Dougrae's Rain

From the soundly sleeping forest, a forsaken path meandered forlornly down a hill toward a castle whose main door creaked back and forth in the rain-lashed wind. On either side of the door, moss and mold had worked their insidious ways between the cracks in the walls, leaving the stones loose and rotted. High above those moldering walls perched several towers and the jutting stone remains of another tower, collapsed long ago from a cause unbeknownst to modern man. As the heavy rain and deafening roar of thunder pulsated across the mountains far beyond the towers, the castle raised a moan from deep within the cavernous halls; agonizing over its current dilapidated state. Every stone pockmarked from centuries of withstanding battering storms, every window empty, every glory of the past had now vanished. The castle stood alone and utterly forgotten against the backdrop of the mountains, lit now by the jagged claws of lightning…then enshrouded in the inky cloak of night.

There was a cheerful sun starting to set and a slight crisp fall chill in the evening air. SG1 had returned to P39-8277 for the grand tour of the capital city and a continuation of diplomatic discussions. The people of Kamyen Obyet appeared technologically on the level of the Tollan but, happily, seemed far more willing to share. After brief chats during their initial visit earlier in the morning, SG1 had returned to the SGC with encouraging news of a potential ally and trading partner. Hammond had agreed to the Kamyen Obyet request of a second visit to further discuss possible trade opportunities.

Jack smiled at the man who was leading them on a tour of the city. The guy, Tormic something-or-other, was eager and seemed genuinely likeable…at least as far as Jack could tell. According to Daniel, their language was similar to Russian. Which mean that the conversation was basically between Tormic and Daniel. Once in a while, Daniel would throw them a bone about what was being said, but most of the time he was too busy asking and answering questions. Jack really didn't care that much at present. He'd had most of his questions answered earlier when Daniel had spent the entire morning translating back and forth during the initial negotiations. Right now, Jack was content to be doing a careful analysis of the town and technology. He knew that Daniel would tell him immediately if there was something requiring his attention.

Sam was eagerly chatting in Jack's ear about this or that piece of equipment that had caught her eye, while Teal'c's watchful and practiced gaze searched for signs of threats. Glancing around as they turned another corner, Jack found himself puzzled by the odd mix of Renaissance Italian-style buildings along the river front, the homes and other buildings were actually carved into the rock cliff walls like Mesa Verde, and the citizens, all dressed in very modern suits and tailored dresses. Add to that the way the place reminded him of New Orleans, what with the beautiful riverfront walkway and towering bridges. He smiled inadvertently as he realized that these very oddities were likely what were so fascinating to Daniel. The unusual combination of at least three distinct cultures was intriguing even to him. Wishing there were some way to get a short version of Daniel's sure to be expert theory of the reasons for the unusual mix, Jack decided he probably didn't want to bother. Daniel just didn't have any idea of how to do abridged.

They had been on the planet for nearly 3 hours now and obviously had just reached something unusually fascinating and revered…or feared. Jack couldn't quite tell which it was…but Daniel was talking two miles a minute and had his finger up, so Jack guessed he was about to get an earful of meaning of life information. The area they had just reached was cordoned off by a black rope and there were two uniformed men standing nearby.

"Sir, this looks a bit like…" Sam had started, but Jack shook his head.

"Carter, if you're gonna say it looks like that mirror…you're so not gonna make me happy."

Sam smiled, a bit uncertainly, "Well, sir, I was going to say that…" she paused, looking quickly at Teal'c for support. He briefly inclined his head and she looked back to O'Neill, "but I won't."

Jack took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. He knew she was going to say it, because he'd already reached the same conclusion. It did look an awful lot like the Quantum Mirror. Only much bigger.

Much bigger, Jack thought dismally as he looked up.

This object was about 15 feet tall by 10 feet wide. More of a huge garage door looking thing than that alternate reality mirror they'd found a few years back. Like the Quantum Mirror, though, this seemed to be formed right inside a huge, jagged edged rock. This one was actually part of the cliff face opposite the river front. Even so, this garage door had a rather mirror like sheen to it, shimmering a deep, almost blood red in the rays of the early evening sun. It was reflecting their images, so perhaps it really wasn't an alternate reality mirror? Jack looked to the heavens imploringly.

