Screw the stitches. The wound would heal nice and neat. It always did.
He tossed the med kit to the floor.
Carter flipped open her watch. “Base time has us at 1020 hours. Janet said she’d have something definitive by 1030. That’s just ten minutes from now.”
“Frasier’s piece of the puzzle is only going to confirm what we already know.”
“Sir, all we have so far is circumstantial evidence. Teal’c still can’t place who Huang looks like — ”
“If T’s spidey senses are tingling, that’s good enough for me.” But a bloody tee shirt wasn’t. Jack unzipped his pack and pulled out a new one. “What about that tie pin? It’s like he was baiting us. Talk about a typical, arrogant Goa’uld maneuver.”
“Without having Huang hand it over, I can only go by what we saw.”
Jack shrugged out of his bloody tee and threw on the new one. “Tasted like naquadah, did it?”
Carter shook her head. “It’s not a taste thing, sir. More like a presence. Like being in a dark room, walking toward a wall, and knowing it’s there.”
Jack stuffed the discarded shirt into his pack and zipped it up. “Let’s not forget the lovely little emblem. Looked like two snakeheads wrapped up into one.” Tossing on his jacket and vest, he grabbed the pack. Something small was lodged into one of the outside pockets. He ripped open the velcro flap.
Inside was his old Zippo.
“Sir, that symbol could have very well been Chinese in origin. If Daniel was here, he’d know.”
Jack pulled out the lighter. A lot of memories were tied up in its brass casing and springs. Unlike his eyebrow, some of those memories hadn’t healed as neatly.
He stuck the Zippo in a vest pocket and looked at Carter. “You realize that if Daniel was here, we wouldn’t be.”
She frowned. “You still blame yourself for what happened.”
He did, though he still wasn’t quite sure for what.
“Daniel’s changed, sir. He’s come a long way since our early days, especially since he’s returned.”
“If you say so.”
“Sir, I’m sure of it. But — ”
“But what, Major?”
“What if we’re wrong about Huang? What if he really is who he says he is?”
“And I’m the great and powerful Oz.” Jack grabbed his gear and opened the door. Stepping out into the corridor, he noticed she hadn’t followed. He turned around and saw that troubled Carter, the one where she bit her lip and fiddled with her hands. The one which meant she was thinking too much, again. “What?”
She rose from the tub, sticking her hands in her pockets. “Sir, if Huang really is China’s ambassador, we’ve violated the agreement — ”
“You mean, I violated the agreement.” As if he’d had any other choice. Another few seconds and that Jaffa would have fried Carter and Teal’c like toast.
“Yes, sir. By pulling out your P90, there’s every chance Huang will make good on his threat. The Stargate program could be revealed to the general public.”
“And you think that’s a bad thing.”
“I don’t think it’s up to us to decide. Do you?”
“Honestly, Major… I couldn’t care less what the general public thinks. A man’s life is at stake. A good man. If the price of getting Daniel back alive and in one piece means Earth needs to grow up a little, then let them.”
“I want Daniel back as badly as you do, sir. That said, the political ramifications — ”
“Carter!” He cut her off with his free hand. “I’m tired of diplomats and politicians.”
“Yes, sir.”
“No more games.” Tossing his gear aft, Jack gestured toward the hatch. It was time to get this show on the road.
STARGATE COMMAND
STATUS: GATE OPERATIONS SUSPENDED
03 JUL 03/1025 HRS BASE TIME
George Hammond studied the monitor in Dr. Frasier’s office, recognizing the bar graphs on the screen as DNA profiles; six panels of markers splayed across the screen. Major Davis and Jacob crowded in beside him while the doctor sat in a visitor’s chair. Beside her, a somewhat calmer Dr. Hopkins fidgeted in another chair, crossing and uncrossing his legs impatiently.
George returned his gaze to his Chief Medical Officer. She clutched a clipboard as if her life depended on it. George sympathized. He knew Dr. Frasier was close with Dr. Jackson and the rest of SG-1. “What am I looking at exactly, Doctor?”
“Exactly, sir? Even I’m not completely sure.”
