DANIEL SEES JACKS LIGHTING UP. SMOKING BABY. RIGHT TO TELL!

~ Д Ψ Ψ μ ∑ µ ≈ Ξ ≠ Φ π ∑ ≍ ∁ ~

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"..Does it really matter?"

"Of course it does."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Daniel Jackson is trying to create a theory O'Neill."

"T do you mean prove a theory?"

"No. He is currently in the commission of collecting together all of the applicable pieces in order that he may then create a single theory."

"Oh I see. Okay, so just explain to me why its important."

"Jack, nobody seems to agree with me, except Teal'c whos been giving me a lot of support. I'm, we're sure that the colour stone slabs dotted all over the place round the pyramid mean something."

"Something Daniel?"

"Yeah."

"Something what?"

"I'm not altogether quite sure but I do think its some kind of err, um.. ..message."

"Ah, from who and to whom?"

"We are uncertain O'Neill."

"Professor Heslop, Professor Eamon, hes sending some reference material over. The series of pictographs Teal'c's been examining.."

"Yeah, the weather report, right?"

"Em, yeah. We think these, together with the colour stone slabs may mean something."

"Okay Daniel I'll accept that, and what do you want me to do about it?"

"Well, right now Sams busy with Bill Lee, shes fully absorbed with getting the Skull fired up. So what I want to do is, me and Teal'c and maybe just one unit, go in on a very quick Mission to the pyramid. We only need to take scrapings off a couple of the colour stones and from a few of the surrounding slabs, so we'll be able to compare them, and then we'll come straight back."

"Oh you want to go to the 377 pyramid?"

"Yeah."

"Err really, you want to go there?"

"Yeah."

"Nice try!"

"Oh come on Jack, we'll be quick."

"Teal'c?"

"Daniel Jackson feels such a trip is necessary in order to obtain grains of masonry."

"Daniel?"

"Jack if we can just get there, get these samples, it might well tell us something that Siler's images aren't doing."

"Hah, I see. And will you be wanting to travel there by the Ninth Chevron as well, just for the ride?"

"If that's what it takes."

"Look Daniel, you must know theres no way on Earth that I'm gonna let you go. You know that right?"

"Well.. ..em.. ..well Jack, I felt sure once I'd explained the importance of this you'd concede."

"But you haven't explained the importance of it Daniel.. ..come to think of it, seems like you haven't explained anything at all, I don't know, have you?"

Daniel and Teal'c were in General O'Neill's office. Daniel was convinced that taking samples from the colour slab masonry and also from other surrounding blocks, would reveal that the colour slabs were of a different age to the rest of the pyramid brick work. As Teal'c said, Daniel was trying to create a theory. He had the pieces but he just couldn't quite fit them together. By establishing the colour slabs were of a different age to the main construction, that might just be enough for him to knit his findings into a feasible idea.

"Jack the thing is we've been constantly monitoring the situation of P7X 377, theres absolutely no movement whatsoever outside the pyramid. We think the Nebulium may not even be able to come out of the pyramid. So.. ..I can't really see a problem."

"No of course you can't Daniel. I can see a problem in having to turn everything upside down to come and look for the two of you. Did you say none of these colour slabs were on ground level?"

"Yeah that's right Jack, they start two storeys up."

"I'm not going to be able to help you in that case."

"Why, why what was you thinking?"

"I was actually thinking if maybe somehow we could get a M.A.L.P. in there, take a sample for you. The U.A.V., it can flyby but it can't take a sample. Without the M.A.L.P., nope I'm sorry, nothing I can do."

"But Jack?"

"Daniel Lookahh. Ou, Ahh! Okay that's it, that's it. Later!"

"Jack what is it?"

"Nothing. Nothing, thanks, see you laterrrhhh. Ehh."

"What are you talking about see you later?"

"Yes Daniel Jackson we must leave."

"I'm not going anywhere Teal'c."

"Daniel! Finished! That's it. You can't go! You can not go. Over! That's it, meetin's finished, see yaaahhh! Aahh."

"Jack whats wrong with you?"

"Nothing! Daniel nothing. Just close the door on the way out!"

"Yes we will. Thank you O'Neill."

"Ta, see ya."

The General, with arms outstretched down to either side of his desk's leather rimmed ink blotter, was leaning heavily and grimacing in pain. He flopped down into his red wingback exec chair. Teal'c opened the office door.

"After you Daniel Jackson."

"After me! Me? Teal'c I'm not going anywhere. We're not leaving this office!"

Daniel ran at Teal'c, took the door handle off him and pushed the door to, closed. He lent back against the door and stared angrily at General O'Neill.

"Okay Jack forget the pyramid, scrap it. Whats going on? Whats wrong? Are you in pain? Whats wrong with you?"

"Daniel Jackson I insist we must leave, now."

"Teal'cccc!!.. ..I insist we don't leave. Jack we're not going anywhere!"

"Daniel, please just go.."

"Sorry Jack no can do."

"Daniel look, I'm asking you as a friend, please just go now."

"Jack, I'm telling you as a friend, we're not leaving you."

"I mean it Daniel, leave nowwwaahhh. Aahh. Aahhh."

"Jack??"

"Ahh gad damn. No, no, tttsssuuu, ouu!"

The General was breathing rapidly and heavy but trying to maintain a rhythm. He remembered Cauac. He remembered how the pain had left him the last time. He remembered how is heart beat had turned to normal. He began to breath heavily in and out, deep, deep, deep, in and out, in and out. He kept breathing, deeply. Daniel remained completely silent.

Teal'c was concerned and on guard. The General was behind his desk and kneeling now, his right hand still on his desk top, his left hand, flat palm pressed against the floor. He was lurched over and breathing deeply.

