STARGATE: EXPLORER

by Lady Grey
Alpha/Beta by Jude

October 27

Two Months Later

The city of Shahr was as exciting to Daniel as it was beautiful. With his growing grasp of the various Furling dialects, he had graduated from traveling with Claire as his guide and translator to exploring alone, seeking out anything and everything of interest to him as his familiarity with the alien language increased. The shops, which boasted abundant wares, fascinated him. He visited schools, which were filled with bright, well-behaved children eager to learn. Temples were filled with believers who followed a single religion.  Galleries dazzled him with art beyond imagining. Performances of music, dance, and theater left him overwhelmed with emotion. His life was rich and full, and he fell headlong in love with Furling culture.

Some parts, however, were a little harder for him to bear.

All two billion Furlings were closely monitored, their movements tracked by genetically engineered bio-markers implanted at birth. Mental health screenings were provided routinely, and those who presented a danger to themselves or others were withdrawn from society and treated until they were stable. Each citizen’s life experiences were scanned daily, and Daniel was no exception. Automated memory recorders were built into sleeping areas, and all mental activity was logged as individuals slept. 

As the council of elders had told him, there was no true privacy for anyone, nor any expectation of it. Every life was a public matter, every thought potentially common knowledge. That bothered him a great deal, but the Furlings believed it provided a greater good to the community, ensuring safety of the citizens and increasing the knowledge base at the same time. Daniel understood the value the People placed in the practice and accepted that he didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

He made daily visits to the central library to study their history, verifying the stories he’d been told by examining the Furlings’ oldest artifacts from the beginning of their exile on the planet they called Furdani. The text had been chiseled into ancient stone panels now housed in a special display room, written in each of the languages of the Four Races. Daniel’s fluency in both Ancient and Asgard told him the tale in excruciating detail. 

On the same morning he finished the translation, he took a walk to clear his head, letting his gaze roam around the various priceless objects in the museum. Wandering from room to room, he found other tidbits of the Furlings’ past, including some more recent items.

He let his thoughts drift, just looking at the wondrous bits of alien history, until he came to large glass case.  Inside it were five familiar uniforms in various shades of drab greens and browns. One was flattened and arranged in pieces. Another clothed a human-shaped manikin made of unpainted clay. The other three were in neatly folded stacks, all of them bearing bloodstains now dried into brown crusts. Alongside them, a holographic display showed a three-dimensional DNA helix that looked sickeningly familiar.

Daniel recognized the BDUs of the team that had escorted him to the planet, including a cast-off one of his own uniforms. As far as he could tell, every piece of their personal equipment was present, except for the stores that had been left at the campsite and what he had taken on his journey in the mule. His stomach tightened as he looked at the clothes, reading the nametapes of each of his dead teammates: Dixon, Bosworth, Satterfield…

Then his gaze landed on Hailey's tactical vest.

Her radio was still there, still intact.

Resting beside it in the display was her GDO.

He could go home!

Struggling to contain his excitement, he touched a communication device he wore over his left ear – standard issue for every Furling citizen – and requested contact with Scout.

A moment later, the Forest Clan elder’s voice came through the tiny amplifier, speaking in newly acquired English, flavored with an elegant Furling accent.

“Greetings, my friend. How may I help you?”

“I'm looking at a display in the library,” Daniel said, trying to contain his excitement, “and I'd like to borrow a couple of things from it. If I can do that, I'll also need transportation to the stargate.  I may be able to contact some of the survivors of my world at an outpost we maintained. The stargate there is protected, and they have to know who's coming before they'll allow visitors to enter.”

He took a long, deep breath, as the momentous impact of his own words reverberated inside him.  “I want to go home, Scout.  I want to see my people, if they're still alive.” 

There was a pause, during which Daniel fleetingly wondered if the Furlings might not want him to leave. 

“I will have the library master retrieve the items for you,” the elder returned graciously. “Then I will meet you at your home to help you pack whatever you wish to take with you.” 

Daniel wilted a little with relief. "Thank you. I can't tell you how much this means to me."
 

"I would imagine it is the most important thing to you," his friend returned with a smile in his voice,  "as it should be. They will be pleased to see you, yes?"

"Yes," Daniel agreed. "Very much. And I'll be happy to see them, too."

Half an hour later, Daniel was back at home, searching through his gear, choosing what he might need to take with him, and placing only the most important things into a rucksack he normally used for shopping.  His hands were shaking as he slipped the last item into the bag.

