K is for Kheb
K if for Kheb
For sg-fignewton's Bra'tac Alphabet soup
Spoilers for Maternal Instinct and anything S10 and on...
Rating G
"… Kheb, a name of Lower Egypt. Kheb…the place of emanation..." G. H. Massey
“It appears the wars passed over this world.”
“Indeed. The Ori were not so foolish as to come here.”
Throwing back his cloak with one hand, Bra’tac stepped away from the Stargate. He used his staff weapon now more as a staff, less as a weapon, and he had discarded the armor of a Jaffa. But the sun glinted from the close metal skull plates that protected his bald head. He glanced back at his companion, eyes bright, a small smile lifting his mouth.
“They were foolish enough to think this galaxy theirs for the taking.” He turned back to the forests around the Stargate. “But this…this is a place of legend still. It is good to see it respected.”
Teal’c threw back his own hood, and stepped forward. Like Bra’tac, he carried a staff weapon. His mentor had said it was fitting.
Gesturing to a worn, half-hidden path in the dry grass, Bra’tac started walking. The air smelled sweet with living things-pine, the waving grass, distant flowers. Bra’tac thought he could hear chimes in the distance.
“Do you recall the way?” Teal’c asked.
“Do I…?” Bra’tac straightened. The years hung heavy on him, had deepened the lines on his face, left old wounds aching not just on cold nights. “Let us enjoy our walk.”
They reached the temple easily. The woods offered no lurking dangers-no bodies on this visit, no hidden enemies. Forest aspen whispered, leaves brushing in a breeze that did not touch their faces. Twice Bra’tac stopped and looked up, but saw nothing more than trees and leaves. A brook wove its way beside the slim path, which disappeared and reappeared under their sandals. The water moved with them, kept them pointed in the direction that Bra’tac knew to be true. It had been many years, but even if more recent events faded too soon, his memories of his time here remained sharp as his blade.
The temple roof came into view first, then its white walls. It lay nestled still in a small valley, sheltered from strong winds and bad weather. The forest had grown closer, but the walls still stood.
At the gate, Bra’tac leaned his staff against the wall, slipped free of the sandals they had worn for this occasion. Teal’c kept his weapon and Bra’tac glanced at him, lifted an eyebrow. Teal’c lifted one back.
Bra’tac smiled.
His old student had not forgotten his lessons-a wise man respects his friends, a wiser one respects his enemies, too.
Turning, Bra’tac entered the courtyard.
Here, the brook turned with them, winding its way beside the temples. Bra’tac glanced into the water, but he saw nothing-no fish, no light dancing on the shallows, nothing but water softly murmuring.
He stepped forward to the temple, but he stopped outside its doors.
All lay still and orderly-the doors closed, the walls standing and bare. One would never know a great battle had taken place here. Except for the scorch marks on the earth-those remained. And Bra’tac stepped around those spots.
He glanced back once at Teal’c. Teal’c stood with his feet wide, the butt of his staff weapon braced between them. He seemed at ease, but Bra’tac could sense ready tension-some lessons, some habits, never faded.
Turning back, Bra’tac spread his arms wide.
“I no longer harbor evil within. And I am come to the end of my days and would step forward into the next great unknown. I am returned to learn, to shed my days of teaching and begin anew.”
The breeze picked up. Bra’tac glanced around him, saw Teal’c doing the same. Wetting his lips, Bra’tac put back his head, lifted his voice again. “Is no one here?”
“No need to shout.”
The voice came from his left, from temple doors that now stood open. Bra’tac whirled, reaching for the knife he’d left behind. Teal’c did the same, staff weapon lowering. A robed figure stepped from inside the temple, into the sunlight. He threw back his hood and light glinted from short, pale hair, from pale skin. Blue eyes regarded Teal’c and Bra’tac with gentle humor.
“No need for that, either,” Daniel Jackson said stepping forward, gesturing to Teal’c’s staff. It vanished. Teal’c stood where he was, whispering the man’s former name as if it was a prayer.
