Daniel ducked his head against the gusty wind as he moved up the sidewalk, his thoughts on the impending mission back through the Stargate to the place where they had found Machello. Sam believed they might be able to salvage some of the old man's workbooks. In time they might be able to translate them. A million emotions swirled through him, not the least of them trepidation.

"Hey." A touch on his arm drew his attention back to the present and he spun around, his blue eyes wide behind the glass lenses. "How ya doin?" A middle-aged raggedy dressed African-American man was staring at him with worried eyes.

Daniel frowned as a sudden flash of indignation raced through him at the man's audacity. "Excuse me?"

"You okay? They hurt you?" The man questioned, honest concern furrowing his face.

Daniel shook his head, a confused frown furrowing his brow as well. The homeless were getting bolder and crazier it seemed. Daniel pitied the homeless, he had almost been one himself, the problem was growing everyday but he didn't appreciate being accosted on the street. Shaking his head, he turned to move on. The man persistantly followed him. "You don't remember me, do you?" The scientist paused and turned back to face him, shaking his head. "It's me Machello. Fred."

"Machello?" Daniel softly echoed the name, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "Machello?"

"Aww man, they done something to you," the man lamented almost tearfully. "You really don't remember me do you?" Biting his lip, Daniel shook his head. "I knew when I saw them cops, they'd take you, change you. I should've tried to stop 'em," the man uttered sadly.

"No...no..." Daniel shook his head. Obviously while 'borrowing' his body, Machello had encountered this man. Unexpectedly curious, he pushed his glasses up higher on his nose and tilting his head to one side, he asked softly. "Why?"

"Awww man, you're a hero. They shouldn't oughta done nothing to you."

"Hero?" Daniel was suddenly aware he knew almost nothing about the man who had hijacked his body. Hesitating for a second, he waved Fred to a nearby sidewalk cafe. "Would you...tell me more?" He quizzed hesitantly as they sat down at one of the wooden tables.

"They took your memories huh?" Fred shook his head in despair. "You ain't the first one they done that to and you won't be the last."

A waitress approached, eyeing the shabbily dressed man with distaste before turning to the linguist. "Yes?"

Daniel bit his lip at the rudeness but Fred seemed undisturbed by it. "I'll have coffee."

"Me too," Fred chimed in, "if it's on you," he added softly. His dark eyes crinkled at the edges as a memory surfaced.

Daniel smiled. "Make that two coffees, please." Ignoring Fred, she moved away.

Eyeing the man, Daniel questioned, "How...how did we meet?"

"You really don't remember?" Fred asked, suspicion hooding his eyes.

Daniel shook his head. It wasn't a lie. The tranference had switched personalities but not all of Machello memories.

"You was approaching people on the street and I was....panhandling for change...you know to get something to eat. You wantedd someone to help you celebrate and I guess that turned out to be me."

Daniel canted his head to one side, puzzlement lining his forehead. "Celebrate what?"

"Our strangeness you said."

"And did we...celebrate?" Daniel pressed, wondering exactly what that had entailed.

"We went to that soda shop and you treated everyone. A celebration of life you told the waitress. A feast on you." Fred smiled at the happy memory of this man treating him not only to a meal, but treating him like he was a real person, not something to be ignored on the street.

Daniel inwardly winced. Hammond had mentioned they had tracked Machello from his use of Daniel's credit card. He shuddered at the amount of that feast on his monthly statement. "A feast?" He repeated.

"Yeah, you know...burgers, fries...and hot fudge sundaes." The man smiled again. "You don't remember liking it?"

Daniel pressed his lips together, shaking his head. "No I don't," he responded honestly. He suddenly realized how Machello must have been a stranger in a strange land, enjoying and experiencing everything new. He had used the scientist's body to explore this new world. If they had not found him in time....Daniel refused to think of that.

"That's when you said you fought in the war and....was tortured," Fred added softly. "I never told ya then, but I fought in 'Nam myself. War does strange things to a man..." He trailed off, his face twisting in grievous remembrance.

Daniel felt a rush of sympathy that this man had apparently related to that other self. Evidently, Machello had not been the cold, indifferent, aloof creature which had faced him when Daniel lay dying in the infirmary. Something about the alien had touched this homeless veteran and Daniel got the feeling not too many things had done that in a long time. The waitress returned with their coffee. Daniel sipped at his as Fred carefully creamed and sugared his from the packets on the table. The man caught his look and flushed with embarrassment.

Daniel gave him a soft reassuring smile. "What else did I say Fred?" Maybe it was morbid curiousity but he felt the urge to learn what he could about the strange old man who had been him. Yes, I am Daniel Jackson of the planet Earth, echoed in his mind.