The next morning came early for Jack and he yawned as he sat up from his makeshift bed on the floor of the conference room. The refugees had been waking up with the dawn from the time they were old enough to be put to work, and old habits seemed to die hard for them. Still, the rumbling of voices as they went about their morning routine was not what had wakened him. It was the tickling sensation on his ear that had him batting at the offending creature. He finally opened his eyes to find one of the children sitting next to him, drawing circles on his ear with a feather that must have come out of a cushion or a pillow. The little boy's eyes widened when Jack growled at him, then giggled when Jack tickled him back.
Taria sat up at that point, gracing the child with one of her beautiful smiles and Jack wondered again how she was able to light up a place with her smiles, while the rest of her people were still too afraid to even speak up.
He didn't dwell on that subject too long. Breakfast was being brought in and he couldn't ignore the irony of the situation, as the food brought in were MRE's, probably the easiest way to feed the multitude of people currently residing in the converted conference room. They were fed gruel in Hulmeshur and were fed gruel, in the form of MREs, in this place. Granted the MREs were meant to resemble something other than gruel, but the taste was the same, as far as Jack was concerned.
Breakfast was nearly over when General Landry came in to talk with the refugees. The chattering among them stopped immediately and Jack couldn't help but notice that while some of the slaves fell to their knees, all eyes were fixed on the floor. Even the children knew better than to make a noise. The General commanded respect, as was his right due to his position in the military, and these people recognized that in him. They were afraid of him because of the power he wielded over those in his command, and Jack supposed it didn't help matters any when he had immediately jumped up to greet the General as he walked in. But it couldn't be helped, as he was still in the military, not to mention the fact that after thirty years of military training, it was almost automatic.
General Landry noticed the fear, and his expression showed his unease at the thought that he was scaring the crap out of a room full of civilians. "Lieutenant," the General said, in an obvious appeal for help, "Would you tell these people that I'm not going to hurt them?"
"Yes sir," Jack responded, while trying not to grin, "Although they may not listen to me on this. Maybe if you lose the SFs…" he suggested warily, as he indicated the two airmen who had accompanied the General. Landry seemed to understand what Jack was implying and nodded at the guards to dismiss them. They left immediately, leaving Jack and the General standing there while the others stayed where they were, waiting quietly for the General to declare his intentions.
"Lieutenant," the General said, as a reminder.
"Yes sir," Jack said again. He turned to his friends, then told them, "It's okay. This is General Landry, he won't hurt you, in fact, he wants to help you." He went over to the General and put his arm around the man's shoulders in an effort to prove his point, causing Landry to turn to stare at him. Jack grinned at the General's uneasy expression, enjoying the man's discomfort, as he turned back to his fellow ex-slaves. "He won't hurt you."
Dargan nodded, then stood up to assert his new found freedom. "Stand up," he demanded of his family and friends. "We are no longer slaves and we can fight back." Jack smiled at him encouragingly while the General gave Dargan a relieved look. "What is to happen to us now?" Dargan wanted to know.
"We have found a place for you to live in peace," Landry said, very much back in the saddle again now that the others were beginning to stand up. He shook off Jack's arm, while giving him a look that dared him to try that again, then continued with what he had come there to say. "The place we are sending you to is basically an agricultural environment, but it is deserted, giving you all time to learn to defend yourselves and to create your own community. We have a team set up to help you through any difficulties you may encounter while setting up your governing regulations."
He stopped at that point, as he stared at all the blank looks he was receiving from those brave enough to look at him. Jack took pity on him, mainly because the others were now staring at Jack to get an interpretation of what the General had just said. He grinned at Landry, then turned to his friends and said, "They found a place where you can have your own farms and we'll send along some people to help you build your homes, as well as to help you learn to create a place where you will no longer live as slaves." He saw some nods as the people realized that they were not going to be dumped in with another master, then told them, "You are free to work your own farms and to live your lives without fear of punishment."
