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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Daniel spent the next day going for walks and wandering around the camp since he really didn't have anything else to do.  Occasionally, he'd speak with someone.  Most of the Hak'tyl were used to his presence now and no longer looked at him warily.  Some were actually quite friendly to him and asked some questions about Earth and the battles they'd fought against the Goa'uld.  The women were impressed upon hearing the list of Goa'uld that the SG-1 had a hand in killing.

Though he hadn't intended it, the subject of Sha're came up.  The women he was speaking with at the time expressed their condolences over her death.  He didn't let them know that it was Teal'c who killed her.

That afternoon, the archeologist noticed Neith's sister, Nesa, sit down on a log.  She looked tired.  He approached her.

"You okay?"

She looked up at him.  "My sister says I should not talk to you."

Daniel sat beside her.  "You don't have to.  I'll just sit here for a while."  He didn't say anything for several seconds, looking at her profile for a moment.  Facing forward again, he said, "I'm Daniel."  Nesa looked at him.  He glanced at her casually, then returned his gaze to the camp.  "I wasn't talking to you."

"Who were you talking to, then?"

"No one," Daniel claimed.  There was another pause.  "So, how are you?"

Nesa sighed wearily.  "I feel tired."

Daniel looked at her with a feigned expression of puzzlement.  "Who're you talking to?"

"No one."

Daniel nodded, turning away.  Nesa smiled.  This man was like no one she'd ever met.  He seemed very nice.

She was curious about his glasses and asked about them.  Daniel explained their purpose.  She suggested that perhaps he was in need of a symbiote, to which he replied that he'd stick with the glasses.

"Neith has told me that your people don't approve of our use of symbiotes for healing," Nesa said.

"Well, it's a little more complicated than that," Daniel responded.  "I just think there's a better way."

"Neith does not want me to participate in your experiments."

"I know."

"Soon, I will require a symbiote."

Daniel searched her face.  "You don't sound very happy about that."

"I will become a great warrior like Neith."

"You know, you can do that without a symbiote."

"I can?" Nesa asked in surprise.

"Mm-hmm."  Daniel leaned a bit closer, lowering his voice.  "But, uh, you didn't hear that from me."  He gave her a secretive little nod, then turned away from her once more, glancing about the camp.

Nesa thought about what he'd said.  She looked at the man sitting beside her.  He noticed the look and gave her a smile.  He had a very nice smile, Nesa decided, and beautiful eyes, as blue and deep as a clear summer sky.  They looked at her warmly and gently.

Nesa felt something kindle in her that she'd never felt before, a sensation in her heart that felt both good and strange.  She wanted to stay with Daniel and speak to him some more, but if Neith saw them together, she'd be angry.

Nesa got to her feet.  "I should go."

"Okay.  Maybe you should lie down for a while until you feel better."

"Yes, perhaps I should."  Nesa hesitated.  "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Daniel smiled again.  "We'll have to not talk with each other again sometime."

Nesa's lips turned upward.  "Yes, I would like to not talk with you again."

Nesa left, glancing back several times at Daniel, who was still sitting on the log.  Feeling a little happier, she headed for hers and Neith's tent.


Sam and Janet were worried.  Though the other three Jaffa women were responding well to the treatments, Mala was not.  Her white blood cell count was way down, and Janet knew that, if it kept going down, the woman would go into sepsis.  All they could do was increase the amount of Tretonin even more, though Mala was already at twice the dose as the others.  She would also have to be moved into an isolation room to reduce the danger of her being exposed to germs and bacteria.

Janet had no idea why the Tretonin was not working on Mala.  Some would say that, in such an experiment, having three out of four test subjects respond positively would be a good result, but Sam pointed out that the Jaffa wouldn't look at it that way.  If this did not succeed with all four women, it could end any hope that Ishta would recommend Tretonin to her people.

All they could do was hope that they'd see a turnaround in Mala soon.


Early the next morning, Daniel was awakened by a sound that he knew all too well: the sound of a staff weapon being readied for firing.  He looked over his shoulder to find the weapon hovering just a few inches from his face.  It was being held by Neith, who looked furious.

"Morning," Daniel greeted as calmly as possible.

