Chapter 4 - Meetings
Upon their arrival at the SGC, Sam quickly changed into her BDU"s. She and Jack left Jacob and JJ in the capable hands of Teal'c before making their way to the briefing room, where they were met by one rather flustered General and three members of the Makesh.
"Ambassador O'Neill, Colonel Carter, thank you for coming so quickly," General Landry stated as they entered the room. The relief he felt at their arrival was evident on his face: he'd been having a difficult time keeping the conversation going with the leader of the Makesh. "I believe you know the High Chancellor of the Makesh, O'Neill."
Jack put on the most pleasant expression he could muster and bowed slightly to the High Chancellor. "It is good to see you again, High Chancellor, although I must say, I am surprised to see you again so soon," he added with a questioning look.
The High Chancellor bowed in return. "I apologize, Ambassador, for this intrusion. We were most pleased with your assistance in formulating our treaty with the Asgard and felt you could answer a few questions that remain." He turned then to Sam and took her hand, bowing over it. "It is a great pleasure to meet you Colonel Carter. You are highly regarded among the Asgard people, as is your mate."
Sam shot a look at Jack to see how he took that term, noting his raised eyebrows, before smiling in amusement at the High Chancellor. "Thank you High Chancellor. It is an honor to meet you as well."
"Allow me to introduce my fellow Makesh. This is Beroni, a leading scientist among our people. While I realize we may not be as advanced as you, Beroni serves us well and has helped our people in many ways." Beroni, a thin, balding man of about 50 years, stepped forward and bowed slightly. He wore the long, light brown tunic that seemed to be standard issue for his people. Raking his glance quickly over Sam, he seemed surprised at her appearance, but quickly schooled his features. All of the scientists on his world were relatively old and the majority of them were male, so this young, attractive woman was a novelty to him. "And this is Malem, my associate," the High Chancellor continued. "He is responsible for seeing to the rather mundane needs of a High Chancellor among our people."
The young associate's eyes sparkled in enthusiasm as he politely bowed to the Ambassador and his wife. Although he did not know the full details of their visit to this planet, he was thrilled just the same to be present in such esteemed company.
After the greetings were exchanged, they sat at the table to address the concerns of the Makesh.
"Ambassador O'Neill, as you know, we are a simple people. We have not had need to make an alliance with another race, until we recently uncovered the ruins on our home world that foretell of a great war. While we feel confident that the Asgard will protect us, we wish to know more about them. You have dealt with them for many years. Are they as they appear?"
Jack looked thoughtfully at the High Chancellor. This was something he was sure they had covered in the week he had spent listening to the two sides come to an agreement that might prove to be mutually beneficial. Sighing at the seemingly endless hoops he had to jump through as an ambassador, he stated firmly, "Yes Chancellor. The Asgard are one of the most trust worthy races around. They have helped us countless times, as we have helped them. That is the nature of their alliances."
"They have set up defense systems for many cultures that are not…as advanced as themselves. In fact, that is how we first came to know them," Sam added.
"They will help when they can but will not interfere with how you run your affairs on Moval. They promised to help you devise a spacecraft of your own when they felt the time was right. But they will definitely wait until they think you are ready," Jack reminded him. Thor had specifically stated that they would not help the Makesh pursue interstellar space travel until they were fully aware of the ramifications that followed such an endeavor.
The High Chancellor nodded his head once in understanding. "I thank you for your reassurances, Ambassador. And your truthfulness. We have several among us who were wary of this alliance. I believe I can now put their fears to rest."
Jack truly smiled, now that he felt this meeting was going to be over much quicker than originally thought. "Thor is a great buddy of mine. He would do just about anything for me. And I would do anything for him. Within reason," he added as Sam gave him a frown.
"It is refreshing indeed to see such loyalty between such very different beings," Malem stated, giving the High Chancellor a questioning gaze. It didn't go unnoticed by Sam, who had been watching both him and Beroni as the High Chancellor and Jack talked. They seemed to be shooting glances at each other in silent communication. She was a bit puzzled by their demeanor and meant to take it up with Jack when they were alone.
"Well," Jack clapped his hands together in feigned exuberance. "If that's about all…"
"There was one more thing that the Makesh wished to discuss, O'Neill," the General advised him.
With a sigh, Jack sat back and waited, hoping this wasn't going to go on too long. JJ would be getting tired and crabby soon and Jack, for one, didn't want to have to stay overnight on base. He'd just gotten home, for crying out loud!
Instead of the High Chancellor, Beroni spoke. Reaching into a bag sitting next to him, he drew out a large, gray rock that had a translucent sheen to it. "Some of our scientists have begun to explore the caves further out from our village and have come across many large rocks such as this. They seem to contain a mineral of some kind, but we are not sure what it might be. We were wondering if you might be able to help us with this, Colonel Carter."
Sam took the rock from Beroni's outstretched hands, turning it back and forth in the light that shone down from the ceiling. With a look of awe, she turned to General Landry. "Sir, this is naquadah in its purest form. One of these boulders could generate enough power to launch one X-302 into hyper speed, possibly three times."
"This is something that your people use as fuel?" the High Chancellor asked with interest.
"Yes, fuel and power for many things," the General answered absently, as he was wondering what he might be able to trade to these people in order to gain access to their apparently rich naquadah mines.
As if reading his mind, the High Chancellor stated, "We would be happy to discuss terms with you allowing access to this naquadah. But first, I would like Colonel Carter to tell Beroni more about its properties. I understand you have a rather extensive lab on base, Colonel?"
