A Single Man of Courage – Part two
The two soldiers with Jack rode together, chattering away in their own tongue. Jack just listened, trying to see if anything of use would be said. He'd understood the commander's orders and knew, despite what he said to Jack, that they both spoke English. Kissain had told them not to speak to Jack, but to listen carefully and watch closely.
Jack let them lead him back to the gate. They made good time and once there Jack took his time playing around with the MALP that was now left on all diplomatic missions for the duration of the team's stay. Eventually he strolled to the Stargate and began entering the symbols. He didn't need to enter the GDO signal to make voice contact. He strolled back to the MALP and waited patiently for the men to come to him then activated the MALP's communications rather than use his walky-talky. They stood very close to him, in full view of the camera.
"Sierra Golf Charlie this is Sierra Golf one-niner, do you copy?"
"Colonel O'Neill, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. Is everything okay?" came the General's voice in response.
"Peachy," murmured Jack. "General," He spoke up. "There seems to be a lack of communication in the briefing from SG-6." Jack spoke steadily giving the General an outline of the information he didn't mind getting back to Kissain.
"I see Colonel. So this is going to be a much longer mission, given the distances involved."
"Yes Sir. Is Doctor Fraiser available?"
"Yes, do you want her to come through for Major Dawson?"
"Negative Sir," Jack certainly didn't want to put any more personnel at risk than he had to. "Parlez vous Français?"
"Colonel?"
Jack sighed. "Can I speak to the Doc, General?"
"I'll get her Colonel." The General was puzzled, but went along with his 2IC's wishes….
Jack had used various other languages to try and communicate with the two soldiers, except their own of course, and everything he tried was good enough to confuse them, but he'd racked his brains for who to speak to at the SGC till up popped the Doc in his memories.
Jack stood waiting; kicking at the MALP with his boot, forgetting it was actually on.
"Colonel, you do remember how much those cost don't you?" came the General's bemused voice.
Jack looked up suddenly, his foot hitting the MALP once more before he could prevent it.
He gave a lopsided grin. "Oops, Sir, sorry, perhaps we should put bumpers on them?"
General Hammond shook his head, but was prevented from replying by the appearance of Janet Fraiser.
"General, are SG-1 okay?" she asked in alarm, as she spied the figure of the Colonel on the screen, having been told no more than to report to the control room.
Hammond motioned her to the console and she was passed the microphone.
"Colonel." She greeted him, warily eyeing the two soldiers close to him. "How can I help?"
"Parlez vous Français?" he asked again.
"Oh." She frowned at the General before turning her attention back to Jack. "Oui môn Colonel," she replied, puzzled.
Jack spoke quickly and fluently in French to Janet, pausing and waiting so she could translate to the General, before her voice came back with the General's response.
The two soldiers kept looking at each other, puzzled, but made no attempt to stop him.
Jack reported everything he considered suspicious, but as he said in all honesty, a lot of it was his sixth sense kicking in, but he stood by his belief in Major Dawson's silence and the missing team.
"How do you want to play it Jack?"
"My guts tell me to get the hell out of here Sir, but there's SG-6 to consider and of course that would mean no trade."
The General considered Jack's words. His 2IC had very good instincts where trouble was, but to explain away a blown diplomatic mission for valuable minerals on such grounds was a definite no no.
"Colonel, unfortunately I need you to proceed with the mission. I f there is any actual threat or danger then follow your guts; and bring back SG-6 if you can. If you can complete your mission, then all well and good."
"We'll need a lot more time. It's a three day trek by err … camel to the city if we leave tomorrow, then we're going to need around a twelve day minimum. That's allowing for basic negotiations."
"Right, I'm going to set a fourteen day target and even if negotiations are still running I want a report by that deadline. If we don't hear from you then, we'll assume you've been compromised."
Janet translated the last of the General's orders and then asked Jack, "Does Daniel know?"
"Know what?"
She laughed. "That you speak such good French, Colonel."
"No, and don't you dare tell him." Jack signed off in English and shut the MALP down. He made a great deal of fiddling around until the soldiers were bored watching him. Whilst they were distracted in a conversation with each other he quickly took his GDO off and buried it in the sand near the base of the MALP.
Jack could hear the soldiers' discussion on the way back and they were arguing as to what to tell their commander. They both agreed in the end not to mention not understanding half the conversation and Jack eagerly listened to the snippets of information that came from them. By the time they got back to camp he'd got several pieces of a jigsaw, but as yet they didn't fit together.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
It was almost dark when they arrived back at the camp and torches were lit. Tiredly he dismounted and made his way to the tent.
"Just in time for food," said Daniel.
Jack once more dropped his pack and removed his vest, but this time he threw himself down full length on the cushions and didn't move for a moment or two before he spoke.
"Well kids; looks like we're here for the duration." He filled them in, leaving out the French of course.
After he'd finished he sat up and grabbed a drink and began to pick at some of the food. "What's the meat?" he asked Daniel.
The younger man grinned. "Not sure, but it doesn't taste like chicken."
"It is quite acceptable," said Teal'c.
"Well at least we won't starve," said Jack with shrug.
"What if it's drugged?" asked Sam, suddenly pausing and looking at what she was just going to eat.
"No reason to drug us yet," said Jack, not even pausing in his chewing.
Sam seemed to accept his statement and resumed eating.
