Stargate Revealed: Politics & Power 12
by livi2jack
Summary: Jack's obsession with the Lady gets an explanation. Anna gets disturbing news from home. Jack and Anna regroup. Jack's clone searches for a life. What does he find?
Rating: Teens +
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Point Of View, Angst, Other
Season: SG-1 Season Nine+
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 703 Fragile Balance, 717 Heroes, Part 1, 718 Heroes, Part 2, 720 Inauguration, 814 Full Alert, 903 Origin
Featured Character(s): Jack O'Neill, Jack's clone, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Cameron Mitchell, Hank Landry, Carolyn Lam, George Hammond
Pairings: Jack/Other
Spoilers for S9+ and related.
Author Notes: I would like to point out that there are many Earth based societies that still have a code of politeness not customary to most in the Western world. Some societies such as the Japanese have very ritualized forms of greetings including bows. These bows carry great significance. Bows differ according to who is giving and who is receiving the bow. Even bows between men and women are different. In my story, the Commonwealth is an extreme example of this type of cultural imperative. And it wears on Jack's patience. His refusal wears on hers.
I would also like to remind the reader that a leader is respected in large measure because he or she represents a large body of people. Anna represents a people six times the size of the entire population of Earth. Jack is not her equal. Even in the US Military structure he is a two-star general not a 4-star general. Both are below the President. The President is representing the 6 billion people of Earth to her.
Sequel to Stargate Revealed
Chapter 12: Sights and Smells
Captain Amos climbed down from a primitive transportation unit. The jolting ride over nearly non-existent roads was tedious. The company was worse. And he had to wear roughly constructed coarse cloth clothing. The smells from inside the passenger compartment could take down a horse. 'Didn't these primitives ever bathe?' He regretted not having more nasal desensitizer. But the smell coming from the boots of the large man in front of him convinced Amos the man had a cheese factory in there. Thank goodness they were outside, finally. It was winter. Snow covered the ground in lumps with dingy black and grey chunks at the curb. The smells from the exhaust of the transportation unit were positively poisonous. 'How do primitives live like this?'
One of the men gestured for Amos to enter the building with all the glass windows. It was probably glass. These people could not possibly know how to fabricate white sapphire panes that large. But the men were being nice, he supposed. The door was opened for him. He took a step inward and gagged. The intense smell of chemicals and putrefaction made him want to retch. He turned to exit and bumped up against the big guard. There was utter confusion as he pushed his way out only to find himself in by a round moving doorway. 'Ok, how did that happen?' And then he did lose his lunch in the nearest tubular container. Personnel came running towards him. Amos looked around wondering whom they were trying to see. Someone grabbed his arm and spoke. The people in white smocks were trying to ask him something. The buzzing in his ears got louder. He passed out.
"Okay, we move them outta here." Jack ordered the SFs hovering in the hallway. "Let's take them to Peterson Air Force Base. Call local authorities and clear the roads. We don't need any accidents." Jack got on the phone to Landry to set up the new venue. Clearly, the aliens could not cope with the hospital environment. Jack wanted to keep Anna away from the SGC lest the visiting aliens know she was on Earth. So, the closest Air Force facility was the hospital. Unfortunately, the hospital smell was making them sick. Anna was pure white and her medtech would not let her take any more of the nasal desensitizer. So she waited outside.
"My Lord General, I was wondering," Anna came up to him and touched his arm for attention. He hung up the phone and waited. "I was just thinking that Amos can't be a zatarc because, well, look at him." She pointed to the unconscious figure on the gurney. A zatarc was a human assassin secretly conditioned by the Goa'uld to act under a very specific set of circumstances. Since a zatarc had no idea he was a zatarc, only the Tok'ra zatarc detector could help and only if you could narrow down the time frame. That would not help in this situation since it would take forever to review the years in a person's life necessary to come even close.
"So, your point, ma'am?" Jack was all business now. He waved the medical personnel over to the waiting truck. They pushed the gurney as far as they could in the ice-covered walkway. "And get someone out here to shovel this walkway. It's a damn death trap." Air Force personnel went running for shovels.
"General O'Neill, please, let's just be civilized and go to a nice building such as, maybe, a museum or a library." Anna was shivering. She did not have a hat or gloves. "Or maybe a heated vehicle?" He had to admit that would make sense. There was the Sand Creek library branch on South Academy Boulevard in one direction and Ft. Carson in the other. Jack opted for Ft. Carson. He had an aide call ahead for the base commander's briefing room to be set up.
"Thank you, Jack. And, may I ask another favor, please?" Anna was starting to shake with the cold. "I am not clothed properly. I would like to return to the ship for a few moments to change." He looked at her and held up 5 fingers. Both understood; it would take ten.
The medtech injected something into Captain Amos. He seemed to revive a bit and looked around. Then he realized he was cold. Blankets were brought but he couldn't stand the smell. In frustration, Jack put him in a doctor's car and turned up the heat. It took a while. Amos found the smells in the car borderline tolerable, so he rolled down the window.
"Are they serious?" Jack asked Dr. Lam. "Do we stink that much?"
"I don't know. Probably." She shook her head and said, "They have manipulated their DNA so that their senses are more acute. This is the downside of better sense of smell. Hospital smells are probably intense for them. Think about how you feel when someone doesn't wear deodorant in a foreign country, or think about the smells in a meat market in the Third World or on some primitive planet. It's probably like that for them."
'The fun never stops with her.' Jack spread his hands out in frustration. How did she survive his cabin? That nasal stuff must work pretty well. Or, she thinks I smell that good. The tags must be really powerful if she didn't react like this turkey. The man in the car was holding his handkerchief across his nose. She was taking too long. 'Gaaaa!' She was an infuriating woman.
Anna beamed down in plain view causing Jack to startle. "Would you please not do that again in public?" He growled at her. She looked contrite.
'He didn't need to yell at me. I'm trying to be good. It is just so impossible to please that man.'
Jack looked down at her. She was too close. He was getting distracted again.
"Just, go stand over there, please, ma'am. It's happening again." Anna looked distracted herself.
"What? Where? Oh, right. Sorry, My Lord General." Anna trudged over to a parked vehicle. At least now she was dressed properly. Amos saw his Lady from the car. Once the Captain saw her and made himself get out. He knelt before her. They spoke for a few minutes before Jack saw what was happening.
'Jeez, even in the damn snow? If that was what she thought I should have been doing this whole time she was cracked.' Jack just turned his back so he wouldn't get more irritated watching it.
"So these Commonwealth aliens came through the Gate this afternoon. You should have seen them. They know how to dress, NOT. I mean it was so gaudy. They would look great at Mardi Gras or a costume party," snickered the lieutenant to a captain.
