Star Gate SG1

1.1.1.1 Word of Mouth

Colonel O'Neil wasn't awake yet, but he wandered the halls of the SGC on his way to the debriefing room. Looking at his watch he noticed it was only 4:30 in the morning. He wondered what could possibly be so important.

Coming around the corner he collided with another SG officer. At a second glance O'Neil realized it was Lieutenant Shauna Allen. She was younger than Major Carter by at least ten years, but O'Neil couldn't help but be attracted to her. She was unique in so many attributes. Unlike Samantha Carter, Shauna had dark brown hair, straight and down to her shoulders. She stood at only 5'6", but her body was in perfect shape, and she liked to show every inch of it off. O'Neil felt her green eyes were the most intriguing characteristic.

Rumor had gone around the compound that Shauna is somehow related to General Hammond, but no one had the courage to ask him. The rumor was based only on observation of the things Shauna gets away with. For example, when Shauna and her SG9 team joined SG1 on an off world mission, Shauna had redesigned her entire uniform, and dyed sections of her hair different colors. He never said a word, but O'Neil thought the new attire was very creative. She had combined three different uniform designs into one. The pants alone should have stunned the General, but he didn't even seem amused by it.

O'Neil remembered exactly how she looked that day. Her hair was black, dark blue and dark purple streaked together, and the last two inches were dyed a bright red. The pants were black parachute in the front and looked completely normal. But when she turned around to wave at the General in the booth upstairs they noticed the back of the pants was army green camouflage with white winter camouflage on the pockets. Her black jacket was also reformed. The sleeves were white winter camouflage with army green at the end, and the back she had stitched on white letters spelling out 'SG9 CROSSING THE LINE!'

About the only thing she didn't attack was her black boots and the black t- shirt she wore under the colorfully transformed jacket. Something the General never heard about that mission was her tattoos. They were fake of course, but she couldn't resist crossing another line. One of them covered her entire wrist and the other circled her belly button. He knew this because she entertained the Alsatian children with them.

Unlike O'Neil, the rest of SG1 did not approve her behavior. Carter probably would have been uneasy around Shauna had she not pulled this stunt, because she felt that Shauna was a risk. She didn't just get away with transforming her uniform. She also got away with disobeying orders when it suited her purpose. O'Neil would argue that Shauna never put anyone's life in danger and always completed her mission, but Carter still felt threatened by her.

Daniel, on the other hand, felt that Shauna was simply trying to get attention or that she was doing these things to hide something else. Perhaps she was hiding a fear that she didn't want anyone finding out about, but O'Neil didn't buy that one for a minute.

After they had collided in the hallway, there was a long eerie silence as the two stared at each other. It was as if they were waiting for the other to apologize or say something, yet neither one said a word. Finally Samantha Carter came down the same hall, not noticing the stand off between them, and said,

"Colonel. The debriefing starts in two minutes." And she waited for him to join him.

O'Neil simply nodded and walked on his way. Shauna never turned to watch him leave, but she couldn't help but ask herself, 'what the hell just happened?' She often wondered what it would be like to work on Colonel O'Neil's team, but the closest she came was the away mission to Ascidia. That just happened to be the day she decided to show off her new uniform. Since the General didn't seem to pay it any attention, Shauna has worn the same outfit to every away mission.

She knew about the rumors on the base, and as much as she tried to deny them, no one believed her. To be honest, she didn't know whether or not she was related to the General. She lost her parents over six months ago, and in their will explained that Shauna was adopted. Despite that, Shauna had been very happy growing up, and even when she learned there might be another family out there she didn't much care.

Her birth parents weren't the ones burping her or changing her diapers or singing her to sleep at night. They weren't there to help her with heartbreaks and stomach aches. She was curious about her real parents, but not enough to go searching for them. The only question she wanted to know was why they had abandoned her.

Shauna didn't want to question the General on this matter, because her father had worked beside Hammond just before he retired. They had a history that Shauna was never told about. The only way to convince him to talk to her was to get in trouble. That was the only way she'd be sure that they'd be alone to talk. So far her plan had failed. The General was letting her get away with everything.

