Redial the Gate: meta on Secrets

[fignewton]

I finally got to write the second half of my Sha're meta for redial_the_gate! Last year I did Shau'ri in the movie; now, I did Sha're on the show.  How I wish we'd gotten more of her! I'm grateful to writers like 6beforelunch and rydra_wong and others, who write the Sha're that I love so beautifully.

There's some interesting discussion up at the comm, but I've been trying to make sense of Amaunet and Sha're on Abydos. Maybe my flist can help. :)

The reactions of Kasuf and Shar'e to the inital confrontation with Daniel confuse me. Here's what happened:

Sha're appears on Abydos, pregnant. She must have arrived by ship, since the Gate was buried. She tells Kasuf that she has "returned to him," with the suggestion that Kasuf assumes that she is pregnant with Daniel's child. She remains there for "more than a season," with Amaunet completely dormant.

The SGC sends the MALP through to Abydos on the same day that Daniel instructed the Abydons to uncover the Gate. They see Kasuf in the pyramid and go through to speak to him.

Daniel begs forgiveness for coming without Sha're.

"I have returned without your daughter."

"So it is."

"I fear that my search will continue for many seasons."

Kasuf looks at him a bit oddly, but tells him and Teal'c to follow him.

They walk to Nagada and enter a tent where a calm, placid Sha're is working with something. Sha're sees them and stands, looking shocked.

Confrontation: Kasuf tries to defend Sha're. She moves around him and appeals, "Husband."

"I am Shar'e's husband. Who are you?"

Back and forth, as Kasuf puts his arm protectively around Sha're, and Daniel finally says, "Sha're has been taken by a Goa'uld. A demon now lives within her. One of great power and evil."

Kasuf is shocked and turns to Sha're, who admits, "He speaks the truth, Father."

"But you said you returned to me."

"And I have."

Daniel bursts out, "Stop it!" Again, more back and forth, as Sha're confesses that Amaunet has gone dormant to prevent a miscarriage, and that Apophis is the father; he and Amaunet have allowed Sha're to get pregnant so that Apophis can take the child as a host. Daniel is speechless and leaves the tent.

Teal'c converses further with Sha're, and discovers that she has memories of her time with Apophis - memories that rightfully belong to Amaunet: "These are the memories of the Goa'uld that now sleeps within you."

Okay, now. Let's try to make sense of this.

Kasuf thinks that Daniel sent his wife home to Abydos. Why doesn't he question Daniel's words in the pyramid, then? Part of me imagines Kasuf  that Daniel sent his wife home as an afterthought, as he was too busy doing whatever planetary heroes do. Did he think Daniel simply forgot? It makes no sense.

Apophis has to have brought Sha're to Abydos by ship. Who unburied the Stargate, and when? If it was a covert operation - Kasuf thought Sha're was herself, so she couldn't possibly have showed up in Nagada wearing the robes that Amaunet was sporting at the end of the episode - Apophis couldn't possibly have ordered the Stargate unburied. If Apophis had been a known presence on Abydos, Kasuf wouldn't have been surprised by Sha're's revelation. But if that's the case, why did Apophis try to pick up Amaunet by Stargate instead of via ship? Because he'd lost his over Earth? Why did he come specifically then, when Sha're specifically says that "the child comes early"?

Here's my biggest question: did Sha're lie to Kasuf, or did she herself believe that she was carrying Daniel's child?

Sha're goes from quiet calm to horror and shame too abruptly. She doesn't react like someone whose guilty secret has been discovered; she reacts like someone who is discovering a guilty secret for the first time. If she'd known the truth all along - that she was pregnant by Apophis, and that Daniel was going to show up - why wasn't she nervous and alarmed when Kasuf when off to the pyramid?  She seems just as shocked as Kasuf and Daniel and Teal'c, in that first confrontation. Did Amaunet somehow plant the idea in Sha're's head that she had "returned" to Abydos in peace, so that Sha're would not try to contact the Tau'ri or warn her father? Sha're knows that Apophis wants the child as a host but not the harcesis part. Is this because Amaunet has concealed it from her?

(As I mentioned by the Redial recap, I don't buy the theory that I've often seen, that Amaunet was taking her first host and is subservient to Apophis. Amaunet is listed as one of the top seven in Egyptian mythology - the Ogdoad. She had to be a willing, active participant in this plan, or why should she go along with it?)

If Sha're lied to Kasuf, I don't think the instinct would have been to comfort and protect her as much as anger at betrayal. But a duped Sha're makes sense in terms of her distress, her tears, her initial confusion.

But is this even possible? Do we ever see any other incident in which a symbiote hides information from its host? We know that a host can hide information from its symbiote; Kendra did it to trick her Goa'uld into going to Cimmeria, and we see Sha're do it twice - in Secrets and in FIAD. Could Amaunet lock away information from Sha're, and only the shock of seeing Daniel allowed her to break through the block in her memories and recognize the truth?

