Stargate Hastings

Chapter Nineteen: It is time to leave

The men the elders had sent to be trained, had learned all they would need to begin training more rebels. They had taught them about different methods of communication, between the five separate resistance cells. From message drops to coded conversations, that would seem like any other normal conversation, when overheard by others. They had taught them how to work as a team, in order to draw the enemy into a battlefield of their choosing or an ambush, depending on the situation.

They had kept the combat drills simple. They had set up replicas of different areas of the city, using sheets draped over a frame made from the hardened roots, that could be found around the caves. They did not look the same as the locations but they had sufficed for the purpose, they were needed for. The men had become very proficient, they still needed more time but practice would be all they needed from now on.

Each of the five, would now slowly bring in, only those that could absolutely be trusted. They had also taught them methods of testing peoples loyalty but they already had their own methods for that purpose, many similar to those they were being taught. Nebu would be the leader of the rebels and would concentrate on training the troops but all would report to him and none could act without his say so. His elder brother Hassif, would be his second in command and all of Nebu's orders, would pass through him.

With the five men bringing them enough Naquadah now and with the importance of getting Larry the Gatekeeper back to earth, the time scheduled for their departure had been moved up. It was their hope that they could get back to the Stargate and return home, without incident. The fledgling rebels would then continue stock piling the mineral and would send shipments through, when they were able to safely do so.

The original plan was to stay longer but that did not take into account Larry. All they would need was locked inside the magical device and although Larry would freely give them knowledge about the Gau'auld. He would always refuse, if that knowledge involved any kind of technological advancement. He had even refused to reveal any other worlds, that they may be able to find more Naquadah on. He told them that having a large supply of the substance, would increase greatly their technological advancement and that until he was certain that his knowledge, would not be abused. He could only tell them, about their enemies military strength.

The more he had told them, the more they had come to believe, that he was trying to scare them off and convince them to go home and bury their Stargate. He had been helpful though and especially enjoyed interacting with the Abydonians. They had been scared of him at first but they had soon warmed to him.

Nebu's brothers had thought him slow witted but all now saw the true man and not the mask he showed the world around him. When Jim would ask him to learn something while at home, he would always be fully prepared for when they tested him. That, more than the respect his size afforded him with the others, was the reason he had been given command of the rebel army. Everything the man did, he did with a single minded focus. Whether that be learning a new language or constantly going through drills to perfect a new move, one of them had taught him. If he put his mind to it, he would accomplish any goal.

Robert Parker had become so close to the man, that he even broached the idea of taking Nebu with them, Jim had flat out refused him. With Nasseef already leaving with them, another leaving from the same family would draw too much attention, to Hassif and his sons. The last person Jim would ever take for the sentimental type, was Robert Parker but although he had accepted his decision. Jim could tell that the old man had grown close to Nebu, even suspected that he saw him as the son he had never had. Nebu had a wife and child, so even if he had agreed, he would probably have refused the offer.

They were leaving in less than forty eight earth hours. So the Abydonians who were aware of their presence, had arranged for almost a full Abydonian day of celebrations. For the next twenty seven hours or so, they would come and go as their work in the mines allowed it. The entrance to the cave system was well out of view and the sonic properties of the caves, would give them warning of anybody approaching. So Jim did not protest and even if he had, it would have made no difference. The people were coming to pay their respects, to those whom their Hope's of freedom rested upon.

Most of all to his son, who everyone was paying special attention to. Jim was curious, so asked Nebu. "Why are they paying Don so much attention?". He had guessed, that it was because he was the first of them to come to this world. He had guessed wrong.

"When our people are free, they will need a leader. We have chosen your son, the others will have to agree but I am certain they will". Nebu said to him.

"Others?". He asked.

"Yes those who are not free yet, those who no nothing of our cause. They will also have the choice but I am certain they will agree".

"What about you, I believe you would make a good leader?". Jim said and genuinely meant it.

"Donul tell us that you have a Queen, who is the leader of your people, a female. What would a Male be called?". Nebu asked.

"He would be called a King". Jim replied.

