Kashoku's brown eyes widened. "Sir, are you serious?"
General Hammond could not help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Yes, Colonel O'Neill seems to have had a change of heart." He readjusted himself back to a serious manner. "I can't guarantee anything except that I will discuss the issue with the Pentagon. I wasn't going to talk to you until I had a definite answer, but since you were already here I figured it was best I let you know."
"Oh, thank you, General!" Kashoku hadn't felt this happy in a while.
"I'll let you know as soon as I've received an answer." He stood to indicate the woman was free to leave.
Kashoku practically leapt out of her seat and gave a quick bow before leaving. The Spiran had to keep herself from running down the halls with joy. She just had to tell Daniel right away!
"Hey," she said, not bothering with a knock as she walked in.
"Hey yourself. You ran off in a hurry."
Kashoku took a seat and made herself comfortable next to Daniel. No use giving the frilly details. "Hammond is going to try and put me on the team."
Daniel's shock momentarily paralyzed him before he took Kashoku into a hug. "That's great!"
"I know. He's waiting for the Pentagon to reach their decision."
Daniel pushed her slightly back so he could look at her. "I don't want to sound negative, but you do know it may not happen knowing the Pentagon."
Kashoku gave a curt nod. "I know. General Hammond already told me not to get my hopes up, but it's a little hard not to." She gave a small laugh. "The possibility is enough, ne?"
Daniel smiled. "Yeah. What brought this up though?"
Kashoku opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, her brow furrowing. "I…don't really know. I was going to talk to General Hammond to try and convince him he needed me around, when O'Neill came out of the office. He told me that he and the General had been speaking to one another about me, and I thought surely that was the end of it. Turns out, Colonel O'Neill was giving General Hammond his recommendation."
Daniel was obviously perplexed. "Jack recommended you?"
Kashoku nodded. "It doesn't make sense, does it? Even though he's been nicer to me, I never thought he'd to this. I don't understand him."
Daniel sighed. "I've known the man for four years and I still don't understand him either. Best not to complain, though. He wouldn't do it without a reason."
"Hmm, well, maybe you can coax that reason out of him."
Daniel let out a snort. "Doubt it. It's best just not to ask."
"Let's go eat lunch," Kashoku said suddenly.
The archaeologist raised an eyebrow. "Anxious?"
"I think I will be until I know," She smiled. "Wouldn't you be?"
"Yeah, I would. I could use a break anyways. I hope they come up with a decision soon."
"How long do you think it'll take?"
"Oh, a week or so."
Kashoku gave a pout. "That's not funny."
"Unfortunately, it's probably true." Daniel put down his books and headed towards the door. "You coming or not?"
Kashoku smiled and quickly made her way to grab Daniel's proffered hand. "I'm so excited," Kashoku said, her thoughts clearly centered on the upcoming Pentagon decision. "Just think, soon I'll be out there too, helping save lives beyond my own world."
"Just don't get too ahead of yourself, okay?" Daniel warned softly. "I know you don't want to hear it, but there is a good chance they'll say no."
"But why would they? I can help protect you, and it's not like I can't look after myself." Kashoku shook her head. "Even Colonel O'Neill must have seen that in some way if he recommended me."
"Jack aside, you're the best thing that's happened to the base in a long while. They might not want to risk your life, especially not before the ink has even dried on the treaty papers."
"That's ridiculous. Your people can be very paranoid at times, Daniel. If they're worried that my death would land them with someone like Kage, anyone else on Spira would be more than happy to reassure them otherwise."
Daniel's first mission with SG-1 came only two days after the Earth-Spira treaty was finalized. The team set out early, prepared to stay twenty four hours on a small, sparsely populated planet SG-1 had visited during Daniel's down-time. A side note in O'Neill's previous mission report pegged it as having more cows than people. Daniel couldn't really say he was excited about that – his allergies would have a field day, he just knew it – but it would be interesting to encounter a rural people. Less chance of stumbling across Goa'uld there, he thought privately.
