CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
It was early the next morning that Moloc was taken to the planet where he would be put to death. There was a large crowd there, most of them Jaffa. Among them were the men who had been captured during the rescue of Teal'c, Ishta and Aron. It was decided that, if anything could convince them that the Goa'uld were not gods, it would be seeing their master die before their eyes. They were securely bound and under heavy guard.
SG-1 was there, but Jack was not. This was one time that the general was perfectly happy to have a reason for not going off-world. Daniel wished that he could have stayed on Earth as well. SG-3 and 5 had managed to get out of it because they were on important missions.
Moloc was led from the Stargate to where a low stone pedestal had been placed. The pedestal was equipped with manacles and a metal band that would hold Moloc's head down. Beside it was a powerfully-built Jaffa with a large axe similar in design to the battle axes of the Middle Ages. Daniel couldn't help but think of the axe-bearing medieval executioners. But this executioner wore no black hood.
The Goa'uld already knew before he got there that he was going to be killed. Ishta had made sure of that, visiting his cell to taunt him with his upcoming death
As he was brought to a halt, Moloc called out, "Jaffa! I am your god. Rise against the ones who betray me, and you will be greatly rewarded!"
Some of the prisoners responded by struggling against their bonds, but there was nothing they could do.
"If you are truly a god, then why do you not free yourself?!" called out a rebel Jaffa. "Where is your great power now?!"
Someone else, a Jaffa Daniel recognized as one of the men who recently rebelled against Moloc, said, "If Dan'yar was in your place, he would break the bonds holding him and destroy us all with fire." He sneered at the Goa'uld. "How is that you, a great and powerful god, cannot do the same?"
Jeers and insults began rising from the crowd. Moloc yelled at them to be silent, but they ignored him. Finally, Bra'tac stepped forward and called for silence.
"It is time for Moloc's reign of cruelty be put to an end," he called out.
"Bra'tac, wait," Daniel said. "There's something I need to do first." He turned to Moloc. "For all these centuries, you've prevented your host from speaking. It's time that he be allowed to speak."
Moloc glared at him. "Nothing of the host survives."
Daniel glared right back at him. "I know otherwise, Moloc. When Apophis lay dying, I spoke to his host, gave him comfort. I have spoken to the hosts of other Goa'uld, two of whom were freed from their symbiotes. I know the truth."
Moloc lifted his head defiantly. "My host cannot speak to you. I will not allow it."
"You're not going to have a choice in the matter."
Daniel instructed Teal'c and Bra'tac to hold Moloc tightly. He then pressed his palm against the Goa'uld's forehead and closed his eyes. With his mind, he delved into the body of the man before him. But it was not the host's body that he was interested in, but, rather, the usurper within. It did not take Daniel long to locate the symbiote. The moment he did, he infiltrated its body, a body strange and utterly alien. It took a while for Daniel to understand the Goa'uld's body well enough to figure out how to do what he wanted. Once that knowledge was gained, he struck.
Moloc jerked violently. His knees buckled, and Teal'c and Bra'tac had to hold him up. When the man's head lifted, the arrogance of the Goa'uld was gone from his face. In its place was confusion and fear.
"It's all right," Daniel said gently. "Don't be afraid."
"Where am I?" the man asked. There were several gasps and murmurs at the sound, for it had not been the voice of a Goa'uld. "What is happening?"
"I've freed you from the control of the one who took possession of your body," Daniel replied. "But it's only temporary. I'm sorry that I can't do more."
Tears filled the man's eyes. "I am free?"
Daniel gave him a gentle smile. "Yes, you're free, for a little while. What's your name?"
"I-I-I am Nikias, son of Therapon. For so long, I thought it was a dream, a nightmare that would not end. But then I knew that it was not a dream. The demon inside made me do such horrible things. I could not stop him." He began to sob. "The children. All the innocent children."
His heart aching for the man, Daniel grasped his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, Nikias. You did nothing wrong. You were taken against your will, and there's nothing you could have done to stop it."
Nikias looked into his eyes pleadingly. "Please. I do not wish to live. I cannot bear to live with this weight upon me."
"I know, Nikias. It will be all over soon. The demon will be dead, and you will be at peace."
