It was barely dawn when Daniel drove into Cheyenne Mountain, ready for his next day of work. As he made his way through the complex and into his office, he found Jack picking over one of his artifacts on a shelf against the far wall.

"Ah, Daniel, how've you been?" said Jack casually as he turned to notice Daniel's arrival.

Daniel paused and gave Jack a curious look before walking over to his desk. As usual as it was for Jack to come looking for attention in his office, it was also as clear that he wanted something.

"I've been good..." Daniel replied, letting Jack see clearly in his expression that he wasn't falling for the show of friendly interest.

Jack, though, wasn't ready to admit his true motives, as he continued wandering alongside the shelf, brushing his fingers along priceless artifacts which, as usual, caused Daniel to wince inwardly. "Sooo...going to the gym after work today?"

Daniel sighed. So that was what this was all about. He thought Jack didn't believe him the night before when he'd lied and said that he'd been in the gym when he had in fact been on a mission for Thor. "I don't know. Maybe," he decided to reply, waiting to draw Jack out.

There was silence a moment and then Jack walked back to Daniel's desk and stared him calmly in the eyes. "You weren't in the gym last night. I was there."

Daniel stared back but then a resigned look crossed his face and he ducked his head slightly as a blush crossed his cheeks. "Sorry, uh, Jack," he said, glancing up quickly to give an embarrassed grin. "I was down in the archives researching some points from the Tooralkian views on morality and the individual, especially regarding betrayal and-"

"Whatever," Jack interjected, waving the lecture away with his hand, though Daniel saw his expression has calmed slightly so decided to wrap up his excuse.

"I knew you'd give your 'Daniel you work too much, take a break whydontya' speech," Daniel continued, with a slight teasing tone, "soooo..." He grinned and shrugged his shoulders in explanation.

Jack relaxed and cocked his head. "So you lied to me instead. Niiiice." Daniel could have sworn Jack looked vaguely impressed at the deception. "Am I really that predictable?" The amused grin on Jack's face told Daniel that he'd been forgiven.

Daniel schooled his expression into one of innocence. "Nooo. Not at *all*."

Jack raised an eyebrow, not believing it for a second. "Insubordinate, Daniel," he said with a disapproving shake of his head as he decided the conversation was over and turned to walk out of the room. "That's what you are."

"Civilian, Jack," replied Daniel with a carefree wave, indicating military standards didn't apply to him. "That's what *I* am."

Daniel heard a laugh echo down the corridor as he gathered his notes together for the morning meeting.

*******

Ten minutes later General Hammond called a start to the briefing as SG1 sat assembled around the table.

"There is a growing power within the ranks of the Goa'uld," the General began, looking slightly concerned behind his professional demeanor. "We have heard whisperings of this for a few months now, but only now I have been contacted by the Tok'ra who are asking for any information we have on this situation."

Jack gave a low whistle. "Not like the Tok'ra to show their hand so early," he commented. "They must be worried."

General Hammond nodded. "They are. The rumours claim that there is a Goa'uld, different somehow from the usual, who has been gathering a small army together of a mind-controller species while also forming a secret allegiance with various lower ranking system lords."

"Mind controllers," said Sam, concern showing clearly in her eyes. "That's far more dangerous that a standard army. It must be why the Goa'uld only needs a few followers as it wouldn't take much to overcome the enemy if their minds had already been taken."

"Why the System Lords?" asked Jack, squinting his eyes as he tried to work out the strategy behind the actions. "Maybe this Goa'uld is only looking to take over control of his own?"

"Jacob believes that the Goa'uld is gathering support from the System Lords so he can widen his scope of attack," replied the General in reference to his conversation with the Tok'ra. "It would be easier to control the system lords rather than kill them and then face having to overtake entire planets of their followers. Mind-controllers or not, this Goa'uld is obviously smart and subtle. He's working quietly and is probably hoping to take control without many of the other System Lords even noticing."

"What's the problem with that?" commented Jack with a shrug of his shoulders. "Goa'uld fighting Goa'uld. Hardly changes our position."

"A group of Goa'uld that fight amongst each other is less dangerous that one Goa'uld that is clearly more intelligent than the rest," intoned Teal'c as he decided to answer Jack's question. "The use of mind-control in this way is not a usual Goa'uld technique. Most prefer to gain submission from their enemy through a show of force."

"He's right, sir," added Sam as she looked across the table. "This Goa'uld is unpredictable to us. That makes him more of a threat to us than the others."

