Well, just under a month to get this one written and posted. Still terrible considering how often I used to post while writing the prequel to this, but a lot better than usual since I arrived at Uni. Thanks as ever to anyone who reads this, and an even bigger thanks to reviewers for the last chapter!
Sorry if Einar is confusing or seems far too out of character. Trust me, there is a reason for this. I hope you enjoy this new part!
Chapter 11: Negotiations
It was an odd minute or so. As medical personnel tended to Jonas, Einar just stood patiently on the ramp. General Hammond was caught off-guard – they'd searched and failed to track down Einar for help, and didn't expect him to suddenly show up on their doorstep. It all seemed at bit convenient, their former Innarim acquaintance turning up when they badly needed help. The General felt the flicker of suspicion that perhaps even Einar had somehow been compromised and programmed to come here under the altered Zaytarc technology.
Jack was, as expected, just as surprised. The turn of events had disordered his thoughts once again. He was relieved to see Jonas back alive, after his bout of guilt over his apparent loss, but Einar stirred yet more confusion. He too felt the hopeful surprise at Einar's return at such a dire time, and shared Hammond's suspicions. Yet, he also felt a simmering anger at the wolf creature: all of his recent trouble and panic from the dream and his own emotions had apparently stemmed from the previous encounter with the alien. Jack wanted to share some strong words face to face with him.
"General Hammond," Einar stated simply in formal greeting.
"Einar," Hammond began, speaking into the control room microphone, "we've been looking for you recently. What brings you back to Earth?"
"I have come to negotiate."
In the control room, looks were exchanged. Einar had never been this blank and composed. The alien simply scanned each of them with expressionless features and unreadable body language, betraying no inkling about his own emotions over seeing SG-1 again.
"Negotiate what?" Hammond pressed.
"Deimos is running loose, conquering whatever he chooses," Einar said, "and judging from that little escapade…"
He paused to glance down the ramp at Jonas for a moment.
"… you are next."
"And you can assist us?"
"Well," Einar inclined his head, the first move with any kind of emotion, "if you have been looking for me as you claim, then you have likely been led to Jarl Sigrun's message by this point, correct? I have access to technology more advanced than your own – it may end up being helpful against Deimos somehow."
"If you can offer any new technologies…"
"Not so hasty, General," Einar cut him off. "It all depends on what you are willing to offer me in return."
Hammond requested that Einar visit the infirmary under escort, and then to be taken to temporary quarters, but Jack didn't want that little talk of his to wait. As Einar was lead out of the blast doors, flanked by SFs, he jumped down the steps from the control room to intercept the Innarim.
"Hey, you have a lot to-"
With barely a glance at Jack, Einar jabbed him in the shoulder to budge him out of the way. Frowning with indignation, he turned to follow Sam as she went to greet Jonas as he was also led out of the gateroom. Now sporting a clean bandage, the Kelownan winced and watched the Innarim disappear further down the corridor.
"Why did he do that?" he asked. "I thought he was a friend of SG-1."
"Well, he never used to act like that, Jonas," Sam explained with puzzled concern. "I don't think any of us expected him to be like this."
"Indeed," Teal'c added as he stood by the control room steps with them. "It is as if he is a completely different person."
Jack remained silent as Einar was led around a corner and out of their sight. Clearly Jack wasn't the only one who was angry.
After being checked out in the infirmary and then released, Jonas had tracked down Einar's quarters. The SFs guarding it looked surprised to see him there, but they allowed him in.
Einar was curled up on top of the covers, in a very canine fashion, tail tucked up by his legs. Compared to the stern attitude the alien had shown when he had first arrived, he now looked content and comfortable. Jonas was reminded of the past few days on Traer. After the initial harsh interrogation, Einar had slipped into an amiable attitude. While he remained general serious and silent, the Innarim has definitely been more relaxed. It was his arrival back on Earth that had caused the stiff harshness he had displayed. Now he had reverted back to the relaxed seriousness.
Jonas wondered if it had anything to do with the fact Einar had clearly been living very frugally in wild areas of other worlds, the hills on Traer being the most recent location. If it were him, he'd be enjoying a soft mattress and quilt just as much.
Though Einar's eyes were closed, Jonas knew that the Innarim was aware of his presence in the room.
"You are bold, Jonas Quinn," Einar finally spoke through the silence. "Given your experiences, I did not expect you to come looking for an Innarim."
"You seem to have spooked the others, though," Jonas commented. "They said you've changed a lot."
"Well, time stands still for no one, Jonas," Einar opened one eye, "and I have had my own share of troubles. Yet, it is apparently not enough to drive you away."
"Before a few days ago, all I knew about you was what the others, and a few SGC reports, have told me. I didn't have assumptions as strong as the others to be proved wrong."
