A/N: I chose Fayum on the basis of my research; it is actually the name of an ancient Egyptian oasis. I apologize to anyone else who may have used it in their stories. Sorry!
Also, thank you to HTaft... talking to you made me realize my mistake! On that note: The rating of this story went from M to T; I have rewritten necessary parts to make it fit. (No change to Chapter 1) I always overrate!
True to their word, at promptly 0800 SG-1 and Master Bra'tac were geared up and waiting in the gate room. The large inner track started turning and the chevrons locked into place along with Walter's running narrative. The team received a meaningful nod from General Hammond, then stepped through the gate in search of their quarry.
The first few steps on the yet-uncharted territory revealed a very pleasant landscape. They lowered their weapons when their guide relaxed; the fact that Bra'tac felt safe here went a long way for Jack. He looked around to see grassy countryside leading to a clump of trees, beyond which he'd been told were a river and the town just ahead. The stargate itself was also surrounded by trees, beyond which they were told was miles and miles of hot, dry desert.
"So, where are the hopefully friendly natives?" O'Neill asked.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a small group of children approached the gate. The only word he could clearly make out of the cheerful din was "Bra'tac".
"Greetings," Master Bra'tac greeted the children. "These are the friends of the Tau'ri of whom I spoke."
A few of the children who had backed off a bit when they saw the imposing Teal'c relaxed a little when they learned who he was, the one who in Bra'tac's stories helped these aliens destroy two of Apophis's ships. They milled around SG-1, almost dancing in delight.
"Hey, there, kids," Jack waved a hand in their direction. "Bra'tac," he muttered, "how about we get on with this?"
Bra'tac nodded and led him down the hill towards the city. It was an appealing little place, with lots of friendly meetings in the streets of the people who were apparently wandering about at will; the only hint of unpleasantness came from the guarded looks shot at the strangers as they walked so boldly through their town. Bra'tac led them expertly through the city until they found themselves at the door to a theater. He took them through the back door and into a back room where they spotted the object of their search.
The young woman had long, brown hair wound into a tight braid and was barefoot, like the others they had seen. She was waiting nervously, doing her stretching exercises in what Jack would have considered impossible positions to music softly playing through a device in the corner. She wore a flowing skirt that fell to her ankles and was definitely of local origin, but the somewhat small shirt was obviously meant for them - unless, that is, there was an Old Navy somewhere on this planet.
Melody rose, her eyes still closed in concentration, and executed a series of turns before she realized she had company. She fell out of them gracefully and bowed low in respect. "Master Bra'tac." She straightened back up and finally fixed her eyes on the newcomers, revealing clear, although tired, brown beneath dark, heavy lashes. Jack noticed the familiar hollowness in their depths and the darkness she tried to hide, and he cursed the inefficiency of their security that had allowed her to suffer.
Bra'tac acknowledged her with a slight inclination of his head as she returned to a standing position. He reached out and they grabbed each other's forearms in the customary greeting.
She approached Jack, who was nearest her, first and read his patch. "US Air Force. Well, waddaya know? Right country and everything."
Jack regarded her with some amusement. "Where did you say you were from?"
"New Jersey," she answered simply.
"Ah." Jack said. "That would explain the accent."
"Yes, it would. You from Chicago?"
"Lucky guess," Jack returned. "So, how did you find yourself… here?"
"Well, to be honest, I'm not totally sure. My parents, my brother, and I were on a tour of an Air Force base in Colorado. I went to look for a bathroom and somehow wound up in front of a chapa'ai. I didn't know what it was, but no one was watching it and it looked like water, so I stepped through it. I found myself here with no way back. A family eventually took me in and the rest is history."
Bra'tac shot her a meaningful look which none of the others could interpret, but she just shook her head and lowered her eyes.
Carter cleared her throat. "I hope you understand, but we need to be absolutely sure of what you're saying if you want to return with us through the gate."
