SG1-16 Four Dragons (22 page)

Bra’tac grinned. “Why wait when the bridge can be easily crossed alone?”

Forget the hand signals, Bra’tac needed to learn a new cliché or two if they got out of there.

No. Not if… when. What happened to the old O’Neill brand of positive thinking?

Jack didn’t even want to think about answering that question. “Have fun, kids. And mind the curfew. Obviously, if you see any sign of Daniel — ”

“I will notify you immediately,” Teal’c said. “Of this, you can be sure.”

He patted Teal’c on the shoulder. At least he had his priorities on straight.

As the two Jaffa ran off, Jack flicked on his P90’s tactical flashlight and aimed it down the staircase. With a nod toward Carter, he said, “Let’s move out.”

* * *

Three flights down, Colonel O’Neill lifted his hand, palm out.

Sam stopped. “Sir, there are no com balls in sight.” To prove her point, she aimed her P90 light across the ceiling. “We’re clean.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m sweating like a pig.” He sank down on a step, put his P90 between his legs, and stripped off his vest. “Can that scanner of yours tell us if it’s going to get any hotter?”

She glanced down at the meter. The needle was off the scale. “At this point, I can only tell you we’re going in the right direction.”

The colonel rolled up his jacket and strapped it to the back of his vest. He threw his vest back on. As he picked up his rifle, two clicks came in over the radio. Teal’c. Sam hated the idea of them splitting up as much as the colonel. In the end, though, she had to believe Teal’c and Bra’tac would succeed.

She handed him the scanner and took off her jacket as well. It helped, but only so much.

“What’s the deal with the heat?” he asked.

“It’s actually not hot, sir.”

“Like hell it isn’t.”

Shrugging her vest back on, she touched the wall. It was cool to the touch.

The colonel copied her motion. “So now we’re hallucinating a heat wave?”

“Not hallucinating. Absorbing. Photons are pure energy. They don’t contain heat. At least, not as we think of heat.” She picked up her rifle and stood up. She was ready to head further down.

“We’re sweating, Carter.” The colonel took lead again, aiming his rifle’s flashlight down the spiral staircase. “It’s hot and all I can think about are tall, cold glasses of lemonade. Feels like heat to me. Too much of it.”

Sam kept her light aimed toward the walls and ceilings, searching for any more of Yu’s communication balls. So far, they’d seen none. “That’s because when an atom absorbs photonic energy, the result is heat. Our bodies are made up of atoms. Therefore, the more absorption — ”

“The more heat. I get it.” He stopped and touched the wall again. “I’m not a brainiac, Carter, but isn’t everything made of atoms?”

“That’s the part I can’t figure out, sir. By all rights, the wall should be, yes. So should our rifles, but they’re not.” She placed her palm on her holster. The modified zat was warm. “This doesn’t make sense.”

“And this changes things how?”

Sam shook her head. “I don’t think it does, sir. If anything, it further confirms that finding and shutting off the emitter will also shut down Yu’s weapons.”

“Good because the sooner we get that photon gizmo shut off, the sooner we can grab Daniel and get the hell out of here.” He picked up the pace, taking the steps down two at a time. “Think of it as a puzzle to solve.”

Sam jogged down the stairs behind him. “A puzzle, sir?”

“Something to figure out on the long trip home.”

“Yes, sir,” Sam replied skeptically. She touched the warm zat again. Unless they could take the photon emitter with them, she suspected this was one puzzle that wouldn’t get solved.

Suddenly, the colonel stopped. “Hold up.” He put a finger to his lips.

She followed the trail of his flashlight as it swept across what appeared to be an end to the stairs. A black tiled floor was at the bottom, no other features around it discernable in the darkness. With her own flashlight aimed at ceiling level, she crept down the stairs beside the colonel in silence. There was no sign of a com ball, or any other visible trouble.

As they stepped off the stairs, a wash of multi-colored light flickered to life.

In frustration, she turned her attention to the room. Five doors lined the far wall, each one covered in translucent panels of red, green, blue and grey geometric shapes. Triangles, squares, rectangles slid back and forth within each door. Seven to a panel. There were no handles, no apparent ways to open any of them. Nor were there any other exits. The remaining walls were just solid rock.

“Remember what I said about puzzles, Carter?”

The colonel swung his rifle across the top of the doors, its flashlight illuminating four carved stone heads jutting out over the doorframes. They looked like gargoyles. Fangs protruded from their bulging jaws. Thick eye ridges eclipsed round, animalistic eyes. Behind each of their heads, a trio of blades stuck out from their spines.

The colonel lowered his rifle. “Tell me if I’m crazy, but those look a helluva a lot like that funky statue — ”

“At the burial site on P3Y-702.” Sam swallowed. “The planet where Yu grabbed Daniel.”

