By Biltong

" You say you are their leader?"

I nodded, trying not to show any emotion." I am."

" Are you aware of the laws governing the Chappa’i?

" No."

I grunted as one of my captors hit me in my side, making me sag against the post I was tied to and causing my team to call out in protest.

" Silence," he roared, "or your leader will die right here and now."

There was abrupt silence, making the chief nod, satisfied.

" I ask you again, are you aware of the laws regarding the Chappa’i?"

I stared up from my post defiantly, staring at my ebony skinned captor. Damn, why didn’t anybody believe me? Was I that untrustworthy looking?

" And I repeat. We came through the Chappa’i, as peaceful travelers from the planet Earth. Up until now, your planet and mine have had no contact with each other; we are here to change that. Travel from one world to the next is possible through the Chappa’i, and this is what we did. As to your laws regarding the Chappa’i, we have no knowledge of them. "

I looked him in the eye, trying to look earnest. " Had we any knowledge of what they were, we would have followed them scrupulously."

Damn, Jack the diplomat was getting good.

The ebony warrior was silent for a moment, regarding me critically, then silently turned on his heel, the others following. They all disappeared into a huge round thatched hutch, making me sag with relief.

Our ordeal was over for now.

" Daniel, what in the hell happened?"

He shook his head helplessly, one eye fixed apprehensively on the huge hut.

" Jack, I have absolutely no idea. We were doing great, then all of a sudden, boom."

He was right about that.

We had arrived on GD6 Y6R about two hours ago, the MALP having told us of an almost African tribal structure beforehand. As expected, Daniel Jackson was beside himself with enthusiasm. The Tok’ra had told us of an emergence of an almost African-like System Lord, so far unnamed, that lay claim to that part of space where the planet was located. That information, coupled with what seemed to be African Ethnic residents on GD6 Y6R made Daniel almost certain that he had found the origins of the host.

When General Hammond gave us the nod, we were soon kitted up and on our way.

The place was a lush green jungle planet full of birds and other grunting wild life that immediately made Daniel reach for his anti-histamine spray, much to our amusement. The MALP had told us that it was extremely humid and we had dressed accordingly, thank goodness. Nevertheless within moments huge drops of sweat beaded our foreheads.

" Sweet, like being in a sauna," I muttered, getting nods of agreement from the rest of my team.

" Sometimes we have to suffer," Carter commented, getting scowls from one and all.

" Hey, you," I shouted, startling three young boys inspecting the MALP.

We waited patiently whilst they ran, shouting towards a huge hanger-like round structure, and were presently rewarded by a delegation of eight male warriors.

" Wow, Impi warriors." Daniel said, his eyes shining.

" Pardon?" I murmured. " Make it quick."

" Male dominated society, bottom of Africa," he breathed, making Carter growl. She hated being submissive. Then they were standing in front of us,

The leader was a well-built man about my age, dressed in striped leather, a soft band of white tied around his forehead, something the other men lacked, denoting his leadership, I assumed.

He was quick, I’ll grant him that. His eyes flicked to Teal’c, noticed his subservient attitude, and flicked back to me.

" You are the leader?" His voice was set in a pleasant baritone.

" Colonel Jack O’Neill, and these are my companions, Doctor Daniel Jackson, Teal’c and Major Carter."

He nodded deeply to Daniel and Teal’c, dismissing Carter entirely, making her growl almost inaudibly. " You are welcome to the village of N’Chu, travelers. Come."

They led us to an open area where a group of women were tending to a huge fire, obviously in preparation for the nights supper. He pointed to a group of large logs set around the fire with a grand gesture.

" I am N’Thaba, chief of N’Chu. Please sit, and tell us of your village."

Daniel stepped forwards.

" Chief N’Thaba, we are honored to have met you and your fine tribe. Our village is called Earth, reachable through that ring structure." He pointed to the distant stargate.

His words were met with dead silence, making his smile slip.

The chief slowly turned, his face emotionless as he faced me.

" Is this true?" You came through the Chappa’i?"

I nodded, wondering what all the fuss was about.

" That’s right, from a place called Earth."

The chief was shaking his head, looking stunned.

" You are not from a village here on N’Chuaba previously unknown to us?"

The chief was obviously beginning to lose it.

" No, we are from another planet called Earth." I said pleasantly.

