Chapter Four
"Finally - someone gets lucky!"
In the dinning area, a roaring fire blazed, and while there was a TV and a "DDD," everyone decided to give the tube a miss. O'Neill even agreed - although he made Troll promise to show him the alternate reality, "Johnsons" at another date (apparently Homer was a "human /rabbit" in the alternate reality).
The meal was amazing. A huge variety - (there was even pizza!) - and also what served as a close second to beer. Four young women had come to cook, serve and join in the meal. They were paying a lot of attention to the men. Their ability to speak English was slight. What they didn't know with words they made up in hand gestures however, which resulted in a lot of laughter.
Tea'lc was sitting between two red head women that looked like twins or certainly sisters - but were in fact no relation. Jonas had a blonde who seemed to enjoy his attention. There was another blonde near the Colonel who seemed to have smiles to for him, which the Colonel seemed to be taking quite well. Too well, from Sam's point of view. The Colonel was too much of a man to be able to disregard the attention and interest of a beautiful woman. Besides, it was all in aide of a good cause. Good relations with the natives and all.
Sam was sitting between the Colonel and the Elf - another circumstance that made her disturbingly uncomfortable. She sat as close to the Colonel as possible, but she knew that Troll was still physically affecting her. A sexual tension had been building all night. She felt like a vibrating tuning fork and was suppressing the overwhelming urge to scream or throw something to achieve some sort of relief. Sam had had three visits to the bathroom already, just to get away from Troll, to wash her face and try to recover. Her silent mental chant became a combination of, dontlookattheelfdontlookattheelf and IcandothisIcandothisIcandothis!
During the meal, Teal'c, Jonas, Sam and Jack stood and discussed their impressions of the day. While Troll listened, Tea'lc summarised the conversation he had had earlier with Troll, his longevity, and his mission to find at least some of his people. Jonas felt he could make a real contribution to the matter through Daniel's ancient texts that mentioned in Summarian, about those with pointed ears, living on Earth.
After discussing it with Troll, Troll agreed that this knowledge would be Jona's contribution toward the trade of naquida. Jonas could send this information through the gate when he had prepared it - but the naquida would be leaving with SG1 in the morning regardless. Troll trusted Jonas would do his best.
"Troll," Jonas asked, between the social ambiance of laughter, jokes and beer, "How did you come to pick Avula to live?"
Troll smiled and stood up, holding a glass of beer almost in toast. "I had two very good reasons to chose this place. Oh, I could have had hundreds of different worlds, as you well know. The first is, the Hammer of Thor. We have one here, so this world is protected from the Goa'uld."
This was a surprise to all. "Why have I not been taken?" Tea'lc asked.
"I modified the Hammer to allow Jaffa in." Troll shrugged, depreciatingly. "It was a small thing, but occasionally I have need to trade, even with the Goa'uld. Not by choice, as you can imagine. But needs must at times."
O'Neills eyes narrowed with suspicion as he looked up at Troll. "Which Goa'uld?" He asked, "and what trade?"
Troll's eyes flashed. "You are but my most recent trading partner, Colonel O'Neill - representative of Earth," His face became tight and his voice was traced with anger. "You are late to this arena in many ways: including of course your youth and your only recent knowledge and dealings with the Goa'uld. I am over 200 years old. I have the familiarity and experience to make four of your lifetimes. What little loss you have known through the Goa'uld does not come close to what me and mine have suffered. Do not presume to judge me. You do not know me well enough."
Conversation and smiles around the table died, and Samantha, who had been keeping her hands out of sight, suddenly placed both on the table, one reaching slightly toward the Colonel. Oh Lord! Please let him reply with tact! Please! Please! Please! She thought anxiously.
There was a long pause. The Colonel had a fork in his hand, and moved it idly, back and forth swinging as he spoke, looking at the other members of his team. He was in a relaxed slouch, arm on the back of his chair. "There now, you see? We don't know you well enough," he pointed his fork at Troll, "and you don't know us either. Which is why we are here."
O'Neill sat up suddenly, and put the fork down. He looked unashamedly into Trolls eyes and then he spoke with an anger of his own. "I make no excuse for Earth or Earth's people. New to the Goa'uld or not, we still intend to survive. I will never live to 200 - but the comparatively few years I have will be spent fighting Goa'uld." He looked at each face at the table, and then back into Trolls eyes. "I acknowledge your experience, and the suffering of you and your people. I also know that we have been betrayed more than once due to Goa'uld cunning." He nodded. "Please forgive me my reservations. You have shown us only hospitality." He smiled. "And, as every member of my team can tell you, I am not always quite rational where snakes are concerned. I apologise for any offence."
No one in SG1 could believe it. It was a perfect speech. They all began to breath and smile, relaxing again.
