Chapter 5 – Reassessing Plans
The High Chancellor of Makesh took the little boy in his arms and smiled at the way he immediately latched onto the purple silk stole around his shoulders. The material quickly found its way into JJ's mouth. Jack tried to step forward to remove it, but the High Chancellor shot him a quick look. "I assure you Ambassador, I am not at all bothered by a small bit of infant spittle on my clothing." Jack frowned at the censure evident in his tone, but stepped back. He did not, however, take his eyes off of JJ; for that matter, neither did Teal'c or Jacob
The High Chancellor turned his attention back to the child in his arms. He looked like any child from Moval might; large, inquisitive eyes, a light patch of hair, and chubby arms and hands. Needing to discover if this child was unique, the High Chancellor surreptiously turned the large ring on his middle finger around so that the flat, black stone was facing his palm, and rested it against JJ's back as he held him. The black gem glowed warmly against JJ's back, causing him to drop the stole from his mouth and arch against the High Chancellor's chest, a look of mild surprise crossing his features before he settled back once again.
Jack, who noticed the quick change in JJ's demeanor, frowned as he reached forward for his son. "I'll take him back now, High Chancellor. He's not always real comfortable with strangers," Jack lied to the man holding his son. In fact, JJ was very accepting of new people. He spent much time around the various factions that made up the SGC and was often watched over by any member of the base that Jack or Sam trusted and could be pressed into service as a babysitter.
Having completed what he set out to achieve, the High Chancellor relinquished his hold on JJ and returned him to his father. "You have a very special son, Ambassador. Although, I assume you know that already," he stated with a smile that covered the considering look he was giving Jack and JJ.
"Oh yeah, JJ's one of a kind. He's my reason for my becoming an Ambassador, aren't you little man?" he asked the little boy before lifting him up slightly and blowing a raspberry on his stomach. JJ, none the worse for wear over the exchange, gave a deep belly laugh as he clutched onto Jack's hair. Jack lowered JJ to his chest and turned to the High Chancellor. "Well, I think it's time we rescued Baloney from my wife."
The High Chancellor looked puzzled at the name, then widened his eyes as he stated rather matter-of-factly, "I believe you mean Beroni."
Jack heard the cough behind him and turned to catch Jacob's eyes, which were filled with mirth. He turned back to the High Chancellor with an apologetic smile. "Right… Beroni…sorry."
"That is quite alright, Ambassador. I'm sure you meet many people in your line of work; it can be hard to keep them straight."
Jack nodded his agreement before turning to Jacob and Teal'c. "Why don't you two accompany us to Sam's lab? I may need reinforcements to drag her and Beroni away from there," he stated meaningfully.
The two men agreed and the group made their way out of the commissary, Teal'c following at the end of the group. There was something he didn't like about the High Chancellor of Makesh, and he was not about to let him out of his sight, especially with his Godson so close at hand.
Sam was bent over a high powered microscope, looking intently at the sample they'd scraped from the large rock of naquadah. She had printed out quite a bit of information for Beroni to look over while she ran a few tests on the samples she had taken. Feeling his breath on her neck, Sam straightened quickly and stood back, putting some distance between them.
Beroni gave her a sideways glance before asking innocently, "May I take a look, Colonel Carter? We do not possess equipment such as this on Moval."
Sam cleared her throat before answering, "Um, of course. Please," she indicated the microscope and stepped even further back. While he hadn't made any improper advances, his body language screamed his interest in her and was starting to make her very uncomfortable. In fact, she was fairly close to letting him know how uncomfortable she felt around him, but refrained. It might not bode well for their future alliance regarding mining the naquadah if she told him off.
Beroni straightened from the microscope and smiled at her. "It is incredible the details this machine can show. What do all these tests you've been running tell us about the naquadah?" He leaned back against the table and waited patiently for her explanation.
"My initial diagnostics confirm what I first thought; namely that this sample of naquadah you brought to us is in its purest form. Its components are much stronger than I originally believed, however. The power output from this naquadah is phenomenal." Sam's eyes glowed with excitement over the possibilities.
Before she could register what was happening, Beroni stepped forward and grasped one of her hands tightly in his own. "Your passion for your work overwhelms me, Colonel Carter. On top of your incredible beauty, your intellect and your zeal for scientific study exhilarates me! If only you could come back with me to Moval and study with my scientists!"
Sam blinked in surprise, opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Daniel coming in the door.
"Hey Sam! I saw your light on and…Oh. Sorry. Am I interrupting something?" Daniel asked, letting his glance quickly shift from Sam to the stranger in her lab. He frowned at the look of irritation on Sam's face and the look of adulation on Beroni's.
