I CAN'T LIVE, IF LIVING IS WITHOUT YOU
PROLOGUE
Mandana was a small, peaceful world, populated mainly by simple peasants who worked their smallholdings and lived off the land.
The stone ring stood proud on a hill in the Tanger province, surrounded by fruit orchards and winding lanes that led to the arable farms dotted with green and golden crop fields. The once busy trading portal was now practically dormant, apart from the twice-monthly shipment of naquada that the Mandanans provided for a lesser-known System Lord. This was the people of Mandana's way of keeping under the radar, so to speak. The Goa'uld's left the planet alone as long as the orders came in on time, and the naquada mine to the north of the main town of Gowton provided work and community for the dwellers of Tanger province.
Life was simple. Horses and carts travelled the lanes, cattle ploughed the fields, and construction was a community effort. Each person had a trade from carpentry to stonewalling and everyone would join to help each other. The women and children would quilt and embroider furnishings and the men would provide the brute strength to construct the buildings. It was a way of life passed down through generations, and one which worked well.
Sergi Tanger oversaw the running of the province, as had his father before him and his father's father before that. It was his calling and he had been more than happy to carry on his family's legacy. Gowton had expanded and prospered under his watchful eye. Schoolhouses had been constructed for the young children; a market now provided a place for families to come and exchange their products, and a small hospital served the sick and needy. The next generation of tradesmen, of caregivers and of tutors, learned their trade under their elders and so the cycle of life continued.
Everyone had a purpose and a place. Hanah Tanger, Sergi's wife, was a cook who tutored her skill in the local schools and homes. She ran the daily food markets with her daughters, Lilly and Cara. Her life was a busy one. Sergi spent many weeks away from home helping in planning and construction, and Hanah not only cared for her family but also travelled round the province helping the poor and elderly with their everyday living.
Lilly and Cara Tanger were now grown women with their own callings. Cara was happy and content to follow her mother. She was artistic and flamboyant, her clothing was fancy and colourful, and her outlook on life was materialistic yet caring. To Cara, looks and finery were everything and she had a long line of gentlemen callers queuing up to take her arm. She was elegant and poised—her long auburn hair sleek, neat and tidy and, although she was the younger of the Tanger girls, she was often viewed as the elder, more sensible one.
The two sisters were very different.
Unruly, curly red hair framed the freckled face of Lilly Tanger. There was no finery for the tomboy— breeches and blouses were practical and comfortable. She had no time for boys as her calling dictated that her life training was that of studying and learning. Lilly would not be following her mother. From the moment she was born, her life had been mapped in a very different direction. Healer Greta Quinn had seen to that!
Greta was the main healer or platon in Tanger. He and his wife, Mari, lived in a large farmhouse between Gowton and the Stargate. As they were unable to have a natural family of their own, the law dictated that the first child the platon delivered during his tenure would be groomed as his replacement and, on a cold winter morning twenty years ago, Lilly Tanger's destiny was decided. It was fortunate that she had passion and an aptitude for learning. Platon Quinn took her under his wing and he and Mari viewed her as the granddaughter they would never have. She spent her time spilt between the family home and Quinn farm, studying to develop the skills she needed to join Greta's practice when it was time for the elder platon to rest. It was her calling.
Life revolved around home and family for the people of Mandana.
It was an idyllic, safe world.
Chapter one.
SG-1's weeklong stay in Mandana was drawing to an end.
The meet and greet mission had been prompted by the Intel of a weapons grade naquada mine and the team had enjoyed Sergi Tanger's wonderful hospitality while trying to negotiate a trading agreement. An exercise which had proved futile, as the ruler of Tanger province decided that it was more sensible to keep the status quo with the Goa'uld.
SG-1 couldn't blame the Mandanans for their resistance, as life was peaceful on this planet. Why risk all that by dealing with their enemy's enemy?
They'd had a wonderful time with the family, though. Hanah, Sergi's wife, and his daughters Lilly and Cara, had made them very welcome and had been fascinated by their stories of Earth and its dwelling customs. Sam had given Hanah cooking lessons—much to the hilarity of her team— but Hanah had been more than happy to learn about different ways to make pasta and bread. Sam had, in turn, learned much from the Mandanan woman, at times letting her hair down and allowing her 'girly' nature shine through!
Lilly and Cara had been fascinated in Daniel and followed him round like lovesick puppies! Daniel had been innocently oblivious to their attention and spent hours tutoring them in the history of Earth, under the impression that the girls really were actually interested in what he was saying.
The rest of SG-1 and the girl's parents exchanged knowing grins, but left Daniel to plow on relentlessly to his captive audience.
Teal'c and Jack spent many hours assisting Sergi and a handful of men in the small mine, learning much about the actual mining and preparation of the naquada—information that would prove very valuable if future missions unearthed untapped mines. In fact, the big bonus of this visit was the fact that the Mandanans were more than happy to impart with their vast mining knowledge, and had agreed to provide teaching sessions to SGC, on the understanding that numbers were kept small so as not to draw the attention of their System Lord's radar.
Overall, it had been a very worthwhile mission and had almost felt like a holiday to SG-1, but they now faced the two-day return journey to the Stargate. Hanah and Sam had cooked up a hearty breakfast for them all to enjoy together before SG-1 made their way home—homemade bread joined the bowls of stew and lentils. Hanah had been baking most of the previous night to provide their new friends with ample supplies for their long trip, so with their bags packed and ready, SG-1 relaxed into their final meal.
"Pass the bread, Cara." Jack smiled at the youngest daughter who sat stirring her stew while staring and drooling at Daniel, who was deep in conversation with Lilly.
"Child. The bread," Sergi interjected when Cara all but ignored Jack's request.