"What would a slave know about being a King. No your son is the only one of our people, who is not a slave. He will be our King". He stated it as a fact and he was sure nobody would argue with him.

Jim decided that was probably why Nebu did not want the position himself, nobody would argue with him. This way he could keep an eye on the King and make sure he stayed honest. "Does he know?".

"Yes he knows but he just laugh and say, that if he survives that long, he will take job". Nebu smiled then said, "He will survive and he will make good King. You should be very proud Jeem". As with Donald's name, the Abydonians had trouble pronouncing his name. As it had with Donald, it had also grown on Jim.

"I think your people made a wise decision Nebu. I believe he cares deeply for your people and even if it does kill him, he will not stop until you are all free. None of us will!". It was really not his place to say but if the goals of all this, turned out not to be the liberation of these people. The first time he suspected they were not, him and his son would return and die with these people. Because they had started something that could not be stopped now and both of their sense of honour, would demand that they returned.

He suspected Robert Parker, would simply kill his nephew and retake command, if that was to happen. He was not sure if that was how it worked but he would probably kill the imposter pretending to be his friend himself, if it wasn't. His friend had been manipulative but had not actually lied to him, as far as he knew. If he was lying about their reason for going through the Stargate, then it would be all the confirmation he needed. That his friend had died that night and a new man was born and it was all his fault.

It was him who had decided where they were going to set camp that night and it was him who the bullet was meant for. If his friend had not taken the shot, they would have both probably been dead. They had both played dead for a moment and when the two men let their guard down. Jim had rolled Richard off of him and shot the man closest to him in one swift movement. Then with the other mans attention on him, Richard had shot the other man just before he could pull the trigger and end Jim's life.

The other men who had been with them had been lucky, in that the man who had shot at him. Had gone against orders and fired early. It had given them a chance to respond and they were highly trained soldiers, not the undisciplined natives that they had faced that night. It had all been over in less than half a minute, less than that even. Time did not exactly slow down during combat but because the mind had to be alert. You would notice more in a matter of seconds, than you usually would in minutes and your perception of how much time had passed, could become blurred. Making a few seconds, feel like minutes had gone by.

No they would keep the promise they had made to these people, even if they did not rebel against Ra, they could still find them a new home and they would also celebrate with them. Because after the festivities were over, they would have less than a day to prepare for their departure.

Donald had finally been able to escape his many admirers or subjects as they now believed themselves to be. They were not hero worshipping him or anything superficial like that, they had genuinely made him their King. He was not their monarch yet, he had to free them first and although he had just laughed it off when they had told him of their decision. It had dawned on him that they were not joking and that if he did live long enough to see these people freed, he would indeed become their King and Meera his Queen.

He had sat beside Robert Parker and could see that Jim was conversing with Nebu. Rachael was eyeing his father while talking to Tom and Nasseef but he had decided not to say anything to her. They would be leaving tomorrow and he was no longer in command of the mission, so what could it hurt. He turned to Robert and asked, "Are you looking forward to getting back home Robert?". He was just trying to make small talk. Unless he was giving orders, Robert would rarely talk socially.

"I am tempted to stay but I can help these people far more if I leave. So the answer to your question is yes, I am looking forward to getting home. Because the sooner we get there, the closer we will be to freeing these amazing people". He was looking over at Nebu as he spoke the words of admiration.

"My brother would be remarkable on any world, you should not judge them all by him". He indicated that he was talking about Nebu.

"Yes I know but these people kept a secret alive, even after it had long seemed like they had been forgotten and yes he is definitely remarkable. I have taught that boy in three months, what it would take years to, for most other men and he was completely illiterate when I first met him". The look on his face was full of pride and a little bit of awe.

"You are going to miss him aren't ya?".

Robert turned to him and replied, "No I am not, I am going to wring out of that thing, a way to defeat these would be gods or I swear I will give him to Bishop and he will turn the stubborn bastard into tiny little pieces". Just then Larry appeared.

"I heard that and for your information, I do have ways to protect myself but what is a Bishop?". Larry asked. He would still just revert back to the same image, with a neutral expression on his face. Almost like he was frozen in time, every time he would finish speaking.