" And you traveled through the Chappa’i?"

I nodded, struggling to keep my smile on my face. This was getting repetitive.

" That’s right. From Earth."

You traveled through the eye and did not do X’anath?

I looked at him, confused. " Sorry, no."

His face slowly changed to a mask of fury, then he turned to his warriors.

" Impi!"

For a fraction of a second I was caught off guard, we all were, then I felt a sharp pain in my arm and looked down dumbly only to see what looked like a porcupine quill sticking out of my forearm.

" What the heck?" Then the world slipped sideways and darkness rushed in.

" O’Neill." I became aware of Teal’c calling my name. Dizzily I tried to rub my forehead, only to find I couldn’t. Oh yeah. African tribe. Rather weird African tribe.

Damn.

" O’Neill."

" Okay Teal’c I’m awake." I opened my eyes painfully to see my team all lashed to thick wooden posts arranged in a neat semi-circle to one side of the communal gathering place. The men were not to be seen, only the women, who were still placidly tending to the fire, ignoring us. Carter had obviously woken before me, and was attempting to appeal to them.

" Don’t bother Sam." She turned on Daniel furiously. " And why not?"

His smile was rueful. " Because they can’t. Centuries of subservience have told them to obey their men at all times." He tried to shift to face her fully, only to be pulled up by the tight bindings they had used on us all.

" You will notice that they don’t talk at all?" She nodded.

" I noticed. They sign at each other."

" That’s right," he said, his glasses slipping down his nose, making me feel sorry for him. " They may have no choice but to do that. In some societies the men tear out their tongues."

She flinched. " Ugh how awful."

I had been listening to Daniel’s lecture whilst trying out the resistance of the bindings lashing my hands and feet around the pole, only to find out that they had done a really good job.

" Teal’c?"

His voice was grave. " I cannot escape O’Neill."

" Nor would you survive if you had, O’Neill."

N... whatever his name was, stopped in front of me, his eyes enigmatic. " Our planet is unforgiving to those who don’t follow her laws." He shifted his weight thoughtfully.

" You say you and your tribal brothers traveled through the eye, yet you do not observe any of the customs that go hand in hand with such travel."

He stepped back and regarded me thoughtfully.

" Are you aware of the laws governing the Chappa’i?

His questions were calm and measured, showing no real emotion; as if he was more surprised than annoyed that I seemed to have no idea what he was talking about

They asked, I showed ignorance, one of them thumped me in the side, and they all left for the big hut.

" Daniel, any ideas on what law we might have broken?" It was almost painful to see Danny Boy try to shrug.

" Well Jack, N’Thaba never actually said that we had broken any laws. He just asked if we were aware of the law regarding the gate."

" Which, obviously we aren’t." I said sourly.

He gave me a helpless shrug.

The day grew longer without a sign of life besides the three females besides the fire who never stirred; despite Carter’s desperate entreats to help us.

At long last there was a commotion from the round structure and the chief once more made his regal way towards me, accompanied by no one but a pretty teenager carrying a stiff leather flask.

I could hear liquid sloshing inside as she came to a halt.

" Leader O’Neill, the tribal council has agreed that you truly had no idea of the law governing the Chappa’i."

I smiled and nodded. "Oh good, but why do I feel that there’s more to come?"

He ignored me.

" Nevertheless. You did lead your tribal brothers and chattel through the eye, without the required sacrifices, making you guilty."

" So, free us and let us leave."

He treated me to a deep bow. " This the elders have agreed to do, once you have drunk the blood of N’Chuaba as atonement."

" Once I have drunk the blood of…? I think not buddy."

He looked at me sadly.

" Leader O’Neill. The atonement must be taken. This is our way. If you do not submit like a warrior should, then your tribal brothers will be forfeit."

I looked at him suspiciously. " As in? "

" They will be killed."

" Okay", I said slowly, " that’s not acceptable."

For a moment I glared at him, he calmly meeting my eyes, making me realize that in a different time and place, I probably would count this man as among one of my best friends. But not here and not now.

I gave a deep sigh, my decision made.

" And if I drink that…whatever, my team and I will be allowed to go back through the Chappa’i?"

" Jack, no." I ignored Daniel’s anguished cry.

" That means everyone, the chattel too?"

He nodded gravely.

"Okay." I gave him a crooked smile. " Does anybody survive the blood of whatsit?"

