Stargate Hastings

Chapter twenty one part one: One slip of the tongue

Earth, beneath the Stamford estate.

Stood in front of the Stargate were Jim, San'kha, Joseph Hammond and Jacob Turner; Behind those men were the Abydonians who had escaped from Abydos with San'kha and Jim, with four further additions to their number. Meera would be joining them along with Donald junior; She wished to see Abydos one last time and her son was old enough now to understand what he was seeing. She did not agree with moving her people from Abydos; It was their home and the Asgard would protect them. However, she was now her people's Queen, but it was her husband that was chosen to be their King; Her job was to support him and she knew that he only wanted what was best for them. She had spoken to her husband and offered her advice, but it was his decision. Her brothers and father had told her he was King, and that their people would be safe on this new world, free from Ra.

They did not know these people like she did; Nasseef and Nebu only knew the people they trained with, the rest of this world meant nothing to them, but Meera had listened and she had learned. The Hastings family were nice people, but they lived very different lives to those they claimed to be the champion's of. Kate had taken her out into the real world, as she called it. Only a select few of their people lived like the Hastings, with much of this world living very much like her people had; With very little. Kate would volunteer at places that helped these people, with Meera joining her and feeling more at home with those people, than she had since she had been on this world.

Her Mother was of those people; Although she often told her, that the Scottish were not the English! She had no problem with the English personally; She did not trust the Hastings family because they were rich. She was joining them and had also tried to convince Donald to speak with these Asgard, before selling these people down the river. Meera had not understood what she had meant and when she asked her to explain, she had volunteered to join them instead. She was now a part of the medical team for the Stargate facility, as she had experience as a nurse and was the reason she could join her husband overseas. Even so. Meera was surprised when Joseph Hammond agreed to her accompanying them.

Nasseef was the final member of their party and had grown considerably in the time he had been on earth. He was not as tall as his brother's yet, but he no longer looked like a child. His best friend on this world Thomas; Was taking care of his little sister but he had also grown over the past year. When the Stargate activated, they all stepped through to Abydos.

New Atlantis, Abydos system.

Upon arrival in the Abydos system, the Gau'auld and the Jaffa that they had bought to operate the Ha'tak vessel; Were all transported to the room with the large circular table, that would translate for all gathered. They could all speak Gau'auld, but they could express themselves better in their own language. Donald and Nebu, along with Janus and the Hastings family were there in the same positions they had been earlier. Richard Hastings was now on his feet, with the aid of a suit that looked the same as the clothes Janus wore. Only it had an exoskeleton built in, that not only enabled him to walk but was also stimulating the muscles in his legs and lower back.

The First-Prime and three Jaffa of each of the four System-Lords were there, although they would have stayed away from the actual summit. With the unusual circumstances of this planet's inclusion into the protected planet's treaty, the Asgard had allowed them to bring four Jaffa each with them. It was more than enough to operate the vessel, and they were no challenge to the Asgard or the Ancients. The Gau'auld had not been informed of the change of location or the change of purpose for the meeting. The Asgard had been told the reason Janus had retaken corporeal form and had agreed to play their part.

The transporter had removed all weapons from the Jaffa, the Gau'auld were not foolish enough to bring weapons. The Jaffa were never meant to interact with anyone at the summit, not even Anubis. Only Ra, Apophis, Heru'ur and Cronus were to be in the section of the vessel where the summit was to be held. When Ro'nac, the First-Prime of Cronus had informed them that there was a city in orbit of Abydos; They did not have the time to question him, before re-materializing in the room they now found themselves in.

Ra was the first to speak. "What is the meaning of this? I demand to see the Asgard!". He shouted in his booming Gau'auld voice.

Jolinar laughed, then with the same throaty voice said. "I am not supposed to reveal myself, but I'm certain you would have sensed my presence anyway. These people are the progenitor race Ra, your threats means less to them than they do the Asgard. We are really going to enjoy this!". She smiled at the would be God, as she mocked him.

"Tok'ra!" Cronus declared in disgust.

Richard cut in. "Cronus I presume?". He asked the man with almost pure white shoulder length hair.

"Yes, and you are?". Cronus asked Richard.