"The Tok'ra tend to agree," said General Hammond with a nod. "As far as they know, this Goa'uld has already taken control of an uncertain number of System Lords. Furthermore, he has begun integrating his influence within other planets not under control of the Goa'uld yet that are considered a threat to their forces." The General paused to give a meaningful look. "I don't need to remind you that we could easily be one of those planets."

"Spies...!" gasped Sam. "Do you think there are members of the SGC that might already be under control of this new Goa'uld?"

The tension around the table was palpable as General Hammond paused to consider his answer. "I don't know, Major," he replied solemnly. "As far as Jacob knows, the species of mind-controllers we are dealing with are known as the Jahul. They are capable of influencing multiple people at once, though they must remain within a reasonable distance from the group for the control to maintain."

"How close?" asked Jack, his back rigid in his chair.

"Either on the planet or else hovering in a ship above it," General Hammond replied. "I am not aware of either but that doesn't ease my mind, considering the circumstances." The General paused to gather his thoughts. "I don't want anyone travelling off world until further notice. Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c - coordinate a search of the SGC. The Jahul cannot shape-change so if there is one here, I want it found." He turned to Sam. "Major Carter, work on our ability to detect crafts. If there's one there that we aren't seeing, I want it found." Lastly, General Hammond turned to Daniel and gave a small smile. "Research the Jahul, Doctor Jackson. Jacob has told us a lot about them but I want to find out weaknesses and behaviour."

Daniel nodded with his fellow teammates as they all rose from their seats to follow their instructions. He knew he was being given what was almost a throwaway order to keep him busy and out of danger, but he didn't mind. It would give him more time to plot how his alter ego would deal with this news.

*******

The day passed with much tension but little revelation. While Jack and Teal'c found no intruders within the SGC and no evidence of mind-control among their people, it was little ease to their minds as neither fact necessarily meant anything in the circumstances. Sam was the only one who found anything that could turn into a lead. A slight disruption in the pressure of the blanket of space surrounding Earth was causing her to suspect the presence of an anomaly. As yet, she had not been able to focus her theory into revealing the presence of a ship. Daniel, meanwhile, had found little information to add to what they already knew of the Jahul. He knew the Jahul were blind as their senses had evolved towards forming accurate mental vision instead, which essentially left a potential opponent with no advantage. He did, though, find that the Jahul attached themselves to the service of those with power, as they fed off the mental force that the leaders exude. This was not a drain on those they worked for, and was in fact usually the form of payment that the Jahul required in exchange for their service.

"Can we use this information to our advantage?" asked General Hammond as a weary SG1 sat around their briefing table at the end of the day.

"If we can undermine the power of the Goa'uld," said Jack as he pondered the concept, "then that might result in the Jahul leaving his leadership."

"We're a long way off that," General Hammond sighed, "but keep it in mind as if we get the chance, we'll use it."

*********

SG1 were dismissed for the night but the entire SGC was ordered to stay on base as General Hammond was concerned about the possibility of his personnel being under mind-control.

Daniel returned to his office, pushing aside the thought in his mind telling him that it was far more dangerous to beam off base when there were so many people still about who could notice his absence. What he had to do was too important to ignore.

He quickly made his way over to the communication device lying on his side shelf and pressed the circle indentation on its surface. In a flash he was beamed aboard Thor's ship.

"Did you watch what happened today?" Daniel asked as he turned his head to look at Thor across the spacious room about the ship.

Thor nodded his head, clearly expecting the meeting. "I did. An open resistance will form now news of the Goa'uld force is known. It is time for you to take your place within their ranks. I assume you have a plan."

Daniel nodded as he strode over to his supplies chest and began to prepare himself for his mission. "I need your help," he said as he began stripping himself of his SGC clothing and found a black outfit to change into instead. "Sam suspects there's a ship cloaked above Earth. Can you confirm that?"

Thor padded over to his console panel and pressed a few buttons in response. The holographic image of a Goa'uld battleship appeared in the room. Daniel swore under his breath. It was what he had suspected: a smaller Goa'uld vessel that had separated from its mothership to undertake its mission.

"It is cloaked with Jahul technology," commented Thor as he pressed another button to show an interior scan of the layout of the vessel. "That is why your technicians could not locate it. There appears to be only a small contingent aboard. I suspect it is a lesser-ranking System Lord, the Jahul and their personal guard. The new Goa'uld leading the force would not accompany separate missions such as this, instead ordering the System Lords under his control to accompany the Jahul. They would obey and it would please them to know their power was enough to be used as a temporary supply for the Jahul's source of payment."

