Disclaimer: The characters portrayed within this story belong to the guys that own the Rights to Stargate SG1 so MGM, Gekko and unfortunately obvioues SciFi too...but I have a friend making beautiful SG1-clones and sometimes I let them out to explore our universe! Those aformentioned characters inspire a lot of people watching and adoring Stargate SG1 so be indulgent. Many thanks to Gekko and MGM, Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill, Sam Carter and Teal'c plus their respective actors doing such a great performance!!
But I am tempted to cast an evil spell on SciFi.

Summary: see author's notes. Tag to "The Shroud".

Timeline: season 10

spoilers: The Shroud, s 10

Rating:Some Danny-whumping involved, of cos, angst, language, violence too, but nothing too serious so far

Size:

Author's Notes: Okay - Deep Breath - Here goes. This is the first story that I've written that I've actually put up for public humiliation Wink (CP&UP being a collaboration with Em, and on temporary hold till she's back in action, and just a bit of fun.)

I apprectiate that This may be every one's cup of tea. It focuses very much so on Jack and Daniel, I just so love their friendship. But don't worry guys, the rest of our heroes aren't wallpapered.

It takes place after the events of The Shroud, and is kind of AU in that I ignore the events of the episodes that came after. I wanted to write something that had them all having to deal with the consequences of Daniel's and Merlins actions, Daniel dealing with his own feelings regarding them, and what it leads them and the team into in their efforts to prevent to Ori invasion.

Where I refer to what transpired bewteen the time that he was captured by Adria and being De-Priorized, it is all a lot darker than what we got on-screen. Nothing gratuitous or graphic though.

I hope you enjoy, I'm open to advice and critism, but please remember, as I rule I write for my own pleasure, and I'm extremely nervous about posting this. Oh, and BTW, it hasn't been beta'd, so please don't hesitate to pick me up on typos, bad grammar, etc. And please, it is fiction, so my somewhat strange imagination is at work here

# Novel: Consequences Part 1 #

by Delta666

“Well, this makes a change.” Vala commented brightly, as SG-1 stepped through the ‘gate.

Instead of the usual grassy area or muddy track that they tended to find when they came through the Stargate these days, ahead of them stretched a smoothly paved road.

“Well Jackson?” Cam asked the team’s archaeologist.

“My speciality is ancient architecture, this looks pretty contemporary to me.” Daniel shrugged. Cam gave him a look, he’d expected a little more enthusiasm from him on his first mission since his return from medical leave. But he let it slide, he guessed the guy just needed a bit of time.

“Okay, well, let’s follow the Yellow Brick Road.” He quipped and headed off leaving behind him a wake of rolling eyes and a raised eyebrow from Teal’c.

Vala all but skipped along next to Daniel, Sam caught up with Cam whilst Teal’c, vigilant as ever watched their sixes.

“Soo, not medieval then.” Vala said brightly in an attempt to start a conversation with Daniel, who’d been unusually taciturn since having returned to active duty a week ago.

“Obviously not.” He snapped back at her. He really wasn’t in the mood for her rand of chatter, and didn’t notice the hurt look that crossed her face.

“Daniel” Vala positively whined and stopped short causing Teal’s to almost knock her off her feet as he collided with her.

“Hey muscles. Watch where you’re going.” She snapped irritably at him, the concern that she’d been feeling for Daniel, plus the little twinge of guilt that she’d been trying deal with since he’d been a prior, eating at her and growing in intensity.

“Perhaps, ValaMalDoran, you should consider affixing warning lights to your person if you intend to perform such abrupt maneuvers.” Teal’c drawled and favored her with the tiniest of smiles.

“Hey guys. What’s the hold up, we’ve got a long ways to go before we reach that city that the UAV showed us.” Cam called from up ahead.

Daniel surged forward, hoping to leave Vala and her constant chattering behind. But, apparently, irrepressible as ever, she jogged and caught up with him, Teal’c also catching up easily in a few of long, easy strides.

“I thought you’d be a little more excited about this mission Daniel. It is your first since…..” She tailed off not wanting to actually say those words.

“Maybe if I was given a bit of peace and quiet.” Daniel snapped and glared at her with a hard look in his eyes that she had never seen before.

