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The men's attention switched back to the screen. The probe had just cleared a high promitory, below a plain stretched out. Cultivated fields ran from the base of the mountain up to what looked like a city. And what a city! It could have been carved out of a mountain itself. Three towers pointed into the sky, each one slightly shorter than the other, as the probe flew over them they could see that the towers formed a triangle. The probe circled round and lowered, now they could see the city itself. There were seven layers, each one shallower than the next, forming a pyramid. A wide track wound round leading to the base of the towers which were surrounded by gardens. Lights shone from openings in the stone, figures could be seen going about their normal business, they seemed oblivious to the probe. A wide road joined the city to the mountain. Teal'c leaned forward as the probe made one more circle before heading back. He scrutinised the image of the city. O'Neill noticed his interest. "Somewhere you know, Teal'c?" he asked. Teal'c studied the picture a moment longer. Still staring at the screen he said, "It appears familiar, O'Neill, yet I know I have never been there." He looked troubled. "It's called de ja vu, Teal'c, you'll get used to it." said O'Neill.
"De ja vu?" questioned Teal'c, raising an eyebrow. "The feeling that you know someone, something, or somewhere, when you can't," said Carter, "it can be very disconcerting." "Strange," said Teal'c, "you experience this often?" "Happens all the time, Teal'c." assured O'Neill. Teal'c shook his head. Carter straightened up from the screen and turned round to face the General. "They seem relatively advanced, sir, mainly agrarian if those fields are anything to go by, although that city is pretty impressive." "What do you think, Colonel?" asked General Hammond. "It's very ... er, nice, sir. Just not very interesting, that's all." said O'Neill. "Come on, Jack. New cultures, new civilisations, remember?" Jackson was already thinking of the non-military discoveries to be made.
"What about you, Teal'c ? Want to go and see the place close up?" Teal'c turned to the General, he squared his shoulders as if he'd come to a decision, "Yes, General, I would like to go there and see if anything else seems familiar."
"Captain ?" "I'm game, General." agreed Carter. "Looks like you're out voted, Colonel. All right, recon approved. And try to remember to bring back the probes this time. You leave in an hour. Dismissed." Carter stood from her chair as Hammond left the room. O'Neill turned to follow him, then turned back. "Since when was the military a democracy?" he asked plaintively. Carter and Jackson exchanged glances and shrugged, but they both had wide smiles on their faces. O'Neill shook his head in disgust and followed the General.
The Stargate closed behind SG-1 as they stepped forward to the planet they had designated as PF563. Carter hurried down the ramp to check on the remote and aerial probes. Jackson stood at the top of the ramp breathing deeply. "Good, clean air," he commented as he surveyed the surroundings. O'Neill glanced over, "What about those allergies?" he asked. "They're under control for now, thank you." said Jackson dryly. "What about you, Teal'c? Anything here jogging your memory?" Teal'c slowly walked down the ramp, scanning the area for any familiar landmarks. At last he turned and addressed O'Neill. "No, O'Neill. Perhaps I was mistaken." "Don't sweat it, Teal'c." O'Neill and Jackson joined Teal'c at the bottom of the ramp. Carter came over.
"Both probes are fine, Colonel." she reported. "Well," said O'Neill, "let's move out and see if the natives are friendly." SG-1 moved forward to where a track was visible through the trees. Jackson looked round in interest. The forest was relatively dense, the trees similar to Earth's. He stopped suddenly as movement caught his eye, but when he turned round there was nothing there. Shrugging he hurried to catch up with the others who were stopped dead in a clearing. "Hey, guys, I thought I saw some movement back there," he began as he entered the clearing. Then he too stopped. The team was surrounded by a posse of cloaked and hooded warriors, all pointing short staff weapons at them. Jackson gulped as he looked around, "I guess it doesn't really matter now." he muttered. O'Neill turned, "How come no one is ever pleased to see us?" he asked. One of the warriors gestured with the staff weapon. The meaning was the same in any language, slowly the team raised their hands. The warrior handed the weapon to another figure and stepped forward, then lowered the hood of the cloak. It revealed a young woman, dark hair coiled around her head, her piercing green eyes scrutinised the group, resting particularly on Teal'c and then Carter. She stepped up to Carter and brought her arm across her chest, bowing her head in salute.
"I am Senga, raised by Triesta, Commander of the Door Watch." she said. Carter was unsure, but slowly copied the gesture. "Samantha Carter, raised by Jacob, Captain, United States Air Force." Senga beckoned Carter forward, together they moved over to Teal'c. Again Senga addressed Carter. "You travel with a Jaffa, and yet no Goa'uld would dare come to this planet." "We are not Goa'uld," insisted Carter, "Teal'c has joined us to fight the Goa'uld." Senga stared at Carter, debating whether she believed her. She looked over the rest of the team, then nodded slowly. "Very well. There is truth in your eyes." Senga gestured to her troops. They lowered their weapons and their hoods. Every one of them was a woman, and all were remarkably similar in looks. The same dark hair, the same green eyes, even their build, tall and slim - it was very difficult to tell them apart. "Are you all sisters?" asked Jackson in wonder. Senga turned to him. "You could say that." She turned back to Carter. "Now, you and your ... husbands must leave here."