Daniel nodded as he finished equipping himself with weaponry and tools. "Beam me aboard," he said. "I have to take out the Jahul. It's the only way I can be sure it doesn't hold an influence on Earth." He straightened his posture as he turned to stare down at Thor. His eyes had a quiet determination burning inside. "If there's a System Lord aboard as you suspect, I'll kill it too. We cannot risk it returning with a new Jahul once this one is dead."

Thor nodded his head in acceptance of the dangerous plan. He disliked beaming Daniel into a blind situation, especially one that most probably contained not only a Goa'uld but also a mind-controller species as well. "I will guard your mind as you work," he said. "You will need to also."

Daniel gave a tight smile as he pulled a mask of light material over his face to hide his features. "I will. Beam me over."

In a flash of light he was gone.

*******

The second Daniel materialised aboard the Goa'uld battleship, he slid behind the corner of a metal sidewall and calmed his mind. Deep breathing in and out, slowly building a careful barrier between his mind and outside infiltration. He felt his own presence heighten and the touch of Thor's protection binding within his thoughts; both signs that his defenses were strong. Only then did he peer his head around the corner and take view of his surroundings.

He was a little over halfway down a corridor made of a dark reddish-black metal. It was empty and there was no sounds echoing from either direction to signify approaching patrols or otherwise. He turned towards the direction of the bridge and the most likely location of the Jahul and Goa'uld.

He crept silently along the seemingly endless maze of corridors, knowing perfectly well his direction as the ship design was no different from those he had been in before. As he neared the bridge, pausing in the corridor outside, he felt a stirring like the sensation of a push against his consciousness. The Jahul! He felt it move closer before he saw it, a dark-robed creature, its face obscured by a hood as it silently turned from its position next to the back of a throne and strode from the room towards Daniel. The Goa'uld on the throne did not notice the Jahul's absence as the door to the bridge hissed shut, leaving the Jahul standing in a dark silence, staring blindly at the position where Daniel stood.

It probed Daniel's mind again, seeking an entrance and Daniel felt a clouded darkness as the combined will of both himself and Thor held tight against the invasion.

"You cannot harm me," spoke Daniel, his voice low in the tones of Sa'akhu. "And I will not allow you to harm this planet."

The creature, a flow of robes revealing flashes of toughened grey skin, stepped forward. "You are wrong," it rasped. "I can harm you."

In an instant it had leapt forward, faster than appeared possible, aiming one clawed and wrinkled hand towards Daniel's face. Daniel ducked down, the nails slicing the air over his head as he spun in a crouch and kicked his leg out to impact against the shin of the creature. It fell back but rolled fast out of striking distance as Daniel's fist came towards it in one fluid movement. Yet it didn't move fast enough, catching a blow to the side of its head instead and Daniel felt a crunch of bone beneath his hand. The creature grunted, jumping to its feet and Daniel again felt the harsh push of intrusion against his mind, attempting to weaken him as the Jahul attacked once more, throwing a succession of strikes with its claws at Daniel's face and neck. Daniel dodged, left and back, letting the stikes fly past him by mere inches as he swung his arm around to impact on the creature's stomach before grabbing hold around its waist and flinging it gasping in a summersault to the cold metal of the floor. The Jahul opened its eyes after the impact of collision shuddered its brain into semi-consciousness. It was too late. The last thing it sensed was a fist flying towards the side of its neck, the sound of a crack, and then nothing.

Daniel stood from his half-crouched position over the body of the Jahul. His head, now clear from intrusion, slowly turned towards the closed doorway leading towards the bridge of the ship.

He began walking slowly towards the doors, reaching into his pockets as he did so to pull out handful of small metal spikes that he let fall from his grasp on the floor as he heard the sound of the doors hissing open, granting him entry to the room.

"Where did you go?" hissed the Goa'uld's deep tones as it sat facing the window, presuming the sound of the doors signified the return of the Jahul.

"It is of no concern," replied Daniel calmly as he stepped nearer to the throne. "I am here now."

The Goa'uld spun around as it stood from its seat. Its eyes flashed in shock and anger and Daniel recognised the figure that stood before him: Bastet. She stood before him, dark hair shining, clothes of the finest threat, her beauty twisted by the parasite inside. "Who are you?!"

Daniel just smiled, the motion not reaching his eyes. "The one who will kill you," he answered simply.