"We will provide you with food and medicine until you are able to produce your own," Landry said, eliciting a murmur among the people in the room. Jack smiled as he remembered Padral's reaction to the news that he had been given medicine for his ailment. Medicines were a rarity in Hulmeshur and considered a commodity too valuable for a slave. His smile disappeared as memories of being treated like an animal raced through his mind. Handar knew that total control was only accomplished by belittling the people he was trying to control. Teaching his slaves that they weren't fit to be in the company of humans was accomplished through pain, fear and constant put-downs. Jack did not envy the personnel who would be responsible for helping the refugees to build their new lives. It was going to be a constant struggle to break through the lifetime of oppression they had been forced to live.
Taria came over and took Jack's hand in hers, picking up on the anger he was trying to deal with. He smiled at her, then turned to the others. "You are free to live your lives the way you want to," he said, determined to convince them that they were going to survive this. "Any way you want to."
"Our master took care of us," Neatha spoke up, surprising Jack with her words. "Why would anyone else want to help a slave?"
"He took care of you?" Jack asked, surprised that she would defend that bastard. "Where is your brother now?" He knew that he was deliberately hurting her, but he had to make her understand. "Handar could have saved him. He had the medicine that would have healed him, but he wouldn't share any of it. Not to mention that he would have willingly killed your daughter without any remorse whatsoever." She stared at him as he spoke, her eyes moist and Jack's anger cooled as he realized that she really didn't know any better. She had been lied to all her life. "He told me that his slaves were no better than animals," he said, hoping to convince her with the truth. "You are not an animal, Neatha. You are not something that should be treated like dirt. You are a human with thoughts and feelings, and you deserve to be treated like one." Neatha didn't respond, nor did anyone else. Jack hoped it was because they were processing his words and realizing that he was right.
Dargan was staring at Jack with a look filled with determination. "We are free," he declared with a small smile, while some of the others nodded their heads in agreement. Jack smiled at his friend, believing for the first time that these people really did have a chance. And he already had a good idea who was going to lead them into a prosperous future. Dargan was already showing signs of being a great leader.
"You are definitely free," General Landry said, sounding relieved that the spotlight was off of him. "It will be hard going at first, but once your homes are built and your crops are harvested, things will get better." He glanced at Jack, then went on to tell the others, "We will be transporting you all to your new home in a few hours. You'll be traveling through the Stargate, along with food and the materials you will need to start building your homes."
"Will it have a roof to keep out the rain?" someone in the group asked. Some of the others laughed, and Jack grinned, as he thought about the hovels they were forced to sleep in. They were not very sturdy, and although he had not lived there long enough to experience the rainy season that the slaves dreaded, he could just imagine the rain seeping into the one he had called home.
"It will have a roof," Landry assured him with a smile. "We'll send for you when my people are ready to leave. Lieutenant," he said to Jack, as he moved to leave the room. "You and I need to talk and you have an appointment with Dr. Mackenzie this morning. Follow me."
"Mackenzie?" Jack asked, his mind racing with ideas on how to avoid that meeting. "Sir, I think I should stay with these people in case they have any questions."
Landry wasn't falling for it, Jack realized, as dread built up inside him. "They'll be fine," Landry insisted, giving Jack a knowing look. "Let's go."
"Yes sir," Jack grumbled. He gave Taria an apologetic look, then followed the General out into the hallway where the SFs were waiting.
"That was quite an experience," Landry said conversationally, as he led the way, leaving the SFs to stand guard over their guests. "It's been awhile since my presence scared a room full of people." He grinned as he said that, then went on to clarify, "I think the last time was when I walked in on a group of airmen who were setting up a practical joke on their commander. They didn't think they would get caught."
Jack had to grin as he remembered the times he had set up his own practical jokes. "You get used to it, sir," he said, "I can't tell you how many times we were thought to be gods because we just happened to come through the Stargate. It used to embarrass the heck out of Daniel."
"I can't imagine Dr. Jackson being embarrassed about anything," Landry said, as he glanced at Jack. "He has learned to take everything in stride." Jack just nodded his head; Daniel had come a long way since the early days of the Stargate program. "You, on the other hand," Landry continued, "Have always had things under control."