Pausing for a moment in his haste, he ran through a mental list of items and made sure he had everything he'd need.  His heart pounding and mouth dry, he checked the precious GDO unit for at least the twentieth time, patting it where he had it strapped to his wrist beneath his sleeve. Instinctively, he reached up to his left shoulder to fondle the SGC-issue radio, now fastened to his black cloak.

When he was sure he hadn't forgotten anything, he turned to face Scout, who had been watching him from his easy slouch against the bedroom doorjamb.

“I think that's everything I'll need for a few days,” Daniel told him with a nervous smile.

The Forest elder tilted his head, arms crossed over his chest. “You have forgotten the most important item,” he remarked with a nod toward the nightstand by Daniel’s bed. “You must take the Hub with you. It is of no use to us.”

“Oh. Of course. Thanks.” Daniel was rattled; his T-shirt was sticking to his back and armpits, and his face was sweating. The apartment was temperate, but he was nervous as hell, excited about seeing other human faces for the first time in months.

He picked up the portable DHD and started to tuck it away. Then his thoughts screeched to a halt and he studied the small round device in his hands, realizing how terribly important it was to those he'd be leaving behind, the alien race who had become his friends. He lifted his gaze to Scout's, hoping for understanding.

“It is not a requirement that you release the lock for the People,” Scout assured him, lifting his chin proudly. “We will allow you to leave this world whenever you choose, and will welcome you back as our friend, even without the promise of our freedom. There is no obligation here.” He smiled, his expression sad but genuinely warm.

That admission made Daniel feel a little guilty. He had the power to unlock the ‘gate and set the Furlings free, but he hadn’t come to a decision yet whether it was the right thing to do. He still had serious questions, and needed more time to consider reasons why they might have been exiled here by the Ancients. The Furlings' generosity and kindness toward him could still be a ploy, part of a trap they might spring at the last moment, making him a prisoner rather than a guest. He just wasn’t sure, not so much because of anything they had or hadn’t done; mostly he wasn’t sure of himself.

He'd been through a lot recently, and he was aware that his judgment might be skewed in their favor, considering he’d been homeless, and they’d taken him in. He’d rather be safe than sorry and needed to keep digging into their culture and history, to be sure his decisions were rational before he unlocked the stargate for the People to travel to other worlds. It would be a momentous decision with enormous ramifications for everyone involved, and he needed to take his time, be sure of himself and of the Furlings.

Daniel kept his opinions and uncertainties to himself as he shouldered his pack and checked the radio and GDO yet again.

“Come," Scout offered with a smile. "I will escort you to the Wheel. This time, your journey will be shorter than the one that brought you to Shahr.” 

"Oh?" Daniel followed the Forest elder out into the courtyard with a brief backward glance at his apartment.

"When you first arrived, we could have brought you right to the city," Scout explained, "but we did not know who you were or if you meant us harm. We took the long way because we wished to learn more about you. Now we have no such need for caution, and you are in a hurry to return home. I will escort you directly to the Wheel."

It was a short walk to the transporter nearest Daniel’s apartment. Moments later, they stood at the pillar beside the stargate, the portable DHD in Daniel's hand. Then he lifted his wary gaze to meet the elder’s amber eyes.

There was heartbreaking sadness in that alien face. Scout bravely lifted his chin and offered a warm smile with his farewell. “Good journey, Daniel.”  He stepped away, hands clasped behind his back, moving well behind the stone pillar. “I cannot approach closer, or I will be incinerated when the Wheel activates.”

Daniel’s mouth dropped open at that revelation, and he turned to look at the stargate, anger at the Ancients simmering in the pit of his belly. So that was the purpose of the crystal crown around the device! If the scanner in the pillar detected one of the Third Race in proximity to an outgoing wormhole, he’d be destroyed.

Daniel turned to the alien standing behind the stone. “I'll be back,” he promised fervently. “I know my friends will want to meet you, too. I'd like to bring them here, if that's all right with the People.”

“They will also be welcome here, Daniel Jackson,” said Scout warmly. He offered an elegant bow.

“Thank you, el-Mikha.”

Then Daniel turned to the matter at hand. Ever the scientist, he had to check his theory that the small device was a lock on the stargate. He dialed the Alpha site with the full-sized DHD, but the great wheel didn’t spin. Absolutely nothing happened.

Using the glyphs on the portable dialing device, Daniel dialed Alpha again, with the same results.

Even though he’d been miles away when he’d explored the PDHD two months earlier, the small device in his hands overrode the larger one completely, as he’d suspected. As he'd sat under that tree in the grasslands, Daniel had locked the stargate completely to all travelers. Now he had to unlock it, so he could leave the world his hosts called Furdani.

