“By Her Judgment – 3/4″ by moonshayde

moonshayde

kellifer_fic

Sam yawned, stretching out her arms as she fought off the night’s
lingering sleep. Staring at alien schematics for hours on end had
tested even her own patience. Normally, she could spend days poring
over new technology. But when she couldn’t read half of accompanying
text, it put a damper on her enthusiasm. As it was, she found herself
asking Teal’c for help every few minutes.

Speaking of Teal’c…

Sam did a quick search of the room, coming across books and tablets
scattered about, O’Neill humming in the shower, and a few half-eaten
rations intermingled with the fruit they had been given. Teal’c was
nowhere in sight. She started to wonder if he had joined Daniel in the
spare; the door was wide open.

Tentatively, Sam poked her head into the room. “Teal’c? Daniel?”

She didn’t see Teal’c, but Daniel was asleep on one of the cots,
glasses still on, with a book open and spread across his chest.
Quietly, she crept into the room and tried not to trip over the piles
of paper that Daniel had tossed all over the floor.

“Daniel?” she whispered. When he didn’t awaken, she strengthened her
voice. “Daniel.”

With a sigh, Daniel shifted his body, accidentally kicking off some of
the rubbings he had stacked at the end of the cot. He yawned and
lifted his head, squinting at Sam.

“Hmm?” he asked.

“Have you seen Teal’c?” She surveyed the room but didn’t see any sign of him.

“Mmm-hmm,” he mumbled.

Sam stared at him. “Well?”

“Teal’c left,” he said and closed his eyes.

“He left?” she asked.

No answer. Daniel was asleep again. She’d just about had it. Sam moved
next to the cot, and with a frustrated sigh, she shook his shoulder.

At the moment they touched, Sam felt herself go cold. She felt the
faint echo of naquadah as it pumped through his body.

Heart racing, Sam shut down all her worst fears and went for her
sidearm. She flicked it out of its holster and steadied the gun,
aiming for Daniel’s chest.

“Get up,” she ordered.

Daniel blinked at her twice, a small frown forming on his face as he
started to fully waken. “Sam?” he asked.

Sam wasn’t going to fall for it. She tightened her grip on her gun,
swallowing down the pain, and focused on the problem at hand. It was
all she could do.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice tight.

His frown only deepened, his perplexed face slowly revealing hints of
fear. “Sam?” He leaned forward. “Sam, it’s-”

She cocked the weapon. He sat back down.

“Don’t,” she said. “I want to know who you are.”

Daniel gaped at her. “I don’t understand,” he said.

“Understand!” she yelled. “I will shoot you. You know I will. You know
it’s what Daniel wants.”

You know you can’t, a little voice told her, tempting her to falter.

Sam kept her Beretta trained on Daniel as she started back towards the
door. If Daniel had somehow been taken over by a Goa’uld, it might
explain Teal’c's disappearance. She needed backup.

“Colonel!” she called.

“Carter?” O’Neill emerged from the main room and slipped through the
doorway. He froze, partway finished drying his hair with a towel, when
he saw the gun trained on Daniel.

“He’s a Goa’uld, sir,” Sam explained, never losing sight of her
target. “I can sense naquadah in him.”

“She’s lying,” Daniel said. “I don’t know why, but she is.”

O’Neill shot a shrewd look over at Daniel before he took a quick
inventory of the room. He tossed aside the towel and motioned for her
gun. “Go find Teal’c. I’ll take care of him.”

Daniel’s eyes widened. “Jack!”

Sam nodded, making sure she kept the Beretta directed at Daniel as she
made the swap. Carefully, she began to slip the gun into O’Neill’s
hand.

She felt a shiver of naquadah pass through his fingertips.

Immediately, Sam jerked away and aimed her weapon at her commanding
officer. The shock rippled in his eyes for only an instant before the
seasoned soldier took control.

“Carter,” O’Neill said sternly.

“Get over there!” Sam waved him to the cot where Daniel was sitting. “Now!”

O’Neill raised his hands and started to scoot toward the cot. Daniel
continued to observe everything, dumbfounded. Slowly, O’Neill eased
himself onto the edge of the bed.

“Where’s Teal’c?” she demanded.

“Don’t know,” O’Neill said. “Why don’t you tell us?”

She clenched her teeth, willing herself to stay controlled while
holding them at gunpoint. Neither made a move to indicate they were
implanted. No flashing eyes. No metallic voice. Daniel continued to
just gawk at her while O’Neill held his patient but unyielding gaze.

They looked so much like her friends that it hurt. But she knew what she’d felt.

Sam quickly searched the room, this time looking for something more
useful. Books, papers, and sketches would do nothing to help her
situation. She caught sight of Daniel’s knapsack. She knew something
inside could buy her time.

With controlled, deliberate steps, Sam moved toward the wall that
propped up Daniel’s belongings. She crouched low, still focused on her
captives, as she fumbled inside his pack. Sam withdrew a handful of
plastic restraints.

“Carter, what are you doing?” O’Neill asked, allowing his impatience
to poke through.

She tossed a couple of restraints at him. She waved the gun at Daniel.
“Tie him up.”

O’Neill gave her an exasperated look. “Carter…”

“Do it,” she said.

With a sigh, O’Neill turned to Daniel and lopped the plastic over his
wrists. Then, he moved to tie Daniel’s ankles.

“Tighter,” Sam ordered.

His piercing gaze never left her as he pulled on the restraints.
Daniel winced and grunted; O’Neill moved back and raised his hands.

“Now, on your knees.”

O’Neill raised his eyes. “Excuse me?”

“Sam.” Daniel leaned forward and wrestled with his restraints,
pleading with her. “This is a mistake.”

She hated to do it, but she ignored him. “Face the bed,” she told O’Neill.

He complied, but grumbled as he turned. O’Neill laced his fingers
behind his head before he knelt in front of the small cot. Sam then
returned her attention to Daniel.

“Move over toward the wall,” she said. When he hesitated, she brought
the Beretta level with his head. “Now.”

“You know this isn’t going to work,” Daniel said, his voice even.
“Teal’c is going to find us and-”

“I said now.”

Daniel hobbled over toward the opposite end of the cot. He crept close
to his pillow, watching as Sam moved toward O’Neill. She kept her eyes
on both of them as she attempted to prepare the remaining restraints.

Sam glared at Daniel, giving him a stern warning to stay still.
Satisfied that he wasn’t going to move, Sam closed in on O’Neill,
using her free hand to loop the restraints around his wrists while
keeping the gun aimed at his back.

She knew that the symbiote in O’Neill wouldn’t go down without a
fight. She just was a second too slow.

O’Neill rammed his shoulder backward, connecting with her chest just
as she was bending over him. Sam gasped, feeling the sting of pain
from the contact, and stumbled back, nearly tripping over some of
Daniel’s tablets. As she fought to recover her sense of balance,
O’Neill charged her, but she was able to duck just in time.

She knew it wouldn’t be enough. O’Neill was quick and had been part of
Special Forces for a reason. The thought that a symbiote could now be
in possession of all that information…

Colonel O’Neill grabbed her, bringing his arm around her neck in a
chokehold. She struggled to break free, but O’Neill’s grip was
unrelenting. As he kept her close, he shook the gun free from her
hand. Through the corner of her eye, she could see Daniel sliding down
the length of the cot as fast as he could under restraint, pulling
himself toward another cot by the opposite wall.

No doubt to a concealed weapon.

Sam couldn’t allow that to happen. Catching sight of O’Neill’s thumb
close to her chin, Sam squirmed and tilted her head, sinking her teeth
into his flesh. O’Neill howled, flinching away. It was the opportunity
she had been hoping for, even if it were a gamble.

Sam snatched her gun from the floor, slipping under O’Neill and making
for Daniel. She threw her body into his side, propelling him headlong
into the floor. She cringed as she heard his skull connect with one of
the tablets that had been lying by the cot. His body went limp.

Sam’s stomach flopped at the site of his still body. But there was no
time for her to delay. When she turned to aim her weapon, O’Neill was
already prepared, throwing up his arm to block her and to knock the
gun from her hand.

O’Neill was quick. In the split second that he’d dislodged her weapon,
he’d grabbed her again and dragged her away from Daniel. He kicked
away some of the rubbings and books on the floor and threw her to the
ground. She grunted, hitting the floor as O’Neill pinned her in
place. She fought against him, but his grip was a vice.

“Carter!” O’Neill yelled. “I’m not a Goa’uld!” While he held onto her,
O’Neill reached over to grab the restraints she’s dropped in the
struggle. His body extended into the stretch as he fumbled for the
restraints. “I don’t want to do this, but-”

She kneed him hard in the groin.

O’Neill winced and opened his mouth, but no sound came out. That was
the distraction that she needed. Sam snatched the restraints from his
hands and started to bind his writhing body. After she had secured his
hands behind his back and bound his feet, she dragged him to another
cot and started to anchor him to it.

O’Neill coughed and winced, still squirming from the attack. “Carter.
If we’re Goa’uld, you know we can break through these. Teal’c's
already tried the restraint trick before with Hawkins and Rothamn.”

“It’s good enough for now,” she said, tightening the restraints. Sam
kept her weapon trained on him as she quickly jogged over to Daniel to
crouch by him. With her spare hand, she pressed her fingers to his
neck.

A pulse. Thank God.

Slowly, she rose to her feet and went for Daniel’s pack. She grabbed
the radio and held it to her lips, all the while keeping her gaze
focused on O’Neill.

“Teal’c, this is Carter. Do you copy?”

No reply.

“Teal’c, I repeat. This is Carter. Do you copy?”

Still nothing. Dammit.

Sam backed toward the doorway that opened up into the main room,
glancing over her shoulder to see if Teal’c was in sight. Naturally,
he was nowhere to be found.

That left Sam in the middle of a dilemma. To find Teal’c, she would
have to leave Daniel and Colonel O’Neill alone. If they were Goa’uld,
they would use the opportunity to escape, and she might lose them
forever. On the other hand, she couldn’t stay here all day caught in
the middle of a stalemate. She knew she had a third option: she could
call on Anu’s security to detain them. But since she didn’t trust
Anu’s people any more than her own team, she knew that wasn’t her best
move, either.

Sam marched past O’Neill toward the third cot, grabbing their store of
weapons. Without a word, she ducked back into the main room, and
confiscated O’Neill P-90 while grabbing her own along with the two
zats. She quickly unloaded the remaining weapons, pocketed the ammo,
and went back into the spare room.

O’Neill was already trying to wiggle out of his restraints, but froze
when he saw her reenter.

“Rambo is so not you,” he said dryly, raising his eyebrows.

Sam brushed off the comment. She aimed the zat at him.

That got O’Neill’s attention. “Hey, now,” he said, backing against the
cot. “I’m telling you the truth. I’m not a Goa’uld.”

“I’m sorry, sir. But I can only trust my instincts on this one.”

“Well, they’re wrong.” His eyes widened as she prepared to fire. “Carter!”

O’Neill convulsed as the discharge erupted over his body. He went
limp. She inspected him briefly and then moved toward Daniel. He was
still out cold. She hesitated firing, not knowing what kind of damage
she could do when he was already unconscious.

Sam lowered the weapon and backed away. Satisfied that both Colonel
O’Neill and Daniel were out cold, she darted back into the main room
and went for the exit. The idea of leaving two possibly implanted
hosts on their own would normally be a fatal one, but her resolve was
starting to crumble.

Something else was troubling her.

Sam glanced back at the room.

She shouldn’t have won.
————————————–

It didn’t take long for Sam to find Teal’c. He was stumbling down a
nearby corridor, leaning on his staff weapon for support. Ashen and
sweaty, he appeared to be a ghost of his former self. Sam rushed to
meet him just as his legs gave way.

“Teal’c.” She pulled him to his feet.

“Major Carter.” He swallowed hard. “I am not well.”

Kel’no’reem immediately came to mind, but she quickly filed away that
suggestion. Of course Teal’c would have tried that already.

She wrapped her arm around his waist and guided him down the hall.
“What happened?”

“I am uncertain,” he admitted, holding onto her for support. “I have
felt a heaviness for some time.”

Sam stared at him. Why hadn’t he said something earlier?

“When did you start to feel ill?” she asked.

“Our first night on this world.”

“Teal’c!”

“I did not believe it was of concern,” he said. “After I performed
kel’no’reem I was myself once again.”

Sam continued to guide Teal’c down the hall as they backtracked to
their suite. She listened as he described his inconsistent bouts of
weakness to her. The more she heard, the uneasy she became. And the
more she understood this was not a coincidence.

“When we reach the room, I need you to try to sense naquadah in Daniel
and Colonel O’Neill.”

Teal’c blinked, his eyes darkening with concern and anger. When he
searched her face for answers, she nodded in confirmation.

She knew that Teal’c's ability to sense Goa’uld was hit or miss, an
irregularity that she theorized had to do with a difference in Jaffa
physiology as opposed to the residuals of being a host. She just hoped
that today was one of his “good” days.

“At first, I thought they had been taken as hosts,” Sam explained,
slowing as they reached the doors. “But now I’m not so sure.”

“What has led you to this conclusion?”

“It’s not right. It doesn’t feel right.” That was the best explanation
she could offer. It was killing her. She didn’t have the concrete
details in front of her. All she could rely on was a hunch. Daniel and
Colonel O’Neill did not “feel” like Goa’uld.

And she knew that Colonel O’Neill, implanted or not, would have never
left himself open for her to get the advantage.

“The Goa’uld use tricks to deceive us,” Teal’c reminded her.

“I know,” she said. “But trust me on this.”

He bowed his head.

It was now or never.

Sam reached for her zat. Then, making sure that Teal’c was well enough
to enter, she barged through the door.

O’Neill stood in the center of the room, pointing his Beretta straight
at her and Teal’c. Daniel, who hung close beside him, mirrored
O’Neill’s stance, even if Sam felt it was more for show. She didn’t
miss the awkwardness in his body and the glassiness in his eyes.