"What did they want?" The captain was mildly amused. Aliens, so what's new? They were all weird.
"They said that Lady Anna will get married and they were there to talk to O'Neill about it. Seems he's involved somehow." Both officers smiled gleefully. And then they saw Lt. Col. Samantha Carter. She overheard everything. And she was in shock. Uh oh.
"What was that, Lieutenant?" Sam barked at her. "Repeat that for me."
"Um, ma'am, well, I was saying to the Captain that aliens have come to the SGC with a wedding announcement for General O'Neill and Lady Anna. There's a whole mess of them there and they are all decked out, over the top kind of stuff, ma'am." The lieutenant had never seen Carter angry. She blanched. The Captain knew enough to keep his mouth shut.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Now, I don't want you to ever repeat anything you hear at the SGC unless you are told to repeat it and to whom you should repeat it. UNDERSTOOD?" Sam knew loose lips sink ships as they used to say. The young officer was ashamed of herself and rightly so, thought Sam. "Consider yourself on report. Dismissed both of you. Back to work." Sam stalked off to get Teal'c.
Sam and Teal'c returned to the SGC that Monday evening. Nothing more could be done with testing. Both had had enough of the Gamma Site. And since everyone at the SGC was tagged too, what difference did it make anymore who was where? At least this time they didn't have to go through the medical checks because they arrived from the Gamma Site. Mitchell was still there laid up with his cold.
A few minutes later, Sam was on the phone to O'Neill from her office with the door closed. "I don't care, Jack. Enough's enough. I have eyes. Ya sure you betcha. Do whatever you please. Count me out." She hung up. And then she heaved a book across the room.
Later that afternoon, the alien delegation waited expectantly to hear from their Lord General, O'Neill the Great. The wedding party assembled in the Gateroom control area, while the technicians dialed up the planet where O'Neill was on official business, or so they thought. Actually, Jack was in Ft. Carson broadcasting back to the SGC. He didn't want them to know he was on Earth with Anna. Not yet, anyway.
"Yes, General Landry. Well that's mighty nice of them. I'll have to think about it. There's a few pressing matters here. One week you say?" O'Neill's voice seemed to come through the open wormhole into the base com system. The bridegroom and his minions listened with disappointment. "I'm not sure. But, hey, tell her congratulations for me, will ya? O'Neill out." The wormhole disengaged.
"He's not coming?" One of the minions dressed in bright blue wondered? "He must be really angry we did not invite him to the ceremony today." She looked upset. Another woman's face showed rivulets of tears. Several of the men shifted uncomfortably.
"Now he didn't say that. He said he had to check. I'm sure we can get this straightened out." General Landry ushered the delegation down to the Gate room floor. The wormhole engaged and the group marched dejectedly up the ramp. Captain Amos turned to make his good-bye respects after the rest of them. Landry could see the gratitude in his eyes for an instant and it was gone. Too much was at stake to show more.
"Well, that answers a few questions, now doesn't it ma'am?" Jack was on edge. The briefing room in Ft. Carson was overly warm and stuffy. Finding out someone had messed with him and Lady Anna was unsettling. Knowing the tags somehow made them attracted to each other was worse. Well, that would explain why they couldn't let each other go too far away. It was such a personal violation, however unintended. Or was it unintended?
Anna looked up at him absolutely miserable. Finding out her best friend and confidante, Lady Janelle had betrayed her was an overwhelming loss. Anna didn't know how to process that thought. And the idea one of her own clan elders played a part was frightening. It raised too many unpleasant possibilities.
"Jack, the problem is larger than you realize. I am in serious trouble." Anna turned away. She composed herself and began again. "Please, My Lord General, let us speak a while in private. She indicated a chair. He reluctantly sat. "I realize that my situation does not seem to involve you. But I assure you it does. For that reason, I shall ask you to forebear and hear my thoughts." Anna looked to see if Jack had the patience. Not really, she saw. Anna sighed. "I think that we should eat. Both of us are tired from a long and challenging day. I need a break." Now that was something Jack could understand.
"Okay, I'm hungry. Call up something and let's have it." He crossed his legs waiting. The next thing he knew he was sitting in the same chair on a patio at her tropical beach house. He jumped up and looked around. "Don't do that without some warning. I'm tired of it. Ack! And another thing, ask me before you do it. I may want to go someplace else, ever think of that?"
Jack spoke into the computer and she found herself in Colorado Springs at O'Malley's steakhouse. "Now, let's eat." He led the way to the hostess and got them seated right away. "I'll have a porterhouse with a baked potato, loaded, and a salad, with a beer." He looked over at her and thought it over. She had no idea what to do. "The lady will have a filet, a baked potato, everything on the side, a salad with vinaigrette, me too by the way, and a beer. Oh and two shooters of tequila." The waitress moved away. He regarded her and waited for the explosion. There was none. She was being a good girl tonight, for a change.
"So how come you don't wrinkle your nose, ma'am? The place is full of smells." He was suspicious. "Actually, I got to wondering about this whole smell thing. If everyone else is tagged, then why don't they act so, so, well, you know?" He leaned back as the beers arrived. "Because, I just spoke to Colonel Carter and she had a few observations on that point."
Anna did not know what to say. She thought some more and had no conclusion. So she took her mug, shrugged, and drank. The tequila went down in one shot. The salads arrived. Anna watched what Jack did and emulated it. "Food here is so tasty, Jack. What do you call this?" She picked up a plump cherry tomato on her fork and held it up.
"Tomato." Jack went back to eating. The bread arrived with real butter. O'Malley's knew its clientele. He took the basket, offered her some, and then took himself. 'That's manners, you impossible woman.' He went back to his food.
"What's this? It's so good." Anna held up a broccoli floret with cheese sauce and got her answer. Then she watched him go at it. He was hungry. Never try to deal with a hungry man, she reminded herself. What was it she used to joke? The way to manage a man was with food and sex? Well, these people sure got the food right. It presented some exchange possibilities. The rest of the food came. Anna's eyes grew wide. She never saw a potato all in one piece. Sure there were mashed potatoes at the President's palace but she didn't actually see one. So she watched Jack and did the same.
"Whoops, no you can't have that." He took away the bacon bits. Her eyes asked him why. "Because, just because, you don't want to know." He dumped them on his potato. That ended the discussion. He wasn't interested in a discussion of cross-cultural issues just now. They ate in silence. It was too much food. Anna put her implements down and waited for him to finish.