One of the women stepped forward in consternation, "Senga!" she cried. Senga held up a hand for silence and turned back to the team. "What's this about husbands?" exploded O'Neill. Carter was smiling broadly, "I think it's just an expression, Sir." "It had better be." muttered O'Neill. "Come!" ordered Senga. Hesitantly SG-1 moved back the way they had come, Senga went to follow them, but was restrained by the woman who had called her name. Carter looked on curiously. "Senga! What are you doing? You know the law!" Senga shook the woman's arm off. "I know what I'm doing, Matep!" she said, "Return to your post!" Senga invited Carter to go forward, Matep subsided. The two women followed SG-1 along the path. Carter turned to Senga, "What was all that about?" she asked curiously. Senga walked on for a while before speaking. At last she said, "It would be dangerous for your men-folk to remain on this planet." They were almost at the Stargate, Jackson was standing by the DHD, Senga nodded to him to dial, Carter was not going to give up, "Why would it be dangerous?" she asked. "There is no time to explain now," said Senga as the gate activated, "You may return here one day and I will tell you the tale, but leave the men at home. It is not safe for them here." Senga stepped back and saluted Carter. Carter again copied the gesture and hurried forward. The remote probe was already disappearing into the wormhole, followed by Jackson. Teal'c looked back towards Senga, they nodded to each other, then Teal'c stepped through the portal. Carter hurried up the ramp to join O'Neill. "Very friendly !" he said.
"Oh, I don't know, Colonel. It could have been a lot worse." The two of them stepped through. The gate shut down behind them. Back at the treeline, Senga stood lost in thought. Behind her Matep emerged from the trees. Quietly she stood behind Senga, "We should have taken them back, it is the law." "What for, Matep?" replied Senga, "What could we offer them except death. They did not know their danger." "And what if it is too late?" asked Matep. "Then they will return seeking answers, but I doubt that they will like the answers we will give." Sadly Senga moved off into the trees, but Matep stood looking after her, eyes narrowed. General Hammond scanned the readings of the various monitors. Some of them made sense, but most of them were gobbledegook to him, however it would not do to admit that to any of his subordinates, he nodded sagely at the screens, why else did he have experts? Let them do the worrying about the technical aspects. An alarm sounded, one of the faceless technicians looked up to check the display; "It's SG-1's code, Sir." General Hammond looked up at the Stargate, "They're not due back for hours," he muttered. The Sergeant glanced up at his commanding officer, "That usually means they're in trouble, Sir."
Hammond looked down at the man, "Yes, it does," he grabbed the microphone, "Security and medical personnel to the embarkation room, on the double!" Soldiers poured into the room, weapons drawn. A few minutes later orderlies rushed in and took position against the walls. Everyone stood ready. The iris slid smoothly back and the wormhole activated a few seconds later. For a moment the personnel held their breath. Then the familiar sight of the SGC probe came through, followed by Teal'c and Jackson. Those gathered around the gate relaxed slightly, although their weapons remained trained on the gate. Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter were the next through, and the gate shut down behind them. General Hammond emerged from the control room. "Did you forget something, Colonel?" Colonel O'Neill stared round the embarkation room as if seeing it for the first time, "I don't think so, Sir". General Hammond frowned, "Well?" Teal'c stepped forward, "We were not welcome, General." Carter turned round, "There was some question of the guys safety, Sir." she faced the General, "I was warned that only women were allowed." Hammond surveyed SG-1, then his troops, "Very well. For a twenty minute mission, I won't expect a long de-brief. One hour?" "No problem," responded Teal'c.
Carter and Hammond both glanced at Teal'c - he was usually so taciturn. Hammond gestured to the personnel surrounding them. They began to fall out. As he left, one of the soldiers knocked against a tower of equipment, a tray of tools which had been balanced on top clattered to the floor. O'Neill reacted immediately, whirling round, his rifle pointed at the hapless soldier. The soldier looked up sheepishly, unnerved not only at the racket he had made but more importantly at having one of his commanding officers point his gun at him, "Sorry, Sir," he muttered. He bent down to retrieve the fallen tools. O'Neill relaxed. "Kinda jumpy, aren't you, Jack?" joked Jackson. O'Neill blinked rapidly as if clearing his mind. "It happens." he said shortly. O'Neill moved to follow the rest of SG-1 out of the embarkation room. At the door he stopped and looked around the room, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Only General Hammond was present when Captain Carter and Teal'c entered the conference room. Hammond checked his watch. "Where are Colonel O'Neill and Doctor Jackson?" he asked. Carter looked uncomfortable. "Er ... the colonel had a headache, and Daniel er .. well Daniel is watching football, Sir." "Football?" "Yes, Sir. Apparently it's the playoffs, Sir." "I know that, Captain." said Hammond. "Well, he is a civilian, I guess we all have to let off steam."