Troll raised an admonishing finger. "A pretty speech, my dear Jack O'Neill. Did you know that it is said that one can never hide ones true self from animals - nor from children." He put his glass down and then suddenly grabbed both of Samantha's wrists and pulled her up toward him.
Dontlookattheelfdontlookattheelf. Then suddenly, OH GOD! LOOK AT THE ELF!
Samantha was trapped. She looked into Troll's eyes and felt the world dissolve. A kind of hum seemed to sound from inside her head, a pleasant sound - but all she could see was his face, those eyes!
Troll was stroking both her wrists softly, with his thumbs as he looked at her. "Tell me young Carter. Why did you suddenly place your hands on the table? Were you afraid of what Colonel O'Neill may say?"
"Yes," she answered. She knew she answered, and she knew that she was unable to think about her reply. Under Trolls steady gaze she could only tell the truth.
"Does he often speak without thinking?"
"Yes. No..Sometimes."
O'Neill shifted restlessly. Diplomacy was one thing, but he was unsure if he would be able to put up with much more of this.
"And what is your opinion of Colonel Jack O'Neil?" Troll asked, continuing to stroke her wrists. "Shall I trust him?"
Samantha hardly blinked, lost in his regard. Her reply came without thought, an innocent truth, straight from the heart. "Colonel O'Neill doesn't feel comfortable with the word "Hero." He likes to think of himself as a regular guy. He uses humour, particularly self-depreciating humour to make less of his courage or any heroic action. He also has been known to play dumb; to kind of give his team more confidence. But there is a strength in the Colonel. Tea'lc recognised it - that was why he was able to leave his God." She paused, as if measuring her words for the first time. "I would do anything for Jack. I trust him completely."
O'Neill stared, unreadable expressions travelling rapidly across his face as she spoke. Jack, is it? Wow, he thought, stunned. His chest felt tight with indescribable, swelling emotion - Joy? Love? What? Double wow. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
Troll released Sam's wrists and looked towards O'Neill. Carter sat down, weak at the knees, hands together beneath the table once more. She didn't meet anyone's eyes, glimpsing wanly up only through her eyelashes . Troll laughed. "Out of the mouth of babes!" He reached his hand out and gripped O'Neill in a solid handshake. "No offence taken, Jack O'Neill. I swear to you this day, if the people of Earth are willing, I will help them all I can."
As he sat back down, Sam stood up, mumbled something about the bathroom and left. There was silence as she left - Jack's eyes trailing after her.
"What was the other reason?" Jonas asked.
"Sorry?" Troll replied, taking his gaze from Samantha's retreating form.
"The other reason you came to live on Avula?"
Troll smiled and sat down. "Well, as you have discovered, I am a teenager for life. This circumstance does present a problem. I have not found a suitable mate - yet I have strong sexual needs that are common in the young. The Avulian's are very liberal in a sexual sense. They tend to have families, as you would know them - but anyone can father the children. It can be confusing. However, I can bed any willing partner, without complication or concern for protective fathers and mothers. Oh!" He grinned suddenly, snapping his fingers. "I am glad you reminded me. It would be culturally acceptable - in fact, it would be a display of good manners if your SG1 team slept with these ladies tonight. The Avaulian's are always keen to broaden their gene pool. I hope this will not present a problem?" He glanced over at the Colonel.
The Colonel was suddenly glad that Sam wasn't around. He leaned back casually, in his chair. "No. no problem."
Troll excused himself, saying he would be right back.
Teal'c stood up, a woman on each arm. They were giggling, hands on Teal'c biceps, rolling their eyes in suggestive communication with one another. "I believe I shall retire for the night," he said.
"What about Kel'nor'reem?" O'Neil asked.
"It is only perhaps 1400 Earth time. There are many hours before morning. I shall have time for both Kel'nor'reem," he said, noticeably admiring the cleavage of one of the woman, "and adding to the Avulan gene pool." And with that he and the ladies left.
O'Neil shook his head, smiling. That's what I'm talking about! The fantasy of every man. Lucky Tea'lc! "Fine, big guy. Catch ya later."
Jonas also stood up. Jonas always had a smile on his face - actually a grin. But to O'Neil, his smile looked larger than usual. "Guess I'll go, too."
"Ah, Jonas?" Jack asked, gesturing to the woman beside him. "Can you take this one, too? Man, Carter would have a cow if I took her - especially when I am the CO of an off world mission. The aliens getting together with other aliens to prevent profound cultural misunderstandings is one thing..but.ya know what I mean?"
"No," Jonas replied, and his grin, if possible widened even further. "But I don't care." He beckoned to the other woman, who happily walked over and folded into his free arm. "See you tomorrow, Jack."
"Right." Suddenly Jack was alone. He stood up. Now to find Sam - and to make sure she wasn't anywhere near Troll!
