STARGATE SG-1 29 Hall of the Two Truths (37 page)

“So you weren’t trying to convince us we were dead so you could get information about ascension from us?” Carter was still trying to sort this out the same way Jack was. For her part, NebtHet looked bemused.

“No offense, Major Carter, but your knowledge of ascension is of little interest to us, compared to the millennia we have been studying it.”

“Then I still don’t get it,” Jack interjected. “If you weren’t trying to pick our brains, why all the ‘underworld’ mumbo jumbo?”

“The journey through Duat is the final test for all who die, Colonel,” NebtHet said simply. “What better way, then, to learn the mettle of a person than how they walk toward Final Judgment.”

“So you were less interested in what we knew than how we behaved when we thought we were dead?”

Now, see, even Daniel was confused. Jack found that oddly comforting. But NebtHet was nodding, which meant that whatever the hell Daniel had just said must have been right.

“Death is a great liberator, Dr. Jackson. We hoped if we freed you from your mortal concerns and responsibilities we could more easily understand what makes each of you so unique. SG-1 has, after all, had more contact with ascended beings in the past few years than has been reported by anyone for centuries. We assumed there must be a reason for this, and with the help of the technology at our disposal, we created scenarios so that we might study certain aspects of humanity which we believe we are lacking. Each of you was placed in a different situation so that we could better understand your unique qualities in ways that were concrete rather than theoretical.”

“In other words, we were lab rats,” Jack scowled. Just as he’d thought. They could rationalize it all they wanted. It still didn’t make it right.

“As I understand the analogy, then, yes, I suppose that’s one way to view it, Colonel. Although, if it is any consolation to you, we have found the experience to be most illuminating.”

“I bet you have,” muttered Jack. Damned, arrogant snakes. They were all the same, no matter what they called themselves.

“Really?” Daniel was asking, although he sounded more curious than irked. “In what way? I mean, aside from what you’ve already told us about duty and sacrifice and such?”

Jack resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Leave it to Daniel to want to discuss the finer points of the experiment with their captors.

A commotion interrupted NebtHet before she could reply. Shouts were accompanied by the rapid approach of running feet. Jack saw several Djedu scurry out of the way as someone hurled themselves into the Hall.

Jack recognized him. It was Jenmar.

“Colonel O’Neill!” The Tok’ra’s words came out in great, heaving gasps. “NebtHet!” he added looking around the room. “They will be here any minute — you must all leave at once!”

“Jenmar?” NebtHet stepped toward him, confused. “What has happened?”

He bowed low before her. “Forgive me, NebtHet. It is all my fault. But you must flee, or prepare to defend yourselves. It is the Goa’uld — they are about to attack!”

As if on cue, there was an explosion and the entire chamber shook. Dust rained down from overhead.

“Too late,” shouted Jack above the sudden eruption of cries and chaos. “Looks like they’re already here.”

“PLEASE tell me there’s a Stargate on this planet.”

Another explosion nearly pitched them off their feet. There was no mistaking the blast of a mothership. By the frequency of the hits, Jack figured there had to be at least two in orbit.

“Yes,” shouted NebtHet over the din. “It is in the chamber behind this one. Aset will take you.”

Aset, however, did not budge. She merely stood there, dust falling around her, looking insolent. Jack grasped the situation a heartbeat ahead of NebtHet.

“Aset — no.” NebtHet stared at the woman, incredulous. “Why?”

“Do you really have to ask?” Aset shot back. “You who are so wise, yet see nothing! We have been rotting here for thousands of years while our species — our
kindred
— have ruled this galaxy.” She smiled bitterly. “Once I believed you, when you said it was possible for our kind to ascend, and I followed you for thousands of years, NebtHet. But to what end? Only to decide that we should become like
them
?” Aset gestured toward SG-1, her face twisted in disdain. “I will not become something less than I am out of some pathetic hope of immortality. We have immortality right here, right now. And power, if we choose to use it. I will not waste another day on this planet when I can take my place beside our fellow Goa’uld and rule over the pitiful likes of these.” She spat toward Jack’s feet.

Another blast rocked the Hall. Up on the dais the golden scale with its white feather toppled over, clanging against the marble floor. People were running about with no purpose that Jack could see. It was readily apparent that they’d never come under any kind of attack before. Everything was in utter chaos.

NebtHet looked stricken. Jack almost felt sorry for her. But this wasn’t any of their business. Who did what to whom was entirely beside the point now. He just wanted to get his team home. They could blow each other to hell, for all he cared.

“Hey, you!” He pointed at Jenmar. “Can
you
get us to the Stargate?”

Jenmar seemed not to have heard him. The Tok’ra was pale as the proverbial ghost. He looked as if he would pass out, which was what Jack thought he was about to do when Jenmar sank to his knees. But in fact the Tok’ra was actually throwing himself at NebtHet’s feet.

“This is all my fault, I am the one who has truly betrayed you, NebtHet. I am the one who brought the Goa’uld to Duat. I — I thought you would not share the secret of ascension with me. After everything I had done for you, I feared you would leave me behind. Forgive me.”

Okay, Jack hadn’t seen that one coming. Apparently neither had NebtHet. She looked down at Jenmar, uncomprehending.

“I do not understand. You did this? In league with Aset?”

The Tok’ra nodded miserably. Another ground-rattling shot reverberated beneath their feet and dust began to rain down from the ceiling. NebtHet took no notice. She rounded on Aset, her face equal parts sorrow and rage.

“What have you done?”

There wasn’t time for this. Someone had to act, or they’d still be standing there when one of those motherships hit a bulls-eye.

“Look,” he interrupted, stepping between the two women before Aset could speak. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but the four of us would like to get the hell out of here. The sooner the better.”

