For those of you who choose not to read Unbalanced, Sam and Jack were married about 22 years ago and they had a daughter named Stella.
Spoilers: Unbalanced had spoilers through the end of season seven (except Janet didn't die in my world!). I don't think there are that many references or spoilers from later seasons in this story, but there are a few from season five.
And now, on with the story…
The group of ten cadets stood waiting outside the administration building for their escort to show up. It was a cold snowy March morning in Colorado Springs. The cadets tried not to grumble, but it was hard not to when it was six in the morning on a Saturday morning. As seniors, they had earned the right to sleep in at least until 8 on the weekends, yet there they were. There was one cadet who was jumping up and down with joy, she couldn't wait for this weekend to get underway.
Five minutes later two black suburbans pulled up in front of the group of cadets. When they saw an officer step out of the first suburban, they all snapped to attention. "At ease cadets," the Colonel told them as she stood in front of them and looked them all over. When she saw the familiar face she tried to hide her smile.
"Cadets, you're all here because the Air Force believes you are the strongest cadets coming out of this year's class suited for where I work. The nature of our work is highly classified, physically and intellectually demanding, and will blow your minds away. If any of you feel you are not up to it, then go back to your rooms and crawl back into bed." She looked out over all of them and none of them made a move. "For the next two days you will be introduced to the SGC and our mission. When you graduate you will become a member of the most important team on the planet. If you feel you can't hack it, don't bother coming with us." Everyone continued to stare at her, they didn't know where they were going, but the Air Force had handpicked them for this secret base.
The Colonel walked in front of the cadets and stopped in front of the female cadet she had recognized earlier. "What about you, Cadet? Are you ready to join the SGC?" she asked her sternly.
She tried to hold back her smile, "Yes ma'am. I've been waiting for this day for a few years, ma'am."
"Good. That's the kind of enthusiasm I want to see," she told her with a sparkle in her eye. She then looked at the other cadets. "You five are with me, let's get out of here," she told them as she dismissed them between the two vehicles. As they were filing out, she walked next to the female cadet, "You haven't told them anything have you, Stella?"
Stella smiled and shook her head, "And ruin the surprise of seeing their faces when they see 'it' in action? No ma'am!"
The other cadets who would be riding with the Colonel and Stella noticed the familiarity between the two women and noted that Stella seemed to know where they were going. As they climbed into the middle row of seats one cadet quietly asked her, "You know what's going on?"
Stella turned and smiled at Cadet Kyle Young, "You betcha!"
"How?" he asked his girlfriend of two months.
"You sound just like your dad!" the Colonel called back.
"That's what mom keeps telling me!"
All the cadets by then were thoroughly confused, especially at watching Stella's familiarity with the Colonel. "By the way, congratulations!"
"Your mom told you?" she asked as she turned to look back at Stella.
"She emailed me last night right before she had to go… on that 'fact-finding' mission," she added when the Colonel sent her a glare before she revealed too much.
"Yeah, she told me just before she left. I can't believe I'm going to be in charge of the SGC!"
"Oh come on! Mom's been waiting for you to be eligible for your next promotion for years. That's why she hasn't retired yet."
The Colonel in the front seat laughed, "Yeah she told me that!" She paused, "You remind me so much of myself when I was at the academy."
Stella balked, "That's funny, cause mom and dad told me that you almost didn't graduate from the Academy!"
Colonel Jennifer Hailey sent a stern glare at Stella who happily smiled back, "I can't believe they told you! … Lucky for me, your mom saw something in me!" she told her as her face broke out into a smile.
"She always did have a knack for seeing talent…"
Jen laughed as she recalled the running joke among the close friends, "Yes, and what she saw in your dad is still a mystery to us all!"
"That's what he says!" she quiped.
As Stella and Jen had been happily catching up, the other four cadets in the suburban all traded unsure looks with each other. Finally Kyle, being the highest ranking cadet, decided to broach the topic they were all dying to learn about. "Excuse me, ma'am, but how do you know Cadet O'Neill?"
Jen and Stella shared a quick look and decided that Jen should tell their history. "I've known Stella since she was a baby. I've been working with her parents for over twenty-five years now. Served under her mom for the past ten years. Actually, you've probably all heard of Stella's mom at the Academy, I know I had back when I was at the Academy!"
Kyle turned to Stella, "I've never heard of a famous O'Neill at the academy."
Stella couldn't help herself, "A famous O'Neill at the Academy? Can you imagine what it would have been for?!"
Jen Hailey couldn't help but break into laughter as well, "Yeah, I don't think they have any awards for sarcasm and wit! No, Stella's mom is General Carter-O'Neill."
Kyle who was the closest to Stella was shocked, "Your mom is Samantha Carter! THE Samantha Carter!" Stella just shrugged her shoulders. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I didn't want to be compared against her…"
Jen nodded, "I had a hard enough time being compared to her and I wasn't even related to her! She's a tough act to follow!"
"Yes she is ma'am!"
TBC
So what do you think... Think I should continue on with the adventures of one Cadet Stella O'Neill?