"GUARDS!!" Bastet screeched, and her hand rose, palm towards Daniel, and he threw himself behind the nearest control desk as the energy pulse pierced through the air and blasted into the wall near the doorway. The doors hissed open a second later and ten Jaffa came running into the room, yet their cries of pain as they fell to their knees shocked the Goa'uld. Only Daniel knew what had happened. The spikes he had let fall in the doorway were made of the finest metal - a grateful gift from a race that knew their spiked weapons could penetrate any armour. And they did so now, piercing through the protective boots of the Jaffa and into the skin above, crippling the soldiers' progress long enough for Daniel to dive out from behind the control panel and towards the central display. He felt the energy charge of Bastet's hand device and twisted in a summersault through the air as he ran, narrowly avoiding the pulse charge as it burnt a vicious scar into the viewing window of the bridge. Daniel landed on his feet and dived for the central display, knowing what he had planned all along, pressing the screen as he hurriedly programmed in the sequence that would automate the self-destruct sequence for the vessel. One minute and counting. He reached into his side pocket, knowing he had only moments before the Jaffa would steel their pain and begin firing. He grabbed hold of a small shuriken - a throwing spike, that he flicked sharply out of his hand and towards the Goa'uld as she steadied her aim for a killing shot. The metal reached her a moment before her hand device sparked its charge, slicing neatly into her throat and into the parasite inside. She fell, her eyes flashing cold, as she hit the floor dead.

The Jaffa paused as they struggled to their feet, seeing their god die before their eyes. Daniel took his opportunity.

"Come with me and live!" he cried as he ran towards the shocked and indecisive Jaffa guards. "Your false god is dead. Trust me and I will show you freedom!"

The Jaffa hesitated, seeing clearly that the self-destruct sequence had reached thirty seconds. They didn't have long. The pain in their feet was nothing compared to the blanket of panic in their minds as their known world fell into chaos. The head Jaffa nodded suddenly, letting his instinct guide his actions as he lowered his staff weapon from attack.

Daniel nodded his relief and glanced at the countdown projected upon the control screen. Five seconds. "THOR! Beam us out NOW!"

*******

"Lockdown deactivated," informed the distorted voice of the intercom at Stargate Control. "All off-duty personal to leave base."

Jack glanced up from his seat in Daniel's office. "Interesting," he thought as he contemplated whether he was more curious as to why the restriction had been lifted or whether he should stay and wait to find where Daniel had gone. He'd checked the entire SGC, this time his suspicions causing him to be thorough. Daniel was not on base and that worried him. He chose to lift the phone instead and dial General Hammond's office.

"General, are we free to go?" he asked casually as he heard the phone connect. "Why the change of heart?"

"I have just been contacted by the Tok'ra at the same time as our technicians working on the possibility of a ship above Earth also reported a surprise finding," replied General Hammond through the phone. "It appears that an explosion just occurred at the exact location Major Carter suspected a craft might be located. The Tok'ra have just confirmed that it registered on their monitors as a Goa'uld battleship a moment before it blew." The General sounded amazed. "No one can tell me how the ship was destroyed, but Jacob is sure that there would have been a Jahul aboard and most likely a System Lord as well."

Jack gave a low whistle as he sat back in Daniel’s chair. “We had a Goa’uld battleship hovering above us...and now we don’t?”

“Apparently,” replied the General, clearly still at a loss to explain the situation any further. Jack could hear the astonishment through the phone.

“So...,” Jack said as he took in the information, "I'm guessing that means that as the Jahul's dead then we can't be mind-whammied?"

Jack could practically hear the disapproving sigh at his less-than-professional summing up of the situation, yet the General said nothing other than: "It seems that way. There’s no reason to keep everyone here is our immediate threat has just been destroyed."

“Well,” said Jack as he took at deep breath. “I don’t know how that ship blew, but I’d like to send a big thank you note to whoever was responsible.” He could almost hear the General smiling his agreement through the phone.

“I double that sentiment,” General Hammond said. “The technicians and Major Carter have been staring at the screens since it happened. They’re equally as amazed but certainly not disappointed with what’s just happened.”

"I can imagine,” said Jack with a grin. “Oh, by the way sir," he added as an afterthought as it seemed their conversation had come to a pleasant if not unexpected end. "Have you seen Daniel?"

"No, I haven't," General Hammond replied, slightly confused. "Is he missing?"

Jack paused. He decided in that moment to follow up his curiosity informally. After all, Daniel could still have a perfectly good excuse for being missing. Even as he spoke the words, Jack knew he didn't fully believe them. "No sir, I'm sure he's just lost under a pile of books," he replied lightly and hung up the phone as their conversation ended, but remained seated in Daniel's office. Waiting.

