TITLE: Subterfuge

AUTHOR: plumtuckered

PAIRING: None

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story went through a lot of rewrites before I finally settled on this version. The action takes place after the episode "Fair Game", but before "Legacy" in season three. As usual, it is team-oriented with an emphasis on Daniel. (I just can't help myself, the poor guy.) Also, I tried to avoid some of the bigger Stargate clichés, but I have to admit they are present in this tale. Please forgive me, but I just couldn't help it. :-)

Finally, I've used a part of this story idea in another fandom, but I stole from myself so I figured it was okay.

All reviews are most welcomed and extremely appreciated. Thank you!

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CHAPTER ONE

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Colonel Jack O'Neill pulled the cover off his watch; one hour. He tapped the face of the little time piece with the tip of his index finger; only one hour had passed since SG-1 had been separated from each other. They'd arrived to a warm and friendly greeting from the people of P6R-552, a simple meet and greet, and had been escorted immediately to the large impressive government offices of the region's leader, Premier Janar. Things had been going well; Janar had seemed amicable enough. Well, Jack thought angrily, until her goons had raised their weapons and had directed each member of his team to a different room.

The Air Force colonel wandered around the cramped space. He knew Major Samantha Carter was next door, but he could hear nothing from her direction. On his other side would be Teal'c. Jack wasn't certain where his fourth team member was and that worried him. Janar had taken an odd interest in Daniel Jackson, something to which the archeologist seemed oblivious, but Jack had picked up on right away. There had been lots of questions as to what exactly Daniel was doing on a team of warriors.

The door opened suddenly and one of Janar's short but broad guards appeared zat gun in hand. "You will come with me," he ordered.

Jack obliged the man and left the room to step into the corridor. He was immediately joined by Teal'c and Carter, but no Daniel. Then Jack saw the young man waiting ahead at the entrance to Janar's meeting chamber, a stocky sentry hovering close by. The archeologist's eyes were downcast, his face pale, to Jack he looked dazed and unsteady on his feet.

"Daniel?"

The younger man looked up and for a moment seemed unfocused, but then he gave Jack a nod of acknowledgement and quickly looked down again. He fell into step at the colonel's side as the group was led into the chamber. Janar sat at her ornate table where it stood at the other side of the big room, a banner which Jack decided conveyed her crest taking up the entire wall above the premier's head. Her carefully manicured hands were folded on the black marble top and she regarded SG-1 solemnly as they were made to kneel before her.

"What the hell is going on here, Janar?" demanded Jack.

"I require your assistance, Colonel," replied the middle-aged woman, her cool gray eyes holding Jack's steely gaze. "You are cunning warriors with a prowess not possessed by my sentries."

"I'm not sure where you got your information there, Janar, but you're sadly mistaken. As Dr. Jackson here explained earlier, we're peaceful explorers---."

"Colonel, do you take me for a fool?"

"Do you want an honest answer to that?"

Janar's teeth clenched and her jaw muscles twitched. "You are SG-1 of the Tau'ri. I know this, so please do not try my patience with your sharp-tongued denials."

"Sharp-tongued? Me?" replied Jack in mock surprise. "Why---thank you."

"Jack," hissed Daniel.

The colonel looked at his friend sharply. "What?"

"You're wasting time."

"Dr. Jackson is correct, Colonel," said Janar. She stood from her table and walked around it to stand in front of Jack. Like her guards, Janar was short of stature, but what she lacked in height, she made up for in strength, her soft silken tunic clinging to sleek powerful shoulders and arms. She looked down her aquiline nose at SG-1's leader. "My son, Karis, was taken from me and I want you to get him back."

"Taken by whom?" asked Teal'c from where he knelt between Carter and Daniel.

"By a group of terrorists who call themselves the Nir'auc."

"Nir'auc?" repeated the big Jaffa as his head canted and one brow lifted in recognition.

"Teal'c?" prompted Carter.

"Nir'auc was the First Prime to Cronus before my father. He was one of the first to turn against the Goa'uld."

"Coincidence?"

"I think not, O'Neill."