I want this all to make sense! ...Which, come to think of it, is probably foolish. :)

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I'd love for it to make sense, too, but I think the only thing that makes sense is that it was poorly written. The best I've been able to is this:

Apophis tried to dial into Abydos, but couldn't because the gate's buried. He came by ship, found, from orbit, that the place was as it should be (except for gate access), decided that was actually way cooler for his plan than an active gate and proceeded to have Sha're taken down to the surface.

Wanting her to be accepted by the locals, he made sure she was properly dressed, and gave her a cover story with the reminder that after the child was born, Amaunet would know if she'd strayed from the plan and her people would suffer.

Sha're tells Kasuf something on the order of, "I am home to bear my child" or something. While Kasuf accepts his daughter into his home, he really doesn't believe her... which was likely her intention. One of the best ways to lie, is to tell the truth unconvincingly. :-) But she can't confide in him completely.

When Daniel shows up, Kasuf is thrown, but being the good leader (and politician) that he is, he waits to gather information before making his decision, which explains his words, actions and demeanor in the pyramid.

Sha're's reaction is a little harder to justify and I generally just throw up my hands and chalk it up to seeing Daniel being one too many shocks, all the fear, hope, guilt, whatever flooding in and being on an emotional roller coaster *anyway* being in her last hours of pregnancy.

So, that's my take. I hate that I probably spent more time 'fixing' the thing in my head than the writers spent actually writing it in the first place. GGGRRR.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

I assumed the gate had been unburied after Sha're returned. Daniel assumed it was only done on the first anniversary, but personally I would've thought more people would be waiting/still have rocks around. You'd think Apophis would've made sure Amaunet had a quick escape route if necessary. (She obviously was somewhat aware since she came to life when Daniel and Teal'c tried to leave with her). Also Apophis came through the Stargate at the end. Perhaps he was planning to be with her the last month or so...or bring her back for the final birthing time--or wanted to insure her safety better after the whole "losing a bunch of Jaffa on Chulak" from last episode (Family).

Kasuf thinks that Daniel sent his wife home to Abydos. Why doesn't he question Daniel's words in the pyramid, then? Part of me imagines Kasuf that Daniel sent his wife home as an afterthought, as he was too busy doing whatever planetary heroes do. Did he think Daniel simply forgot? It makes no sense.

Interesting. I've never thought that Kasuf believed Daniel sent Sha're home. I always interpreted it as Kasuf had figured Sha're had gotten home herself. She simply put that she'd "been returned to him"--who knows what implications that meant. That Daniel rejected her? That she'd been returned from her time with the evil gods? Maybe she just remained silent about Daniel and Kasuf didn't press.

I've never thought about Kasuf thinking Daniel sent Sha're back to Abydos, but the pregnancy would lend credence to your theory. I've always wondered at his strange reaction to Daniel but explained it away that he didn't want to get in the middle of this awkwardness of the pregnancy issue (since Kasuf wasn't aware of the whole "demon possession" thing).

This may also be why Sha're was so surprised to see Daniel. Kasuf didn't explain the whole "one Abydonian year" thing to her. She wouldn't know to expect him. She seemed genuinely surprised at his appearance, and thus that he witnessed her shame. Her father would've been ignorant about it. As for the harcesis part, I could see Sha're not getting the full implications of it from Amaunet. Her memory of Teal'c seemed hazy, so she'd be aware of some events clearly and others not as secure.

I've never questioned about the pregnancy, because I've always assumed Sha're knew it was not Daniel's. Since both she and Daniel knew the score with Amaunet (how much was Sha're aware/remembered SG-1's first mission to Chulak is something I wondered), she was trying to appeal and hope that Daniel recognized she was really Sha're and not the Goa'uld. I mean that alone is a big issue (pardon the pun), the pregnancy bit was just a whole added layer of craziness.

I don't know if that helps you, but it's a semi-coherent explanation of how my brain has fanwanked these aspects of Secrets.

(now to go read the redial discussion and the first part of your meta).

ETA: I can also see how you would think that about Kasuf when he complains Daniel was not "acting like a husband should". I've always been pleased that Kasuf defended his daughter at that point. It's a rough deal for him. He's been all happy. His daughter's home. He brings Daniel to her and instead of happy reunion, there's zats drawn and talks of demons. But she's still his daughter and he loves her, and knows how Daniel has loved her and is defensive of her. You can almost (almost) forgive him for that "Go with him" order later. ;-)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

gave her a cover story with the reminder that after the child was born, Amaunet would know if she'd strayed from the plan and her people would suffer.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Sha're does say at one point that Amaunet would likely harm the child if Sha're rebelled.