******

Meanwhile, on Thor's ship, Daniel bid farewell to the free Jaffa.

"You have your own lives now," he said, standing in front of the disoriented yet determined group as they prepared for transport to the Jaffa rebel homeworld. "I wish you luck with your paths."

They nodded their heads in respect for Daniel's words. "We thank you," replied the head Jaffa, politely not asking Daniel's name as he presumed that Daniel still wore his face-covering as he did not wish to be identified. He had his suspicions as to who stood before them, but his mind was still fragmented with the drastic change to his life and he could find no more words to say.

Daniel understood. These were not the first Jaffa he had led to freedom and he could only imagine the strength they possessed to change their lives after their god died at their feet. He stood and watched as Thor beamed them from the ship, leaving only the sudden silence of the room. He glanced over at Thor and smiled as he lowered his face-shield, knowing the Asgard shared his passion for rescuing those that were only serving the Goa'uld as they knew no different.

"Time for me to go home," Daniel said as he walked over to his chest and began returning his equipment and black clothing into their storage place.

"Indeed," replied Thor, who was staring at his control panel. "Though I should inform you that Colonel O'Neill is waiting in your office and has been for a most of the duration of your absence."

Daniel winced as he continued changing his clothes. He should have known Jack was smarter than to fall for his morning's excuse for the previous day's lie. He sighed, knowing full well that he was going to have difficulty easing Jack's suspicions once they were aroused. "Damn," he said softly as he pulled his SGC jacket over his shoulders. "I suppose I should be surprised that Jack's only become suspicious now." He walked back over to the Asgard and sighed as he considered his options. "You're going to have to beam me to my apartment."

Thor nodded. "You must be careful, Daniel Jackson. With the threat of Jahul control throughout the Stargate system, it is not safe for Jack to have your secret inside his mind." He stared up at Daniel for a moment and Daniel knew Thor was kindly warning him not to be tempted to tell Jack the truth of his other life.

"I'll be careful," sighed Daniel with a smile. "I'll deal with Jack in the morning. Just beam me home. It's been a long day."

Thor nodded and watched as a flash of light enveloped Daniel and beamed him from the ship.

******

The phone rang in Daniel's apartment about half an hour after he had been beamed back. He had just finished showering at the time and was in the process of towel-drying his hair as he walking over to answer the call.

"Daniel speaking," he said, slightly curious as to who was ringing at this late hour. Though deep down he knew exactly who it would be.

"Daniel." It was Jack's voice. "You're home?"

Daniel padded barefoot over to his sofa and let himself fall into the soft padding. "Yeah, Jack." He didn't expand on his answer, deciding to see how far Jack was going to take his questioning. He hoped it wasn't too far - he knew from Thor's screen that the SGC had been dismissed and he presumed correctly that it was because the blast from the Goa'uld battleship cleared the lurking suspicion of a security breach.

"I did a search for you on base tonight," continued Jack after a pause. He was clearly deciding how far he wanted to push. "When we were all meant to still be confined to the SGC? You weren't there." He let the sentence hang.

"Oh, sorry, I probably should have told you," replied Daniel casually, though had Jack seen his eyes he would have noticed tension within their depths. "I needed a breather so went up the shafts leading to the surface. Sat for a while up there admiring the view." He let a note of embarrassed awkwardness cross his voice. "I know I shouldn't have... Well, at least without inviting you." There was humour in his voice, enough to hopefully belay a degree of suspicion. "Please don't tell General Hammond - I just needed to clear my head. All the talk of mind-control was making me a little paranoid," he concluded in a rush, letting stress tone his voice. He knew Jack felt that as a civilian, Daniel was sometimes forced into more trying situations that he had ever been trained to expect. He hated manipulating Jack like that but he knew it was for the best.

There was a few seconds silence as Jack considered Daniel's response. "Yar...don't worry about that. You're safe now. You heard from the General right, about the ship that blew up above us?” Daniel could hear that Jack was still confused yet thoroughly impressed by that news.

“Yeah,” Daniel replied, letting a lagging surprise show in his voice. “Any news on how that happened?”

“Not as yet,” Jack replied. “Apparently Sam’s having a field day trying to work it out. Even the General seems impressed at the whole situation, regardless of the fact that it indicates that there *was* a Goa’uld battleship hovering above us in the first place.”

“Weird,” Daniel muttered in response.

“Yeah,” Jack agreed. “Though, no more mind-controlling to worry about. Seems that someone out there’s looking out for us. We're perfectly safe," he said. "Well, except for the ongoing constant threat of Goa'uld invasion," he added, and Daniel could almost hear the grin through the phone.

