Loyalty
Part 14 of The Asgard Sequence
Sequel to 'Blame'
By Gumnut
Sep/Oct 2003
Jack sat and watched the P-90 hologram revolve slowly on the conference room table.
He and Daniel had been arguing about dinner when the call came through from Sam. The choices had been pizza or Thai food. Jack, of course, was all for pizza. Daniel claimed he was sick of it, and wanted to try something new.
How could you get sick of pizza?
Beer and pizza, staple food, can't live without it.
And since he had been denied anything remotely resembling that delicacy for the last month - he wasn't sure he would ever be able to eat chocolate again - there had been no way he was going to settle for anything less than the real thing.
His house, his rules, his pizza.
So there.
The phone had rung just as he was reaching to pick it up and dial Dominoes.
He was still hungry.
Two handfuls of month old potato crisps from Daniel's glove compartment, and a glass of water just didn't cut it.
He was being deprived. The universe was out to get him by denying him pizza.
It was just the icing on the cake, though, because now round two of 'Let's get the Asgard to hate Jack O'Neill' had begun.
It was his gun.
Well, it looked like his gun.
But as far as he knew, his actual weapon had been blown to stardust aboard the 'O'Neill'.
Apparently not.
Damn.
All of SG-1 sat around the conference table, Hammond, as usual, at its head. Tala was playing show and tell.
Look, this is Jack's gun, see he shot Thor, how dare he? What do you mean he didn't do it? His DNA is all over the weapon.
"Oh, for crying out loud, I couldn't even walk at the time Thor was shot. In fact, I was probably flat on my back having hit that stupid tree."
"Vine."
Jack slowly turned his head towards Daniel. A patented Jack O'Neill death glare was released.
The archeologist melted before his eyes.
He turned back to Tala. "As I was saying, there is no way I could have shot Thor, even if I wanted to, which I most certainly do not."
Tala looked him directly in the eye. "That is precisely what the Commander said."
Jack was confused. "What?"
Tala addressed the room at large. "Commander Thor unwaveringly believes that Colonel O'Neill would never have injured him. Although, he does say that, walking or not, O'Neill could be physically capable of such a task, he is adamant that the Colonel would never do such a thing." He looked over at Jack. "And I agree."
Jack was still confused. This was the same alien who a few weeks ago could barely look at him, much less speak to him? Now, he was declaring his firm belief in his innocence?
As if sensing O'Neill's confusion, Tala said, "Colonel, Commander Thor has declared you his friend. In our culture, we value friendship on par with family. It is a great honour to be bestowed such a title by any of us." His eyes seemed to see into O'Neill's soul. "With it comes a great responsibility. Commander Thor would give his life in your name, and he has told me you would hold his life in a similar esteem. Is his faith in vain?"
O'Neill felt as if everyone in the room was staring at him. Embarrassment was just the beginning of what he was feeling. Of course, he would lay down his life for Thor should the situation warrant it, it just wasn't something you spoke about casually.
Tala was waiting for an answer.
Crap.
He cleared his throat. "Of course." His voice was rough earning him a glance from Carter.
"A betrayal of this loyalty is one of the gravest crimes in our society. Unfortunately, in declaring his allegiance towards yourself, the Commander has strained his relationship with the Asgard High Council." The alien took a breath. "Certain elements in our political system are applying pressure to usurp his position." Tala glanced at his hands before turning to look at O'Neill once more. "Colonel, last night Commander Thor was taken forcibly from his home by persons unknown. He left me instructions that should his life be threatened, I was to contact SG-1 and request assistance. He was of the firm opinion that no-one else on Othalla could be trusted."
The sudden silence was broken by a choked cough from O'Neill, followed by a firm, "Okay, what can we do?"
"Commander Thor believed that he had been attacked with this weapon," he indicated the hologram, "in an attempt to remove SG-1 from Othalla and possibly from Asgard relations altogether. The fact the council acted almost immediately has spurred his suspicions. And now that he has been taken, I am deeply worried for his safety." Jack saw the honesty in Tala's eyes. "He told me to give you this." He held up a small box. "It can only be activated and viewed by you. He said you would know what to do with it."
Jack accepted the box. It was small, about two inches cubed, and had no discernable markings.