“Explain.”
She dropped her clipboard to her knees. “From the saliva I pulled from Ambassador Huang’s water glass, I managed to pull enough material to run some basic DNA tests. These aren’t complete but — ”
“Hold on a moment,” said Major Davis. “I thought saliva DNA tests were better than blood tests.”
“That’s a common misconception,” Dr. Frasier said with a shake of her head. “If we can swab the ambassador’s cheek, I could run a buccal swabbing which is far more than just saliva. Successful collection occurs when the swab contains cheek cells, which may or may not be present in saliva.”
Major Davis shot up from the monitor. “General, we can’t ask the ambassador to submit to a cheek swab. Between his diplomatic immunity and — ”
“I recognize that, Major.” George looked back at Dr. Frasier. “Let’s start with what we do have and go from there. What did you find?”
“I’m not even sure how this is possible, sir. The ambassador’s DNA contains genetic markers not seen in the human genome for nearly 4,000 years.”
“Wait a minute,” said Davis. “Is Huang a Goa’uld?”
George glanced over at Jacob who’d already closed his eyes in transition. “Selmak?”
Selmak opened his eyes… or Jacob’s eyes. George never could keep the concept straight.
“Impossible. I would have sensed a fellow symbiote’s presence upon his arrival.”
“If he’s not a Goa’uld then what or who is he?” George demanded.
Dr. Hopkins raised his hand. “That’s where I come in, but…” he pointed at Jacob, “why does he talk like that?”
“Need-to-know,” George replied automatically.
Hopkins threw his hands up in the air. “You should have that tattooed on your forehead. It’d make conversations a lot shorter.”
An uncomfortable silence descended in the room.
Finally, Dr. Frasier coughed. “Sir, I requested Dr. Hopkins’ assistance after we spoke. Once Teal’c and Major Carter both confirmed that the sigil on the ambassador’s tie pin directly matched Lord Yu, I thought it would help to get the opinion of an expert.”
“An expert in what, exactly?” George gave the archaeologist an intentionally scorching look. If the man made one more derogatory comment about the colonel or anyone else in the military, George was more than prepared to have him escorted from the base. Permanently.
Hopkins cleared his throat. “Xia Dynasty history. If this System Lord Yu really did spend time on Earth and he really was Yu Huang Shang-Ti, then the Xia Dynasty is how we place him in historical context.”
“Historical context is irrelevant to this situation,” Major Davis rightly said. “We need cold hard facts.”
Hopkins lifted his chin with just enough arrogance for George to mentally start writing up those termination papers.
“History has everything to do with what’s going on here,” Hopkins said. “More precisely, Yu’s history. If he really was the legendary Yu the Great, he was responsible for stopping China’s Yellow River from flooding around 2300 B.C.”
Jacob snorted. “You mean Yu actually helped the Chinese?”
“So the legend goes. He also created the game Go, believe it or not. Some academicians insist it was Emperor Yao who created the game; however… my bet’s on Yu. Anyone clever enough to stop a flood back in those days — ”
“We’re talking about a Goa’uld, Doctor.” George didn’t bother to hide his
impatience. “A Goa’uld who has your friend and could very well kill him and all of SG-1.”
“Sirs, if I can get us back on point?” Dr. Frasier gestured toward the monitor.
The room simmered down instantly. George silently thanked his CMO for putting them all — himself included — back on task.
She pointed toward the top left corner of the report. “This is Huang’s DNA. Immediately to its right is a genetic marker study done by forensic anthropologists of a 4,000 year-old mummy found not far from the Yellow River Dr. Hopkins mentioned. Note the similarities.”
“I’m the one who found that mummy, by the way,” Hopkins added, bobbing up and down on his toes with all the enthusiasm of a five-year-old brat. “Two years ago. Shortly before Daniel approached me about the Stargate Program.”
George deliberately ignored him. He gestured toward the other four panels on the screen. “What about these other DNA profiles? They also match Huang?”
“Yes, sir,” Dr. Frasier said cautiously. “Those are from the remains of the four graves found by SG-13 on P3Y-702.”