Shauna feared and deeply respected both General Hammond and Colonel O'Neil, but she enjoyed Daniel Jackson's company the most. They both had interests in history, dead languages and myths. They didn't get together every day, but by chance they'd run into each other in the halls and four hours later they'd still be debating on whether the Gods or the G'ould came first.

Walking the halls in silence, Shauna was confronted with her team leader, Major Clyde Thompson. He informed her that SG9 would be leaving in less than an hour to P6692. Shawna walked beside him as he laid out the detailed mission plan and thirty-five minutes later SG9 walked through the Star Gate.

Meanwhile, SG1 and General Hammond were in the debriefing room trying to solve a puzzle. SG4 had brought back ruins of a temple on P2589, as well as a half a dozen articles of clothing and paper that had been shredded. One side of the articles would be black, but the other side showed evidence of a written document. Daniel theorized that it could be a treaty or a document that would explain what happened to the inhabitants of P2589, who had completely vanished from the planet.

O'Neil and Carter worked on the shredded clothing, and the General had almost completed the paper document. Meanwhile Daniel had broken out his research notepads and history books to translate what was written on a stone block once a part of a large building. He recognized the language, but the sequence didn't make sense. As they continued in silence, they were all a little jumpy when the phone rang.

General Hammond answered the phone, listened for a second and then replied simply, "Yes. Your mission is a 'go.' Report back in one hour, and good luck." Then he hung up the phone. Not one member of SG1 asked about the phone call because they knew it wasn't any of their business. If he wanted SG1 to know, the General would have told them.

From the debriefing room just seconds after the phone call they heard the Star Gate activate. It was dialing out. Seconds after the wave shot out from the gate they watched as SG9 stepped through. Then SG1 went right back to the task at hand.

Forty minutes later SG1 had finally completed the puzzle and Daniel was working quickly to translate them. He explained that the writing on the building that was demolished was merely signs of where to go. As Jack would put it: 'you are here.'

Daniel went on to the other documents and recognized one immediately, but didn't know just how to explain it to the group. He tried, "These symbols here are used only in ritual ceremonies or writings of poetry and music in ancient Croatian. Therefore-"

"We just spent the last hour putting together a poem." Jack O'Neil jumped in.

Daniel hesitated, but knew that Jack was right.

"Yes."

O'Neil showed a face of obvious dissatisfaction and went to make another snide comment but was interrupted by the sirens going off. The Star Gate had become active again. Jack looked down at his watch and commented, "He's early." Daniel looked back at the Colonel in confusion; "Major Thompson would show up early for his own retirement party."

Samantha Carter smiled from the comment, but did not let it be seen to the others. After the seventh chevron was encoded and locked, SG1 followed General Hammond to the control center. They waited for the uplink to connect so they could communicate with Major Thompson and his team.

The first thing they saw on the screen was a small field surrounded by a few large trees and a couple thick bushes. Then they saw one of the trees get hit by a powerful weapon, no doubt from a Jafa weapon. Everyone watching immediately had their heart rates pick up as they waited for conformation that SG9 was okay. Jack didn't want to wait. He was ready to close the gate down that second, re-dial the planet and charge through.

Over the microphone they heard cries from Major Thompson ordering Lt. Allen to stay down, but from what he was shouting they knew she was disobeying that order.

"There." Carter pointed out on the screen as a Jafa turned and fired to the direction from which he had come. Then they saw Shauna dodging the fire and charging the Jafa, knocking him to the ground like a football player. On the ground and out of view from the camera and the eyes of the SGC, the struggle continued.

Everyone watching knew the fates had turned for the worst when three other Jafa surrounded her from all sides. Two pointed their staffs to go in for the kill, but the third held his hand and then forced Shauna to stand by pulling at her thick head of hair. She cried in pain, and blood was noticeable on her neck and shirt.

Then an image blocked their view. It was another Jafa in full gear, shielding his face with the large medal mask that looked like a bird. The Jafa pointed the staff towards the camera and fired. The transmission went dead and shortly afterward the Star Gate closed.

O'Neil looked at General Hammond but didn't have to say a word. The General immediately ordered SG1 to suit up and then he assigned two other teams to go with them. Daniel was closest to the door and led the way out, followed closely by Carter, Teal'c and then Jack.

"Colonel." Hammond said just as Jack was about to leave the room.

"Yes sir?" He replied stopping just short of the doorway.

