CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Thankfully, Danny didn't ask any more questions about the abuse Daniel had suffered, but as Meredith suspected, the boy did do some hovering around the archeologist for the rest of that day.  It was kind of amusing to think about an eight-year-old boy acting like an overprotective mother toward a thirty-eight-year-old man, and Daniel was sure that Jack would have a wisecrack or two to impart upon him, if the colonel knew what was going on.  But then, if Jack knew that, he'd also know the reason for it, which was something Daniel would prefer not to happen.  It's not that he thought Jack would track Mister Schubert down and beat the crap out of him.  The man must be close to seventy now.  But if Jack knew that Daniel had been abused as a child. . . .  The archeologist wasn't quite sure how Jack would react, but it would be better if he never knew.

"So, how is the therapy coming along?" Jack asked Daniel Friday evening.  He, Sam and Teal'c had come over to the house for a little get-together, and he was presently out on the front porch with Daniel.

"Pretty good, actually.  Meredith is very happy with Danny's progress.  She doesn't think that she'll need to do many more."

"That's great news.  So, no more nightmares?"

"He's had one, but it wasn't bad."

Jack focused a penetrating look on Daniel.  "And what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah.  Any more nightmares about the accident?"

"Oh.  Just one more.  I took your advice."

Jack nodded and took another sip of his beer.  "So, did you hear about this summit that's supposed to be going on between those two Goa'uld?"

Daniel nodded.  "Ramius and Tilgath.  The intelligence from the rebel Jaffa says that they're planning an alliance against Anubis.  Teal'c and Bra'tac are going to go spy on them, right?"

"Yep.  They'll be heading off very early Monday morning."

"I wonder what the Tok'ra think about this, if they know."

"Oh, you can bet that they know.  They've probably got spies in both camps."

The mission to spy on Ramius and Tilgath did not go as planned.  Tilgath and the armies of both Goa'uld were wiped out, apparently by a single, armor-clad warrior.  That lone warrior was killed by Teal'c, who repeatedly shot him with a zat, and was brought back to the SGC.  The warrior's armor apparently protected it from energy-based weapons, which meant that they could be dealing with an entirely new kind of technology.  A call was put into the Tok'ra, asking someone to come to Earth.

Because of the situation, Daniel called Meredith to cancel the session.  He told her that it might be a few days before things settled down and he'd call her when the sessions could resume.

Tok'ra who came was Jacob.  Upon examining the body, they discovered something shocking.  The warrior was a Goa'uld inside a genetically engineered host, one that was created to be abnormally strong, but without any concern for longevity.  The only thing that kept the host alive was the symbiote, but even that wouldn't work for long.  Jacob determined that Teal'c hadn't killed the warrior after all.  The warrior's armor appeared to possess some kind of advanced energy absorption technology.  No matter how many staff or zat blasts were fired at it, nothing would get through.  Instead, the host had died of cardiopulmonary failure.  The two Jaffa had just gotten lucky.

Daniel, Sam and Jacob were now in one of the SGC's medical labs.  The warrior was lying on a metal exam table.

"Its entire cellular structure is less then three weeks old," Jacob announced.  "It is organic, but it was definitely created in a lab."

"Well, we know the Goa'uld have been trying to physically perfect a host that would be superior to humans," Sam said.

"Well, this thing's definitely a lot stronger than humans, but it's far from superior."

Daniel looked at the warrior's hideously alien face.  "And, traditionally, the Goa'uld are also somewhat vain about their appearance."

"This was obviously intended to be a new form of foot soldier," Jacob reasoned, "possibly a reaction to the recent uprising of the Jaffa.  What's most interesting is that this being was not alive when it was first grown.  It was given life after it reached its mature state."

"Frankenstein's monster."

Sam looked at her father.  "How do you know that?"

Jacob's head bowed slightly.  When he spoke, it was with the deep tone of Selmak.

"Remnants of a unique energy signature within its cells.  It's similar to the residual effects left by the use of a sarcophagus."

"Could it give life to something that wasn't alive in the first place?" Daniel asked.

"No.  A sarcophagus is designed to boost health and longevity, heal or revive someone terminally injured.  They are nowhere near powerful enough to animate non-living cellular matter."

"Then what could have?" Sam wanted to know.

"Thousands of years ago, a Goa'uld found a device originally created by the Ancients.  He determined its primary purpose was to heal, but it was so powerful, its effects on human hosts ultimately proved devastating.  However, after much research and experimentation, the Goa'uld was able to use the technology to create the first sarcophagus."

"Obviously he wasn't able to eliminate all of its negative side effects," Daniel said, thinking about what he'd gone through after becoming addicted to a sarcophagus.

"The Tok'ra have long sought this device in the hope of using it to perfect the sarcophagus technology so that we could all benefit from it.  Now, it may be the key to fighting this new warrior."