No one was taking another step closer if it was….

"It's not an alternate reality mirror, Jack." Daniel was suddenly at his right side, smiling way too knowingly for Jack's taste.

He shrugged his shoulder. "It looks nothing like that old thing."

"Uh huh." Daniel said, way too knowingly for Jack's taste.

Jack was certain he heard a carefully camouflaged snicker from somewhere in the general vicinity of his astrophysicist. A quick look over his shoulder revealed his astrophysicist had moved away slightly, leaving only a stoic, and somehow innocent-looking Jaffa in her place. Jack narrowed his eyes, but Teal'c only stared impassively at the object in front of them.

Jack turned minutely to glare back at Daniel, noting the smile was still there. "So what is it then?" he asked, deciding to ignore the lack of respect he seemed to be getting and focus on the situation at hand.

Daniel took a completely unnecessary step closer, but kept his hands well back from the thing, Jack noted with a very small amount of satisfaction. "Well, Tormic says it's some sort of a portal or transporter."

"Aha!" Jack exclaimed, pointing a finger at Daniel, "Portal or transporter? As in…to another reality?"

Daniel had the grace to look slightly admonished. Apparently, he'd been concentrating so hard on the fact that it wasn't a Quantum Mirror, that he missed the point that it very well could be a Quantum Mirror. Losing his smile, Daniel shrugged and added almost defensively, "Tormic says that no one has seen it activated in seven generations."

"That was when the people defeated the Goa'uld and drove them off the planet, right?" Sam interjected, coming up on Jack's left. The fact that the Kamyen Obyet had history of having defeated the Goa'uld and were still free from their rule was one of the reasons the team had been so eager to learn more.

Daniel nodded, "Exactly. Their records are apparently really sketchy because few people knew how to write back then."

"So what is it?" Jack prodded, nodding to the object.

"A portal or transporter." Daniel repeated, "Or…" his voice trailed off and he looked up at the shimmering portal or transporter or something, then back at Jack helplessly.

"Or?"

"Or…they really aren't sure, like I said." Daniel explained, "Apparently, after the Goa'uld left, someone else tried to…"

"Fill his golden shoes, stand in the gap, take the reins…"Jack interrupted.

Daniel wasn't fazed in the least and nodded, "Someone tried to seize the proverbial day."

"And?" Sam asked curiously, "Obviously they're free now. What happened?"

Daniel held up his finger again and he and Tormic began conversing again. Jack had almost forgotten about the man, he had just been standing by silently, a curious smile on his face. Daniel began rapidly translating, "Their records are vague, but it seems that whoever this guy was, he'd been involved with the building of the weapon and the battle against the Goa'uld." He paused as Tormic gestured and spoke again. Daniel nodded, "This guy, the people call him Boorya, which is actually a Russian word for storm. Remember their language has similarities with Russian? Kamyen Obyet actually is a corrupted version of the Russian for 'stone refuge.' Anyway, Boorya is closer to the original Russian. Interestingly, the word also could mean tempest or to crush in Slovak…"

"Daniel."

"Jack."

"Is it going to matter in the long run if the guy's name means something in Slovak?"

Daniel frowned, "It might. Names have a great deal of meaning, in case you hadn't noticed. It probably gives us some special insight into this person's character and…"

"He was a Goa'uld. That's all I need to know about his character, or lack thereof." Jack waved his hand. "Just switch out the tourist-interest track back to the 'what Jack needs to know right now to make a threat assessment track'. Capisce?"

"Boorya built this portal here," Daniel glared at him, motioning absently, "and started forcibly taking people to…well, somewhere."

"Somewhere?" Jack asked.

Daniel shrugged, "No one ever returned so they really don't have any way of knowing. The people revolted against Boorya…"

"They'd had some practice." Jack smiled.

Daniel nodded, "They cornered him and he activated the portal and went through it. Unfortunately, he took whatever it was that activated the weapon. He never returned and the weapon and this device have never worked since. No one has been able to figure out how to activate it."

"Huh." Jack looked at the device again, "All very mysterious and all that…" He focused his gaze on Daniel who gazed back steadily for a moment before relenting reluctantly.