After they all ate their fill Jack rose stiffly. "Samels said we'll be shipping out at dawn so we'd better make it an early night. I'm beat." He yawned hugely, stretching his long frame. "You get first watch Daniel, Sam then Teal'c – wake me for last." He made his way to the nearest cot and fell fully clothed onto to it, not even removing his boots. He was sleeping before the others rose from the floor.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Teal'c placed his hand on Jack's shoulder to let him know it was his watch as he broke free from the dark dreams that were plaguing him. Stretching to get the kinks from his body he joined his teammate and chatted quietly for a short while before Teal'c went to rest
As soon as Jack heard the sounds of the camp stirring around them he woke the rest of his team. They were shown to the crude facilities and given a hot oatmeal like substance for breakfast, with strong coffee. The camp was quickly packed up and soon they were on the move.
The day grew hotter - the sky a bright blue, not a cloud in sight.
"What I wouldn't give for a forest," sighed Daniel, as he mopped his face for what must be the hundredth time.
"Thought you liked the desert," called Sam. She was cooking as well and was constantly applying the sun block.
"Prefer it to the cold, but to me a desert was just the hell to endure so I could dig," grinned Daniel.
"I don't think we packed enough sun block," said Sam, frowning as she tried to peer down to her nose. It was already red despite her sunhat.
Jack came closer, grinning. "You could always replace Rudolf when we get back."
"Gee thanks, remind me of Christmas in this heat." She laughed, glancing at him enviously. He was already acquiring a deeper tan than usual, with no sign of sunburn.
They'd seen Major Dawson half unconscious, mounted with a soldier, and although Jack kept approaching them, he was unable to get anything coherent from him.
As the sun approached its zenith they were halted and temporary shelters to shield them from the fierce heat were erected. They rested and a light meal was served before once more continuing their journey.
They travelled in much the same fashion for the next three days. They were all sand riddled, saddle-sore and bone weary by the time one of the soldiers pointed out the city. Even Teal'c felt some relief at approaching the city walls.
Sam caught sight of her Colonel as he turned in his saddle to say something to Daniel. He was tanned to a very dark shade, showing no signs of the sunburn she and Daniel were both suffering.
'Good grief, he's nearly as dark as the soldiers. He could certainly pass as a native given the right clothing.' Sam shook her head to try and dispense with the vision of the Colonel in native robes and the erotic thoughts that accompanied the vision.
The city of Amure lay before them. High walls to protect from the desert sands and other dangers surrounded it, but they could see the tops of various buildings.
"Like something out of the Arabian Nights," mused Sam out loud.
"More like Ali-baba and the forty thousand thieves," responded the Colonel dryly, making her laugh.
Daniel was getting excited. "It's like going back over a hundred years on Earth. I mean there are some small towns in parts of Morocco, inland from Marrakech and near Rabat, but there aren't any cities, nothing this size left now.
Jack grinned at Daniel's expression.
"Just don't tell me we're bargaining for oil Carter," said Jack suddenly, his grin betraying he knew otherwise.
"Nope, I won't tell you." She laughed at his expression. "No seriously, it's three mineral elements we're after that could be very useful. We have them at home, but in extremely small quantities - very rare."
Jack nodded absently. "They don't have a use for them?"
"Apparently not, so maybe Daniel can come up with very good terms."
Jack frowned. "Yet they've given no indication whatsoever of what they want in return."
"No, Major Dawson couldn't pin them down - got nowhere with 'trinkets' so to speak."
"I don't think Daniel's going to have much luck either."
"What makes you think that?" asked Sam, watching his face.
"Oh just a feeling. I don't think this is going to be a cake-walk at all, Carter."
Sam frowned. They'd all long since learned to pay respect to the Colonel's instincts. He'd been proven right too many times for coincidences and even though at times they'd had to get on with the mission and ignore them, Sam had a healthy respect for her Colonel's intuition.
They entered the city walls. The streets were noisy and dirty. People were en-mass, but they moved quickly out of their way and hushed as they approached. The citizens eyed them fearfully, before casting down their faces from the soldiers.
"The people don't seem too happy to see us," whispered Sam.
"Us or them?" Jack nodded to the soldiers.
"Both?" hazarded Sam, with a wry smile.
They made their way to the centre of the city where the people on the streets were scarce and soldiers were plentiful. SG-1's uniforms still attracted a lot of attention, causing Sam to comment that obviously SG-6 hadn't got around much.
Eventually they came to enormous gates and were permitted through with much bowing and scraping, to dismount in a large courtyard.
"Please, this way," said Samels, with a low bow. "You have been assigned quarters and I will let you settle and rid yourself of the dust from the journey." He escorted them through some double doors at the side of the courtyard and through the wide luxurious corridors to a wing on its own. Once more two guards were posted outside the doors as Samels showed them their rooms.
The corridors were luxurious and extravagant. Their rooms exceeded their expectations. Each had its own bathroom with a huge sunken bath and other equally luxurious facilities.
"You are to treat this wing as your own," said Samels, leading them to more double doors near where they came in. "Food will be brought to this room." He threw open the doors to reveal a large ornate room with a huge low table and even more cushions nearby to provide a lounging area.
"Where is Major Dawson?" asked Jack.
"He had been taken to his wing."
"And his men?"
"I will find out for you if you permit?" He bowed and left them.
"Okay kids, let's get cleaned up and get some food," said Jack, with a strange expression on his face as he watched the aide closing the wings doors behind him.
"You are troubled O'Neill" stated Teal'c.
"Yeah, you could say that Teal'c."
"I just did O'Neill."
Jack smiled at the Jaffa and shaking his head went to pick a room.
xoxoxoxoxoxo