"How?" Sam asked.

"With the device, we may be able to devise a weapon to counteract this life-giving energy."

"Who was the first Goa'uld to find the device?" Daniel asked.

"His name was Telchak."

"Telchak," Daniel repeated, remembering something.  Without explanation he quickly left the lab.  Sam and her father exchanged a look, then followed him.  He went to his office.

"Nicholas Ballard, my, uh . . . grandfather. . . ." he said, as he entered the room.  He started searching through his books, going from shelving unit to shelving unit.  "One of Nick's early obsessions was finding the so-called Fountain of Youth.  He claimed he'd found evidence indicating the source of the fountain's power," he found the book he was seeking and pulled it out, "was a piece of alien technology used by early Mayan tribes around 900 B.C.  Nick traced its origins to Chac, the Mayan god of rain."

"And you think this Chac may have actually been Telchak?" Jacob inquired.

"Just a hunch," Daniel replied as he looked through Nick's old journal for a particular page.

"Maybe not just a hunch," Sam said.  "The primary function of the device was to heal, right?"

"For the Ancients," Jacob clarified.  "For humans to see any positive effect, it would be from very limited exposure at a safe distance."

"Still, if the device was kept hidden near a water source, it could be the basis of the Fountain of Youth mythology."

"Nick believed Chac's temple was located somewhere in Central America," Daniel told them.  "He spent decades of his life searching for it, but came up empty.  I've been over his notes, and most of it is indecipherable.  The only mention of the temple's location is somewhere near a waterfall and a river."

Daniel handed the journal to Jacob.  It was open to a section covered with writing and hand drawn illustrations.

Surprised, Jacob stared at the pages.  "This is written in an obscure dialect of Goa'uld."

Both Daniel and Sam were shocked by the announcement.

"But how could Nick have known a Goa'uld dialect?" Sam asked.

Jacob read through some of the writing.  "I don't think he did.  This appears to be something copied from another source.  Your grandfather must have stumbled upon some tablets or other objects that had information about the device.  He copied the script down in this journal.  It's very unlikely that he ever translated it."

The three of them studied the contents of the book, Jacob acting as translator, when necessary.  Upon coming to several conclusions, they asked to see General Hammond.  They met the man in his office and told him that they had a pretty good idea where the device was: in southern Honduras.

"How can we be certain the device is there?" Hammond asked.

"Uh, we can't," Daniel admitted, "but, uh. . . ."

"We think we know who's responsible for creating the Goa'uld warrior," Sam interjected.

"Telchak?" Hammond said.

"No," Daniel replied.

"After Telchak created the sarcophagus, Anubis went to war with him for possession of the original Ancient device," the voice of Selmak stated.

"And that was long ago, before Anubis attempted to ascend."

"Anubis defeated Telchak, but he never did find the device.  It was believed to be hidden in one of Telchak's many temples."

"You think Anubis is behind this?" Hammond asked.

"He knew about the technology," Sam replied.  "While he never actually found the device, he ultimately wouldn't need to."

"He would have gained access to the knowledge when he ascended," Daniel explained.  "He could've built himself a new one."

Hammond shook his head slightly.  "Still, it's only a guess."

"Yeah," Daniel admitted at the same time as Selmak said, "Yes."

"But, it's a good one," the archeologist added.

"The good news is, sir, the original Ancient device is probably still here on Earth," Sam said.

"If we could analyze the technology of this device, it might be possible to engineer a weapon we can use against these warriors," Selmak told the general.

"Not to mention the possibility of harnessing its power to heal."

Hammond nodded.  "Very well.  Doctor Jackson, take Doctor Lee and see what you can find.  Dismissed."

They all got up and headed for the door, but Sam paused before going through.

"Sir, I really don't think they should be going alone," she said to the general.

"I understand your concern, Major, but it is vital that we keep this low key.  Honduras knows nothing about the Stargate Program, and we definitely do not want them to find out about that device.  Though we do have a military presence in the country, if, for some reason, the Honduran military was to confront the people we sent and found out that they are with the U.S. military and had come over from the States without explanation, questions would be asked, ones that could not be answered.  Doctor Jackson, on the other hand, is an archeologist, which would be revealed in any check they did on him.  It would not be suspicious for him to state that he was there searching for previously undiscovered Mayan ruins."

"And Doctor Lee?  He's not an archeologist."

"No, but he is a physicist who has knowledge and skills that may be needed if the device is found."

Daniel looked at Sam, who was frowning, clearly not happy.  "It's okay, Sam.  I speak Spanish fluently and am familiar with the culture.  We'll be fine."  He turned to the general.  "I'll make the arrangements, sir."

