Happy 4th of July!

Here's a little independence day gift. I'm loving the way this story is turning out.

Hope you enjoy!


"He did what?"

"He asked them for help," reported Kleiver.

"Damn it! Does he not listen to a word I say?"

Kleiver just shrugged. Before Damas could continue, he heard the lift rattle before it began to drop back down. That meant someone else was coming to see him. He silently hoped it was Jak but he knew that his son knew that Kleiver would report everything to him.

To his surprise, it was Sig but his wasn't alone; Haven's governess and commander where with him. Kleiver left on the lift once the other three were off.

Damas didn't even know they had arrived in Spargus. He stood as they approached the throne.

"I must admit, you caught me by surprise. What can I do for the Governess of Haven city?"

Ashelin smirked before offering Damas a small bow; Torn mirrored her greeting.

"As I'm sure you're aware. Two days ago something crashed in your Desert. It has cause fear and panic in Haven."

"The ship."

"The what?"

"Two days ago, Sig and Jak were out in the wasteland when a large meteor crashed. Upon further investigation they discovered it was in fact a crashed ship. All I can tell you is it's not Precursor."

"Another race? Samos believed there might be more advanced races out there besides the Precursors but to have one fall into your back yard," said Ashelin in aw.

"Was there anyone on board?" asked Torn, a little too bluntly in Ashelin's opinion.

Damas contemplated telling them about there recent guests before he decided he did want the governess opinion on the matter.

"Five survivors were found. All I know of them is one calls himself Bra'tac and another calls himself Colonel Jack O'Neill of Earth."

"Colonel sounds like a rank," said Torn, coming to the same conclusion Damas had.

"I would like to speak with this Colonel Jack O'Neill," requested Ashelin.

"I've already tried," said Damas before recanting everything that had happened that morning.

"Could he be right?"

"I don't know, but I am not willing to stake the lives of my people on it."

"Neither am I; but we both know Jak would never do anything that would put the people of Spargus or Haven in danger."

Damas nodded, she did speak true.

"I don't think they're just going to tell us, even if they do," pointed out Torn.

"They might trade it," suggested Sig, who had remained quiet.

"They are being held under guard in the Temple. I'll take you there myself."


Jak hadn't made it very far in explaining before Kleiver returned and said they were to follow him. Jak shook his head when the Colonel mouthed if he knew what this was about.

They were escorted back to the same room from before but this time there were two more present.

"Ashelin, Torn? What are you doing here?" asked Jak.

Damas waved off his son's question as motioned for him to have a seat. Jak shot him a questioning look but did as his father asked.

Five chairs sat on the other side of the table and each member of SG-1 was forced to sit in it. Sam sat at the end across from the red hair man. Her father sat next to her, followed by Jack, Bra'tac and then Daniel. Across the table another red haired women sat next to the man, then Damas, Jak, and the monk, Seem.

"So here we are again," said Jack casually.

Damas ignored the Colonel and introduced the two knew people, "This is Ashelin Praxis, Governess of Haven city and here commander, Torn."

Jack offered them both a brief nod before turning to Damas, "I guess it's my turn then. For those who don't know I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill, Unites States Air Force of Earth. On the end there is Major Samantha Carter, then Jacob Carter and over here we have Master Bra'tac and Doctor Daniel Jackson." Then he turned back to Damas and said darkly, "Good, now that that's all over, I'm still really pissed off so you'll have to excuse the bluntness but what the hell do you want?"

"Jack," hissed Daniel from the end of the table.

"I would prefer to throw you out in the desert so that the sand may kill you," replied Damas angrily, "but my son seems to think that you may prove to be valuable to us. The governess and her commander happen to share his opinion."

Jak looked at Ashelin, who smiled back and Torn. He didn't think that anyone was going to agree with him.

"He asked us for help but didn't get very far in explaining," said Daniel, taking up negotiations so that Jack couldn't anger the wasteland king anymore, "could you please elaborate?"

"The Metal Heads or the Hora-Quan is a race that waged a massive war with the Precursors. Eventually, they spread across the universe and destroyed most of the Precursor civilization. They came here over three hundred years ago. We have been at war with them since. Two years ago there leader was killed but they still ravage this planet," explained Seem.

"And the Precursors are?"

"Surly you know of the Precursors, they are the creatures of the universe."

"Sure they are," commented Jack dryly.

Seem glared at the human who insulted her creators.

"They're probably a highly advanced race," said Jacob quietly, "they could be on par with the Asgard or the Ancients."

"The only race I now of at the level are the Furlings," replied Daniel, just as quietly, "but I have know idea what happened to them."

"So, these Metal Heads or whatever they're called are the problem?" asked Jack.