“Ok-ay, if that’s really what you want.” She said using a casual tone to cover the hurt she was feeling. And she walked ahead to catch up with Sam and Cam. “DanielJackson, did you really feel it necessary to be so harsh with her.” Teal’c said quietly. Out of all of his friends, Teal’c had been the only one who had truly had faith in him when he’d been trying to convince them of his sincerity during ‘that’ time. Even Jack, who he realized and wanted to believe in him, had been left with no choice but retain some doubt. At the time, he’d managed to push his hurt aside as there had been too much at stake, and other things that he had to deal with. It had been after that it had really hit him how hard it had been for him to see and hear their doubts, especially those from Sam, Vala, and most of all, his best friend Jack. He knew he couldn’t blame them, didn’t blame them, but, it had still hurt him deeply. Still did, he realized.

“I’m sorry Teal’c, I’ll apologize to her later, I just need a little – space right now.”

Teal’c regarded Daniel, one of his oldest and dearest friends for a moment or two and then walked alongside him in a companiable silence, something which Daniel appreciated very much.

It was quite a long trek to the city. Along the way Sam set up a couple of signal boosters that would mean that when the SGC dialed in for the scheduled checks, they wouldn’t have to have someone return to the gate to catch the signal.

“This is weird.” Cam commented after about an hour of walking.

“What?” Vala, bored out of her skull, demanded, desperate for some kind of conversation to take her mind off of her brooding over why Daniel had been so – off with her since he’d returned from his leave.

“Well, according to the UAV, the city’s deserted, this planet’s uninhabited, and apparently has been for quite some time, sooo, how come this road’s in such great condition, I mean, even given that it gets none, or very little traffic at best, how come those verges are trimmed so neatly, and look, those kerb-stones have been replaced quite recently, I’d say.”

“Well, maybe…….” Vala racked her brains, she loved a puzzle. “Maybe……….” In the end she merely shrugged, she had no idea.

“Well, perhaps there are some locals after all, who live somewhere other than the city, who maintain the road.” Sam offered. “And, if that is the case, we should attempt to locate them, they might be able to tell us about who built it, and the city, and why it’s now deserted. What do you think Daniel?” She called over her shoulder.

“Yeah, whatever.” Daniel muttered distractedly, earning himself a ‘look’ from Teal’c.

“Perhaps Dr Lam was premature in her recommendations that you be permitted to return to active duty.” The big jaffa said quietly. He too was concerned about Daniel.

Daniel realized this was Teal’c’s way of remonstrating with him for his ‘attitude’, but he wondered if maybe he had a point. But, on the other hand, despite the fact that Merlin’s weapon had gone through the Super-gate, there were still at least seven Ori ships at large, and, they had no way of knowing if the weapon had even worked. The whole thing had been a calculated gamble from the outset, a gamble, which for him, the stakes had been higher than anyone knew, and as long as he had his way, would ever know. But, for now, he realized, he had a few bridges to mend.

“Looks like I’m going to have a lot of apologizing to do then Teal’c, you first, I’m sorry, I’ll be fine, I just need to get my ‘gate’ legs back again.” He managed a ghost of a smile and hoped that would smooth the waters.

Teal’c gave his friend a thoughtful look, but accepted the apology. “Very well DanielJackson.” Teal’c gave him a nod, but there was concern in his dark eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, waddyou know.” Cam exclaimed as the reached the brow of the hill and saw the site spread out in front of them. The valley was huge, much bigger then the footage from the UAV had indicated. The city lay at the far end, just beyond a calm river that wound its way along the bottom of the valley. In the far distance, beyond the city they could see the faint shapes of mountains. The road lead down to the valley floor and formed a bridge, which spanned the river.

“Well, what do you think Jackson?”

The beauty of the city pulled Daniel from his mood and he pulled out his binoculars and peered through them.

“Well, first glance confirms what the UAV footage showed me. That it matches no architecture that I recognize, of course, once I get a closer look…” The others felt relieved, this was more like the Daniel they all knew and loved.

“Okay, well, that is what we’re here for. Sam, those energy readings changed at all?” The first thing Sam had picked up when she’d checked her instruments after stepping through the ‘gate, had been a faint, steady energy reading.