Jack didn't respond, not quite sure what to say to that. Landry stopped walking and stared at Jack, his eyes narrowing, as he waited for a response. "Yes sir," Jack said, still at a loss as to what he was supposed to say to the man.
"You're going to make me drag it out of you, aren't you?" Landry asked, confusing Jack even more. What did this guy want?
Jack shook his head as he said, "No sir. I just don't know what it is you want me to say."
Landry stared at him for a moment, then turned to continue down the hall. Jack followed him, still wondering what was going on. He hated being in the dark like this, especially when it was a General wanting something from him.
"I had hoped that you wouldn't be as difficult as Jack when it came to getting information out of you," Landry said, as he used his card to summon the elevator. He grinned at Jack, then said, "I have no idea why I thought you would be different."
"If you would just tell me what it is you want to know," Jack said, exasperation working its way into his voice. "I'd be more than willing to give you an answer."
"Only if it's something you're willing to tell me," Landry said knowingly, as he stepped into the elevator. Aggravation was taking over and Jack squelched the desire to strangle the man. He just knew that the General was doing this on purpose. He waited quietly, determined now to prove the General right and be as difficult as Landry professed him to be.
Landry grinned when he saw Jack's expression. "You've got that look on your face," he said, turning back to stare at the elevator door, "The one that says you're tired of this game."
Jack could only stare at the General with astonishment. This was just a game? "You've been taking lessons from the Goa'uld, haven't you?" he asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "A few of them were masters at playing mind games."
"No, you have it all wrong," Landry hurried to tell him. "I'm not playing around here; I genuinely want to know how you have been handling things during the last week. General O'Neill is not very talkative when it comes to things like this, and Mackenzie values the vow he took when it comes to telling me what I want to know. Are we going to have problems like this in the future?"
The elevator door opened at that moment, giving Jack the opportunity to keep his silence. He decided to give himself a few minutes to think, as he stepped into the elevator, hoping to ease some of the anger that was pushing at him to brain the guy. Instead of giving in to the urge to tell the General where he could put his accusations, he put his back to the wall of the elevator and stared at the closing doors, working on calming down.
Jack couldn't blame the General for assuming that he was a loose cannon, but it still irked him that he had let it get to the point where he couldn't be trusted. Landry gave him a look that was clearly meant to prompt Jack into answering, and Jack knew it would be in his best interest to respond. The man was a General, after all.
"No sir," Jack ground out, still trying to tamp down on the anger. "I'm doing much better."
"I'm glad to hear it," Landry said, as he turned to glance back at Jack. "I have a job for you when Mackenzie clears you for active duty." He turned back toward the front, leaving Jack to stare at his back with surprise.
"Nothing like getting back into the thick of things again?" Jack asked, his expression hiding the tension that had moved in.
"If at first, you don't succeed," Landry said, with a wry grin.
"My sentiments exactly," Jack said, remembering the time he'd said those words to General Hammond. "I had learned to appreciate that phrase when Teal'c and I suffered through that 'time loop'."
Landry turned to Jack giving him his full attention, and Jack immediately went on alert. Something was brewing, he could just tell. "Teal'c mentioned that you two talked about the golf excursion you took part in during those days. I must admit that I was surprised when he'd said that. There had been no mention of a golf excursion in the reports you and Teal'c wrote."
"It wasn't important enough to include," Jack said, wondering if he could get into trouble after the fact. General Landry was a stickler when it came to the reports that showed up on his desk. Maybe he was going to get reamed over an 'incomplete' report years after the report had been filed. He wondered at the look of shock on Landry's face, even as the doors of the elevator opened to let them out. "Sir?" he prompted, as he walked over to hold the doors open for the General.
"That's exactly what Jack said," Landry told him, his voice seemed to be filled with awe. He shook his head, then retorted, "Like I said, only if it's something you want to tell me."
Jack prudently decided to keep his mouth shut at that point, and followed the General down the hall toward the man's office. They got there to find Colonel Reynolds waiting for them. Oh crap, Jack thought, as he realized he had been set up. This was so not good.
"Good morning Colonel," Landry said, in greeting. "Glad you could join us."
"Good morning sir," Reynolds said to the General, although his attention was on Jack. "Lieutenant," he added.