Sam figured that O’Neill would be resourceful enough to break free and
find a way to arm himself. But she also felt a rise in confidence.
Sadly, she knew she was right. Something was amiss. She didn’t waver.

“Lower your weapons,” O’Neill said.

Sam kept the zat focused on O’Neill. Teal’c, though weakened, remained
at her side, aiming his staff weapon at their fellow teammates.

“Teal’c?” she asked.

“I do not sense the presence of a Goa’uld,” he stated. “However, the
room contains naquadah, Major Carter.”

Sam had already considered that possibility. Her reaction could have
been triggered from the naquadah present in the archways of the palace
and the finishing in her room. But she had felt the faint ripples in
both Daniel and O’Neill.

“This is just a misunderstanding,” Daniel said.

“A big one,” O’Neill added. He raised his gun a little higher, as if
to show he meant business. “So, why don’t you just put down your
weapons, and we can get ready for a nice trip back to the Gate.

Sam frowned, an inconsistency on the gun catching her eye. “Sir.”

O’Neill frowned. But he didn’t move. “I’m ordering you to drop it, Major.”

Sam blew off the command. She glanced at Teal’c. The anger he wore
just minutes ago was replaced by concern. She knew he had seen it as
well.

“O’Neill, you have assembled your weapon incorrectly,” he said.

O’Neill glared at him. “What?”

Before Sam had the chance to explain it, she noticed Daniel glance
over to O’Neill. Next, he looked down at his own Beretta. Then, to
Sam’s surprise, Daniel flipped the gun around and extended it to her.

O’Neill scowled at him. “Daniel, what the hell?”

He shook his head and lowered the weapon, nearly toppling himself.
“Teal’c and Sam are trying to protect us. Something’s wrong.”

“They attacked us. I’d say that’s wrong.”

“Trust us, O’Neill.”

Daniel nodded to Colonel O’Neill once before he sunk to floor to hold
his head. O’Neill hesitated, but after another unsure glance down at
his Beretta, he flipped it around and handed it to Sam.

Sam took the sidearm from O’Neill’s hand. She holstered her own before
she started to disassemble the confiscated weapon. Quickly, she
reassembled it correctly, showing O’Neill what he had done. He stared
at her, a flicker of insecurity passing through his eyes.

“Damn,” O’Neill muttered. “What’s going on?”

Sam placed the weapons aside. “I’m not sure, sir. But Daniel’s right.
Something’s wrong.”

Teal’c took the opportunity to release his staff weapon and ease
himself onto one of the suite’s couches. She saw both Daniel and
O’Neill frown as they watched Teal’c. Sam eyed them all with concern.
She knew that whatever was happening, they needed to be examined by
medical officials.

Thoughts of Anu and her husband wouldn’t leave her. Flashes of the man
sitting there, lost and incapacitated, kept assailing her mind. He had
once been intelligent, studious, if what Anu said was true. And now,
he was just a shell of himself.

Sam felt the knot in her stomach tighten as she gazed at her friends
and teammates.

Daniel gaped at her. “You think we have what they have.”

“What?” O’Neill asked. “That can’t be right.”

Sam licked her lips, sending him a patient look. “Sir, you can’t even
remember how put together your-”

“Okay, I get it.” He sighed. “So, not so hereditary after all,”
O’Neill muttered.

She nodded. “Sir, this goes way beyond testosterone deficiency.
Somehow, you have trace amounts of naquadah in your system.” That in
and of itself baffled her.

“Naquadah forks?” he asked.

“Think more,” she said. “For me to be able to detect the naquadah, it
means you have to have concentrations large enough to be noticeable.”

“I don’t have a sudden epiphany that Junior is close by,” O’Neill
said, looking at Teal’c.

“Well, it’s not nearly enough to reach levels of a Goa’uld, is it?”
Daniel said, quickly catching on despite his noticeable fogginess. He
rubbed at the lump on his head, causing Sam to wince. “How did we get
it inside of us?”

“I can’t be certain, but I believe that you have either ingested small
amounts of naquadah or absorbed it through your skin.” She glanced
over to Teal’c. “Teal’c is probably affected as well, but it’s masked
by the properties of the symbiote.”

“It is possible that my symbiote can absorb the naquadah.”

“How lucky for you,” O’Neill mumbled.

“So, the locals put naquadah in us?” Daniel asked, confused. “Why
would they do that?”

Sam frowned. She didn’t know. But the fact that at least the priestess
knew about the medical condition of the men on this planet, a
condition Sam was quickly being to suspect had nothing to do with
genetics at all, alerted her to the possibility her team had been
compromised somehow. The symptoms, the naquadah, the distrust…Sam
knew that they could not rely on the people of the Sinnu.

“Gather all your stuff,” Sam told them. She wasn’t taking any chances.
“We’re going to back to the Gate.

——————————————–

Sam jumped off the beast that Anu had provided for her use. Worried,
but trying not to show it, Sam opened the cart attached at the rear,
allowing Daniel, Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c to exit.

They appeared haggard.

“Daniel, dial the Gate,” she said. “I think the three of you should
report to the infirmary immediately.”

Daniel nodded, stepped up to the DHD, and started to dial. While he
worked to establish an active wormhole, Sam turned back to O’Neill and
Teal’c. From where she stood, she thought that Teal’c was looking a
little better, which gave her comfort. She knew that he had slipped
into a state of kel’no’reem in the cart on the way to the Gate.
Hopefully, he could fight off whatever was happening. He had that
advantage.

She couldn’t say the same for Colonel O’Neill or Daniel. Sam swallowed
hard, catching the shadows under her commanding officer’s eyes.

“You’re doing a good job,” he told her.

She forced a small smile. Sam didn’t need the affirmation from Colonel
O’Neill, but the vote of confidence made her feel like maybe they’d
all pull through okay.

Then the DHD stopped dialing.

The brief flash of comfort she’d felt vanished as she jogged back to
the DHD. Daniel was hovering over the device, his hand frozen above
one of the glyphs. When she came around to look at him, she saw his
forehead knotted with confusion, his eyes wide with panic.

“Daniel?” she asked, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“I can’t remember,” he whispered. He faced her, shocked. “Sam, I don’t
remember the coordinates!”

Sam bit back the surge of dread that threatened to consume her. This
wasn’t happening. None of this was happening.

She fought the urge to tell him not to worry and instead nudged him
over to take his place. Quickly, Sam started to redial the to get to
Earth. The sooner they could get home, the better.

When she pressed the final glyph, she glanced up and waited for the
Stargate to pool and splash with the outgoing wormhole.

It never did.

Sam stared at the Gate, completely bewildered. Then, she tried again.
She struck the DHD glyph after glyph, willing with all her might for
the damn gate to work.

Again there was no reaction.

“Carter?” O’Neill called from behind her.

Without answering Colonel O’Neill, Sam dropped to her knees and slung
the strap of her P-90 over her shoulder before placing it on the
ground next to her. She slid her hands along the column of the DHD.
Finding the right panel, she detached it, and looked at the crystals
inside.

“Dammit!” she cried.

“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked.

Sam slammed the panel back in place and grabbed her weapon. “Someone
has disabled the DHD,” she said, rising to her feet and securing the
weapon in place.

“What?” O’Neill asked.

“The crystals, sir. Someone has taken one of the crystals necessary to
power the DHD.”

“The Sinnu have sabotaged any attempt to escape,” Teal’c said, his
voice lowering. His grip tightened on his staff weapon as he started
to survey the area.

Sam couldn’t believe the Sinnu as a people would have done this to
them. If anything, Sam’s suspicions toward Ningal increased. She was
stuck on a planet, her team’s health declining, and she didn’t even
know what could be done to help them.

She couldn’t panic. She couldn’t think about what would happen if her
team didn’t receive help. They were losing full control of their
mental faculties and losing them quickly. She needed to get them
medical care immediately.

Sam licked her lips, trying to figure out her next move. She glanced
down at the device that Anu had given her.

“To hell with this,” O’Neill muttered. “We have to find a way off this rock.”

“I believe the Stargate is our only way off this world, O’Neill.”

“Teal’c, if they can cloak their city, they have other stuff,” O’Neill said.

Sam wasn’t sure, but she needed a better handle on this “disease”
before she could find a way to help them.

“Daniel, did you find anything when you were reading through those
rubbings last night?” Sam asked. “Anything at all?” She had to hold
onto the hope that Daniel had found something important before he had
started to lapse into the effects of whatever had a hold on them.

Please, Daniel, she thought. Please try to remember.

He wrinkled his forehead, the struggle evident in his face. Sam
waited, mentally crossing her fingers that he had uncovered what she
needed.

——————————————–

“You poisoned them!” Sam shouted, charging into Anu’s main chamber.

Anu and her daughter, Aya, spun around, turning their backs on
Urshanabi. Their hard glares cut through Sam, but did not sway her.

“How dare you burst into my chamber!” Anu exclaimed.

“You poisoned them!” Sam repeated, jabbing a finger at her teammates.

Anu’s gaze fell to Colonel O’Neill, Teal’c, and Daniel. The three of
them remained by the door, leaning against the wall for support. Anu’s
expression of anger quickly turned to one of full outrage.

“I warned you this would happen. I told you that you could not push
them as you did.” Frustrated, she pointed to her husband. “Did you not
understand? Did you wish for your men to become as Damu?”

“No,” Sam said defiantly. “You know they are different than the men
you govern. You know how strong and lucid they were. You saw them
yesterday. You know this doesn’t happen in one day!”

Anu opened her mouth to continue, but couldn’t seem to find the right
words. Sam continued.

“You said yourself that the men here are born with this disease,” Sam
said. “You told us that it happens gradually over time.”

Anu glanced over at Sam’s teammates once again. Sam saw a softening
her eyes, a pain that she read as reflecting the agony she had been
through with her husband. But while Sam felt sympathy for Anu, she
knew that she had to remain firm for this to work.

“Take your men,” Anu said sadly. “Take your belongings and leave this
world to protect them.”

“I would. But someone has sabotaged the Stargate so we can’t leave.”

Anu blinked at her in shock. “The Apsu does not work?”

Sam shook her head. “We’re trapped here. It’s clear why. It’s never
been about genetic problems. It’s been poison all along.”

“I would never harm my own people,” Anu said through clenched teeth.

“No. Maybe you wouldn’t. But someone else would,” Sam said, focusing
her critical gaze beyond Anu.

Anu’s angry frown eased into displaced confusion. Slowly, she turned
her head, following Sam’s gaze. Aya stood quietly in the background.

“She lies,” Aya said. “She tells you lies.”

“Aya,” Anu whispered, her voice filled with pain.

“You took the crystal, didn’t you?” Sam asked. “You knew that we’d
figure out what was really happening.”

Aya shook her head, backing away under the scrutiny of her mother’s
gaze. Anu closed in on her.

“Aya, what have you done?” Anu asked.

Aya stood tall, but Sam could see the young girl quiver under the
power of her mother’s piercing gaze. “You would believe the strangers
over your own daughter?”

“I know my own flesh and blood,” Anu said evenly. “And I can see
through your lies.”

The girl held up her chin while keeping her arms straight by her side.
Sam remained silent, watching the power play between mother and
daughter, while keeping tabs on her own team. As she’d asked, Colonel
O’Neill, Daniel, and Teal’c had kept their deal to stay quiet during
the proceedings. But it was this same quietness that now had her
worried. Teal’c seemed to be depending on his staff weapon more and
more when he couldn’t kel’no’reem. Daniel slumped against the wall,
unfocused, while O’Neill seemed to have lost his edge. She needed to
find a way to help them and to do it fast.

Sam returned her attention back to Aya and Anu, keeping herself firmly
planted behind the Sinnu leader.

“Aya, if you are not honest with me, I shall banish you from this palace.”

There was a flash of panic in the girl’s eyes. She shot a wary look to
Sam before she ducked her head and averted her gaze.

“Do not give me just an excuse,” Aya said. “Give me the truth. Do it
not for me, but for your father.” She pointed to Urshanabi.

For the first time since they had arrived on the planet, Sam noticed
Aya break down. She let the façade crumble and hugged herself, keeping
her distance from her mother. “I did it for you. I did it for you and
for Father,” she whispered. “She said the goddess would be angry. She
said Nammu would punish you for giving so much to Father, just as the
other women had been punished before you.”

Sam straightened at the comment. It took everything in her being to
keep her mouth shut, but she knew that she had to let this play out
between the two women. Any interference from her would jeopardize the
whole thing.

“Who?” Anu asked, though the coolness in her voice led Sam to believe
she already knew.

“Ningal,” Aya admitted. “Ningal told me to take the crystal. She told
me not to let the strangers leave.”

Anu’s eyes burned with anger as she whipped around to gaze at Sam.
Everything in the woman’s eyes indicated feelings of betrayal, pain,
and shame. But above all, they searched for answers.

“Ningal knew that once we entered the temple, we’d figure out the
truth,” Sam explained. When she caught the confusion in Anu’s frown,
Sam motioned back to her teammates. “We can read the sacred text that
has been kept from you. She knew that once we figured out that the men
on this planet were intentionally poisoned, we would expose her.”

“I have known Ningal all my life,” Anu said, her voice dipping. “I
cannot believe this betrayal.” The sadness quickly morphed into anger.
“I cannot allow this.”

Anu marched over to a chest kept by the bedside, opened it, and
withdrew a long slender blade that hooked like a sickle. She laid the
sword on her bed before withdrawing additional armor, knives, and
other weapons. She stopped and gave Sam a stern look.

“It is not best for you to remain,” she said, slipping the bronze
plate over her chest. “I do not expect this to be a clean
confrontation.”

Sam had not been expecting this turn. She shifted her weight and
glanced back to her ailing teammates, before approaching Anu.

“I need that crystal to get back to my world. It’s the only way I can
help them.” When Anu said nothing, Sam grabbed her arm and spun her
around to face her. “We can come back and help you. We might be able
to help your people.”

Anu hesitated, casting a forlorn look to her husband. She eyed her
daughter, and then SG-1, the passion in her eyes never wavering.
Finally, she brought her intense gaze onto Sam.