Anna looked around at the setting and the people. The place reminded her of that restaurant out in the Eleira cluster where the people ate great quantities of roasted meat from that strange animal. This was much better and cleaner. It also helped that the women didn't have to eat from the men's platters. There, each man handed the food off to the woman of choice. It was some sort of ownership gesture. Oh how she missed the simpler days of being a starship captain. All those wonderful adventures, she thought about them and grew sad. When the children were older, the family would go with her. But that was a long time ago. She missed him. Looking at Jack she wondered what his wife was like and why he didn't remarry and have kids. He was a fine healthy man. It was curious.
Jack finished and called for two coffees and dessert. He ordered a hot fudge brownie and ice cream for her and apple pie for himself. The General sat back and felt better. At least this woman didn't natter at him over his food. Carter did that and he had to tune her out. It wasn't that he minded the prattling; he just didn't want it over his food. Jack wondered what she was doing, and then dismissed the thought. She'd get over it. Now what to do about this one? He calmly regarded her and considered his options. She was lost in thought about something sad. Strange, she just didn't care what he saw on her face. Daniel was right. They were both compromised.
"What?" Jack asked her softly. The desserts arrived. Her eyes widened in delight. It smelled so good. She bent down to smell it better. Good choice, thought Jack. We have a chocoholic. Can do. Anna smiled up at him.
"Hmm? Oh, thank you Jack, dinner was good." She concentrated on her first forkful of gooey delight.
"It was nothing. Any ideas about what next?" He wondered at her ability to trust him like this. She didn't hesitate over any of the food, the setting, being alone without guards, nothing. "Ma'am, I have to ask you, how are you so at ease without your guards and without all those sycophants around you? Aren't you worried about being here alone with just me and a few of your 'toys'?"
Anna finished a mouthful. "No. I'm not. You wouldn't take me anywhere dangerous. I trust your judgment." She picked at her plate. "Maybe that's what I wanted you to do with me back home. Just let it happen and enjoy it. But you were too busy worrying about it all and fighting me." She stabbed her cake and took some more. "I never intended to make you that unhappy. I'm sorry you hated being there so much." Anna sighed over the chocolate mess in front of her. This was just so good. "But it was necessary to have you come to us. A lot of good came out of it." Anna paused and said, "Thank you." He gave her a short nod.
"Oh, it wasn't so bad, well except for the night you locked me up in the pokey, for my own protection of course," he snarked at her. "So, now what? You folks have any idea how to fix this?" She shook her head no. "Great. Are we supposed to just run around like this for the rest of our lives?" Anna sat back and sadly considered his words.
"I don't think that will be very long for me. Maybe it will end for you when I am gone." Anna sighed. She gave him a small rueful smile.
"Aw crap, I don't want to hear it, not from you. Knock it off." He motioned for a refill of hot coffee. "I want to hear what you are going to do about it."
"I don't know. You raised a good question. Why are we the only two who seem to be affected this much?" Anna took a sip of the coffee and added more cream and sugar. Jack watched her and then realized his mistake. He reached over and took it away from her. She almost objected. Instead, she just waited for an answer.
"Been down this road before. You've had enough sugar, caffeine, and booze. Remember the last time?" Jack referred to the night at his cabin five days ago when she wigged out after another dose of the same combination. Aliens just couldn't handle sugar and caffeine. None of them had it on their planets. Sure they had honey, some of them, but not refined sugar. Caffeine was nonexistent. Together with the booze it was the recipe for disaster. He handed the cup over to the waitress passing by. "Not gonna watch you do that again, Snookums." He said sarcastically. She giggled. And then he laughed a bit too. "Hand the rest of it over, not taking any chances." He used his hand to gesture to her dessert. She gave it up only reluctantly. "Good girl."
The CNB lead at the top of the Monday night news hour was the report of Major General Jack O'Neill out on a "date" with the lady alien. Amateur video feed of the two sitting and enjoying their dinners was broadcast to the whole planet. There was even a sound bite with him calling her the endearing term, 'snookums.' Investigative journalism didn't get more timely. What a scoop!
O'Malley's never had such good advertising. It was booked for the rest of the year. The World Famous logo was replaced with Famous Galaxy wide. They even changed the menu to read, 'Alien's Choice Filet with the best baked potato in the Universe. And the brownie dessert was renamed the 'Lady Anna Delight.'
The President held his head in his hands. Didn't this guy have any sense left at all?
After seeing the broadcast at home, Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter went to work on her front door lock, changing it.
Robert Kinsey wished he had been there to poison it. Now that was an idea. He made a phone call.
The President of Russia changed the reception menu to include baked potatoes instead of boiled.
The Chinese President snorted and knew she would have preferred the civilized cooking in China better. Look she hardly touched her food. Everyone knew the best chefs were Chinese. He made a note to find out how to cook snookums.
Bobby Flay asked to do a special at O'Malley's to showcase how they barbecued steaks fit for an alien queen. Emeril did a whole show on how to choose a good cut of meat for the barbecue. O'Malley's meat supplier sat at the counter to help with the explanation. His sales sky rocketed. No pun. And, the Iron Chef show used cherry tomatoes as the Secret Ingredient that week. The Beef Industry ran ads showing cows on their way to outer space, with the voice over saying, "Beef. It's what's for dinner all over the Milky Way."
The Germans sent a shipment of beers to the Commonwealth Embassy in Washington.
The Broccoli Growers Association loaded up a dozen 18-wheeler freight trucks and sent them to Washington. The trucks paraded around the Mall and up Massachusetts Avenue to deliver the best broccoli in the universe to the Embassy. So much for President Bush senior when he said now he was president and so he didn't have to eat his broccoli. The queen of the universe liked broccoli. They were revenged.
The British Press decried the Americans as bloody pikers for making the woman pay for her own meal.
The French were aghast at the shabby cuisine offered to her. There was no sauce. Mon Dieu! It should have been FRENCH!
The waitress brought the check. Jack reached into his pocket for his wallet. Anna held out something to him. He hesitated and then reached over to see what it was. His expression was one of surprise. He just snorted a laugh and tossed her credit card on the bill tray. Why the hell not? So, she had figured out all that too.
"Sweet." He picked it up and looked at it again. "Naquadah level? Oh isn't that special?" Jack shook his head and tossed his own down, too. "So, it's true. You've got your own stash here?" Anna looked confused. "Money, you've got your own money."
"Sure, you don't think I could come here as a charity case, do you?" Anna looked around wanting to go. "Why are you using your card? I've got it."
"Can't, it's government regulations. I can't accept the gift of even a meal." Jack motioned for another re-fill of coffee. Anna snorted in disbelief. "So how much have you got, I mean so far? Enquiring minds want to know." Jack handed the bill tray to the waitress, telling her to split it. "And what are you planning to do with it?"