The man smiled at him. "Thank you," he whispered.
Sensing that the symbiote was regaining consciousness, Daniel stepped away. A moment later, the man's eyes glowed, and the face twisted with hatred.
"How dare you strike at me so!" he snarled. "How dare you sully me with your touch. Jaffa! He has committed a great offense against me. Kill him now. I command you!"
This time, there was no response. Most of the witnesses, including the prisoners, had been shaken by what just happened.
Taking a deep breath, Daniel looked at Teal'c and Bra'tac. "It's time."
Ishta came forward and put a gag over Moloc's mouth to prevent the symbiote from seeking to escape that way. The Goa'uld was forced to his knees before the pedestal. He struggled violently as he was bent over and his head laid on the stone. Teal'c held him down as the bindings on the pedestal were put in place, then everyone but the executioner retreated. Moloc struggled a moment longer then grew still, apparently realizing that it was useless.
Daniel backed up several more feet, wishing that he could be just about anywhere else in the galaxy at that moment. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't show weakness. He felt someone take hold of his arm and turned to look at Sam. A silent message of understanding passed between them.
As the axe was lifted, Daniel murmured, "Be at peace, Nikias." And then the axe fell, and, with a single blow, it was over.
"Moloc is dead!" cried a Jaffa. The cry was taken up by others until it became a loud roar.
"I need to get out of here, Sam," Daniel whispered.
"I know. Come on. Let's go."
Not caring what the Jaffa thought, Daniel turned with Sam and walked away, heading for the gate. They were joined a moment later by Teal'c.
"You're not going to stay?" Daniel asked, not looking at him.
"I have no desire to stay, Daniel Jackson. Bra'tac will remain a while longer and return with Ishta and the other Hak'tyl."
The three members of SG-1 returned to Earth. Seeing the look on Daniel's face, Jack asked what was wrong.
"I'll tell you later," the archeologist replied and hurried out of the room.
Jack watched him leave, then faced the others. "What happened?"
Sam sighed sadly. "I don't know how he did it, but Daniel temporarily broke the symbiote's control over the host. The host spoke, sir."
"Whoa. Really?"
"His name was Nikias. For all those years, he was aware of what was going on. He said he thought it was a nightmare at first, but then realized that it was all real." Sam started getting choking up. "He was so devastated, sir, so horrified by what Moloc had made him do."
"He begged to have his life ended," Teal'c said.
"It really hit Daniel hard. I know he must be thinking of Sha're and Sarah and probably Skaara, too."
Jack scrubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah, you're probably right. Go find him, Sam."
Sam went straight to their quarters, figuring that's where Daniel went. She found him sitting on the bed, staring at the floor, his shoulders hunched.
"I don't think he was the first," he said very quietly.
Sam sat beside him on the bed. "What?"
"I don't think Nikias was the first host Moloc took when he came to Earth. I began to think that when I first saw him. Moloc is a Canaanite deity. His first host from Earth would likely have been Canaanite, or an Israelite or one of the other people of that area. Nikias was Greek. I suppose that Moloc could have been in Greece first, but. . . ."
"But you're hoping that Nikias didn't have to suffer for that long."
Daniel's eyes closed. "When they executed him, I wasn't seeing Moloc. I was seeing an innocent man whose life and body were stolen from him so many centuries ago. And it makes me think of Sha're, that her life would have been that same hell if we hadn't put an end to it. And Sarah and Skaara, too. Even Robert." He lifted his eyes to Sam, and she saw the anguish there. "We have to stop it, Sam. We need to free the hosts and make sure that no one else will ever have to suffer through that."
Sam wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "We will, Daniel. We'll figure out a way."
When Ishta and the rest of the Hak'tyl returned with Bra'tac, they weren't looking quite as triumphant as one would have expected considering that their mortal enemy was dead. Ishta confessed to Teal'c that seeing the grief of the host and hearing his voice had given her a different perspective on things.
Moloc's execution, as well as the temporary emergence of the host's consciousness, had succeeded in converting quite a few of the prisoners. Until they could be trusted, they wouldn't be allowed to wander free, but they would all be remaining with the rebel Jaffa. As for the rest of the prisoners, those who still clung to their beliefs, they were put back in the brig.