"What? Oh... yeah," Cara sighed. "Here you go Colonel." She passed Jack the breadbasket and then returned to her stirring.
Jack chuckled and shook his head. "Thanks," he said, taking a lump of bread and passing the basket round the table.
"So, you know your route, Colonel?" Sergi passed the bread on to Teal'c.
"Yeah." Jack nodded. "It's a pretty direct route."
"Lilly will escort you as far as healer Quinn's house, as she has to continue her studies today," Sergi informed him. "You should reach his farm by nightfall where you will be able to rest before making your final journey to the ring."
"That sounds like a plan," Jack replied with a nod. "Are you sure he won't mind putting us up for the night?"
"No, he is most excited at the prospect, Colonel. I do believe my daughter has told him much of your culture."
"I'm sure she has." Jack smiled, watching Lilly gesture wildly as she spoke with Daniel. It was a rare sight to see Doctor Daniel Jackson struggle to get a word in edgeways with someone for a change!
Xxxx
"Father has said I can go with you. Can you believe it?"
Daniel smiled at Lilly as she continued gushing.
"Yes, I am to escort you to Quinn's farm and stay the night before continuing my studies. You are going to adore Quinny, Daniel. He is so wonderful and wise and such an inspiring teacher. Can you believe I'm going to have such an important future?"
Daniel chuckled. "Yes, I can believe it, Lilly."
"I mean, I need to study hard and put all my soul into it, but when Quinny chooses to rest I will have been groomed as a new platon! It is such an honor, Daniel. It is my calling—my path of adulthood— and, while it is quite scary, it's also so very exciting!"
"You will do a wonderful job, I'm sure," Daniel replied with a smile. "The healers on Earth are held in very high esteem and we have a wonderful doctor where we work who has healed many, many people. You and she share the same enthusiasm."
"Does your platon work with herbs, Daniel?"
"Among other things," Daniel nodded. "We have many alternative medicines and practices on Earth. Years have been spent researching and gaining knowledge on how to treat many illnesses and complaints." Daniel stirred his lentils while he spoke.
"We have two main illnesses here," Lilly stated. "The cold fever and the hot fever. Many die during of the outbreaks and we are working hard at coming up with a cure, but it is time consuming, and we have little resources to aid our studies."
"I'm sure you're doing all you can." Daniel smiled kindly.
"Yes, yes, but it is a big worry, and many young and elderly die every year—"
"But that is the passage of life," Daniel interrupted.
"Indeed, you are correct, but we strive to make their passing easier—that has to be our ultimate goal," Lilly looked up and smiled sadly.
"And, I'm sure you're doing all you can," Daniel repeated.
Lilly nodded enthusiastically. "Yes we are and we've come up with several breakthroughs over the years." She took a breath and sipped her water. "Are you not hungry, Daniel?" she asked as she watched Daniel continue to stir his food.
"I think I've eaten so much of your mother's wonderful food over the week that I'm fit to burst," he smiled and pushed his dish to one side.
"You did not eat much at supper, either." Lilly reached over and placed a hand on top of Daniel's. "You are sure you are feeling well?"
"I'm fine, Lilly." Daniel squeezed the young girl's hand and grinned. "You are going to make a wonderful platon."
"Oh... what? Sorry." Lilly blushed and ducked her head when she realised she'd actually been viewing the young Tauri as a patient.
"Please, don't be sorry. You can't switch off your calling."
"Time and place, my father says." Lilly nodded curtly.
"Ah... yes... he's right, of course, but I know very well it's not as easy as that. Our platon always struggles to let go of her instincts."
"Tell me more of you platon, Daniel. What is she like?"
"Well, where do I start...?"
Daniel and Lilly were soon lost in conversation once more as the anthropologist tried to explain more about the medical world on Earth.
Xxx
"Right, kids, we got everything?" Jack hoisted his pack onto his shoulders.
"Looks like it, sir." Sam glanced round the room as she clipped on her own pack.
"Okay... let's go say our goodbyes." Jack pulled at the peak of his cap as the rest of his team made their way to the leaving party that was waiting for them in the courtyard.
They were all sad to be leaving as they felt they had made some strong alliances with the leaders of Tanger and, judging by the sight of Hanah dabbing at suspiciously damp eyes, they were going to be missed as much as SG-1 would miss them.
"Have a safe journey, Colonel." Sergi shook Jack's hand warmly.
"Call me Jack, Sergi." Jack smiled.
"That would be an honour, Jack." Sergi bowed.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Hanah." Jack turned to the lady of the house and was then surprised when she grabbed him in a bone-crushing embrace.
"We will miss you," Hanah sniffed.
"We'll be back," Jack promised as he pulled out of the embrace and gently kissed Hanah's cheek. "Look after the girls."
"Of course," Hanah answered warmly.
Jack turned and watched as his team then said their goodbyes. He grinned at the sight of his hardened second in command exchanging recipes, and of Cara practically hanging off Daniel's neck. He had a fleeting thought of just extending their mission and treating it as a well-deserved holiday, but knew that if they missed their allocated return slot the powers that be would not be happy. It was one part of the job he was beginning to hate—the quick in quick out—as Daniel's enthusiasm at learning about new cultures was rubbing off on him. It was so rare to come across such a peaceful and relaxing world inhabited by wonderful warm people.
When Cara finally peeled herself off Daniel, who was teetering precariously, Jack turned to the elder Tanger girl standing to one side shaking her head at her sister's antics.
"Come on, Lilly," he said, taking up one end of the standard issue container they used to store equipment on missions, and nodding to Teal'c to take the other end. "Lead on, young lady," he grinned, and SG-1 were then on their way home.