But she's here!
Chapter 3: Let the Tour Begin
Malton left Sam in the kitchen as he helped his son to bed. He returned shortly and put a pot on the stove to warm.
"I will understand if you are too tired to accompany me this morning." Malton poured the warmed fluid into two cups. He handed one to Sam. She breathed in the sweet aroma.
"I'll be fine. I'm very excited about getting to see more of your technology and I'm use to surviving on little sleep."
"Excellent. I will take some time to clean up and let my wife know everything went well. Then we can leave."
"I'd like to clean up also." Sam sipped the refreshing drink. "What do you call this?"
"It is valiesen. You will find it provides you with energy." Malton swallowed his entire cup in one gulp.
--
"I know you enjoyed our tour of the production facility this morning, but I promise I saved the best for last. This is our research and design facility. This is where my office is housed. I suspect you are very familiar with the atmosphere of a research facility and it is probably where you will feel most at home." Malton held a door open for Sam. There were four large security guards stationed at the entrance. Sam's hand was passed over a light. Her hand tingled for a moment.
"That will allow you access to every department as long as you are in my company. If we are separated for any reason I recommend you stay still and wait for assistance. These gentlemen are not as pleasant when there is a potential security breech. I must remind you that you are not allowed to view any of the schematics or design information referencing our technology, even the protective shields your fellow soldiers were so interested in learning more about."
"I understand. I promise to be a good girl." Sam smiled at her host and guide. They walked through the blueprint production room, prototype construction department, and sales management division before going to the pièce de résistance research and development. There was another set of burly guards in front of the R&D department. Sam walked through a scanner and the guards briefly discussed her clearance level.
"You must stay with your escort at all times, ma'am."
"I understand. Thank-you." Sam politely nodded to the large guard who opened the door for her.
"This is where I spend most of my days. Let me introduce you to some of our head engineers." Malton led Sam through the elaborate network of offices and corridors. He introduced her to over fifteen different lead engineers. Based on the number of offices they skipped, she assumed there must be a large number of other engineers working for the lead engineers. The last stop on the walk was a huge room that had workstations along the perimeter and a large table in the center that had recessed computer screens under glass. Eight of the lead engineers, intrigued with their visitor, followed them into the room.
"This is what we refer to as our brainstorming room. When we get a request for something new, we generally pull experts from different areas to brainstorm about different ways to accomplish the goal requested by the government or other agency. Usually we will let the top two to five ideas move into the design phase. The top design, as picked by myself and a few others, moves to prototype production, often with a few tweaks."
"This is amazing. The whole place looks fantastic. How often do you design something from scratch?"
"Most of the time we can put together something to fit the customers needs by piecing together things we already produce. Two or three times a year we have to truly start from the beginning. Those are the projects I love the most. It's that drive to come up with the never-before-seen that has kept me vitalized all these years. We employ the best and brightest in the engineering field. Every year graduates scramble to impress us in the hopes they will get a foot in the door. We have very low turn over, and our employees know they are appreciated."
"I'm sure there are many things we can learn from each other, not only about technology, but also about employee satisfaction."
"We have found employee satisfaction in every department and at every level is vital if we are to remain a secure facility. We have to go beyond just paying well, although that is part of the solution, because a competitor could always buy an employee. We try to make sure our employees feel valued and respected. If they want to come here every day, they are less likely to take their skills and knowledge else where."
"Many of our corporations have discovered the same thing."
"Jarnus! Jarnus!"
Sam turned as one of the men in the entourage fell to the floor unconscious. The woman closest to him kept screaming his name. Malton bent down and placed both of his hands in Jarnus' armpits.
"His heart is not functioning. Call for a medical team immediately and give us space."
Sam was pushed aside as the engineers surrounding Malton shuffled. One of them bent down to assist Malton. More people entered the room as the commotion spread into the halls. Eager onlookers pushed through the door, making the room more crowded. Normally Sam would have left the room so the medical personnel would have room to work, but she been warned to stay with Malton. Internally Sam giggled at the sight before her as she realized rubbernecking wasn't just an Earth habit!
Sam was pushed further back until she had no choice but land in a chair. She hit a console as she sat and a diagram appeared on the screen. She glanced at the drawing and pulled her eyes away. It resembled one of the shield generators she'd seen being assembled this morning. The engineer in her wanted to immerse herself in the drawing, but the ambassador in her knew better. She kept her eyes focused away from the screen.
The medical team arrived and resuscitated the engineer. The crowd began to dissipate as he was wheeled out of the room.
"What are you doing?" One of the lead engineers was staring at Sam as he yelled. Sam looked around before realizing he was yelling at her. "What were you looking for in there? Did you find anything interesting?"
"I didn't…I was pushed into this chair and …I didn't…I promise." Sam fumbled for an answer as she stood up from the chair. Malton watched the interaction, waiting for Sam to either admit her indiscretion or defend herself.
"Why else would you be sitting there, if it wasn't to spy on us?" The engineer stepped closer.
"You are wrong, Milson. I watched her closely. She never touched the screen and the image that appears is old. It was pulled up last week when a team met in here to discuss the shield modifications I requested." The man, who was slightly taller than Sam but still hunched over, stepped closer to the console. He leaned over Sam and began punching in codes.