As the hours wore on and the villagers took him and Teal'c through an extensive tour of the farms – O'Neill and Carter opted to stay behind, citing having had the tour last time – he almost began to wish for some sign of attack. Not that he wanted to distrust the friendly race, or wanted to have to deal with a Goa'uld anytime soon, but there was only so long his enthusiasm could stand up to fields and fields of grain.
"This is our largest field right up here, Dr. Jackson. It supplies us with most of our trade. Last year our harvest was so bountiful trade was the best it has been in years. It looks to be a promising year for us once again, even better than the last. Are your people interested in trade?"
"Oh, yes. That's why we explore. To meet new races and, uh, trade," he finished lamely.
"Wonderful, wonderful," Daniel's guide exclaimed. "I have to say when I first heard your friends speak of coming through the ring I thought it a terrible omen. We have always steered clear of it, you see, for fear of its evils… But now I see we have assumed wrongly all these years. Not even half a fortnight since they first visited us and our crops are flourishing. A good sign for us all I believe."
Daniel smiled and agreed, eyes wandering over to Teal'c. The Jaffa was bearing the tour with a familiar resigned detachment, gazing out across the fields towards the far off mountains. Daniel felt a sudden stab of sympathy. His teammate obviously had no interest in the farming methods on this planet; not that Daniel did, but at least it wasn't his second time going through it. He probably should have insisted on going alone, but given his track record of finding himself in tight spots he hadn't thought to argue when Jack gave the order for Teal'c to tag along.
As the village head's son led them along the main field, Daniel's mind wandered further. What would it be like with Kashoku joining them on missions? He was used to the team keeping an extra eye on him, but would it be odd for Kashoku to do the same since they were dating? When the team had to split up, would Kashoku be staying with him or going with someone else? He wondered how that would work. He wasn't the only one with a talent for getting injured on missions; how would they decide the best way to utilize Kashoku's shielding and healing abilities?
And why on Earth had O'Neill suddenly decide the team needed Kashoku on it when he nearly bit Daniel's head off just for suggesting it not all that long ago? Jack O'Neill was not the sort of man to suddenly change his mind and opinion about someone – not for the better, at least.
"You asked to see me, General?" Kashoku asked nervously. Her heart was pounding furiously.
"The Pentagon was much more receptive to the idea than I ever thought," Hammond said with folded hands and a hidden smile.
Kashoku finally breathed. "They said yes?"
"You will have to pass a psyche evaluation first." O'Neill didn't miss the look of confusion. "A psychiatric evaluation. It is to make sure that you are mentally stable and can handle the toll this job will take on you."
Kashoku gave an amused smile, "So you are telling me it is the kind of test Kage would fail with flying colors."
Hammond smiled, "You'll be just fine Kashoku. Just be yourself."
Kashoku returned the smile. "Sir, when is SG-1 scheduled to return?"
"Not until tomorrow morning, I'm afraid," He replied sympathetically. He should have foreseen the fact the Spiran would want to run off to his flagship team's archaeologist.
"Oh," She replied only mildly disappointed. How could she let that ruin the fact they were going to give her a chance? "Well, when do I have this evaluation?"
"Dr. Hanson is already here and waiting to begin. Airman Rogers will take you to him. The Pentagon takes forever on things that don't suite them but get right on it if it does."
"You could say the same for a lot of people, too, sir," Kashoku thought that description fit Kage just as well.
"Well, congratulations, Kashoku, and good luck."
The room Kashoku was brought to was extremely small with only a table and two chairs. It was obvious the setting was meant to intimidate. The interesting thing was that Kashoku didn't feel nervous at all. If General Hammond thought she would be just fine then she believed it. There was nothing to hide.
"Ah, Ms. Yoshiko, I am Dr. Hanson," An older man held out a hand. He was dressed in a pressed suit with grey hair and a short beard.
Kashoku took the hand and smiled, "It's nice to meet you."