“Hey, Teal’c. Master Bra’tac.”
Teal’c straightened. “It is good to see you. It has been too long.”
Daniel Jackson smiled. “Not that long.”
Stepping forward-but not too near-Bra’tac held out his arm. “Tek ma’ te, Daniel Jackson.”
A solid hand reached out and grasped his arm, and the shock of it rippled through Bra’tac. “You are indeed here.”
With a smile, Daniel Jackson nodded, shook his head, and let go. “Well, as here as I ever was… or as any of us choose.”
Teal’c again rested his staff. “You are become proficient in speaking in mysteries.”
“Oh, Jack might say I always was. But let’s talk about why you’re here.”
Bra’tac again spread his arms. “It is time-on my last visit I was not ready to leave the adventures of this life. Now I am.”
Daniel Jackson tipped his head. “Really?”
Bra’tac glanced from him to Teal’c. Dropping his hands, he nodded. “Really.”
“Would you be like the blind man and light a second candle when the first still burns?”
“I would light one before this one is burnt out.”
“Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c said, stepping forward. “Will you not help?”
“Help-it’s all in the perspective, isn’t it? Okay-what can I do?”
Bra’tac straightened. “I wish to ascend.”
“Okay.” With a nod, Daniel folded his arms, tucking his hands in the sleeves of his robe.
Bra’tac glanced at Teal’c, who shared the look, his expression, his own as uncertain. “What do I do?” Bra’tac asked.
“Well, it’s…it’s complicated. But well…release your burden. And you have no idea how tired I got of hearing that one.”
“Burden?” Bra’tac repeated. He also folded his hands into the sleeves of his robe. It would be unseemly for a Jaffa, a master, a First Prime, to fidget.
“Yes, well, or think of it as all burdens-we seem to acquire more than a few over the years, but tying it up in one bag with the singular sums it up better.”
“And how do this…this releasing?”
Daniel Jackson smiled and stepped back into the temple.
Bra’tac exchanged looks again with Teal’c. With a last nod, he followed Daniel Jackson. Inside, lamps hung on the walks flickered, holding back cool darkness. A fire pit lay in the center of the room and Daniel Jackson sat before it, cross-legged. Seating himself on the floor as well, old joints creaking with protests, Bra’tac waited.
Daniel Jackson gave him a nod-an encouragement. “Close your eyes.”
Taking a deep breath, Bra’tec closed his eyes. And he knew he would do this before no other man.
“Now think of a light-a candle burning. And see inside it all that waits for you-Teal’c’s grandson, who yet needs training. His granddaughter, who fights even better than her brother. That young Jaffa who sought you out a year ago…”
Daniel Jackson’s voice brought forward images, faces-a list of those who crowded Bra’tac’s life. He had thought himself a burden to them-becoming useless[,] for he lacked the speed and strength he’d once possessed. And then Daniel Jackson asked, his voice soft, “Will you give them all up?”
Bra’tac opened his eyes. He glanced at the fire burning in the pit now, small dancing flames that gave no warmth. He looked at the man next to him who also gave no warmth, who now seemed more phantom than real, his form glowing, his eyes an impossible blue.
“You know I cannot.”
With a smile, Daniel Jackson nodded. “Not yet.” He stood, glanced around him, hands on his hips. “Y’know, it’d be nice to have a new teacher here… one day.”
Bra’tac climbed to his feet. His left hip ached. His muscles protested against more walking. But he straightened. “Not this day.”
Daniel Jackson’s form began to fade. “We’ll see each other again-sooner than you think.”
And then Bra’tac stood alone in a room. The lights went out one-by-one. Bra’tac left before the last one extinguished.
Outside, Teal’c stood with his head bent low. He looked up, the movement sudden, sharp. His eyes widened. He took a step forward and stopped himself. “Master Bra’tac?”
“It seems today is not the day. I find I am not yet as old as I think. I am not yet ready to give up this burden I enjoy.”
Teal’c inclined his head. His smile showed in glinting eyes, but nowhere else. “Let us go home.”