“We have a ship for scouting. It is stashed in our upper west level,”
She turned to the bed and grabbed her blade. “Go now and help your
men.”

Sam knew she didn’t have time to argue. “We’ll come back to help,” she
promised, making for the door. With a nod, she motioned for Daniel,
O’Neill, and Teal’c to join her.

“By Her Judgment – 2/4″ by moonshayde

moonshayde

kellifer_fic

Sam awoke during the night, but she wasn’t sure of the exact time. The
heaviness behind her eyelids told her that it was still long before
morning, at least according to Earth time – but the rumbling in her
stomach indicated dawn wasn’t as far off as she’d originally assessed.

She sighed and rubbed her face, fighting off the grogginess so she
could collect herself. As the room came into focus and her head
cleared, she let out a small groan. She knew studying on the bed had
been a bad idea.

The mattress was just too comfortable; she couldn’t help it.

With another sigh, Sam stretched out her legs and carefully put aside
the schematics she’d been studying hours before. As she rose, she
stopped and looked to her left. To her surprise, Colonel O’Neill was
curled up beside her, fast asleep. She studied him briefly, hesitant
whether to wake him or not. Off-world Colonel O’Neill was nothing but
vigilant. He was an alert and able-bodied soldier. But she’d heard
that off-duty he could stay dead to the world for hours.

Sam knew she was probably overreacting, but with last night’s talk of
a debilitating disease embedded in the male population of this planet,
she couldn’t help but be concerned. Colonel O’Neill was no exception.

As she reached over to touch his shoulder, she froze, getting the
distinct impression she was being watched. When she looked over he
shoulder, her impulse was correct. Teal’c watched her from beside the
doorway.

“Teal’c?” she whispered. “Are you okay?”

“You are concerned,” he stated evenly. His gaze flickered to O’Neill.
“His shift ended not long ago.”

Sam found herself fighting to hide an embarrassed smile. “I guess I’m
the one who should feel foolish.”

“How are you foolish?” he asked.

Sam chuckled softly and ran her fingers through her disheveled hair.
“I was out like a light, Teal’c. I need to be more alert.”

“You were in need of rest.” She could see a hint of a smile on his
face even through the darkness. “Now you are awake.”

“Now I am awake,” she said with a smile. She slid off the bed and
stretched, grabbing some of the schematics, while careful not to
awaken her sleeping CO. “Maybe you should get some rest, too.”

“I do not require sleep.”

“I said rest. I’m sure there’s no harm in getting your fair share of
kel’no’reem.”

“There is not.” He started toward the spare room, but paused, half of
his body highlighted into the room’s faint light. “Are you certain you
will not require my assistance?”

She smiled. “If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

This seemed to please Teal’c. He bowed to her in that respectful
manner of his, before he slipped into the next room.

Sam rolled back her shoulders, relaxing. She felt good after a
comfortable night’s sleep, feeling some of last night’s tension melt
away. And with Teal’c ready in the next room, she really had no reason
to be tense.

Satisfied with their situation, Sam started across the room, careful
not to trip on any of the books or tablets that were strewn across the
floor. What she found in the corner did not surprise her.

Daniel slept in the corner, his legs spread out, mouth open, while his
head rested on a pile of tablets stacked on his lap. On either side of
him towered a mountain of books, with his body nearly lost in the sea
of scattered scrolls and pamphlets in between. The plush couch that
rested against the wall remained unused.

Sam grabbed a couple of grapes from the fruit bowl on a nearby table
and popped them in her mouth. Her new goal was Daniel. She squeezed by
another tower of books before she crouched in front of him.

“Daniel,” she whispered. She hated to wake him, but she couldn’t let
him stay in his awkward position any longer. “Daniel.”

He didn’t move. She didn’t think he would. He was as gone as Colonel O’Neill.

“Daniel,” she tried again, this time tapping his shoulder.

He opened one of his eyes, his line of vision skewed by his crooked
glasses. He blinked at her sleepily before he finally raised his head
and winced. Immediately, he brought his hand to his neck and started
rubbing at his muscles.

Sam cringed. That could not have been comfortable.

“I must have fallen asleep,” he mumbled.

“I don’t blame you,” she said, nudging her chin at the litany of text
in front of them. “You can read all of these?”

He opened his mouth, but instead of answering her, he let out a long,
stiff yawn. He shook his head. “The language and writing has evolved
since last on Earth, and they have adapted cuneiform to be used on a
variety of different media.” He yawned again and slipped his fingers
under his glasses, rubbing at his sandy eyes. “The cuneiform on Nem’s
planet was Akkadian and that was hard enough. And I could only make
out half of the rules we read earlier.” He yawned again. “In ancient
times, cuneiform was so wide-spread that different towns and cities
used their own code and…”

By then, Sam realized Daniel was mumbling incoherently, still half
asleep. She nudged him.

“Sorry,” he said.

Sam gave him a sympathetic squeeze before she rose and managed to
reach the couch. She hoped Daniel would take the hint and follow her.

He did.

Daniel settled down beside her, spilling the half a dozen books he’d
been carrying onto their laps. He sent her an apologetic look, but
quickly recovered the books, opening one in particular. Sam leaned
over to catch a glimpse.

Gibberish. The schematics were hard enough to decipher, and they were
mainly drawings and sketches. Whatever was written in these books went
far beyond her understanding.

“What are you showing me?” she asked.

“I can’t make out everything,” he told her. “The sheer volume of
material alone is enough to keep me busy for a lifetime. But,” he
said, holding up a finger. He licked it and then flipped the next
page. “I did find some interesting historical documents.”

Sam straightened in her seat, feeling her anticipation rise over the
thought of a new discovery. “What do they say?” she asked.

“As far as I can tell, not a whole lot,” he said grimly. “Just that
Nammu put the Blight on the men before she left the planet.”

“Why just the men?” Sam asked. She had a hard time imagining the
Goa’uld would favor anyone.

Daniel shrugged. “The details are vague. Something about the women are
stronger. Dedication temple…something, something. Other than that,
much of their text is just a reiteration of the rules in place
governing male and female behavior.”

Sam frowned. “Censorship?”

“It’s possible.” He tossed the book aside and grabbed another. “Or
more like propaganda.”

Sam sighed. If Anu genuinely wanted them to help her and her people,
providing propaganda and censored materials wouldn’t get them
anywhere. It didn’t make sense.

“You said there was something interesting?” she asked, leaning into
the cushions.

“A lot of these are medical records,” he said pointing to the massive
scrolls on the floor. “Most of their medical terminology is lost on
me, but I can make out words and phrases.”

“We probably should have Doctor Fraiser take a look at them,” she said
before waiting for him to continue.

Daniel nodded. “I can’t be certain for sure, but I’m reading that the
men are given supplements throughout their lives to help them fight
the Blight, and oh…”

“Oh?” Sam leaned in a little closer, her curiosity piqued, and only
then realizing Daniel was blushing. “What?” she asked, keeping her
tone playful.

“Apparently then men suffer from…” His voice trailed off again and
he started making vague gestures towards his body.

“Suffer from what?” O’Neill asked, calling from across the room.

Sam bobbed her head up to see him sitting on the bed, his hair poking
out in every direction as he tried to maintain his dignity. He had
managed to make himself look worse than Daniel.

When Daniel made more gestures, O’Neill sighed and slid to the edge of
the bed. “What?” he asked again.

“Uh, aside from being treated for muscle weakness, fatigue, poor
memory, and other symptoms…” Daniel inhaled while O’Neill motioned
for him to get to the point. “They have…dysfunctional problems.”

Sam blinked. Had she heard that right? “Diminished virility?” she asked.

Colonel O’Neill stared at him. “What?”

Daniel coughed. “The guys can’t get it up, so to speak.”

“I know what it means,” O’Neill muttered. He looked uncomfortable.
“We’re sure this thing isn’t catchy, right?”

Sam twisted her fingers. It was her turn to feel uncomfortable.
“There’s no way we can be certain that you haven’t been exposed to
anything on the planet.” She offered an uneasy smile when her CO
started to scowl. “However, based on the information Daniel has found
and the statements from our hosts, there is little reason to fear an
all out contagion.”

“If you want to believe these people,” O’Neill muttered.

“Are you okay?” she asked them. “Do you feel any different or–?”

“I’m fine,” Daniel said quickly, burying his head in the pages of the
book so she couldn’t see him.

“I do not feel a difference,” Teal’c said, appearing in the doorway.
When Colonel O’Neill didn’t say anything, Teal’c turned and arched his
eyebrow. “Do you feel a lack in your virility, O’Neill?”

“Hey, my ‘virility’ is just fine, thanks,” he answered with a deeper
scowl. “Besides, I’m more concerned with all this propaganda.”

Sam leaned back. So he hadn’t been sleeping after all. “We’re not sure
that’s what it is, sir.”

“What did you find?” he asked Daniel directly.

“Well, the men are given gishtil to fight off the Blight. Now, gishtil
roughly translates into ‘vehicle of life,’ which would make sense if
they were given supplements.” He paused, the lines in his brow
deepening. “Unless that’s gistukul, which means weapon, so…”

“Bottom line this for me,” O’Neill said to the both of them in his no
nonsense voice.

“We need access to the temple,” Sam and Daniel said together.

Colonel O’Neill stared at them.

“What is this temple of which you speak?” Teal’c asked, stepping into
the main room.

“Daniel mentioned a temple in his translations,” Sam said. “There
might be Goa’uld schematics locked inside that I could use to
reference the ones that Anu provided for us.”

“And help me place the cuneiform texts into context if I can find a
point of reference,” Daniel added. “If Nammu was experimenting on
these people, she’s bound to have some kind of log in Goa’uld that
either Teal’c or myself can read.”

“You do realize this is not going to go over well with the ladies,”
O’Neill told them.

All eyes turned to Sam. She sighed.

“I’ll see what I can do.”
—————————————————-

“I will not let them in.”

“If they are able, who is to say they cannot enter?” Anu asked Ningal.

The other woman snorted. “The temple is my domain just as the
government is yours.” She cast an uneasy look at Sam and the rest of
SG-1. “They are impure.”

Sam glanced over at Colonel O’Neill, Daniel, and Teal’c. The three of
them were watching the debate about their purity with relative ease,
though Sam had a feeling that they would become impatient if something
didn’t break soon.

“Ningal, I shall speak with you outside. Siduri, see to them.” With
that, Anu led Ningal into the hallway, shutting the door to the suite.

Sam refocused on her team.

“Is this really necessary?” O’Neill asked, scowling as Siduri grabbed
his wrists and turned them to study his hands.

“She’s checking to make sure you’re pure, Jack.” Daniel’s eyes
twinkled with mischief.

Jack glared at him. “Oh yeah? You sure she’s not a palm reader?”

Siduri dipped her head, frowning, as she stared at O’Neill. Then, she
went back to examining him.

Sam sighed and turned away as she started to hear the two of them
bicker. She played referee enough on standard missions. She didn’t
need to do it here, too.

While Siduri checked out her team’s “vitals,” Sam moved over to the
bed and glanced over the schematics she’d been studying all night. For
the most part, she could make out some of the more basic functions.
The sketches were straightforward enough, but the technical script
that accompanied them meant nothing to her. Daniel had managed to
translate some of the text for her, but since he claimed that the
writing evolved over the years, he hadn’t gotten very far. What they
really needed was something solid for comparison.

She hoped that their hunch was right; the temple had to store old Goa’uld texts.

Sam rolled up the schematics and piled them neatly on the bed before
she checked her vest, making sure she had everything she needed. When
she turned back to the rest of her team, she frowned. Siduri had
withdrawn a small cloth and was stretching her arm out towards Daniel.

“Hey!” Sam shouted, watching Daniel flinch as he drew back. Teal’c and
O’Neill converged on the Sinnu woman, but Siduri just remained still,
if not a little flustered.

“Irnini Sam, it is only the Cloth of Tabalu,” Siduri said gently. She
held up the simple yellow cloth.

Sam stared at the dripping towel before she brought her gaze to Daniel.

“I think it means ‘take away,’” he said.

“Take away what?” Colonel O’Neill asked.

“Your impurities,” Siduri said. “If you wish to enter the temple, you
must be clean.”

Sam looked to O’Neill for confirmation. He didn’t look happy about the
situation, but he gave her a nod of approval. Sam understood, but
stepped over to Siduri to investigate the towel just in case.

She glanced down into the bucket, tilting the lip so she could get a
better look inside. Sam stuck her finger inside, splashed at the
liquid, and then drew her fingers near her nose. It smelled like
perfumed water.

Sam fought to keep from smiling, but the thought of the rest of her
team parading around the town smelling of berries and flowers was too
much for her.

“Carter?” O’Neill asked. She could see he was eyeing her closely, no
doubt seeing right through her veiled attempt to hide her amusement.

“It’s perfume, sir,” Sam said, her face breaking into a smile.

Teal’c leaned over Daniel’s shoulder to gaze into the bucket. “I will
not be scented.”

Siduri looked to Sam for help.

“It’s just water,” Sam said. “And if it’s our way of getting access to
the temple…”

Daniel sighed and took off his glasses. “All right.” He scratched at
his head, his gaze flickering over the towel. “Do I–?”

“Hold still,” Siduri told him. Gently, she took the cloth and wiped
his forehead before moving down to his cheeks, his nose, his chin, and
down over his neck. “That is all.”

Daniel blinked and slipped on his glasses, moving so that O’Neill
could take his place. Teal’c hung back behind them, still frowning
with displeasure. Sam stood silent as she watched Siduri cleanse
Colonel O’Neill and then a reluctant Teal’c. When she was finished,
the room had the pleasant scent of fruit with just a hint of what Sam
thought was lavender.

She grinned, enjoying every minute.

“I’m glad you’re amused, Carter,” O’Neill said, strapping on his gear.
He checked his sidearm and then his P-90. “You have heard of payback,
right?”

“Oh, yes, sir,” Sam said.