Richard could see the arrogance in this one, arrogant men were easy to anger. Especially when they were treated as inferior. So Richard said. "Someone who will get round to you, but I have far more important people to converse with first. I am sure you will not mind waiting, you are the God of time or something along those lines; I am not certain, religions have always bored me. Can you not just skip forward until it is your turn? I would very much like to witness such a thing". First he inferred that he was less than the other's, then he gave him an impossible task in order to prove his divinity.

The look on Cronus face was all he needed to know about the man. He was not just a Gau'auld, he was a warrior. When he died, he would die fighting. Cronus merely replied. "You know nothing of us or our power". Then pushed down his anger, recognising Richard's strategy and deflecting his request for a demonstration.

Janus then said. "Gentlemen please, we are here to discuss the future of this galaxy, and we must wait for others to arrive before we begin insulting each other. To answer your question, the Asgard will be along shortly. The Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet in this galaxy, is currently deploying that fleet. Please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable, he and his brother will not be long".

None of the Gau'auld spoke but they took their seats, with the Jaffa taking up positions behind their affiliated System-Lord. Janus then said to them. "The Jaffa delegation will be sat on this side of the table". He pointed to his left, to indicate where they should be seated.

Richard knew that they were not foolish enough to openly challenge their gods, by actually accepting the offer. So he said. "You have nothing to fear from these imposters. If they are truly gods, then we are gods that are more powerful than they are. We are not gods, but I am sure you understand what I am trying to tell you. If you fear for your family members, then fear not! Before we allow these people to leave, the Asgard will take you to the worlds where they reside, so that you may retrieve them".

All four of the Jaffa that followed Apophis, walked around the table. With Apophis asking. "Bra'tac, why would you betray me?". He looked genuinely shocked by his First-Prime taking this human's offer. He did not seem to care about the others.

Bra'tac who like San'kha looked less than thirty years old, then replied. "I have only betrayed myself by serving you. You are no God, if you were you would have known that not only I, but the man who trained me have never been loyal to you. Look at you mighty gods, cowering in fear of them or is it the Asgard that you fear?". He laughed at them, after he said this.

Three Jaffa that once belonged to Cronus followed them, with his First-Prime following shortly after them. Cronus did not say a word, he just stared at them with a cold fury. He was not red in the face, he simply stared at them with fury in his eyes. The Jaffa of Ra and Heru'ur did not move a muscle towards the other's, and made it clear what they thought of those who had betrayed their God's. "Shol'va!". They spat at them.

The translation they heard was traitors, with the translation also taking into account the fact they were talking to several individuals. Janus had explained to them that the Stargates in the Pegasus galaxy, were all fitted with similar technology. He said that if the person was not talking to you or someone who spoke your language, then you would hear the language they were speaking or the person's who they were talking to. Many of the Stargates in this galaxy had that feature, but not all of them.

The Stargates on the Gau'auld world's that once belonged to the Furling's had them, because they had added the upgrade to their own Stargates, but they had not deemed it necessary to add the feature to the entire galaxy. Their society was as diverse as any other large civilisation, with numerous languages and regional dialects. Abydos was not a former Furling world, and was why they had needed to learn the language there. The Stargate used by the Gau'auld on earth is not the original one, and was moved from another world that was also not once controlled by the Furling's. Earth was an Ancients controlled world, but they had left it so they deemed it unnecessary to upgrade that world's Stargate. Even the one buried in a cavern in Antarctica did not have the feature.

Janus then said to the still loyal Jaffa. "You should indeed join your gods then but I am certain that some, if not all of you will be joining your brother's by the end of this meeting". Janus said in the same carefree way, that he would say everything.

Ro'nac then said. "I have a wife, others have children also. Can you be certain that our betrayal is not already known? I know they are not gods but they have ways". There was a genuine fear in his eyes, unlike Bra'tac whose eyes still showed the naivety of youth. Ro'nac was clearly the elder of the two First-Prime's.

Janus smiled at the Jaffa and said. "I can assure you that they have no power here, your families will be safe. If there are two among you that know where all of the people you wish retrieved are located, they can go with the Asgard and retrieve them now if you wish?". He asked them.

Ro'nac and Bra'tac talked with the Jaffa, then eventually two Jaffa bowed to their respective First-Prime's. Ro'nac nodded to Bra'tac, then Bra'tac said. "These two men are fine warrior's, they will accompany the Asgard to retrieve our families".