"Please, sit. Are you familiar with what we are going to do today?" He opened a manila folder and folded his hands in his lap.
Kashoku shook her head, "No. We don't have anything like this on Spira. Not that I'm aware of, anyway."
"I will be asking you various types of questions in order to evaluate your mental state. Just answer honestly. Can you do that for me?"
"Of course."
Dr. Hanson grabbed a series of sheets from the folder. "The first test involves what are called ink blots. I'm going to show you a picture and I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind. Are you ready?"
Kashoku gave him a nod and he held up the first picture. She made no hesitation in speaking, "Chou akino."
The psychiatrist blinked. "I'm sorry?"
That made Kashoku nervous. Where had that come from? It was surely a butterfly she had seen, but word alone was did not what had instantly come to mind. "Sorry," she apologized trying to pull it together. "I think in New Spiran – Japanese - in my head and forgot to translate. A butterfly."
"Ah, that is perfectly alright and understandable given it is your first language. A butterfly." He began to write something down on the white piece of paper. "What about this one?"
Kashoku squinted slightly. "Darkness." The look she received from the doctor had her thinking maybe there was a right or wrong answer to these questions.
"Interesting. He began scribbling on the paper again and that had Kashoku nervously wondering just what it was he was writing. "Ok, this one."
"Flying swans."
More writing. She bit her lower lip nervously. The next inkblot was held up. "A broken heart."
More and more scribbles. "Next."
"A sword piercing through a flower."
"We are half way there. Continue as you have been doing and remember just tell me the very first thing that comes to mind."
She was doing this all wrong. She could feel it. She took a deep breathe as they moved to the next one. "Death." The doctor stopped making comments and kept scribbling more and more. "Memory." By her count only two more to go. "Rebirth."
"Last one, Ms. Yoshiko."
"Peace." Kashoku didn't bother to go into an explanation.
Dr. Hanson took the inkblots and spread them out on the table. "We are going to go back through these together one by one. I want you to tell me how you saw what you saw and why. The first one was simple. You said a butterfly."
"It's here," Kashoku drew with her finger where she saw it. "This one was the simplest. It just…looked like a butterfly."
Dr. Hanson nodded, "I can understand that one just fine. It was the next one that we started to lose one another. You said you saw darkness. How do you see that in this picture?"
Kashoku sucked in a nervous breath. "Maybe it's just the color of the ink, but you can sort of see a figure here and then just clouds around her. It made me think of someone being overtaken by darkness."
The psychiatrist leaned back in his chair. "Ms. Yoshiko, what does this piece really make you think of?"
"Myself," Kashoku swallowed hard.
"Do you think you are the figure being shrouded in darkness?"
"My name translated into your language is Bright Light," Kashoku explained. "My dearest friend's name translates into Shadow."
"So the darkness is your friend. If she is your friend, why are you shrouded in her? That seems such a negative connotation as if she were trying to take over you."
"No," Kashoku shook her head. "Protection. Kage tends to be overprotective."
"Ok. The next one you said you saw flying swans. Do you think they are flying to or away from something?"
"Maybe," She cocked her head in thought. "To something. To the unknown."
Dr. Hanson shuffled to the next inkblot. "You said this one was a broken heart. Do you feel you have a broken heart?"
"Maybe not so much broken, but one that is being pulled in two different directions; Between my home and the SGC."
"But you wanted to be put on a team."
Kashoku nodded in agreement. "Yes, but that doesn't mean I haven't left things behind I still care about."
"What about the sword and the flower?"
"I'm…not sure, to be honest," Kashoku frowned. "It was the first thing to come to mind like a symbol I had seen somewhere before but can't remember where."
"Subliminal messaging has a way of doing that to you. This one you said you saw death."
"It looks like crows surrounding someone," she explained, feeling herself grow hot in sickness that this was going so terribly.
Dr. Hanson gave a nod of understanding, "Yes, crows are often a symbol of death in our culture as well." He moved on to the next one. "Memory. What does this symbol bring back in your memory?"