"What brings you to me, then?"
"Curiosity, I suppose," Jonas shrugged uneasily.
Einar paused before closing his eye once more, "As I told General Hammond, I will not divulge anything about Hakonan technology until we have reached some kind of bargain."
"No, I'm… I'm not here about the technology," Jonas assured. "I was just wondering… I was told that you and Colonel O'Neill parted on good terms a year ago. You seemed less than happy to see him again."
"As I said, I've had my own share of troubles," the Innarim replied cryptically.
It was no surprise – Hammond had quickly received word back from the President that Earth was willing to listen to Einar. After all, in the face of such a crisis, any advantage the Innarim could provide would be worth the effort. Einar himself would have expected a speedy response as well; he had a unique perspective on the Tauri, of course, allowing him to predict how they would act.
Within a day, Washington had sent high ranking negotiators to the SGC. Einar was summoned to the briefing room, after waiting patiently in self-imposed solitude in base quarters. As well as the General and the negotiators, Sam and Jonas had been requested for the meeting; Sam for her technical expertise and Jonas as the cultural in-between given his familiarity with Daniel's notes on the Hakonan Norse and Innarim culture (despite his injured arm).
Jack wasn't there. Hammond had thought it better for his second-in-command and the returning alien visitor to remain apart for now. There was obviously some bad feeling between the two, and the General didn't want hostility from either party to ruin their chances of gaining Hakonan technology to defend Earth.
Jack hadn't protested.
Now, as they were all seated around the briefing room table, introductions were made between the Innarim warrior and the smart Washington officers before starting.
"So, we understand that you have already found the planet with the message left by Jarl Sigrun," the senior of the negotiators, Yearlson, stated.
"Yes," Einar replied simply, sitting formally and confidently opposite them.
"This is where you found out about the existence of this knowledge of Hakonan technology? And it is how you began to become aware of it, too?"
"Though the origin of this information seems irrelevant at this point, that is correct."
Yearlson paused a moment, taking in Einar's cool and calm attitude to size up the best way to deal with the matter at hand. He deemed it best to meet the alien's aloof demeanour with an equal approach, remaining confident and collected.
"Very well. Now that we have clearly established that, perhaps you could tell us what you would want in exchange for the technologies?"
"Indeed I would," Einar said. "In basic terms, I request relocation on Earth."
"You simply want to stay here?" Yearlson echoed, raising his brow.
"Not simply. There are several conditions I must insist are met before I will agree to any deal."
"And these are?"
"Firstly, I will require access to quarters and facilities necessary to survival, such as food and medical treatment. The base quarters I have been assigned and the facilities within the SGC are more than adequate to fulfil this."
"That sounds reasonable," Hammond commented.
"Secondly, this relocation would be permanent. I do not intend to be exiled once I have provided all of the knowledge I can and are of no more use in that respect. My time here will be indefinite, or until I wish to leave of my own accord. Thirdly, I demand a guarantee that I am given the same personal rights that the Tauri are granted – you are aware of my nature as an engineered weapon, and I am also aware of your curiosity as well as your current desperation for new weapons. I am a 'technology' that I exclude from this offer and will not be used as a research specimen for your own purposes."
Einar paused for a moment.
"Finally, I am aware that my clear appearance as an alien to your world prevents me from roaming outside of the SGC complex. For this reason, to prevent myself from… I believe an appropriate term would be 'cabin fever'… I must be allowed to regularly travel offworld. I am willing to accompany teams already scheduled to travel through the Stargate to prevent disruption to the running of the SGC, and will assist them where appropriate, in exchange for this."
"I'm sure the President will be willing to consider these conditions, Einar."
"Now that we know what you are willing to exchange for, could you give us an outline of what technologies you would be providing us with?" the second negotiator, by the name of Cowan, asked.
"Anything I might tell you now would be only a fraction of the knowledge I have and so will gradually become an outdated account. As far as I can tell, what I know now is not the sum total of the technology Sigrun left in my mind," Einar explained. "However, I'm afraid the answer is no."
"What?"
"At present I am unwilling to disclose the exact nature of the technology I have become aware of thus far. Only when we have reached an agreement will I tell you of that."
"Einar, without an idea about what you could tell us, we can't judge whether or not it's valuable enough for what you're asking," Sam put into the conversation, gaining the Innarim's attention.
"Perhaps," Einar glanced pointedly at the men from Washington, "but I have very little reason to trust you."
"I'm afraid that would make your position in these negotiations too unreasonable, sir," Cowan stated.
Sitting back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest, the alien gave a slight smirk, "Consider it retribution. Yet, I recommend you think more about just how much danger you are in with Deimos around before you dismiss me so easily – ask yourself, just how desperate are you going to get?"