The Asgard were listening in on proceedings, so instantly transported the two Jaffa away. With Janus then saying. "They should return by the end of our little conference". He then turned to the still loyal Jaffa. "There is still time for you to change your minds. There will always be time for you to change your minds!". He did not believe they would; Both Ra and Heru'ur, treated their Jaffa and even their human slaves well to a certain extent.

That was in comparison to Cronus, Apophis and others who believed themselves divine. Heru'ur was loyal to Ra and for his loyalty he was protected by his father. Those two sat at the top of the tree, and Ra knew that only his own cruelty could turn his people on him. Heru'ur did whatever his father told him to do, he would be foolish not to. Neither were nice Gau'auld but Ra at least understood the foolishness of cruelty without purpose. He would not starve slaves as punishment, as his children often did. They require food to be productive, and to create fine specimens for the expansion of the Gau'auld race; Most of his children were fools.

Ra and Heru'ur's Jaffa simply looked to their gods and ignored Janus. So he said. "Well then, there is another Jaffa here, although he has only been adopted by one of your race; He will be standing on the side of his brother, and has spoken for your race until now in his brother's stead. His name is Kaar brother of San'kha, do you have any objections to him joining you?". Janus asked the now free Jaffa.

Ra's face was furious but was nothing compared to that of Anubis. He did not ask Ra for permission to speak. "Where is the Shol'va?". He asked Janus.

Ra was pleased with the outburst from Anubis, he needed these people to see that he had loyal subject's. Ra recognised the style of technology, but could not activate the technology of the city he had found. The power supply was there but it simply would not work; He had been able to salvage some technology from the city, technology that was separate from the city itself. Much of it different in style to the city's technology, and probably not of the same origin's. Which meant he was aware of how powerful this technology was, and also the race that had created it.

Bra'tac answered. "His he one of those who walked to their death's, like free men?". He asked, already hearing of the Abydonian slaves bravery. Bra'tac knew Jaffa who were among Ra's, one of them had been watching the entire exchange from the cockpit of his Udajeet. He had even missed them purposely, whilst chasing them into the city of Nagada.

Richard Hastings had heard the tale himself, so he answered. "Yes, he was the first to be chosen, and also the one that the others say gave them the strength to do the same".

Bra'tac looked to the other Jaffa for their approval, then declared. "He gave us the strength also, as did the others; We would be honoured to accept the brother of our brother!". As soon as he said this. Kaar appeared next to the Jaffa, with all six of them slamming their right fist against their chest, and bowing in respect to the young man. Bra'tac then said. "Welcome Kaar, if one such as San'kha calls you brother, then so shall we".

Kaar did not look intimidated by them at all, and smiled as he asked. "You know San'kha?". He then pointed over to his brother, and said. "That is my brother; His name is Nebu and he twisted San'kha's head completely around, even San'kha does not know how he did it. San'kha say that he got lucky, but Nebu is just a freak who hates your kind". Kaar was both showing pride in his brother to his fellow Jaffa, something San'kha had told him was expected of a brother; Mocking his brother, was something also expected of a Jaffa.

Nebu was not in the mood for jokes. He realised that these Jaffa were potential allies, but they were the ones that punished his people. If they were to ever turn on the humans; Who would his brother stand beside, them or his blood? Kaar needed to be told as well as these Jaffa and their gods. "Yes brother, I snapped the Jaffa's neck! I am nothing but a slave that watched one of your new brother's, kill a boy for defending a defenceless old man. I vowed from that day, that I would grow strong enough to break you all!". He looked around the table at those gathered, lingering on first the gods and then the free Jaffa.

Nebu then continued. "I am told that you were slaves just like us, but that bastard enjoyed what he was doing to that old man, and then he laughed after killing the young boy; As he continued to beat the old man!". He looked directly at Kaar as he asked. "Did Ra use his power to make that Jaffa enjoy it? Brother!".

Janus was expecting this and hoped it would be bought up at some point, this was the ultimate failure of the other time line. The Jaffa and the freed slaves were kept relatively separate, and were easily manipulated by the thousands or even millions of Gau'auld that were still out there. The Tok'ra hunted down the System-Lords and their subordinates, but there were far too many Gau'auld to find them all. Many Jaffa were killed in battle, but they were probably on their third or fourth Primta by then. The Gau'auld population was far too large for them to hunt them all down, with the System-Lords being their main focus.