"You are correct, Teal'c," said Janar. She clasped her hands at the small of her back and regarded the warrior. "The Nir'auc are a band of rebels, low-life thieves who steal to finance their pitiful rebellion. I do not know much about them except that they come through our Stargate to take what they want---mostly food and supplies---then they leave. This last time they took Karis."

"And?" prompted Jack.

"They issued an ultimatum. Either I give them my accumulated wealth or they kill my son."

"Ah, a ransom."

"Yes, and that's where you come into the equation. You will bring my son back to me."

"Why didn't you just ask for our help?"

Janar moved in front of Carter. "Because you could have said no, Major."

Jack scowled. "And what's to keep us from refusing you now?"

The woman strode slowly in front of the four kneeling team mates, her hands still behind her back, her long brown hair sliding back and forth across her shoulders. "There is a toxin my physician has developed specifically for this situation."

"Oh, I get it. So if we don't help you, you'll inject us with this---toxin of yours, right?" Jack felt the knot he'd had in his stomach for the last hour tighten further.

Janar stopped and looked down at the colonel. "I already have."

"What? I certainly don't remember---," Jack began then it hit him like a physical blow. "What did you do?" He looked at the young man at his side. "Daniel?"

The archeologist's eyes were downcast. "I'm sorry, Jack. I couldn't stop her."

"Damn you, Janar!" the colonel spat then he felt a sharp pain in the middle of his back and he cried out, falling sideways against Daniel. He breathed through the residual pain then cast a sour look over his shoulder at the squat guard who stood behind him brandishing a Goa'uld pain stick.

"He is the most expendable, Colonel. He is not a warrior."

"You can not do this," rumbled Teal'c defiantly. He started to rise to his feet, but was zapped with a pain stick for his troubles as well. The strange light burst from his mouth and eyes then faded just as quickly. He slouched forward but remained silent, his jaw muscles twitching violently from the pain.

Janar ignored the Jaffa's outburst, her eyes still on Jack who had managed to right himself. "Colonel, you and Teal'c will be allowed to leave. Major Carter and Dr. Jackson will remain behind," she explained. "You will have two days to return Karis or the doctor will die." She looked down to her feet. "Contrary to what you must think, I am not a monster, Colonel. I am only a mother who wants her child back. If you fail in your mission, Dr. Jackson's death will not be a painful one and he will not die alone. I will allow the major to stay with him at all times."

"But Sam's also a warrior, Janar. She can help Jack and Teal'c bring Karis back. Let her go, too," implored Daniel.

The premier hesitated a moment then tipped her chin up. "There are no fair-haired females in the Nir'auc, Doctor. Your friends will need to infiltrate their ranks in order to get close to my son. She will remain here. If the colonel and the Jaffa do not return in the allotted two days, then I will inject her with the toxin as well, after your death of course. She sadly 'will' die alone."

"Please don't do this, Janar," pleaded Carter. "All you had to do was ask for our help."

"I needed a guarantee, Major. And now I have one."

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"What a damned mess."

Daniel looked at Jack as the older man stalked back and forth across the little room into which they'd been shoved.

"Two days. We have two days to find her kid and we don't even know where to begin."

"Janar did say she'd give us what intel she had, sir," offered Sam. "Maybe it won't be as hard as it sounds."

"Oh for crying out loud, Carter, Teal'c and I have two days to infiltrate a group of terrorists, get close enough to them to find out where they're holding Karis, get the kid and get our asses back here. That doesn't sound hard to you?"

Sam looked away and Daniel felt for her. He knew she realized Jack was just venting his anger, but the colonel's biting sarcasm still hurt. Jack hated feeling helpless, especially when it involved one of his team. The archeologist cursed himself. He'd answered Janar's benign questions willingly, stupidly thinking she was interested in his background, but once again he'd been caught unawares, his naiveté putting his friends in danger.

"Daniel Jackson, are you experiencing any symptoms at this time?"

Daniel looked at Teal'c and shook his head. "I feel fine. She said it takes a few hours before the---um---before the poison takes effect, before I'll actually experience any symptoms."

