errant

Still Waters Four:
Errant Children
By
Denise

Disclaimer Stargate Sg-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.

I watch the curiosity on my friends' faces begin to override their common sense as Anise explains the Antoniek armbands. I listen to the cool confidence in her voice and begin to find her insistence and impatience to use SG-1 as test subjects most disturbing.

Somehow I know Daniel Jackson's comment may indeed be prophetic. 'Yep, looks like trouble to me,' he said as we witnessed Anise's arrival. This is one time when I will not rejoice if he is correct.

I can not help but feel excluded as Anise explains the devices will not mesh with my Jaffa physiology. Unable to participate in the experiment, I content myself with observing my friends. And I begin to make observations I do not like. Anise seems to look upon the Tau'ri as they would an insect. Such disdain seems more attributable to a Goa'uld than a Tok'ra.

Not surprisingly O'Neill submits himself first. This is to be expected. He has willingly volunteered himself to physical experimentation before, when we contaminated the SGC with the 'caveman virus' as O'Neill likes to call it.

I have observed however, that it was the then Captain Carter who volunteered for the hypnosis session in an attempt to ascertain the true fate of Daniel Jackson. O'Neill is freer with his body than his emotions. Perhaps it is because he has learned physical wounds heal with more ease than emotional ones.

Over the next few hour I see O'Neill begin to revel in his newfound physical strength and speed. I suggest a sparring match with O'Neill, not out of a desire for personal gratification or even as an accurate test of my skills and prowess as a warrior. I suggest the match at the behest of Dr. Fraiser who shares my belief that Anise is masking another purpose behind the subterfuge of an experiment.

The fact that O'Neill successfully renders me unconscious is not as disconcerting as perhaps it should be. Given his enhanced strength and speed, I would have been concerned had he not been able to prevail. I am concerned however by his apparent lack of remorse. This is not normal behavior for O'Neill. My misgivings about the armbands continue to grow, yet I am helpless to do anything about it.

All three human members of SG-1 are now wearing the armbands and I have watched their demeanors change. Daniel Jackson and Major Carter have closeted themselves in their respective labs and have developed an almost obsessive desire for studying and learning.

However, as harmless as it appears, as their knowledge increases, so does their apparent frustrations with anything and any one that can not move at the same enhanced speed. I have witnessed similar behavior from newly blended Goa'uld who, after experiencing the faster reflexes and greater strength of a symbiote, suddenly realize they are 'better' than the human they used to be.

As disturbing as the behaviors of Daniel Jackson and Major Carter are, O'Neill's change in attitude could be described as the most frightening. For all his great strength and fortitude as a warrior, he always maintained a strong control over himself.

I have watched him deny his own hunger, thirst, pain or exhaustion when it would have endangered us, while noticing when one of us was in need of something.

Patience is a virtue of a great warrior. Patience is a virtue O'Neill now lacks. I have heard of his encounters with General Hammond. I fear soon not even his respect for his leader will be enough to prevent him from attempting to put his newfound powers to use.

Had the consequences not have been so grave, I think I would have enjoyed witnessing my friends indulging in a 'bar fight'. As humorous as it may have been, I find the aberrant conduct yet another sign of how the armbands are affecting their behavior. They are acting like spoiled children, fulfilling their own desires regardless of the cost to others.

Spoiled children with five times the strength of a normal human and the ability to move faster than the eye can perceive.

General Hammond is indeed correct. Should they decide they do not want to remain at this facility, we will not be able to restrain them.

I listen as Anise tells General Hammond of the new ship of Apophis'. I agree with the Tok'ra that it must be destroyed.

I also agree with General Hammond that the Tok'ra had knowledge of this ship all along. They have used us, used my friends, first as test subjects, then as weapons. Weapons that can be utialized with little or no cost to themselves.

Up to this point, I have always felt a grudging respect for the Tok'ra. They have spent millennia fighting a hopeless battle against a ruthless enemy. Yet in this instance, they have shown the same disregard for life I have witnessed in the Goa'uld.

I know Dr. Fraiser shares my desire to attempt to contact Jacob Carter or Martouf. If we can no longer trust the Tok'ra High Council, perhaps the regard and affection these two men have for Major Carter will insure some straight forward answers.

And if I am to attempt to destroy Apophis' ship…assistance would be appreciated.

They have left. My three friends have gone off on their own to destroy the ship. I do know their armbands will protect them and afford them some advantages, however I can not help but worry. Physically they may be stronger yet emotionally they are seriously weakened.

I fear their extreme overconfidence may lead them to make serious miscalculations in judgement. I find myself anxious for not only their safety, but that they will decide to return at all.

They seem to view normal humans with such impatience that I fear they may elect not to come back to us. The three of them may choose to operate without the restrictions they must operate under here.

If they do not return, I do not know if I will remain with the SGC. I believe in the Tau'ri's battle, however, without my friends, I have no reason to stay on Earth. I will accomplish more on Chulak. I could work with Bra'tac and help him find and recruit Jaffa to aid in the battle against the Goa'uld.

My friends are in grave danger. Not only are the armbands destroying their bodies, but also if Anise's tests are correct, they may find themselves defenseless on a planet full of Jaffa.

I saw O'Neill, Major Carter and Daniel Jackson as they departed on their mission. They carried no weapons, no supplies, and no armament. They put all their faith in the Antoniek armbands. Armbands that may come off at any time. When I relayed their status to General Hammond and Dr. Fraiser I saw they shared my fear and dread.