"I don't know how much exactly. But it's enough to provide for me. What I plan to do with it? Well, you wanted me to develop Earth, didn't you? I have to start somewhere. I needed capital to invest." Anna looked him in the eye. "What? You thought this was a not for profit venture?" She saw his surprise. "What's the problem, now Jack?"
"You are really something, lady. You come here as the woman in distress. We open our arms and take you in. Now we find out you are buying up everything right under our noses and what's worse, you are putting in some pretty heavy duty equipment out there." Jack leaned in and narrowed his eyes. His fingers lightly tapped the table. "You talk about not conquering us and not stealing our world, but you are well on your way to taking over this whole solar system. What is that?" Anna was ready to explode. The waitress came back with the printouts. Jack pointed at Anna to take hers. She did, signed, and handed it back, leaving a very generous tip. Jack saw her do it like a pro. "Done this before I take it? What, you go out and party behind my back and I am supposed to be your security chief?"
"Oh, stop it Jack. You think this is the first undeveloped planet I ever visited? And don't think what you have here is so complicated I couldn't figure it out. I have been to more worlds than you and more partially developed ones at that." Anna replaced her credit card in her wallet. "And don't get on your high horse to me. I've read your files. You have negotiated some pretty 'sweet' deals, as you put it, for lots of things primitives don't value and you do. How about the naquadah on Edora? Or, the trinium on..." Jack interrupted shushing her. "Ok, not here, but we aren't finished. So you 'knock it off, pal.' Anna was getting irritated again. "We done here, General?" She got up and put on her coat and hat. He did the same and gestured to walk her out. He was seething again, mostly because she was right. They got as far as the parking lot when he stopped and confronted her again.
"What are you going to do with it all, Anna? Don't you have enough by now? Or is it just a game to you?" He saw she was cold. He didn't care. But he was cold so he spoke to the computer and they wound up back at his cabin in Minnesota. 'Forget the tropics, I like it here,' he decided. He spoke to the computer to turn on the perimeter defenses. "Those still work?" She nodded. He turned on the lights and started on the fireplace. "How come I can make the computer take you with me? That's a security flaw." Anna shook her head no.
"No, you should be able to get me out of a bad situation."
"Ok, I found that flaw. You shouldn't trust me that much."
Anna just gave him a look that said it all. She turned and went down the hall to the bathroom and shut the door. Once she was gone, his head began to clear.
Jack thought about getting some more wood. Then it occurred to him. "Computer bring in some wood from the wood pile." A small pile appeared. "Bring in some more kindling sticks about this much." He indicated the volume. The kindling appeared. "Bring some beer and snacks and put them in the fridge." He heard the noise of bottles rattling in the kitchen. Anna was coming back to the room. He piled up the kindling and the wood together and said, "Computer, light the damn fire." It did. Sweet. He pulled the sofa up to the fireplace. They sat down waiting for the heat to take effect.
"Ma'am what are we supposed to do? I can't seem to leave you behind. And you can't seem to stay away." He starred unhappily into the fire. She sighed.
"I guess we decide to get along, Jack. It's just easier." Anna put her hands up to the fire. "I have the best scientists working on the problem. It may take some time."
"Of course it will." Jack sighed heavily.
"The more immediate problem is what Amos told us today. I am going to have to go deal with this somehow. If the Elders are behind this plot, then they can and will send ships here, Jack. The defenses are not ready." Anna moved closer to the fire.
"About that, Anna why did you do it?" He was really getting tired.
"Had to, Jack. Would have done it anyway at some point. I need it now."
"Who are you really, and what do you want here?"
"I told you everything. Now you tell me, who are you and what do you really want?"
"Aw crap. This not answering questions is old. Just for once, answer me."
"Fine. I am the person trying to do something no one else has ever even thought of doing. I am trying to save humanity by making it strong and united against other alien races. I am trying to save my people and myself long enough to do it. Or at least get it started. I always, always, knew my days were numbered."
"Well, as long as it's a really big number," joked Jack. But he observed her carefully to see if she meant it.
"I'm no fool to think I will live to see it through. I'm a dead woman walking. And all I have to show for my efforts is a bunch of bullshit shortsighted nobodies fighting me every step of the way. You happy now?" Anna had only just gotten started. This was not the speech Jack anticipated. She had his interest now. Maybe these tags were making her uninhibited with him. Maybe it was the extra effect of the sugar, caffeine, booze, and stress. Let her roll.
"You think the tag is what's making me spout off right now? Well maybe. But I figure that my days just got a lot shorter as of the news this afternoon. There are some powerful members of my own clan trying to substitute me and pass my double off as me to save the dynasty. That means they have a surplus of one Anna. It was one thing to have other clans after me. I thought I was close to handling that problem. Another few weeks and the issue would have been contained. But today I found out my own are after me. So there it is."
Jack realized she wasn't kidding. He had doubted the idea assassins were after her. The whole time, O'Neill assumed it was a cover story. Tonight, Jack saw how very afraid and frustrated she was to be talking this frankly to him.
"How long? How long do you figure before those ships roll in?" Jack knew threat assessment had to be done.
"Phfft, a month, maybe a week or two more, unless they have Zay compromised. I don't think so. That makes him a target now as well."
"And the assassins? Was that a cover story?"
"No. And, it is a sure bet they figured out Amos' absence today tipped me off. So expect that problem to heat up."
"Here or out there?" Jack waved his hand upwards.
"Both. And I need to talk to Nana but now I am not sure she is on my side. She was supposed to be operating the counter measures."
"That's bad. Ok. What will the ships do when they get here?"
"Probably try to track me first. If these tags are theirs then it's easy to track me. But if not, and I don't know who did it, really, Jack, then they will scan everything they can to try and figure out where I could be. But the bigger problem is what we have partially built out there."
"That's a problem?"
"Yes. I don't know if my Personal Guard will fire on our own people. If they don't, then the facilities will be compromised immediately. And let me tell you something. I know you think I am up to no good. But they ARE no good. And, Jack, those ships will be big enough to bring a Stargate, because they know I got yours secured. Afterwards, their logistics will be trivial."
"So what else will they do besides scan for you and take over your own facilities?"
"Jack, those facilities are OURS. Yes, those were to be given to Earth for Earth defenses."
"Oh, please, don't try to play me. I know what they can do and I know we can't handle them, yet. Your people will be here forever to operate them. I don't even know why you showed all that to me, unless it was for intimidation."
"No. Damn it, Jack, crap. I never lie to you. Get that through your thick skull. Those defenses are Earth's defenses."
"In return for what? Subservience? To protect your extensive financial portfolio on this world? What?" Anna looked at him with sorrow and sighed deeply. She looked him in the eye and considered whether to say it. He raised his eyebrow to ask. "What's the price?"
