Fading Memories
By Terri D. Thomas
Part 15
Daniel's cry echoed through the canyon as he watched Teal'c drop from his view. Instinctively, he ran forward, desperate to help his friend, but afraid of what he would see.
He peered over the edge, expecting to find Teal'c's battered and broken body lying on the rocks below. Instead, the ground was clear. Daniel moved closer to the edge, trying to ignore the flutter in his stomach as his vision was assaulted by a wave of dizziness.
Then he saw the object of his search. Teal'c's fist was tightly grasping a small sapling which was growing between two rocks only a couple of feet below the edge. His tenuous hold on the tree was the only thing which kept the Jaffa from dropping to his death on the jagged rocks below.
"Oh God, Teal'c, hang on," Daniel shouted. Disregarding the pain in his body, he lowered himself to the ground so that he was lying flat on his stomach. He scooted himself forward until his arms and upper part of his chest were hanging over the edge.
Daniel knew that under the best conditions he would be unable to lift Teal'c to safety by himself, and with his injured shoulder, the task was even more impossible. But he had to try. He couldn't let his friend die without trying to save him.
He dug the toes of his shoes into the ground, thankful that each foot was able to find a niche to use as an anchor. Daniel ignored the pain in his right shoulder and moved his wounded arm behind him so that the fingers could find a nook of their own to use as a handhold. He then extended his left hand down to Teal'c who was dangling just below.
"Take my hand," he shouted to his friend.
Teal'c, seemingly surprised by the appearance of his former captive, shook his head. "I will not."
"Damn it, Teal'c, take my hand!" Daniel repeated, edging himself forward ever so slightly.
Teal'c looked up at the man named Daniel whom he had previously held prisoner, unable to believe that the man had not taken his opportunity to escape. Why was this slave so willing to help him, a Jaffa. . .his captor?
"Take my hand," the man shouted.
Teal'c, confused by the offer, shook his head. "I will not."
The would-be rescuer frowned at the larger man and then moved further over the edge. "Damn it, Teal'c, take my hand!"
The Jaffa was not sure why he didn't just let go of the limb which secured him to the side of the cliff. It had been instinct for him to grab on to it when he had fallen, but now, being certain that there was no reason to continue with this existence, it only made sense for him to let go. The pain and loneliness would cease.
A small voice inside him, however, argued. It told him to hang on. . .accept the help being offered. The Jaffa couldn't be sure of the source. At first he thought it was the influence of his larval Gou'ald in a desperate act of survival. Then he realized that the voice was in his head. Something telling him that maybe, just maybe he should fight to live. Teal'c's conscious thought pushed back the subconscious words. He had no reason to live. He had no home to return to, no family to protect. He was nothing.
"Please, Teal'c," the man hanging above him pleaded. "Don't do this. Jack'll kill me if anything happens to you."
The stranger's words were confusing. He looked at the proffered hand. It was so close. It would be very easy for the endangered man to grab a hold and pull himself up. Similarly, it would be very easy for the Jaffa to just let go.
If he climbed up, what would there be? He would find no peace. . .no hope. He was Shova. If he let go, there would be nothing more for him. He would die Shova. He looked at the hand and then up the arm until his eyes made contact with the blue eyes of the younger man. "I do not want to live if I can not live with honor."
"Please Teal'c," the man pleaded.
Teal'c shook his head and let his eyes break contact. His gaze drifted back down the man's left arm. He was almost ready to let go of the small tree and fall into nothingness when his mind registered an oddity. It was something. . . something strange, yet familiar, which caught his attention. It was a black band which was wrapped around the wrist of his rescuer. One side of the band was decorated with dials and buttons. He was certain he had never seen anything like it before, yet he was just as certain that it was quite familiar to him.
He looked at his own arm which was still grasping the small tree trunk. A similar device was strapped to his left wrist. Another memory assaulted him.
He stood amongst the slaves taken captive by Apophis. Some would become the children of the gods. The others. . .the others would die.
The Jaffa warrior was quite conscious of the fear his presence caused the captives. Every step he took caused an innocent to flinch away from him in fear. Many of his fellow Jaffa thrived on the power of seeing the terror and pain in the eyes of the slaves. Teal'c did not share the lust for conquest. Although he outwardly remained dispassionate about the effect he had, internally, his pain was great. More and more frequently he found he had to hide behind the Serpent head of his armor so as not to reveal the anguish that he knew showed in his eyes.
As he wandered amongst the captives, he noticed the small group of newcomers. They were not dressed in the attire of the others. They did not flinch in the presence of the Serpent guard. They were different. He moved towards them, curiosity prevailing.
Teal'c watched the apparent leader of the group. Unlike the other prisoners, he saw no fear in this man's eyes. Instead, he saw the cold, analytical look of a warrior. It was the face of a man who had fought many battles, seen much pain. The Jaffa was certain that nothing the soldier saw here would have any effect on this prisoner's state of mind.
He approached the hardened man, keeping the helmet of his armor raised. Then a small device wrapped around the left wrist of the man caught his attention. He had never seen anything like it.
He lowered his helmet, reached out and grabbed the man's arm, taking him by surprise. "What is this?" he growled. "This is not Goa'uld technology."
Eyes wide, but not with fear, the captive turned to the Jaffa. "It's a watch. It tells me the time."
Teal'c abruptly released the man, causing him to stagger. Still, though, the prisoner showed no sign of fear. "Where are you from?" the Jaffa asked, even more curious now.
"Earth," the man answered.
Confused by the term, Teal'c frowned. "Your words mean nothing. Where are you from?" he repeated.
Then a second man approached from behind the leader. It was a familiar face. It was the face of the young man named Daniel who was now attempting to rescue him from death. Daniel squatted down in the dirt and drew a symbol. It was a symbol from the Chaapa'ai.
The younger man stood up. Hesitantly he spoke. "I'm Daniel Jackson. . .."
Teal'c, suddenly shocked out of his trance by the memory of the words, looked up at the man who was leaning over the cliff, arm outstretched. The images of the past shot through his brain again. Earth. He was on Earth.
The dark prison chamber of Apophis' palace flashed in his mind's eye. He had turned on his fellow Jaffa, using his staff weapon to bring them to their death, allowing the helpless prisoners to escape to freedom. He had then joined the warrior with the strange technology and escaped to freedom himself. . .he had escaped to Earth.
He looked up at the face of his would-be rescuer, recognition coming slowly. "Daniel. . .," he whispered. "Daniel Jackson," he murmured again.
Daniel smiled, elated at the sound of his name coming from Teal'c's lips. "Yes! You remember!"
Teal'c closed his eyes and nodded once. The action was interrupted, though, when his left hand sliding down the now-bent-over small tree trunk startled the Jaffa.
The happy blue eyes above him quickly showed panic. The man leaned over the cliff further and shouted out. "Teal'c, take my hand!"
Teal'c, no longer doubting what was best for his future, reached up with his right hand, preparing to grab on to Daniel Jackson's left.
Before he could complete the move, the small sapling, his only anchor to the cliff, gave way, its roots breaking free from the ground which had nurtured it.
Dual screams reverberated through the mountain canyon as Daniel Jackson watched his friend slip away.
End Part 15
To Part 16