Stargazers Stargaters Part 28

The parents and SG-1 returned to the Manor with their hosts, after freshening up a bit, at the same time that Daniel and Sha're returned from their walk through the front gardens.

"Where are Liz and Max?" Jeff asked.

"Max needed to meet with the Council and asked Liz to accompany him." Isabel replied and Jeff frowned.

"What's wrong, honey?" Nancy asked her husband.

"Well..." Jeff hesitated and then continued. "Don't you think Max is rushing things? Liz hasn't been on Antar for even one hour and he pulls her away from us so that she can sit in on a Council-meeting."

"Mr. Parker, I think my brother just wanted to keep Liz close by, no matter where he needed to be." Isabel explained. "But, on the other hand, when they marry and Liz is made our queen, she will officially become one of Max's closest advisors...which actually, she always has been. Liz may be bored at this meeting, but it might help her to begin understanding our ways here on Antar."

"I...guess so." Jeff conceded thoughtfully.

"So, does everyone have their walking shoes on?" Tess asked brightly. "We thought we'd take you all on a tour...SG-1, you are welcome to come with us, we'll point out several areas of interest to you as we go, or your hosts will be happy to guide you individually."

"I think seeing an overview of the city would be a good idea." Jack answered and with that, the group started out.

Over an hour later, Max and Liz caught up with their friends and Jeff was reassured by the happy expression on both his daughter's and future son-in-law's faces as well as their interwoven fingers and clasped hands. And as well as happiness, there was a look of respect streaming out of Liz's eyes each time she glanced up at Max.

"So, how's the tour going and where are SG-1?" Max asked.

"They asked Seria and Beneck if they could go and see some specific places we passed, which would be of more interest to them, than to us." Tess explained.

"How did the meeting go, Liz?" Maria asked.

"A little boring since I didn't really know what they were talking about, even though everyone spoke English on my account, but it was okay and the Council members were all very nice." Liz said and then thought to herself. 'But I loved seeing Max at work; I've always respected his intelligence and leadership ability, among other things, but I think I respect him even more, after witnessing how well he handles all of the information he is given and the decisions he must make.'

None of their friends and families might have heard Liz's thoughts, but they could not miss seeing her loving glance strengthen with the respect she felt for her soul-mate...and grin to each other.

"So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?" Philip asked.

"We thought that we might show you some of the countryside villages and have a pick-nick up in the hills." Isabel said. "We want you to take it easy while you're here; remember that our days are thirty hours long instead of twenty-four and that takes some getting used to."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Max turned to Liz.

"I'm sorry, Liz; but I'm going to have to stay here and meet with SG-1. We're going to start our negotiations." Max explained.

"I'd be interested to sit in on those talks with you, Max; but I know that SG-1 have everything well covered, so if you don't mind I'll go with everyone else." Liz replied.

"I'll miss you." Max whispered. "But I know you'll enjoy seeing the countryside villages." Max told her before kissing her brow.

So, the parents and friends with Isabel, Michael and Tess headed out while Max contacted Beneck and asked him to bring SG-1 back to the Manor. When they arrived, the four Earthlings and Sha're Jackson agreed that they were eager to sit down and begin discussing what both sides wanted to gain from their treaty.

Max was willing to share Antar's communications, space travel, medical and other technologies; their military strength was psi-based and therefore unusable by Humans. Antar, on the other hand, needed technical personnel to add to their own tech-people, to rebuild their space fleet. Colonel O'Neill gave the SGC's position; they were willing to share the information they had gained about the Goa'uld, they wanted to work with and learn space-ship building techniques from the Antarians and O'Neill suggested that they work together to build two faster-than-light-ships, one for Antar and one for Earth. Jack also suggested setting up a small training facility in which both Antarian and SGC soldiers could be trained to fight the Goa'uld and protect each of their planets. The U.S. military had already started to specially train some of its officers in techniques for fighting the parasites, but needed a proper and top-secret base in which to do the training.

"As things stand now, we foresee the closing off of several floors of the SGC to run training scenarios, once the first batch of specially picked troops graduate. Having a facility here would benefit both of our worlds." Jack finished.

"Jack's right, but if our two peoples are going to work and/or train together there is the little problem of our two different languages." Daniel spoke up. "Will all Earth personnel need to learn Antarian and vice versa...I could foresee that as being quite a problem."

"That is a good point." Max agreed. "But we have a solution which up until now hasn't been necessary, since the four of us speak English. We have a method which allows a person to learn key information or facts in a very short period of time. This method works very well for learning other languages; in fact that's how the four of us were taught our native-tongue after we returned to Antar. This method does not work well, however for teaching concepts or advanced theory...anything which will be built on, added to, or need to be analyzed, etc."