Daniel entered the proper user ID and password that Sam had set up as a safeguard against Ba'al. Since he didn't know how to adjust the device to only allow humans to pass through the Furdani 'gate, he reset the coding to lock out ‘Number Three,’ and cleared access to all others.

When he'd reset the PDHD, Daniel dialed the Alpha colony on the portable device and pushed the blue button to engage it. The stargate began to spin and the chevrons engaged. A mass of quantum particles emitted by the generator inside the wheel shimmered and exploded violently into the familiar kawoosh, then settled into a calmly rippling event horizon.

At that moment, the scanner’s sensors traced over everything within range of the ‘gate. The green beam continued to flash over the area as Daniel stepped up to the ring and slipped the PDHD into the bottom of his rucksack.

He pushed up the sleeve of his tunic and entered the last ID code from his temporary assignment with SG-13 on the GDO. Then he activated the transmission button on his radio and spoke into the microphone.  “This is Daniel Jackson, requesting ID verification and authorization to enter Alpha base,” he called, his voice tight, stomach tied in knots. He didn’t even know if they were still there, or if that planet had been blown out of the sky, too.

He glanced at Scout, now easing out from behind the sheltering pillar, but keeping well out of range of the scanner's green rays. The Forest elder's expression was wary, but as he made eye contact with Daniel, he gave a small, reassuring smile.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then a familiar voice sounded from the radio speaker on his shoulder.  “Daniel? Where the hell have you been?”

For a moment, Daniel couldn’t breathe or blink.  He stared at the wormhole, thinking he had to be hearing things, but there was no mistaking that voice. He gripped the radio harder. “Jack?”

“Get your ass through the ‘gate, Jackson!” General O’Neill barked gruffly. “You got some ‘splainin’ to do.” Pause. “And welcome home, buddy.” His last phrase was spoken softly, with husky warmth. 

As joy and relief surged through Daniel, he offered Scout a smile and a wave goodbye as he headed for the wormhole.  Soon, his molecules were sliding through the tunnel at faster-than-light speed. 

The smaller embarkation room on Alpha featured a control room on the same level as the ‘gate, and a handful of Marines SFs were on duty. Every face Daniel saw was filled with shock and disbelief, quickly followed by smiles and cheers for one of their own coming home. 

Seconds after his feet left the ramp, Jack plowed through the blast door, his dark eyes fierce, his step purposeful and not slowing down in the least as he approached. His body slammed against Daniel’s, arms wrapping about his shoulders and almost lifting him off the floor. Jack buried his face against Daniel’s neck, one hand fisted in his long black cloak, holding on tightly, the other clasping the back of his head. 

“God, Daniel,” he whispered shakily, “I thought you were dead!” Jack’s bear hug barely let him breathe. When he pulled away a moment later, Jack was grinning hugely, an uncharacteristic glaze of tears glistening in his eyes. 

Daniel was smiling from ear to ear. "Jack! You're alive! All this time, I thought you were gone." Then his fragile hold on celebration began to slip toward grief, and he could see in Jack's eyes that his friend realized it.

"C'mon," Jack growled, grabbing him by the sleeve. "Conference room. You remember where it is, right?"

Just a nod was all Daniel could muster in the way of response. Still trying to get a grip on himself, Daniel let Jack haul him away from the ‘gate, down the corridor and into a small conference room.

Once the door was closed, and he squared off with his old friend, Daniel found his memory of Earth fragmenting in flame and debris in those familiar dark eyes.

“It’s okay,” Jack murmured, patting his shoulder. “We’re safe. We made it.”

The image of Zeus’s smirking face swallowed up Daniel's nightmare remembrance of the death of their world. Daniel's hands curled into fists at his sides. Grief morphed into rage as he snarled, “Safe? How can you say that, Jack? Nobody is safe! Zeus destroyed Earth, and as long as he's still out there—”

Jack held up a cautionary hand, then put it on Daniel's shoulder, giving him a little shake, his brows twitching down in confusion. “Whoa, hold on there, hotshot! Zeus? As in, the guy with the lightning bolts?”

“He’s a Goa’uld,” snapped Daniel. “He made me—” His voice broke, and Daniel sucked back a sob as his fragile grip on his emotions gave way. He shoved the next trembling words out of his mouth with all his heartbreak and loss, unable to see through the watery veil of his tears, panting with soul-deep agony. “He… he made me watch, Jack! Couldn’t--” 

Daniel turned away, tottering a few steps toward the table and resting his palms on the flat surface, trying to steady himself, to wrangle a little more self-control. He struggled to breathe. “Couldn’t stop him. I failed. Failed all of Earth. Failed everyone.”