He had no idea what to do with it.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Carter and Daniel eyeing the box with curiosity. Hah! If he let them anywhere near it, it would be in pieces in minutes. He pushed the box closer into the crook of his broken arm
He turned back to Tala. "So what do we need to do?"
The Asgard looked a little flummoxed. "I presumed you would wish to view the Commander's message." Ah, mail in a box, so that's what it was. He looked down at it again. Nope, still no idea.
He glanced up. "Yep. I sure will, just not yet." Daniel rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth to say something, but Jack cut him off. "I want to view the message in private." Now, that shut him up. If in doubt, bluff.
"Well, Jack, I suggest you excuse yourself for a moment and open your mail." The General was being patient.
Jack glanced across the table at Tala, and asked him one more thing before he left. "What do you think he wants us to do?"
The Asgard didn't hesitate. "I believe he would want you to return to Othalla to declare your innocence."
O'Neill looked down at the box again, thinking.
"I guess I will have to find out." He stood, clutching the small cube in one hand. "If you will excuse me, Tala, General." He looked at SG-1. "Kids."
That earned him a smirk from Sam.
"Tally ho."
He left the room.
*********
He ended up back in his on-base quarters. He had hoped to not see them for a while, but here he was.
He placed the box on a table, and sat staring at it. Thor said he would know what to do with it. What? It couldn't be too complicated, Thor knew that much about him, didn't he?
He turned the box over and over in his hands. No apparent openings, no switches, no writings.
Good on the lack of writings, otherwise he would have to fight for it with Daniel.
It was Asgard, perhaps it was holographic?
He rattled it. There was something inside.
Shit. He put it down suddenly, hoping he hadn't broken anything.
He stared at it awhile longer. C'mon, Thor buddy, what did you mean I would know what to do with it? It was a bit much to place such faith in the stunted part of his brain that contained all his scientific knowledge. This could be a matter of life and death.
Life and death.
A sudden flashback of Thor in the clutches of Anubis' Jaffa holding his fingers to his throat.
Jack reached out a hand, laying his fingers on the box.
He said one word.
"Life."
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
"Hope."
Two things happened at once. The box sprang open, scattering several objects onto the table.
And a six inch high hologram appeared.
"Greetings, O'Neill."
*********
Sam Carter was deep in discussion with Tala, when Colonel O'Neill burst back into the conference room. He immediately caught all her attention.
The look in his eyes was haunted.
He wasted no time on pleasantries. "General, request permission to return to Othalla."
"What did you find out, Colonel?"
Jack's eyes didn't meet the General's. "Sir, Thor is in need of our assistance. I recommend we supply it."
"I repeat, Jack, what did you find out?"
"I'm afraid, General, that I am not in a position to disclose that information."
The General looked surprised. "What?"
"Sir, may I speak to you in private?"
The General stood, and gestured the Colonel towards his office, before following him and closing the door.
Sam looked at Daniel, whose eyebrows were raised. Something was up.
Raised voices had them both looking in the direction of the closed door. Through the window, they could see a wildly gesticulating Colonel and a stony faced General.
The argument went on for quite awhile, the Colonel's body language getting more and more agitated.
Abruptly the door was flung open. A furious Colonel stormed out of the office, stalking past a stunned SG-1 towards the stairs. He paused briefly before leaving, his eyes casting over his team, and locking on Tala. He said one word.
"Soldacium."
And, turning, he left.
All of SG-1 turned to look at Tala, but he looked as confused as Sam felt. She looked at Daniel, finding his face thoughtful, but puzzled.
"Do you know what he said?"
Daniel jumped as if she had spooked him. "What? No, not yet." She could see his mind clicking over behind his eyes. She watched as he scribbled something in his notes.
The General finally came out of his office, looking tired and worried. "I'm sorry, Tala, I can not give SG-1 permission to return to Othalla. The situation is too unstable and without further information I am not willing to take the risk. Colonel O'Neill is also not medically fit for such a mission at this time."
"But, sir-" Sam knew how much Thor meant to the Colonel.
"Major, I have made my decision. Colonel O'Neill refuses to divulge the information Thor sent him. Tala has told us the Asgard High Council all but blames the Colonel for assaulting one of their officers, and it sounds like the political situation is becoming unstable." He turned once again to Tala. "My deepest apologies, Tala, and my sincerest hopes that all will be well with Commander Thor. But I can not send my people into a situation where they are outnumbered and outgunned on all sides should the situation erupt. I'm sorry."