Teal'c rested his head in his hands, for all the world looking as if he couldn't keep his eyes open a moment longer, "Does it really matter?" he asked, "We're here." Hammond nodded to Carter. Carter took a deep breath, "Sir, we arrived on the planet and confirmed the probe readings. Colonel O'Neill ordered us to move out. We had travelled approximately half a click when we were stopped by a detachment of guards. All the guards were female." Carter paused for breath, Teal'c began to crack his knuckles. Carter glanced at him then continued, "During the confrontation it became clear that women were the dominant species on that planet. We were warned that males were not welcome on the planet, and that they would be in some danger if they returned. However, I was apparently welcome. Their commander, Senga, intimated that I could return." "Any tactical advantage in returning, Captain?" "You're kidding, right?" said Teal'c. "Their weapons were so old they should have been in a, what do you call it, a museum." "They would have worked wouldn't they?" snapped Carter. Teal'c shrugged. Hammond looked from one to the other, "From what you say, Captain, it would be dangerous for a full team to return to the planet. I don't want you going with an unfamiliar team, and Teal'c seems to feel that it would not be worth the effort." Carter opened her mouth, but Hammond forestalled her, "There are a lot more worlds out there, Captain." Carter subsided. "All right!" exclaimed Teal'c, "Let's get out of here and party!" He bolted for the door and disappeared down the corridor. Hammond and Carter exchanged glances. Looking after Teal'c Hammond enquired, "This danger" to the men, could it be medical?" "It's a possibility, sir." "Have Doctor Fraiser check you all out thoroughly. Teal'c's acting strange. It may be nothing." "Yes, sir." "Who knows," continued Hammond, "maybe Teal'c is finally lightening up."
On PF563 the Door Watch clustered around a roaring fire for their evening meal. Senga sat with an electronic pad, supposedly checking the reports, but actually staring into the flames. A shout went up, Senga looked up startled to see a detachment of Parliament Guards approaching through the trees. She nodded to herself and glanced over at Matep, who wouldn't meet her eye. The Commander of the Parliament Guard marched up to Senga, who rose slowly. "Senga, Commander of the Door Watch, you are requested to attend the Parliament to answer charges of treason." There was a low muttering from Senga's troops. Several of them looked at Matep with hostility. "I thought I might have to," said Senga. She looked around the clearing and her gaze rested on one of her soldiers. Senga beckoned her forward, "Hatka, raised by Shira, you will command the Door Watch until I return, or until the Council appoints a new Commander." Hatka bowed and saluted her commander. "Shouldn't your second be in command?" asked the Parliament Guard. Senga smiled. "The accuser should also be present at the Parliament. Come, Matep." Matep stepped forward. She and Senga fell into step with the Guard. They made their way through the forest watched by the silent Door Watch. As they marched Senga turned to Matep and whispered, "So, I finally give you an excuse to betray me." Matep did not reply, she only smiled. The group continued on their way.
There was only one patient in the medical bay when Carter tracked down Doctor Fraiser. Fraiser was checking the soldier's chart. Carter looked over her shoulder to the soldier on the bed. "Hi, Janet. What's up with him?" Fraiser looked up, "Well, hello, Sam," she said sarcastically, "I'm fine, how are you?" Carter grinned, "Sorry, Janet." Fraiser smiled, "Airman Taylor will be out of here in a couple of days. Just a late dose of the measles is all." "Are you sure?" asked Carter. Fraiser looked at her curiously, "Yes, I'm sure." "Good," said Carter, "Have you had a chance to look at my report from PF563?" Fraiser moved over to her desk, "I think it's in my In-tray." she said. "Just give me the highlights." Carter nodded, "There's a possibility that the guys may have been infected with something from the planet. They seem to be acting a little out of character." Fraiser looked thoughtful, "Colonel O'Neill came in a little while ago complaining of a headache," she said. "I wanted to do a blood test and he wouldn't let me." "Kinda thorough aren't you?" grinned Carter. "You know what the Colonel's like when it comes to his annual check-up. I thought I'd take the opportunity, but he was worse than usual, practically ran out of here once I'd given him some aspirin." The two woman stared at each other, Fraiser sighed, "We'd better check it out, just to be on the safe side." She grabbed her case and they left. Carter and Fraiser walked down the corridor towards Teal'c's quarters. They were hit by the sound as they drew closer. The Beach Boys "California Girls" was blaring from Teal'c's room. They stopped outside the door. Fraiser turned to Carter, "I never had Teal'c pegged as a Beach Boys fan." Carter nodded, "I would have thought Wagner was more his style." She raised her hand and knocked on the door, she had to pound on it for quite a while before the music was turned down and Teal'c opened the door. His face split into a wide grin when he saw them, "Well, if it isn't my two favourite "California Girls." Come on in, join the party!" Carter and Fraiser stepped through and stopped in amazement. Teal'c's quarters, usually in pristine condition, looked as if a blind interior designer had had a party. Splashes of red and yellow paint covered the walls, the ceiling and part of the floor. Across his bed was a string of CD's and discarded boxes, several packs of playing cards littered the place. One of the CD's caught Carter's eye, she picked it up, glaring at a dollop of paint on it. "Teal'c, is this my Shania Twain CD?" she asked, ominously. Teal'c grinned and nodded. Carter looked as if she was about to explode. "Where did you get the paint, Teal'c?" asked Fraiser, quickly. "Oh, it was down in the store room." said Teal'c, airily, "You should see the stuff that's down there. Anyway, what can I do for you two beautiful ladies?"