"You had no right to speak to her," Neith yelled.  When she'd learned that this man had spoken with her sister about Tretonin, making Nesa believe that she could be as much of a Jaffa with it as she would be with a symbiote, Neith had been enraged.  Despite Nesa's pleas not to harm him, Neith had immediately grabbed her weapon and come to confront him.

"I'm sorry," Daniel said.

"I saved her from her birthright, and it will be with the symbiote I procure that I will save her once again.  I have already lost two sisters, and I will not lose another one!"

Daniel attempted to calm her, holding up his hand placatingly.  "Okay, okay.  You lost two sisters.  I'm sorry."

"Ishta was able to save me, but she could not save the next two girls sired by my father.  He was a Jaffa stationed high in the imperial guard.  I swore that, when I came of age, no more of my sisters would die.  When I heard that my mother had given birth to yet another female, I knew what I had to do."

"You should be proud of that."

"My father discovered the ruse Ishta and I used to keep Nesa away from the fire.  I had to kill him so we could escape."

Oh, boy.  Daniel glanced at the staff weapon that was still mere inches from his head.  'Tread carefully, Daniel,' he told himself.  "Well, don't you want to give Nesa a chance to live free of the Goa'uld?"

"Not your way," Neith growled, snapping out each word like a separate sentence.  She closed the staff weapon, the noise making Daniel jump a little.  Then she spun around and left the tent.

Daniel's tense muscles relaxed.  That had been close.  Neith's hatred was deep enough that she wouldn't have hesitated to kill him, if she'd gotten angry enough.

The archeologist sat up and put on his boots.  He was preparing to stand when he heard someone hurrying up to the tent.  Nesa threw back the flap.  When she saw that Daniel was okay, she relaxed.

"I feared that Neith harmed you," she said, coming in.

"Well, she thought about it, but, fortunately for me, she decided not to kill me."

"I did not intend for her to learn that we spoke, but someone told her that they saw us together.  She questioned me, and I revealed what you said.  I am sorry."

"It's not your fault, Nesa.  I'm okay."

"Neith does not understand.  She thinks that your way is wrong."

"And what about you?  What do you think?"

"We should not be talking.  If Neith finds out, she will be even more angered."

As she turned to go, Daniel noticed that her hands were shaking.  She also looked pale.

"Nesa, are you all right?  You don't look well."

The girl glanced at him.  "I have to go."  She was gone before Daniel could say anything more.

Daniel gave a sigh.  He looked over at the empty cot on the other side of the tent.  Teal'c had not slept there last night, and it didn't take a genius to figure out where the former First Prime of Apophis was instead.  During these days that they'd been there, Daniel had noticed the relationship that was building between Teal'c and Ishta.  They seemed to be spending most of their time together, going on walks, eating their meals alone in each other's company.  Daniel was glad to see that Teal'c had found a woman to care about like that.  He knew that a part of his friend still grieved over the loss of Drey'auc.  Daniel just hoped that this relationship with Ishta didn't cause problems.

It was a few hours later when Daniel noticed a lot of activity going on in one area of the camp.  He saw a woman rush off, appearing to be in a big hurry.

"What's wrong?" he asked someone.

"Nesa has take ill."

"What?  Is it because she needs a symbiote?"

"Yes.  If she does not receive one soon, she will die."

Daniel wanted to go see the girl, but figured that it wouldn't be allowed.  He returned to his tent and found Teal'c standing outside it.

"What has occurred?" the Jaffa asked.

"Nesa's sick.  She's going to need a symbiote or the Tretonin soon, and I really don't think her sister's going to allow the Tretonin treatments.  She almost blew my head off with a staff weapon when she found out that I talked to Nesa about it."

"Has there been any word from Stargate Command about the testing?"

"No, and that kind of has me worried.  The last time I talked to Sam, she said that, though the other three women were responding well, Mala wasn't.  That was yesterday.  I haven't had a chance to tell Ishta.  She's, uh . . . been kind of busy with you."

Teal'c did not reply to this, which didn't surprise Daniel.  After all, Teal'c's love life was certainly no business of his.

It was not long before the two men saw Neith running toward the tent where her sister lay.  She was in there for only a couple of minutes when she reemerged, her face like thunder.  She went striding over to a horse, hopped on its back, and galloped away.