Sam looked up from examining the naquadah. "Uh, yes, I do. I'd be happy to show Beroni my lab and download some of the components of naquadah that he can take back with him to study."
The High Chancellor and Beroni exchanged a look of pleasure, before agreeing. Jack groaned inwardly; this was going to take a while. He had to work hard to contain his groan at the next statement thrown at him. "Ambassador O'Neill, if it is amenable with your General, I would like to see more of this facility. While Beroni joins your mate in her lab, perhaps you could show me some of this wondrous place."
"My wife, High Chancellor. On Earth, we are known as husband and wife," Jack stated a bit more forcefully than necessary. He really did not want to spend the next hour showing the High Chancellor and his side kick around base. Nor did he relish the thought of Sam spending time in her lab with their scientist; Jack hadn't missed the appraising looks that were shot her way every now and then.
Sensing that things could turn a bit contentious, General Landry interrupted Jack's thoughts. "I think that would be a fine idea, High Chancellor. Ambassador O'Neill could show you to a few of our less restricted areas on base, then perhaps introduce you to his former team members. Both are here on base tonight, as is his son. I am sure you would enjoy meeting them all."
The High Chancellor accepted with an overly eager attitude that didn't seem to register with any of the humans present.
Jack shot a look at the General; he was not at all thrilled at the idea of an alien they had recently become acquainted with meeting his son, and was about to tell the man as much, when Sam put her hand on his arm and said meaningfully, "I am certain that Teal'c and my father would enjoy meeting the High Chancellor, Jack. I'm sure, between the three of you, you can take care of JJ."
Jack looked at her in surprise, then quickly understood her meaning. She knew that nothing would happen to JJ as long as his father, grandfather and godfather were around.
Jack, though he still had reservations about the whole thing, nodded his agreement. He reluctantly rose to his feet and looked at the three aliens. "I would be happy to give you a brief tour, High Chancellor, but please excuse me if I have to cut things short. My son will be ready for bed shortly and can become quite ornery when he's overtired."
"Of course, Ambassador. We will not keep you overly long."
Jack gave Sam's shoulder a quick squeeze as he passed her, then led the High Chancellor and Malem out the door. Sam looked at Beroni with a polite smile on her face. "Shall we go to my lab?"
"I would be most pleased to accompany you, Colonel Carter. I have many questions for you," he stated enthusiastically as he followed her a bit too closely to the door.
Sam cast a quick glance back at the General, who gave her an apologetic smile. They both knew they would have to endure certain things in order to get their hands on that naquadah.
After a brief tour of the lowest level, Jack led the two remaining Makesh to the commissary where he was sure to find Jacob, JJ and Teal'c. Just as he thought, he spied them sitting at a corner table, sharing a late night snack with his son. Briefly forgetting about the two men tailing him, Jack made his way over to the table. "What are you trying to do, gramps? Give my little boy a stomach ache?" He took in the bowl of pudding sitting on the table and the dark smears around JJ's face.
Jacob looked up at Jack, a slight grin on his face. "It's just a little pudding Jack. As I recall, you're the one who introduced it to him."
"Indeed, O'Neill, you have often told me the anecdote concerning your attempts to make pudding for Jonathon Jacob while Samantha was away," Teal'c reminded him with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yeah, thanks T," Jack answered sarcastically before reaching across the table for JJ. "Hey little man, you keeping these guys in line?"
JJ, tummy full of sweet pudding, gurgled in response and patted Jack's cheeks, inadvertently leaving a smudge of pudding on his cheek. Jacob cleared his throat and looked pointedly behind Jack as he wiped away the pudding on his cheek. Jack turned to the two men who waited patiently behind him, their eyes full of interest.
"Uh, sorry gentlemen. May I introduce my father-in-law, Jacob Carter, and my good friend, Teal'c. Guys, this is the High Chancellor of the Makesh and his assistant, Malem. I was just showing them around a bit while their scientist gets some information from Sam. It seems as if the Makesh have a rich source of naquadah back home." Jack then smiled down at JJ, who was busily chewing on the collar of his father's shirt. "And this little rug rat is my son, JJ," he said, the pride evident in his voice.
The High Chancellor stepped forward and bowed to both Jacob and Teal'c, who had risen from their seats at the introductions, before turning his interest on the child before him. JJ stopped his chewing and looked at this new person with interest. His tan tunic was overlaid with a stole of purple satin across the shoulders, signifying his importance to his people. The shimmery material caught JJ's attention and he reached forward with pudgy hands to grasp it.
"Ah, ah JJ. You stay put," Jack stated, pulling the little boy securely against his chest.
"That is quite alright, Ambassador O'Neill. In fact, I would be most interested in holding your child. I do not often get the opportunity on Moval," he stated, referring to their home world.
Jack shot a glance at Teal'c, who gave Jack a slight nod before moving imperceptibly closer. "Uh, he's a bit messy at the moment," Jack tried a diversionary tactic.
"I do not mind," the High Chancellor assured a rather reluctant Jack.
"Well, OK. But just for a minute. He's bound to be getting tired," Jack added lamely. He wasn't at all certain he felt comfortable with this turn of events, but what harm could it do to let the High Chancellor of Makesh hold JJ for a few moments? After all, what could happen to JJ here, in the middle of the commissary, with Teal'c, Jacob and himself present?
I know, I know, evil cliffhanger! I am half way through the next chapter though, so depending on time, I hope to have it out Sunday or Monday.