"Not at all, Daniel. Please come in," she fairly begged him as she pulled her hand from Beroni's grasp and once again distanced herself from him. "Um, this is Beroni. He's a scientist who came with the High Chancellor of Makesh to see Jack about some issues they were concerned with. Beroni, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson, our…"
"Ah yes, Dr. Jackson. I have heard much about you," Beroni came forward and bowed slightly before the other man. "As the rest of your team members, your reputation is renowned throughout the galaxy," he beamed.
Daniel shot a quick look at Sam, who shrugged her shoulders in response. This man was obviously over-exuberant about many things, not just her. "Um, thank you Beroni. It's nice to meet you. I assume you've already meet Jack then, Sam's husband," he stressed meaningfully.
Beroni cocked his head to the side in contemplation at the tone of voice, before answering, "Ambassador O'Neill? Yes, of course we have met. I was present at the initial meetings between the Makesh and the Tokra. He is a very impressive person, though, I must admit, I am more impressed with his lovely mate, er wife," he corrected, looking once again at Sam with admiration.
"My wife seems to have that effect on people," Jack stated loudly as he strode into the room, the other four men trailing behind him. He came to stand next to Sam and passed JJ over to her as he reached out his hands and called, "Mama!" Jack remained where he was, standing close to Sam, his steely gaze locked on Beroni. "And what have you and my dear wife been discussing, Beroni?" he asked in a calm voice that was underlain with anger. He had not missed the end of Beroni's conversation with Daniel, nor the flush that appeared on the balding man's face when Jack entered the room.
"Oh, um, your wife, well, she has been showing me some of the instruments she uses to examine and record data about various minerals your people bring back from other planets. It was really quite fascinating, Ambassador," he finished in a rush, his gaze bouncing back and forth between Jack and the High Chancellor.
"I bet," Jack mumbled.
Sam shifted JJ to her left side and placed her hand reassuringly on Jack's arm. "I've given Beroni all the data he should require for now concerning the naquadah. Perhaps we can discuss going to the planet to access the mines at a later date?"
Beroni moved to stand slightly behind the High Chancellor, not feeling at all comfortable with the glare he continued to receive from Ambassador O'Neill. For his part, the High Chancellor was eager to diffuse the tension he felt building in the room, as well as retire somewhere private to analyze the data he had gathered on the child.
"I must agree with you wife, Ambassador. We have taken enough of your time for one night. Your General has graciously allowed us accommodations for the evening. We will undoubtedly resume discussions over this naquadah in the morning. On behalf of the Makesh, I would like to thank you for your generosity this evening. And for the opportunity to meet your wife," he bowed to Sam, "And your precious son. It was indeed an honor." He kept his hands hidden within the folds of his tunic as he asked genially, "Would someone be so kind as to show us to our place of rest?"
Teal'c stepped forward, "I will be glad to accompany you to your quarters, High Chancellor." The High Chancellor bowed to Teal'c, then quietly followed him out of the room, Beroni and Malem trailing behind. Jack kept a sharp eye on the three men as they left, though his attention was riveted on the back of Beroni.
As soon as they were out of earshot, he turned to Sam, "What the hell was that all about?"
JJ stopped playing with Sam's dog tags to stare at his father with widened eyes. "Shh, Jack, don't scare JJ," she admonished him. He leaned back and crossed his arms, looking expectantly at her to answer his question. Sam glanced quickly at Daniel before answering, "Not much. Beroni just got a little…over enthusiastic, that's all."
"Over enthusiastic? Did he try something?" Jack asked, the anger still evident in his tone.
Sam sighed, "No Jack, he did not."
"Well, he was holding your hand when I walked in," Daniel needlessly reminded her.
"Thank you, Daniel," Sam added sarcastically. Then she turned back to Jack. "Jack, nothing happened. And even if it did, you know darn well I can take care of myself. Besides, you have nothing to worry about. You know no one can possibly measure up to you," she added sweetly, with a large smile meant to placate him.
It didn't completely work. Jack just snorted and said, "I still don't like it. In fact, I don't like a lot of what went on tonight. Something just seems off." He frowned as he thought about what it could possibly be.
"I got a strange feeling during the briefing. Malem and Beroni kept giving each other odd looks. Maybe it was just that they were uncomfortable with being here," Sam added, shifting JJ once more. He was starting to squirm, which meant he was getting tired and would need to be put to bed, and soon.
"Maybe," Jack added noncommittally as he took his squirming son out of her arms. "Guess we're stuck staying overnight, huh?" They both knew it would be pointless at this time to try and get JJ home and into his crib. He'd have a full-blown tantrum if he was kept up too late.