"You."
"Anna, you are certifiable."
"Maybe. But, I'm still correct."
"About?"
"Everything. My opponents have to be stopped before they derail everything I have built for the last several decades."
"Decades? I thought you only started this seven years ago?"
"I started the military seven years ago. What did you think I was doing before?" She looked at him for an answer.
"I thought you were a starship captain."
"I was but that was 40 years ago. Afterwards, the King charged me with the problem of underdeveloped human worlds."
"And they are a problem...how?"
"Jack, are you deaf or just not interested?" Anna shook her head in disbelief.
"Don't lecture me, just answer the question."
"The human race cannot afford to be backwards, ignorant, or prey to other races or each other. The only way to prevent it and assure our survival as a species is to learn everything we can, teach it to as many of our kind as possible, unite, and have as many children as possible in as short a time as possible. It's a numbers game. If there are too many of us to kill off and the knowledge is widely spread, then something can survive. The knowledge must be preserved. And the only possibility for that is if we spread ourselves out and fill up all that empty space out there. The Goa'uld are not the only predators, O'Neill."
"Yeah, we met some."
"I know. The files say you met the Aschen, the Wraith, and now the Wannabes. But there are many more. I know you think the Asgaard are good guys, but I am not so sure."
Jack was surprised at that statement. He looked at her to determine if she was sincere. Maybe. Most of it was accurate. There were other predators besides the Goa'uld. Humans did prey on each other. Why would she try to drive a wedge between Thor and him? He got suspicious all over again. Anna saw it.
"Jack wake up. Did you read the Asgaard/Goa'uld Protected Planets treaty?"
"Some, but I'm betting you did."
"Did you love the statements that the Asgaard agree that the human race exists to serve the Goa'uld as slaves and hosts, and that the Goa'uld were allowed to limit the development of the human race?" Jack sighed and nodded yes. He bitterly remembered that part. The General never understood why the Asgaard would agree. They were superior in every way to the Goa'uld except when the Replicators nearly finished them and diminished their fleet.
"Thor said it was because they could not defeat the Goa'uld with the Replicators after them. They weren't proud of it but it was the best they could do. And they did get us included in the Protected Planets Treaty or we would have been wiped out." Jack stoked the fire to cover up his concern.
"Jack, c'mon. You and I both know that the Asgaard knew how developed Earth had become and yet did not include Earth before they met you. That's number one. But how do you know the Replicators were the real reason the Asgaard conceded the other points? Did you ask how long ago that treaty was made? They told you that they had to bluff to enforce the treaty. At some point they had to be powerful enough to get the treaty. So, it's been around for a long time. That's number two. And you know for a fact the Asgaard have been coming to Earth to conduct experiments on humans for centuries. They told you at the first meeting they were studying the development of your brains. They got pretty excited over yours and mine. That's number three for you." Anna stood up to stretch. "I'm thirsty. Do you mind?" She walked off to the kitchen for a glass of water.
"How come you can just drink out of the tap like that? Aren't you afraid of catching something from our dirty little planet?" Jack was in an especially bad mood after considering what she said. Anna just looked at him and drank without answering. "Right, better medicine."
"See, most questions answer themselves." Anna snarked at him and went back for another glassful for him and her. "Jack, the files say that the Asgaard are desperate to find an answer to their cloning problem. One of them cloned you. How do you know there aren't lots more of you out there for them to play with?"
"That's a disturbing thought. And yes, I did wonder. But there is nothing I can do about it if they did." Jack thought some more on that situation. "I have no problem helping the little fellas. They have come through for us many times."
"Sometimes. Not always." Anna considered her next question carefully. "Did you ever think that maybe they didn't help the human race develop because we are just lab rats for them? Why did they protect only 26 planets? There are thousands upon thousands of human populated planets. What was so special about those particular planets? What were they doing on those planets all that time?"
"I don't know. I never asked. Maybe I will." He began to see her logic. But Thor was a buddy, wasn't he?
"Until you discovered the Ancient Chair, Atlantis, and all that Ancient technology, what did they really give you? The most they did was throw you a bone. They gave some shields for the Prometheus to reinforce its structural integrity. All of a sudden, they give you engines, better shields, transporters, and on site assistance." Anna looked at him archly.
"They gave it to us for getting rid of the Replicators. If you read all the files you would know that." Jack didn't like where this was going.
"My turn. Oh puh-leeze. You saved their little grey butts several times. Enough to warrant their limited generosity well before the final battle with the Replicators." Anna drank. Dinner was salty. "And wouldn't it have made sense for them to arm you well before that battle? Even without everything they gave you, they could only help themselves by helping you. More allies are better than less."
"That's what I said to Carter. We saved their little grey butts." Jack smiled to himself remembering that discussion about diplomacy.
"Consider this, what are they really doing in Atlantis? Are they conducting covert surveillance? You know about the overt. But, what have they discovered and not told you? What might they be searching to find? What are they about to do there? And why haven't they given other defensive items for Atlantis? It's a treasure trove of Ancient information and devices. What have they installed that you don't know? What are they hiding?"
"I don't know. But next time I see Thor, I'll ask."
"Jack, what do you know?" Anna glared at him. "Have you ever thought that maybe they are afraid of that chair. And they placate you since you can operate it and they know it. What else does that chair do? Because I have to believe that if it is really out of drones it doesn't pose much of a threat to them. But if it can do something else, well, maybe that's why they want to appease you. Or they are searching for a way to refill it and then take it away."
"Oh, I don't think Thor would steal it." Jack dismissed that idea. But then, he reconsidered it. "Maybe he would just reproduce it."
"Jack, you took the download of the Ancient's database, twice and they helped you survive. But the second time, you were more proficient, even seemed to be changed somehow from the last time." Her focus was intense. Her words were certainly making him uncomfortable. Now this was the Anna he knew, not the defeated rag doll earlier.
"And your point?"
"Jack, when did they decide to put that marker in your DNA? It was before the second download? You were changing during the second download. If the marker was there, how were you able to change? What parameters does it permit? How do they know which criteria to allow? They couldn't know you would ever take another download. Or could they?" Anna was desperate to reach his mind. Why wasn't he reacting? She searched his face for signs that he could process any of this. She was not certain. "What about children, how will that marker affect your ability to have children and what about their DNA?
"I hadn't thought about that." Jack thought of Charlie briefly and pushed that thought aside. "I should ask. But I am reasonably certain that Thor would want me to have kids."