Daniel chuckled. “I think that’s what this is.”

O’Neill just shook his head at the comment, but Sam could see that he
was holding back a smile of his own. Teal’c and Daniel geared up along
with her as they waited for Anu and Ningal to return. Siduri watched
them in silence, though Sam could see that something was disturbing
her.

“Is there something wrong?” Sam asked her.

“I mean no disrespect, Irnini Sam, but what are these that your men
carry?” She stepped toward Colonel O’Neill, holding out her hand to
feel his gun.

O’Neill took a step back. “It might be best for you not to touch.”

“Why is this?” the small woman asked.

“You could be injured,” Teal’c answered.

Siduri’s face drained of color. “Weapons?”

“We’re trained and skilled to use weaponry,” Sam said. “But they are
for protection only. We don’t mean-”

“Does Beleti know of this?” Siduri asked.

“I would think so,” Sam said. “We’ve been carrying them since we first arrived.”

Siduri shook her head, clearly shaken. “I must tell Beleti.”

“Whoa, hey!” O’Neill called.

Sam went to intercept the woman, but she had already stepped outside
of the suite. Anu and Ningal quickly followed her inside, both wearing
faces wrought with concern.

“The carrying of weapons by men is forbidden,” Anu said. “It is for
their own protection.”

“Beleti,” Sam said. “You know that my men are not like your own. We
have been carrying our belongings for over a day without any problem.”

“And I have been patient with your ways for just as long,” she said.
“I am afraid that I must ask them to lay down their weapons. It is for
them and for us.”

The flicker in Anu’s eyes told Sam that the leader knew more than she
was saying. Sam nodded, taking the hint.

“Sir…”

Ningal extended her hand.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” O’Neill said, holding his P-90 closer.

“Jack, we should follow their customs.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“Sir, please. If we want access to the temple, we need to cooperate.”

“We will not harm you. You are all under my protection,” Anu stated.

Colonel O’Neill shook his head, but handed over his weapon to Sam. He
instructed Teal’c and Daniel to do the same. First, Sam took a zat
from Daniel and then one from Teal’c. She said nothing as Teal’c
continued to hold onto his staff weapon, and she didn’t bother to
mention the sidearm that Daniel and O’Neill held snug in their
holsters.

Quietly, Sam gathered the weapons and covered them in a blanket,
entering the spare room and tucking them underneath one of the cots.
When she reemerged, she found Ningal and Siduri staring intently at
Teal’c's staff weapon.

“We have seen these before,” Ningal said. “In our histories.”

Daniel and Sam exchanged an uneasy look.

“It’s a walking stick,” O’Neill said quickly.

Teal’c bowed his head. “Indeed.”

“A walking stick?” Ningal sounded skeptical.

“Yeah,” O’Neill said. “You know, a walking stick.”

Daniel nodded. “Used for…”

“Walking,” O’Neill said.

Daniel nodded again. “Walking.”

Sam closed her eyes, part of her trying to will herself away. When she
opened them, she found Teal’c demonstrating how he walked with the
stick. God help her.

Anu smiled and patted Teal’c on the shoulder. “Indeed it is. I believe
it will serve you well on your way to the temple.”

Sam caught Ningal scowling, though there was little doubt who had won
in their squabble. With a sigh, Ningal waved her hand, beckoning them
to follow as she exited the suite and started down the hall. Sam
followed, but she was held back by Anu as the rest of her teammates
chartered forward.

“I would like to speak with you,” Anu said quietly.

Sam paused, shifting her P-90 to the side, and stopped in the doorway.
She edged over to allow Siduri room to slip by. “Is there a problem?”
Sam asked, locking the door.

“No,” Anu said with a kindly smile. “But I need to speak with you
about your men.”

Sam tried not to grimace from the tone in the Sinnu leader’s voice.
She knew a lecture when she heard one.

“I know that your men are strong, stronger than any I have ever seen.
And I give you many liberties as an honored guest. However,” she said,
her voice becoming stern, “our ways are not your ways. And we do not
take kindly to deception. I have allowed for your men to carry their
concealed weapons and for your Jaffa to keep his staff, but I warn you
to take care in your choices, Irnini. Where I may offer you safety and
protection, I do not have eyes that see all. I fear that you may anger
the wrong people.”

Sam nodded, any and all humor gone from her thoughts. Anu wasn’t just
giving her advice. She was giving her a warning.

“Are you in danger?” Sam asked quickly. “Do you have enemies we should
know about? Are you in need–?”

Anu shook her head and stroked Sam’s arm. “Your kindness warms me,
Irnini. And I know that you are just. All I ask of you is to keep your
men in their place.”

Sam wanted to shout at her. She wanted to ask her how she could be so
biased. Sam thought maybe four years ago she would have made a scene
and would have cried out against the injustice. But now, she found she
couldn’t.

“Yes, Beleti,” Sam finally said, even though she felt sick. Even years
after the fact, her treatment at the hands of Turghan left her feeling
cold and angry. While she enjoyed ribbing on Daniel, Colonel O’Neill
and Teal’c since their stay with Sinnu, the idea that any of them
could be treated or were expected to be treated in the ways she had
been handled by Turghan made her skin crawl. It was embarrassing and
humiliating.

Angry with herself and their situation, Sam stormed down the hallway
to meet up with the rest of her team.

——————————————————–

“Sir, I need to have a word with you. It’s important.”

Colonel O’Neill slowed long enough to allow his pace to match with
hers. “Problem, Major?”

“Sir, I feel it’s imperative that we keep a low profile here,” she
said. The two of them walked behind Daniel and Teal’c, who in turn
followed Ningal and Siduri, as they made their way through the streets
of the city. “I feel it’s in our best interest.”

O’Neill gave her a stern look. “What did she say?”

Sam didn’t answer. She turned her head to study their surroundings,
finding her hand clamped down protectively on her P-90. All around her
were small but well kept homes – neat little one to two room buildings
that appeared to be made of mud and stone. Some of the bigger
buildings, probably merchant shops, had gold inlays while others had
the distinct taste of naquadah. She even caught a small crowd outside
of what looked like a fruit stand. But all in all, the streets were
sparsely populated.

“Carter?”

She turned to O’Neill. “Anu warned me about your behavior.”

His eyes darkened. “You mean she threatened you.”

“No, sir. I really believe she has our best interests in mind.”

“What are we talking about here?” he asked.

“Just to keep it in line,” Sam said. When his lips twitched with
disapproval, she shook her head. “I know what you’re thinking. I don’t
like it any more than you do. But we’ll go to the temple, check in
with General Hammond, and then we can decide where to go from there.”

Colonel O’Neill regarded her thoughtfully, keeping silent as they
walked. After several minutes had passed, he finally spoke.

“And you think this necessary?”

“Extremely necessary. And the least we can do is to try to help these
people. Not to mention, it might benefit us in the long run.”

O’Neill nodded. “All right. We’ll-” He frowned, and to Sam’s dismay,
veered away from her. “For cryin’ out loud. Daniel!”

She could see him. Daniel had broken from the group, heading toward a
young man sweeping dirt off his front steps. The man froze when he saw
them approaching and almost disappeared into his home. Daniel caught
him first.

“Excuse me,” Daniel said, reaching the steps. “I was wondering if I
could talk to you.”

The man stumbled back, clinging to his broom. Sam thought he looked
scared to death.

“Daniel, maybe we shouldn’t bother him,” Sam said.

“Well, we’re never going to get any answers if we don’t ask questions.”

“I understand that.” She looked to Teal’c and O’Neill for help.

“Perhaps this is not a good time, Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c said.

“It’s never a good time,” Daniel mumbled.

“Daniel,” Jack called. He waggled his fingers. “A word.”

Sam stepped out of the way so that Daniel could move to join Colonel
O’Neill. She started after Teal’c to meet with Daniel and O’Neill, but
she found that she couldn’t look away from the native man. He looked
sickly, face drawn and pale. He was thin, tired and fragile.

He was everything Sam felt he shouldn’t be.

“I’m sorry,” Sam said to the man, feeling Ningal approach from behind.

The local man nodded, though the distress did not leave his eyes. As
she and Ningal walked away, Sam was positive that she felt his longing
gaze linger on her teammates after they disappeared.

She felt uneasy again.

“You must learn to control your men!” Ningal snapped. “They cannot
handle this stress!”

“I’ve already spoken to them,” Sam said coolly, watching Daniel and
O’Neill converse. “It won’t happen again.”

“You’ll be the death of us all,” Ningal mumbled, charging ahead.

Sam let her go, but couldn’t shake the uneasiness she’d felt. Maybe
Ningal was right. Maybe she would be their undoing. As she took one
last glance back to the local by his door, she could only hope that
she was wrong.

—————————————————–

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” O’Neill said.

“I cannot let you enter,” Ningal said simply. “You will wait outside
for us to finish.”

SG-1 stood at the doors of the modest temple. Though it was dwarfed by
the size of the ziggurat, the temple still held a magic and majesty
all its own, serving as its own separate entity. Sam could understand
why the structure seemed to hold so much power. She could feel the
naquadah pulsing inside its walls.

“You mean to say we came all this way, and you’re not going to let us
inside?” Daniel asked.

Ningal glared at him. “No.”

Daniel glared back.

Sam had the impression that this was becoming personal.

“I need then to accompany me into the temple,” Sam said. “It’s important.”

“They are not pure.”

“Did we not just undergo the rite of purification before traveling
here?” Teal’c asked.

“But you are not blessed by the goddess,” Ningal answered.

O’Neill mumbled something unintelligible under his breath as he rubbed
at his eyes. Sam could tell that he was losing patience quickly, and
apparently, Daniel wasn’t far behind. He looked as thought he would
pop.

“Is there anything they can do to enter the temple?’ Sam asked.

Ningal studied her briefly before she turned her attention to the rest
of SG-1. Her usual persistent frown was replaced by a smile. “I can
bless them.”

“Fine. Bless us,” O’Neill said.

Ningal nodded and disappeared into the temple. That left the four of
them standing alone for the time being.

Sam seized her opportunity. “Sir, I have some concerns.”

O’Neill took off his cap and faced her. “Like what?”

“I couldn’t help but notice that during our walk here, there were no children.”

“So?” O’Neill shrugged. “Maybe they were inside.”

“How is this of concern to us, Major Carter?” Teal’c asked.

“Of course!” Daniel exclaimed, beating her to the chase. “That makes
perfect sense.”

“What makes perfect sense?’ O’Neill asked.

“Sir, if the men are suffering from some form of erectile dysfunction,
then it would make sense that there would be a low birth rate.”

O’Neill blinked at her. “Okay, first of all, let’s not call it that.”

Sam nodded. “What would you like to call it?”

“Nothing at all.”

Sam sighed and shifted her weight to her right foot. He just shrugged
and put his cap back on.

“It would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?” Daniel said, sounding
distracted as he searched the outside walls of the temple. “We were
wondering how the population sustained itself. If they have a low
birth rate and a small population, then they might actually have
enough resources to maintain their numbers.”

Only Sam didn’t think they were maintaining their numbers at all. She
felt her stomach flop from the memory of the withering man they’d
encountered in the city.

“They’re dying,” she said sadly.

“If it is indeed true that the men of this world are born with this
inability, then it is possible the Goa’uld have tampered with them,”
Teal’c said.

“But why?” she asked, her voice raw as she remained haunted by both
the fate of Anu’s husband and the local man’s appearance. “Why would a
Goa’uld make efforts to effectively destroy her own power base?”

“Don’t know,” O’Neill said. “But it’s worth finding out. Maybe Perky
there knows something.”

Ningal reappeared at the door, carrying a small bowl. “I will bless
you and then you may enter.”

Daniel stepped forward first, though his enthusiasm seemed to have
dipped to an all time low. Wearing a scowl that mimicked Ningal’s,
Daniel waited for her to begin. Sam watched as the priestess anointed
his forehead with a coarse, sticky paste, rubbing it into his skin.
Daniel wrinkled his nose as she chanted a blessing over him. When
Ningal was finished, she urged him inside.

Colonel O’Neill stepped forward next. “What the hell is that?” he asked.

Ningal rubbed the paste onto his forehead, said a few words, and moved
aside so he could enter. “It is the remains from our most holy of
lizards.”

O’Neill frowned. “Remains as in…”

“Sacred excrement,” Ningal said proudly.

Sam bit her lip, trying to hold back a laugh. When Teal’c looked away,
she knew he felt the same way.

O’Neill’s face fell. “You mean you just smeared me with sh-”

“Sir,” Sam warned.

O’Neill shook his head, thoroughly disgusted. Readjusting his cap, he
charged inside the temple.

Ningal performed the same ritual onto Teal’c. Only, when she was
finished, he did not move from his spot.

“Teal’c?” Sam asked.

“I cannot enter.”

“But you have been blessed,” Ningal said with a frown.

Teal’c nodded. “I have allowed you to bless me to show my support in
the actions of Major Carter.” His face became cold. “I do not believe
in your goddess, nor will I enter her place of worship.”

Sam rubbed his arm, genuinely appreciating the gesture. But she
couldn’t just leave him alone at the gates to the temple.

Teal’c seemed to understand her concerns. “I will be fine. I will
stand guard while you explore the temple.”

Sam knew that there was no arguing with Teal’c when he got like this,
so she just gave him another affectionate pat before entering the
temple with Ningal.

It was amazing.

Just as gilded as the ziggurat, if not more, the temple was a shining
edifice of power, might, and prestige. Sam assumed the proud statues
that lined the sides of the temple were representations of Nammu. She
also noticed unmistakable writing lining the walls around the main
altar.

“It’s Goa’uld,” Daniel said. He broke from them and approached the
altar, standing in front of it as he read the inscriptions.

“Do not step on the altar!” Ningal warned.

Sam wasn’t sure if Daniel was listening or not, but he didn’t attempt
to move any closer.

“Do you know what it says?” O’Neill asked.

“Yeah, I think so…” Daniel said. “It’s definitely a place belonging to Nammu.”