"See. According to the record this console has not been activated since last week. The picture came up when the console was jostled as Colonel Carter was pushed into the chair."
Malton looked at Sam's defender and nodded his agreement. He was satisfied by the explanation and glad Colonel Carter had been exonerated. "I believe you owe our guest an apology, Milson."
Milson clenched his fists, but he bowed before Sam. "Please forgive my incorrect assumption."
"I understand the mistake. I respect the security measures you employ, and I would not violate the trust Malton and your government have placed in me."
--
Jack had been impatient through the whole flight. As soon as he got to the SGC, he went to Hank's office.
"Enter." Jack opened the door as soon as Hank bid him entrance. "Jack, I'm glad you could come and visit."
"You know this isn't just a visit. I can't sit in Washington while one of my friends is missing." Jack paced the length of the office before stopping to look out the window into the briefing room.
"You're just in time to watch us dial the planet again. We've been dialing every other day trying to make radio contact." General Landry stood and walked around his desk to join Jack.
"I know. I've been keeping up with the reports. There's still no word." Jack followed Landry to the spiral staircase.
"Perhaps today will be the day. I've heard you're one hell of a lucky fellow. Maybe that will work in our favor." Landry slapped Jack on the shoulder as they reached the control room. He tried to smile, but it immediately faded from his face.
Walter felt the tension rolling off General O'Neill. General Landry wasn't making him feel any better. He finished typing in all seven symbols as Daniel and Teal'c arrived. Jack bent down to the microphone.
"This is Sierra Gulf Charlie calling Colonel Carter. Colonel Carter, do you read?" Jack watched the stargate, as if he could make her respond by staring hard enough. "Come on Sam. Answer us." Jack gripped the microphone so hard his knuckles turned white. "I repeat this is Sierra Gulf Charlie calling Colonel Carter. Please respond"
Jack and Daniel kept trying until Landry put his hand on Jack's back. Jack stood up and shook his head. Daniel looked down at his shoes and sighed.
"It's been fifteen minutes. We can't tie the gate up too long…in case one of the off-world teams needs an escape route." General Landry's request made sense but that didn't make anyone feel better.
--
"Samantha, let me introduce to the company's owner, Mr. Listin Orfel." Malton directed Sam's attention to the man who had just defended her. Sam's eyes widened and she smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I appreciate your help."
"It was my pleasure. It was obvious that although you were tempted, you did not give in. I am not sure I could have acted as well under similar circumstances."
"Thank-you." Sam blushed.
"Do you already have plans for dinner?"
Sam looked at Malton. "I'm staying with Malton while I'm on your planet."
"Yes, I know. I was fully briefed before your arrival. I'm afraid I travel so often the government worried I wouldn't be a suitable host. Malton and his family are trusted friends and I knew your stay there would be wonderful. It would please me immensely if you would join me for dinner, assuming it is alright with Malton and his wife." Listin looked towards Malton.
"My wife will understand, and I'm sure Colonel Carter would love to hear more about the company." Both men looked at Sam.
"Then I guess it is up to you, Colonel Carter." Liston watched Sam carefully as he spoke.
"Please call me Sam. I'd be pleased to join you for dinner."
Listin smiled. "Excellent. I'll have a speeder pick you up in three hours. Please dress casually. There is no need for formality between friends." Listin bowed before leaving. Sam couldn't help but smile.
"Half the planet will be jealous of you tomorrow." Malton watched Sam turn towards him.
"Why?"
"Listin Orfel is the most sought after husband on the planet. He's rich, handsome, and well respected. He is a truly decent man. Many women want to be his mate but few are truly deserving of his attention." Malton directed Sam to his office as he regaled her with stories of his boss.
--
"Hey, Cassie. It's Jack." Jack leaned his chair back as he spoke into the receiver.
"Hey."
"I've been getting your messages but I've been tied up…sorry."
"I understand. Did you find her?"
"No, sweetie. I'm sorry." Jack leaned further back, balancing his chair on the back two legs.
"I'm coming home."
Jack sat forward, letting the front two legs crash to the floor. "Oh no you are not. Carter would kick my rear if you left school. She's been gone longer then this before, and she always makes it home."
"I can't just sit here and not know anything."
"Sitting here won't be any easier…trust me. At least going to class gives you something else to focus on."
"It isn't working. I feel too out of the loop."
"I'll call everyday."
Cassie sighed.
"I promise. As long as I'm in the neighborhood, so to speak, I'll call. If I can't call, somebody else will."
Cassie didn't respond.
"As much as I'd love to see you, we both know Carter wants you to stay in school. She'll blame herself when she gets back, if you leave school. You don't want to add that to her load do you?"
"So now you're using guilt to get me to stay here?"
"If it's working, I am."
"Jack, please…"
"I mean it, Cassie. There's nothing you can do here. I won't even be able to get you in the mountain. Stay in school, do well, make us all proud."
Cassie sighed again. "This isn't fair."
"I know."
"I'll stay…until break. Then I'm coming home."
"You can always come visit when you're on break. We love having you around."
"Bring her home, Jack. I need her."
"I know. I gotta go. I love ya."
"I love you too."
Thanks again to my beta Tricia! She keeps me straight!