Now that Moloc was dead, everyone focused most of their attention on setting up the new Hak'tyl settlement. Eager to have his base free of horses and all the other stuff, Jack sent a large team to the planet to help the women.
Daniel was in his office, studying some artifacts recently brought through, when Ishta came in.
"Hey. I thought you'd be on the planet," he said.
"I have just come from there. I am organizing the transportation of some of our supplies and other goods." The woman came further into the room. "I have not spoken with you since Moloc's execution. I know that it troubled you, that your heart was with the host. Your compassion for the host appeared to be very deep."
Daniel nodded. "How much do you know about me? Do you know about my wife?"
"No."
"She was taken to be a host for Apophis' wife, Amaunet." He paused. "Teal'c was in the group that stole her and was the one who selected her to be presented to Apophis and Amaunet."
"This I did not know. If I had been in your place, my hatred for Teal'c would have been great."
"In the beginning, I wanted to hate him, but I knew that he really had no choice, that it was Apophis who was to blame."
"What became of your wife?" Ishta asked.
"Teal'c was forced to kill her to save my life."
"Yet you and he are friends and teammates."
"Yes. It's hard to explain, but Sha're, my wife, managed to communicate with me, and she told me that I needed to forgive Teal'c for her death. It wasn't easy, but I did. Along with Sha're, her brother, Skaara, was also taken. He was made a host to Klorel, Apophis' son. He was eventually freed. Then, a couple of years after Sha're's death, two friends of mine were taken as hosts at two different times. My friend Robert was killed almost right away, but Sarah was taken by Osiris and was his host until last year. She's still having emotional problems because of it. This is why I feel so much for the hosts, Ishta, because four people I cared about suffered that fate. I can never look at a Goa'uld and see just the Goa'uld. I always see the host, too."
"I understand," Istha said. "For all my life, whenever I saw Moloc, it was the Goa'uld I saw. Never for a moment did I think of the host. Yet, when you made it possible for the host to speak, when I saw the tears on his face, a face I have hated for so very long, I could not look at Moloc the same way. My hatred for him was even deeper because of the suffering he had caused his host for so many years, yet, when he was put to death, it did not feel like it was a great triumph, for I grieved for the host who died with him."
"Yeah." Daniel sighed. "Me too."
"I wish you to know that if I am ever in the position to bring death to another Goa'uld, I will attempt to do so quickly so that the host will not suffer."
"Thank you, Ishta. I'm glad to know that."
The woman inclined her head. "I must go now. We will speak again before we say our goodbyes."
Daniel was called to Jack's office a short time later. He found Sam and Teal'c already there when he arrived.
"I decided it was about time that we figured out what we're going to do with all those Jaffa prisoners you so kindly saddled us with," Jack said. "Any ideas?"
"We must not allow them to enter the service of another Goa'uld," Teal'c responded.
"Agreed. I don't think that killing them is an option."
"Definitely not," Daniel agreed.
"What if we took them someplace?" Sam said.
"Where, for instance?" Jack asked.
"Well, we could take them to a planet and sabotage the DHD so that they couldn't escape, sort of like what was done with the fundamentalist rebels that we captured on Tegalus. Or we could take them in the Prometheus to a planet with no Stargate."
"The problem is that they'd all eventually die when their symbiotes mature," Daniel pointed out. "We'd have to provide them with a big quantity of Tretonin."
"Actually, to be on the safe side, it would be best to remove their symbiotes beforehand, but I'm guessing that the rebel Jaffa wouldn't like that idea."
"To take a Jaffa's Prim'ta against his will would be an act without honor," Teal'c confirmed.
"And the last thing we want to do is tick off the rebel Jaffa," Jack responded.
"As long as we never went through to that planet again, it shouldn't be a problem," Daniel said. "But we'd have to make certain that the DHD could not be fixed and that there isn't any intelligent life on the planet."
Sam nodded. "A UAV wouldn't be enough. The planet would have to be scanned by a ship in orbit."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't a Goa'uld take over a Jaffa that no longer has one in his pouch?"