Sam didn’t mind the confirmation, but that wasn’t really useful
information. “What else does it say?”

He was mumbling now, the Goa’uld coming harsh and fast from his lips,
but garbled to the point beyond recognition. Then, suddenly, he turned
to Ningal. “Do you have any tablets?”

She looked taken aback.

“Tablets,” he repeated. “Or scrolls. Books…”

“You can read this?” she asked, sounding shocked, as she pointed to
the inscriptions above the altar.

He nodded. “It’s an obscure dialect, but I can make out most of it.
Teal’c can always help with the rest.”

Ningal stared at him.

“He’s fluent,” Sam told her.

Ningal looked away and rubbed her hands together. She turned her back
to them to gaze at the altar.

“That a problem?” O’Neill asked.

“No,” Ningal said quickly. “It is not. I will take you to the
tablets.” Without looking back, she left them and entered another
room.

“Daniel?” O’Neill frowned, taking a step toward him.

“The altar inscriptions talk about her being ‘mother of the gods’ and
‘creator of all.’”
Sam’s grip on her weapon tightened. She didn’t like where this was going.

“Please tell me it’s not Hathor,” O’Neill said.

“No. No,” he said, looking confused. “Not Hathor. But I’m pretty sure
she’s a Goa’uld queen. In Babylonian, she could have been known as
Tiamat.”

“She’s dead,” Sam said.

“Yes. And there’s no saying she is the same Goa’uld. Remember, the
Goa’uld have taken names for various Earth mythology. They may be
different, or they could be related for all we know.”

“How is this helping us?” O’Neill asked impatiently.

Daniel leaned forward, lowering his voice, only adding another layer
of anxiety to Sam’s already uneasy outlook. “It doesn’t just say she’s
creator of all. It says she’s creator of man.”

Jack glanced at the altar before focusing on Daniel. “Figure of speech?”

“No.”

“So, we’re going with the theory that Nammu somehow genetically
altered these men,” Sam said.

“I’m figuring that she must have some more information describing her
accomplishments stored on tablets or other records,” Daniel said. “I
think our history has shown us the Goa’uld are nothing if not
self-absorbed.”

“To the tablets it is, then,” O’Neill said, leading them into the next room.

When they made their way into the small storage area, Sam could see
that Ningal was busily working her way through the tablets, sorting
them into different piles. Sam glanced over to Colonel O’Neill. He
raised his eyebrows. Sam knew that he felt the same way. Ningal was
taking the selective route.

“What’s on those?” Daniel asked.

“It is nothing,” Ningal said. “Just more of our rules and laws.”

“Oh? I’d like to…”

Ningal stepped between Daniel and tablets before thrusting a different
tablet into his hands. “This describes some of our history. I believe
that you would be interested in this one.”

“Actually, I’m interested in all of them,” he said.

“You cannot stay in the temple to read these. And it would be too
strenuous to carry all of these back,” she said, pushing the tablets
farther out of Daniel’s reach.

“Oh, I agree. But I don’t need to bring them back with me,” he said.

Ningal frowned. “No?”

Immediately, Daniel started to unpack some of his equipment. Sam saw
the chalk was the first to emerge followed by some wax paper. She and
O’Neill remained by his side, watching carefully in case his actions
caused Ningal to act out of turn.

She didn’t.

Daniel got to work on his rubbings, working quickly and efficiently.
Sam knew that he had the habit of lingering, stopping after he’d done
a rubbing to read what he’d done. Daniel loved his work. But she was
surprised to find him fly through the tablets, as if he wanted get out
there as soon as possible. That worried her.

And based on Ningal’s contorted faces, she wasn’t happy with Daniel’s
rubbings either.

“I’m done,” he said, quickly shoving his work into his bag.

“Good,” O’Neill said. “Then we’ll just be on our way.” He dipped the
tip of his hat to Ningal. “Ma’am.”

Ningal didn’t smile. “I will have you escorted to the Apsu.” She
pointed to the door. “It is time for you to go.”

Sam led the way with O’Neill and Daniel in tow. As they approached the
door, Sam found Teal’c waiting for them. She offered him a thankful
smile, but even seeing Teal’c well couldn’t ease her tension.

She knew Daniel had found something.

He hadn’t said anything to them, and Colonel O’Neill hadn’t pushed him
to talk. Whatever he had found had to be important, much too important
to discuss casually and out in the open.

“Was your reading successful?” Teal’c asked Daniel.

“We’ll find out when I have a chance to better look at the text.”

Teal’c arched an eyebrow. He understood as well.

As they left the temple, the four of them found Aya, Anu’s daughter,
waiting for them with two of the horse-beasts and a cart. She heard a
groan from her friends. But they all knew it wasn’t that bad. At least
they wouldn’t have to walk back to the Gate.

Sam helped them into the cart, one by one. When she was finished, she
glanced back at the temple, noting Ningal standing in the doorway. Her
eyes were cool, her expression cold. Sam didn’t need to say what was
on her mind. Colonel O’Neill voiced it for her.

“She’s hiding something,” he said.

She nodded in agreement and moved away, hoisting herself onto the
animal. Ningal was hiding something. And Sam was determined to find
out what it was.

———————————————————-

“And they’re willing to trade?” Hammond asked.

“Yes, sir,” O’Neill said, talking to the camera on the MALP. “It turns
out the aerial survey was correct. They’ve got naquadah and a bunch of
other gizmos that they seem willing to share.”

“No strings attached?” Hammond sounded skeptical.

Sam moved to stand in front of the camera. “Sir, we’ve agreed to help
the Sinnu with a medical anomaly.”

The audio crackled and cleared, bringing Hammond’s voice back to them.
“What kind of anomaly?”

Sam glanced back to Aya who stood beside the DHD, watching them
intently. When the girl found Sam watching her, she turned her head
and stared into the nearby trees.

“There seems to be a medical situation among the men on this planet,
sir,” O’Neill said.

Another crackle, this time with a hiss. Daniel and Teal’c took a step
closer to the MALP to hear.

“I have Doctor Fraiser with me,” Hammond announced.

“What are the symptoms?” Janet asked.

“Fatigue, weakness, memory problems…” She cleared her throat. “We
believe some kind of…reproductive problems with the men,” Sam said,
ignoring the look that Colonel O’Neill gave her. “We’ve noticed a very
small population and the men appear to have a loss in bone and muscle
mass.”

“It sounds like a textbook example of testosterone deficiency,” Janet said.

Sam had suspected it might be something to do with male hormones, but
she hadn’t wanted to vocalize it. And when she saw her teammates’
faces, she was glad that she hadn’t said anything.

Colonel O’Neill glared at the MALP. “Come again?”

Sam smiled, imagining Janet’s face on the other side of the Gate.
“It’s not contagious, Colonel,” Janet said with a chuckle. “In fact,
all men experience a decrease in testosterone as they age. A
congenital cause would be genetic and an acquired cause could happen
at any point in a man’s life. Acquired testosterone deficiency usually
happens through damage to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or the
testes.” She paused. “Sometimes it can happen through disease. How are
you, Doctor Jackson, and Teal’c feeling?”

“Never been better,” O’Neill said.

“I’m fine,” Daniel chimed in.

Teal’c stood taller. “As am I.”

Sam readjusted her P-90 and glanced back at Aya. The girl seemed
fascinated by their conversation, even if she seemed confused on the
specifics on how it worked. Maybe she was just in awe that a man such
as General Hammond could be given such a large leadership role.

“The Sinnu claim the affliction begins at birth,” Sam added.

“Hmm,” Janet said. “I’d really like to have a look at those affected
and run some tests.”

“Is it not abnormal for the majority of a population to suffer from
such an affliction?” Teal’c asked.

“It is abnormal.” There was a pause on the other end. “I assume that
you have more information for me?”

Daniel gave Sam a pointed look, before glancing back at Aya. Sam
nodded and turned to O’Neill.

“Teal’c, you want to show our friend your neat eyebrow trick?” Colonel
O’Neill asked.

Teal’c cocked his head, raising his eyebrow as he passed his staff
weapon to his other hand.

“Perfect,” O’Neill said. “Now do it some place that’s not here.”

Teal’c nodded, taking Aya by the arm and pulling her away from the
DHD. When Sam felt they were out of earshot, she nodded to the camera.

“What’s the problem, Colonel?”

“Not sure, General,” O’Neill said. “I think Daniel is about to tell us.”

Daniel stepped closer to the camera, coming to stand beside Sam.
“Well, after encountering some resistance, we were finally able to
enter the temple. Inside, there was a vast display of-”

“Doctor Jackson…”

“Right. The inscriptions I found within the temple discuss experiments
that Nammu performed on the male population,” Daniel said.
“Apparently, she was attempting to perfect a method of weakening the
male forces, probably Jaffa and other slaves, used by other Goa’uld
and to give herself more power. She was out to take Ra’s place in the
Goa’uld family tree.”

Sam straightened at that comment.

“Ambitious,” O’Neill said.

“And this Goa’uld is dead?” Hammond asked.

“According to Teal’c, deader than a doornail,” O’Neill said, forcing a smile.

“So, what does this have to do with your current situation?” Hammond’s
disembodied voice asked.

“Well, the fact is that they knew,” Daniel said. “The priestess of the
temple has been aware of the medical condition of the men on this
planet and has kept it a secret.”

“They obviously didn’t want us to know what the Goa’uld did to the men
on this planet,” Sam said.

“At first I thought maybe it was a measure to keep stability on the
planet and not throw their whole society into chaos.” Daniel adjusted
his glasses and looked into the camera. “But now I’m thinking that
they wanted to just keep the status quo.”

“What leads you to that conclusion, Doctor?” Hammond asked.

“Just a hunch. I’ve found some key words and references in the
rubbings I’ve sampled from the temple. I need some time to read
through them and make sure I have the proper context.”

Sam waited as for General Hammond or Janet to speak again. She took
the silence to mean they were discussing options, and that General
Hammond was contemplating the information they had just given him. Sam
knew that there were some risks here that Hammond wasn’t keen about.

“I have orders to do what’s necessary to acquire naquadah for our
weapons program or any available technology.” Hammond paused. “You’re
in a delicate situation, Colonel.”

Sam tapped the butt of her gun. Ningal knew that the Goa’uld had
caused the problem in the men and might even know how it was done. She
was withholding that information from them, and quite possibly Anu.
All of these factors created a highly unstable political situation,
which, in turn, put them in a dangerous position.

Sam knew all of this weighed heavily on not only General Hammond’s
mind, but Colonel O’Neill’s as well.

“It’s your call, Colonel.”

“I’ve got Carter in charge of negotiations,” O’Neill told Hammond.
“There are some, shall we say, sensitivities on this planet.”

“Do you need any form of back-up?” Hammond asked.

“No, sir. Though, we did promise the leadership here some medical help.”

“I can have Doctor Fraiser assemble a team and have her meet you at
the Gate at oh-seven hundred hours,” Hammond told him. “That will give
you enough time to gather additional information.”

Sam glanced down at her watch. The time difference between this planet
and Earth was great enough that it gave Sam confidence they could
discover something. Janet and her team wouldn’t be due until tomorrow
afternoon. That gave them plenty of time to go through the material
Daniel had accumulated. Between Daniel and Teal’c, she was sure they
would able to discover something useful.

“Copy that, sir,” O’Neill said.

The connection filled with static before clearing. “You’re sure about
this, Colonel?”

“I’m confident that Anu is trustworthy,” Sam said.

“That’s good enough for me, General.”

“Good. I want Major Carter to stay in charge of the negotiations. I
expect you to be on your best behavior, Colonel.”

“You know me. I’m the epitome of good behavior,” he said with a
smirk. “O’Neill out.”

The transmission ended. Sam waited as Colonel O’Neill regrouped and
called for everyone to gather back together. When Teal’c rejoined
them, Sam didn’t miss the scowl on Aya’s face.

“All right,” O’Neill said. “Let’s get moving.”

——————————————————

“Our weapons are still here,” Colonel O’Neill said, walking out of the
spare room. He stopped and stared at Sam. “What’s that?”

“A remote that Anu gave me,” Sam said. She turned it over in her hand,
easily finding the crystal that served as its power source. “She gave
me one of these so we could reenter the city tomorrow afternoon when
Janet and her team arrive.”

“We no longer require an escort,” Teal’c stated more than asked as he
looked up from a pile of rubbings that Daniel had given him.

Sam nodded. “She trusts that I’ll keep you in line.”

This produced two soft chuckles from O’Neill and Teal’c. Sam found
herself smiling a long with them until Daniel slammed his fist down
onto the table. Startled, Sam frowned at him.

“Daniel?” she asked.

“I can’t concentrate with all this talking.” He leaned over and
grabbed his head, scratching it, as he stared at the rubbings.

“It’s never stopped you before,” O’Neill said, tossing an apple in the
air and catching it.

Daniel glared at him. “There is a part of the text that goes into
detail about the experiments. Now, if I can just figure out what Nammu
wrote…”

The apple sailed through the air again. O’Neill caught it. “So, figure it out.”

Daniel stood abruptly, grabbing his notes and rubbings. “I’m close.
I’m so close…I just.” He rubbed his forehead with the back of his
hand. “I need context.”

And that’s all he said. Without uttering another word, he stalked off
to the spare room and slammed the door.

The three of them stared after him.

“Moody, much?” O’Neill asked.

Sam didn’t know what to say. She knew that they were all tired and
that Daniel was having a particularly rough time here. She hoped that
after tonight, they could find what they were looking for, offer Anu
some medical assistance, and wrap things up. The luxury of the suite
and all its perks had started to lose most of its appeal to her.

She just wanted to go home.

“Ah well,” Colonel O’Neill said, lying in her bed again. “Let Daniel
work it off for now. Once he figures something out, he’ll forget about
it.”

Sam sighed. She knew that O’Neill was right. She picked up the
schematics she had been going over and settled in next to Teal’c,
preparing for another long night.

“By Her Judgment – 1/4″ by moonshayde

moonshayde

kellifer_fic

Her first clue that there was something different about this planet
should have come when the rider concentrated on her and not Daniel.