* * *
"Finally - someone gets lucky!"
In the dinning area, a roaring fire blazed, and while there was a TV and a "DDD," everyone decided to give the tube a miss. O'Neill even agreed - although he made Troll promise to show him the alternate reality, "Johnsons" at another date (apparently Homer was a "human /rabbit" in the alternate reality).
The meal was amazing. A huge variety - (there was even pizza!) - and also what served as a close second to beer. Four young women had come to cook, serve and join in the meal. They were paying a lot of attention to the men. Their ability to speak English was slight. What they didn't know with words they made up in hand gestures however, which resulted in a lot of laughter.
Tea'lc was sitting between two red head women that looked like twins or certainly sisters - but were in fact no relation. Jonas had a blonde who seemed to enjoy his attention. There was another blonde near the Colonel who seemed to have smiles to for him, which the Colonel seemed to be taking quite well. Too well, from Sam's point of view. The Colonel was too much of a man to be able to disregard the attention and interest of a beautiful woman. Besides, it was all in aide of a good cause. Good relations with the natives and all.
Sam was sitting between the Colonel and the Elf - another circumstance that made her disturbingly uncomfortable. She sat as close to the Colonel as possible, but she knew that Troll was still physically affecting her. A sexual tension had been building all night. She felt like a vibrating tuning fork and was suppressing the overwhelming urge to scream or throw something to achieve some sort of relief. Sam had had three visits to the bathroom already, just to get away from Troll, to wash her face and try to recover. Her silent mental chant became a combination of, dontlookattheelfdontlookattheelf and IcandothisIcandothisIcandothis!
During the meal, Teal'c, Jonas, Sam and Jack stood and discussed their impressions of the day. While Troll listened, Tea'lc summarised the conversation he had had earlier with Troll, his longevity, and his mission to find at least some of his people. Jonas felt he could make a real contribution to the matter through Daniel's ancient texts that mentioned in Summarian, about those with pointed ears, living on Earth.
After discussing it with Troll, Troll agreed that this knowledge would be Jona's contribution toward the trade of naquida. Jonas could send this information through the gate when he had prepared it - but the naquida would be leaving with SG1 in the morning regardless. Troll trusted Jonas would do his best.
"Troll," Jonas asked, between the social ambiance of laughter, jokes and beer, "How did you come to pick Avula to live?"
Troll smiled and stood up, holding a glass of beer almost in toast. "I had two very good reasons to chose this place. Oh, I could have had hundreds of different worlds, as you well know. The first is, the Hammer of Thor. We have one here, so this world is protected from the Goa'uld."
This was a surprise to all. "Why have I not been taken?" Tea'lc asked.
"I modified the Hammer to allow Jaffa in." Troll shrugged, depreciatingly. "It was a small thing, but occasionally I have need to trade, even with the Goa'uld. Not by choice, as you can imagine. But needs must at times."
O'Neills eyes narrowed with suspicion as he looked up at Troll. "Which Goa'uld?" He asked, "and what trade?"
Troll's eyes flashed. "You are but my most recent trading partner, Colonel O'Neill - representative of Earth," His face became tight and his voice was traced with anger. "You are late to this arena in many ways: including of course your youth and your only recent knowledge and dealings with the Goa'uld. I am over 200 years old. I have the familiarity and experience to make four of your lifetimes. What little loss you have known through the Goa'uld does not come close to what me and mine have suffered. Do not presume to judge me. You do not know me well enough."
Conversation and smiles around the table died, and Samantha, who had been keeping her hands out of sight, suddenly placed both on the table, one reaching slightly toward the Colonel. Oh Lord! Please let him reply with tact! Please! Please! Please! She thought anxiously.
There was a long pause. The Colonel had a fork in his hand, and moved it idly, back and forth swinging as he spoke, looking at the other members of his team. He was in a relaxed slouch, arm on the back of his chair. "There now, you see? We don't know you well enough," he pointed his fork at Troll, "and you don't know us either. Which is why we are here."
O'Neill sat up suddenly, and put the fork down. He looked unashamedly into Trolls eyes and then he spoke with an anger of his own. "I make no excuse for Earth or Earth's people. New to the Goa'uld or not, we still intend to survive. I will never live to 200 - but the comparatively few years I have will be spent fighting Goa'uld." He looked at each face at the table, and then back into Trolls eyes. "I acknowledge your experience, and the suffering of you and your people. I also know that we have been betrayed more than once due to Goa'uld cunning." He nodded. "Please forgive me my reservations. You have shown us only hospitality." He smiled. "And, as every member of my team can tell you, I am not always quite rational where snakes are concerned. I apologise for any offence."
No one in SG1 could believe it. It was a perfect speech. They all began to breath and smile, relaxing again.