"Perhaps we should go to the Stargate and tell Major Carter and Doctor Fraiser about this latest development," Teal'c suggested.

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," Daniel responded.

As they walked toward the edge of the settlement, Teal'c glanced at Daniel.  "You wish to know about my relationship with Ishta."

"No," the archeologist instantly replied.  "Well, yeah, sort of.  I know that you loved your wife a lot, and I'm glad that you've found someone . . . I mean, if you've found someone.  You've been spending a lot of time with her, and, um, I just . . . uh . . . you know."  Daniel's voice trailed off in discomfort.

"Your belief that I am involved with Ishta is correct, Daniel Jackson.  In some ways, she is very much like Drey'auc, possessing the same fiery spirit.  Yet I believe that she is also more . . . I believe the Tau'ri would say 'pig-headed'."

Daniel smiled.  "You'd never have known it by looking at her, but Sha're could be pig-headed at times, too.  Of course, Jack would say that made her a perfect match for me.  It was a part of who she was, and I wouldn't have wanted her to change."

They paused a short distance outside the encampment.

Daniel met his friend's eyes.  "Teal'c . . . I don't know if this is something that you've thought about, but there is no reason for you to feel that you're betraying the memory of Drey'auc by being with Ishta.  When I started having feelings for Sam, it would have been easy to look at it that way, but I knew that Sha're wouldn't want me to be alone for the rest of my life, that she'd want me to be happy.  I'm betting that Drey'auc would feel the same way."

Teal'c appeared to consider this for a long moment.  "I believe that you are right, Daniel Jackson."

Just then, both men noticed a bunch of Hak'tyl running past them, heading toward the forest.

"What is happening?" Teal'c called out.

"Neith has claimed joma secu!" replied a woman on horseback as she rode by.

"Joma secu?" Daniel questioned.  "What's that?"

"Neith has challenged Ishta for the right of leadership.  It is usually a fight to the death."

'Oh, wonderful,' Daniel thought to himself, running after Teal'c, who had taken off in the direction everyone else was heading.

The two men had traveled only a short distance when Sam's voice came over the radio.  "Daniel, Teal'c, this is Sam.  Come in."

Daniel stopped to answer as Teal'c continued.

"Yeah, go ahead, Sam.  It's me, Daniel," the archeologist said into the radio.

"We have some bad news."

"Uh, things aren't going that well here either.  What's up?"

"It's Mala."

Even before Sam said the next words, Daniel knew it was really bad.

"She's dead," Sam told him, confirming his fears.

"What happened?"

"The Tretonin just wasn't working on her.  Her blood pressure started dropping, and Janet wanted to put her symbiote back in, but Mala refused, insisting that we give it more time.  When she lost consciousness, Janet couldn't wait any longer.  The symbiote was put back in, but she coded almost immediately afterwards.  We don't know exactly what happened, but Janet has determined that it was partly a reaction to her symbiote being reintroduced."

"And the others?"

"They're all fine."

"Sam, I need to go.  We've got a big problem here.  I'll contact you as soon as I can."

Not waiting for Sam to sign off, Daniel took off toward the others.  He saw a large group of Hak'tyl ahead.  Teal'c was striding into the midst of them, calling out Ishta's name.  He didn't quite hear the conversation that followed, though Ishta sounded angry.  He ran up to the group.  Ishta had Neith on the ground, a staff weapon pointed at her.

Daniel broke the news to her that Mala was dead.  Ishta was stunned and clearly upset.

"See what your weakness has brought," Neith responded angrily to the leader of the Hak'tyl.  "Nesa is in need of a symbiote."

Ishta withdrew her weapon and offered her hand to Neith.  "She shall have one!"

Neith took Ishta's hand, got to her feet, and took the staff weapon Ishta held out to her.  She hurried away.  Ishta began to follow, but was stopped by Teal'c, who grabbed her arm.

"Do not make this mistake," he said.  "Moloc will not allow this to continue."

"You give me no choice," the woman responded angrily, trying to pull out of his grasp.

"How many warriors have to die?"

Ishta glared at him.  "Our sisters in your care will be returned safely or the two of you will be sacrificed!"  She strode away, shouting, "Kree shal Moloc!"

