Disclaimer: Stargate and all related materials are the property of MGM/UA, I'm merely borrowing them.
Chapter One
Meeting on the Way
"Daniel!" Colonel Jack O'Neill of the US Air Force raced the corridors after his team's archeologist and friend Daniel Jackson. "Hey, Daniel!" He called again.
Finally unable to pretend he hadn't heard the colonel summon him, Daniel spun around and was almost knocked to the ground by his friend. Jack grabbed him by the shoulders in an attempt to absorb his racing's momentum. With a swift move, Daniel managed to remain standing. "Sorry 'bout that, Daniel." Jack said apologetically. He smirked to the younger man. "What you doing?"
Somehow, Daniel's wit managed to produce a scheme to avoid having to accept joining the colonel on a trip to his fishing cabin before he even heard the ever-recurring request. It was not that he didn't like being with his friend, but the prospect of spending the weekend away from his artifacts (and his lab) didn't appeal to him—at all.
"I was on my way to my lab." Daniel answered truthfully.
"Oh, come on, Danny!" Jack's eyes had a mischievous tint. "You'll never the sun if you don't let your rocks live on their own."
For the umpteenth time since their meeting several years ago, Daniel reminded SG-1's Commanding Officer that his 'rocks' weren't so, but important artifacts that could shed some light on the various alien cultures the SGC encountered through the Stargate.
"…And besides, I've seen plenty of sun on our last mission." Daniel retorted. "I've still nasty sunburns on my face."
Jack peeked at his friend's face. His nose was still bearing the marks left by P3X-774's enormous and scorching sun. SG-1's CO's smile and puppy dog eyes made Daniel's heart change decision. "Okay… I'll come with you." He sighed.
Jack beamed with pride. He had never failed to win Daniel over. "Don't be so defeatist, Danny; it'll only be for two days." He smirked and rested his arm around the archaeologist's shoulders in a mock confidence posture. "Want to come with me to convince Sam?" Daniel shook his head. "Teal'c?" Jack proposed again. Another shake. Daniel released his body from Jack's grip. "You're alone on this, Jack." Daniel's price grew a few inches and slowly deflated when he remembered that he was going to spend the weekend in the fishing cabin.
The next morning had barely begun when Jack pulled his truck in front of Daniel's apartment. Jack had not spoken with Daniel since the previous evening when he had called the younger man to tell him at which time he'd pick him and to gloat about having convinced Sam and Teal'c to join them.
Daniel approached Jack's vehicle. Through the windows, he could see Sam sleeping her head propped against Teal'c's shoulder, who didn't seem to notice. He opened the door and sat on the passenger front seat. Jack hurried the truck on the road.
They all remained silent for the most part of the morning. Sam woke from her slumber around 10am. She yawned; clearly a sign that she slept well on Teal'c's shoulder. She immediately began to apologize for having used him as pillow. The tall Jaffa had not been offended.
"Major Carter, there is no need to apologize. You seemed to need to finish your night and I am honored that you found my shoulder comfortable." He raised his eyebrow. Sam smiled—Teal'c had just made a joke, something they weren't used to even after having worked with him for several years.
Sam needed caffeine right now. She nudged Daniel who shared her coffee-addiction to unbelievable limits. "Got coffee?" She asked him stretching her arms. "Yeah." Daniel replied in a slightly bored tone and handed her the thermos filled with the black wonder.
Miles were traveled when Jack proposed that they stop to buy snacks and refill the gas tank. After their half-hour long break, Sam drove the truck in the direction of Jack's cabin.
As she slowed the truck at an orange traffic light, she didn't notice the other vehicle that step from the right. A few milliseconds before her brain registered the impeding danger of collision; she hit the brake pedal with all her force. The tires shrieked under the pressure but it was too late. The two cars collided and the world around SG-1 faded under the black curtain of unconsciousness.
Everything was distant around him; very remote, but he could hear whispering voices. Jack tried to recollect what was happening. A car accident! He remembered seeing the other vehicle (a green sedan) impact his truck just before he lost consciousness. As the scene replayed in his mind, he thanked God for being alive as he was certain that the shock could very well have killed him. What irony of life, he thought, the man who helped save Earth countless times, killed in a car accident instead of being shot by an army of Goa'uld. Then it hit him. His team? Were they okay?
Jack tried to open his eyes. After a few tries, he succeeded. All he could see was a ceiling; white with powerful lamps that almost blinded him. His vision was blurry. But the scenery was that of a hospital. His ears registered the beeping of an ECG monitor. Definitely a hospital! He turned his head around but somehow couldn't. Am I paralyzed? He thought alarmingly. He heard footsteps approaching him. A female face entered his vision. She wore a white coat. Her ebony hair contrasted with her pale face. They were tied in a bun. He saw her smile. She spoke to him.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Hjared." Her voice was caring.