"So that's why we will need to be personally taught your technologies." Sam nodded understanding. "But being able to use this method to learn Antarian will be fantastic; I've never been very successful at learning other languages."

The group continued to discuss how the method worked and how it could be implemented on both SGC personnel and Antarians alike. They also made good headway in figuring out what technologies they were willing to share and through what manner the information could be exchanged. Finally, though the afternoon passed and it became time for everyone to rest a little and then dress for the ceremony.

Two hours later the friends, family-members and hosts all gathered on the back patio of the Royal Manor. O'Neill and Carter were back in their dress uniforms, Daniel in his sharp blue suit, Teal'c in his white one and Sha're in her lovely print dress. The parents had changed into suits and pretty dresses as had Alex, Kyle, Maria and Liz, respectively. All of their hosts were in Antarian costumes of slacks or long, full skirts and sleeveless tunics, but over these they wore long hemmed, long sleeved coats, which were made of light materials so they floated out behind the wearer. Most of the men wore solid-colored coats of all colors and the women wore brightly patterned designs on theirs.

Liz thought that Max looked very handsome in his dark gold or amber-colored outfit, with the same brown embroidery down the left-front of his coat, which had been sewn onto the front of the tunic he had worn earlier. The color of his outfit set off his tanned face and brought out the gold highlights in his dark brown hair. He also wore a matching headband, this time with a thin brown cord woven through it and he wore the band on top of his hair, except for his bangs, which insisted on falling over the band.

For his part, Max thought that Liz looked gorgeous in her burgundy halter-dress. It had no sleeves or back to it, instead the glimmering fabric spread out and down from the high neckline in soft, vertical folds to the waist where it gently circled around to her back and then became a long, full skirt which almost sparkled as she gracefully walked beside him.

"I hope we aren't too late." General Hammond said as he and Dr. Janet Fraser walked up to the group, having just come through the Stargate and been brought down the hill by one of the Antarian guards.

Both were wearing their dress uniforms. The General had come because of course he was SG-1's commanding officer and Janet had come because she was Sam's best friend and she would also be studying here with some of the Antarian physicians in the near future.

"No, General, Doctor; you're just in time." Max said and Isabel motioned for someone to come forward.

"Janet, this is Ebron, one of our foremost physicians, whom you will be working with; I thought that the two of you might get to know each other a little tonight." Isabel introduced them.

Janet tried to surreptitiously glance up and down the tall form of the handsome doctor before her. As she did so, she noticed Ebron doing the same thing to her and they grinned shyly, embarrassed at being caught, but still attracted as they greeted each other. Max saw the exchange and glanced over to his sister in resignation, but Isabel only shrugged her shoulders innocently and Max sighed.

Just then Valaria stepped onto the patio and Max went to greet his mother and draw her over to the group. As he began to introduce her to first the SGC personnel and then the parents, Max wondered how his birth-mother would respond to meeting his adoptive parents.

"...And finally, these are Philip and Diane Evans." Max introduced them, knowing that he need not give any explanation as to who they were to himself and Isabel.

Jealousy and gratitude warred within Valaria's heart as she was introduced to the Human couple who had found her children out in the desert, taken them home and then adopted them as their own. But as she looked into Diane Evans' eyes and saw a mother's love hiding behind the nervousness, all negative emotions dissolved and she stepped forward with a serene expression on her face and both hands outstretched to grasp Diane's hand between them.

"It is such a pleasure to meet both of you. Antar owes you a great debt and I have wanted to thank you for taking such great care of my children, all of these years...and making it possible for them to return to us in our hour of need."

"It wasn't hard; we love them as our own." Diane replied simply.

"They're great kids...all four of them; we're proud of who they have become." Philip added.

Valaria smiled at this and everyone subtly relaxed.

"It's time for us to leave; if you will all follow me, the ceremony will be held in a park nearby." Max said. "General Hammond, if you would escort our mother?"

"It would be my honor, Your Majesties." Hammond bowed his head to Max and then to Valaria. "If you would allow me, ma'am?" He asked the Dowager Queen as he proffered his arm for her to take.

"Thank you, General." Valaria said as she slipped her hand through his arm and allowed him to escort her, a few steps behind her son and future daughter, to the open-air theatre nearby and everyone else processed behind them.

The theater had been built into the side of hill, in the shape of a half-circle. The stage was at the foot of the hill and tiers with benches had been built into the bottom half of the slope. The upper half of the hill was covered in grass and dotted with shade trees and was perfect to seat thousands of extra people, on portable chairs or blankets. As the royal party walked out onto the stage, the thousands of people, whether sitting on benches or blankets, all stood up and started to cheer. Max quickly showed everyone where to sit; their friends and family in reserved seats in the front row, their loves, escorted to their seats by each of the Royal Four. SG-1, Sha're and the General were shown seats on one side of the small stage, Valaria, Isabel, Michael, Tess and Max took seats on the other, almost facing the guests of honor.