George sucked in a breath. “The planet where Dr. Jackson was captured by Lord Yu?”
“Don’t you get it?” Hopkins jumped up from his chair. “With all the artifacts we found, dating back specifically to Yu’s era, he — I mean, the Goa’uld — had to have used that planet as a base of operations once.”
Jacob spoke up. “And you think this somehow ties Huang directly to Yu.”
“It certainly ties him to the four bodies found on P3Y-702.” Dr. Frasier traded places with Major Davis by the monitor. “Not only does Ambassador Huang have the same rare genetic markers,” she pointed at the third panel, “he also shares the same parentage with this particular set.”
George shared a look with Jacob. “Can Selmak help us clear this up any more without resorting to blood tests?”
“We’re on it.” With a nod, Jacob left with Dr. Frasier.
“In the meantime,” George said, looking at Major Davis, “I suggest you call Washington and find out everything you can about Ambassador Huang’s recent posting.”
“That’s going to raise some red flags, sir.” Davis crossed his arms, clearly uncomfortable.
“Do what you can to stay under the radar for now… but Major?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’m getting close to not caring. We’re not leaving SG-1 out there to hang unless there’s a damn good reason.”
PLANET DESIGNATION: LORD YU’S
HOMEWORLD (P3X-042)
STATUS: SAR MISSION ON STANDBY
APPROX 2110 HRS LOCAL TIME
3 JUL 03/1030 HRS BASE TIME
Sam emerged from the cargo ship only to find the colonel back into insubordinate mode. She looked on as he stalked off past Teal’c and Bra’tac. He went over to the other side of the clearing and flopped down beside the fallen tree trunk. He stretched out his legs, tugged his wool cap down over his eyes, and crossed his arms. The perfect posture for an angry Colonel O’Neill.
And a not too subtle reminder, she was sure, that if not for his P90, she’d be lying by that tree trunk, dead.
“Major Carter,” said Teal’c, holding out the com ball as she joined him and Bra’tac. Moonlight shone on the Goa’uld device, washing the display of her father’s face, all anxious lines and furrowed brow, into an almost monochromatic brown. Behind him, Ambassador Huang sat smugly by, obviously completely unaware that they were on to him.
“Your father wishes to speak with you,” Teal’c said.
Sam checked her watch. If nothing else, her father was punctual. Hopefully, he’d have some sort of news, something to indicate how they should proceed, but with Huang still there, it meant whatever message her father had, it would have to be wrapped up in one of the passphrases they’d worked out before leaving.
She schooled her face, not wanting to appear too eager.
“Hang on a minute, Dad.” Leaving the ball with Teal’c, she strode over to Colonel O’Neill.
“What?” He didn’t even bother to push the hat back from his eyes.
“Get up,” she ordered loud enough for the com ball to pick up the sound. She deliberately kept her back to it, knowing it would take a bit of practice before she could actually order the colonel around.
“Get up and do what?” he asked casually.
“Until that moon sets, we’re in no shape to go after Daniel. We’ll take turns at watch. You’re first.”
“First watch, you say?” The colonel put back his hat and opened his eyes. Sitting up, he waved toward Teal’c, or more precisely, toward the com ball with a grin. “Was that Jacob’s voice? Hi, Dad!”
The colonel smiled. Only Sam was close enough to see it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Grab an MRE for the hike,” she ordered. “Teal’c should have some in his pack.”
Turning back around toward Teal’c and Bra’tac, she added, “You two should eat something as well.”
Teal’c bowed in that cooperative, assuring manner that meant he understood. She hoped he did. With his normal silent grace, he handed her the com ball and retreated a few feet away with his back pack.
The colonel joined him and Bra’tac, taking the pack out of Teal’c’s hands. He stuck both hands in and rummaged about for a moment. When he pulled out several brown wrapped packages, he complained. “Turkey? T, don’t you ever pack anything else to eat?”
“Sam, everything all right?”
Sam lifted the com ball to her eyeline. “We’re fine. Colonel O’Neill is heading off to stand first watch.” She glowered at the colonel, hoping her annoyance was clear to Ambassador Huang.