Troll raised an admonishing finger. "A pretty speech, my dear Jack O'Neill. Did you know that it is said that one can never hide ones true self from animals - nor from children." He put his glass down and then suddenly grabbed both of Samantha's wrists and pulled her up toward him.
Dontlookattheelfdontlookattheelf. Then suddenly, OH GOD! LOOK AT THE ELF!
Samantha was trapped. She looked into Troll's eyes and felt the world dissolve. A kind of hum seemed to sound from inside her head, a pleasant sound - but all she could see was his face, those eyes!
Troll was stroking both her wrists softly, with his thumbs as he looked at her. "Tell me young Carter. Why did you suddenly place your hands on the table? Were you afraid of what Colonel O'Neill may say?"
"Yes," she answered. She knew she answered, and she knew that she was unable to think about her reply. Under Trolls steady gaze she could only tell the truth.
"Does he often speak without thinking?"
"Yes. No..Sometimes."
O'Neill shifted restlessly. Diplomacy was one thing, but he was unsure if he would be able to put up with much more of this.
"And what is your opinion of Colonel Jack O'Neil?" Troll asked, continuing to stroke her wrists. "Shall I trust him?"
Samantha hardly blinked, lost in his regard. Her reply came without thought, an innocent truth, straight from the heart. "Colonel O'Neill doesn't feel comfortable with the word "Hero." He likes to think of himself as a regular guy. He uses humour, particularly self-depreciating humour to make less of his courage or any heroic action. He also has been known to play dumb; to kind of give his team more confidence. But there is a strength in the Colonel. Tea'lc recognised it - that was why he was able to leave his God." She paused, as if measuring her words for the first time. "I would do anything for Jack. I trust him completely."
O'Neill stared, unreadable expressions travelling rapidly across his face as she spoke. Jack, is it? Wow, he thought, stunned. His chest felt tight with indescribable, swelling emotion - Joy? Love? What? Double wow. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
Troll released Sam's wrists and looked towards O'Neill. Carter sat down, weak at the knees, hands together beneath the table once more. She didn't meet anyone's eyes, glimpsing wanly up only through her eyelashes . Troll laughed. "Out of the mouth of babes!" He reached his hand out and gripped O'Neill in a solid handshake. "No offence taken, Jack O'Neill. I swear to you this day, if the people of Earth are willing, I will help them all I can."
As he sat back down, Sam stood up, mumbled something about the bathroom and left. There was silence as she left - Jack's eyes trailing after her.
"What was the other reason?" Jonas asked.
"Sorry?" Troll replied, taking his gaze from Samantha's retreating form.
"The other reason you came to live on Avula?"
Troll smiled and sat down. "Well, as you have discovered, I am a teenager for life. This circumstance does present a problem. I have not found a suitable mate - yet I have strong sexual needs that are common in the young. The Avulian's are very liberal in a sexual sense. They tend to have families, as you would know them - but anyone can father the children. It can be confusing. However, I can bed any willing partner, without complication or concern for protective fathers and mothers. Oh!" He grinned suddenly, snapping his fingers. "I am glad you reminded me. It would be culturally acceptable - in fact, it would be a display of good manners if your SG1 team slept with these ladies tonight. The Avaulian's are always keen to broaden their gene pool. I hope this will not present a problem?" He glanced over at the Colonel.
The Colonel was suddenly glad that Sam wasn't around. He leaned back casually, in his chair. "No. no problem."
Troll excused himself, saying he would be right back.
Teal'c stood up, a woman on each arm. They were giggling, hands on Teal'c biceps, rolling their eyes in suggestive communication with one another. "I believe I shall retire for the night," he said.
"What about Kel'nor'reem?" O'Neil asked.
"It is only perhaps 1400 Earth time. There are many hours before morning. I shall have time for both Kel'nor'reem," he said, noticeably admiring the cleavage of one of the woman, "and adding to the Avulan gene pool." And with that he and the ladies left.
O'Neil shook his head, smiling. That's what I'm talking about! The fantasy of every man. Lucky Tea'lc! "Fine, big guy. Catch ya later."
Jonas also stood up. Jonas always had a smile on his face - actually a grin. But to O'Neil, his smile looked larger than usual. "Guess I'll go, too."
"Ah, Jonas?" Jack asked, gesturing to the woman beside him. "Can you take this one, too? Man, Carter would have a cow if I took her - especially when I am the CO of an off world mission. The aliens getting together with other aliens to prevent profound cultural misunderstandings is one thing..but.ya know what I mean?"
"No," Jonas replied, and his grin, if possible widened even further. "But I don't care." He beckoned to the other woman, who happily walked over and folded into his free arm. "See you tomorrow, Jack."
"Right." Suddenly Jack was alone. He stood up. Now to find Sam - and to make sure she wasn't anywhere near Troll!
* * *