"Thank you everyone, for welcoming our guests of honor so wonderfully!" Max greeted the crowds in Antarian, ignoring the fact that many of the cheers were for him as well as for SG-1, as the hosts translated for their guests. "Before we honor these brave visitors from another world, though, we would like to honor all of you first, because every one of you had a part in our victory over the Goa'uld." Max said.

As he said this, dozens of men and women came out from back stage; each levitating large bunches of flowers. There were five colors of flowers and each of the Royal Four and Valaria stood to take their place beside a particular colored bundle. The volunteers who had brought out the flowers and who remained to stand nearby and help were already wearing a spray of flowers pinned to their clothing or in their hair.

"First of all we honor the elderly members of our community. They have already fought bravely in many past battles. As they stayed in the shelters with the children, I am told that they each took turns, telling stories and singing songs to help pass the time and brighten the spirits of everyone in the shelters...at this time we would ask that all of you please stand." Max called out.

As the aged stood, their friends and families around them cheered and clapped for them. At the same time, Valaria and her group of helpers levitated a spray of purple flowers out to each and every person standing.

"Next we honor the children. They have never known violence, war or fear and must have been very frightened and yet every one of our children immediately did what their parents or teachers told them to do and marched quickly and bravely down into the shelters. None of our youngsters was hurt or lost by disobeying the instructions they were given. I know that many of you joined in with the elders of our community when they sang to you. Would all of you children please stand up...stand on the benches if you have to, so that we can see you!" Max instructed.

Everyone clapped and cheered for the children as Isabel and her helpers levitated yellow flowers out to each and every child. Mothers caught flowers for the smallest among them.

"We now honor the care givers, who stayed in the shelters to look after the elderly and the children. Not everyone could take their places in a four-square; our innocent young and honorable elders needed to be protected. We knew that we could count on all of you to care for our loved ones and that you would fight to keep them safe if the enemy got past the four-squares. Would all of you please stand." Max called out.

The cheers and clapping started again as Tess and her group sent out sprays of flowers with light green and light blue petals on them.

"Next we honor the healers. These brave people not only cared for our sick and elderly in the shelters, or stayed in the hospitals to care for the wounded, many of them were out in the field, among the fighting-squares. But they worked alone or only in pairs, without the protective power of a complete connection, while giving immediate medical attention to the wounded. Would all of the healers please stand." Max called out.

The cheers were extra loud and enthusiastic as Max himself and his group sent flowers out to these people. The flowers looked quite a bit like poinsettias, a large, red flower with dark green leaves...and yet they were different.

"The last but not least group we honor are the four-squares. These people used their own energies and risked their lives to defend all of us against an enemy we had never seen before and who had advanced weaponry. Would all of you please stand." Max called out.

Michael and his group sent out flowers with hundreds of tiny burnt-orange petals all up and down the stem as the crowd cheered for them. And then the Royal Four were each surprised when a flower stalk floated down to them as well. After all they had fought in their own four-square along with their people.

"Wow...thank you very much!" Max said humbly as he blushed. "Well now it's time to honor our guests." Max motioned to SG-1.

"Sha're Jackson, you were imprisoned within your own body, but you fought the demon, Amonette and after she was killed you helped us start to understand the Stargate and the Goa'uld. Major General Hammond, you command the SGC; a very impressive and unique military command; I'm sure it's nothing like any Earth military commander has ever had to face before. And most of all, SG-1; Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c...you came through the Stargate to only explore our planet, meet us and to hopefully begin formal relations with us...and ended up saving our entire planet. Would you please stand."

Max said all of this in English while Michael translated for all of the people. The four-square who had fought beside SG-1 also came up to stand nearby as Max continued.

"You gave valuable intelligence to us on how to fight the Goa'uld, you risked your lives to board the mother-ship along with the four-square made up of Seria, Beneck, Mardall and Tholla and knocked out their formidable defensive shields...And now...you are helping us build a brighter future for Antar and Earth, through mutual sharing of technology, resources and friendship."

Max had to pause as the crowds started to cheer even louder than before as Seria and the others presented all of their new friends with flower bouquets of their own, made up with all five of the flower types.

"In recognition of everything you have done for us, may I present you with these..." Max continued.

Michael, Isabel and Tess came forward carrying between them five boxes and one by one, Max opened the boxes and presented the gifts to each of the SGC personnel, by pinning them to their uniforms above all of their other medals, or in Daniel's case, onto his lapel. The medal/pin was a simplified version of the pendant which the Royal Four had given Sha're on her birthday (and which she was wearing for the occasion); the V-formation of the Antarian region of space. Theirs' were made up of five golden spheres attached to each other by delicate, clear crystal rods and within the formation, also joined to the rest with crystals was the Antarian symbol for friend.