The colonel raised his rifle again, this time across the back wall. “Any idea which door leads to this photon thing?”

“Only one way to find out.” She took out her scanner and approached the doors. “Sir, the needle’s pegged way off into the hot zone.”

“Uh, Carter?”

She knew the colonel hated to hear her speak in technical terms, but it was important he understood. “Sir, no matter which door I hold the scanner up to, the result’s the same.”

“Carter?”

“Sir, I’m sorry. My scanner’s next to useless. Somewhere behind one of these doors is the photon emitter, but there’s no way to know which one.”

“Carter,” he hissed, “I need you to shut up. Please.”

“Excuse me, sir?” She turned around, surprised at his sudden impatience.

Colonel O’Neill aimed his rifle’s flashlight at the top of the wall opposite the doors. Sure enough, an activated com ball hovered right below the ceiling. Within its murky display, Lord Yu stared down at them, beaming in apparent glee. Beside the System Lord, an obviously exhausted Daniel minutely shook his head. A silent warning to stop. Don’t even try to communicate.

“Well, crap,” the colonel mumbled.

For once, Sam had to agree.

Chapter Fourteen

Teal’c silently led Bra’tac up stairs, around corridors, and through doorways, into the highest reaches of the System Lord’s fortress. He had been here twice before, once as a prisoner and once as a welcome guest. He remembered the layout well.

Too well.

Whenever possible, he avoided the main passageways, knowing stealth was the only true weapon they possessed if they hoped to safely recruit Yu’s Jaffa to their cause. To do so would help not only swell the ranks of the Fifth Column, but might also increase their chances of freeing Daniel Jackson.

Twice they came upon Goa’uld communication devices. They were dormant, their shimmering skins blank. Though he knew Bra’tac would be satisfied with whomever they could find, Teal’c had his sights on a higher goal: Yu’s First Prime. Oshu could be swayed, he was certain. Had Oshu not hesitated during the battle on the terrace? Had he not wished to collaborate before, wishing to join forces so that they might fight Anubis?

Indeed, if the First Prime could be convinced, many of his army would follow.

There was also the matter of Ambassador Huang. Oshu’s resemblance spoke of duplicity, but again, his past behavior spoke otherwise. It was Teal’c’s hope that the First Prime would be forthcoming with answers. In the past, Oshu had carried himself honorably, though that honor was often blinded by faith in his false god.

They reached the widest floor of the fortress, only two levels below Lord Yu’s throne room, when the stairwell they climbed came to an end. A corridor lined with simple, wooden doors lay before them, another staircase leading upwards at the far end. There were no garish decorations as Teal’c had seen in many other System Lords’ domains. No gold foiled walls or loud banners with Yu’s sigil. The only trappings were well lit braziers; placed between the doors to light the way.

A door opened and a dozen Jaffa entered the corridor. Though they headed in the opposite direction, Teal’c pulled Bra’tac back within the stairwell. He checked his watch, a recent gift from O’Neill, who had insisted he be armed with the very best available. The gift had not been without irony, as Teal’c may never have noticed the Tau’ri all those years ago in Apophis’ prison, if not for seeing O’Neill’s watch.

Jaffa never used timepieces. They were trained from an early age to measure time by feel, by listening to their heart, to their life’s blood.

Teal’c pressed the lower left button. The numbers switched, showing it had indeed been fifteen minutes since he’d last checked in. As the Jaffa’s footsteps faded down the corridor, he clicked the radio twice to indicate all was well.

Another door opened and closed. The Jaffa were gone.

“More of O’Neill’s Morse code?” asked Bra’tac with a frown.

Teal’c knew this was not the time or place to discuss Master Bra’tac’s misgivings. Instead, he replied, “Simpler, but with the same purpose.”

He peered out into the corridor. It remained empty. “We must hurry. Once Major Carter has turned off the photon emitter, there is every possibility Lord Yu will be made aware of our presence.”

Bra’tac grasped his forearm. “You are sure this Oshu can be swayed to our cause? As First Prime of Apophis, I battled long against Yu’s Jaffa. We were sworn mortal enemies, and yet, I had never met this Oshu until today in battle.”

Teal’c bowed his head. “I can only be certain that our path is just. Oshu is amongst the most honorable Jaffa I have known. He will hear our case and act fairly. Of this, I am sure. We must also find out what he knows of Ambassador Huang.”

When Bra’tac did not release his arm, Teal’c raised an eyebrow in consternation. “You have your doubts?”

“Of a fellow Jaffa, no. I trust your heart to know what our brothers feel.” Bra’tac stepped closer, his eyes searching Teal’c’s. “My concerns lie elsewhere.” He glanced down at the watch.