"And those would be?" prompted Jack.

The archeologist lifted his chin and willed his voice to remain clinical. "Apparently the first sensations will be a tingling in my toes which will be followed by complete loss of feeling in my feet. The paralysis will spread, affecting my legs then eventually my hands and arms then my---um---." He nervously waved a hand around. "My lungs and finally---um, my heart at which point it won't really matter because I will have already suffocated."

"Oh my God," murmured Sam.

"Damn it, Daniel," muttered Jack. He took his cap off and scrubbed his fingers angrily through his graying hair.

"I'm sorry, guys."

"It is not your fault, Daniel Jackson."

"Teal'c's right, Daniel. I should have seen it coming."

"Jack, you can't take the blame for everything bad that happens. I'm the one who let my guard down. You always say I'm too damned trusting and---well, this time you were right."

"This time?"

Daniel couldn't help the small smile that curved his lips. "Okay, so it's not the first time, Jack. And thank you very much for pointing that out, by the way."

"So what are we going to do?" asked Sam.

Jack sighed and put his cap back on pulling the bill down with a harsh tug. "Teal'c and I go to the address where these Nir'auc people are then we turn around and 'gate back to Earth. We gather the troops, come back here and show Janar a thing or two about cunning and prowess."

"What about the anti-toxin, sir?"

"We force this physician of hers to give it to us. We save Daniel then go on our merry way."

"Um, Jack?" interjected Daniel. "Don't you think that's a little too easy? I mean, don't you think she'll be expecting that?"

"Of course she will, Daniel."

"You're right, Colonel."

Daniel turned to look at the door where Janar suddenly stood backed by her sentries.

"Our Stargate can only be opened by a Domorakai," continued the premier. "You will be given a device that only Karis can activate. It will open our shield."

"Shield? You have a shield over your Stargate?" asked Sam with surprise. "Then how can the Nir'auc come through?"

Janar's jaw muscles twitched in irritation. "There are Domorakai amongst them, Major. We have yet been able to lock out their access."

"So some of your own people abandoned ship, eh?"

The premier turned cold gray eyes on Jack. "Here is the last known location of the Nir'auc, Colonel," she hissed as she handed Jack a small piece of parchment. "Though it is true that some of my people---abandoned ship, as you say, I do have one who remains loyal to me within their ranks. I assure you this information is legitimate."

"Can not this person return your son to you himself?" inquired Teal'c.

"Not alone."

"Ah, so how are we going to know this person when we get there?"

"He will approach you, Colonel."

Jack frowned. "So he knows we're coming?"

"He knows someone will be attempting a rescue, yes."

"You had this all planned out right from the get go, didn't you?" accused Jack. He waved his hand absently. "All that talk of becoming allies, that was all just posturing."

Janar's eyes flashed with her anger. "You have two days, Colonel. If Karis is not back at my side in two days, your friend here will be dead. Two days after that, your major will follow him. I suggest you get started."

"Uh, weapons would be nice."

"Your weapons and the tok will be given to you at the Stargate."

"Tok?"

"I think she means the device to open the shield, sir," offered Carter.

"Ah yes, the all important tok," replied Jack then his tense gaze moved to Janar. "We will do everything we can to get your kid, Janar. But understand this---if either of my people dies, there won't be anything or anyone that will stop me from breaking your scrawny neck. Am I clear on that?"

The premier lifted her chin in defiance then stepped aside and motioned for Jack and Teal'c to leave the room.

"We will return in time, Daniel Jackson. On that you have my word," said the Jaffa warrior with a bow of his head. He extended his arm to the archeologist.

Daniel smiled. "Thanks, Teal'c," he replied as he clasped his friend's forearm.

The big man nodded then looked at Sam. "You will have no need to worry, Major Carter."

"Thank you, Teal'c. We'll be waiting."

Jack moved in front of Sam. "Major, we'll see you in twenty-four hours, thirty-six tops," he said.

"Yes, sir."