"I thought you might say that." She pulled out a beat-up JanSport book bag stuffed to capacity with large text books. She opened the main pocket and pulled out the Physicians' Desk Reference Bra'tac had mentioned along with a book on ancient Greek civilizations, a Nancy Drew double edition, and a book on American Sign Language. She also pulled out a well-worn Bible and several notebooks. From the smaller pocket she retrieved what appeared to be a college-level Physics textbook, an early book on writing computer programs in Java, and several odds and ends including key chains and a wallet stuffed with pictures and a few American dollar bills. She had replaced the straps to the backpack, which broke years ago, with the jeans she had been wearing the day she arrived and had long outgrown. She nodded toward the Nancy Drew and Greek books. "These library books are a bit overdue."
"I'll say!" Daniel had, of course, taken interest in the book on ancient Greece and pulled out the card in the back. "These were due back, uh, almost ten years ago. That's one heck of a late fee!"
She smiled at that, feeling a little more comfortable with the strangers who offered her hope. "It's almost lunch time. Would you care to join my family?" She disappeared to change her shirt and apparently her attitude. She came back much more subdued and remained that way for the trip that took them just a few doors down from the theater. During the trip SG-1 enjoyed the same icy stares they were treated to on their way in along with a few more for their leader. Melody brought them quickly to where an older man and woman stood in front of a small hut, waiting for her return. "Mama, Papa," she said with an accent on the on the last syllable of each, slipping into the speech pattern of the locals, "these are they."
Two hours and three courses later, the members of SG-1 excused themselves from the table and met in the living room. "Well, kids, what do you think?"
"Well, her eyes aren't glowing," Daniel offered.
"There are no marks on her neck and she doesn't have any recollection of any kind of implantation. I don't sense anything, either." Sam crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against a wall. "I'd say she is who she says she is."
"She does indeed appear to be of the Tau'ri." Teal'c was too diplomatic to say it out loud, but her sense of humor had reminded her of O'Neill more than once during the meal.
Jack clapped his hands together. "Well, that settles it. She's coming with us." SG-1 followed their CO back into the dining room and took their seats again. They all sat around talking for nearly half an hour before Jack noticed the time. "OK, Ms. Favale. If you'd like to get packed we really should get out of here. General Hammond is expecting us back soon."
Melody's eyes lit up as she realized she'd be going back. "Thank you," she whispered as she stared at her hands, trying to hold back the tears of joy. She scurried around the table, gathering empty dishes and cups, and brought them into the kitchen.
More' followed behind her, bringing the leftover food from the table. "Melody, what are you doing?" she asked softly.
Melody turned around to face her second mother. "I should really clean up before I go."
More' reached over and stilled her hands. "You are free, Melody. You are no longer a slave." Melody found her eyes tearing up again when she saw the love in the older woman's eyes. She bowed low and was pulled into a hug. "You bow before no one. Now go. Prepare for your journey."
Melody's mind was racing as she packed her few belongings into her old, worn backpack. She picked up all of her books and various trinkets she'd come through the gate with, put on the delicate bracelet Jor'a had given her in secret years ago, then strapped on the weapons belt Bra'tac had given her - at the expense of More' and Jor'a, she'd found out later. She was about to begin the process of arming herself when she remembered the group in the living room was military and would probably never let her go with them armed. She removed the belt and loaded it with her weapons, took one last look around her room to make sure there was nothing else she'd left behind, then returned to the common room. She dropped her bag by the door and knelt before Jack, holding out her weapons in front of her. "Colonel, these are the weapons which were given me by Master Bra'tac. I desire to take them with me, but I understand the need for caution. I ask you take them for safekeeping."
"O-K." Jack reached forward and took the small armament from the young woman. He had a tough time believing someone so meek had mastered the many weapons she presented him. "You ready to go?"
"Yes, Colonel." Melody retrieved her backpack and some water Jor'a handed her for the short journey back to the gate. After a tearful good-bye, she left a picture of herself behind with the man and woman who had given her a home for ten years, refusing to take an apparently valuable bow and arrow set with her, and followed the team silently to the gate. She watched wide-eyed as Daniel dialed home, trying to memorize the coordinates just in case. Sam, who was searching her for any concealed weapons, noticed her staring and her heart tugged a little at that, but she knew that soon they would bring her home.
When Melody stepped out into the gate room, her first instinct was to duck away from the guns that were pointed at her. "Take it easy. She's clean," Jack called, waving her weapons in front of him appeasingly.