Daniel wasn't sure he'd been entirely let off the hook, but he could hear in Jack’s voice that the topic of Daniel’s disappearance had been dropped for the night. "Thanks, Jack, for the update and...you know. I owe you one," he said and stifled a yawn. "I'll see you tomorrow, hey?"

"Tomorrow, bright and early," replied Jack, with mock cheerfulness in his voice. Daniel smiled as he could hear the tiredness in Jack's words. "'night."

"'night, Jack," Daniel replied and he hung up the phone, hoping as he did so that Jack would be mercifully lenient when it came to the temptation of beginning an investigation into his recent behaviour.

******

Jack stood up from his seat in Daniel's office and raised his arms above his head to draw a stretch out through his tired body. He began making his way towards the exit of the SGC, though his mind still churned with the curiosity that seemed to be Daniel. He knew the responses Daniel had given him on both occasions he'd questioned him were acceptable, but somehow neither clicked as being entirely honest. His instincts told him there was something else going on though he couldn't imagine what his teammate could possibly be involved in. Daniel was quite possibly the least dangerous member of the entire SGC.

//It's probably nothing// Jack thought to himself as he neared the exit gates. //This is Daniel after all//

Yet as he approached the guards at the exit and signed out of the departure sheet, his eyes froze on the top page. He calmly lifted up the paper to scan the list of names underneath and placed the sheet down again. Daniel's name was not on either page.

"Sergeant. Have you been here since the lockdown on base was lifted?" Jack asked to the young man at the gate.

"Yes, sir," the man replied.

"Has Doctor Jackson left base?" Jack asked casually.

"No, sir," said the Sergeant with a shake of his head. "I have not seen him pass through."

Jack nodded. "Thank you, that's all," he mumbled absentmindedly as he walked towards his car. His mind had a horrible thought forming inside, though he couldn't piece together the details.

Daniel was acting strange. He had possibly lied twice about his whereabouts. Furthermore, Daniel managed to leave base without being seen. How?

Jack unlocked the door to his car and got inside, pushing the keys into the ignition. He looked across the carpark and his bafflement was increased at the sight of Daniel's car. Daniel was home but he left his car at base? None of it made sense.

Jack didn't know how or why and even the details didn't make sense, yet his mind was supplying him with a nasty suspicion: Daniel was under the control of a Jahul.

******

Daniel woke early the next morning in time to call a taxi to deliver him not far from the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain. Upon arriving, he signed in at the guard checkpoint. He saw Jack ahead of him waiting at the lifts and jogged forward to greet him.

"Morning," he said as he nodded his head with a smile. The doors to the lifts opened and they stepped inside.

Jack looked over with a smile and a nod, though Daniel could see his friend was not as relaxed as usual. They stood in silence as the lift made its journey and the doors hissed open.

"You left your car at base last night and you didn't sign out," Jack commented suddenly as they stepped out and walked together to the briefing room. He waited for an answer to the unspoken question.

"I didn't? Oh-! No, you're right," Daniel replied, as though shocked to realise he had bypassed standard procedure. Confusion crossed his face as he seemed to be thinking of how the misunderstanding had occurred. "My car wouldn't start," he shrugged with a raised flick of his eyebrows, and he rolled his eyes at the inconvenience it had apparently caused him. "And on top of that, I was a bit stressed last night," he sighed. "I think the guard wasn't in much better shape - he's new, you know. Probably not used to having mind-control threats as part of the flow of things. I think he forgot to make me sign when I passed through the gates." He winced slightly as he realised his excuse might get the sergeant in trouble. "It's not his fault, Jack. There was a flow of people wanting to leave at the same time and I was so distracted with my car and getting home I think I probably just waved and pushed my way through to avoid the queue." He scrunched his face in one of sheepishness. "I know there's procedures, Jack, I just..." He waved his hands around in a show of frustration to express his mood of the previous night.

Jack nodded and glanced over at his friend as they neared the briefing room. He somehow knew Daniel would have an excuse, though they seemed to be turning weaker with each accusation. "Have a little more respect for SGC protocol in the future," he said, straight-faced. "You know I do."

Daniel glanced over to see a twinkle in Jack's eyes. "Sure. Thanks, Jack." He strode ahead and went through the doors ahead.

Jack hovered back at a slower pace for a moment with a look of careful evaluation on his face, and then stepped through the doorway after Daniel.

"Take a seat, Colonel O'Neill," intoned General Hammond formally, and Jack suddenly saw why: they had a guest.