She knew he genuinely was, she could see it his eyes. The General liked Thor in his own way, and obviously he had had a furious argument with the Colonel.
Tala bowed slightly to Hammond. "I understand, General." He looked towards the stargate through the glass windows. "I am unable to return to Othalla for two more of your hours. I left as unobtrusively as possible and must return as such."
"Major Carter can show you to some guest quarters, please let her know if there is anything else you need during that time." He turned to the remaining members of SG-1. "Dismissed."
*********
Jack was back in his quarters....again.
Staring at the box....again.
He knew how to open it now, and had one of its objects in his hand, rolling it amongst his fingers.
Two loyalties stood before him, and he had to choose.
Thoughts of Thor charging to his rescue, the entire Asgard Fleet in tow, came to mind.
George's stony, but anguished, face saying the word 'No'.
The two loyalties were in conflict. At the end of the first came court martial, a life in prison. At the end of the other....
Looking down at his fingers, he stared at the piece of alien technology.
He made the decision.
*********
Daniel went immediately to his office, pulled a book off his shelf - was nearly killed by the several that came off accidently with it - and thumbed through its many pages.
Teal'c had followed him, his curiosity obviously piqued.
"Daniel Jackson, do you know what Colonel O'Neill said?"
"I think I do." His fingers moved down the pages, searching until he found what he was looking for. "Aah! 'Solacium: Latin for help, support, or military aid'."
Daniel saw realisation dawn on Teal'c's face. "Colonel O'Neill speaks the language of the Ancients."
Daniel tipped his head slightly in acknowledgement. "He does, some, so do you."
"I do not know that word."
"He obviously does. 'Soldacium' is close to 'solacium'. I'm thinking he asked Tala for help."
The two suddenly looked at each other.
"Shit." Daniel grabbed his phone. "Sam, can you get to my lab asap. No Tala." The affirmative at the other end of the line was enough for him. He put the phone down.
"You believe O'Neill will attempt to go to Othalla regardless."
"Yes, Teal'c, and it wouldn't be the first time either. Give him enough reason and he'll go to ends of the Earth for a friend. So why not the ends of the galaxy." Where the hell was Sam?
"Will General Hammond not attempt to stop him?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he will, Teal'c, but there is an Asgard on base. Since when have we been able to stop them from doing anything?"
A raised eyebrow was the only answer.
Sam came running into his office. "What's up?"
Daniel filled her in.
"Shit!"
At least they all agreed.
"He'll go without us, won't he?" Sam's eyes said she knew the answer to her question.
The truth echoed in the room. Jack O'Neill was well known for endangering himself for a good enough cause, but he never endangered his team if he could help it.
As one they made for the door.
*********
General Hammond made his way to the gate room with Tala. He had gone to visit the Othallan to see if there was anything, anything at all, he could do to help the Asgard without endangering his premiere team.
There was nothing.
Tala was gracious and undemanding, and Hammond genuinely regretted his inability to help the Asgard. They chanced to lose an incredibly important ally if the Asgard government fell.
But, damn, there was no way.
Entering the gate room, he was surprised to find a fully kitted up Colonel O'Neill waiting at the base of the ramp.
What the hell did he think he was doing?
"Colonel, where do you think you are going?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I need to go to Othalla."
"I gave you a direct order. Stand down."
O'Neill's body was as rigidly at attention as it could be. "No, sir, I am sorry, sir. I can not in all conscience, obey that order."
"Jack." Hammond's voice was almost pleading. "This is a court martial offence."
"I know, sir." The General could see the strength of Jack's resolve overlaying a barely seen distress in his eyes. What the hell had Thor said to drive O'Neill to this extreme?
His thoughts were interrupted by the rest of SG-1 entering the room.
Doctor Jackson's voice echoed off the concrete.
"Jack, you are not going without us."
*********
Jack felt every muscle in his body tense. No way in hell....
His three teammates were all fully kitted out, ready to go. Had he been that transparent?
"Daniel, I am going alone."
"No, you are not, sir." Carter.
"No-one is going anywhere!" Hammond gestured to the guards at the door. Weapons were raised.
Jack raised his own, on reflex alone. SG-1 moved to his side.