Teal'c and Daniel found themselves surrounded by several women pointing staff weapons at them.  The rest left with Ishta.

The two men were marched back to the settlement and put in their tent, under guard.

"Well, this is not good," Daniel remarked.

"Ishta is acting foolishly, allowing her emotions to rule her," Teal'c said, looking rather pissed.

"She cares about her people, Teal'c.  She's doing what she believes she has to.  I don't agree with her, but I can understand her reaction."

"A leader must not allow their emotions to cloud their reason."

Daniel didn't respond immediately.  "Teal'c, I know you're angry, but, sometimes, we can't help but let our emotions lead us."  He met the Jaffa's eyes.  "You know that."

Teal'c stared back at him for a few seconds then looked away, remembering times when he, too, let his emotions rule him, like when his need for revenge made him foolishly go after Tanith, an act that nearly killed both himself and O'Neill and resulted in him being brainwashed and betraying his teammates.  How could he condemn Ishta for her actions when he had made the same mistake in the past?

Teal'c got to his feet and began to pace slowly back and forth.

"Look, I know you want to stop Ishta and the gang," Daniel said, "but even if we could get out of here, we don't know where they went."

Just then, the tent flap opened.  The woman named Ka'lel and two other warriors entered.

"Come with me," Ka'lel said, then turned around and left.

Daniel and Teal'c exchanged a glance, wondering what this was about, then followed.  They were taken to one of the other tents.  Nesa was inside, lying on the bed, looking flushed with fever.

Nesa told them that she didn't want to take a symbiote, to allow someone else to be killed so that she could live.  Sitting on the edge of the bed, Daniel asked if she had talked to her sister.  He wasn't surprised when Nesa replied that Neith wouldn't listen to her.

"It is my right to decide, is it not?" Nesa asked.

"I'm not sure."  Daniel looked up at one of the women in the tent, then back down to the girl.  "It should be."

Nesa asked what happened to Mala.  Daniel explained, stating that it shouldn't happen to someone who was never implanted.  After Daniel confirmed that the Tretonin had worked in others, the girl said that she wanted to try it.

Daniel nodded at her.  "Okay."

"Do you know where Ishta and Neith have gone?" Teal'c asked the girl.

"No."

"I do," Ka'lel stated.

Teal'c and Daniel looked at Ka'lel.  She walked out of the tent, clearly intending for them to follow.  As the other women left, Teal'c bowed to Nesa, then walked out.  Daniel got to his feet and followed them.

He, Teal'c and Ka'lel hurried to the Stargate, picking up weapons for the two men on the way.  The female warrior dialed the address, and they went through.  They could hear the sound of battle in the distance and rushed forward.  By the time they got there, the battle was over.  The dead and dying lay everyone.  Daniel couldn't help but think that these were lives that need not have been lost.

They could hear Ishta and Neith's voices and headed in their direction.  The sudden sound of a staff weapon being fired and a woman's cry of pain made them break into a run.  Neith was on the ground, having been shot in the back by one of the male Jaffa.  The man and Ishta were pointing their weapons at each other.  Before either could fire, Teal'c zatted the man, then ran to Ishta's side, Daniel and Ka'lel right on his heels.

"You okay?" Daniel shouted.

"She is severely wounded," Ishta replied, examining Neith.  "Her symbiote is damaged as well."  She picked up the dagger, apparently planning on using it to retrieve the symbiote from the male Jaffa who lay wounded before her.  Teal'c grabbed her wrist.

"Ishta, you have a choice," he said.

Ishta turned to him angrily.  The anger lasted only a moment, being replaced by grief.  She dropped the dagger to the ground.  Teal'c pulled her into his arms.

"I have lost Mala, and, now, Neith will die," the woman said in sorrow.

"She doesn't have to, Ishta," Daniel told her gently.  "We came here because Nesa said that she doesn't want a symbiote.  She wants to try the Tretonin.  It might work for Neith, too."

Ishta gazed down at Neith, a tiny spark of hope kindling in her eyes.  "We must hurry."

"We will return to Hak'tyl for Nesa," Ka'lel said.  "Take Neith to the Tau'ri.  Their medicine may keep her alive."

Ishta nodded.

Teal'c very carefully lifted the wounded woman into his arms.