"Okay, that would make some sense. But, why did they think they would need to protect the integrity of your DNA? Interesting that it turned out they were correct, apparently. Hmm?" Anna referred to Loki's attempt to clone Jack two years before. All Loki got was a fifteen year old Jack. The clone was falling apart from the failed procedure because of the genetic marker. Thor placed that marker in Jack's DNA supposedly for Jack's protection. Thor arrived to save the clone at Jack's request. Now, Jack had a mini-me on Earth who was eighteen years old with a 53 year old mind. "Jack, ever wonder how effective that marker is if they could fix that clone?"
"Not really. But Thor says it will protect me." Jack knew that didn't sound right.
"But, the marker prevents us from extending your life. And why won't they remove it? It's been almost two weeks now." Anna referred to her first meeting with Thor when she plead for permission to save him so Jack could live another 80 years or more. Thor asked her to wait until they could research her procedures. But the Commonwealth humans had extended their own lives. They lived between 200-300 years, depending on how many ancestors had completed the process. That process was available to their population for the last several hundred years. Anna was offering the same possibility for Jack.
"Jack, how much sense does it make to be willing to clone you but not keep the original alive?" Anna was frustrated that he couldn't see the obvious. "They offered to clone you instead? What is that all about? If the marker prevents cloning, then they can obviously remove it at will and reinstate it at will. So how much protection is that?"
"Good point, I think. But Thor wants to be sure your methods are safe. He said that there was a question about why the marker he put in my junk DNA would work if the junk DNA you throw out has no purpose."
Jack spoke about part of Genetic Restoration used by people in the Commonwealth. Gen Restoration was a life extending process. These aliens discovered that fully 35 of a person's energy is spent maintaining garbage DNA. This junk is randomly assimilated from the environment, mutated into uselessness, or simply inactive. Remove it and a person can use that energy to maintain himself more efficiently with less wear and tear. The Restoration process involved other steps, but Jack remembered that part.
"Jack, that excuse is not a good enough reason. Obviously, the rest of us are alive." Anna put her hand on his. "Jack, think about it. I am trying to save your life, the original you, not some perverted clone. Who is more honorable?" He had no answer. But her touch was welcome. He knew he should pull away and could not.
"Who else are they afraid will clone you or mess with your DNA? Did they tell you?" Anna tried to meet his eyes. They were so angry. Did he even hear what she was telling him?
"No, they didn't. But I never asked." She was wearing down his anger. Everything she said was logical. But he just didn't want to believe her.
"Suppose someone else did clone you."
"So what if they do?"
"There is an army of Jack O'Neills or modified O'Neills running around somewhere."
Jack startled at that news.
"Why do you think would want to do that? And if they can clone you, then they can mess with the clone's DNA enough to figure out what they want to learn. The marker prevents someone else from manipulating your DNA. What is it they are afraid someone else would learn?" Anna studied his eyes. He was good at concealing his emotions. But his eyes, they held his soul.
"And so, Thor is the only one privileged to mess with you?" Anna waited for him to process that question. She had thrown a lot at him in one shot. "Why do you have to ask his permission to extend your own life?"
"I don't know." Again a bad answer he was forced to concede. "They usually come, ask very politely for permission to do something and then do whatever they damn well please. I suppose I should be able to demand it."
"Did they ask you if they could put the marker in?"
"No. I was surprised to learn about it. I found out at the time we discovered my clone." Thinking about it that way, Jack realized how high handed Thor was not to even discuss it with him. He looked away. How could he have not asked these questions?
"Jack, what did they do to me on that ship when they supposedly scanned me? Did they clone me, too? They got really excited over something." Anna referred to the first meeting with Thor aboard his ship. Lady Anna insisted on meeting Thor. After Jack's three month stay in the Commonwealth, O'Neill requested that Thor come to meet the Lady. He did two weeks ago. It was an unusual meeting. Thor put a scanning beam on her. It held her in place so she could not move. The other Asgaard on board came to take a look at a human more advanced than O'Neill. It was only after O'Neill really protested that Thor released her. She was pissed then and now.
"I don't know." But Jack suspected.
"You don't know much." Anna gave him a steady gaze. 'He isn't telling me something.'
Jack certainly didn't want to tell her about Thor's offer to 'give' her to him for a mate by arranging it somehow. Jack assumed Thor could alter her mind or something similar. He refused of course. That was one point he did not include in any written reports. Anna did ask good questions. He didn't have good answers.
And then a terrible thought occurred to O'Neill. 'Maybe all this was Thor's doing. He would know how to do those particle tags. Maybe he designed special ones for the two of us. He seemed awfully eager for us to mate.' O'Neill looked at her with new eyes. If so many on Earth were tagged, how long had this been the case? It could have happened a long time ago. Anna's tagging could be the most recent. 'What would Thor gain by doing this to him? Maybe she was right.' And that scared the hell out of him.
"Jack, you don't even realize it, but the Asgaard are Earth's overlords." Anna looked him in the eye and delivered the final coup de grace. "And you, Jack O'Neill, are Thor's property."
Jack stood by the campus library that late fall evening. Jack looked at the earnest purpose of the co-eds. The giggles and squeals of sorority girls in clusters held him transfixed. A pretty young blonde stood by the curb talking into her cell phone having an argument with someone, either a parent or a boyfriend. 'Maybe, she would be distracted enough.' He eyed the scene one more time and decided on the blonde. A few quick strides and the handsome young man was by her side. He looked her over more carefully from behind. It was another covert operation all right.
Jack bumped her ever so slightly as if he were passing her. "Oh, sorry, I didn't see you, well, I was thinking of something else, sorry." He made eye contact. She put the phone in her bag without losing eye contact. 'So, she thinks I look good too. Good enough.' "Oh, you are taking ancient history?" He pointed to the textbook in her arm. She drew away a little but kept looking at him.
"Are you taking it, too?" She asked in a high soprano. Yes, she gave him the once over.
"Naw, I already took it, but, great class. Had it with Dr. Jackson. Ever heard of him?" The slim blonde shook her head no. "Oh, he was great. He could tell you anything just like that." Jack tried to snap his fingers and deliberately couldn't. She giggled. Giggles were a good sign. He was on the right track. "Oh yes, he could tell you about Ra or Apophis as if he met them himself."
"You do know your ancient history. I'm impressed." The blonde pushed back her hair. 'Yep, hair pushing was another good sign.'
"So what's your major?"
'Oh yeah, now we are getting somewhere. If she asks me for my 'sign,' I'm in,' mused Jack.
"Military Science at the Academy," Jack responded. "But I'm taking another class here to fill in." Jack had to do some fancy footwork on that score.
"The Academy?" She looked puzzled.
'Uh oh, hope she's not a dame who hates the military.'