Carter was still trying to get the paint of her CD. Fraiser stepped forward, "Work, I'm afraid, Teal'c. I need to do a blood test." Teal'c grimaced, "That's no fun at all." But he sat on the edge of the bed and rolled up his sleeve. Fraiser moved over to take the sample. Teal'c stared at her as if seeing her for the first time, "What does an attractive, intelligent woman do to relax in a secret military base, Doc?" he asked. Fraiser glanced up at him, "Whatever takes my fancy, Teal'c." Teal'c leaned closer, "Fancy going to dinner with me tonight?" he asked, winking. Carter looked over in surprise. Fraiser stood back, "Er, not tonight, Teal'c, maybe another time." Teal'c shrugged. The two women turned to go. "Hey, Doc!" called Teal'c. Fraiser turned back. "You forgot something." Teal'c walked over scrutinising Fraiser's face, then he grinned, "Ah there it is!" Teal'c reached up and produced Fraiser's thermometer from behind her ear. He handed it back to her, "Got to watch those things, Doc, they get away from you." He turned away. Carter and Fraiser hurried out, closing the door behind them, immediately the volume of the music was cranked up. Fraiser stared at the thermometer in her hand in disbelief. Fraiser and Carter walked down the corridor to Colonel O'Neill's quarters, each of them busy with her own thoughts. They paused outside the Colonel's door. Taking a deep breath, Fraiser knocked on the door. There was no reply. She tried again. This time O'Neill shouted through the door, "Go away!" Fraiser glanced at Carter. "Colonel, it's Doctor Fraiser, I came to see how you're feeling." "I'm fine. Now go away!" Carter stepped up to the door, "Colonel O'Neill?" "I knew it!" said O'Neill, "I knew you'd try to get me!" his voice rose in pitch, he sounded terrified, "You'll never get me! Never!"
Carter whispered to Fraiser, "We'll need some help here." Fraiser nodded, raising her voice she called through to O'Neill, "We're going now, Colonel. Just try to relax." There was no reply from the Colonel. The two women hurried away. Inside the room O'Neill had barricaded the door with the furniture. O'Neill himself was pressed back into a corner of the room, he hugged his knees and rocked back and forth, repeating the same phrase over and over, "Leave me alone. Leave me alone. Leave me alone." "Do you think we should be breaking into the Colonel's quarters?" asked Carter as she and Fraiser hurried to the rec room. Fraiser shrugged. "The guys will have to get him out. He might injure himself."
The two of them stopped at the door to the rec room and peered in. Daniel Jackson was alone in the room, but he was making enough noise for a whole platoon. He was staring at a television screen watching a football game, yelling encouragement at his team and insults at the referee. Carter and Fraiser stepped in. "Well, this is unusual." muttered Carter. "Doctor Jackson ?" asked Fraiser, tentatively. Jackson flapped his hand, his eyes never left the screen, "In a minute." he said, then suddenly yelled, "No! No! NO! DON'T fumble the ball! You idiots!" In a fit of rage Jackson jumped up from his chair, hefted the television set and hurled it across the room. The set smashed with a pop and the sour smell of burning electrics. Carter and Fraiser stood in shock. Jackson stared dispassionately at the damage, "I need another set." He turned to face the women. "There's one in the medical bay." said Fraiser, quickly. "Good." said Jackson, he hurried out. Carter and Fraiser stood over the destroyed set. "I think we can safely say that we're in trouble." said Carter. Fraiser nodded in agreement. They hurried out after Jackson.
To Be Continued.....