Kashoku did not have much of a response for this one either. "Do you ever feel as if maybe there is a part of your life you don't remember? It's just a fleeting thought, but for a split second you wonder if everything around you is really…real."
"I think that's quite a common feeling for people, Ms. Yoshiko. Do you feel this way often?"
Kashoku shook her head. "No. Like I said, it's just for a split second. I'll maybe have a thought that I don't know where it came from, but I know I've thought it before."
"Déjà vu perhaps?"
"Sort of, but not really." The ex-singer let out a huge sigh.
"Relax, Ms. Yoshiko. This one you stated was rebirth."
"It looks like a tree. The tree is the symbol of the cycle of life and death, at least to me."
"Of course. Now, the last one you gave me just one word just like you began with. You say you saw peace…how can you see peace?"
"There is a black and orange figure opposing one another. They are fighting. The red figures are holding out blue flags of peace trying to stop the fighting."
"Does this go back to your friendship with Kage?"
"Yes," Kashoku said simply.
Dr. Hanson gathered all the papers and placed them back into the folder. A click of his pen and he sighed, "This was surely something I've never experience before in my entire career, Ms. Yoshiko. We are done for today's session. I will see you the same time tomorrow?"
Kashoku gave a sad smile and nodded. "Of course. Thank you." As soon as she was out of the room she headed straight for the elevator. The overwhelming urge to cry came over her and she jammed the button for the floor her room was on. Once the elevator doors finally slid open she walked hurriedly down the halls. She was sure someone had greeted her, but she just continued on.
Upon reaching the room she slammed the door shut behind her and collapsed onto the bed letting the tears flow. How she had failed. The pillow let off a soft scent that was Daniel's cologne. It brought home the failure twice as hard. "I was so close…"
With a heavy sigh O'Neill dropped his vest down in a pile on the floor and fell back onto the 'bed' of the room. It was another wasted mission in his mind. They were a primitive race that only had food – bad food at that – to trade. Groaning, he ran a hand across his face. A knock came on the door. With a sharp tongue of frustration he shouted, "What?"
"Uh, it's me….can I come in?"
Daniel. O'Neill sighed again, this time in annoyance, and prepared himself mentally for a conversation with the archaeologist. "Sure…"
The old wooden door opened just enough to let his body through before closing it behind him. "Hey."
O'Neill squinted questioningly. "Hi."
Daniel gave the room a quick dressing down in nervousness as he placed his hands in his pockets. "I never got a chance to thank you."
"For what?" O'Neill asked as he closed his eyes against the burnt orange pillow. It felt really nice. Like he could go to sleep right now to avoid whatever conversation was coming out.
"For giving Kashoku a chance."
O'Neill gave a roll of his eyes at the love-sick puppy across the way from him. "It wasn't for you, Daniel. I think that she could be useful to the SGC as a whole."
Daniel's nostrils flared in frustration. "I thought it was odd that Kashoku said you were being nicer to her recently. You still don't trust her, do you?"
"Hey!" He pointed an accusing finger, "I did not say that!"
"Then why did you recommend her for SG-1?"
"I didn't!" O'Neill growled as he snapped up right. "Do you honestly think, Daniel, that I would let her be on SG-1? Are you out of your mind? For cryin' out loud! I said ateam. A. As in some team that isn't our team! You are already on the chopping block for letting her pretty face distract you, and you want her to be on our team? What the hell has gotten in to you? It's not her I don't trust right now, it's you!"
"What's gotten in to me is that these people are offering up technology that we only dreamt of before meeting them and you treated them like they had already done something wrong until Kashoku saved your life! The only Spiran that has been something other than completely generous and kind to us was Kage. One person. One person that acted just. like. you. Which is funny because you detested Kage for the way she treated us. Like we'd already done something wrong to them. Sounds a little familiar doesn't it? You two would be perfect for one another." Daniel shoved his glasses back up onto his noise and turned away. Opening his mouth he turned half way back around to say something but decided he was done.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," General Hammond called as he finished signing off another batch of reports. "Dr. Hanson. How did the first session go?"