"Aaaahhh. Oh gad no. No!! aahhhaa."

He would have none of it. This time he was better prepared, he kept his sensibility. He let his genuinely laid back nature come into force, accomplishing calmness and belaying any possible shifting transition.. ..trauma.

"Jackkkk.. ..whats going on?"

"Nothing Daniel. Its nothing."

"I don't think so."

"Then don't think."

Daniel could see the beginnings of super bright light tendrils creeping up the General's left arm.

"Jackkkk you're changing.. ..you're.. .."

"No!! No I'm not Daniel! Just got a bit of a problem that's all. Nothing to worry abouttt aaaahhhhttttt aahhh!!."

"I'll say."

General O'Neill was breathing deep for grounding. The light had gone out. All the bright filaments had retraced. The pain was gone. He felt the need to carry on breathing deeply just to make sure it didn't return. He pushed himself up off the floor and back into the seat of his comfy chair. Just then it actually felt like a gurney. Just what he needed. Daniel looked on horrified. Teal'c remained calm and ready.

"Look Daniel this says between us. Goes no further okay."

"Teal'c you already know about this don't you??"

"I do Daniel Jackson."

"Look see, this isn't right. You should have told me Jack. You should have told me!"

The General had not phased. He refused to submit to the fine wisps of Stellar light that had attempted to engulf him. He was practically lying down in his chair behind his desk. But it was clear that although he looked dishevelled and was wet with sweat, he was quickly regaining composure.

"That's exactly what Teal'c said Daniel."

"See!!"

"You're right. Sorry.. ..I mean that Daniel."

"Okay, okay. Whats going on?"

"Em, we think its something to do with the Ancients. Maybe Thor didn't get everything out."

"Or perhaps it is natural progression Daniel Jackson. O'Neill's previous contacts with the Ancients may have released in him some latent ability. He may be evolving as the Ancients once did. Thor himself said that the Asgard believe O'Neill to be a higher being."

"Yeah they did say something like that Teal'c. Jack how do you feel about this?"

"Oh you mean on a scale of one to a zillion. Not happy Daniel. Really don't like it."

"Has anything like this happened before?"

"Yeah, for the first time, two days ago."

"But nothing else?"

"Err no nothing."

"Yes! O'Neill took flight during sleep, from the confines of his bedroom to the early morning open branches of the oak tree at the bottom of his garden."

"Jeezzzasss!"

"Yes Daniel. I forgot about that, sort of."

"What, forgot? True though, you've practically been working round the clock. Well okay, was it the same like this, a few strands of light from your hand?"

"It was a lot more than a few the other day, but luckily it was only from my hand. If anyone finds out about this I'm out, I'll err, I don't know I may have to stand down."

"No!! No! no.. ..no."

"Well thank you Daniel, but err, I may do."

"Look nobody's going to find out Jack. I mean come on, I didn't even know. Who else is going to find out?"

"Well there doesn't seem to be any warning involve.. ..unpredictable glowing lights.."

"Whats Sam had to say?"

"Em.."

"Does Sam know?"

"She does not."

"No! And shes not gonna."

"She has a right to know. She has to be told."

"That decision is not yours to make Daniel Jackson."

"Well I think it is Teal'c. She has a right to know, apart from that she'll never forgive us if we don't tell her."

"She'll understand."

"No Jack.. ..she won't! Not something this important. You have to tell her."

"Not right now."

"When?"

"I don't know Daniel. Don't you realise how much shes got to deal with at the moment?"

"Yes Jack of course I do. Yeah shes busy. Very, very busy. But you know she'll never forgive us, any of us, if we don't tell her. You can't keep her out of this Jack."

"Man o man! Yersss Daniel you're right! You're right okay. Just.. ..just let me find the right time."

"Jack I really don't think there is a right time for this."

"Damn it Daniel!"

"Daniel Jackson, O'Neill is concerned about the effect this will have on Colonel Carter. She may not be able to properly perform her duties. She will doubtless become troubled and deeply disturbed."

"Yeah very true, we're all gonna have that problem, even so Teal'c, she should know."

"I agree with you Daniel Jackson."

"Jack?"

"I'm thinking.. ..Daniel do you have any residual effects. Any flare ups..?"

"Can't say that I do. No. Or should I say not yet, but I'll let you know if anything starts to happen. To be truthful I'm not expecting any recurrence Jack. I just don't feel it. You know, inside, I don't feel as though its there any more."

"Gotcha."

"Jack you know theres implications. We've got a lot to consider here."

"You're telling me. And its not helping that Thors not been back in touch."

"Have you told him?"

"No I've not told him. Don't want him to feel as though I'm pressurising him to get in touch.. ..theres obviously something going on in his quarters too, something with this Nebulium I'll wager."

"Yep that's true, I'm pretty sure he'd be straight round if he knew about this."

"I hope so."

"Indeed he would O'Neill."

"Daniel do you know how I can stop this happening?"

"No absolutely don't and em, I don't think Oma's going to turn up anytime soon to ask about it either."

"To bad. I was looking forward to a visit.. ..get it sorted out!"

~ Д Ψ Ψ μ ∑ µ ≈ Ξ ≠ Φ π ∑ ≍ ∁ ~

General O'Neill hadn't been allowing his recovery Teams through to P7X 377 to recover the U.A.V.s that had been used to scan the pyramid. He certainly wasn't about to let Daniel and Teal'c go there to scrape crusts of sand off a coloured stone slab.

He offered them a compromise. He said he would have Siler rig up yet another U.A.V. for more intense imaging. Daniel decided it was perhaps better to put the issue aside for the time being. It seemed they had more pressing matters to deal with.

~  Л Δ Π Σ Ω χ ψ Γ Ξ ζ μ ~

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