"Jacob," he said, eyebrows raised in mild surprise.

"Nice to see you, Jack," replied Jacob, keeping his greeting informal before the meeting began.

"Now we are all here," began General Hammond, "Jacob has kindly joined us as the Tok'ra are willing to share intel on our recent situation." He gestured to Jacob to signify that he had the floor.

Jacob nodded and looked around the table. "The Goa'uld battleship that was destroyed last night belonged to Bastat, the System Lord. She was aboard, as was her accompanying Jahul. Both were killed."

"Woah..." muttered Jack under his breath, clearly impressed at the magnitude of the news. He glanced around and saw his teammates were equally as shocked. There was a moment's silence around the table as everyone absorbed the revelation.

"While that's the good news," continued Jacob with a small smile that quickly changed to an expression of seriousness, "our sources has finally found out the identity of the new Goa'uld power arising. His name is Nun." He looked over at Daniel to further his explanation.

"Uhh..." began Daniel, clearly interested in the news but slightly confused. "Nun was considered the father of the gods and the personification of chaos, but he was only a concept rather than a god who was worshipped..."

Jacob nodded. "It makes no sense," he confirmed. "A high-ranking Goa'uld without temples or followers is not something we have encountered before. Furthermore, Nun's behaviour is clearly unpredictable and dangerous. He has control over the Jahul, and as a result we can't send in spies too close to his operation without them being instantly detected. We are finding the threat of mind-control a serious one for the Tok'ra homeworld, as are our allied planets. Each world is focused inwardly on their own immediate protection, and are starting to find little time to come to other's assistance."

"So you want our help to fight Nun?" Jack said, clearly surprised and somewhat suspicious that the Tok'ra would come to earth for such a reason.

"If the Tok'ra can't fight against this force then you certainly won't be able to," replied Jacob. He gave a small apologetic smile at the apparent insult. "Nothing personal, General," he added, turning to General Hammond, "but Tok'ra technology is far advanced from that of Earth. There is no one on your planet who could possibly stand a chance of defeating Nun."

"Then why are you here?" interrupted Jack with barely concealing irritation at Jacob's slight.

"Because we have an idea," replied Jacob, sitting straighter in his chair and taking a deep breath as though what he was about to say would be considered ludicrous. "For a while there has been evidence of a...being," Jacob began carefully. "It holds much strength and power. There have been many reports of its activities from allied planets where this being has protected or helped them in varying ways. The reason it has come to our attention now," Jacob said with a calm tone to his voice, "is that the latest intel gathered from overnight rumours on the Jaffa rebel-base seem to somehow point to this being as the one responsible for destroying the Goa'uld battleship that was hovering above Earth."

The assembled group gave varying reactions of astonishment. Teal'c raised an eyebrow, Sam's eyes widened at the thought the it could be true, and even General Hammond sat back in his chair to take in the information. Daniel sat quietly and flicked his eyebrows up as he glanced around the room to take in everyone's reactions. He knew clearly whom Jacob was referring to, yet Jacob showed no signs of being aware that Daniel was one and the same as the being he spoke of. Yet then why Jacob had gone to SG1 with the news?

Jack whistled, breaking the silence, half in disbelief and half at the impressiveness of the information. "If it can do that, then call it on in," he said, looking around the table to see the others nodding their heads in agreement.

"It's not as simple as that," Jacob replied, still looking slightly awkward as he knew what type of reaction he would be greeted with at the upcoming news. He took a deep breath and came out with the information he had been resisting speaking. "This being is a spirit called Sa'akhu."

There was a moment of silent and then Jack, as Jacob predicted, was the first to respond. "A *ghost*, Jacob?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He let out a frustrated sigh and slumped back in his seat. "You're telling us that a ghost is *rumoured* to have blown up a Goa'uld battleship and now we should...what?" He raised his eyebrows and stared at Jacob. "Ask for its help?"

Jacob sighed and motioned with his hand for silence as he saw that both General Hammond and Sam were opening their mouths to show their disbelief at the situation. "It's a spirit, not a ghost," he said. "It is in fact primarily the guardian spirit of Abydos," he added with a meaningful nod at Daniel.

All eyes turned to Daniel, who carefully schooled his expression to mild curiosity but didn't say anything.

"Daniel," said Jack as he stared across the table. "Have you heard of this 'Sa'akhu'?"