Sam kept her finger on the trigger of her P-90 as she eyed the locals
on P2A-504. The woman who continued to stare at her sat atop an animal
that was akin to a horse or a camel but didn’t appear to be either.
Behind her lay a small contingent of several more women, completely
decked in battle garb, all sitting on the foreign-looking animals. All
had strange sword-like weapons drawn.

She stiffened. Sam felt as uncomfortable as she had been with the
Shavadai people only a few years back. When she stole a glance to
either side, Sam could see the rest of her team felt the same. In
particular, she noticed Teal’c had become more wary, tightening his
hold on his staff weapon.

By now, Daniel was speaking again, his tone softer but sounding
vaguely more urgent. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, as he
had switched over into another tongue. Yet, it seemed that no matter
what he tried, the woman atop her horse paid him no mind. In fact, Sam
thought she was becoming more annoyed, possibly even upset.

She scooted over to him, keeping her weapon ready, just in case. Sam
could also see Colonel O’Neill starting to get impatient, his grip on
his weapon tightening, the lines of his face deepening. She began to
wonder if suggesting trade with these people was worth it. They could
try for more naquadah elsewhere.

“You continue to insult me by not speaking,” the woman said, her voice
thick with anger. “State your purpose or we shall be forced to remove
you from our land.”

Sam blinked, suddenly realizing that the comments were directed at her
and no one else. Daniel was staring at her with his mouth open, a
slightly befuddled look crossing his face, while Teal’c remained
impassive but cautious. Colonel O’Neill didn’t look pleased, but he
gestured with his hand, urging her to speak up.

“Major Samantha Carter of SG-1,” she said, taking a tentative step
forward. “This is Doctor Daniel Jackson, Colonel Jack O’Neill, and
Teal’c. We’ve come to talk and trade.” She tried to put on her best
smile.

“Hi there,” O’Neill said, offering a small wave. “You heard the lady.
Now, why don’t you put down your weapons so we can get down to
business?”

Apparently, it was the wrong thing to say. The women behind the lead
rider raised their swords and started to shout in the language that
Daniel had muttered only a few moments ago.

“Kima Parsi Labiruti!” they shouted again.

Daniel quickly turned to Sam, lowering his voice as he whispered into
her ear. “Do whatever she says.”

“Why?” Sam asked, trying to match his tone. “What are they saying?”

“I can’t be certain since it’s an extinct language that hasn’t been
used in millennia, but I think they’re saying, ‘Treat Her in
accordance with the Ancient Rites.’” When she shook her head, he
continued. “I think there must be some rules governing communication
on this planet. You should step forward and engage with the leader.
I’ll talk to Jack and Teal’c.”

Sam frowned, not liking his suggestion at all. She wasn’t a
negotiator. She was a soldier and a scientist. “Why?” she asked.

“Obviously, they only want to speak with you.”

Sam didn’t miss the annoyance in his voice. Inwardly, she cringed, but
outwardly she felt her cheeks blush with indignation. She hadn’t asked
for this role.

“Kima Parsi Labiruti!”

Despite her misgivings, Sam took a step forward and greeted the rider.
She could sense Teal’c and Colonel O’Neill tense behind her, but she
knew that Daniel would be there to help smooth things over and explain
to them what was happening. She just hoped he’d get done fast so that
he could assist her in the event she needed him.

“Sorry about the miscommunication,” Sam said. “We do things a little
differently where I’m from.”

The rider didn’t reply, taking her time as she appraised Sam, studying
her from head to toe. After she let out a loud grunt, the women behind
her lowered their weapons. The leader forced a thin smile at Sam.

“I am Anu of the South,” she proclaimed. “You have entered my domain.”

Sam didn’t need to be a negotiator to understand that Anu was
asserting her power. But it was hard for Sam to play by the rules if
she didn’t know what the rules were to begin with.

“Then, we’d like to be sure we honor your domain,” Sam said, glancing
back toward Daniel. He stood there, soundless, appearing to pout along
with O’Neill and Teal’c. With a sigh, she turned back to Anu. “We
would like to discuss trade.”

“We of the Sinnu are hardy traders,” Anu said, this time with a
brighter smile. She snapped her fingers, heralding in another group of
women. They brought with them two more beasts as well as a small
wooden chariot. “Come, Major Samantha Carter of SG-1. You shall ride
with me.”

She hesitated, glancing back toward Daniel, Teal’c, and Colonel
O’Neill. But before she could protest, she felt Anu’s sturdy hand on
her shoulder.

“Do not worry about your men,” Anu said softly. “They shall ride in
the chariot behind us as to not tire their feet.”

“My men?” Sam asked, uncertain that she heard correctly.

Again, she glanced behind her. Some of the women had dismounted and
were helping the rest of SG-1 into the small chariot. The wooden cart
was then affixed to the creatures that Sam and Anu would be riding.
Daniel, Teal’c, and especially Colonel O’Neill appeared absolutely
baffled by the process.

“Carter?” O’Neill called out to her as he was locked into the chariot.

“Sir?”

He batted one of the women’s hands away as he glared at Sam. “When we
get to town, we’re having a little chat.”

She turned her head so that he couldn’t see her smile. Once she
realized that the three of them were both safe and secure, she climbed
onto her own beast and started to ride alongside Anu. It was a
surprisingly comfortable and leisurely ride. Anu seemed much more
relaxed.

“Your men fascinate me,” Anu said at last, glancing back once to the
chariot before focusing her gaze forward. “They are a healthy, strong
bunch. Are all your men the same?”

“It varies,” Sam replied, remaining guarded. She wasn’t sure just what
kind of society they had stumbled across – they could be slave traders
or worse. Sam didn’t want to excite them too much. “What about your
men?”

“Our men know their place,” Anu said, raising her eyebrow. Sam
couldn’t help but feel it was a gentle chide. “But they are a
beautiful, kind race. We are good to them.”

Race? Sam bristled. The language Anu was using set off a dozen warning
bells in her mind. Yet, Sam was beginning to warm up to the stately
woman. She didn’t get the impression that Anu was lying to her or that
she meant any harm to Sam and the others. Nonetheless, Sam would feel
much more comfortable once she arrived at their destination and had
Colonel O’Neill, Teal’c, and Daniel by her side.

“It is not long now,” Anu said, pointing to the hilltop. She reached
into her sash and held up a small remote, something that seemed
strangely amiss given the technology level these people had previously
displayed. But Sam remained silent as Anu pressed the device. “We are
home,” Anu said triumphantly.

Sam could only gape in amazement. The façade of the hilltop
evaporated, revealing a towering ziggurat that overlooked a vast city.
The site was truly amazing – a huge archaeological discovery.

She knew that Daniel would be in heaven.

“Come,” Anu said proudly. “And we will show you the greatness and
hospitality of the Sinnu.”
——————————

Greatness might be an understatement when discussing the Sinnu. Sam
stared with wonder at the ornate decorations inside the walls of the
ziggurat. There were bright colors and tapestries and artwork the
likes of which Sam had never seen before. But more importantly, she
could discern hints of technology everywhere she looked. There were
devices embedded in the walls and in the ceilings, little trinkets
dashing the tops of stone tables that she was certain held dual
purposes. She figured some were part of the network that kept the city
invisible, but she could feel anticipation rising as she wondered what
other secrets the small devices and mechanisms within the ziggurat
held.

She turned to the rest of her team, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Sir, we have to honor their ways and join the feast.”

Colonel O’Neill looked less than impressed as he stood in the middle
of the waiting room, one of his hands resting on his P-90. His eyes
may have been hidden beneath his sunglasses, but she could see the
irritability resting in his frown. She knew what was coming.

“Your men?” he asked.

“I think it’s a matriarchal society,” Daniel answered for her. He had
already disentangled himself from the group, having begun to study
some of the sculptures that lined the small but lavish room. He picked
up a small bronze statue. “Sam’s right. You have no idea how important
this is.”

O’Neill didn’t move. “Enlighten me.”

“We’ve never encountered a true matriarchal society on Earth,” Daniel
said, still studying the bronze. “There are goddess worship cults and
ancient societies that have more of a female consciousness to them,
but society and culture itself has always been patriarchal, at least
to our knowledge in both recorded history and the archaeological
record.” He put the statue down and picked up another. “Even
off-world, we haven’t encountered anything like it before. This is a
rare find, Jack. It’s worth exploring.”

“For what?” he asked impatiently.

“For the sake of finding out why and how they became a matriarchal
society. The implications…”

“Are squat,” O’Neill finished for him. “Teal’c?”

“I do not see any reason for us to engage in trade.”

“What?” Daniel asked.

Sam had to agree. She didn’t think that Teal’c and Colonel O’Neill
were thinking this through enough. “Sir, we’ve seen in the past that
we can’t judge a people based on first impressions alone.”

“Look at the Nox,” Daniel said.

“This has nothing to do with how primitive or how advanced they are,”
O’Neill said. He shrugged. “I just think it’s a bad idea.”

“And I concur,” Teal’c added.

“Because women are in charge and men aren’t?” Daniel asked, beating
her to the punch.

“Oh, please, Daniel.” O’Neill muttered. “You complained all the way to
the city about the injustice of this place and how no one would talk
to you.”

Sam raised her eyebrows at that remark, but Daniel refused to look at her.

“Fine, look,” Daniel said, tapping his finger on the statue. “No, I’m
not happy about it. But it’s still an amazing find. Maybe Sam can talk
Anu into letting us have some privileges and extra freedoms as
guests.”

She knew Daniel was itching to explore the ziggurat and the temples on
the higher levels. However, Sam knew that wouldn’t be enough for
O’Neill. She needed something to convince Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c
that this was a worthwhile cause. She needed something more enticing
than just culture alone.

“On our way into the city, I noticed an abundance of strategically
placed alien technological devices throughout the ziggurat and
associated buildings. I’d like the opportunity to discuss them with
Anu to better understand their function and see if they would be
offered in trade,” she told them. “They could be a form of advanced
defense shield technology: something that we could use in our fight
against the Goa’uld.”

O’Neill exchanged a contemplative look with Teal’c. Teal’c didn’t say
a word, but any misgivings he had before seemed to have been wiped
clean by Sam’s plea.

She grinned in triumph.

“All right. Let’s make this quick,” O’Neill said at last, much to both
Sam and Daniel’s delight. “But if I have to wear a dress, we are so
out of here.”

——————————–

Fortunately – or unfortunately – Colonel O’Neill would not be wearing
a dress. He was lucky that he was sitting at the main table at all.
Sam had learned that the men in this society virtually lived in
second-class status, and therefore didn’t eat with the women in public
spaces, delegated to their own special table for feasting. She knew
that Colonel O’Neill would not buy that for any reason, so she had
spoken to Anu earlier to plead their case and ask for some leniency.
It seemed to have worked.

“It’s amazing,” Daniel said from his seat beside her. He looked like
he was studying the china. “Most scholars have theorized that
societies that are matriarchal in composition would be more
egalitarian, but here it seems the women are completely in charge. I
haven’t seen a man in any positions of authority.”

It was a fact that Sam couldn’t ignore and one that bothered her
immensely. She had been given the short end of the stick on the planet
with the Shavadai and didn’t wish that kind of life on anyone. Just
because the roles were reversed with the Sinnu didn’t make the issue
justified. Sam was concerned that someone could make a move on her
friends at any time, leaving her powerless to stop it. Not that
Daniel, Colonel O’Neill, or Teal’c couldn’t take care of themselves,
but they weren’t doing anything to help their cause.

“It’s not amazing. It’s a pain in the ass,” O’Neill mumbled. He leaned
past Daniel so he could catch a glimpse of Sam. “Did you see the damn
rule book?”

“Indeed,” Teal’c said, calling out from the furthest point to her
left. “I am not fond of the Sinnu’s ways.”

Neither was Sam. Daniel had since informed them that the Sinnu were an
amalgamation of Sumerian and Babylonian cultures. Sam wasn’t so
interested in hearing his theories of Babylonians carrying the
Sumerian culture through the Stargate. Her concern remained with the
pages and pages of rules on male behavior and how men and women should
act in public and private settings.

With direct access to the text, Daniel had translated what he could.
He hadn’t given her a lot of hope for smooth negotiations with the
Sinnu. There was something…off. And she couldn’t figure out just
what it was.

“As long as you let me handle the discussions and don’t speak out,
we’ll be fine,” Sam said. She just wished she felt as confident as she
sounded.

“Make sure you ask about their weapons,” O’Neill said. “And the
naquadah on this planet.”

“I know, sir.” Sam knew more than well just how important it was to
forge new alliances that would pay off. General Hammond was under a
lot of pressure to show results. She hated to think what would happen
if they kept failing him.

“Oh, and books,” Daniel said. “I’d like to learn more about their
history. Maybe figure out how they grew to be such a strong society.”

“You mean sexist,” Colonel O’Neill said.

Daniel glared at him.

“How long will this take, Major Carter?” Teal’c asked, raising his
voice over Daniel and O’Neill’s little squabble.

“It shouldn’t take long,” she said.

At least she hoped not.

As they waited for Anu to arrive, Sam studied the archway to the
banquet room. It wasn’t golden, but glinted with a metallic sheen. The
longer she sat there, gazing at it, the more she felt a distinctive
pull to be near it.

It was a sensation she knew all too well.

“Naquadah,” she said.

The three of them turned to her. “Excuse me?” O’Neill asked.

“They use naquadah in some of their supports,” she said, her eyes
still on the archway.

“Like Tonane’s people with trinium,” Daniel said, nodding.

Her eyes fell to a couple of serving girls who were setting the
utensils on the table. One of the girls stopped to smile at her,
placing the knife down beside her.

Sam fingered it with interest. Underneath the shiny silver setting,
she could feel the pulse of naquadah beneath its surface. She wondered
how many other items had naquadah in them.