His face was serene. " The blood of N’Chuaba? Some."

" Okay, give me a minute."

Nodding his understanding, he stepped back, allowing me to speak to my team in private.

" Kids, If this is a law that we have broken, then I must accept whatever punishment given." I shrugged, ignoring their hoarse protests.

"Please, hear me out. I’m not the best diplomat in the galaxy, but I know as well as you do that our only chance of ever visiting this world again lies on finding out what this law is. To that end, I want you, Daniel, to stay behind and quiz N whatever. I will try to get to the gate on my own, but if I have to, I can rely on Teal’c and Carter."

I looked directly at Daniel, stilling his protests. " Danny, this planet is important. A powerful Gould System Lord came from here, something I for one would like to find out how. Please. Do as I ask."

I waited until he nodded, then turned to the Chief again.

" Okay, I’m ready."

He pushed the girl forwards.

Smiling shyly, the teenager removed the bung and carefully lifted the bottle to my lips. The liquid wasn’t half bad, a mixture of blackcurrant, and something else indefinable. Probably liquid death, I thought darkly.

Then, once all the liquid was drained, the chief made a motion towards the hut, summoning people who cut us free.

Carter was immediately by my side.

" How do you feel sir?"

I frowned. " Dizzy, like I have a mild hangover. Come, let’s go home."

Leaning on Teal’c slightly, we slowly made our way towards the Stargate, my peripheral vision telling me that Daniel was in deep discussion with the Chief, who was following us with his entourage.

Ten steps towards the Stargate I knew that something was seriously wrong.

" Teal’c…" I clutched his shoulder convulsively as my heart began to race. " Sorry I can’t…the floor seemed a hell of a long way off as I collapsed.

It was weird. I was dying, I knew that I was dying, but at the same time I awake, aware, and icy calm.

" O’Neill." He called to me as if from under water, his hands distant as he grabbed me and hauled me over his shoulder. Carter raced past him, and soon the greenery was suffused with the blue reflection of the wormhole.

Then we were back home and I was being laid down gently on the ramp. It was funny, my eyes were open, my thoughts clear, but I was unable to move a muscle.

All I could do was listen to my friend’s voices.

" Teal’c what happened?" Janet snapped, her stethoscope cold as she pulled my tee shirt up.

" He’s been poisoned," Carter answered for him.

" Shit." This a muttered aside from her head nurse as I felt him gently lift me onto a gurney.

" How?" Janet asked, as I felt the gurney move.

" Something called the Blood of Enchuaba or something like that. He was forced to drink it or we would all be killed."

" So of course, he drank it?" Fraiser sounded disgusted.

" He had no choice," Carter wailed, as the infirmary doors whammed open.

" Even so…Jack?"

Damn. I was starting to convulse, unable to stop my muscles from violently spasming.

" He’s having a seizure. Sam, Teal’c, stand back. Steve, hold him. Let’s get his stomach pumped as soon as possible and find out what the hell the idiot has gone and done this time."

Slowly the tremors eased, until I lay in an exhausted heap, unmindful of people forcing things down my throat, and poking things into me. I was beginning to feel warm and happy, almost floating.

" Doctor Fraiser." The voice was annoying, grounding me. " His BP is…"

" I know." She sounded upset. " And I can see his heart rate dropping just as well as you can." I smelt her perfume as she leaned over me.

" Jack, can you hear me, can you see me?"

" Geez, look at his eyes. They look dead."

She looked up at someone, fury in her voice. " Don’t you ever, ever, say that in front of a patient

again.

The voice was contrite. " Sorry Doctor."

There was a scuffle at the door. " Got it."

" Thank God."

Then there was a prick of a needle, and…nothing.

I awoke to bright lights and the muted beeps of the heart monitor. For a while I was just content to relax, to allow my brain to slowly retrieve the information that led to me being here.

Ah yes, the blood of whatsit.

After a while the sounds of the infirmary intruded, the murmurs of the nurses the clinks as they did unidentifiable things, and the laughter.

I had always hated to be stuck in the infirmary, I’m a man of action, and lying around all day isn’t my idea of fun, but I’m always glad to see it after someone has tried to kill me.

Awake and aware at last, I carefully looked around the room.

" Oh good, with us again?" I nodded, and tried to sit upright. I shouldn’t have bothered. I was as weak as a kitten.

