Author's Note: I've noticed that over the past few chapters (4 in particular) there has been a lot of Jack and not much Teal'c. This is because I find that Jack is easier to write for. He speaks his mind and most of the comments he makes I would say in real life. Teal'c is harder for me to write for because his speech is so uncasual. I'll try to put in more Teal'c (not less Jack though, he is my favorite character), though it will probably start next chapter because I'm half finished this chapter.
Another Author's Note: Just a reminder, words in quotes ("") are spoken, words in apostrophes ('') are thoughts and words in bold (bold) are tapped in Morse code.
The next few weeks were abnormally quiet on the base. SG-1 had separated them selves from the rest of the base. They had only had conversations with each other for the past week. After they had the briefing a few brave officers had tried a conversation with a member of the team. Most had given up within the first few sentences, surprised at how fast the team had learned to Morse code their ideas. Each member of the team had learned to Morse code faster than they had ever been able to before. They could also understand the Morse being tapped to them. The only people that could now understand their fast typing were the members of SG-1 and General Hammond. General Hammond had brushed up on his Morse code so that he could have briefings with his flagship team.
The sounds of constant tapping were heard coming from Sam's lab at almost all hours now. The entire team practically lived in there. They seemed to work non-stop for days, but a few officers had seen Jack, with the help of Teal'c, dragging his scientists off to the commissary for food. Although some friends of the team began to worry about them, General Hammond knew that Jack would make sure they ate and slept.
Two weeks after the briefing Janet called the entire team to the infirmary. She knew General Hammond trusted the team to make good decisions about sleep, food and other necessities, but she also knew, as their friend, that Sam and Daniel would stop at nothing to figure this out.
Jack stomped into the quiet infirmary to announce their arrival and kept walking to stand in front of Janet. The rest of the team followed. Teal'c looked healthy and awake. Sam and Daniel looked they had been awake for a week. They did look well fed though. Jack looked tired, though not in the same way as Sam and Daniel, they looked mentally tired. He looked physically tired. Like he had to fight with the scientists to keep them alive (which he probably did).
"I want to do a short check-up on each of you." Janet in formed the team. They all visibly groaned as one by one she took them behind a curtain and checked their throats and weights. After she finished with Daniel, her last patient, she went back out to give them a mini-lecture.
"I know you want to figure out this artifact and get your voices back." She started. "But you have to take a little time off to eat and sleep. Jack seems to be doing a good job dragging you off to the commissary once or twice a day. You all need at least 5 hours of sleep a night and three meals a day. Don't fight with Jack when he takes you for food. He's probably keeping you two alive right now." She continued looking directly at Sam and Daniel near the end. They knew she was right and decided to be nicer to Jack. "If you can't get three meals and five hours of sleep, I'll make you stay in here. And you'll get nothing done. Understand?" She finished. The team nodded. "All right, then. Dismissed." The team headed out the door and back to Sam's lab.
Sam and Daniel worked on the artifact for two hours or so in the lab. During this time Teal'c stood in a corner to keep watch and Jack took a well-earned nap in an empty chair.
"SG-1 to the briefing room." An officer called over the intercom.
Sam found a stopping place in the book she was reading on disorders of the larynx and walked over to Jack. She carefully shook him awake and waited while the team gathered at the door. She let them all out and closed the door behind them.
A couple minutes later they quietly entered the briefing room and sat in their seats. General Hammond and Janet were already there. At the team's arrival Janet stood up and moved to the front of the room.
"I have the results back from the tests I took about to hours ago on your throats." She began, looking at SG-1 in the end. "The tissue in your throats seems to be healing itself." The team would have cheered for joy if they could have. Janet liked seeing the team in good spirits, but felt the need to continue. "But it could take months, or even years at the rate it's going. I would not have seen the change had I not been looking for miracles. I believe the team should learn sign language just in case the minimal healing stops. The Morse code idea, though a good one, seemed to fail when the team learned to tap faster than people could comprehend.
We know what we're saying. Jack tapped from his seat without hesitation.
"Yes Colonel, but not many others do. Do you feel comfortable with only having conversations with your team forever?" General Hammond questioned.
Jack looked around the table to his team and then turned back to the General. Sure. Why not? He tapped on the table. He could live with having conversations with only them forever. They were his best friends, his family. How many aliens do you think know sign language anyway? He tapped, questioning his superior.
"If your throats don't heal you will be assigned jobs inside the base, rather than off-world." General Hammond clarified.
No more missions? Jack tapped looking very worried.
"No more missions." The General repeated. Daniel and Sam would still be needed to help with artifacts and technology on base. And Teal'c could still work with Daniel to identify Goa'uld text and artifacts. Jack would probably be put on a desk job.