Jack held her eyes for a long moment then moved to Daniel. "Well it's a fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Danny me boy," he sing-songed then he sobered and lowered his voice, his conviction clear. "You're not going to die, Daniel, you got that?"

"I got it, Jack."

The colonel looked between his two team mates, his brown eyes asking for their trust, trust that Daniel knew he and Sam had long ago given their friend, then he turned and followed Teal'c out of the room.

Janar turned back to the younger half of SG-1. "You will remain here for now," she said then she hit a control and the door slid closed.

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Teal'c stepped out of the wormhole, his staff weapon already raised and at the ready. He quickly scanned the tree-lined clearing in which the Stargate sat, but saw no movement.

"Oh what a nice surprise---trees," muttered O'Neill bitterly then he moved down the three steps to the DHD, sweeping his P-90 across the landscape as he went. "You don't happen to have a GDO or a radio tucked away somewhere, do you big guy?" he asked over his shoulder.

"I do not, O'Neill."

The colonel's shoulders sagged. "Damn it. Why couldn't that bitch have given us back our vests?"

"You had hoped to contact General Hammond."

"That was the plan. Without our radios or GDO, the general won't have a clue who's dialing them up---looks like we're on our own."

"Daniel Jackson will not die, O'Neill, nor will Major Carter."

The colonel glanced up at Teal'c. "No, they won't. Now let's get going---times a wastin'."

Teal'c stepped down off the platform then studied the perimeter of the clearing. "There," he said as he moved toward a break in the underbrush. He was surprised to find it was a trailhead, the path meandering out into the woods.

"What you got?" asked O'Neill who quickly appeared at Teal'c's elbow.

The Jaffa knelt and placed his hand on the soil. "This is not an animal trail."

The colonel grunted. "Seems kind of obvious, doesn't it? Wouldn't you think that a group of 'low-life thieves' would hide their whereabouts a little better than this?"

"I concur," replied the warrior. "Perhaps they are not the only inhabitants on this world---or perhaps something is rotten in Detroit."

"That's Denmark, buddy, and yeah, I agree."

Teal'c stood again, his dark eyes searching the trail ahead of him. "We must proceed with caution," he warned then he stepped ahead of his friend and began walking up the path. "Those who traversed this trail before us wore soft-soled shoes."

"You can tell what kind---oh, wait a minute---of course you can," the colonel replied. "So one wouldn't expect terrorists to wear soft-soled shoes, would one?"

"No."

"So we're looking at other inhabitants."

"So it would seem."

"Ah---great. The more, the merrier."

Teal'c lifted a brow, but kept his focus forward. He led his warrior brother through the dense forest, all his senses keyed to his surroundings.

"So, Teal'c," began the colonel, his voice low. "Janar and her goons had zats and those oh-so-popular pain sticks."

"Indeed they did."

"So?"

"Her crest conveyed the mark of Cronus, however I saw no evidence that he had been there recently."

The colonel grunted his response then fell silent. Teal'c could sense his friend's tension as they moved along the trail; O'Neill was worried and scared for Daniel Jackson and Major Carter even though he would never admit to feeling the latter. The Jaffa felt his symbiote shift in its pouch, no doubt reacting to Teal'c's own worry and fear for his friends. He'd been a part of SG-1 for over two years and in those years his team mates had become significant in his life, both as allies and as people. To lose any of them was simply unacceptable to him.

"So do you trust her?"

Teal'c canted his head and glanced over his shoulder at O'Neill. "I do not," he replied simply.

"Yeah, me neither," agreed the colonel warily. "Do me a favor, Teal'c. Next time the good general gives us a 'break' and sends us on a simple meet and greet, tell him no, we'd rather lead an assault on a Goa'uld stronghold---you know, something easy like that."

Teal'c merely tipped his chin up in response to his friend as his gaze remained focused on the ground ahead of him.

"Anything else?"

"Only that this trail has been heavily traveled."

"So either these folks use the Stargate a lot or---?"

"Perhaps it is an icon to them, O'Neill---a symbol to be worshipped."

"Ah, we've seen that before. Too bad Daniel isn't here to---."