"Welcome back, SG-1. Ms. Favale?" General Hammond strode into the gate room, pleased at how the mission had gone. "I'm General George Hammond, US Air Force. Welcome to the mountain."
She took his outstretched hand and shook it, glad to shake someone's hand for once instead of their forearm. "General, I understand it was you who granted permission for these to come through and find me. For that I thank you." She was still using the formal speech pattern of the other world, not quite sure how she should otherwise talk to the General.
"Not at all. It's Master Bra'tac you should be thanking. Captain Carter," he called, intentionally singling out the woman. "Would you escort this young woman to the infirmary? Just a precaution, I assure you."
"I understand." Melody hiked up her backpack and followed Sam out of the gate room, and she in turn was followed by Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c. Bra'tac remained behind, set to return to Chu'lak immediately.
"Colonel O'Neill, as far as trading with these people?" General Hammond drew his flag team back to their standing orders.
"We saw a few things that might come in handy," he replied casually.
General Hammond turned back to Walter in the control room. "Inform SG-3 that they have a go on the treaty negotiations with the Prime Ambassador of Fayum."
The wormhole once more formed with a roar and a splash and the General took his leave of Master Bra'tac. Half way up the ramp Bra'tac paused. "Hammond of Texas," he called. General Hammond returned and came nearer the old master. "Take care of that one. Her life is not as easy as it seems."
General Hammond had no idea what he could mean, but he tucked that one under his cap, planning to revisit Bra'tac's warning later.
As Melody walked she recognized the gray tunnels she followed. Of course, they all looked alike, but they had haunted many nightmares of hers years ago. She was comforted by the fact that the halls weren't nearly as deserted as they had been the last time she was here. She giggled a little and got a smirk from Sam. "What?"
"It's nothing. I just realized that I must have crawled all over this base and I still don't have a clue where the bathroom is." OK, she was aware it wasn't that funny, but she was so happy just to be back on her own planet she felt like she might pop. Janet immediately put Melody at ease. She sat quietly through Janet's quick external examination, the feeling of euphoria wearing off and a bit of shock starting to set in. She answered all of the doctor's questions as well as she could and even tolerated the blood sample that was drawn. After being given a clean bill of health she followed SG-1 up to the debriefing room. There she repeated for General Hammond all she had already told Jack and his team.
"Well, that is quite a story, young lady, and a good lesson to us about security. Please accept our sincere apology for the lax security and its results," General Hammond interjected once she had stopped talking. He motioned to the airman at the door. "Please show her to the guest quarters. You are not by any means a prisoner, Ms. Favale, but this is a military base and you do not have security clearance. Please make sure you are escorted by a member of our personnel at all times."
"Of course, General. Thank you." She hesitated and was about to ask a question when she decided against it. They'll probably let me call them later, she thought. She followed the airman, a man named Jamison who turned out to be quite friendly, through countless hallways until she had no idea where she was. He finally opened a metal door with a small window and waved her in. He made sure she was settled, then left her alone and took up his post outside her door. Yes, watching a beautiful young woman was an assignment he didn't mind a bit.
Melody looked around the small room. It wasn't exactly the Ritz, but at least it was on the right planet. She unloaded the books from her book bag and set it gingerly in a drawer, closing it on her only tie to her past. Besides the newspaper someone thoughtfully left on the desk for her there wasn't much to see. She noted the date on it, just a few days after her birthday. One heck of a birthday present, she thought, tossing it aside. She picked up a remote and started flipping the channels on the TV mounted near the ceiling in the corner. She finally settled on an old episode of "MacGyver", comforted by the familiarity of the mullet-ed star. She reached back into her book bag and pulled out her old watch, the thread for which she'd pulled out long ago to save the battery. She set it to the local time, 3 pm, once she remembered to convert over from military time. She yawned and flopped on the bed, eyes still facing the TV screen. She muttered contentedly to herself as she nodded off, "Oh, yeah, this is home. Concrete walls, old mattresses, and reruns on the tube."
OK, so I couldn't resist the "MacGyver" reference... so sue me! If you'd really like to complain, there's a little button on the bottom of this page that'll help...
Extra note: I apologize if I threw anyone off, but I realized I forgot to insert the scene breaks. SORRY! It's fixed now.