“No, it’s stayed steady since I first picked it up, it may not even have any thing to do with the city.” She told him.

“I wonder how long it’s been abandoned, and, if they left anything of value behind.” Vala said excitedly, and predictably.

Daniel responded to her remark, a little less harshly than the way he’d spoken to her earlier “You know the rules Vala, we’re not treasure hunters, we’re explorers, we only take anything that might help us find a way to defeat the Ori soldiers.” ‘And the Ori, if the weapon didn’t work’ He added silently to himself.

“Well, that’s what I meant, of course.” Vala countered with a smile, very relieved that Daniel seemed a little more like his usual self.

“Okay, lets head on down there, give the place a quick once over, and, see of we can find somewhere suitable to camp for the night.”

Daniel started eagerly down the hill, Cam and Sam close behind, Vala almost jogging to catch up with Daniel whose enthusiasm levels had definitely increased when he saw the city. The hill was quite steep here and they were concentrating on keeping their footing, when Teal’c indicated that something was amiss. They all paused and strained to hear whatever it was that had alerted Teal’c.

Cam was the first to react. He was standing next to a large bush, and quick as a flash, he reached behind it and hauled something out. The others, all bar Daniel, raised their weapons. Daniel’s hand hovered but he felt – afraid to wield a weapon again. Memories of some of the things he’d done as a Prior flooded his mind and he was too ashamed and horrified, and knew that it could, strike that, would be used against him by Woolsey and the IOA if they ever found out the truth. He hated keeping these things to himself, and it just added to the burden of guilt he was carrying around. He blamed his own arrogance for having accepted Merlin’s unspoken invitation in the first place, truly believing that he had the ability to cope, and help. He was drawn from his musings by Cam’s voice.

“Okay, who are you?” Cam demanded of his captive. The tiny child-like figure glared at them.

“Why should I tell you!” He said fiercely.

“Because, we have weapons, and you don’t.” Vala drawled, raising her own gun to emphasize her point. Daniel decided it was time he stepped in.

“Don’t mind them.” He said calmly. “Mitchell, let him go.”

“Just don’t run off, we only want to ask you a few questions.” Cam warned and signaled to Teal’c who casually placed himself in to such a position so that the fiery little man could not run off. Cam released him and the small mans adjusted his clothing with an annoyed huff.

“We are from a planet called Earth.” Daniel said equably. “We are peaceful explorers, we’ve come to take a look at your city, we’re sorry that we startled you, we thought this place was uninhabited.”

The little man looked towards the city and then back at SG-1.

“Ylaaria is, but there are many of us living nearby.”

“Ylaaria, that’s the name of the city?” Daniel asked.

“Yes, it was once the home of our leaders, long before I was born though.”

“But no-one lives there now?” Sam asked.

The little man looked uncomfortable.

“No, no-one lives there…” Daniel regarded him for a moment, he sensed that there was more to the tiny man’s statement, there was a definite ‘but’ hanging in the air.

“Where do live?” Vala asked him.

“Over there.” The small man pointed vaguely in the direction of the forest. “There are several villages.”

“But there’s a beautiful city down across there, why not live in it?” Vala asked.

“No, it is...too……..I mean…not permitted.” The diminutive man said evasively. “Besides, it is old, and ruined.” He added.

“For what reason is it not permitted?” Teal’c asked from his position behind the diminutive man, who looked terrified.

“Because, it is……was…decreed so by those that once lived there.”

“What happened to them, did they leave, did they die off?” Cam asked. “By the way, do you have a name?”

“Malveo, I am one of the Forest Dwellers, I am responsible for ensuring that the road is kept in good condition, as was my Father, and his Father before him.” The little man drew himself up to his full height, which couldn’t have been more than five feet. He was an attractive little individual though, fair hair and intelligent dark eyes, he looked at first glance like a child, but he was obviously a lot older, there was wisdom and shrewdness in his eyes. He was tidily dressed in clothing that was fairly contemporary with Earth clothing. Functional, yet elegant, and certainly ot exactly how one would have expected a ‘Forest Dweller’ to dress.

“Well Malveo, why bother with the road, if there’s no traffic?” Cam was curious.

“It has always been so, did you not appreciate how it eased your journey from the great circle?”