"Wait!" Ishta said.  She looked down at the man from whom she had intended to remove the symbiote.  He was still alive.  When she had first gone to him to remove his symbiote, he had said, "Shal'kek Nemron."  I die free.  In that moment, Ishta had realized with horror what the Hak'tyl may have done, that, this very day, they may have killed ones who could have been their allies.

"This one is a brother who wishes to be free," she said.  "We cannot leave him to die."

Three of the other female warriors helped the man to his feet.  They all trekked to the gate.  Daniel dialed Earth and sent the IDC.

"We'll be there as soon as we can," he said.  He watched Teal'c, Neith, Ishta and the three women with the wounded man go through the gate.

Shutting the wormhole down, Daniel then dialed Hak'tyl and went through with the others.  He and Ka'lel went to Nesa's tent.

"What has happened?" the girl asked.

"Your sister's been wounded, Nesa," Daniel replied.  "Her symbiote was damaged.  She's been taken to Earth."

Nesa weakly struggled up onto her elbows.  "I must be with her!"

"You will be.  We're going to take you to Earth now."

Daniel carried the girl out of the tent.  She was put on a horse with Ka'lel sitting behind her to support her.  When another horse was brought for Daniel, he had the fleeting thought that he was glad he had some riding experience, though most of it was on camels rather than horses.

They made it to the Stargate as quickly as they could, unable to go fast with the ailing girl.  Daniel carried Nesa through the gate, Ka'lel at his side.  The girl was taken to the infirmary the moment they arrived, Ka'lel accompanying her.  Daniel walked up to Sam and Jack, who'd been in the gate room to greet them.

"How's Neith?" the archeologist asked.

"Not good," Sam replied.  "She's in surgery.  Her symbiote is in bad shape, and Janet doesn't think it will survive."

"Did Teal'c tell you that Nesa wants the Tretonin?"

Sam nodded.  "They're all ready for her.  They will begin treatments immediately.  Janet believes that, because Nesa has never been implanted with a symbiote, she should take to the Tretonin quite well, probably much more quickly than a Jaffa that has been implanted."

"I hope so.  Where's Danny?"

"Waiting for you in your office.  He wanted to be here for your arrival, but we figured it would be best for him to wait there."

The three of them went to the office.  As soon as Danny spied Daniel, he ran up and gave the archeologist a big hug.

"I missed you," he said.

Daniel got down on one knee to hug him better.  "I missed you, too."

"I saw the lady Jaffa.  Sam told me that they're warriors and that no men live with them.  That's like the Amazons, isn't it?"

"In a way.  There are a lot of differences, though."

"Why don't they live with men?"

"Um . . . that's a little complicated."  Daniel sat down with Danny.  "You see, the Goa'uld who's their master is very evil.  Like most Goa'uld, he's interested in defeating other Goa'uld so that he can take control of their territories.  Because female Jaffa don't fight in Jaffa armies, he thinks they're worthless."

"But that's not true!" Danny declared, upset.  "Mom wasn't worthless, and Sam isn't worthless.  They're just as important as boys."

Smiling, Sam bent over and gave him a tight squeeze.  "You bet we are," she said.  "And thank you for saying that."

"Well, it's true."

"Everyone in this room agrees with you there, squirt," Jack said.  "Moloc is just an idiot."

"If he hates girls, what was he doing to them?"

The adults exchanged a glance.  Daniel didn't think that Danny should know about the sacrifices.  The boy was way too young for that.

"Um, some of the things he does are really bad, Danny, and I think it would be best if you didn't know.  It might give you nightmares."

"Does he kill them?" Danny asked in a muted voice.

"Yes, some of them.  The female Jaffa you saw are part of a group of women who hate what he is doing and decided to do something about it.  They call themselves the Hak'tyl, which means 'liberation' in Goa'uld.  The Hak'tyl try to save as many female Jaffa that they can.  They sometimes fight in battles against Moloc's Jaffa."

"Like the Amazons fought in battles against other armies."

"Uh huh."

Before the boy could ask any other questions about Moloc's treatment of the female Jaffa, Daniel decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.  "There are girls of all different ages living with the Hak'tyl, including children.  One of them is here, a girl named Nesa.  She's several years older than you, but I think you'd like her.  I'll have to take you to see her tomorrow.  She lives with her sister, who was injured in a battle and is being taken care of in the infirmary.  Nesa's in the infirmary right now as well."