“We’ve got a bigger problem, sir,” yelled Carter over yet another large explosion. “It’s the Ancient Technology. We can’t let it fall into the hands of the Goa’uld.”

Carter’s words got NebtHet’s attention. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Aset.

“This is what you promised them, isn’t it? The devices of the Ancients.”

That insolent look was back. Jack had a sudden urge to wipe it off her face. He had the feeling NebtHet did too.

“They were quite pleased with my initial gifts — a sample of the infinite treasure that is wasting away in our storehouse. And when they take possession of the rest, there will be no question as to their success. And mine,” Aset added, triumphantly.

There was an all too familiar egomaniacal glint in her eyes. Jack half expected them to glow.

“Yeah, well, I hate to break it to you, but I wouldn’t put a lot of faith in what those Goa’ulds promise,” he said, sarcastically. “Believe it or not, snake-heads can lie through their teeth. Go figure.”

“I’m pretty sure she knows that, otherwise she would have turned everything over to them already,” Daniel jumped in. “The only thing that stopped you was because you knew once you did, they’d have no use for you.”

“The only thing that stopped me, Dr. Jackson, was making sure the full value of what I had to offer was completely understood — and sufficiently rewarded.”

“Oh, you’ll get your reward, all right. Trust me,” Jack sneered.

“Indeed I shall, Colonel. Especially since the technology of the Ancients isn’t the only thing of value on this planet.”

“Us,” Carter surmised. “We’re your insurance policy. If they want us, they have to take you too.”

Aset’s smile confirmed Carter’s deduction. Gee, a Goa’uld not trusting another Goa’uld. He sure hadn’t seen that one coming.

The room shook again with another nearby hit.

“You do realize,” Jack felt it was worth pointing out, “that there are four of us and only one of you. You really can’t expect us to just come quietly.”

Aset merely shrugged. “Feel free to take me into custody, then, Colonel. I assure you, it won’t be for long.”

“If the Goa’uld have already activated the Stargate, O’Neill, we will not be able to escape,” Teal’c pointed out.

The triumphant tilt of Aset’s chin pretty much confirmed that. Jack knew the drill. Thirty-eight minutes to hold the gate and then hope like hell they could dial out faster than whatever Goa’uld was behind this could dial back in.

Of course, they actually needed to
get
to the gate first.

“Jenmar, take them to the chaapa’ai — please.” NebtHet still looked stunned and slightly unfocused. For his part, the Tok’ra seemed surprised that she’d even spoken to him, let alone asked for his help. He glanced nervously at SG-1 as he got to his feet, and then back at NebtHet before beckoning Jack and the others to follow.

“Sir.” It was Carter again. “We can’t just leave. The Ancient tech —”

“We will not allow the Goa’uld to take it, I assure you,” NebtHet interrupted. “We will destroy it ourselves first.”

Jack looked at Carter and saw his own doubts about NebtHet’s ability to make good on that promise written all over her face.

He also saw the answer.

Right.

“Daniel, Teal’c — go with Jenmar and find the gate. The minute the damn thing shuts off, dial the Alpha Site and get your asses through.” Jack glanced at Carter who nodded in agreement.

“Dial back when you get there and keep it open as long as you can,” she added. “By the time it shuts down, we should be done and good to go.”

There were a hundred and one things that could go wrong with that plan, but at the moment it was the best they had. Plan B would have to come later — if they needed one.

“Oh, and since she offered,” Jack pushed Aset in Teal’c’s direction. “Take this piece of garbage with you.” Teal’c wrapped Aset’s arms in his viselike grip and frog marched her ahead of him in Jenmar’s wake.

“So.” Jack turned to NebtHet. “I’m presuming that in addition to all this wonderful technology you have something that can blow it to hell as well?”

For a moment the Djedu looked distracted again. Maybe she didn’t have it in her to do this. After all, she’d just had quite the sucker-punch. Two, actually.

“Yes — yes. I believe we have the very thing you will require.” She looked at Carter when she said it. “Hurry, though. I do not think we have much time.”

For the briefest moment Sam envied her dad. Selmak would have had these ribs healed by now. But it was only for a moment. All she had to do was look around to remember why the experience with Jolinar had been more than enough. She’d take unhealed ribs jabbing her in the side any day.

Still, they were hard to ignore, especially while running. But she didn’t have the luxury of coddling them now. They were on the clock.

NebtHet guided them through a maze of corridors until they found themselves outdoors on what otherwise might have been a lovely day. The flowering, manicured garden surrounding them belied the congealing cloud of smoke behind them. The air was acrid and filled with cries of grief and loss.

Sam did her best to ignore them. If they didn’t destroy the technology the Djedu had collected, a whole lot more people than those on Duat would suffer. Whichever System Lord this was, and neither Jenmar nor Aset had mentioned a name, putting this much Ancient technology in their hands could make them too powerful for even the Asgard to handle. The Protected Planets Treaty would be worthless and Earth would be right in the crosshairs.

Whatever it took, that couldn’t be allowed to happen.

NebtHet led them away from the worst of the bombardment, moving swiftly through a series of narrow alleys until they came to a small, insignificant-looking building. Hardly the vast storehouse Sam had expected, especially when, once inside, there was only enough space for the three of them to move comfortably around. She shot the colonel a puzzled look, but he was staring at a bank of video monitors that took up one entire wall of the room.

There were about two dozen of them, each with a feed from a different location. The colonel seemed fixated on one showing a raging waterfall. It didn’t look familiar, but the scene on the monitor next to it did. It was the Pit of Mutu — empty now, of course. Beside it was a view of a vast sun-baked desert, and the one beneath it showed several abandoned tents in the midst of a windswept plain.

Sam couldn’t suppress a shudder. So this was how they’d been watched. Every action, every word, manipulated and studied like lab rats. Just as the colonel had said.