"Yes, I guess we are," Sam added with a smile. "Good thing we have everything we need for JJ here." She turned to Jacob. "Do you mind staying on base tonight, dad? Or I can give you a key and you can go stay at our house," she offered.
"No thanks, Sam. I'll stay here. I'd like to sit in on that briefing you have tomorrow, though. Maybe I can learn something about the Makesh that will help the Tok'ra," he said thoughtfully.
"I think I will as well," Daniel added. "I'd like to learn more about their culture. Maybe I could take a look at those ruins when we send a team back to check out the mines."
"The more the merrier I guess," Jack shrugged. JJ began to whine and rub his face against Jack's shirt. "All right little man, let's get you to bed. You've had a busy day."
"I'll be there shortly, Jack. I just need to turn off some of this equipment and put things away," Sam said as Jack made his way to the door.
"OK, but don't take too long. You know how JJ loves to have you sing him to sleep," he grinned at her.
Daniel and Jacob looked at her in surprise; this was something new to both of them! "You sing?" Daniel asked, the surprise evident in his voice.
Sam rolled her eyes and shooed all of them out the door, mumbling something about 'men' as she closed it after them.
In the VIP quarters deep within the mountain, Beroni was holding an instrument in his hand that was emitting a soft glow. The black-stoned ring of the High Chancellor was embedded in the palm sized instrument and gave off a soft glow of its own. There was a low-toned beeping, then all was quiet. Beroni looked up at the High Chancellor, his eyes wide with amazement and suppressed excitement.
"He must be the one we seek, Chancellor! He has the gene of the Ancients as well as a trace of the mineral we brought for the humans to analyze. Those things, plus his human gene, fulfill the prophesy of a children who contains the genetic material of three races. It has to be him!"
The High Chancellor paced the room, deep in thought. "I felt it as soon as I saw him, Beroni. He is the answer to our future. We must get him to Moval in order to complete our quest and solve the mystery of the ruins."
Malem stood up from the couch, coughing in nervousness. "High Chancellor, you can not mean to take an innocent child from his parents. Why, he is no more than an infant, and this facility is heavily guarded," he pleaded. Malem was confused and frightened, for he had just learned the true reason for the meaning behind this visit, and felt certain that it would only end in disaster.
The High Chancellor turned to Malem with a patronizing look. "I understand that JJ O'Neill is just an infant, Malem. I do not intend to take the child permanently, just borrow him for a short time. You must agree; if he is the answer to saving our people, we must do what we can."
Beroni stood as well and addressed the High Chancellor. "I must agree with Malem in one thing, Chancellor. We will never succeed in taking the child from this place. We do not have the means to transport to our ship at such a distance and we will never be able to take him through the Stargate with all of the soldiers here."
The High Chancellor nodded his head thoughtfully. "I agree, Beroni. Which is why we will take a different tactic. We will invite them to Moval. The task will be much easier when we are on our own world."
"But how will we get them to come? I believe I could get Colonel Carter to come on the pretense of studying the mines and helping the scientists, but what of the Ambassador? Even if we could get him to come, surely they would not take their child through the Stargate?"
"Ah, my dear Beroni, you forget two important things. One, we must have a feast honoring the role the Ambassador has played in our new alliance with the Asgard. And of course, he must bring his family – he would not wish to insult the Makesh would he? Secondly, there is the matter of the naquadah. I do believe their General Landry would assist us in getting the Ambassador and his family to Moval if he understood it would help his endeavor in garnering some of that very important component for his planet."
Beroni smiled at the High Chancellor. "Your Eminence, you are most wise. I do believe this new plan will work. May the child of Ambassador O'Neill and Colonel Carter be the one we seek." His grin deepened as the thought of the opportunity of spending more time with the lovely human scientist.
"I could not agree with you more, Beroni," the High Chancellor stated. His next words deflated some of Beroni's excitement. "I must ask you to refrain from showing your interest in the Ambassador's wife, Beroni. It is not accepted among their people and I do not wish anything to jeopardize this mission. Do you understand?"
Beroni nodded his head meekly, "Yes, High Chancellor."
"Very well. Then I suggest we all retire for the evening. Tomorrow promises to be very stimulating."
Malem made his way slowly to his own room, his heart heavy and his mind confused. The future of his people was at stake, but he could not condone taking an innocent little child from his parents in order to possibly preserve the future of his people. He must do something, but what? He was but a lowly assistant to the High Chancellor and his position within the High Chancellor's office afforded his family things they might otherwise do without.
Deciding that he could do nothing for the time being, Malem lay down on the bed in his room and studied the ceiling. He might not be able to do anything for the time being, but he would continue to listen carefully to the plans of the High Chancellor; if the time came when he felt he must take action, Malem would have all the information necessary at his disposal.