"Uhhh...yeah," replied Daniel casually, and ignored the looks of surprise he received from his teammates and General Hammond. "Jacob's right - he's meant to be the guardian spirit of Abydos. I, uh, don't think he's *real*, though, Jack..." he trailed off, coming across as slightly unhelpful. "The children used to tell tales of his adventures over campfires, but, uh, it's been mentioned Sa'akhu was a *spirit*? Probably non-corporeal if he even did exist. I don't think a fairytale is going to be much help against a very real enemy."

"Oh, Sa'akhu is no fairytale," intoned Jacob, clearing not wishing to drop the issue. "The Tok'ra have heard very real stories from many planets of the help that this spirit offers. He is definitely on our side, we know that much." Jacob looked over at General Hammond. "The Tok'ra think it's important to contact Sa'akhu. I tend to agree. I am here to ask for the help of Doctor Jackson as he clearly has the most familiarity with the people of Abydos and will stand the best chance of contacting this spirit."

Daniel raised an eyebrow, but internally while he was surprised, he was also relieved. He had thought for a moment that the Tok'ra had discovered his secret.

"Oh, come *on*, General," interrupted Jack sarcastically. "What's Daniel meant to do? Go to Abydos and find the nearest children and say 'Oh, you know that story about that spirit you told me that night? Could you, like, contact him as he's our best hope against an imminent invasion from a Goa'uld. Thanks, and be quick about it if you could.'"

General Hammond favoured Jack with a slight look of disapproval though he was used to such behaviour. The scenario the Tok'ra had approached them with even seemed unlikely to him. Contact a spirit who may or may not exist to help them to defeat a powerful and unpredictable Goa'uld and his growing army of mind-controllers?

"I understand your desperation, Jacob," General Hammond began, "but I also have my doubts that sending Daniel to Abydos is really going to achieve anything. I mean, do you have any proof that this spirit even exists, other than rumours and stories?"

Jacob nodded. "We have the proof of various planets: treasures that have been stolen have been returned, enemies that have threatened have suddenly left never to return. We know that different species have traveled through the Stargate to Abydos to ask for help from Sa'akhu-" Jacob paused to look around the room in all seriousness, "-and they have *always* had their prayers answered."

"I don't like the word 'prayer', there," said Jack. "Are you sure this Sa'akhu isn't just a rogue Goa'uld with a god-complex?"

Jacob shook his head to dismiss Jack's doubt. "There is no evidence of that, and his behaviour pattern does not match anything a Goa'uld would do. As far as I understand the legend, this spirit is benign force that works only for the good of others. And he apparently has the power to do significant work."

General Hammond looked around his team as he considered the information. He saw that Jack was still unsure about the practicality of the proposed mission, Teal'c was unreadable as usual, and Sam had a thoughtful look on her face. "Major Carter? What is your take on this?"

Sam raised herself from her thoughts and looked over at the General. "I think something exists that has been helping the various planets as the evidence is clear. There is no reason why Sa'akhu couldn't be a species of alien that can take spirit form yet somehow is still connected to a physical state in order to interact with the people of Abydos and the other planets." She paused to shrug her shoulders. "I don't know, General. I think, considering the stakes, it's worth a shot to find out a little more about this Sa'akhu."

General Hammond nodded. "Teal'c? Have you ever heard of this spirit?" he asked, turning to the Jaffa.

Teal'c gave a slight bow of his head in response. "I have only heard references from planets the Goa'uld invaded. Frightened people calling out to Sa'akhu to protect them from the false gods."

Daniel schooled his expression at Teal'c's words, but inwardly he felt an empty sensation, one familiar to his heart. One that told him that no matter how many people he saved and how much good he did, there was always a thousand more evils being committed that he never heard; a thousand more cries for help in minds he couldn't read. Kasuf had sat with him many times in his past when these thoughts began to swamp his mind. "You can't save everyone, Daniel," the man had told him. "It is more than enough that you even try." Daniel knew that was true, but he wasn't sure it ever fully lightened his mind.

"Doctor Jackson?" said General Hammond, cutting into Daniel's thoughts. "I'd like to know your opinion on this."

All eyes turned to Daniel, and he paused a moment before speaking. He knew somewhere inside him had made a decision even as the first mention of his alter ego was spoken. "I...think it's worth a shot," he replied, noticing Jack roll his eyes slightly at what he thought was still a ludicrous mission. "I'll go to Abydos and look deeper into the Sa'akhu myth. If this spirit was ever contacted, then it was probably done through the priests. I'll ask around, see what I can find."

General Hammond nodded his head. "You have a go, Daniel," he said, and stood from his seat to signal the end of the meeting. "Dismissed."

*****

CONTINUED IN CHAPTER THREE...