The doctor took off his glasses and took a seat. "George, I've been doing psyche evaluations for this facility for as long as I can remember. Heck, I've been doing them for the past 45 years, and I have never come across someone like her. I could not even score her answers."
There was an evident look of concern on Hammond's face. "How do you mean?"
"You remember taking the ink blot test. You saw the picture and popped out a word or two of what you saw; cat, bird, mouse. Not her. Ms. Yoshiko didn't see a simple object. She saw a story. Every picture was a book to her! More often the word was an emotion. I have witnessed patients giving creative responses before, but never on such a level. What was so interesting is that she wasn't sure why she saw what she saw, but she was totally sure about every decision she made. And to think she didn't even need time to formulate these thoughts. They were really the first things that came to mind."
"So what does this mean?"
"To be totally honest, if it weren't for the fact that I have to continue on with the sessions by law I'd tell you to take her right now. George." He shifted his chair closer to the desk. "Although, I don't personally believe she should be here, doing this. Artists think that way: poets, authors, painters. She should be writing books not gallivanting around the galaxy."
Hammond smiled, "Then why are you already recommending her to do just that?"
"Because if there is one thing I know about what goes on here, it is that you and your people care about one another with everything you have. You say that you never leave a man behind, and if there is one thing Ms. Yoshiko values most it is friendship. She would do anything for the ones she loves."
"You can tell me that just by answers from inkblots?"
"I told you she gave me stories, George."
Hammond sighed, but it was a content sigh. "Paul, I have to say that I'm relieved to hear you say all of that. Even I thought no one could be as giving as Kashoku, but from what you say she is the real thing. After all the bad luck we've had through the years it is a relief to know someone is on our side. Even the Tok'Ra come with a price."
Dr. Hanson smiled, "Anything to help get you all back in good light with our government. I must say, she isn't without faults, but it's nothing I can't fail her on by any means."
"How so?"
"She's confused, but not in an ill manner. From what I can tell she is uncertain of where she is in life right now and is on a journey to figure out just what she is meant to do and who she is. I tell you it sure makes my job a lot easier if I can read someone so well over a few blobs of ink. I wish everyone gave their life stories so readily. It will be interesting the results of her test tomorrow. I don't think it will be a problem, however. Ms. Yoshiko's worst enemy is herself right now. She already thinks she's failed."
"Did she say something?"
"Just the way she responded. Everyone is nervous when they see a psychiatrist writing things down, and I must say my response to her answers probably did not help. She thinks she answered incorrectly, but the truth is I was just so stunned at someone so innovative. It was not what I was expecting by any means from the reports I was given. Well, I need to start typing up these reports to send along. The Pentagon never likes to wait. I will keep you updated, George."
"Thank you, Paul. I mean it."
"I know," Dr. Hanson smiled before leaving the office.
Kashoku avoided everyone for the rest of the day. She clung to the thought that Daniel would be back the next morning and knew that if SG-1 didn't return before her next test she would surely fail due to nerves alone. Thankfully, two hours before her test, she heard the sirens go off indicating an incoming wormhole. The Spiran wanted so badly to meet him at the embarkation room, but she knew there were briefings to be done. No, Daniel would come to her when he was done.
It was an hour later before there was a soft knock on the door and Daniel entered the room. Kashoku wasted no time bombarding him with questions about the mission.
"It was nothing special," Daniel responded, pulling up a chair.
"Sometimes that's a good thing," Kashoku smiled, glad that everyone on the team had returned unharmed.
"Yeah," Daniel returned the smile but the conversation with Colonel O'Neill seemed to haunt his mind. "Look, Kashoku, about you being on the team-,"
"Oh! Right! Dr. Hanson came yesterday. I have another test in an hour. It's some kind of questionnaire test. I don't know," Kashoku shrugged.