Sam was not the only one who wasn't happy about the idea of Daniel going alone with Doctor Lee to a potentially dangerous location.  Jack had every intention of talking with Hammond about it, but Daniel stopped him.

"Look.  You guys seem to be forgetting that, before I joined the program, I went on digs all over the planet," the archeologist said to his two teammates.  "Not all of them were in safe places.  I have, in fact, been to Honduras before."

"Yeah, but you weren't searching for deadly alien technology back then," Jack pointed out.  "How are you going to get the thing out of the country, if you find it?"

"General Hammond's taking care of that.  Once we get the Telchak device, if we get it, we'll take it to the U.S. air base near Comayagua.  It'll be boxed up and shipped out of the country on a military flight."

"We're just concerned, Daniel," Sam said.  "We'd feel better if we were going with you."

"I know, Sam, and I do appreciate that.  Um, I need to make arrangements for somebody to watch Danny.  I haven't even told him yet that I'm leaving."

"When is your flight?" Jack asked.

"I lucked out and got one for tonight, 9:45."

"I hope you can get some sleep on the plane."

"I usually can.  Don't know about Bill, though."

"I was planning on staying on base tonight, Daniel, so I can watch Danny," Sam said.  "He can stay with me in my room.  As for the rest of the time you're gone, I'm sure we can find plenty of volunteers."

"Thanks."  Daniel smiled.  "Before I go, I think we should introduce Jacob to Danny."

"Oh, I gotta see that."

The three of them went to get Danny, who was with Siler.  The archeologist told the boy that he had to go out of town, explaining the bare minimum about the mission.  Sam then told Danny that her father was at the SGC and asked if he'd like to meet Jacob.   They found the Tok'ra in Sam's lab, studying the things they'd learned about Anubis' drone warrior.

"So, you find any other interesting things about Mister Universe, Jacob?" Jack asked as they came in the room.

The Tok'ra turned around to face them.  "Actually. . . ."  His voice trailed off when he saw the little boy standing beside Daniel.  His eyes went to the archeologist, then back to the child.  The resemblance was too striking to deny.

"Daniel, you didn't tell me you had a son," he said.

A huge grin spread over Danny's face.  He looked up at Daniel.  "Can I tell him?"

"Oh, please let me," Jack said before Daniel could reply.  He turned to the Tok'ra and laid a hand on Danny's shoulder.  "Jacob, I would like to introduce you to Daniel Jackson.  And, no, I don't mean Daniel Jackson, Jr."

Jacob blinked in confusion.  "What?"

"I'm a clone!" Danny announced, still grinning.  "I'm Daniel's clone."

Jacob gaped at him.  "A clone?"  He looked at the others.  "Would someone care to explain?"

"It's a long story, Dad," Sam responded.

"I have no doubt of that."

"The Reader's Digest version is that some people off-world got hold of a DNA sample from me and made Danny with it," Daniel explained.  "We found out about it and brought him back with us.  I'm taking care of him."

"Wow."  Jacob shook his head, smiling slightly.  "Well, you guys have definitely surprised me with this one.  First Jack, now Daniel.  Is this some new SGC epidemic going around?  Sam?  Please don't tell me you've been cloned, too."

"No, but I would have been if we hadn't found out about Danny."

Jacob's head shook again.  "You guys are going to have to explain all of this to me after Daniel gets back."

Jack grinned.  "Danny, there's somebody else you should meet.  We told you that Jacob is Sam's father, but we didn't tell you something else."  He looked at Jacob.  "Hey, Selmak.  Wanna come out and say hi?"

"Jack," Jacob said, frowning.

"Oh, it's okay.  Danny knows about the Goa'uld, though he doesn't know about the Tok'ra."

Jacob's eyes went to the boy.  He paused, then his head dipped.

"Greetings, Danny," said Selmak.

The boy's eyes grew huge.  "How can you talk like that?"

"I am Selmak, a symbiote who lives within Jacob Carter's body."

Danny backed up a step, hiding partially behind Daniel.  "You're a Goa'uld?"

"No, I am a Tok'ra."

"What's a Tok'ra?"

"The Tok'ra are a group of symbiotes who fight against the Goa'uld," Sam explained.  "Physically, they are like the Goa'uld, but they're not evil.  They are our allies."

"How come there's one inside your dad?"

"Because I was dying of cancer," Jacob explained, his voice now normal again.  "Sam and General Hammond came to me and told me about the Stargate Program.  They told me that, if I was willing to become a host to a Tok'ra, it could cure me.  I accepted.  Selmak saved my life, and, now, I live with the other Tok'ra, working with them against the Goa'uld."

"Then Selmak doesn't control your body and force you to do things?"

"No, the Tok'ra do not do that.  The host and symbiote share control of the body.  We're like partners."

"Wow.  That's cool."