I must go to them. It is my duty to aid them, die at their side, or bring their bodies home.

I exit the gate, not prepared for what I see. Nearly one dozen Jaffa lie unconscious or dead on the ground. It appears my friends have had initial success. Or they were overwhelmed and captured. It is not unheard of for a Goa'uld to leave his Jaffa where they have fallen. They are easily replaced and a 'god' deserves to be served by truly good warriors. And a trio of unarmed humans would not best good warriors.

I follow their trail to the ship. It is not difficult. While they were able to move with great velocity, they did not move with stealth. This does reassure me that they were not captured. And for that I am grateful.

My fear grows however that they may not wish to return. They all know they have crossed the line with their behavior. They not only disobeyed a direct order, they assaulted their fellow officers to do so. And if they do not wish to return, I will be able to do nothing about it. I can not join them and I do not possess the strength to force them.

I enter the ship unmolested, stepping over Jaffa to do so. I am pleased to note, despite his trials of the past few years, Apophis still suffers from extreme arrogance. He has apparently put all his faith in the platoon of Jaffa guarding the gate to adequately defend, or, failing that, to warn him of an impending attack.

I make my way into the depths of the ship. I am counting on Major Carter assessing the weakest point of construction as I have. To destroy this ship, using the amount of C-4 that is missing from the armory, they could only be heading towards the cooling pipes. I quicken my pace. Something tells me time is of the essence.

I hear their voices. I have found them. Unfortunately so have some of Apophis' Jaffa.
I increase my gait and draw my zat-nik-a-tel. Through a doorway, I see two Jaffa advancing, staff weapons at the ready. I fire, feeling my heart stop as one of them gets off a shot before he dies. No. I can not have failed. From the sound of their voices, my friends could not have been far away. There is no way they could have avoided the shot. I hurry around the corner, letting my concern for my friends override my instincts.

I see Major Carter and O'Neill crouching over Daniel Jackson who is lying on the floor. I step forward, preparing myself for the worst. At this range, the damage to a human body by a staff blast would be quite severe.

I see them move and I realize, while Daniel Jackson may be injured, it is not by a staff weapon. Noting the lack of concern on O'Neill and Major Carter's faces, I surmise Daniel Jackson's injuries must not be fatal.

"It seems my assistance was required after all," I can not help but say, in much the same tone I used to use when Ry'ac was in his most petulant mood.

Much to my relief, O'Neill accepts my proffered assistance. He instructs me to take Daniel Jackson and flee while he and Major Carter purchase our escape. I do not like leaving them behind, yet I must. Daniel Jackson can barely walk, much less run from the Jaffa that are coming. Saving one life is better than none.

"They should have been right behind us," I respond, stopping our flight. Given their augmented speed and strength, it should have taken them mere moments to disable the Jaffa and catch up with us. Something must be wrong. I start to go back. Perhaps their armbands have fallen off, leaving them helpless as it did Daniel Jackson.

I am stopped by a force field. The Goa'uld know of our presence. It may be a precaution or it may be because they have captured O'Neill and Major Carter.

Regardless, I will not leave without them. They are mere yards away. What is that Tau'ri saying?…So near yet so far.

I listen to Daniel Jackson enumerate the dire events to come. Even after all these years I do not fully comprehend the human desire to list in great detail negative events to unfold. It is not as if listing them will make them not happen.

"I am not leaving Daniel Jackson," I tell him needlessly. I know that if half of SG-1 is to survive I will have to pick him up and carry him back to the Stargate. And that time may come…just not yet.

When the C-4 blows there is not a large explosion. I see the force field fall. An unexpected window of opportunity has opened. I have a chance to search for O'Neill and Major Carter.

I start forward and am met by the objects of my search. Whatever obstacles they have met, they have overcome them with minimal physical damage to themselves.

We run through the woods, me covering our backs. I was correct in my assessment that they departed without rudimentary armament. We are indeed fortunate that they did such a proficient job of disabling the Jaffa on the way in. One Zat-nik-a-tel would be an insufficient defense against a dozen-armed Jaffa.

We reach the clearing, the ground still littered with bodies. I run forward to open the Stargate as my friends catch up. We have set a punishing pace to attain the gate in the limited time we have before the ship explodes. They would have had difficulty in maintaining this pace healthy, and if what Dr. Fraiser and Anise have surmised is true, then they are ill. An illness I am confident Dr. Fraiser can cure. I reuse to accept any other outcome.

We come through the gate at a great velocity. Given our propensity for frantic dashes to the safety of the SGC, you would think the Tau'ri would devise a way to cushion our arrival. I know Dr. Fraiser would appreciate it. She has often expressed concern over our many contusions.

I meet General Hammond's tolerant gaze as O'Neill, Major Carter and Daniel Jackson apologize for their behavior. I know such apologies are unnecessary. If anyone bears blame for their actions, it is Anise. I concur with General Hammond's assessment that the SGC and most especially SG-1 have been victims in their machinations. It does however, reassure me that all will return to normal. That their changes in attitude were as temporary as their enhancements from the armbands.

O'Neill looks at me, obviously expecting me to join in their acts of contrition. Apparently he believes I rescued them in violation of orders. "I have no need to apologize," I tell him, my voice full of undisguised satisfaction.

"Teal'c actually was following orders," General Hammond tells the recalcitrant members of SG-1, sharing a moment of satisfaction with me.

Yes, I have attained my goal and followed my orders. I have brought my errant children safely home.