And, yes. Kasuf is a good leader, and it's realistic that instead of asking questions in front of a stranger, he'd wait to see how things play out.

I'll also accept the perfectly reasonable handwave of explaining any irrationality or odd behavior on Sha're's part to hormones. I mean, talk about a stressful pregnancy... :)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Really! I had a picture perfect pregnancy, but was more than a little spacey in the last few days. I can't imagine what I would have been like in her shoes... sandals. :-)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

If the Gate was unburied when Sha're returned, why didn't any of the Abydons ever try to reach Earth? They had the carving with the address.

I can accept Apophis disturbed by what happened in Family and deciding he'd better go get Amaunet and find a better hiding place. Yes. ::nods::

Y'know, Kasuf not even mentioning to Sha're that Daniel's due back, and going to get him without a word... that actually fits into the attitude towards, women, doesn't it?

I've always assumed Sha're knew it was not Daniel's.

It's just a theory, but one that might fit the odder aspects. Sha're would certainly remember being taken, but could Amaunet seal off memories and plant the idea in Sha're's head that she's home safely, and carrying Daniel's baby? I don't know. If my theory works, it explains Sha're stammering and stumbling over the explanation - all those suppressed memories returning in a rush.

I'll grant you the haziness of her memories would explain that she wouldn't grasp the harcesis thing. And yeah, ninth month makes anyoe a little crazy. :)

It's a rough deal for him. He's been all happy. His daughter's home. He brings Daniel to her and instead of happy reunion, there's zats drawn and talks of demons. But she's still his daughter and he loves her, and knows how Daniel has loved her and is defensive of her. You can almost (almost) forgive him for that "Go with him" order later. ;-)

Oh, yeah. Kasuf has always been a class act. And he loves Sha're, no matter what. I don't need to forgive him for "Go with him" because he's a whole lot older than his son and daughter, and it's a huge enough leap for him to abandon his deity and rebel against Ra and the idea of the supremacy of the Goa'uld. Asking him to go against ingrained culture on top of that is really a bit much. :)

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

If the Gate was unburied when Sha're returned, why didn't any of the Abydons ever try to reach Earth? They had the carving with the address.

Hmm. How do you know that they didn't? Now I'm picturing poor Abydonians trying to go through the Gate but getting splatted because they have no GDO. Aw.

The more I think about this meta of yours, the more I realize there's a host of different backstories that could be explored and considered.

[redbyrd-sgfic.livejournal.com]

And I was about to post the same thing, and then read Aurora's comment.. yeah, suppose they tried to send an Abydonian through the gate? It would be an unscheduled activation on Earth, they didn't leave a radio or GDO, Earth can't tell where the dialup came from (and may simply have assumed that it was another random shot by Apophis or some other Goa'uld at sending someone through the gate). No response.

So the Abydonians hunker down and wait for Daniel. And then Daniel shows up with a Jaffa- the *same* Jaffa who took a bunch of their people. Kasuf might well have wanted to get the two of them away from the gate before saying anything (so they would have a better chance of clopping Teal'c on the head if it turned out that Daniel was a prisoner).

We do know (is it from Skaara or Kendra?) that a Goa'uld can hold their host in a sort of dreamlike state. I'm thinking that Sha're must have been confused and wondering what was read at first- and not known how to explain any of it to people on Abydos. So she simply said as little as possible.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I hope not. Maybe they tossed a few local equivalents of tissue boxes through the Gate, then gave up when no one sent them back empty saying, "Thanks. Send More"?

The more I think about this meta of yours, the more I realize there's a host of different backstories that could be explored and considered.

Which is the beauty of ep tags and AUs and the like. I'm not wholly sold on the idea myself, but I find the possibilities intriguing.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

So the Abydonians hunker down and wait for Daniel. And then Daniel shows up with a Jaffa- the *same* Jaffa who took a bunch of their people.

Heh, yes. Although Kasuf wouldn't be able to tag Teal'c as such - in fact, no one who surived got a clear look at Teal'c's tattoo, did they? But they did, apparently, know enough for Kasuf to recognize that Teal'c looked like someone who shouldn't be considered a friendly.

if it turned out that Daniel was a prisoner

And that's just such an intriguing AU, right there - a Daniel herded through the Gate at staff-weapon point and the Abydons coming to the rescue. That would be delightfully like them... :)

We do know (is it from Skaara or Kendra?) that a Goa'uld can hold their host in a sort of dreamlike state.

Ah, we do?

As far as I know, Sha're herself talks about life with Amaunet in the driver's seat as being vague and dreamlike. But yes, I'll take a very confused Sha're who's not quite sure how to explain what she's suffered, and deciding that her best bet is just to keep quiet. Doesn't explain her utter shock when she's confronted with Daniel, though.