“Well, yes, of course we did, but….”

“Then, my work is of value.” Malveo said firmly.

“Do many travelers come to your world?” Daniel enquired.

“You are the first in my lifetime. We were beginning to think that the Great Circle no longer functioned.” There was a note of regret in his voice. “My Grandmother told me tales of the visitors that used to come, they would be dressed in strange and wonderful garments, and tells us tales of their own worlds. But….. that was many years ago. Now it is just us…..” Daniel heard that ‘but’ again, but he let it be for now.

“Well, we’ve come to take a look at – Ylaaria.” Cam explained. “But, after, perhaps you could take us to your village, we’d love to get to know you folks a bit better, maybe come to some agreement to work together, as friends.” He looked pointedly at Daniel whose gaze seemed to be constantly drawn to the distant city.

“Jackson!” He prompted after a moment.

“Oh, er, yes, definitely, I’d love to learn more about your culture, and, why you don’t inhabit the city, and those you say used to be the leaders of this world?”

Teal’c and Vala stared at Daniel in puzzlement. He sounded like he was reciting a memorized speech, there was none of the usual warmth and excitement in his voice. Sam seemed not to notice, she was too busy checking her instruments. Cam too seemed oblivious.

“Come now, we have been waiting so long for visitors to come, Ylaaria can wait, it’s not going anywhere.”

“No, the city first.” Daniel snapped, this time even Cam and Sam were aware that something was – off with him. Daniel forced an apologetic smile, and they relaxed a little.

“Actually, Dr Jackson’s right.” Cam said. “Our mission is primarily to check out the city and report back to our superiors, perhaps, you could come with, give us the fifty cent tour.”

Malveo looked a little confused for a second, then his face cleared when he realized what the stranger meant. “No, no, that will not be….necessary.” he said and shifted nervously. “But, it would be better if you came with me first and read through the archives.”

They all looked at Daniel, expecting him to jump at the chance to study some dusty old documents, but he didn’t seem remotely interested, he obviously wanted to go to Ylaaria.

“We can check out your archives after.” Daniel said giving Malveo a rather forced smile.

“You sure, Jackson? Usually we can’t tear you away from books and stuff?” Cam asked waiting and gauging Daniel’s next response. Something was definitely ‘hinkey’ with him, and General O’Neill had asked him to keep a particularly close eye on him for a while.

While Daniel may have not been himself, but there was nothing wrong with his perception skills, he realized his behavior was giving them cause for concern, so, he modified it. Otherwise, he suspected, they would march him straight back to the SGC for a whole bunch more tests and rounds of therapy. He’d had a hard enough time of it as it was convincing them that he should be allowed back on active duty, and he suspected that it had been Jack’s intervention that had finally convinced them.

“Yeah, you got me, the village it is, I was just torn for a moment, I’d been so looking forward to checking out that.” He tilted his head in the direction of the city. But, these archives could provide us with valuable information.” He said breezily, and he hoped, not too forced sounding.

“Excellent, follow me.” Malveo said, barely masking his relief. He led them a little further down the road to a point where a large outcrop of rock had been obscuring a turn-off. They all noted that beyond the outcrop, the road, which continued to the city, was un-maintained and overgrown.

“My duties only expect me to maintain the road from the Great Circle to this point.” Malveo explained in response to Cam’s enquiry.

Daniel hesitated at the junction, he felt drawn to the city, and it seemed, the nearer they were, albeit only a couple of hundred meters, the stronger the pull.

“Daniel.” He felt Vala’s hand on his arm and looked at her, there was a hint of concern in her eyes.

“Okay Vala, I’m coming.” He smiled to reassure her.

Malveo seemed to grow more relaxed as they headed in to the forest, and more verbose, he kept up a constant stream of chatter, telling them about his people, his village, how many others there were. Until, they reached a set of gates.

“Well, somehow didn’t expect this.” Cam said in an aside to Daniel.

“Well, they look decorative rather than functional.” Daniel said studying the wrought metal structure. “Probably a hangover from their past, perhaps when they had a more feudal infrastructure. A statement more than anything, I’d say.”

“Well, as long as they’re not there to keep us in, or anything big and bad that our new little friend has not told us about.” Cam drawled whilst checking out the gates and the adjoining walls.