For sg-fignewton's Bra'tac Alphabet soup
Spoilers for Maternal Instinct and anything S10 and on...
Rating G
"… Kheb, a name of Lower Egypt. Kheb…the place of emanation..." G. H. Massey
“It appears the wars passed over this world.”
“Indeed. The Ori were not so foolish as to come here.”
Throwing back his cloak with one hand, Bra’tac stepped away from the Stargate. He used his staff weapon now more as a staff, less as a weapon, and he had discarded the armor of a Jaffa. But the sun glinted from the close metal skull plates that protected his bald head. He glanced back at his companion, eyes bright, a small smile lifting his mouth.
“They were foolish enough to think this galaxy theirs for the taking.” He turned back to the forests around the Stargate. “But this…this is a place of legend still. It is good to see it respected.”
Teal’c threw back his own hood, and stepped forward. Like Bra’tac, he carried a staff weapon. His mentor had said it was fitting.
Gesturing to a worn, half-hidden path in the dry grass, Bra’tac started walking. The air smelled sweet with living things-pine, the waving grass, distant flowers. Bra’tac thought he could hear chimes in the distance.
“Do you recall the way?” Teal’c asked.
“Do I…?” Bra’tac straightened. The years hung heavy on him, had deepened the lines on his face, left old wounds aching not just on cold nights. “Let us enjoy our walk.”
They reached the temple easily. The woods offered no lurking dangers-no bodies on this visit, no hidden enemies. Forest aspen whispered, leaves brushing in a breeze that did not touch their faces. Twice Bra’tac stopped and looked up, but saw nothing more than trees and leaves. A brook wove its way beside the slim path, which disappeared and reappeared under their sandals. The water moved with them, kept them pointed in the direction that Bra’tac knew to be true. It had been many years, but even if more recent events faded too soon, his memories of his time here remained sharp as his blade.
The temple roof came into view first, then its white walls. It lay nestled still in a small valley, sheltered from strong winds and bad weather. The forest had grown closer, but the walls still stood.
At the gate, Bra’tac leaned his staff against the wall, slipped free of the sandals they had worn for this occasion. Teal’c kept his weapon and Bra’tac glanced at him, lifted an eyebrow. Teal’c lifted one back.
Bra’tac smiled.
His old student had not forgotten his lessons-a wise man respects his friends, a wiser one respects his enemies, too.
Turning, Bra’tac entered the courtyard.
Here, the brook turned with them, winding its way beside the temples. Bra’tac glanced into the water, but he saw nothing-no fish, no light dancing on the shallows, nothing but water softly murmuring.
He stepped forward to the temple, but he stopped outside its doors.
All lay still and orderly-the doors closed, the walls standing and bare. One would never know a great battle had taken place here. Except for the scorch marks on the earth-those remained. And Bra’tac stepped around those spots.
He glanced back once at Teal’c. Teal’c stood with his feet wide, the butt of his staff weapon braced between them. He seemed at ease, but Bra’tac could sense ready tension-some lessons, some habits, never faded.
Turning back, Bra’tac spread his arms wide.
“I no longer harbor evil within. And I am come to the end of my days and would step forward into the next great unknown. I am returned to learn, to shed my days of teaching and begin anew.”
The breeze picked up. Bra’tac glanced around him, saw Teal’c doing the same. Wetting his lips, Bra’tac put back his head, lifted his voice again. “Is no one here?”
“No need to shout.”
The voice came from his left, from temple doors that now stood open. Bra’tac whirled, reaching for the knife he’d left behind. Teal’c did the same, staff weapon lowering. A robed figure stepped from inside the temple, into the sunlight. He threw back his hood and light glinted from short, pale hair, from pale skin. Blue eyes regarded Teal’c and Bra’tac with gentle humor.
“No need for that, either,” Daniel Jackson said stepping forward, gesturing to Teal’c’s staff. It vanished. Teal’c stood where he was, whispering the man’s former name as if it was a prayer.