If they had it would have been genocide, but they had destroyed all of the Sarcophagi. All that they could find that was, but most of those still out there were probably without access to a Sarcophagus, and it was hoped they would change in time. There were millions of Gau'auld out there even now, that must be given the chance to change or they may have to commit that genocide. Some would most certainly die for their crimes, that was unavoidable but to commit genocide was something else entirely. This needed to be broached early, if they were going to avoid that reality's fate and also alter it.

Kaar went to answer his brother and Bra'tac tried to speak before him, but the Asgard transported in behind the Gau'auld delegation taking everyone's attention away from the conversation. The Jaffa did not know what the Asgard looked like and believed them to be human in appearance, but the Gau'auld were expecting the Asgard in their smaller grey bodies, not the imposing figures before them. The two Asgard were almost identical, except for their facial features that were slightly different. Instead of the grey pallid colour, their bodies skin were a deep green, with the face and their cranium being a pale shade of green.

The Gau'auld all stood up with Cronus asking. "Who is this? We demand to see the Asgard now!".

Modi replied. "You are in no position to make demands Etin! You have not seen us in this form before, because we wished to seem less threatening to your race. This is the form we take when we are preparing for war!".

Magni then said to Janus. "There seems to be a device on Abydos, that is preventing us from transporting up the Tau'ri delegation; Do you know anything about this Janus?". He asked in Gau'auld. Using Tau'ri to describe them, so that the Gau'auld understood who he had meant.

Janus had an idea about who was blocking the transport, but he was not supposed to be here. "Yes, I believe I know who is preventing the transport Magni, he will take care of their transportation to the city". He told the very tall Asgardian.

Before Ra could say something about the Tau'ri, a flash of light materialized several people next to Donald and Nebu, and one amongst the Jaffa. Jim, Meera, Joseph Hammond, Fa'ruuk the Abydonian chieftain, with both Hassif's and a very pregnant Meera, were now with them. She had left the baby with Donald's mother, who his father had convinced would not be needed.

Ra glanced at San'kha but it was Jim who he stared at with murderous intent, that was until he noticed Meera. He could not take his eyes off of her, and the anger he felt toward Jim was gone. It had been replaced by a look of fascination. Hassif senior said to his daughter. "I told you to stay with the child. Ra as seen you now..". Jim cut the terrified man off.

He looked at Ra, then said. "Our daughter will be perfectly safe brother, these pathetic creatures can not hurt you now". Still looking Ra in the eye, Jim added. "Freedom is your god now, and I see it as already infected their Jaffa". Jim was laughing to himself, he was really going to enjoy what was coming. There were too many smug looking faces around this table, and Jim was going to wipe a few of those faces clean.

Ra moved to attack Jim with the same speed he had used when Jim was a mere mortal, but before he reached him he a hit a force-field. Janus then said to everyone present. "There will be no violence here, insults are expected but physical violence; There will be much of that to come, but for now you are all expected to act in a civilised manner". He could not have made himself sound more condescending, not without over playing it. Although only one man was the target of his little act, the rest would just see it as it is.

Janus then asked. "Where is Larry James, I assume he accompanied you here?".

"He is just saying hello to a few people, they really like his new form and the kids won't leave him alone. He said he would use the city's transporter to get here, when they let him leave that is". Jim replied.

"His new form? Never mind, did he say who would be protecting the earth whilst he is gone?". Janus asked.

Joseph answered him. "Someone called Oberoth, he said he was on route to add extra protection for the earth anyway so it would not be a problem". He had reluctantly agreed to all of this, but Larry and Jim's argument had swayed him.

This Janus suffered from the same affliction that Joseph himself had once been affected by, naivety. His time in politics had cured him of that, very swiftly. The romanticised view that Janus had of earth, was just insane. Yes they had soldiers and many were heroes that fought out of a sense of duty, but there were just as many that simply enjoyed killing, and they tended to not like people who were different from themselves. It was their own way of making the people they killed less human, and just another animal to the slaughter. The world leader's were far worse, they cared about their own greed more than the needs of their people.