Daniel lifted an eyebrow. "He's already started the psyche evaluation? You've done the ink blots already? They sure wasted no time."
Kashoku gave an uncertain nod. "Yes, but I don't think it went very well."
"What do you mean?"
Kashoku leaned back on the bed and gave a sigh. "Mm, I don't think I answered right."
Daniel gave her an amused smile, "Kashoku, there's no right or wrong answer."
Kashoku's brown eyes narrowed in all seriousness. "That's what they want you to think!"
Daniel laughed ."I'm sure you did just fine. There really isn't a right or wrong answer, Kashoku. Psychologists just have this way of making you nervous about everything. I felt the same way as you did. Just be yourself and answer everything honestly. That's all you can do." Daniel sat back in his chair and sighed. He needed to tell her.
"Are you ok? Did something happen on the mission? You seem a little down," Kashoku frowned.
"Jack and I got in another fight," Daniel sighed, pushing his glasses back up onto his nose.
Kashoku nodded, "And it was about me, right? What did he say now?"
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck trying to figure out how he was going to tell her. "It's…" There was a heavy sigh.
"Daniel," Kashoku said as she placed her hands on his thigh, "What did I say about being honest? I think I've learned by now to take everything Colonel O'Neill says with a grain of salt." The Spiran gave a reassuring smile.
Daniel furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes before he blurted it all out, "When Jack recommended you for a team he meant just that 'ateam'. You aren't going to be put on SG-1." He waited for the disappointment on her face.
It didn't really come. Instead she gave a smile and a slight shrug, "That's okay. Secretly, I think I knew it was too good to be true."
"You're not upset?"
"Of course I am, but being on a team is better than being on no team at all, ne? I'll still be able to stay on Earth. I'm still happy, Daniel."
Daniel looked at her puzzled before he smiled. "You know, some days I think I know you perfectly and then others I don't feel like I know you at all."
Kashoku laughed, "Daniel we have only known each other for such a brief time. I don't expect you to fully understand me yet. Well," she stood, "I should probably go ahead and get going for the test."
"Do you want me to take you?" Daniel offered as he too stood.
Kashoku shook her head, "No, I'll be fine."
"Yes, you will be. This part of the test is extremely long though, so just hang in there. You'll want to pull your hair off by the end of it, I promise. Come find me in my lab when you're done."
Kashoku nodded, "I will. Ja." She opened the door to the room and began down the hall to the elevator. Somehow, even with the somewhat upsetting news, she felt so much better about everything.
"Ah, good morning Ms. Yoshiko!" Dr. Hanson greeted her as she entered the small room once more.
"Good morning!" She smiled brightly as she shook his hand and then sat down.
"Day two today. As I stated, this portion is a written test that is about 200 questions long. I have been informed that your written language is different than ours, so I'm going to read you the questions. You will not have to tell me your answer, just write it down on this sheet. It is very important to answer everything honestly so you have as long as you need. Remember, Kashoku, the only wrong answer is when you are dishonest." He pulled out the answer sheet and placed it in front of her with a pencil.
"I understand, Doctor." This time, she did, and the confidence was just pouring out of her.
"Very well then," he smiled. "First question. Do you have an intense fear of meeting new people or being in situations where you don't know people well?"
As promised, Kashoku went to Daniel's lab when she was finished with the test. He wasted no time in asking, "How was it?"
Kashoku sighed as she took a seat. "Long. You weren't kidding, but I think it went just fine."
"I'm sure it did. Sam and Janet invited us to lunch when you were done. You think you're up to some food?"
"Absolutely, I'm starving! I hope they have that blue stuff….what do you call it, again?"
"Ah, that would be the Jell-O. Artificial deliciousness."
Kashoku laughed. "I find it quite interesting that your people are able to create 'fake' food."
"It's not as interesting as you think. If you knew what went in it you wouldn't want to eat it."
"We-ll, I guess you'll just have to not tell me, then."