'A desk, the only enemy more dangerous than a Goa'uld.' Jack thought. 'An enemy that causes instant boredom.'
Are we done? Jack tapped, worried about his future in the Air Force.
"Yes Colonel, we're done. Dismissed." General Hammond answered before standing up and leaving his silent flagship team in the briefing room.
How 'bout lunch guys? Jack tapped to his teammates. His question was quickly answered by tapped yeah's and a sounds good, O'Neill. The team got up and headed out the door to the commissary.
In the commissary each member of the team got their lunch and sat down at a table. They ate in silence for five minutes before Sam had the courage to start a conversation.
How do you feel about learning sign language? She tapped, asking the team.
I am unfamiliar with this 'sign' language, Major Carter. Teal'c tapped making the food bounce on the table a little.
Sign language is a way of communicating by making hand motions. Like the hand signs we use in the field. Sam explained lightly on a corner of the table.
I'm excited. Daniel started. I love learning new languages.
No kidding, Spacemonkey. Jack tapped sarcastically. I really wish we didn't have to. Can't the Asgard fix us? They have that sight fixing doohickey.
We've been trying to contact them. They seem to be busy. I think we're on our own on this one, sir. Sam informed him.
We're on our own way too much. Jack ranted. There's no one who can help us?
Not at the moment, sir. Sam tapped sadly.
We need some mutualistic friends. Jack tapped.
I agree, sir. Sam answered.
Jack was the last to finish his lunch and head to Sam's lab. When he arrived the rest of the team was back working on the artifact.
Anything new? Jack tapped on the door as he entered.
"Not from me. The energy levels have gone back to normal and, according to my computer, they have stayed the same since that one spike when it got us. I don't even know why it went off in the first place." Sam's computer informed them.
After hearing Sam's report Jack turned to Daniel. How 'bout you, Daniel? Daniel nodded and quickly stood up. He quietly walked over to Sam and her computer. While pointing at the computer with his left hand he tapped a question on the table. Can I use this? He asked about the computer.
Sure. She answered, moving to the side so that Daniel could reach the computer. Daniel sat down in the chair facing the computer and began to type. After a couple seconds of typing Daniel finished and twirled around in the chair to look at the rest of the team.
"I've been reading through some Tripilian mythology. The artifact we acquired is called an Exvocom. I don't know why the Exvocom made us mute, but I do remember that Jack and Sam were fight over her computer when the energy levels started to rise. Maybe the fight started it? Anyway, there are no descriptive records in Tripilian mythology about the Exvocom. They spoke of a box that made a group of beings unable to vocally communicate." The computer finished and Sg-1 thought over their new information.
Who are the Tripilians? Jack asked.
"The Tripilians are the race of aliens that inhabit P3X-473. That planet has been ruled by three women for many hundreds of years. The ruling women are called 'The Three.' At this point Ariane, Kira and Serena are ruling." The computer read for Daniel.
Why? Jack tapped before moving to a chair in the corner of the lab.
Why what? Daniel questioned.
Why would someone make an artifact, like the Exvocom, that would make people mute? Jack clarified.
Daniel turned back to the computer and typed an answer to Jack's question.
"I can't really say for sure why they would make it, but I can guess from their history. The Tripilians had some trouble in their past. They fought wars against another race that lived on their planet. The only name I found for this other race is 'e'thay oud lay'. The Loud. I'm guessing they fought and lost. But rather than than giving up they made Exvocoms. I believe there are more on P3X-473. Their purpose was to silence the Loud." The computer spoke for Daniel.
Why would they give one to us? Jack asked.
"I think it had something to do with the fact that we knew their language." The computer read slowly as Daniel typed away, trying to keep ahead of the voice that was reading his words. "They probably aren't used to visitors. And their culture seems very quite. The readings tell of a culture that values silence. We were probably too loud for them."
Well that's just not fair. Jack stated on the table.
Life isn't fair, Jack. Daniel replied sarcastically.
So I've been told. Jack countered.
Yet Another Author's Note: For some reason I feel like I got the characters and tenses wrong in this chapter. I tried my hardest to get back to writing them correctly when I realized it. I think I got Jack right though.
Mutualistic-Advantageous for both sides of the relationship/friendship.
Just in case some one didn't know.
Don't forget to review. I love getting reviews. They make me happy (nice ones at least). If you have any ideas or things you think I should put in here, send them my way in a review. I'd love to hear. Readers come up with the best ideas.
Again Another Author's Note: Chapter 6 will be up as soon I write it. I'm trying to make these longer and they're taking longer to write. And I'm kinda running out of ideas. I know how I want to end it and I have two things that I want to put in when I find a good place for them, but other than that it's briefings, Sam's lab and the commissary. I've gott fix it soon though because if I keep doing that I'm going to bore myself.