“My God. You saw it happen?” The shock in Jack's voice was palpable.

A small wad of tissues appeared in front of Daniel's face, and he took them gratefully, blowing his nose and sniffling until the emotional rush subsided.  “Thanks for getting me out of the 'gate room so fast,” he said quietly, voice still shaky. “I thought I had all my crying done months ago. Guess not.” 

Jack perched one hip on the edge of the table, studying his friend. “I doubt that’s something you’ll ever get over, Danny,” he said gently. “We didn’t know for sure… exactly what happened. We found out afterward. Odyssey came back from Atlantis and found a debris field where the planet ought to be.”

Daniel nodded, dabbing at his nose again with the soaked tissues and gratefully accepting a fresh one from his friend. He pushed the images away and concentrated on the words. He could deal with the words. “Weren’t you supposed to be in DC?” 

“Was,” Jack returned, nodding. “Came here with a couple of other folks from the SGC and the Pentagon, then couldn’t get back. Doc Lam is here. Siler. Walter. A few more you know.”

Daniel almost couldn't bring himself to ask, but he had to know. "Who?" 

"No one from SG-1 besides you, that we know of," said Jack with a shake of his head. "Carter was supposed to go to Atlantis, but--" He sighed and shook off the moment of silent grief.  After a deep breath, he gave Daniel a fixed, plastic smile. "We're makin' do with what we've got. I think we're gonna be okay."

A ridiculous thought appeared in Daniel’s mind. He lifted his head and made eye contact. “Does that mean you’re… Ohmygod, who’s in charge here, Jack?”

O’Neill’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead. “Well…”

“Doomed!” said Daniel, throwing up his hands in mock horror and resignation. “We’re all doomed. Jack O’Neill is the President!”

“Ranking officer, not President. And there will be elections. Eventually,” Jack quipped, pretending wounded pride.

Daniel was thrilled to have the chance to play their familiar game again. He lost his composure and the deadpan look he'd been trying to maintain started to slip, easing into a tiny smile. He gave his friend's shoulder a playful, hesitant little punch. “I’ve missed you, Jack.” He sighed as he let go. “I suppose you have a lot of questions?” he asked, finally sitting in one of the chairs.

Jack took his place in another and leaned his elbows on the table. “No, just the one. Where ya been? I came to Alpha on such short notice, I didn't know the status of any of the teams in the field.”

“I've been on P9X-1017,” Daniel shot back. “Mostly, anyway. I was kidnapped and spent some time on a space ship.” 

“By Zeus?” asked Jack.

Daniel nodded. “Found some new enemies, called the Ting-sha. Made some friends. You might remember hearing about ‘em. The Furlings.”

“Oh? Little and furry?” Jack's head tipped back in that familiar, clueless look.

“Well, not furry. Some are little. Others, not so much.”

“Well. It was just a guess.”

They continued their casual debriefing until Jack’s stomach rumbled, then headed to the commissary for a meal, which Jack ordered specially from the base stores. When they finished eating, Jack took Daniel to the infirmary for a thorough check-up by Doctor Lam, then to a Quonset hut divided up into guest quarters, where Jack got him settled, promising to finish catching up in the morning.

Preparing for bed, Daniel unpacked his things, all but one item.

He sat on the side of his military cot with his rucksack in his hands, not daring to bring the PDHD out into view. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t told Jack about it yet, what it did or why the Furlings needed it – and him – to return, but he thought it best to be cautious.

Jack had explained in some detail how, since Earth was gone, this place was now home base for all the displaced humans from the SGC. Alpha was under martial law, governed by the military with a council of civilian advisors representing each of the various international contingents and academic departments, with Jack commanding.

While military leadership was probably necessary until the colony was well established and the populace fully recovered from the loss of Earth, it wasn't an ideal situation for commencing diplomatic relations with the Furlings. Daniel trusted Jack as a person, but the military had far different objectives than civilians. He and Jack had butted heads on many occasions when they were teammates, and Daniel had defied his direct orders more than once. That might not go over so well in this environment, and Daniel wanted to get the lay of the land before he gave Jack enough rope to hang him.

He slid the rucksack under his cot and began undressing for bed, taking care that the Ancients’ device remained safely out of sight.

End Chapter 13

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