"Yes, mysterious but nothing that really concerns us." Sighing, he nodded and walked back over to Tormic.

"Nope." Jack nodded agreeably, wondering even as he did why Daniel had backed down so quickly…so easily…so quietly. That did not happen often. He was actually considering asking when he realized that Sam was walking over to Teal'c's side. The Jaffa had been analyzing the edges of the portal where a panel with what appeared to be control crystals was inlaid.

Sam called out, "Sir, there may still be some value in examining the technology. If it's on the level of the Tollan, there may be a lot to learn."

Jack sighed dramatically, but nodded. Glancing at Daniel and Tormic who were again talking eagerly about something, he realized they weren't moving from this spot for a while. He decided to join Sam and Teal'c. At least they were speaking English, even if it was scientific technobabble. Sam was studying the panel in fascination.

He nodded at Teal'c who gazed at him serenely. "So, what do you think about this little world, Teal'c?"

"It appears to be well ordered, peaceful and stable."

"That's what I was thinking. People seem pretty open and at ease."

"Something unusual in my experiences." Teal'c acknowledged, "It is very similar to Earth."

Jack nodded just as Sam gave a startled exclamation. He and Teal'c glanced at her and realized they could hear a growing hum…a mechanical hum that hadn't been there a moment ago. Jack met Carter's startled eyes for a brief second before she returned her gaze to the control panel.

"Carter…what did you do?"

"Sir! I have no idea. All I did was touch…"

"Aha!" He pointed at her accusingly, "You touched. What were you thinking, it's bad enough I can barely keep Daniel from touching stuff…"

Sam was staring intently at the panel in front of her when Jack realized the portal seemed to be glowing a rather disturbing black. Just as he was about to ask Carter what was happening, he heard 3 things almost simultaneously. A sharp grunt of pain was followed almost instantly by the sound of Teal'c's staff weapon activating and Daniel's stressed, "Guys!"

Sam and Jack spun on their heels, guns automatically at the ready. Jack swore under his breath. Daniel was on his knees, hands raised tentatively and Tormic's double-barreled hand gun pressing into his head. Tormic looked quite frankly terrified, eyes wide and alternating between the portal and Sam and Jack. His face was white. He hit a small button on his lapel and a blaring alarm went off. He then wrapped his hand around Daniel's throat.

Jack moved one hand in a placating gesture and said, "Easy, easy there Tormic." He met Daniel's eyes briefly, then looked back at Tormic. "Daniel. What's up?"

"Not sure." Daniel said cautiously. "I think he spooked when the portal activated."

"Uh huh."

Daniel spoke again, in Russian this time and he and Tormic started going back and forth, Tormic looking not in the least bit calmed by Daniel's words. Even as they spoke, a security force arrived and encircled them.

"Great." Jack didn't like the situation, not at all. How quickly things fell apart. "Oh, Daniel, we getting anywhere?"

Daniel looked at him and Jack was not in the least encouraged by the slight look of panic on his friend's face. "No." was all he managed to say before Tormic began shouting at the security team. They began to move in and Daniel started shouting in Russian. Tormic tightened his grip, leaving him gasping for breath. Tormic spoke more softly into Daniel's ear. He released his grip after Daniel nodded.

"Jack, they're going to kill us. They think we're possessed with the same thing that took over their world before. Either we leave through the portal or they shoot us all right here and now."

"Teal'c?"

"We will be unsuccessful in any attempt to fight, O'Neill."

"Crap. We have no idea what's on the other side." He looked back at Daniel, "We'll go back through the Stargate."

Daniel shook his head very slightly, "I tried that. They're afraid of us now. They think this portal is the door to death and…" His statement went unfinished as Tormic shoved the gun against his head a bit harder.

"Sir!" Sam exclaimed, hearing Tormic's weapon activating.

Jack nodded, "Ok, easy!"

They lowered their weapons and instantly the security team descended on them, shoving them toward the black portal. Jack struggled against the tide, trying to keep tabs on all his teammates. Tormic was shoving Daniel and he could hear Daniel shouting passionately and desperately, but to no avail.

At least that means he's ok…and coming. Jack had only a few seconds to take a deep breath before he found himself shoved into the portal.