"…m Jack…" He mumbled.
Her smile widened. "Do not try to speak yet, Mister O'Neill." She peeked at something behind his head. "You have sustained grave injuries—not fatal—but the surgery has used a lot of your energy…"
"'bout… friends." He asked unclearly.
Dr. Hjared smiled again. "Your friends are alright." He saw her smile fade a little and grew concerned something serious had happened. She continued. "But the Jaffa…"
Jaffa! How did she know Jaffa? Dr. Hjared saw the surprise in his eyes and explained. "Do not worry. You are in good care. Yes… I know what a Jaffa is; I'll have someone explain to you later today… When you are cleared from my care." She noted something on her notepad and somehow, Jack slumbered back into unconsciousness.
He woke up again. Tired and confused, but he felt better than most of the time he had spent in the infirmary of the SGC. He sighed and tried to sit in the bed but his limbs refused to obey his command. He then remembered the name of the doctor who had visited him.
"Doctor Hjared?" Jack called.
As he predicted, she came.
"Mr. O'Neill? Is there anything I can do?" She smiled.
"Yes, I'd like to see my friends." He said, or rather requested. He could not take 'no' for an answer.
She understood that. Her smile faded and was replaced with a professional glare. "Very well," she said. "You can see your people, but—as I had tried to say earlier—the Jaffa Teal'c hasn't recovered yet from his injuries."
Again! He thought. The fact that she knew the word 'Jaffa' indicated that she knew far more than 99.99 percent of Earth's population.
"How do you know the Jaffa?" He asked her firmly.
"Mr. O'Neill, once you have rejoined your friends, I'll have someone explain everything to you." She smiled. "Now," her voice was insistent. "I'll release the restraining field, so you'll be able to move."
A tickling sensation irradiated from his torso to his fingers and toes and released him from the induced paralysis. Feeling better than better, Jack leaped from the bed at Hjared's frozen figure.
"NOW! You'll tell me what is going on!" Jack snarled. He locked Hjared's arms behind her back. He looked around the room and saw several 'nurses'. "If anyone is attempting anything, you kind doctor will get hurt!" He threatened them. He tightened his grip on Hjared's arms and notice that she was taller than he was; something unusual but his years at the SGC had shown him things that were way more bizarre. None of the nurses were moving.
"They don't understand you." Hjared struggled.
"Tell them!" Jack ordered.
"Buénrasta," She yelped. "sá húit méðánérám!"
Not Goa'uld sounding, Jack thought.
"What did you tell them?" He barked in her ear.
"Do not move, or I'll get hurt." She squeaked in pain.
"Now, you'll slowing lead me where I can find my friends! Understood?" He ordered.
"Ye-es…"
She advanced toward a glass door which slid to the side into another corridor. The floor looked like some kind of black marble. It was hard and warm. The white walls were curving toward the ceiling giving the alley a form reminiscent of the Tok'ra tunnels.
They walked along the corridor into another room which looked like an apartment with rich furniture. Samantha Carter—who was lounging in a couch—jumped on her feet when she saw her CO and his hostage.
"Carter!" Jack said. "What the hell is going on?"
Carter shrugged. "Colonel, you're making a mistake, they're friendlies." She said calmly.
"Who ARE they?" He bellowed.
"I think that I may answer that… if you release me." Hjared begged.
"Alright." He turned Carter and ordered her to keep the doctor in her supervision. Hjared was motioned toward the couch were she sat without saying a word. "Where're Teal'c and Daniel?" He added.
Carter was the one to answer.
"Daniel is in the next room. Teal'c is doing his kel'no'reem." Carter told him coolly.
"Daniel!" He called in the corridor. SG-1's archaeologist sprinted in Carter's room and saw a very angry Jack and a surprised Sam.
"What's go-" He began but what interrupted by Jack raised hand.
Jack turned around to face a relieved Hjared.
"I'll ask question, you answer." He told the tall doctor—if she even was one.
She nodded.
"Good. What's going on?" He was now in questioning mode and he would not stop until he had a satisfying answer.
"You and your friends had an accident and you were severely injured." Hjared answered in a slow and calm voice. "You were transported here at the request of the other party in the accident."
His suspicions were right—or at least seemed so.
"Where are we?" Was Jack's next question.
"You are on board the Hógtúimi Szeluán, an exploration cruiser." She swallowed the lump she had in her throat. "We were following the development of your civilization. Our ship was to repatriate several teams who had settled on Earth." She looked at her hands. "One of these teams was the reason of the accident you experienced. From what they said, they were getting late and sped on the road and didn't see your vehicle until it was too late."
Note about Pronunciation:
Buénrasta sá húit méðánérám: Boo-ehn-rashta sah h-way-t meh-than-neh-rahm
Hógtúimi Szeluán: Hog-tway-mee thehl-weh-n