"Actually, that's not the case, sir," Sam replied. "Early on, that's what we thought, and even a lot of Jaffa thought so, too, but we learned that the things that make it impossible for a Goa'uld to take over a Jaffa while it's carrying a larva are still an issue even when there is no longer a larva. The chances of the Goa'uld and Jaffa surviving the blending are extremely small."
"So, we don't have to worry about all those Goa'uld taking over the Jaffa once they're adults?"
"I don't think so. Of course, if the time ever comes that we can set the Jaffa free, we'll make sure that none of them have been Goa'ulded."
Jack nodded. "All right, then. You guys find a planet, and we'll send a ship to scope it out. Try to pick one that won't take more than a couple of days to fly to. Teal'c, do you think the rebel Jaffa would have a scout ship that they'd let us borrow if it was Dan'yar who asked? I'd rather not send the Prometheus, if we don't have to, and sending our super-duper Al'Kesh is out of the question."
"I believe that such a thing would be possible, O'Neill."
Four days later, the final decision was made on where the Jaffa prisoners would be taken. A team sent in a scout ship found no signs of intelligent life, no visible habitations nor any other indications that an intelligent species lived there. Of course, it was possible that, like with the Unas, someone could be living in caves, but, out of the three planets that were examined, it appeared to be the one least likely to have intelligent life on it. The Jaffa would have to survive the wild, primitive conditions, feed themselves by hunting game, growing crops and gathering edible native planets and fruits, but at least they would be free. Once the Goa'uld had been defeated, the Jaffa left on that planet would be given the option of remaining there or being taken somewhere else.
Food and supplies were taken to the planet, enough to last for three months. There were also seeds and other things the Jaffa would need to plant and tend a vegetable garden, as well as tools for constructing shelters. There were plenty of trees in the area, so building materials would not be a problem.
It was under a heavy guard that the prisoners were taken to the gate room. They did not know anything about what was going to be done with them, it having been decided that it would be better to keep them in the dark.
SG-1, Bra'tac and three other SG teams went through the gate with the Jaffa. The prisoners looked about at the piles of crates.
"What is this place?" one of them asked.
"It's your new home," Daniel replied. "We can't allow you to go free since many of you would then go into the service of another Goa'uld. That left us with two options: kill you or put you somewhere that would prevent you from being added to the army of another Goa'uld. After we leave, the dialing device for the gate will be destroyed. You won't be able to leave this planet."
"Then you are dooming us to death," another Jaffa said. "When the Goa'uld within us mature, we will die, for there will be none to replace them."
Daniel pointed at a small crate. "Inside that crate is a drug called Tretonin. It enables a Jaffa to live without a Goa'uld larva. If any of you want to continue living after the larva you carry matures, all you need to do is take it. There are instructions inside." He looked about at the prisoners. "You can make a life for yourselves here. It won't be easy, but at least you'll be alive, and you'll be free, in a manner of speaking."
"What good is freedom if you will not allow us to serve our gods?" a Jaffa asked. "You killed Moloc, and, now, you deny us the right to serve another. Better that we had died in battle than live this existence to which you have doomed us."
Teal'c glared at the man. "If death is what you prefer, if you do not have the strength to live without the Goa'uld, then there are many ways in which you can take your own life. The end of the Goa'uld is drawing near. When that day comes, all Jaffa will need to learn how to live as free men. There will be no place for the weak or the cowardly in that new life."
"I will live," declared Rey'nis, the man who had pretended to rebel and had failed Daniel's "test". He was staring not at Teal'c, but at the archeologist, anger and hatred in his eyes. "I will live to see the day that you are humbled and destroyed by the Goa'uld. You are abandoning us here, but the gods will find us and liberate us. And then we will rejoin the fight against the enemies of our gods." The man's gaze narrowed. "You think that none of us know who you really are, but I know your secret, you who call yourself Dan'yar. You are a pretender, a weak Tau—"
The man never got the chance to finish his sentence. With lightning speed, Bra'tac wielded his staff weapon and shot the man through the heart. Rey'nis was dead before he hit the ground. Stunned by the action, Daniel stared at his body, then looked at the man who'd killed him. Showing no emotion, Bra'tac closed the head of his staff weapon and resumed his former relaxed yet alert posture.
Everyone had been taken by surprise, and there was silence for several seconds. Teal'c was the first to speak.