"Yes, Air Force. It's in Colorado Springs, not too far from Boulder here." Jack waved his arm in some direction. If she didn't know about the Academy, he could have pointed to the dark side of the moon. Jack guessed that she must be an out of state student here at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
"So, I'm guessing you are not from around here?" He cocked his head and smiled his most charming smile in an amused question. She smiled back and looked down feeling uncertain. 'Ah yes, the uncertainty of youth.' That state usually worked for him. He didn't have that particular handicap anymore. His mature bearing made him a chick magnet. 'When you know what you are doing, they feel secure. And that's half the game,' Jack noted. He was so ahead of them this time.
"Oh, yeah, I'm not." She turned to start an exit.
'Whoa, no, this one is in the bag.'
"Um, I guess this is a little awkward, but I don't want to be rude. I'm Jonathan O'Neill." He gave her the most charming smile he had. "And you would be?" He held out a hand to give her the floor.
"Um, I'm Janet." She blushed and looked at him surreptitiously.
'She was checking to see if she should bolt. No chance. She was taking the bait.'
"Wow, that's a coincidence. My doctor's name was Janet." He smiled so charmingly. "But that's silly, anyway, sorry to bother you." Jack feigned his retreat, and then turned as an after thought. "Um I'm walking to the coffee house. Which way are you going? It's getting dark." He assumed an open waiting face. She thought it over. He looked so clean cut, seemed nice, and he was large. He might keep away that freakazoid boyfriend tonight.
"Thanks, if you're sure you don't mind?" She gave him her best shy smile. 'Let's not let him think too much here.'
He gave her a shy smile back. 'Bingo, hooked one.'
"My pleasure, Janet. Call me Jack." He smiled again at her. Using her name was the best stroking. He hoped she could get rid of her roommate tonight.
A few days later, Jonathan was back at it. Only this time, he staked out the Biomed library. The girls were geeks, but that only made it easier. Just turn on the charm and they couldn't get enough. The cold braniacs were sometimes extra special in bed. Maybe if he found a blonde he could imagine it was she. Several groups of serious girls marched through the doors on their way to rack their brains out. He had better uses for them.
'Ah, there's the one. She is a little more dressed up. Maybe she thinks she can attract a med student. Yup, there's the hair toss.' She shot him a glance and then decided to go inside.
'All those years in Spec Ops made this too easy,' thought Jack. But being stuck in a 18 year old body didn't help. 'I just have these needs. In fact, I don't remember having so many needs. Maybe it's because I can. I know what I'm doing. The enemy doesn't.' Jack laughed to himself. Planning a mission was more complicated than this. 'I wonder why it was so hard the last time I was 18 years old. Probably because I was insecure too. I was afraid of all the rejection. Not this time, pal. If not one, then another would come along right behind. Girls were like buses that way.'
'On the other hand, last time I was 18, I was in Nam,' Jack remembered. 'That really blew. It was hot, humid, and full of bugs. I really, really, hate bugs, especially those replicator things. Must be from that time in a bunker in Da Nang that I got my insane aversion to bugs. I remember all those creepy crawlies that swarmed over the top and all through the bunker while the VC was shelling us.' He shook himself to release that memory.
Jack strode into the library and took a quick search for his quarry. Oh, yes, there she is, alone. Great, there's no boyfriend. He picked up a random book and ambled over to her table sitting just off center from her. No point in being that obvious. You learn something in covert ops that can be useful in the real world, he grinned to himself. Who's your daddy, baby?
The voicemail was full. 'Time to delete some messages. That one is done. Ok, don't want her anymore. Eewww, psycho chick, delete. Dirty chick, maybe. Next one, oh right that's the Biomed geek, that's a keeper.' Jack listened to his forty messages. Not all were girls. Some were Air Force. He sighed. Trolling for babes a couple nights a week kept the stable full. Variety was the spice of life. Whoever said that knew a thing or two, or three. But tonight he needed some real sleep.
Jack checked out the fridge and found a bottle of beer. He flopped down on the sofa in his apartment the Air Force provided. At some point, he would have to go out there and earn a living. But, not just yet, he decided. There should be some payback for all those horrible memories, and the dreams of her. 'Put that away pal. She is way too old for you now.' Jack finished the beer and realized he wasn't sleepy. After checking his email mostly from girls or the Air Force, he started on a computer game. The Air Force was constantly on him these days to commit. But did he want to do that again and risk going to Iraq again? Well, maybe he could cut a deal so that wouldn't happen. They probably wanted him at the SGC anyway now that Big Daddy wasn't there anymore. But he would still be compared to the real one.
That's awkward, thought Jack. 'But, I did love going off world and blowing things up. I was good at it too. Wonder how the war is going out there? By now, we should have the next generation of the Prometheus ships. They were laying the keels back when I was me. Ok, that's a weird thought. Too weird, actually, I'm going out. There has to be somewhere in this dump of a town a bar that's open after mid-night.' He got out the keys to his bike and decided to hit the arcade. At least there was some action with the games, the sounds, and the blinking lights.
As if by rote, the bike went down that street again. He could just kick himself, but he couldn't help himself either. No lights were on. She's asleep or somewhere over the rainbow. He sighed and revved up the engine. Mustn't dwell, Jack reminded himself. 'From now on out, we are two different guys. With what I know now, surely there's another babe on this world. Or, maybe I should call the Air Force and try another planet. Aw crap, it's cold. It's late. Just go home and deal with it.'
He felt eyes upon him boring a hole through his back. His training made him just know it. Jack looked around. He didn't see anyone. But someone had been there, only a moment ago. Maybe it was nothing. He was jumpy today. Jack took another careful look around his surroundings. There she was. Young and good-looking. She was maybe twenty or twenty-one? 'Oh my god, she's gorgeous. That one is really something. Wow! This one I have to know.' Slowly, he ambled over to the bench in the park. She watched him come. Her eyes never wavered. Oh yeah, now that's an invitation. He started to wonder where he had seen her. She seemed familiar somehow. Her dress was sophisticated and elegant. Her posture perfect. She was real class. But the eyes, the eyes were incredible. They ate him up. For a few moments, they just looked at each other. He could hear every one of his heartbeats ringing in his ears. Time stood still.
"Do I know you?" Jack had the odd feeling of familiarity. She just regarded him steadily. "Jack O'Neill, and you are?" He smiled his charming smile. She still just stared back, considering something. Then she stood up and walked away. Jack blew out his cheeks and murmured, "wow." He watched her go down the path into the garden. Then he decided to follow. She was gone.
"White beaches, blue water, a new latitude," the voice on the TV commercial glowed over the resort pictures of warm water and string bikinis. Jack finished his beer and got up thinking about those string bikinis. Maybe he should take advantage of the opportunity to get some R&R. His life was R&R. He needed to go back to work. This was getting old. It may be an 18 yr old body but the mind was 53 yrs old. A life of discipline and hard work made this existence intolerable. But, the choices now were not those then. How to decide?