"You make it sound like its simple, Colonel," growled Damas, "I assure you it's not. While they no longer have the organization they once did, they still cause mass destruction. We do not know of their true numbers but the main problem lies in how quickly they multiply."

"You could go in and clear out a whole nest, but if one egg survives then that nest will be infested again in less then a month," added Jak.

"And you've found nothing that works?" asked Daniel.

"We've been at war since my ancestor, Mar, ruled so tell me Doctor, do you think we've found anything that works?" demanded Damas angrily.

"This is all find and dandy but no body is going to help anybody unless we can find a way off this planet," said Jack, "Bra'tac seems to this you guys don't have a Stargate."

Damas looked from Ashelin and her commander to Seem and his son. Each gave a shake of there head to indicate they didn't know what they were talking about.

"I'm afraid we do not know of this Stargate you speak."

"I was afraid of that."

"Then you cannot help us," said Damas as he went to stand.

"W-wait…," stuttered Daniel, "If there is a Stargate on this planet then it could have been buried. There might be some record of it in your planets history."

"Seem is the foremost expert on our people's history," replied Damas, "even she does not know of that you seek."

"There are many scrolls and texts I have been unable to decipher; the answers you seek may lie there."

"Daniel?"

"I'll need to see them, but I might be able to find it."

"Very well," sighed Damas, "Your things will be returned to you and you will be taken to Spargus. Once there you will be given a place to stay until which time you may find a way home, but I warn you now; you threaten by people and I will throw you out into the desert myself."

"Fair enough," agreed Jack.

Damas nodded before turning to his son, "You wished these people to help and I have granted your request. You are responsible for them, may the Precursors guide you in your choice."

"Yes, sir"

Damas stood and he, followed by Ashelin and Torn, left the room. Seem motioned for Daniel to follow her while Jak took the others to get their thing. Once done, he led them through the underground tunnel to the city. They immerged on the coast. Passing Wastelander glanced at them but otherwise paid them no attention.

Jak led them to a building that sat next to the beach. The Barracks as they were called where most of the people who didn't have families lived. Each room had a small foot locker at the end of the bed, a dresser, table and chair. This particular building was smaller than most and only held seven rooms and was away from most of the other buildings.

"I figured this would give you some privacy. Not many people say this far away from the market or the garage."

"Thanks, kid," said Jack as his hands rested on the butt of his P.90.

It felt better to have there gun's and other gear back.

"I guess I'll leave you to get settled in, feel free to look around the city. If you need me, you can ask Sig or Kleiver."

"Alright Kid, and thanks I mean it. You didn't have to do any of this for us."

"I mean what I said earlier and for the last time, my name is not kid."

Daxter snickered from his shoulder; the ottsel was getting way to much enjoyment out of this. Jak shot him a look that promised revenge later but he old laughed harder.

"Whatever, Kid," said Jack before he followed his team into the building.


Seem watched with amusement as Daniel moved from shelf to shelf. Various notebooks were scattered across the table. While she could not read them she could see evidence of many different languages in them.

She had shown him several of the scrolls related to Mar to help him get a grasp for the language. It hadn't taken long before he was show such an understanding that had taken some of her monk's years to grasp.

"What do you do on your planet Doctor Jackson?"

"Me? Oh I'm an archeologist."

"I am unfamiliar with that term."

"Basically I study the culture of others through what they leave behind. I want to learn about people and who they were and how they lived thousands of years ago."

"We monks hold this same mission about the Precursors."

"These Precursors, tell me about them."

"The Precursors created the planet and Eco. They are an old and ancient race that vanished from this world long ago. We monks are dedicated in our service to them. We protect Precursor technology from the Metal Heads," explained Seem.

"Eco?"

"Eco is what gives this world life. Eco has various powers and can be used for many purposes. Eco is what powers our technology. In the centuries past there was vast amount off all the different types of eco across the world but now we have very little. Though I should warn you, stay away from Dark Eco, it is vile. It twists and mutates everything it touches."

Daniel nodded before grabbing a couple of more scrolls. He only had a basic understanding of the language. Seem had said that these scrolls where the ones that dates back the farthest, which wasn't very far. The earliest scroll he could find talked about the beginning of Mar's reign.

"uh…Seem? This section of the text, what does it say?"

Seem bent over the scroll and studied it for a moment.

"It speaks about an ancient room seal away by Mar. I cannot decipher anything more but I believe it is about Mar's ancient treasure room. This scroll over here briefly speaks of it. Mar supposedly built it in a place nobody can find."

Daniel looked at the other scroll before looking back to Seem, "I don't know about you but an ancient treasure room that nobody is supposes to be able to find is where I'd hide a Stargate."


As you can no doubt tell, Damas doesn't like Jack all that much. Making these two interact is going to be fun.

Please leave me a review, I want to know what you guys think.