"Are there any others who wish to die this day?" None of the prisoners replied.
Having recovered from the shock, Daniel said, "There's a river around half a mile to the southwest," he pointed in the right direction, "and a nearby meadow. I think you'll find it to be the best place for you to set up your encampment. All the tools and supplies you'll need to construct shelters are in the crates. There's also enough food to last you for three months and things to help you catch fish and other wildlife. You can make a life for yourselves here. When the day comes that the Goa'uld are gone, we'll come back and offer you the chance to leave. Until that day, this will be your home." He glanced at Sam. "Dial the gate."
With a nod, she complied. Once the IDC had been sent, she turned to the Jaffa. "This DHD is armed with explosives. The moment this wormhole shuts down, the explosives will detonate, so you'd better move away."
Their weapons all trained on the Jaffa, SG-1, Bra'tac and the other SG teams ascended the steps to the Stargate. With a second warning from Daniel, the Jaffa backed away from the DHD, although he could tell that some of them were tempted to do something stupid, like attacking. He and his teammates were the last to step through.
"Shut the iris!" Sam called out as they emerged from the other side of the wormhole. The iris was immediately closed. Not three seconds later, there was a single thump. Daniel closed his eyes at the knowledge that one Jaffa had chosen to take the chance . . . and had lost the gamble.
The wormhole shut down, not only breaking the connection between the two worlds but also triggering the detonator attached to the C4 within the DHD. There would be no way that the Jaffa could repair the damage, even if they had the knowledge of how to do it.
SG-1 and Bra'tac went up to join Jack in the control room.
"So, how did it go?"
Daniel glanced at Bra'tac, but said nothing.
"It was necessary for me to kill one of the prisoners," the Master Jaffa stated.
"Oh? Why's that?"
"To protect Daniel Jackson's identity."
"The Jaffa had apparently figured out who Daniel really was," Sam explained.
Jack looked at Daniel, who was staring at the floor with a frown on his face. "All right. Go get your post-mission checkups. You can explain everything in the debriefing in one hour. I'll want you there, too, Bra'tac."
Daniel didn't say much during the hour that followed. Janet could tell that something was up, but didn't ask about it.
It was on the way to the debriefing that the archeologist's teammates finally said something to him about what happened.
"You are displeased about Bra'tac's actions," Teal'c stated.
Daniel sighed. "I do understand why he did it. He thought he was protecting me. I just wish he hadn't done it."
"Daniel, I'm not happy about what happened either," Sam said, "but what if, by some miracle, a passing Goa'uld ship does discover those Jaffa and rescues them? Rey'nis would have revealed what he knew about you."
"Bra'tac took the correct actions," Teal'c declared.
They said nothing more as they entered the briefing room. Bra'tac was already there. He searched Daniel's face, but said nothing.
Jack walked in and took his seat. "Okay, time for explanations."
A few minutes later, he had the whole story.
"So, how can we be sure that guy didn't tell any of the others what he knew about Daniel?" Jack asked.
"We can't, I'm afraid," Sam replied. "From what he said, I'm guessing that he didn't, but I could be wrong."
"It is likely that Rey'nis did not reveal his knowledge to the others," Teal'c said. "He would wish to keep it for himself so that he would be the one who had the honor of revealing it to the Goa'uld."
Bra'tac nodded. "Teal'c is correct. He would hoard that knowledge, hoping that it would elevate him in the eyes of the Goa'uld to whom he told it. It was only his anger and hatred that caused him to reveal what he did."
"Then I guess we should all be glad that the guy lost his temper," Jack said.
A short while later, Daniel was in his office. He sensed Bra'tac's approach long before the man appeared in the doorway.
"You are angered that I killed Rey'nis," the Jaffa said.
"No. I'm not angry, Bra'tac. I just wish you hadn't done it."
"I would do it again if it would keep safe the knowledge of who you are, Daniel Jackson. The danger Rey'nis posed was too great for me not to take action."
Daniel gave a sigh. "I know, and I do understand. And I'm grateful that you stopped him from revealing what he knew. If he'd succeeded in telling the others. . . ."
"We would have had no choice but to kill them all or return them to their cells until the Goa'uld were no longer a threat."