Hammond turned to the two remaining staff members and motioned for them to leave the room, which they immediately did.

"There's something I need to tell you before you go on this rescue mission."

"Is it about Lt. Allen sir?"

Hammond didn't respond, but Jack knew the answer was yes.

" "Do you remember a civilian by the name of Margaret Peterston." The General asked.

"Maggie Peterston. Yes sir. We dated in a little in college. She died when I was on assignment in Canada in '78."

"Do you know how she died?" the General asked.

"Yeah, she bled to death due to a serious injury."

"The injury, Colonel, was child birth. She died giving birth to your daughter."

Jack stood motionless and expressionless as if the words coming out of the General's mouth were a foreign language to him.

"Judy and Patrick Peterston, Margaret's parents, took the child in and raised her as their own. Six months ago they died when a drunk driver ran them off the road." He paused and half expected O'Neil to make a joke of this. "Peterston and I were stationed together before I transferred to the SGC. We were very close. After the accident a letter arrived addressed to me from the Attorneys of State. In it, Patrick explains that if anything should happen to him and his wife, that I take it upon myself to find Shauna's father."

Hammond reached into his pant's pocket and pulled out the letter. "Jonathan O'Neil. Parents Donald and Renee O'Neil. Use to live on Union Bay Drive, south-end of Sacramento."

Jack took the letter and skimmed it until he found his name. He stared at it unbelieving. Then he shook his head from side to side, hoping that some how this was all just a dream and he'd wake up soon. Maggie Peterston. His first love. It was laid out clearly in front of him yet he seemed dazed and confused.

Ten minutes later, SG1 and two other teams stood at the side of the Star Gate as the chevron's locked and the worm hole was opened. "Move out!" Colonel O'Neil ordered and one by one they entered the Star Gate.

Once they got to P6692 they noticed most of SG9 was where they had fallen. Lt. Oberman was dead and so was Lt. Wishlou. Major Thompson lay fifteen feet from the Star Gate, bleeding badly but still breathing. Sam came to his side and checked out his injuries.

"He's hurt pretty bad sir. If we don't get him to the infirmary soon he's not going to make it." She explained.

"Daniel. Dial home. You and Lt. Olsen take him back and report to the General that we've continued on to find Lt. Allen."

Daniel responded only with a nod and immediately starting dialing home. O'Neil split up the team into three groups and ordered them to return to the Star Gate in one hour. The leaders of each team quickly checked their watches and turned their walkie-talkies on. Then they went their own ways into the thick brush and wilderness.

It was Colonel O'Neil's team who spotted Shauna first. The enemy had apparently left her body tied to a tree as a warning to others. Her clothes were ripped and blood could be seen all over her body. She hung with her head down and eyes closed. The only way they knew she was still alive was when Samantha checked for a heartbeat. Jack felt like puking. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of sickness and guilt of not getting to her fast enough.

"She's alive." Sam reported animatedly.

Teal'c then noticed writing on the tree to the right of where Lt. Allen was hanging. It was similar to the writing they had spent all day translating. Either way Teal'c knew it was not the G'ould who did this to Shauna and SG9. When he reported that to Jack, they decided the best course of action would be to destroy the

Star Gate after they had gone through. These people must have left their home world to flee something. They obviously just wanted to be left alone.

Back at the Gate, Jack set up dynamite around the base of the dialing device and around the Gate itself. He then set the timer for six minutes. Sam dialed home, Teal'c carried Shauna, and they all returned to Earth knowing that they would never come across this race of aliens ever again.

While Teal'c and Carter explained the events of the mission to General Hammond, Jack stayed at Shauna's side while Dr. Frasier tended to her wounds.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"I think so." The doctor continued, "Although I think she might be a little upset."

"Why's that?" O'Neil asked curiously.

"Because her uniform is completely destroyed. She's going to have to start all over."

Jack smiled as he noticed the unique patterns sown onto the jacket and pants that now laid over her body in shreds and drenched in blood. He remembered how creative she had been with her clothing and her hair. He pondered the thought of what life will be like now that he's a dad. A daughter who was already grown and matured and was stubborn to a fault. A daughter who reminded Jack a lot of himself.

"Yes. But she's never turned down a challenge. And I don't think she's about to start."