" We’ll let you out tomorrow, if you’re good." She stared down sternly at me." That means no trying to get out of bed."

" Yes mom." I said through a sore throat. " What…?" I whispered, " Why is my throat so sore?"

" That’s what happens to people who have their stomach pumped to remove a liquid mixture consisting mainly of mercury."

" Wha?" I suddenly realized that she was furious with me.

" Dammit Colonel, what were you thinking of. Do you know how dangerous mercury poisoning is? And to voluntary drink the stuff… I’m speechless." She gripped one of my wrists with an iron hand, making me wince as she felt for a pulse.

" Luckily we managed to get most of it out, but it was such a heavy concentration that had you absorbed any more into your system, you would have been dead within the day."

I lay back, content to let her rant and rave.

" It’s not like I had much of a choice," I muttered almost inaudibly, stopping her dead.

" You must have," She replied, the anger suddenly draining from her.

I looked up into her concerned eyes. " You have sinned. Drink this as an apology or both you and your team die." I paused for a heartbeat. " I had no choice."

" Mmm. She rocked oh her heels and regarded me thoughtfully " One day I may not be able to bring you back in time, you know."

I gave her a faint grin. " It’s okay. I never figured that I would die of old age anyway." I saw her expression change. " It’s not that I have a death wish," I said hastily," I don’t. It’s just that the law of averages is pretty much against me."

I shrugged, ignoring her troubled expression. " I keep going in the belief that we all die someday, so when I do, it may as well be by doing something that makes me feel truly alive."

She snorted and sat on the edge of my bed. " And drinking poison does that to you?"

I looked at her, aghast. " Hell no. It’s the thought of going to what may be the home planet of a major System Lord without his knowledge in order to find out whatever I can about him in order to use it against him when we eventually meet."

I smiled at her thinly. " And we will meet someday, mark my words."

She got to her feet with a shudder. " I hate it when you do that. You seem to change persona, as if the happy go lucky Jack O’Neill disappears and is replaced by…"

" Colonel O’Neill of the SGC, a dedicated fighter in the war against the Gua’old?" I asked softly.

" Someone who would risk death by poisoning if it meant information for that war?"

She didn’t reply, merely snorted, gathered her things and walked towards her office.

" Methinks that you have seriously upset the good doctor," a familiar voice drawled from the infirmary door, and I smiled at General Hammond as he strolled in.

" How much did you hear sir?" I asked quietly.

" Enough to let me know that unless I intervene you won’t get out of here for a week," he replied with a smile.

I gave a mock shudder. " Then please sir, intervene away."

We looked at each other, grinning like schoolboys that have annoyed the headmistress for a while, before seriousness set in.

" Did you debrief Daniel?" I asked quietly.

He nodded, hooking a chair with his foot. " I did. Apparently you should have bought through an offering for the gods. Some animal is meant to be slaughtered before you leave, and another when you arrive at your end destination."

" According to Dr Jackson, this has always been the custom." He looked at me seriously. " A custom has only been broken once before now, with a young warrior with a name that only Dr Jackson can love, who refused to slaughter an animal before stepping through the gate. He was never heard from again."

" Our Gua’old," I breathed.

He nodded. " Our Gua’old."

He straightened in his chair. " Jackson has gone back to the planet, complete with rabbit, to get all the particulars, what he looks like, identifying scars, allergies etcetera."

I was slow, blame it on being poisoned.

" A rabbit? Daniel is going to slaughter a rabbit? That I find hard to believe."

Hammond snorted. " Dr Jackson won’t kill a cockroach unless it’s a direct order from me." He shook his head smiling, and stood. " I sent Captain Fuller from SG9 with him. Besides being diplomatic, he also isn’t squeamish."

" Ah." I settled back smiling as General Hammond headed towards the door, then something hit me.

" Uh, sir, about Doctor Fraiser?"

His grin was shark-like. " Oh, you’re the big bad Colonel, able to face death head on. You can handle her, no problem." With a wave he was gone, leaving me at the mercy of the one person in the entire galaxy I couldn’t handle.

Doctor Janet Fraiser MD CMO SGC.

I heard a furious clattering from her office and knew that I was in deep trouble.

*EINDE*

Beta tested by CIGIK

*****and e-mails received said *****