"Carter, leave now."
"No, sir, it's SG-1 together or not at all."
He swore.
Tala, almost forgotten in the fray, joined SG-1 at the base of the ramp. He addressed O'Neill. "Am I to understand that you wish to return with me to Othalla?"
"Soldacium, Tala."
"Very well."
The small alien gestured, and a sparkling force field appeared around SG-1 and himself. A wormhole shattered into being behind them.
"Tala, me only." Jack did not want the rest of SG-1 to throw their careers down the toilet. It was his decision and his alone.
Apparently they had other ideas.
Sam walked right up to him and defiantly looked him in the eye. "Colonel, sir, SG-1 is a team."
"Carter, no."
"Sir, no-one gets left behind, not even in safety."
"Carter, I said, no!"
"Sorry, sir, we can't let you go on your own."
"I am going alone."
"No, sir."
"Which part of that order did you not understand, Carter?"
"None of it, sir." The woman's face was set at a furious attention, looking up at him.
"Carter, your career...."
"Some things are more important, sir." Her gaze held his eyes, beyond her defiance something else floated, something nameless. Briefly, a fear flickered in her eyes before it was dismissed.
"Jack." Daniel. "If we are going, we better be going now."
His reluctance tore at him. His decision had cost him so much, but the kids....it would cost them so much more. He still hesitated, his eyes skipping over the furious Hammond and the massing troops in the gate room.
Teal'c caught his eye once, and once only. Loyalty shone like a beacon.
This was what it was all about wasn't it?
He turned to Hammond. "General, I am sorry. Please trust me when I say that I am not doing this for a fickle reason. It is important, more than I can tell you." He paused, the look of betrayal on Hammond's face tearing him up inside. "If I can I will return. Do with me, then, what you will. I'm sorry."
With that he took a deep breath and turned towards the stargate, knowing that his team followed behind him.
As he stepped into the wormhole, he wondered if it would be for the last time.
He sincerely hoped not.
*********
On a small planet in the galaxy of Ida, three humans, a Jaffa, and an Asgard burst through an event horizon to land on their feet in front of a stargate.
And all hell broke loose.
*********
FIN
Part 14 of The Asgard Sequence
Sequel to 'Blame'
By Gumnut
Sep/Oct 2003
Jack sat and watched the P-90 hologram revolve slowly on the conference room table.
He and Daniel had been arguing about dinner when the call came through from Sam. The choices had been pizza or Thai food. Jack, of course, was all for pizza. Daniel claimed he was sick of it, and wanted to try something new.
How could you get sick of pizza?
Beer and pizza, staple food, can't live without it.
And since he had been denied anything remotely resembling that delicacy for the last month - he wasn't sure he would ever be able to eat chocolate again - there had been no way he was going to settle for anything less than the real thing.
His house, his rules, his pizza.
So there.
The phone had rung just as he was reaching to pick it up and dial Dominoes.
He was still hungry.
Two handfuls of month old potato crisps from Daniel's glove compartment, and a glass of water just didn't cut it.
He was being deprived. The universe was out to get him by denying him pizza.
It was just the icing on the cake, though, because now round two of 'Let's get the Asgard to hate Jack O'Neill' had begun.
It was his gun.
Well, it looked like his gun.
But as far as he knew, his actual weapon had been blown to stardust aboard the 'O'Neill'.
Apparently not.
Damn.
All of SG-1 sat around the conference table, Hammond, as usual, at its head. Tala was playing show and tell.
Look, this is Jack's gun, see he shot Thor, how dare he? What do you mean he didn't do it? His DNA is all over the weapon.
"Oh, for crying out loud, I couldn't even walk at the time Thor was shot. In fact, I was probably flat on my back having hit that stupid tree."
"Vine."
Jack slowly turned his head towards Daniel. A patented Jack O'Neill death glare was released.
The archeologist melted before his eyes.
He turned back to Tala. "As I was saying, there is no way I could have shot Thor, even if I wanted to, which I most certainly do not."
Tala looked him directly in the eye. "That is precisely what the Commander said."
Jack was confused. "What?"
Tala addressed the room at large. "Commander Thor unwaveringly believes that Colonel O'Neill would never have injured him. Although, he does say that, walking or not, O'Neill could be physically capable of such a task, he is adamant that the Colonel would never do such a thing." He looked over at Jack. "And I agree."