"...In hope that all of us here will always remain good and loyal friends and that our two worlds may grow in friendship as well." Max finished.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty." Hammond said solemnly after receiving his medal. Max then turned towards his people and called out in Antarian as Seria translated for SG-1.

"My people, let us honor the men and women of Stargate Command!"

All of the crowds stood up from their benches, chairs or blankets and started to clap and cheer. They waived their flowers and Sam could not help but think that this had been one of the most moving and by far the most beautiful award ceremonies she had ever attended, as she looked up at all of the people and the multicolored flower petals which were beginning to float through the air.

"Now...we have a celebration planned in the park up the hill." Isabel had to raise her voice over the cheering so that the guests of honor, their friends and families could hear her. "Let's go!"

Seria and the other hosts gathered their guests together and led them up the steps to the top of the hill where a large and beautiful park spread out before them. As the people gathered into groups to chat, a delicious buffet was quickly spread out on tables. SG-1 and their friends were led through the buffet by their hosts who explained what all the different foods were so that they could each make their selections. They all found places to sit on blankets which had been spread out on the ground and tried a little bit of everything on their plates.

"Mmmm, this is so good!" Nancy Parker almost moaned as she took another bite of a purple-colored fruit.

"Mmhm...so is this!" Amy agreed as she ate a thick slice of fresh bread, spread with some sort of green cheese.

They chatted about how beautiful and moving the ceremony had been and all they had seen so far since they had arrived. Their hosts answered many of their questions and they all got to know each other a little bit better. When music started to play, Max stood up.

"Liz, would you like to dance?" He held his hand down to her.

"Sure, I'd love to!" Liz said taking his hand so that Max could pull her to her feet.

Alex, Michael and Kyle soon followed Max's example as did Jim Valenti, asking Amy DeLuca to partner him. The rest of the group, having finished all of their food, also stood up a few minutes later and wandered over to the large dance floors where dozens of couples were dancing. The young couples from their party had successfully picked up the new dance steps, but Amy and Jim were watching from the sidelines; clapping their hands to the beat of the music. Next came a set of circle, line and square dances. Sam watched the dancers sway, twirl, dip and jump their way around the dance floor and could not keep her feet from tapping the beat.

"Would you like to dance, Major?" Beneck asked, seeing Sam's enthusiasm.

"Sure, Beneck, that sounds like fun!" Sam agreed.

She took his hand to be led up to the dance floor, but as they waited to take their places in the dance-set, Sam realized she was wearing her tight dress-uniform skirt.

"Rats, I wonder if I'll be able to dance at all in this thing." She mumbled.

"Hmmm, yes your skirt is rather...uh...form-fitting, if I may say so, Major." Beneck agreed, looking down. "I could change it for you, if you'd like."

"What?" Sam asked.

"Like this." Beneck said before he waived his glowing hand down across Sam's skirt, just a few inches separating his skin from the material...and Sam's legs. "There, how's that?" He asked.

Sam looked down and was surprised to see that her tight-straight skirt had changed. It was now longer and fuller, but still navy-blue. Her fingers grasped the sides of the skirt and pulled them out to see how full it was now.

"Hey that's great, now I can really move!" Sam exclaimed happily as she unbuttoned her uniform jacket and then took Beneck's hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. "Come on, show me the steps..."

Down in the crowd, Jack O'Neill was watching Sam up on the dance floor.

"Hey, what did that Beneck-guy just do to Sam...uh...Major Carter?" He demanded.

"I'm sure Beneck meant only to fix the Major's skirt as a courtesy, Colonel. True, his actions were a little familiar, but I'm sure he meant no disrespect." Max, who also had been watching, assured Jack. "Would you like me to speak to him...or as the Major's superior officer, do you feel that it is your duty to say something to Beneck?" Max asked formally.

"Hmm?...uh...as her superior officer?...oh, uh, no...as her superior...I don't think that'll be necessary..." Jack said, but he was thinking...'as her...friend, I'd like to break a couple of his oh-so thoughtful...glowing...fingers, though...' "No, let's not say anything, it looks like the uh...Major...is having fun." Jack said. 'Only wish it was me she was dancing with, though.' He thought silently and then sighed.

Max heard the sigh and glanced over to Isabel who had been listening to the conversation between her brother and the Colonel. An ever-so-slight smug expression gently curved her lips, but she did not say anything before pulling Alex behind her, back towards the dance floor and as he watched them go, it was Max's turn to sigh.