Well, a road trip would take up the slack in the hours. He got online to a travel site and perused his choices. Hawaii was nice all year. He called up his favorite island, Maui. Yep, that's the ticket and he booked a flight. He found a condo on the beach. Hotels were such a drag. For the same price you could have some normal space and a kitchen. The snorkeling and diving was all better up Lahaina/Kapaula way. And there was some nightlife. Wailea had some great beach resorts but no nightlife. He chose the Kapalua airport and the drive to Lahaina from the opposite direction. The only problem was at 18 yrs old no one would rent him a car. So he decided to stay in Lahaina and go by taxi. Less to worry about. Mahalo.
Jack put on his jacket and bundled up for a ride. Sitting around the apartment got depressing. So he decided to go out and stroll through town looking for action. Worst case, he figured he could go to the mall and troll for chicks with low self-esteem. It would be an afternoon's diversion. When he thought about all the high-grade young girls on all those planets that he never touched, he could scream. And the one he did touch gave him alien clap on a planet called Argos. Instead of a disease, he aged to nearly 100 years old in two weeks. Now that's VD. Funny how he never worried about it the first time he was eighteen. Back then, penicillin could cure most anything. Jack checked his wallet for condoms. Yep, fully stocked. Boy scouts are always prepared he smirked to himself.
Jack decided to take his car this time. The weather report promised snow. The bike was fun on a nice day. It was good and cold outside. He felt like a geezer in a car. But this one was a ragtop, which made it a little colder but the heater would kick in soon enough. At eighteen, you just don't feel the cold the way you do at 53 yrs of age. Walking down the boulevard, he saw her again. She was window-shopping, looking at the Christmas decorations going up. It had to be her. Jack galloped over towards where she had been. Now where was she? Oh, there, by the big display window, in a warm fur coat and matching hat. Not exactly politically correct, but warm. Ok, somebody's daddy had money. Now there was a solution. Marry well. It had never occurred to him. How absolutely middle class he had been in his outlook. Jack laughed at himself. It felt good. He had been such a grim old coot, irritated at everything with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Ba'al really did a job on him. Jack decided to make contact.
"We meet again." He looked at her. She considered his overture and looked back at the window display. "Jack O'Neill, remember at the park a few days ago." She was deciding whether or not to speak. Without a word, she turned fully to him and devoured him with her eyes. He was lost. No girl had ever had that effect on him; not even, well, don't go there. He caught a whiff of her scent. She smells so good, he thought. Jack couldn't move. All he could think was, 'she looks so good.' The woman cocked her head and then turned around and walked away, but not too fast. Jack smiled. 'Ok, then, that's how we play it. Fine. I've done that before.' He followed and then caught up in front of the old-fashioned candy store. The smells of the holiday chocolates filled the entrance. She was entranced. He could see it in her demeanor, though she didn't move a muscle on her face. 'The eyes, the eyes were so damned expressive. This was too easy. Candy? She had a sweet tooth, that was cheap enough.' So he smiled a big grin at her and walked inside to make a purchase. He knew she had seen his purpose. Coming out of the store, he saw she was gone. And then he realized how disappointed he was, really disappointed. He had to find her.
Ah, warm breezes, humidity, Maui, thought Jack. Now this was nice. The taxi took him to his condo in downtown Lahaina. Check in completed, Jack changed and went for a swim. So much nicer than winter in a dump town in Colorado. He liked skiing just fine, but better snowfall would come later in the winter. The plane ride was long, but the time change made this still daylight. Tired, he took a stroll to grab a bite and then hit the sack.
There isn't much in Lahaina. It is a sleepy former whaling village turned tourist trap. The foreigners who think of Hawaii think of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu on a different island. Waikiki is a nightmare of traffic, over priced shops, restaurants, and hotels. The famous Waikiki is wall-to-wall people on the beach, which is full of trash. Now, Maui is the way Hawaii was meant to be. Clean beaches, friendly locals, empty beaches, and great diving in clear blue waters. You can even go surfing if you want. In the winter, the whales come to give birth in the channel between Maui and Lanai islands. So whale watching is the thing to do. Climbing Haleakala, the dormant volcano, or driving the insane winding road to Hana at the far end of the island are the only other diversions. And best of all, the babes in thongs and string bikinis strut their stuff.
The next morning, Jack rolled out of bed with the morning light. The breeze blew in softly promising a good day. Grabbing his sunglasses, sunscreen, some money, and the key, this boy was ready. He walked into town finding it quiet to the point of being almost deserted. Breakfast was non-descript roll and coffee. And then he saw her. 'Oh my god!' She had on a big straw hat, sunglasses, an elegant sleeveless sundress, and sandals. But it was her. She wandered over to Laperts for a big cup of ice cream at 10 am. He watched her get mesmerized by the choices. She settled for chocolate. Now how did he know? What? The woman next to her was offering money to the man behind the counter and letting him pick out the right amount. She was a foreigner? Maybe that's why she didn't speak to him. Then she exited engrossed in her ice cream. Her companion was still in the store. Jack couldn't take it. He had to know.
"Well, fancy meeting you here! Remember me?" She just worked at swallowing a big bite of ice cream. "I guess you don't speak English. But anyway, nice to see you again. Jack, Jack O'Neill." He extended his hand to her. She looked at it and didn't seem to know what to do with it. So he took her right hand and placed it in his own and gently shook her hand. A fabulous feeling washed over him. He was completely confused and happy about it. Her eyes were so expressive. She smelled so good. She looked so good. The blood was pounding in his head. He thought his heart would explode.
"I speak English, Jack," the woman said softly in a clear soprano. Taking her hand back, she walked on.
"What? Why didn't you say something before?" The woman didn't respond but ate her ice cream. So he overtook her and walked backwards to keep up and speak to her at the same time. It was silly and difficult to avoid some poles. Finally, he just blocked her path in front of the great Banyan tree on the main street. "C'mon, you've got to take pity, here. I have to know your name. At least give me that." He couldn't take his eyes from hers.
"Anna."
"Anna. Sweet. Okay. Anna. I am going to marry you, Anna." And he grinned a big dopey grin. "One way or the other, I will. That's a promise."
Anna regarded him solemnly. "Be careful what you wish for. You might get it."
DISCLAIMER: "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis" and their characters are the property of Sony Pictures MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Film Corp., Showtime/Viacom and USA Networks, Inc. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended against this or any other story in the universe. The original characters, situations and story are the property of the author(s), and may not be republished or archived elsewhere without the author's permission.