Jacob smiled.  "Yes, it is."

"What's it like to have one inside you?"

"Well, I always have someone to talk to.  We speak telepathically.  Do you know what that is?"

Danny nodded.

"And I have all of the knowledge Selmak has gained.  He's two thousand years old, so he knows a lot."

"Two thousand years?  That's really old."

Jacob smiled again.  "Yes, it is.  If I'm hurt, Selmak can heal me very quickly, and I never get sick."

"Not even a cold?"

"Nope.  Selmak kills the germs before they can make me sick.  Also, people who are hosts to a Tok'ra live quite a long time, longer than a regular human."

"Some of the Goa'uld are thousands and thousands of years old.  Will you live that long?"

"No.  The Goa'uld live that long because of special technology that they use, technology that is also partly the reason why they're so evil.  The Tok'ra don't use it because of that.  If a person is fairly young when they are made a host to a Tok'ra, they can live for around two hundred years."

"If I wanted to be Tok'ra, could I be?" Danny asked.

"Whoa, now hold on there, Danny," Jack quickly said.  "Don't go volunteering yourself.  There's a whole lot you don't know.  Besides, you're way too young to get snaked."  He looked at Jacob apologetically.  "Uh . . . sorry.  You know I didn't really mean it like . . . like that."

"It's all right, Jack.  Selmak and I both know what your feelings are regarding being a host," the Tok'ra said.  He turned back to the boy.  "If, when you are an adult, you want to become a Tok'ra, we would be delighted to have you, Danny, but, before that happened, you would have to understand what it means to be a Tok'ra.  It's not any easy life.  Also, you would have to leave Earth."

Danny frowned.  "I'd have to leave Daniel and everybody else?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"Then I don't want to be one."

"Thank God," Jack muttered under his breath.

"Well, the time for such a decision is a very long ways off," Jacob said when a gentle smile.  "You might change your mind."

Danny shook his head, moving closer to Daniel and taking his hand.  "I want to be with Daniel forever.  He's been taking care of me because Mom and Dad are dead."

Jacob looked at Daniel questioningly.

"Um . . . Danny has my memories from when I was his age, including the death of my parents."

"I'm sorry."  Jacob gazed at the boy sympathetically, seeing how the child held Daniel's hand tightly.

"Well, I've got to get busy and pack," Daniel said.  He turned to Jack and Teal'c.  "I'll see you guys when I get back."

"Take great care, Daniel Jackson," the Jaffa advised.

"Yeah, what he said," Jack said.

Daniel went back to his office with Danny to gather some things for the trip.

"How long will you be gone?" the boy asked.

"I'm not sure.  Maybe two or three days.  It depends on how long it takes us to find what we're looking for."

"I wish I could go with you."

"I'm afraid that the Honduran jungle isn't a good place for children, Danny."

"Is it dangerous?" the boy asked, getting worried.

"Um, yeah, a little.  It's not the friendliest of places."

"Have you ever been there before?"

"Once, a long time ago on a dig."

"Why can't Uncle Jack go with you to help?"

"That's complicated," Daniel replied.  "It's because he's in the military.  The Honduran government might wonder why he was there, if they found out.  I'm just an archeologist, so it's not a problem for me to go."

"And Doctor Lee?  I like him.  He's nice."

"Bill's going because he has knowledge that might come in handy."

After putting everything he figured he'd need into his backpack, Daniel took Danny to Sam's lab.  She was there with her father.

"Hey, I need to get going," the archeologist said.  "I have to go home and pack some clothes.  You want me to take Danny to your quarters?"

"No, I can do that," Sam replied.  "Danny can stay with us for a little while."

"Okay.  I guess I'll see you in a couple of days or so, then."

"Be careful, Daniel."

"I will."

The next day, Sam, Teal'c, Hammond and Bra'tac stood in the briefing room, discussing the problem with the drone warriors.  Jacob had gone back to the Tok'ra to fill them in on everything.

Bra'tac believed that, if Anubis really was behind the drones, his strategy was to kill any minor Goa'uld who were vulnerable to attack, then absorbing their troops and resources in preparation for battle with Ba'al and the other System Lords.  At least three other minor Goa'uld had been attacked by the soldiers, with devastating results.  Everyone was concerned that it was only a matter of time before Earth was attacked.

"These beings are a great threat to all who hope to one day see the Goa'uld wither in defeat," Bra'tac said.

Hammond knew that the Jaffa was right.  "If Doctor Jackson can recover this Ancient device. . . ."

"Even if he does, there is no guarantee the Tok'ra can devise a weapon capable of fending off these warriors."

"We were only able to learn a limited amount from our study of the dead warrior and its armor," Sam said.

"The only way to learn more is through interrogation," Teal'c stated.

"Which means we have to capture one alive."

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