“Holy Hannah!” Sam exclaimed as they entered the village.

“Indeed.” Teal’c added.

“Not quite what I was expecting.” Vala remarked, clearly impressed “Daniel?” She looked at him.

“Well, I have to agree.” He said looking more like his old self.

The ‘village’ was more like a town, with neatly paved roads, well made houses, what looked like street lights lining the roads, the windows in the buildings had large clear glass panes. Nothing like the majority of the villages and towns they’d been visiting recently, which on the whole had all been rather medieval.

“Is that?” Cam was indicating a large, obviously official looking building just beyond a spacious, well laid out, and very bustling market square.

“That is the Council Building, yes. “ Malveo supplied. “Come, you must meet Councillor Trika, she will be most pleased to meet you all.”

“This is, a really lovely – village.” Sam complimented the little man. “Are the others like this too?”

“Er, thank you, errr, similar, but each village has it s own distinctive style. Perhaps I am biased, because this is my home, but I think ours is by far the most attractive.” He added proudly.

They were receiving curious, but friendly stares from passers by. And they all smiled equably back. Daniel felt uncomfortable carrying his weapons. There was an aura of peace about this place, and weapons just seemed so - out of place. But protocols were protocols. He shrugged his back-pack in to a more comfortable position and returned Vala’s smile.

They made their way across the market square, which, as well as traditional vegetable and baked goods stalls, also offered all kinds of wares, from jewelry, to clothing, to cooking utensils, right up to what appeared to be household electrical goods, not unlike what you would expect to find back on Earth. They could hear music, and it turned out be coming from the open doors of what could only be described as a bar.

“We could be almost anywhere on Earth.” Sam remarked. Daniel seemed to have snapped out of his ‘mood’ and was peering around with a great deal of interest. Out of all of the worlds they’d visited, this one seemed to be the closest to current day Earth. The ONLY difference being, that Malveo’s people were all as diminutive as him, and therefore, everything seemed to be made to match their petite proportions. Sam and Vala were both fairly tall anyway, but they felt like positive giants amongst these tiny people. Teal’c appeared even more massive than usual, and Daniel and Cam, both being fairly average heights, also felt somewhat statuesque.

“I assume we won’t bash our heads on their doorways.” Cam whispered to Daniel with a grin.

“We’ll just have to duck.” Daniel eyed up the doorway to the Council building, which, he judged was only about six feet high.

Inside the ceilings were lofty, much to SG-1s relief, they’d been beginning to feel as if they were in some kind of ‘Hobbit’ inhabited land.

The Council Chambers were bright and airy, the décor elegant and attractive. Lots of pale wood carved in to almost organic elegant curves. The floors covered in tiles made from some pale form of terracotta. The windows were large and let in plenty of light. All in all it was possibly one of the most beautiful places they had ever visited.

“Welcome. I am Trika, Head of the Malkon Council.” A petite woman swept toward them, very elegantly despite her diminutive stature and greeted them expansively.

“Councillor Trika, I am Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell. Lt. Col. Samantha Carter. Dr Daniel Jackson. Teal’c and Vala MalDuran.” Cam introduced themselves.

“Just Trika, please, and I am delighted to meet you. No doubt Malveo told you that it has been far too long since we had any visitors.”

“He did, and I must say, when he explained that you were ‘Forest Dwellers’ well, we weren’t expecting anything like this.” Cam continued. Trika looked a little bemused. Cam looked toward Daniel.

“Well, we have encountered beings, people who refer to themselves as Forest Dwellers before, and, indeed they do live in the Forest, actually, make that they literally live in the Forest.” Daniel explained to the attractive little woman.

Trika’s face cleared.

“Ahh, I understand – Daniel – is it not?” She waited for him to confirm that she was using his name correctly, which he did by means of a small nod. “We refer to ourselves as the Forest Dwellers, simply to distinguish ourselves from those who live in the mountains, those who live by the great water, and this who live on the edge of the great desert. But, I sense that is not all that surprised you?”

“No, actually, not, we are surprised by the level of technology you appear to have, much on par with our own in fact. That’s rare, most cultures we encounter have either been retarded, deliberately or otherwise, or, in certain cases, way ahead of ours, but never…” He crinkled his brow and looked at Sam for confirmation…”Have we met one who seem to be at exactly the same level.”