Teal'c's jaw tensed as O'Neill faltered then fell silent.

"Damn it," mumbled the colonel a few moments later. "This is 'so' not how I wanted to spend my afternoon."

The Jaffa stopped suddenly and raised his hand to silence his CO.

O'Neill stepped up to his side, his narrowed eyes taking in the underbrush. "You got something?" he asked in a voice pitched only for Teal'c's ears.

"Someone approaches."

The colonel ducked into the thick scrub that bordered the trail and Teal'c followed, lowering his staff weapon but keeping it at the ready. He could hear the soft murmur of voices and the snapping of twigs drifting on the breeze, moving towards them. O'Neill shifted his grip on his P-90 and tipped his head to the side, listening, his body taut and battle-ready.

After only moments, two individuals appeared walking side by side, one female one male. The male was talking, his hands moving animatedly before him. The female was smiling, nodding in response to her companion's prattling then she chortled merrily. They both had dark short-cropped hair, both were dressed alike in light-colored thigh-length robes and loose-fitting cotton pants that ended just above their slipper-covered feet. Teal'c could see no weapons on their persons. He eased his grip on his staff weapon; male and female appeared distinctly non-threatening.

Apparently O'Neill had reached the same conclusion for he rose quickly to his feet. "Afternoon, folks," he greeted.

The male started then immediately stepped in front of his companion. "Don't hurt us, please."

"We have no intention of hurting you," placated the colonel easily. He lowered the barrel of his rifle and stepped out of the underbrush and onto the trail.

"You came from the Gateway of Light?"

"Indeed we did," responded Teal'c as he too rose to his feet and joined O'Neill.

"Who---who are you?" asked the female as she moved boldly out from behind her companion. "No one has come through the Gateway in months."

O'Neill canted his head. "No one?"

The male nodded. "Yes."

"No one, as in nobody, nary a soul," clarified the colonel.

"That is correct, sir," replied the female. "I am Dala and this is my husband, Caal." Her bright green eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You are not of the Domorakai."

Teal'c lifted his chin. "We are not."

"They were the last to come through the Gateway of Light. They were not welcomed here," explained Caal as he visibly bristled.

"Oh?" prompted O'Neill.

"They were the reason we changed our ways, purified our souls. We have been on the righteous path since they left us."

Dala nodded. "Caal is right---we are pure of heart and soul now. We live in peace and give our thanks to the Gateway that it has not sent the Domorakai back to us."

"Okay, am I the only one not liking the sound of this?" murmured the colonel.

"You are not, O'Neill," replied the Jaffa.

"Has the Gateway sent you to judge us?" asked Caal, his posture straightening with confidence.

O'Neill waved a dismissive hand. "No, no, nothing like that. We're actually here looking for someone."

Dala smiled happily. "You have found someone then."

"We are in search of a group who call themselves the Nir'auc," said Teal'c.

Caal appeared perplexed. "I don't understand."

The colonel shifted his hold on his P-90. "We were told they might be here. We have---business with them. We're---uh---peaceful explorers. I'm Jack and this large fellow here is Teal'c."

"Explorers?" repeated Dala.

"Yeah, you know, explorers, those who---explore," clarified O'Neill then he sighed impatiently. "Listen, folks, we're sort of in a hurry here. We need to talk to these Nir'auc. Any clue as to where we can find them?"

"You have found them, friends," replied Caal with a smile. "'We' are the Nir'auc."

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Sam leaned back against the wall of the little room and cast a furtive glance at her companion. Daniel seemed like he was doing well enough. He was pacing back and forth across the floor, his brow furrowed, rubbing the palms of his hands against each other in front of him. She'd only known the brilliant young man for just over two years, but he'd become as close to her as any friend could possibly be. She would do whatever she could to help him, to save his life, she knew that with certainty.

"I'm fine, Sam."

The major pursed her lips. "No you're not, Daniel. You've been poisoned."

Daniel stopped his pacing and eyed his friend. "I'm not going to die---and neither are you," he said confidently. "Jack and Teal'c will find Karis and bring him back."