Daniel smiled and followed her out the door into the hallway, making their way towards the mess hall. They grabbed their trays and piled on the food before making their way towards the table that held Carter, Janet, and surprisingly Teal'c.
"Hey guys," Daniel smiled as he took a seat.
"Hey!" The girls responded back in unison, Teal'c simply giving an incline of his head.
"Haven't seen you in a while," Carter smiled.
"Ah, yeah. Been busy with Dr. Hanson," Kashoku responded as she grabbed hold of her fork to dig into her salad.
"How's that going?" Janet asked.
"Good," Kashoku smiled. "I just have the, um…,"
"Polygraph," Daniel chimed in helpfully.
"Right!" Kashoku nodded with a slight flick of her utensil. "That. I'm just ready for it to finally be over."
Janet gave her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry. Every one of us sitting here had to go through the same exact thing you did. It'll be over soon, and you'll be out exploring the galaxy like the rest of these crazy people in no time."
"Will they let me leave the SGC to explore your world once they clear me?" Kashoku asked before she took another bite.
"I don't see why not. Part of the treaty is teaching you more about our culture. If they clear you to join a team, they should clear you to leave as long as you are with one of us," Daniel said with a smile.
"I don't think I could survive on your world without one of you! I know nothing other than what you've told me. I found out rather quickly I cannot read your language," she said with a disappointed sigh.
"Right, sorry. I can help you learn the English system fairly easily. Japanese characters is another story."
"Hmm, not like I have anything better to do at the moment! I will teach you our writing system and Al Bhed, if you wish," the Spiran offered in return for his services.
"Like Daniel could ever turn down the chance to learn a new language," Carter grinned in amusement.
"I noticed in the books that your cities have very many buildings. Is it like that everywhere?" She asked curiously.
Teal'c took a small break from his large pile of food to provide her with an answer, "Earth is very different from our worlds. Both Chulak and Spira have smaller cities and people. Although Spira is much more advanced than Chulak, the population was not much larger. Earth has approximately 6 billion people living on the surface."
The petite woman's eyes grew wide. "That many!? How big is your planet?!
"Ooph," Carter winced slightly as she buttered a piece of bread with her knife, "not big enough. Too many people and not enough land to put them on."
Kashoku slid her now empty salad plate to the side to make room for the bowl of Jello-O and gazed into its jiggling blue depths. "I have a feeling that my first trip off is going to be something to remember."
The Airman let Kashoku into the same room she had met Dr. Hanson in for the previous tests for what she hoped was the last time. He was already waiting at the desk with a machine set up on the left side. With a confident breath she took a seat. "Good Morning, Dr. Hanson."
The older man peered up through his glasses from his hunched position and smiled. "Ah, Ms. Yoshiko. Pleasure to see you again. This is our final test. Do you know anything about it?"
A nod. "Yes. Some of the others here at the SGC have explained it to me."
With aging hands he shifted the glasses back up onto his nose and began sorting through some wires. "Good. I'm going to go ahead and hook you up to the machine." Once he was finished he sat up straight in his chair and took hold of his pen before returning to his hunched position by the polygraph. "Right then. We'll start off with something easy. Is your name Kashoku?"
"Yes."
"Very good. Now, do you harbor any feelings towards Dr. Jackson other than a friendship?"
Before Kashoku could even realize what she was doing she blurted out, "No!" A gasp escaped her lips and she slapped a hand to her mouth. She had just lied!
Dr. Hanson laughed. "Don't worry; I wanted you to lie, Ms. Yoshiko."
Kashoku's cheeks were burning red in embarrassment. "I don't understand…"
"It's so I can accurately see what my results will look like when you tell the truth and when you lie. Really, what personal business you have with Dr. Jackson is not any of my concern. I'm happy to let George handle that one, although I would advise against it. Let's begin, shall we?"
With a heavy sigh of relief Kashoku attempted to regain her composure. She hardly found it amusing. "Yes."