“Hey, Teal’c. Master Bra’tac.”
Teal’c straightened. “It is good to see you. It has been too long.”
Daniel Jackson smiled. “Not that long.”
Stepping forward-but not too near-Bra’tac held out his arm. “Tek ma’ te, Daniel Jackson.”
A solid hand reached out and grasped his arm, and the shock of it rippled through Bra’tac. “You are indeed here.”
With a smile, Daniel Jackson nodded, shook his head, and let go. “Well, as here as I ever was… or as any of us choose.”
Teal’c again rested his staff. “You are become proficient in speaking in mysteries.”
“Oh, Jack might say I always was. But let’s talk about why you’re here.”
Bra’tac again spread his arms. “It is time-on my last visit I was not ready to leave the adventures of this life. Now I am.”
Daniel Jackson tipped his head. “Really?”
Bra’tac glanced from him to Teal’c. Dropping his hands, he nodded. “Really.”
“Would you be like the blind man and light a second candle when the first still burns?”
“I would light one before this one is burnt out.”
“Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c said, stepping forward. “Will you not help?”
“Help-it’s all in the perspective, isn’t it? Okay-what can I do?”
Bra’tac straightened. “I wish to ascend.”
“Okay.” With a nod, Daniel folded his arms, tucking his hands in the sleeves of his robe.
Bra’tac glanced at Teal’c, who shared the look, his expression, his own as uncertain. “What do I do?” Bra’tac asked.
“Well, it’s…it’s complicated. But well…release your burden. And you have no idea how tired I got of hearing that one.”
“Burden?” Bra’tac repeated. He also folded his hands into the sleeves of his robe. It would be unseemly for a Jaffa, a master, a First Prime, to fidget.
“Yes, well, or think of it as all burdens-we seem to acquire more than a few over the years, but tying it up in one bag with the singular sums it up better.”
“And how do this…this releasing?”
Daniel Jackson smiled and stepped back into the temple.
Bra’tac exchanged looks again with Teal’c. With a last nod, he followed Daniel Jackson. Inside, lamps hung on the walks flickered, holding back cool darkness. A fire pit lay in the center of the room and Daniel Jackson sat before it, cross-legged. Seating himself on the floor as well, old joints creaking with protests, Bra’tac waited.
Daniel Jackson gave him a nod-an encouragement. “Close your eyes.”
Taking a deep breath, Bra’tec closed his eyes. And he knew he would do this before no other man.
“Now think of a light-a candle burning. And see inside it all that waits for you-Teal’c’s grandson, who yet needs training. His granddaughter, who fights even better than her brother. That young Jaffa who sought you out a year ago…”
Daniel Jackson’s voice brought forward images, faces-a list of those who crowded Bra’tac’s life. He had thought himself a burden to them-becoming useless[,] for he lacked the speed and strength he’d once possessed. And then Daniel Jackson asked, his voice soft, “Will you give them all up?”
Bra’tac opened his eyes. He glanced at the fire burning in the pit now, small dancing flames that gave no warmth. He looked at the man next to him who also gave no warmth, who now seemed more phantom than real, his form glowing, his eyes an impossible blue.
“You know I cannot.”
With a smile, Daniel Jackson nodded. “Not yet.” He stood, glanced around him, hands on his hips. “Y’know, it’d be nice to have a new teacher here… one day.”
Bra’tac climbed to his feet. His left hip ached. His muscles protested against more walking. But he straightened. “Not this day.”
Daniel Jackson’s form began to fade. “We’ll see each other again-sooner than you think.”
And then Bra’tac stood alone in a room. The lights went out one-by-one. Bra’tac left before the last one extinguished.
Outside, Teal’c stood with his head bent low. He looked up, the movement sudden, sharp. His eyes widened. He took a step forward and stopped himself. “Master Bra’tac?”
“It seems today is not the day. I find I am not yet as old as I think. I am not yet ready to give up this burden I enjoy.”
Teal’c inclined his head. His smile showed in glinting eyes, but nowhere else. “Let us go home.”