Jack was still confused. This was the same alien who a few weeks ago could barely look at him, much less speak to him? Now, he was declaring his firm belief in his innocence?
As if sensing O'Neill's confusion, Tala said, "Colonel, Commander Thor has declared you his friend. In our culture, we value friendship on par with family. It is a great honour to be bestowed such a title by any of us." His eyes seemed to see into O'Neill's soul. "With it comes a great responsibility. Commander Thor would give his life in your name, and he has told me you would hold his life in a similar esteem. Is his faith in vain?"
O'Neill felt as if everyone in the room was staring at him. Embarrassment was just the beginning of what he was feeling. Of course, he would lay down his life for Thor should the situation warrant it, it just wasn't something you spoke about casually.
Tala was waiting for an answer.
Crap.
He cleared his throat. "Of course." His voice was rough earning him a glance from Carter.
"A betrayal of this loyalty is one of the gravest crimes in our society. Unfortunately, in declaring his allegiance towards yourself, the Commander has strained his relationship with the Asgard High Council." The alien took a breath. "Certain elements in our political system are applying pressure to usurp his position." Tala glanced at his hands before turning to look at O'Neill once more. "Colonel, last night Commander Thor was taken forcibly from his home by persons unknown. He left me instructions that should his life be threatened, I was to contact SG-1 and request assistance. He was of the firm opinion that no-one else on Othalla could be trusted."
The sudden silence was broken by a choked cough from O'Neill, followed by a firm, "Okay, what can we do?"
"Commander Thor believed that he had been attacked with this weapon," he indicated the hologram, "in an attempt to remove SG-1 from Othalla and possibly from Asgard relations altogether. The fact the council acted almost immediately has spurred his suspicions. And now that he has been taken, I am deeply worried for his safety." Jack saw the honesty in Tala's eyes. "He told me to give you this." He held up a small box. "It can only be activated and viewed by you. He said you would know what to do with it."
Jack accepted the box. It was small, about two inches cubed, and had no discernable markings.
He had no idea what to do with it.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Carter and Daniel eyeing the box with curiosity. Hah! If he let them anywhere near it, it would be in pieces in minutes. He pushed the box closer into the crook of his broken arm
He turned back to Tala. "So what do we need to do?"
The Asgard looked a little flummoxed. "I presumed you would wish to view the Commander's message." Ah, mail in a box, so that's what it was. He looked down at it again. Nope, still no idea.
He glanced up. "Yep. I sure will, just not yet." Daniel rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth to say something, but Jack cut him off. "I want to view the message in private." Now, that shut him up. If in doubt, bluff.
"Well, Jack, I suggest you excuse yourself for a moment and open your mail." The General was being patient.
Jack glanced across the table at Tala, and asked him one more thing before he left. "What do you think he wants us to do?"
The Asgard didn't hesitate. "I believe he would want you to return to Othalla to declare your innocence."
O'Neill looked down at the box again, thinking.
"I guess I will have to find out." He stood, clutching the small cube in one hand. "If you will excuse me, Tala, General." He looked at SG-1. "Kids."
That earned him a smirk from Sam.
"Tally ho."
He left the room.
*********
He ended up back in his on-base quarters. He had hoped to not see them for a while, but here he was.
He placed the box on a table, and sat staring at it. Thor said he would know what to do with it. What? It couldn't be too complicated, Thor knew that much about him, didn't he?
He turned the box over and over in his hands. No apparent openings, no switches, no writings.
Good on the lack of writings, otherwise he would have to fight for it with Daniel.
It was Asgard, perhaps it was holographic?
He rattled it. There was something inside.
Shit. He put it down suddenly, hoping he hadn't broken anything.
He stared at it awhile longer. C'mon, Thor buddy, what did you mean I would know what to do with it? It was a bit much to place such faith in the stunted part of his brain that contained all his scientific knowledge. This could be a matter of life and death.
Life and death.
A sudden flashback of Thor in the clutches of Anubis' Jaffa holding his fingers to his throat.
Jack reached out a hand, laying his fingers on the box.
He said one word.
"Life."
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
"Hope."
Two things happened at once. The box sprang open, scattering several objects onto the table.
And a six inch high hologram appeared.