Teal’c sighed. He had hoped Bra’tac would know this was not the time for such a discussion. “Was it not you that once said that we should learn from those differences we have with the Tau’ri? That those differences bond us together, make us stronger.”

“And so I did.” Bra’tac dropped his hand. “But while these differences have given each side much strength, I cannot wonder if the side effect of such a bond has caused weakness as well. I know that O’Neill is your friend — ”

“He is more than friend. We are as brothers.”

“O’Neill may be brother to your heart, Teal’c, but the Jaffa are brothers of your flesh. The flesh that gave you life.”

“My heart and flesh remain dedicated to freeing all Jaffa from the Goa’uld. This has not changed.”

Bra’tac shrugged. “I do not doubt your words, though you must recognize… your time with the Tau’ri will come to an end one day. You know this to be true.”

Indeed, Teal’c had considered this often. He said as much.

“When that day comes,” Bra’tac countered, “you must be prepared to put aside such things as timepieces and foolish codes, or empty ceremonies such as this master chief sergeant honor bestowed upon you.”

“Chief Master Sergeant — ”

“Do not play at words with me,” Bra’tac said with a scowl.

“I do not,” Teal’c insisted. “My time amongst the Tau’ri has strengthened my resolve, not weakened it. I do not dispute the Tau’ri’s imperfections. They rarely live up to their ideals and yet… they dare to dream. To hope. It is what makes them strong.”

Teal’c searched his old friend’s eyes, trusting that the depth of his feelings would be clear. “Can we ask no less of ourselves than to dream of a day when timepieces, codes and honors are bestowed amongst our people freely?”

Bra’tac grunted. “First we must show our people the path to freedom, Teal’c. Come, we shall appeal to those warriors amongst Lord Yu’s ranks who dare such a dream.”

A door slammed shut. A single set of footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Teal’c leaned out to see their source.

A single Jaffa strode purposefully through the corridor toward the stairwell at the other end. Though Teal’c could not see his face, he recognized the small man’s gait as well as the grey cloak flowing from his shoulders. It was the cloak of a First Prime.

With Bra’tac close behind, Teal’c crept along the corridor. Halfway down the hall, Oshu paused. He tilted his head, as if he’d heard some errant sound. When he turned back, Teal’c and Bra’tac slid within a doorway and waited.

Soon the First Prime resumed his pace. Once the sound of his footsteps confirmed his climb of the staircase and on to the floor above, they hurried to follow. Halfway up, muffled voices drifted downward.

Teal’c stopped and held up his hand for Bra’tac to do the same. Cocking his head, he listened. Four distinct voices could be heard. Barely.

Teal’c removed the modified zat from his holster. Bra’tac did the same and they progressed up the stairs slowly, their steps silent. Once they reached the top platform, the voices became clearer.

“…No good can come of permitting these intruders within our home. This is not right.”

“To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle. Have you neither, Zheng?”

“Do not spout philosophy of which you understand so little,” said the first voice. Zheng, Teal’c presumed.

A stone’s throw beyond their position, the glow of a single flame cast a broken shadow against the left wall. With Bra’tac beside him, he moved in further.

Soon they came in sight of an area marked by slatted wood screens extended from the corridor’s wall to create a room of sorts. Four Jaffa stood within, their backs turned away. Each warrior wore a cloak denoting a high rank though Teal’c had never seen such a variety of colors. Red, green, blue and grey, it was an odd break with Jaffa tradition. The shortest of the four wore the grey cloak. It could only be Oshu.

“I must side with Zheng, brothers,” spoke the Jaffa in the green cloak. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled.”

The Jaffa in red laughed. “Enough quotes of our past. The Tau’ri are already here, Lao Dan. You’ve nothing left to prove.” From the deep timbre of his voice, Teal’c assumed this was the Jaffa who spoke earlier. Zheng.

“Cease your arguments,” Oshu ordered. “Our master requires we follow his instructions. Nothing more, nothing less. Consider this an exercise in patience, for the day Anubis attacks will make this seem as nothing.”

Teal’c pulled Bra’tac behind a brazier. “Swaying these warriors’ minds may prove most difficult.”

“Then we must appeal to their hearts.”

“Allow me to contact O’Neill first, let him know our intentions.” Teal’c reached for his radio.

Bra’tac grabbed his hand. “No,” he whispered. “The sound may alert others.”

“I will send Morse code. A series of clicks.”

“Enough of codes.”

“I know you are driven to free all our brothers, but what of Daniel — ”

“Die free, brothers!” Bra’tac leapt to his feet and strode boldly toward the Jaffa. “Renounce your false god and join our cause of freedom for all Jaffa.”

The metallic clink of four
zat’ni’katels
instantly reverberated against the stone walls. Before Teal’c could engage his own weapon, Zheng rushed from the chamber and fired.