“That’s right Trika.” Sam interjected. “The closest we’ve come has been about fifty or so years behind us. Also, to be honest, we thought this planet was uninhabited.”

“Well.” Trika beamed. “As you can see, it is not, and, it is good then that we appear to have something in common.” The tiny woman smiled. She looked at Teal’c. “So, tell me Teal’c, do many of your world wear such symbols on their foreheads, is it perhaps a mark of honor?”

“Indeed not, it was the mark of he who once claimed to be my Master, but with the help of the Tau’ri, I am now free.”

“Splendid, so you oppose slavery. Another tick in the right box.” She exclaimed happily. Cam and Sam looked at each other with amused smiles, thousands of light years from Earth and they stumbled upon such an Earth-like phrase.

“I assume you wish to examine the archives?” Trika said.

“Er, yes, Dr Jackson here’s quite the culture buff.” Cam answered for Daniel. Trika looked Daniel up and down.

“They are written in the old language. It is very difficult to decipher.” She warned.

“Perhaps If I take a look, I do have quite a lot of experience with languages.” He explained to her.

“Daniel knows more languages than most of us have had hot dinners.” Vala interjected with almost a note of pride. Daniel looked embarrassed.

“Well, that’s good then, if you would like to follow me.” She swept of down a corridor off to one side of the foyer. It was low, but not so low that they had to bend.

“This is the Library of Archives. It is fully up to date, in fact, Jerrod is just chronicling your arrival, perhaps you would not mind furnishing him with your details.”

They followed her through the light and airy foyer in to an equally light and airy room which was apparently the library.

“Oh my God.” Sam breathed in awe. The room was not as they expected, a room filled with books and parchments, it contained several desk with very efficient looking computers.

“What did you expect?” Trika said with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

“Well, books, scrolls, parchments I guess.” Cam replied.

“There are books, and scrolls, they are kept in the vaults. Everything that is on them has been transcribed in to the database.”

“Everything?” Daniel looked doubtful.

“Yes, everything.” Trika said, perhaps a little – too – quickly.

“Well, I guess if you record everything that happens right up to the minute, computers take up less space than a bunch of dusty old tomes.” Vala drawled.

“Absolutely – Vala, we were running out of space, so we adapted the technology to act as a library. And, it has made things so much more - tidy.”

“We’re after anything relating to Ylaaria.” Daniel asked of her.

“Ylaaria. I don’t know about that. We don’t really have anything to do with that place any longer, it could be that those archives are still on paper.”

“Well can you ‘google’ it or something?” Daniel said impatiently. Trika looked both puzzled and startled.

“It’s okay Trika, an Earth joke.” Cam soothed her and shot Daniel a warning glance.

“We came here to explore the city.” he waved his arm in a huge arc in the air “’and we came ‘here’ to read about the city.” He responded impatiently.

“Jackson, just calm down.” Cam said. “Trika said that the city archives are most likely still on paper, perhaps, with her permission.” He favoured Daniel with a glare, “and assuming you haven’t pissed her off.” He added as an aside. “She might show you where they are.”

Daniel seemed to shrink in to himself a little and mumbled an apology. Cam was wondering whether they should abort the mission altogether and get him back to the SGC for a thorough checkup, and maybe some more psych evals. He decided to have a word with Sam and Teal’c when he got the chance, after all, they knew him better than either he or Vala did. But, if his opinion counted for anything, Jackson was most definitely not himself.

“I cannot understand why people are so obsessed with wanting to explore the city.” Trika said, almost to herself.

“What do you mean by that?” Vala asked her. “Who’s obsessed? I thought you said that we were the first visitors here for at least a hundred years?”

“Yes, but, according to the records, everyone who had come here after the city was abandoned was almost obsessed with exploring it. Why, escapes me, it has been abandoned for millennia.”

“Well, assuming these previous visitors were explorers, scientists, or, even treasure hunters, that would be expected.” Daniel stated looking somewhat pointedly at Vala when he mentioned treasure hunters. She felt a little hurt, betrayed even. She had made a huge effort to change, and it had meant a lot to her that Daniel had stuck by her, and, she had thought that he’d appreciated what an effort she’d made. But, little digs like that made her feel that maybe he hadn’t after all.