"Greetings, O'Neill."
*********
Sam Carter was deep in discussion with Tala, when Colonel O'Neill burst back into the conference room. He immediately caught all her attention.
The look in his eyes was haunted.
He wasted no time on pleasantries. "General, request permission to return to Othalla."
"What did you find out, Colonel?"
Jack's eyes didn't meet the General's. "Sir, Thor is in need of our assistance. I recommend we supply it."
"I repeat, Jack, what did you find out?"
"I'm afraid, General, that I am not in a position to disclose that information."
The General looked surprised. "What?"
"Sir, may I speak to you in private?"
The General stood, and gestured the Colonel towards his office, before following him and closing the door.
Sam looked at Daniel, whose eyebrows were raised. Something was up.
Raised voices had them both looking in the direction of the closed door. Through the window, they could see a wildly gesticulating Colonel and a stony faced General.
The argument went on for quite awhile, the Colonel's body language getting more and more agitated.
Abruptly the door was flung open. A furious Colonel stormed out of the office, stalking past a stunned SG-1 towards the stairs. He paused briefly before leaving, his eyes casting over his team, and locking on Tala. He said one word.
"Soldacium."
And, turning, he left.
All of SG-1 turned to look at Tala, but he looked as confused as Sam felt. She looked at Daniel, finding his face thoughtful, but puzzled.
"Do you know what he said?"
Daniel jumped as if she had spooked him. "What? No, not yet." She could see his mind clicking over behind his eyes. She watched as he scribbled something in his notes.
The General finally came out of his office, looking tired and worried. "I'm sorry, Tala, I can not give SG-1 permission to return to Othalla. The situation is too unstable and without further information I am not willing to take the risk. Colonel O'Neill is also not medically fit for such a mission at this time."
"But, sir-" Sam knew how much Thor meant to the Colonel.
"Major, I have made my decision. Colonel O'Neill refuses to divulge the information Thor sent him. Tala has told us the Asgard High Council all but blames the Colonel for assaulting one of their officers, and it sounds like the political situation is becoming unstable." He turned once again to Tala. "My deepest apologies, Tala, and my sincerest hopes that all will be well with Commander Thor. But I can not send my people into a situation where they are outnumbered and outgunned on all sides should the situation erupt. I'm sorry."
She knew he genuinely was, she could see it his eyes. The General liked Thor in his own way, and obviously he had had a furious argument with the Colonel.
Tala bowed slightly to Hammond. "I understand, General." He looked towards the stargate through the glass windows. "I am unable to return to Othalla for two more of your hours. I left as unobtrusively as possible and must return as such."
"Major Carter can show you to some guest quarters, please let her know if there is anything else you need during that time." He turned to the remaining members of SG-1. "Dismissed."
*********
Jack was back in his quarters....again.
Staring at the box....again.
He knew how to open it now, and had one of its objects in his hand, rolling it amongst his fingers.
Two loyalties stood before him, and he had to choose.
Thoughts of Thor charging to his rescue, the entire Asgard Fleet in tow, came to mind.
George's stony, but anguished, face saying the word 'No'.
The two loyalties were in conflict. At the end of the first came court martial, a life in prison. At the end of the other....
Looking down at his fingers, he stared at the piece of alien technology.
He made the decision.
*********
Daniel went immediately to his office, pulled a book off his shelf - was nearly killed by the several that came off accidently with it - and thumbed through its many pages.
Teal'c had followed him, his curiosity obviously piqued.
"Daniel Jackson, do you know what Colonel O'Neill said?"
"I think I do." His fingers moved down the pages, searching until he found what he was looking for. "Aah! 'Solacium: Latin for help, support, or military aid'."
Daniel saw realisation dawn on Teal'c's face. "Colonel O'Neill speaks the language of the Ancients."
Daniel tipped his head slightly in acknowledgement. "He does, some, so do you."
"I do not know that word."
"He obviously does. 'Soldacium' is close to 'solacium'. I'm thinking he asked Tala for help."
The two suddenly looked at each other.
"Shit." Daniel grabbed his phone. "Sam, can you get to my lab asap. No Tala." The affirmative at the other end of the line was enough for him. He put the phone down.
"You believe O'Neill will attempt to go to Othalla regardless."