"Alright. So you were a singer back on Spira?"
Kashoku nodded, "That's right. I wasn't always. I started off as a sphere hunter with Kage, but decided I wanted to do something else for a change."
"And what made you decide to sing? Seems like quite a drastic change in occupation."
"Hmm," the girl pondered, "Well, I suppose you can say that with Kage, it was hard to express myself. That and…I really wanted to do something for the people. Although there are many sphere hunters that search for spheres involving Spira's history, Kage wasn't in to that. She was in it more for personal gain and I just kind of followed suit. Singing allowed me to bring joy to the people of Spira while at the same time letting them know what I was feeling inside."
"So if you were happy being a singer, why the persistence to join as a member of the SGC? What is the real reason for you coming here?"
Ah, this question again. "I don't expect everyone to understand my reasons for coming. Most people would say it was for Daniel. It was…sort of, but not really. I don't feel that I could sacrifice everything I had for a simple tug of a string that was acting on my heart. The opportunity to explore different worlds and learn about other cultures excites me. I'm curious. And if my abilities as a mage can help save your lives while you explore to help save the lives of others from the Goa'uld, then I am happy to do it." Out of the corner of her eye she could see him making markings on the paper, but she kept her eyes forward and did her best to ignore it. With a slight drumming of her fingers on her thighs she reminded herself this was the last time she would have to do this.
There was a soft knock on the door causing Carter to finally look up from her laptop screen. It was Kashoku. "Hey, done already?"
Kashoku nodded as she stepped through the doorway and entered the lab. "They really know how to drill you, huh?!"
Carter smiled, "It's fun for them to see you struggle. Can I help you with something?"
Kashoku shook her head and took a seat across from the scientist. "No, not anything in particular. Daniel is busy trying to translate something and I don't want to bother him. Oh!" Kashoku exclaimed, biting her lower lip as she cursed herself mentally. "That sounds so stupid of me! I don't want to interrupt your work either! I'll leave-,"
Carter laughed as Kashoku made to get up and grabbed hold of her wrist. "Sit down! You aren't bothering me, I promise! I could use some company!"
Unsure of herself Kashoku sat back down slowly and nervously. "Are you sure? I really don't want to get you in any trouble."
Carter gave a reassuring nod, "Really, I could use the break. I've been working non-stop on a report all day."
"Really Major Carter I-,"
"Please, just call me Sam. No need for the formalities with friends."
Kashoku blinked in uncertainty and confusion. "You…consider me your friend, Major-ah, Sam?"
Sam leaned forward on her arms closer to the desk and looked the singer straight in the eyes. "I don't know what everyone else has been saying to you or how they act, but you've proven yourself to me, Kashoku. Saving Colonel O'Neill-," With a remorseful look she turned away and swallowed hard.
Kashoku's heart sank at the emotion pouring from the scientist. It was a side she had not seen of her. "You care for him deeply."
With a grim smile she nodded. "I'm just really glad you were there to save him. I know we hardly know each other at this point, but I know enough to know that I at least want to get to know you. Colonel O'Neill," she laughed and pinched at the bridge of her nose to regain herself, "he can just be extremely hardheaded."
"Unnn, so everyone says!" Kashoku said with a playful hint to cheer the scientist up. "Demo, I succeeded in befriending Kage in the end. Colonel O'Neill is not so different from her, I think. I just have to think of it as a challenge!"
"Oh, you've got a challenge ahead of you alright!" Sam finally gave a genuine smile. With a heavy sigh of relief a thought hit her. "Hey, you said that you haven't learned much about our culture because you can't read yet, right?"
Kashoku nodded, "Yes. I was able to see the picture, but that's all!"
Sam turned her attention back to the laptop and after typing a few things and browsing through some pages she turned it so the screen was facing Kashoku. "How about I show you the most important thing?"
Kashoku leaned forward to look at the screen. "What's that?"
The blonde scientist grinned, "Online shopping."