Sam let the thought go when she heard the fanfare signaling Anu’s
arrival. She placed the knife down and watched Anu, her daughter, and
their serving maids enter the room. Sam stood, followed by Daniel, and
then the colonel and Teal’c.

“Just remember the rules,” she told them.

Anu led the graceful procession down the steps, entering the banquet
hall. She approached the table slowly, nodding for her daughter to
move on ahead of her. The two of them reached Sam, the maidservants
hanging back silently.

“This is my daughter, Aya.” The girl dipped her head to Sam. “Aya,
this is Major Samantha Carter of SG-1. She has come through the Apsu.”

Sam forced a smile, eyeing the young dark-haired girl. “You can call
me Sam,” she said to them both.

“Hello, Sam,” Aya said. But her eyes were not on Sam at all. She
bypassed her and walked to meet the rest of SG-1. “You are the men
from the Apsu?”

“Yes,” Daniel said, offering a small smile and his patented awkward
charm. “We are honored to meet you.”

Aya grinned, pleased with the response. She nodded to Colonel O’Neill,
but her full attention stopped on Teal’c. “Your men are so big, Irnini
Sam.”

Sam frowned and shot a confused look to Daniel. He leaned into her.
“It’s a complimentary title used between the women here, I’m guessing.
It means ‘sweet smelling lady.’”

Sam nodded. Okay, she would have to remember that.

Aya continued to ogle Teal’c. The young girl placed her hand on
Teal’c's chest. From where Sam was standing, she couldn’t tell if he
were put off by the movement or enjoying the attention. When she saw
his lips start to curl into a knowing smile, she guessed the latter.

“He is very strong and very beautiful. I have never seen a man like
him,” Aya said.

“I am honored that you believe this to be so,” Teal’c said, bowing his head.

Oh, brother, Sam thought. She was about to dismiss the entire
incident and call for some order, when movement from Colonel O’Neill
and Daniel caught her eye. She frowned, staring at them. The both of
them fidgeted, puffing out their chests as they rolled their shoulders
back. Sam fought back the urge to roll her eyes.

It was going to be a long night.

“We should begin,” Anu said, beckoning her daughter to her side. “We
have many things to discuss and empty bellies to fill.”

—————————–

Soon the room was filled with the clang of metal against metal and the
hearty laughter of inebriated celebrants. Sam found herself cheering
along with them, drinking and eating to her heart’s content. She was
unaware of the scowling threesome by her side. That is, until they
made themselves known.

“Are you almost done?” Colonel O’Neill asked.

“Oh,” Sam said, wiping her mouth as some of the wine dribbled down her
chin. “Yes, you can go ahead.”

O’Neill’s glare lingered, giving Sam the distinct impression he was
subtly calling rank on her. The matching frowns she received from
Daniel and Teal’c didn’t make her feel any better.

This wasn’t her fault. She was only following the rules of the
society, just like they had wanted. She was guaranteeing their
survival. She was doing as she was told.

She tried not to consider this payback for all the times she had been
delegated to the back of the room while the men took over.

Finally, the three of them turned to eat their food, now that Sam was
done. Part of her felt a little guilty for having taken so long to
finish her own meal, but at the same time it would have seemed strange
for her to rush through her meal just so that they could begin. But
despite her rationalization, Sam felt her cheeks warm as her teammates
devoured their food.

She might as well get this over with so they could get back to the SGC.

Sam turned to Anu, putting on her best face. “I would like for us to
talk trade, if possible.”

Anu nodded, bringing down her cup. “You have come far for trade.”

“Yes, we have,” Sam said. “We travel searching for new medicines,
technology, and defense weapons to protect ourselves. In turn, we are
willing to offer medicines and supplies of our own.”

“I have noticed that you have taken interest in our defensive shields.”

Anu definitely had a keen sense of observation. “That’s right,” Sam
said. “I’m interested in how your technology interfaces with your
city.”

Anu nodded, but her gaze shifted to the rest of SG-1, where it started
to linger as she continued. “Surely, if your men are strong, your
women are stronger. Why would you need such defensive weapons?”

Sam forced a smile and snuck a peek at “her men.” Colonel O’Neill and
Daniel kept shoving food into their mouths, to the point Sam thought
they would choke. Teal’c had already finished, sitting serenely by
O’Neill’s side, though she thought she saw him eyeing the remains on
their plates.

Sam wanted to disappear.

“Yes, our people are strong,” she said. “But we are a cautious people
and we like to take as many steps as possible to protect ourselves.”

That answer seemed to appease Anu. She seemed to consider the
response, leaning back in her chair. Though, the way she kept eyeing
her teammates made Sam uneasy.

“Are all your men strong?”

“They’re not for trade,” Sam said quickly, placing a protective hand
on Daniel’s arm. He froze and stopped chewing, his mouth still full,
as he turned to her, puzzled. She offered him a reassuring smile, even
though she was convinced he hadn’t been paying attention.

Anu laughed, amused in what Sam read as a demeaning way. It was one
that Sam had come across one too many times during her basic training.
She set her jaw, keeping her gaze level with Anu, demonstrating that
she meant business. But the other woman just shook her head.

“We do not trade our men,” Anu said, giving Sam the distinct feeling
she was being talked down to again. But at the same time, she felt
relieved.

“We don’t trade our men, either,” Sam said. “I-I just wanted to -”

Anu smiled, but this time the smile was more motherly and
affectionate. “I understand. I would be as protective as you if my men
were like yours.” Anu patted her hand, the second real, informal
contact Sam had experienced with the Sinnu. “Do not worry over them.
They will be safe here. I shall guarantee it.”

Sam nodded, feeling her muscles unwind. Protection by the head of
state. That sounded promising.

“I consider your request a worthy one,” Anu said. “And I will agree to
allow you to study our devices. However, we of the Sinnu ask trade in
return.”

“Of course,” Sam said. “What are your requests?”

Anu glanced over at Teal’c and then back to Sam. “We would like the
secrets to how you make your men so strong.”

Sam’s cordial smile started to wane, and she felt at a loss on how to
respond. That uneasy feeling she had experienced just a little while
ago came back with a rush.

And to make matters worse, now the rest of her team decided to take an
interest in the conversation. Or maybe they had all along.

“Ever try a gym?” Colonel O’Neill said.

“Sir…”

“Right, I know. Mum’s the word.” He frowned, catching Teal’c taking
the last of his bread.

“Your men seem to have a great love for talking,” Anu said. “It is
true your customs must be different than ours.”

“Oh yeah. Our men love to talk,” Sam said, forcing a quiet laugh.

“This is very good,” Daniel said, his mouth full, as he used his piece
of bread like a sponge to soak up the last of the juices on his plate.
He swallowed, and then lowered his voice. “Can you ask for some books?
If they keep insisting that we’re strong, that must mean that their
men are…uh, not as strong,” he said, obviously choosing his words
carefully. “I’d like to see if I can figure out why.”

Sam thought that might be their best bet at this point. She couldn’t
agree to tell the Anu their “secrets” if she didn’t have a clue what
they were talking about.

“We would gladly share with you how we make our men strong,” Sam said,
hoping the little exaggeration wouldn’t be caught. “But in order for
us to be thorough, we would like access to some of your historical
documents for comparison purposes.”

Anu frowned, almost appearing confused by the request. It was her
daughter that spoke.

“Why would you need to see such documents?” she asked, eyeing Sam
closely. “Our history is our life. Our tools are our protection.” Aya
turned to her mother. “I do not trust the strangers.”

“I promise not to exploit you or your culture,” Daniel said, causing
Sam to cringe. He of all people should know not to violate one of the
most important rules of this society – speaking out to the sovereign.
“I just want to learn about your people so we can become better
friends.”

But Daniel’s need for knowledge could not be quelled sometimes. Sam
waited silently for any kind of rebuke from Anu or Aya, but it didn’t
come. Instead of becoming outraged at his transgression, both mother
and daughter stared at Daniel and then Sam in shock. “He can read?”

Now, it was Sam’s turn to be shocked. “Yes, my men can read.”

“All of them?” Anu asked in disbelief.

Sam shot a worried look over to the rest of her team. O’Neill was
thankfully silent, pensive, watching the entire conversation
thoughtfully. Teal’c was also quiet, his hands folded on the table,
but everything about him told Sam he was alert and in control. It was
Daniel that concerned her the most, as he appeared ready to jump out
of his skin in his eagerness to join the conversation.

She turned back to Anu. “Yes, all of them.”

The revelation stunned the Sinnu leader. She wiped her chin as she
thought. “What-what would you like for your men?” she finally asked.

The question caused near chaos by Sam’s side. Daniel was nearly
bouncing in his seat, urging her to continue with wild motions of his
hands.

“Anything on your culture and history,” she said. “Science. Technology.”

“Weapons,” O’Neill said under his breath.

“Weaponry. Anything.”

Anu looked positively horrified, almost as if the thought sickened
her. She threw her napkin down and turned her head away.

The distress in their leader caused a commotion that rippled
throughout the dining hall, sending shock waves through Anu’s royal
servants and other stately officials. At this point, Sam wasn’t even
sure what she’d done that was wrong.

“What did we do?” O’Neill asked, leaning over Daniel’s plate.

“Perhaps we have asked for too much,” Teal’c said.

Sam hoped not. She had felt like maybe she had been getting somewhere
with Anu. Now, who knew? Obviously the woman was upset.

What was that word of respect Daniel had told her? There was one that
he said to use in case things got ugly. She knew it meant lady…

“Beleti Anu,” Sam said, trying to sound as apologetic and submissive
as she could. “Please, we didn’t – “

Anu held up her hand and shook her head, searching for consolation in
her daughter’s embrace. Instead, one of her servants stood and came to
Sam’s side.

“I don’t mean any disrespect, Irnini,” the small woman said, “but are
you certain it is wise to put such a strain on your men?”

Sam frowned. “What?”

“You trouble Beleti Anu with your words,” the servant said. “She does
not wish torture on such a fair race.”

Sam wasn’t sure she was following. “We mean no harm. We have no desire
to hurt anyone. Not even our own.”

Now, it was the aide’ s turn to be confused. “I’m sorry, but how can
you say such things?”

“Carter…” O’Neill warned.

She waved her hand to stop him. She had to appear that she was in
charge, after all. “Anu, I’m sorry. I-”

“I understand that your men are strong, but they are not infallible,”
Anu said suddenly. “I am troubled you wish to push them to such
lengths. Men are of feeble minds.”

Sam was speechless. She had understood that the men on this planet
were second-class citizens. She had understood that there were rules
that governed how men and women should act. She had understood that
there was the implication that men from Earth must have some kind of
physical superiority over the men here. Sam had not been prepared for
a society that thought men were mentally incompetent.

Apparently, neither had the rest of SG-1.

“What has led you to this assumption?” Teal’c asked, his voice
beginning to sound defensive.

“All men are frail beings,” Aya said simply. “Everyone knows this.”

“Frail?” Daniel asked.

Again, Sam laid her hand on Daniel’s arm, this time to keep him in
check. She still wasn’t sure of the Sinnu’s sensibilities, and she
didn’t want to insult them somehow.

“I believe there may be a difference in our peoples,” Sam said slowly,
trying to be as careful as possible. “Most of our men – and our women
- are strong in mind and body.”

Anu’s gaze fell back to Colonel O’Neill, Daniel, and Teal’c. She was
studying them, no doubt, but whether she was looking for some flaw to
dispute Sam or weighing the possibility Sam could be right, she
couldn’t tell.

Her roaming gaze stopped on Daniel’s glasses. So, flaws were it.

She sighed. She wished Daniel could take care of this. She just wanted
to see what the Sinnu had in terms of technology at this point.

“That’s not to say our men are perfect,” Sam said quickly, ignoring
the mutters from beside her. “But our men do take on active roles in
our lives.”

“On our world, men are soldiers and scholars,” Daniel said. “Men are
involved in all industries.

Anu frowned, looking to Sam for confirmation.

“It’s true,” Sam said.

“I find this difficult to believe,” Anu said, shaking her head.

Daniel went to open his mouth, but Sam leaned forward to block him
from view. She thought he’d spoken up enough during this meal, and she
wasn’t really interested in pissing off any of the locals just yet.

“Why?” Sam asked.

Anu sighed, hesitating, before she finally rose to her feet. She
motioned for Sam and the others to follow. “Come,” she said. “I will
show you.”

—————————-

They were led up a flight of stairs, heading to an area that had to be
Anu’s personal quarters. If Sam had considered the hallways and rooms
SG-1 had seen before to be lavish, they were nothing compared to the
corridors they were walking through now.

Gold inlays held together walls of gems of various colors, sizes, and
shapes. Sam was left wondering just how the Sinnu could afford such
extravagance, or if they had slave labor that worked in local mines.
Maybe they traded with other rich villages or neighboring worlds.

The ziggurat seemed as lush as a Goa’uld vessel.

Sam stiffened, quickly turning to Colonel O’Neill. Based on the
grimace he wore on his face, she realized he was thinking the same
thing.

“Teal’c?” she asked.

“I believe this building to be Goa’uld in nature,” he said, confirming
her fears. “However, there appear to have been several modifications
made to the walls.”

“The Goa’uld haven’t been home for a while?” Colonel O’Neill asked.

“That may be the case, O’Neill.”

“Okay, well, keep your eyes peeled.” When Teal’c frowned, O’Neill
shook his head. “Let’s just be careful. That means you too, Daniel.”

Daniel turned away from the art he had been studying once he heard his
name. “What?”

He patted Daniel on the back before as they started around the next
corner. Sam and Teal’c moved on ahead of them, keeping close watch on
their hosts. Anu had been extremely quiet during this whole time, as
well as her daughter, Aya. There was a definite feeling of gravity in
the air, one that bothered Sam in ways she couldn’t quite categorize
yet.

“Right through here,” Anu said, guiding them through a set of doors.
“I ask you to keep your voices low.”

Sam nodded, but kept her hand on her weapon. She and Teal’c entered
first, then Colonel O’Neill and Daniel. She stopped, surprised what
she saw.