“We tried to explain to them that there is nothing there, when you read the archives, you will see, exploring the city will gain you nothing.”

“It’s what I do, explore ancient cities, ruins, to learn something about those who built then and lived in them.” Daniel told her. “A lot can be learned about a people from the way they built their homes, villages, towns, cities. That’s why we came here.”

“You came in the hope of finding more than knowledge. Is that not correct. You think the city holds something far more powerful.” Trika stated.

“Why do you say that?” Sam asked the small councilor.

“Because, that is what they all came for. Why should I expect you to be any different?”

They realized she had a point. They were hoping to find something within the city. After all, it was described in one of the scrolls Daniel had retrieved from Vegonbrei, as had been the ‘gate address. The last thing they’d expected to find here had been a thriving civilization.

“Okay, you’ve got us there Trika.” Cam admitted. “There is a threat out there, and we need to find a way to stop it before it conquers the entire galaxy. You and your people included. Daniel here thinks that city may hold either a means, or information leading to a means to help prevent this from happening. That’s why we need to take a look.”

“Oh, and what is this threat that has you so concerned for our safety.” Trika asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“A race of very powerful beings known as the Ori. They have sent an army from their galaxy to this one, and they covert entire planets to their beliefs. They send beings known as priors. These priors possess great powers, and they have no compunction against using these powers against any who oppose them. They are capable of killing an entire planet full of people.” It was Daniel who spoke, and the rest of SG-1 regarded him cautiously. There was a note of bitterness in his voice, understandably so, of course. But, at least during his time as a prior, he hadn’t killed, or even threatened to kill anyone.

“We have no knowledge of these Ori, or their Priors, and, until we do, we cannot possibly decide whether they are good, or bad, perhaps it is just that their beliefs are – different from your own.”

“No, they are evil, they need followers to give them strength. The more followers they have, the more powerful they will get, until there will be nothing capable of stopping them, believe me, we’ve had first hand experience of them, we know.” Daniel was pleading with Trika to believe him, and in him.

“Well, you speak as one who knows from personal experience.” The frighteningly perceptive woman said.

“So, you understand why it’s so important that we search the city.” Vala added, breaking in to the tension that was building.

“I do, but…….how do I put this….Ylaaria may not be quite as deserted as you seem to think. What I mean is, no-one lives there, but…….in a manner of speaking….it is……inhabited.”

“I’m sorry, what exactly are you trying to say?” Sam asked.

“Ghosts, she’s trying to tell us it’s haunted.” Cam stated.

“Well, that’s ridiculous.” Vala cut in. “Every one knows there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

“Indeed, ghosts and spirits are merely imaginary beings invented by those wanting to frighten others.” Teal’c intoned.

“Well, we have to come to learn over the years, that what are often perceived as ghosts, usually have a scientific explanation.” Sam said. Daniel stared at her for a second, but didn’t comment.

“Of course, If you insist on exploring Ylaaria, we can’t stop you. But, read through the archives first, if you can, that is. Then base your decision upon what you find written.”

“Can I…” Daniel indicated that he was keen to start.

“I will have Jerrod take you to the room in which they are stored.”

“If it’s okay with you, Trika, while Dr Jackson does his stuff, perhaps we could take a look around your village?” Cam suggested.

“Actually, I’d like to see if I can help Daniel.” Vala piped up.

“No, it’s okay, you go with the others.” Daniel said somewhat dismissively.

She glared at him for a second. “Okay, suit yourself then.” she responded petulantly.

“Keep an open comm., Jackson.” Mitchell told him. He was going to get the rest of them somewhere quiet and have a little chat with them regarding Jackson’s strange attitude.

Daniel gave Cam an almost sullen little nod of acknowledgment and went off with Jerrod.

“Feel free to explore our village, you will find our people are very friendly, and curious, we have nothing to hide, and, I hope you will be as open with them.” Trika told them with a warm smile.



TBC


Any kind of feedback? Please write to kauno_saario@yahoo.com I'll be happy to pass it on to Delta666 and she will get back to you!