"Yes, Teal'c, and it wouldn't be the first time either. Give him enough reason and he'll go to ends of the Earth for a friend. So why not the ends of the galaxy." Where the hell was Sam?
"Will General Hammond not attempt to stop him?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he will, Teal'c, but there is an Asgard on base. Since when have we been able to stop them from doing anything?"
A raised eyebrow was the only answer.
Sam came running into his office. "What's up?"
Daniel filled her in.
"Shit!"
At least they all agreed.
"He'll go without us, won't he?" Sam's eyes said she knew the answer to her question.
The truth echoed in the room. Jack O'Neill was well known for endangering himself for a good enough cause, but he never endangered his team if he could help it.
As one they made for the door.
*********
General Hammond made his way to the gate room with Tala. He had gone to visit the Othallan to see if there was anything, anything at all, he could do to help the Asgard without endangering his premiere team.
There was nothing.
Tala was gracious and undemanding, and Hammond genuinely regretted his inability to help the Asgard. They chanced to lose an incredibly important ally if the Asgard government fell.
But, damn, there was no way.
Entering the gate room, he was surprised to find a fully kitted up Colonel O'Neill waiting at the base of the ramp.
What the hell did he think he was doing?
"Colonel, where do you think you are going?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I need to go to Othalla."
"I gave you a direct order. Stand down."
O'Neill's body was as rigidly at attention as it could be. "No, sir, I am sorry, sir. I can not in all conscience, obey that order."
"Jack." Hammond's voice was almost pleading. "This is a court martial offence."
"I know, sir." The General could see the strength of Jack's resolve overlaying a barely seen distress in his eyes. What the hell had Thor said to drive O'Neill to this extreme?
His thoughts were interrupted by the rest of SG-1 entering the room.
Doctor Jackson's voice echoed off the concrete.
"Jack, you are not going without us."
*********
Jack felt every muscle in his body tense. No way in hell....
His three teammates were all fully kitted out, ready to go. Had he been that transparent?
"Daniel, I am going alone."
"No, you are not, sir." Carter.
"No-one is going anywhere!" Hammond gestured to the guards at the door. Weapons were raised.
Jack raised his own, on reflex alone. SG-1 moved to his side.
"Carter, leave now."
"No, sir, it's SG-1 together or not at all."
He swore.
Tala, almost forgotten in the fray, joined SG-1 at the base of the ramp. He addressed O'Neill. "Am I to understand that you wish to return with me to Othalla?"
"Soldacium, Tala."
"Very well."
The small alien gestured, and a sparkling force field appeared around SG-1 and himself. A wormhole shattered into being behind them.
"Tala, me only." Jack did not want the rest of SG-1 to throw their careers down the toilet. It was his decision and his alone.
Apparently they had other ideas.
Sam walked right up to him and defiantly looked him in the eye. "Colonel, sir, SG-1 is a team."
"Carter, no."
"Sir, no-one gets left behind, not even in safety."
"Carter, I said, no!"
"Sorry, sir, we can't let you go on your own."
"I am going alone."
"No, sir."
"Which part of that order did you not understand, Carter?"
"None of it, sir." The woman's face was set at a furious attention, looking up at him.
"Carter, your career...."
"Some things are more important, sir." Her gaze held his eyes, beyond her defiance something else floated, something nameless. Briefly, a fear flickered in her eyes before it was dismissed.
"Jack." Daniel. "If we are going, we better be going now."
His reluctance tore at him. His decision had cost him so much, but the kids....it would cost them so much more. He still hesitated, his eyes skipping over the furious Hammond and the massing troops in the gate room.
Teal'c caught his eye once, and once only. Loyalty shone like a beacon.
This was what it was all about wasn't it?
He turned to Hammond. "General, I am sorry. Please trust me when I say that I am not doing this for a fickle reason. It is important, more than I can tell you." He paused, the look of betrayal on Hammond's face tearing him up inside. "If I can I will return. Do with me, then, what you will. I'm sorry."
With that he took a deep breath and turned towards the stargate, knowing that his team followed behind him.
As he stepped into the wormhole, he wondered if it would be for the last time.
He sincerely hoped not.
*********
On a small planet in the galaxy of Ida, three humans, a Jaffa, and an Asgard burst through an event horizon to land on their feet in front of a stargate.
And all hell broke loose.
*********
FIN