Sam blew out her breath in a gust. "I know. I'm just---worried. If they can't get back in time---well, let's just say I'm not ready to watch you die."

"And I'm certainly not ready to."

The door slid open, drawing Sam's attention to Janar and several of her sentries who appeared in the entrance. The premier stepped into the room, a strange smile curving her thin lips. The expression gave the major chills; it was not a smile that befitted a tormented mother. Janar approached the archeologist and walked slowly around him, her hands linked at the small of her back, her eyes appraising him. Then she turned her gaze to Sam and the major felt her skin prickle under the scrutiny of those cold gray orbs.

"You are both fine specimens," said the premier.

"Specimens?" repeated Daniel uneasily.

"Yes. You will come with me."

Sam exchanged a confused look with her companion then looked back down at the powerful woman before her. "We won't do 'anything' until you tell us what exactly is going on here. What do you mean by specimens?"

Janar's back stiffened. "You will come with me," she ordered again.

"Uh---no?" replied Daniel, his brows puckered in irritation.

The premier turned to the archeologist then jerked her chin at her sentries, two of them immediately raising their zat guns. "You will come willingly, Dr. Jackson, or not---the choice is yours."

Sam saw her friend's jaw muscles tighten then he turned and met her eyes. She nodded at him and then fell into step at his side as they exited the little room. Janar moved to the front of her entourage, her sentries positioned on either side and behind Sam and Daniel.

"This was far easier than I expected," said Janar over her shoulder. "You Tau'ri are a weak species, allowing your feelings for each other to dictate your actions."

"What you perceive to be weakness, others might perceive to be strength," replied Daniel.

"It is no wonder my lord feels you are no threat to his people."

Sam swallowed convulsively, her blood suddenly turning cold. "Your lord?"

"My lord Cronus," said Janar.

"Cronus," repeated the archeologist with distaste. "Then his 'people' are the Goa'uld. I was wondering where you'd picked up the weapons."

"He is a mighty god and he is good to me," defended Janar, her back straightening. "And I am honored to---'serve' him in whatever capacity he requires."

Sam glanced at Daniel who appeared suddenly nauseous. She too felt sickened at the thought of what Janar was implying. She'd met Cronus during the recent summit with three of the System Lords, had in fact saved the Goa'uld's life after he'd been attacked by Nirrti; the very thought of 'serving' him made her skin crawl.

"In return, my lord allows me to do as I please here, to rule as I see fit."

"So that's where you're taking us? You're turning us over to Cronus?" asked Sam.

Janar shook her head. "No, you are my gifts."

"Gifts?" prompted Daniel hesitantly.

"You will understand in a moment, Dr. Jackson."

The group entered Janar's main greeting chamber then crossed the pristine tiled floor to enter a corridor that led to two large doors at its end. Sam noticed immediately the alcoves that were set in the walls along the hallway. Each displayed a small animal or bird of a different variety, each one very much dead but very well-preserved. She moved her gaze back to Janar's back; either the woman or someone close to her hunted and it was clearly only for sport.

"Are these yours?" asked Daniel as he too took in the sight of all the displayed creatures.

"Yes. They are impressive, aren't they? Domorakai has a rich variety of wildlife yet I've always found the challenge it presents to be lacking."

Sam shivered inexplicably. "Lacking?" she asked, unable to hide the disdain from her voice.

"You disapprove, don't you, Major."

"Its nothing personal, Janar, I've just never seen the appeal of hunting, on my own world or any other. I'm not judging you by any means."

"I think otherwise."

Sam's eyes widened in surprise and she looked at Daniel who seemed just as perplexed by the woman's curt response. She held her silence, though, as they arrived at the double doors. Janar hit a control panel on the wall just to her left and the big doors slid aside. She stepped into the cavernous room on the other side then motioned to her sentries who harshly pushed Sam and Daniel forward. They both stumbled into the room then righted themselves. Sam heard her friend's choked gasp of shock from beside her.

Then she looked up. "Oh, God," she murmured.

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CONTINUED

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