little domain. Jack stowed away his lighter, zipped his jacket up to his neck against the chill, and headed down toward base camp and the cargo ship.

  His legs swished against the hillside’s grasses, lending a military cadence to his descent. It reminded him of the early days of Special Forces training, jogging in formation twenty ugly miles each morning. Tonight, though, he was more than happy to hike as many miles as it took. Being on the move was damn near invigorating after all the waiting he’d done these past few days.

  He was done with waiting.

  Maybe he wasn’t as smart as Carter, or as educated as Daniel. Maybe Teal’c had the upper hand when it came to actual battle experience — which only made sense considering his hundred plus years.

  But Jack knew one thing and he knew it very well.

  Fight to win.

  Plain and simple.

  Having that oily, good-for-nothing ambassador throw Jack’s personal shibboleth back in his face had driven him crazy. Intentionally so, no doubt. But as he hit the ground and began the short walk toward the others, Jack refused to give up on the very core of what had kept him alive all these years.

  Jack would get Daniel back. There was no way he would give Yu the satisfaction of winning.

  Or Oma, for that matter. Even though he had to grudgingly admit his gratitude for her saving Daniel’s ass the last time.

  Jack strode by the cargo ship. Teal’c and Bra’tac were eating MREs. Knowing his Jaffa buddy, they were probably eating turkey. Knowing Teal’c’s appetite, probably their third round. They both nodded silently as he went by, their mouths full with good old American stale nourishment.

  Ten yards beyond them, Carter was shoving gear into a pack. Her ever ready scanner, a first aid kit, some energy bars. That damned Goa’uld telly ball lay on the ground beside her. Jack wondered briefly if Huang was getting his fix watching her from the safety of twenty thousand or so light years away.

  Coward.

  Jack briefly considered sticking his middle finger up in salute. He decided against it.

  He went past the ball, past Carter who wouldn’t even look him in the eye. She kept her focus on shoving one item into the bag after another. Jack offered her a sloppy salute and got nothing in return. Well, almost nothing. The Major’s arm shot up. In her hand was a zat gun, his for the taking. Jack took it and kept on walking.

  No doubt about it. Carter was pissed.

  And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to care.

  Chapter Five

  Black stones chased white across the Wéiqí board, Daniel doing his best to keep up with Lord Yu. Even with his glasses returned, his eyes blurred when trying to focus on the board. Hunger had as much to do with his fatigue as anything else. The only thing that kept Daniel going was the unspoken fear that if he lost, Yu would kill him. He didn’t even want to think about what would happen if he won.

  He had to find a way out. A way past Yu, past the Jaffa, and through the Stargate.

  Peering through the lattice screens on the west side of Yu’s throne room, he located the gate on a lower terrace that stretched out from the cliff that formed the foundation of Yu’s fortress. A glint of late afternoon sun reflected off the top chevron like a beacon, urging Daniel to go through.

  The squadron of Jaffa surrounding the gate would make that impossible. Not without serious weaponry, and more importantly, not without his friends. No. Getting to the gate would be an impossible task. In his position, even Jack would admit the same.

  Wouldn’t he?

  With a sigh, Daniel pushed away the absurd idea of trying to compare himself to Jack, to Teal’c, or even Sam. It was a waste of time. Daniel would have to use his own techniques, develop his own strategy if he was going to make it out.

  Low lying fog shrouded a lake only a few miles beyond the gate, blanketing the dilapidated shacks on its shores in a mist of obscurity. If Daniel could make his way out of the fortress, he could possibly hide there until he found a way of
f the planet. No doubt, Yu’s slaves lived in those tiny hovels. Though ‘live’ wasn’t exactly a word that worked well when your life was owned by a Goa’uld hell bent on universal domination, Daniel was pretty sure the slaves would turn him back in, hoping to curry some favor with their ‘God’.

  Frustrated, he turned back to the game. At first, he’d avoided the center of the board which Yu dominated so early on. He made an effort to build up his left corner, but each time he dropped another white stone in place, Yu plunked down another black, cutting him off. Daniel would keep trying to extend a chain of stones in one direction, only to be surrounded by more of Yu’s pieces. Each time it happened, the Goa’uld would snatch up Daniel’s stones with a dissatisfied cluck, as if he was disappointed in Daniel’s gaming skills.

  The game had become maddening.

  Yu had captured the tenth chain in a row when Daniel decided it was time to try a bit of honesty.

  “I really don’t know what I’m doing here.”

  “You are losing,” Yu said. With his ribbon-device encased hand, he dipped his fingers into his bowl of black stones.

  Daniel scratched his head. “And that’s not a good thing, is it?”

  “I did not bring you here to fail, Dr. Jackson.”

  “You didn’t?”

  Yu took up a small handful of stones from his bowl. “Do you think I would jeopardize my Jaffa if your failure was my intent?”

  Tired, hungry, Daniel threw up his hands. “Then tell me why. Just give me a reason. Help me to understand.”

  “It is your turn. Place a stone.”

  Daniel resisted the urge to pull his hair out and dropped a piece onto one of the intersections now empty from Yu’s last roundup.

  “Pick the piece back up.”

  “Why?”

  “It is dÎ jié. You cannot replay a position on the board I have already taken from you.”

  Daniel sat back and studied the board, confused. He knew so little about the game, although, from the few times he’d watched the modern version played, he was fairly certain that, given the right circumstances, one could replay a position.

  But far be it for him to argue when being held hostage by an irrational Goa’uld. How Teal’c ever managed it was beyond Daniel’s comprehension, and yet…