Bra’tac dropped and rolled sideways, out of the line of fire. As the brazier behind him disappeared, he swung out with his leg to trip Zheng, but Yu’s warrior was too quick. Zheng grabbed his leg and twisted.

Bra’tac was thrown to the floor and his zat skittered across the corridor. In two quick strides, Zheng kicked it out of reach. The Jaffa pointed his weapon at Bra’tac’s head.

Teal’c took aim. “Do not fire. I have one of your modified weapons and am prepared to use it.”

The three other Jaffa approached. Teal’c attempted to catch the eye of the First Prime, but Oshu refused to return the look. It made no sense. Oshu had been an ally in the past.

Why not now?

“Two
sholvahs
,” Zheng sneered. He planted a foot on Bra’tac’s stomach. “We are more fortunate than first believed, brothers. Lord Yu will be most pleased.”

“We offer you freedom,” Bra’tac grunted under the weight of Zheng’s foot. “The chance to shed the chains Lord Yu has placed upon you. Does that not mean anything to you?”

Oshu shut down his zat. Still he would not look at Teal’c.

The blue-cloaked Jaffa followed suit. “We wear no chains in devotion to our lord.”

“Your god is nothing more than a parasite within an old man,” Teal countered. “Help us rescue our Tau’ri friend and then join our alliance.”

Footsteps pounded from the stairwell behind them. Many footsteps.

Teal’c recognized the sound. It was the thud of armored boots. Many of them.

Zheng raised his weapon. “Your words have no meaning here,
sholvah
.”

The march of footsteps filled the corridor. Teal’c glanced over his shoulder to see a full squadron of Jaffa soldiers run toward them.

Oshu held up a hand. The squadron halted beyond the chamber’s far wall.

Zheng waived his weapon in Bra’tac’s face. “There are four of us and two of you. Shall we see who can shoot the other first?”

“Enough!” Oshu strode up to Zheng and pushed down his arm. “Our lord will decide what is best to do with these intruders.”

“Take them,” Oshu ordered the soldiers.

“No.” Teal’c aimed his zat directly at Oshu. “We were once allies. Have you no honor?”

“More than you know,” Oshu said softly. Finally, he met Teal’c’s eyes. “Drop your weapon and you may live to see a new day.”

“Do not!” Bra’tac grabbed hold of Zheng’s ankle and shoved upward. Zheng toppled to the ground.

Between one heartbeat and another, Teal’c recognized he would need to kill Oshu if there was to be any chance of escape. He fingered the zat’s trigger.

The First Prime knocked the weapon from his hand before the next heartbeat could fall.

“Use O’Neill’s code,” Bra’tac shouted. “Do it now.”

As the Jaffa pressed in, Teal’c had barely enough time to thumb the appropriate clicks and dashes for SOS before his radio was taken.

* * *

Dot-dot-dot-dash-dash-dash-dot-dot-dot

Jack listened to his radio, hoping for more. Nothing. Not even static. He glanced at Carter. She’d heard it, too. Meanwhile, the colored shapes kept shifting back and forth along the door panels and Yu got his rocks off by watching them… do absolutely nothing.

Carter turned away from the com ball. “It’s Teal’c, sir,” she whispered. “Sounds like they’re in trouble.”

“Ya think?” Jack whispered back. Of course they were in trouble. Why should any element of this mission go according to plan? He kept his face neutral, searching Yu’s and Daniel’s mugs for any sign they might know what was going down with Teal’c and Bra’tac.

“Sir, we need to help them.” That was Carter, always wanting to jump into the fray. He liked her attitude, but no. Not this time.

“Negative, Major. You said it yourself. The best way to rescue Teal’c, Bra’tac, and Daniel is to shut that emitter down.”

“What about…,” she jerked her chin up toward the com ball.

“Leave it.” Jack dropped his voice. “Short of a radio, it’s the best we’ve got for making sure Daniel’s still in one piece.”

Carter managed a half-smile. “Yes, sir.”

Jack turned toward doors. The colored shapes were damn bright. Enough to make him want to put on his sunglasses. He might need them if what he had planned had any chance of working.

“Any way to open one of these things up? I don’t see any way in.”

“No, sir. No knobs, no handles. At least, not that I can see.”

He pointed toward her scanner. “But you’re sure that photon emitter thingy is behind one of these panels?”

She frowned. “Yes, sir, but — ”

“But nothing. Weren’t you the one who said we needed to even up the odds?” He reached inside a vest pocket. “I’ve got just the ace up my sleeve.”

“I didn’t know you were a betting man, sir.”

“Good gambles pay off, thanks to Siler.” He pulled out a chunk of C4, keeping it out of sight against his chest. Yu had been around the Goa’uld water cooler enough to probably know what it did.