Even his own country was controlled by the wealthy; Even if some of those people had come from humble backgrounds, many forgot where they had began. Joseph was not naive any longer, and knew that nobody became wealthy by being generous. That was the way the world was, and until Joseph was certain that the earth would not replace these false gods, he had agreed that the earth should have very little to do with liberating the galaxy; Offer intel and support yes, but the slaves both human and Jaffa should liberate themselves first, and then deal with the earth or not on their own terms.

There was still a large galaxy out there, that the Gau'auld had no presence in. Those worlds were the people of the earth's by birth-right and had very few human society's on them. They did have technology that would be theirs to find and study, with their new partners the Tok'ra helping them to understand that technology. The earth did not need more war, she needed peace and more than that an end to poverty and uneducated population's. Ignorance was bliss, but it also created suspicious people who would believe anyone with an agenda, if it fits their own world view.

They needed to learn to live with each other, before they began introducing aliens into the mix. The best of the best of each country would be involved in the war, but the population would be pulled out of poverty and homelessness eradicated within a year. People will be given the chance to colonise entire worlds, that only needed exploring first for further colonisation to begin. Janus had already given them the coordinates for several worlds deemed completely safe. With selected colonists already preparing to set up the infrastructure needed, before slowly bringing in more colonists from across north America and Britain.

Canada, who had been a self governing dominion for over a decade and a half, would be a sort of bridge between the two people's. They shared similarities with both culture's and the people who had been chosen for the task of building the colony, were all people that believed in what they were doing. The people that would join that new society, would in theory continue in the same way; With a whole new world of opportunities awaiting them. There would be push back from the wealthy, but their opportunities would also increase, if they have the vision to see them.

The other world's Janus had given them, would be used for military institutions and off-world testing, and manufacturing sites. The first colony would be a military academy, only no one would be permanently living on that world or at least not families. Eden would be the second world to be colonised, and was far larger than the earth. The surface of the planet was like a paradise, with no large predators or particularly venomous insect's or reptiles. The world was used by the Ancients as a pleasure planet. They had terraformed the world and altered its gravitational field to make it ideal for their kind. It was this, that Joseph believed the people of the earth should concentrate on; Exploring and building together. Not being thrown into someone else's war.

From the look on Janus's face, he was not pleased with the choice of Oberoth to protect the earth. He did not voice his concerns, but for a split-second they were clear to see on his face. "Almost everyone is here, once my friend arrives our final delegation will show themselves" Janus looked to Jim. "He was not supposed to be here, but I expect you had something to do with that?". He asked him.

Both Jim and Kraytos were amused by this man, he was everything Larry had told them he was, and more. Focused, was Larry's description of Janus, focused with no care for the damage he causes. "How long have you known Larry Janus?". Jim asked him.

Janus thought about it but could not really say, it was all relative and these people could never understand. So he said. "Too long to put a number to. Why do you ask?".

"I will let Larry deal with you, I am here to deal with everyone else!". He looked at his friend or former friend, because their friendship was probably not going to survive this. He was more worried about his relationship with Rachael, he was about to put her in a very awkward position. He did not say anything further, he would wait for the Tok'ra to arrive first. He would need Larry for it to mean anything anyway.

So he looked at the two impressive looking Asgard, then asked. "May I approach you?".

It was Modi that replied. "You may!". He said, like he was intrigued by his request.

Jim walked past the Gau'auld, staying as close to them as he could. They had already seen the futility of attacking, he just wanted to get under their skin. He was already under Ra's, but it would be Kraytos that dealt with him. When he reached the Asgard, he said to them. "My friend says that you do not look like this, it looks real though. What is it made of, some kind of metal?". Jim asked them.

Magni answered him. "Yes and far superior to any alloy that the Gau'auld have stolen!". Both of the Asgard looked to Ra and the other Gau'auld, when they said this.

Jim walked around them, closely inspecting the seamless suit's that the two Asgard were wearing. Even where the colours changed from a dark green, to a pale one; It looked like the darker parts were armour over their true skin. From behind the pale looking skin like armour could only be see on to top of the cranium. From each temple all the around the back of a slightly bulbous head, the colour matched the body armour. From the front they were even more impressive, they truly did look like living beings inside, not the suits of armour Kraytos knew them to be.