“Should be pretty easy to stand watch on that planet at night. Last time I was there, you didn’t need a flashlight, what with all the light coming off those two moons.”
Two moons.
Sam didn’t need to look up into the night sky to confirm the only moon up above. She’d seen for herself when they’d first entered orbit. What she did see from the corner of her eye, however, was Colonel O’Neill hand Teal’c back his MRE ration.
Her father’s message meant Huang was somehow tied to Yu. Yes, the mission was still a go. They should go after Daniel, but keep up the charade. The S.G.C. didn’t have enough information yet.
Sam struggled to keep her face from revealing her frustration. Information was her wheelhouse. Not knowing what they were getting into, not knowing how to best advise her team on how to stay safe, how to rescue Daniel and make it back to the ship in one piece… She could do it, she could command SG-1 quite well, in fact. That didn’t mean she had to like it. Not for the first time, she realized how lucky SG-1 had been all these years having the colonel in command.
Which wasn’t the case at the moment.
Not officially, at least.
Colonel O’Neill gave her a grim nod. With a brief pat to Teal’c’s shoulder, he walked off up the hill. Watching him go, it took all of Sam’s willpower to keep her from squashing the communication ball under her heel.
The moon continued its upward ascent.
* * *
Having placed his first dragon on the board next to three of his white stones, Daniel sat back and waited to get slaughtered by Yu… figuratively, or at least he hoped so. Each dragon piece would take up four intersections on the board instead of one. Maybe that gave him some advantage, but at the moment, he wasn’t quite sure how.
Outside, the full moon was past its zenith, beginning to sink down below the far mountains. Just like it had done the night before, and the night before that.
Yu plunked down a stone next to the dragon. Daniel put a white stone down by the Goa’uld’s black and waited for another round.
As Yu studied the board, Daniel wrapped his arms across his chest. His tee shirt was stiff, stale from too many days of wear. One sniff of a shoulder told him he desperately needed a bath. He was tired, dirty, worn out, but most of all, finding it hard to keep up any hope of escape. Any possibility of being released w
as next to none.
Escape wasn’t very likely either. The odds of Yu or one of his Royal Guard killing him were too high.
Yu set another black, this time cutting Daniel’s dragon off from support of neighboring stones.
Daniel sighed, unsure what move to make next. “I’m not very good at military games.”
Yu raised an eyebrow. “Then why do you play at the warrior? If you do not value military strategies, why the weaponry? Why fight?”
“The weapons are more to protect myself against you and the rest of the Goa’uld,” Daniel admitted. “My background… What I really am… is a scholar.”
Yu gestured at the board, urging Daniel to play his next piece. “Can you not be both?”
Daniel picked up a stone from his diminishing bowl and stared at its smooth, perfect surface. Finally, he answered Yu. “When I have to be, sure.”
“Play your piece,” Yu boomed.
For a brief moment, Daniel wondered if death might not be such a bad thing. He could antagonize Yu, maybe try and make a break for the door. Or maybe, the next time Lao Dan showed up with food, he could antagonize the Jaffa enough to get himself killed.
Then he remembered Jack’s accusation.
More importantly, Daniel remembered his rediscovered determination upon helping Teal’c rescue his son and Bra’tac. There were reasons Daniel had returned from life as an Ascendant.
Reasons he refused to give up on.
Daniel put down a stone, this time to the left of his dragon where it would provide the most support.
Yu grunted his approval. “Is it true you cannot remember your time as an Ascendant?”
“I really can’t.”
“I pity you.”
Daniel glanced up from the board. A Goa’uld pitying a human? “Uh, thanks… I think.”
Yu played his next stone to the dragon’s right. Only one spot was left open for Daniel to take, one intersection that would keep the dragon in play. “It is said, a man who does not know where he has been cannot know where he is going.”
Daniel reached over to drop his stone into the space. “Don’t get me wrong, I remember pretty much everything from before I…”
His hand hovered over the board. “Wait… what did you say?” He looked directly at Yu.
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