"Was she hurt, too?"

"No.  Uh, Teal'c explained to you all about how the Jaffa carry the young Goa'uld in their bodies, right?"

Danny nodded.  "Sort of like how a kangaroo carries its babies in its pouch.  He showed me the scar where the opening of the pouch was, though he said it's mostly sealed up now because he doesn't have a Goa'uld inside him anymore.  He said that Jaffa can't live without a larva symbiote unless they take the special drug that he does."

"That's right.  Nesa had reached the age where she needed to have a symbiote put inside her so that she wouldn't die, but she didn't want that, so Janet is giving her the drug.  She'd gotten pretty sick, so she's recovering."

"Why does Nesa live with her sister?  Are her mom and dad dead?"

Daniel exchanged another glance with his teammates.  "Uh . . . her father is dead, but I think her mother is still alive.  You see, Moloc doesn't allow parents to take care of their daughters.  The girl babies are taken away from them.  That's why Nesa is being taken care of by her sister."

"That's really mean."

"Yes, it is."

The adults managed to move the conversation away from the Hak'tyl, and Danny, thankfully, didn't ask any more questions.

Neith survived the surgery, but there was nothing that could be done to save her symbiote.  It was dying, and, if she didn't agree to use the Tretonin, she would die as well.  Nesa, on the other hand, was doing very well, already showing a vast improvement in her condition.  It was now close to Danny's bedtime, but Daniel wanted to speak with Nesa first before going home.  He left the boy in Jack's care and went to the infirmary.

First, he went to the ICU.  Sam was in the observation room above the room where Neith had been put.

"How's she doing?" Daniel asked as he entered the observation room.  He looked down into the room below and saw that Teal'c, Ishta and Janet were there with Neith.

"She's weakening," Sam replied.  "She hasn't awakened yet.  Janet's doing all she can, but Neith isn't going to last much longer without the Tretonin."

"Well, I saw firsthand how much Neith is against the Tretonin, and I'm afraid that she might decide to die rather than take it."

"Yeah."

"I'm going to go talk to Nesa.  She deserves to know what's happening."

Daniel went to see the girl.

"How is Neith?" she asked.  "The others tell me only that they are doing all they can for her.  Please tell me the truth."

"She's not doing well.  Her symbiote is dying.  Our doctors have treated her injury as well as they can, but, without a new symbiote or the Tretonin, she'll die."

"Then you must give her the Tretonin.  She must be made to see that it is the only way."

"I don't know if she'll take it, Nesa."

The girl sat up.  "Then I must talk to her."

Daniel found her a robe and went with her to the ICU.

As they drew close to Neith's room, they heard Ishta say, "She will not listen to me."  That statement told them that, just as Daniel suspected, Neith was refusing to try the Tretonin.

The archeologist and Nesa came into the room.

"Well, maybe she'll listen to her sister," Daniel said.

Nesa walked over to stand at Neith's bedside as Daniel joined Teal'c and Ishta at the foot of the bed.

"Please, Neith," the girl begged.

Neith looked at her then away.  "You betrayed me."

"No.  You betray me.  Since before I can remember, you have taught me to believe in our freedom.  You said you would do anything so that you might protect me.  One day, I will be a great warrior like you, but I am not yet.  I still need you.  I have chosen to live free.  You must choose to take the Tretonin if you are to continue to teach and protect me.  Please.  I do not wish you to die."

Neith lifted her hand and gently stroked Nesa's cheek.  She gave the slightest of nods.  Nesa bent over and laid her head on her sister's chest.  Over the girl's hair, Neith looked at Daniel.  He saw acceptance, forgiveness, and perhaps the tiniest bit of gratitude in the woman's eyes.

"We need to get started right away," Janet said.

Reluctantly, Nesa released her sister.  She, Daniel, Teal'c, Ishta and Sam, who had just come in from the observation room, headed for the door.

"Daniel Jackson," Neith called.  Everyone turned back to the woman in the bed.  She paused a moment, then murmured, "Thank you."

Daniel gave her a soft smile and a nod, then left the room with the others.

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