If Jim was to guess, then he would say that the head was just a means of communicating and was probably made from a different more malleable material. The armour itself reminded him of chainmail, and seemed to be made up of many different interlocking pieces. Jim said to the Asgard. "I would not want to go to war against you, but why now? You could have dealt with these children before now. Did you need his permission?". He pointed at Janus.

Modi answered. "We are not preparing for war with the Gau'auld, the protected planet's treaty that our people have with them...". Before he could finish what he was saying. Jim turned away from him.

As he walked back to his former position at the conference table, he said. "Keep your lies to yourself!". What he said next was directed at Janus, and his former friend. "These two are far better at it than you, but even Janus can slip up. Is that not right Janus or was you lying to her?".

Janus knew why Larry was here and it was not good. "Larry could you please transport me to your location, we really need to speak, privately!". He did not disappear in a flash of light, instead a noise was heard from across the room.

A man then exited the transporter booth; A man that looked liked the Avatar Larry had chosen to communicate with the earthlings. He had a crystal where a humans heart would be, but looked human in every other way. "You decided on Gandhi, I can not say I am surprised". Janus said to his friend.

Abydos.

As soon as they arrived on Abydos. The Naquadah enhanced handcuffs Jim was wearing melted away, revealing the crystal, and then reformed into a pyramid shape on the floor. Everyone was surprised except for San'kha, Jim and Joseph Hammond. Joseph said to Jacob. "Stand down Mr. Turner. Larry will take you down if you give him no choice".

Jacob knew that Larry could indeed take him down, and did not wish to feel the effects of that technology again. Jacob also knew that Larry could simply transport him away if he tried anything, so he said. "It is not like I have a choice in this, but could you tell me what is going on? By not attempting to stop you I am essentially committing treason, I would like to know why?". He asked Joseph.

Jim answered him. "Your family have committed treason against the people of our world. We are just stopping them getting billions of people killed for that treason. We understand where your loyalties lay Jacob and we do not hold them against you, but Janus has committed unspeakable crimes. This, all of this is to fix his own meddling!".

Joseph Hammond then said to him. "We are not committing treason son, we are giving the people of Abydos the freedom to choose their own destiny". Jacob nodded his head in reply.

Larry's disembodied voice then said to them. "I will require Naquadah in order to create my new body. You will see me shortly". The pyramid then raised off of the floor, then passed straight through the wall.

The Abydonians all flowed out of the Stargate chamber, with the three earthlings following after them. Seeing how these people were happy to be back on this world, made Jim certain that Larry was right, and someone needed to put a stop to all of this. Larry was that someone but he was not one of them. He would help them, but he could not make the choice for them. Larry needed Jim or to be more precise Jeem, because he was the only person the people of Abydos held in higher esteem than his son. Donul was their King, but Jeem was now Legendary. He was being spoken of throughout the Gau'auld empire, even the Jaffa had heard the name and spread it among the slave populations.

Larry chose a spot far enough away from any people so as not to frighten them, then he sent tiny machines to retrieve what he would need for his body. He would alter the sand on a molecular level in order to create his skin and clothing, but Naquadah was far to complex for even him to create from sand. Larry could alter the substance into whatever shape or use he required though. Within minutes the Naquadah skeleton was complete, with the skin and clothes taking even less time to fabricate.

Unlike his adopted children Larry was not a Replicator, he was the crystal that now resided where the human heart would be situated. After a few minutes of getting used to his new body, he walked back in the direction of the others. Before he reached them he sensed the Asgard trying to target their transporter, and sent out a signal that would prevent them from getting a clean lock on them. They had people to meet with before they put a stop to Janus! He only hoped Jim could convince them to ignore the advice of their King. He was a good man Donald McCain, but he was still very young and had no idea what he was getting his people into.

His father on the other hand was a man who had a better understanding of the situation, he had spent his entire adult life doing his duty for his country; Only to return to his people and learn the truth of who he was truly fighting for, a system that threw away his brother's when they were no longer of any use to it. Of all the people Larry had revealed the earth's possible future to, Jim was the only one not shocked by it. If anything it seemed to only confirm what he already knew. He was the leader these people needed, even if like his son he did not want the position.