"Sir," Jack replied, striving for calm. With one word, this guy could have Jack breaking rocks in a Federal penitentiary, and now that his life wasn't too screwed up, he had no desire to end up in one. "May I take this opportunity to apologize for my behavior the other day," he added, knowing that this was what the whole meeting was about. Jack knew without being told that Landry wanted this cleared up, and Jack was more than willing to get the ball rolling. After all, he had been wrong in attacking the Colonel. "I'm sorry, sir."
"By rights, you should be sitting in a jail cell right now," Reynolds growled, clearly making a valiant effort in showing Jack the error of his ways. "You should be thanking Dr. Jackson that you aren't."
"Yes sir," Jack said humbly. He had learned the art of groveling over the past several years. His lessons in this ancient art form began the moment he had entered the Air Force Academy, as he dealt with those who saw him only as a Cadet and not a full-fledged Colonel who had saved the world from aliens more times than he liked to remember. He planned to put those lessons into good use with Colonel Reynolds.
"I assume you know the penalty for attacking an officer?" Reynolds asked, apparently thinking that more words were needed in making sure Jack knew exactly what his crime had been and the punishment for said crime.
"Yes sir," Jack responded, starting to get just a little aggravated. He had apologized, what more did this guy want? The Colonel didn't recognize the aggravation, or ignored it, as he continued to rant at Jack for a few minutes more, which Jack tuned out after the first minute. He already knew this stuff, he had just forgotten it in his rage and hatred toward the man he had thought was responsible for Taria's death.
"Just make sure you never do it again," Reynolds finally said in a threatening tone, bringing Jack out of his memories of that day in his cell when he had realized what he had done. He didn't know if he would ever get over the horror of leaving someone behind to face a torture he was back to hiding from, now that he had told his friends of it. He squared his shoulders, as he focused on the Colonel. "It won't happen again, sir," he said, his words laced with a double meaning that only Jack understood.
"I'm sure the Lieutenant has seen the error of his ways," Landry said, probably as tired of the ranting as Jack was.
"I hope so," Reynolds said, still a little peeved that Jack had attacked him in the first place.
"I really have," Jack insisted. This stuff was getting old fast and Jack was hoping the Colonel would find someone else to yell at.
"I'm glad to hear that your wife is safe," Reynolds said, surprising Jack with the abruptness of the change of subject and mood. All that ranting and raving apparently got the anger out of his system.
"Thank you, sir," Jack replied. "I was really worried about her. I feel better now that she is safe."
"You do understand why we couldn't go back for her at the time we found you, don't you?"
"Yes sir," Jack replied, his anger coming back in spades, which he was able to hide behind the expressionless mask he had acquired sometime during his lifetime. No need to rub it in, Reynolds, he thought snidely.
The General must have seen the warning signs, or maybe he'd had enough of the whole scene. "Thank you, Colonel, for coming here to clear the air of that unfortunate incident. Now, if you'll excuse us, the Lieutenant and I have some business that needs to be taken care of."
"Of course," Reynolds replied. He left the room and Jack got a grip on the anger boiling inside of him. It was done and over with. It was time to move on.
"Let's talk about your wife," Landry said, to get the rest of the meeting out of the way. Jack nodded warily as he watched the General's expression for any signs of bad news. "Have a seat," he added, indicating the chair with a wave of his hand.
Jack did as he was told, despite the unease flowing through him. What he wanted to do was to run. He was going to be forced to make a decision, one that would not only affect him, but the lives of Taria and their child and he wasn't sure he was ready for that. Better to get this over with though, he thought, as he briefly wondered if the decision had already been made for him.
"General O'Neill and I have been making some phone calls, based on an assumption that you may want her to live here with you," Landry said, as he sat down in his chair. "The general consensus of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is that she not be allowed to stay on Earth, given her heritage and the fact that she could inadvertently let the wrong people know that she is from another planet." He stopped at that point, then beckoned for someone out in the briefing room to enter. Jack shook his head with a resigned grin when he saw who it was. O'Neill walked in smiling broadly at them, then asked, "Did I miss anything?"