"Bishop is a crazy scientist, well at least he looks like he is crazy but I am sure he would find a way, crazy or otherwise". He replied teasingly.

As Robert teased Larry, Donald noticed Rachael leave the cave and Jim follow behind her, shortly after. She must have got his attention. Donald thought to himself, that it wasn't his problem anymore. He did however say to Robert, "That's not my problem anymore, it's up to you if you want to do anything about it?".

"I am tempted to thank a God, that I have not believed in since I lost her mother but no, I think I will do nothing". He then refilled his cup with the potent alcoholic drink, that the Abydonians drank. Then made a toast, "To a brighter future".

Donald replied, "I am looking forward to seeing a night sky but I'll drink to a brighter future for these people alright".

The next morning as it would be on earth time, they were too busy to discuss the night before and they had plenty to do before they got their last sleep and then headed off on the long journey to the Stargate. they were scheduled to send some Naquadah, any time within the next fourteen days but they had decided to use that window for their departure instead. The shipment to Ra had been sent a few weeks ago and Hassif had assured them, that if Ra was displeased with the shipment, they would know immediately.

He would send his Jaffa through the Chappa'ai and then he would arrive within a day or two in his flying palace. So they had decided to get off of this world at the first opportunity. With them expecting a delivery of Naquadah the gate room would be more alert, in case any enemy soldiers were on their tails. They should be alert anyway but if they were expecting an incoming activation, they should be even more so.

They were not expecting to be under enemy fire but they had still asked Larry to project a layout of the building, that the Stargate was housed in. The first priority, was to keep the two children away from any danger. They mapped out all of the hiding places, that they would be able to use to stay out of the line of fire. They then went over all of the different scenarios and the directions that any attack could come from.

Larry had explained, that the Gau'auld had a device, that could transport a person over great distances. He had told them, that it worked in a similar way to the Stargate but had a shorter range. So if any attack were to come, it would probably be through the Stargate itself or through the ring device he had described. They did have one tactical advantage but they would only use that, if absolutely necessary. Larry could project images of anything, that he had stored within his memory and could even make recordings of each of them and then use them as decoys, to distract the enemy forces. To utilise that ability, would announce to them Larry's presence and that was the last thing they wanted.

To protect from the harmful effects of two days of carrying the Naquadah, they had sewn some of the obsidian glass. Into the lining of the rucksacks, that they would use to transport the mineral. It had reduced the amount they could carry but they had stripped away as much of the glass from the Naquadah, as they could. Which allowed them to fit more into the rucksacks.

Using the hardened roots, that could be soaked and then set in any shape you required. Robert Parker had devised a small crossbow and using sharpened shards of obsidian glass, he had made bolts to use for ammunition. They were meant for the rebels but Robert had made them one each, for the return journey. Even the children had one and had been shooting at targets, with increasing accuracy.

They were armed by pulling back the piece of root, that propelled the bolt until it locked in place. When the trigger mechanism was squeezed, the bolt travelled at a high velocity. With the sharpened glass, they would be as lethal as any bullet and with the barbs they had chipped out of the glass arrows, they would be extremely painful to remove. He had taught the rebel leaders how to make them and would give them a further weapon to train with.

Robert had explained to them all, that the only time he would not tone out Bishop's incessant talking, was when he would be talking about weapons and how to make them. Bishop really was his best friend but the man could talk for hours and did not care if anyone was listening to him or not. Most of the time he was just thinking out loud anyway.

Although they had not spoken about the previous night, it was obvious to all what had happened. They were not walking around like love struck teenagers but they would glance in each others direction, when they thought that the others were not looking. They had still been carrying out their duties and they were both adults. Nobody broached the subject as they would be home soon, what would be the point.

They were preparing for the worst but they hoped that the journey home, would be an uneventful one. Nebu and the other rebel leaders would be arriving soon, to go over everything they had learned for the final time. Then they would sleep and prepare for two days of endless desert. Donald's original route would be the one that they took again. Although it did take them the longest route around the city, it was definitely the safest way, as the other direction would take them passed the mines and there were far too many people working there.