Inside the ornate bedchamber, there was a lone man sitting in a chair.
He was seated by a small balcony, yet far enough where he would have
to walk to step out into the sunlight. He didn’t make a sound as they
approached.

“This is Urshanabi of the South,” Anu said. “He is my husband.”

Sam wasn’t sure what to say. The man looked as if he were in his
forties, but his face was worn and withered, his eyes sad and turned
inward. Sam instantly thought the man might be undernourished based on
his thinness and lack of body mass, but she knew that couldn’t be
right. Serving girls slipped in and out of the chambers, bringing with
them food, water, and other supplies, leaving Urshanabi fully stocked.
Sam noticed a tall, sturdy woman and another smaller, but sculpted
woman, who stood in the back of the room, overseeing the entire
operation. They noticeably cared for the man.

“He lost the ability to speak not long ago,” Anu said sadly.

“What happened?” Daniel asked.

Anu forced a smile as she came to stand beside her husband and pressed
her hand to his shoulder. “Urshanabi was always stronger than most. I
taught him to read and to manage some of the finances. But over the
past few years, he has become weaker.” She looked away, her fingers
sinking deeper into her husband’s shoulder. “I should not have pushed
him so hard.”

“Anu,” Sam said, keeping her voice gentle. “I don’t think you can
blame yourself for this.”

“Men are not made for this kind of stress no matter how strong they
are.” She glanced at the three male members of SG-1 before returned
her attention to Sam. “I urge you to reconsider placing such pressures
on your men.”

“I think we can handle it,” O’Neill said. His tone was anything but
light. Sam could see the concern in his face as he studied the
withering man who should be in the prime of his political life. “Are
all your men like him?”

“No,” Anu said. “But some of them succumb to the Blight more so than others.”

“Blight?” Daniel asked.

Teal’c frowned. “What is this Blight of which you speak?”

“There will be no answers to your questions,” Aya snapped. “You do not
follow our rules. I will not have you speak outwardly to my mother any
longer.”

“Aya, child, hush,” Anu said, raising her hand to quiet her daughter.
“If they are able to speak, let them speak. I will deem when they will
be silent.”

“I am afraid I must agree with Aya, Beleti,” the tall woman said.
“Continuous defiance of the rules shall make the goddess angry.”

Goddess. The uneasy feeling tripled. She caught the heightened sense
of caution in both O’Neill’s and Teal’c's postures and noticed Daniel
was already searching the room with his eyes for any hint of the
identity of this goddess.

Sam just hoped she wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon.

“Ningal, I am Anu of the South,” she said again, this time more
harshly. “I say who shall speak.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” O’Neill said, taking a step toward the couple, but
not before making a point to show his self-satisfaction to Aya and
Ningal with a smug, victorious grin. He moved to stand beside Sam and
eyed Urshanabi. “So, he’s suffering from this Blight?”

Anu nodded. “Our men are weak from the Blight. Only those that are
taxed beyond their abilities become Damu.”

“Damu?” Sam asked.

Daniel blinked. “Like a child.”

Sam glanced over to her commanding officer. He was not pleased. Sam
could imagine the questions that were running through his mind and
couldn’t help but feel nervous herself. They had no idea if they’d
walked onto a planet with an unknown contagion. They didn’t know
anything at all.

She would have thought they would have learned by now.

“When does the Blight happen?” Daniel asked.

“Our men are a fragile people,” Anu said sadly. “Man is born as such.”

“Your males are born with this Blight,” Teal’c stated.

“Yes,” Anu said. “It worsens as time goes by.”

Sam exhaled and released some of the tension in her shoulders. If the
men were born with the problem, then the chances of this being a
contagion SG-1 would bring back were slim. She could see the relief in
her teammates and couldn’t agree more.

“I’d really like to read your books,” Daniel said. He was nearly
bouncing again, this time not from excitement but just the need to
know. “Book, tablets, anything. Maybe we can help figure out why your
men are born with the Blight.”

“We have doctors,” O’Neill added. “Female ones at that. We can send
some people over here, have them take a look, and see if there’s
something we can do.”

“All of this in exchange for our books and some of our technology?”
Anu asked, squeezing her husband’s hand.

“Heck, we’ll send the docs over free of charge,” O’Neill with a small
smile. “But we’d appreciate a look at your shields and any other
gizmos you might have. Oh,” he said, bending the rim of his cap. “And
we’d love to have some of that.” He pointed to the archway.

“You have interest in our sacred metals,” Anu said.

“Sacred,” O’Neill repeated. He turned to Carter and rolled his eyes.
She was sure she heard a nearly inaudible oy escape his lips.

“Yes,” Sam said. “But we would only ask for the metal in ways that
would not harm you.”

Anu bit her lip as she considered their offer. But even now, Sam could
see that she seemed happier. It was if a heaviness had been lifted
from Anu’s shoulders. The woman looked freer, livelier. With a broad
grin that lit up her face, Anu moved away from her husband and
beckoned to the small silent woman that had been left in the corner.

“This is Siduri, our city’s best healer.” She clapped Siduri on the
shoulder. “She will work with you and your healers.” Anu released her
hold on the doctor and stood in front of Sam. “Any books that you need
are yours. Tablets. Scrolls. I shall have all of them delivered to
your suite, including information on our shields.”

The men – even Teal’c and Colonel O’Neill – looked pleased.

“Mother!” Aya shouted.

Anu ignored her. “I have set you up in my best suite. Ningal and Aya
will show you the way.” When Aya sighed and turned away, Anu narrowed
her eyes and dropped her voice. “You will show them the way.”

Aya didn’t respond to her mother, but led Ningal to the door. “This
way,” she said over her shoulder.

Sam thanked Anu for her help and exited the chambers. As she followed
Ningal and Aya down the corridor, she just hoped the fiery tempered
girl could hold it together long enough for them to finish
negotiations, maybe help these people, and go home.

——————————-

Sam nearly fell over when she saw the size of the suite. The Goa’uld
loved to live large, that was for sure. The suite was huge.

Instantly, Sam could sense the trace amounts of naquadah in some of
the doorways inside the suite. But for the most part, it seemed to be
constructed of stone, gold, and silver, along with some other metals
that Sam couldn’t identify at the moment. It was extravagance at its
best.

The main room was the largest, filled with plush couches and chairs,
tables with bowls filled with fruit and nuts, and a beautiful rug that
accentuated the middle of the room. The main room was obviously
created with some kind of hierarchical system in place; a common room
for lounging and reading also served as a bedroom. The large bed was
situated to her left, full with a drawback curtain for privacy. There
was no doubt in Sam’s mind this bed was meant for her. In fact, it was
obvious this entire room was created with a woman in mind.

The design impressed Sam. No mud hut or shanty little shack for her on
this mission. Sam wasn’t sure she’d actually go with this kind of
décor in her own home, but it sure made her tempted to go
archaeological in her house.

She wouldn’t tell that to Daniel, though.

Teal’c had already begun to investigate the other two rooms to her
suite. She assumed one would be her washroom and the other would be
for whoever was staying with her. In this case, the rest of her team.

Colonel O’Neill poked his head into one of the rooms. “I think I found
the ladies’ room. Whoa. Talk about fancy.”

“And I believe I have found the spare,” Teal’c said, dipping his head
inside the room as he stood in the doorway. He straightened his back.
“And the books for Daniel Jackson.”

“Oh?” Daniel squeezed between Sam and Aya to make his way to the spare
room. He stepped inside. “Oh,” he said, his voice flattening.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked.

“That’s…a lot of books.” He came back into the main room. “How did
you get those in there so fast?”

Neither Aya nor Ningal answered.

Sam sighed. From the corner of her eye, she caught Colonel O’Neill
leaning on the bathroom doorway, now looking thoroughly amused. Sam
just ignored him.

“It might be better to answer him,” Sam whispered to Aya. “He’s just
going to keep asking.”

Aya shot her a disgusted look, but complied anyway. “We have a rings
system in the hallway. It makes transportation of large goods easier.”

Daniel nodded. “Though, that would make sense with the Goa’uld,” he
said through a half closed mouth. Then, he was back to the spare room.

“You have everything that you requested,” Aya said. “You should not be
in need throughout the night. But if you require assistance, there is
a communicator on the wall.”

“Yes,” said Ningal. “And the books are from my personal collections.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.”

Though the sentiment was nice, Sam didn’t feel any warmth in Ningal’s
voice. She started to think this stay was going to be a long and
grueling one.

“I have a question,” Daniel said, poking his head out of the spare.

“Daniel…” O’Neill warned.

“No, no. Just a quick question.” Daniel turned to Ningal. “So, what do you do?”

Ningal did not answer.

“Are you a historian?

Ningal rolled her eyes, keeping her gaze above Daniel’s head. “No, I am not.”

“Daniel,” O’Neill said, plopping himself down on Sam’s large bed.
“Stop nagging the woman.”

“Sir?” Sam asked.

“All right. All right,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender.
“It’s your mission.” He leaned back, his smile widening.

Sam clenched her teeth, doing everything in her power to keep her
frustration at bay. Both Colonel O’Neill and Daniel were not making
her job any easier. At least she could count on Teal’c.

When she went to ask for his assistance in keeping O’Neill and Daniel
in line, she found that Teal’c was already busy. Busy eyeing the young
Aya from head to toe.

Sam’s scowl deepened.

“No, I’m just curious,” Daniel said, speaking to Ningal again. “These
are your books, though, right?”

“Yes,” Ningal said with irritation. “I am spiritual advisor to the Beleti Anu.”

“Oh, like a vizier. You would be the best one to know about customs
and rituals associated with the goddess.”

For the first time since they had met her, Ningal appeared interested
in SG-1. “You seek knowledge of the ways of our goddess?”

“Indeed,” Teal’c said, joining Daniel.

Ningal smiled, arching her eyebrows. “Nammu is our supreme goddess.
When she returns, you may ask her.” With that, Ningal turned her back
on them and exited the room.

Aya grimaced, caught between an unspoken apology over Ningal’s
behavior, and her own annoyance with Sam’s team. “You have what you
need,” she said quickly. “Goodnight.”

Sam watched her go. As soon as the doors shut behind Aya, she turned
to the three men that were starting to make her life a living hell.
“Can you make it any more difficult for me?”

“Relax, Carter,” O’Neill said. He was still on her bed.
“Everything’s under control.”

Sam was starting to think it wasn’t. With a sigh, she ran her fingers
through her hair, taking another look around the room. She figured
that she and Daniel were going to be up all night pouring over the
information that Anu had provided for them. At the same time, she also
thought this suite might be too comfy for her own good.

“Teal’c, do you think Ningal was telling the truth?” Sam asked. “Do
you think this Nammu goddess is on her way back?”

“It is highly unlikely,” he said.

“Why’s that?” O’Neill asked, raising his head to catch a glimpse at Teal’c.

The corner of Teal’c's mouth twisted into a knowing smile. “Nammu was
killed in battle by Ra’s forces many years ago.” The smile remained as
he moved to allow Daniel access to the spare room.

“Nice,” Colonel O’Neill said. After Daniel reemerged carrying an
armful of literature, he sunk back onto the bed. “That solves that
problem.”

Sam glared at her commanding officer. O’Neill grinned, stretching his
sweaty body all over her freshly laid sheets. While she was glad that
she didn’t have to worry about the possibility of a contagion, a
Goa’uld returning, or some slave trader coming to snatch the rest of
her team, Sam was getting annoyed that Colonel O’Neill seemed to be
making a concentrated effort to dirty her sheets. And while Sam was
used to sleeping in tents, dirt, mud, and God knows what else, there
was a perfectly good bed waiting for her right there.

He turned his head and raised his eyebrows. “Problem, Carter?”

Dammit, he knew it. “You find this amusing, sir?”

“Yup. Now you know how it feels when I’m in charge.” He moved back to
face the ceiling, before he laced his fingers behind the back of his
head and closed his eyes. “This time, I have the easier job.”

That was it. Sam narrowed her eyes. Teal’c and Daniel took a step back.

“You think my job is easy?” She grabbed one of the scrolls from
Daniel’s hands and tossed it at O’Neill. “You read those schematics
and tell me.”

Colonel O’Neill winced and rubbed his arm, despite the fact the scroll
was made out of a light, durable paper. Slowly, he unraveled it and
shook his head, tossing it aside. “Lighten up, Carter. Everything’s
turned out fine.”

“Do you have any idea how embarrassing you are?” Sam finally said,
again addressing all three of them. “That banquet could have been a
disaster.” She stopped, finally realizing what this was about and
crossed her arms. “You’re getting even with me.”

“We were hungry, Carter. Hungry.” Colonel O’Neill stretched his arms
over his head, his keen sense of detail coming to the fore as he
studied the room. “If you hadn’t taken four hours to eat one damn
plate, maybe we would have shown some better manners.”

Sam snorted. “We’re trying to impress these people. Our aerial surveys
show high concentrations of naquadah in their soil.”

“Right now, I’m thinking that’s the least of our worries,” he muttered.

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think Jack’s right,”
Daniel said, causing O’Neill to sit with a start. “If we’re going to
go by what Anu has told us, that men on this planet are born with this
disease, one that gets worse over time, and there used to be a Goa’uld
on this planet…”

“You’re thinking genetic manipulation,” Sam said.

O’Neill groaned. “Please tell me Shamu isn’t Nirrti.”

“Nammu,” Daniel corrected. “And no. I mean, I don’t think so…”

“As I have said, Nammu is dead,” Teal’c said. “Nirrti and Nammu are
not one and the same.”

“And you’re sure she – it – is dead?” O’Neill asked.

“Indeed.”

Sam still was bothered by this scenario, as she knew they all were.
Her gaze fell back to the stack that Daniel was balancing in his arms.
It was possible that the answers they were looking for could be buried
in the vast amount of books and tablets that had been sent to them.
Sam knew one thing for sure; standing around arguing all night wasn’t
going to find them the answer.

She sighed, giving one last longing look to her bed before she reached
over and grabbed some of the documents from Daniel. “I guess we should
start,” she said.