Neither of those options would be one that Daniel would have wanted to happen.
"I will be leaving soon," Bra'tac said. "It is time for me to return to my task of bringing more Jaffa into the rebellion. Moloc's defeat and execution will be a mighty tool in my efforts."
Daniel nodded. "I understand that the Hak'tyl have everything pretty much set up in their new home."
"Yes. The last of them will be leaving today. I will go through with them, then leave from there to my next destination."
Teal'c and Rya'c walked side-by-side toward the gate room.
"A legend speaks of a place near where the mountains meet the sea, of hidden pools beneath majestic waterfalls," Rya'c said.
"It is no legend. I have seen it with my own eyes. You have chosen the location for your Shimroa very well."
"Master Bra'tac said this is where you took my mother."
Teal'c smiled softly in remembrance. "Indeed." He stopped walking. "Rya'c." His son halted and turned to face him. "I can think of no better mate for you than Kar'yn, and I am certain your mother would have felt the same."
"Thank you," Rya'c responded with deep emotion.
They clasped shoulders, then shared a hug.
"Before your departure, there is a matter that bears discussion," Teal'c said after they'd drawn apart.
"Father, I am aware of the ways between a man and a woman."
"Good. Then you are prepared for the Rite of Ornoc."
That surprised and alarmed the young Jaffa. "Surely it is not still expected."
The expression on Teal'c's face was firm and unyielding. "On the first Eve of Shimroa. My advice is that the knife be as sharp as possible."
Rya'c thought about the rite and how it was something he really did not want to do. "Perhaps Kar'yn is right. Not all of the old traditions are worth holding onto."
A smile slowly broke across Teal'c's face. "Indeed."
They resumed walking.
"And what of you and Ishta?" Rya'c asked.
"What of us?"
"Well, your relationship would be much easier if you both admit you are in love . . . for us all."
"Perhaps one day . . . when I am as wise as you."
The comment surprised Rya'c, and he paused at the gate room entrance, then followed his father inside.
The last of the Hak'tyl were in the process of going through the open wormhole. Ishta was waiting by the ramp, along with SG-1, Jack and Bra'tac.
"Once again we owe you our thanks for your hospitality," Ishta said to Jack and SG-1, "and for helping us find yet another new homeworld, where the children of the Hak'tyl may be safe."
"Think nothing of it," Jack responded with a smile. "You sure you got everything? Didn't forget any kids or horses?"
Ishta smiled as well, turning her gaze upon Daniel. "To you we owe a special thanks. If it were not for you, many of our brothers and sisters may have died in the battle against Moloc. You brought us victory without the loss of a single life to those fighting on the side of freedom."
"I'm just glad that I could help."
Ishta glanced at her lover. "May I speak with Teal'c alone?"
"Sure," Jack replied. "It was good to see you again." He and SG-1 left the gate room with a final goodbye to Bra'tac, who headed up the ramp and stood waiting at the event horizon.
Rya'c held his hand out to Teal'c. "I will see you soon, Father."
Teal'c pulled him and Kar'yn into an embrace.
"Yes . . . Father," the girl said with emotion in her voice and on her face.
Teal'c looked deeply into her eyes, his hands clasping hers and Rya'c's shoulders. "Be well."
The two young people walked up the ramp, joining Bra'tac. The three of them went through the gate.
After they were gone, Ishta turned to Teal'c. "I did not wish to spoil the days of Shimroa for Rya'c and Kar'yn."
"What have you discovered?"
"Word has come to us that Amaterasu is making a move to claim Moloc's domain, but that she is being challenged by Lord Yu."
Teal'c frowned slightly at the news.
"I know that no matter which of them wins the battle, their rule will be kinder to the children than Moloc's was, but I fear for how many of our brothers and sisters will die in the struggle for power."
"As do I. Perhaps they will agree to divide the domain between them."
"We can only hope." Ishta stepped close to Teal'c, gazing into his eyes. "Do not wait too long to visit. We have a war to plan," she glanced at his lips, "among other things."
They shared a kiss. Then Ishta walked up the ramp to join the last two Hak'tyl. With a final nod to Teal'c, she stepped with her companions through the gate.
