At Any Cost- Ch.3- Colonel Jack O'Neill
"Both?" I asked, a little stunned. "Okay, Captain. I just want to note, Jack used to be a Colonel in the United States Air Force, so he's in one of the uniforms. And Tameth, well, he prefers to be called by his first name and doesn't like formalities too much. Also, I should warn you that-" I stopped for a minute, thinking. "Never mind, you'll find out. You'll definitely find out."
Dammit! I thought. I thought only Jack would be fine, but noooo, she has to meet both. Why did I even ask?
"Okay, Mister Paris. Let's meet Colonel O'Neill first." Captain Janeway said, getting ready. I looked around and it looked like everyone was bracing themselves-well, except Tuvok-for some big explosion or something, weird.
Here goes, God help me. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew, I was in the symbiote's little Holodeck thingy with Tameth staring at me with an evil grin.
"I get to meet Kathryn." He kept on smiling.
"Tameth," I started, moving toward him, our heights almost equal. "We have to go over some rules here, okay.
One, don't flirt with, touch, kiss, or hug the Captain. I don't want to hear it, the senior staff doesn't want to hear it, and I'm definitely sure Janeway doesn't want to hear it, which brings me to number two. If you do flirt with her, I'm gonna have hell to pay, and so will you.
Three, at most tell them about the Asgard, not the Stargate. Jack already knows not to, so that only leaves you. Only answer the questions they ask.
Four, when they talk, you don't. Shut-up for once in your life. Just listen, okay? Those rules set clear enough for you?" I stared at him.
"I get to meet Kathryn." Tameth started smiling again.
"Why do I even bother?" I asked, rhetorically.
"I don't know." Tameth was still grinning, pacing back and forth.
"You know, I'm going to teach you the meaning of a rhetorical question. It's a question you're not supposed answer, stupid."
My body was turning into Jack's, and the next thing Jack knew, he was staring at Janeway and the rest of the senior staff.
"Hello, Captain Janeway." Jack smiled. He was in his green Air Force uniform, missing the SGC symbol on his arm. He had gray hair and was smiling. "I see Tom decided to show off. I knew he shouldn't have told you guys, but does he ever listen to me? Nope, just listen to Tameth whine and then get angry at him for not know what a rhetorical question is. It gets old, but it's usually funny."
"Colonel Jack O'Neill I presume?" Captain Janeway stood up. They shook hands and Janeway offered Jack a seat. He took it and put his feet up on the table. Everyone stared at him.
"Oh, sorry," Jack took his feet off the table. "it's been a long time since I've been in a briefing. Any questions you would like to ask? Keep in mind that I'm not one of the brighter people in the symbiote."
"Colonel O'Neill, I can't help but realize that you and Mister Paris seem to be very alike." Janeway sat down in her chair and folded her hands.
"From what I'm told, part of the previous hosts stay behind in the sub conscience, like the Trills." Jack said, trying to sound sophisticated. "Yeah, Tom's been told that he and I are alike, worse part is that Hathor said it to him. It's been over three hundred years and the so called 'god' still remembers me! I mean, I would remember someone that tried to kill me twice, but after three hundred years, I would forget."
"You knew Hathor?" Chakotay asked surprised.
"Knew? God, we ran into each other several times. The worst part is that after my team and I killed her 'supposedly' for the second time, we thought she was gone for good! Now, I find out she's still alive three weeks ago!" Jack threw his hands up at the end of his conversation. Everyone stared. "Again, sorry."
"Your team and you fought the Goa'uld?" B'Elanna asked.
"Yes, Sam Carter, Daniel Jackson, Jonas Quinn at one point, and my buddy T, or as his real name is, Teal'c, a Jaffa." Jack looked around. "You guys do know what a Jaffa is, right? I know for a fact that the Captain here said something about the Goa'uld."
"We know what a Jaffa is." Harry interjected. "Have you met any other Goa'uld?"
"Tons, so many that I have lost count." Jack said.
"What are some that you remember the most?" Neelix asked.
"Well, there's Hathor, Osiris, Ra, Anubis, Apophis, and Yu are the ones that stand out most." Jack said.
"Me?" Neelix asked. "I'm not a Goa'uld."
"I know." Jack smiled. "It's just a little joke Sam's father played on me when he said what Goa'uld Daniel was going to meet with. I decided to play the joke on you, obvious choice."
"You and Tom are more than a little alike. You guys are practically the same." Kes said.
"Yeah, so Tom's been told!" Jack laughed along with Kes.
"Colonel O'Neill, if you don't mind, I was wondering if we can talk to Tameth, if that's okay with you." Janeway asked getting up and moving towards Jack. Jack stood up.
"Sure, no problem, I think Tom's done yelling at him." Jack smiled and he and Janeway shook hands. "It's been nice meeting all of you, and Captain." Jack looked at the Captain. "Be careful, and remember, if Tameth gets outta control, we'll be right on his case. Don't worry, just be careful."
"What do you mean by that?" Janeway asked, getting a little suspicious. "Tom said the same thing, what are you two talking about?"
"You'll find out, good luck." Jack looked around. "Good luck to all of you."