Chapter 3 – The Andari

After the ship landed, it was some time before Aris Boch came back to the cargo hold for Jack. When the door finally opened, Boch was ready for him gun up. Jack didn't bother to try and jump him yet again. Jack figured it would be easier to escape from the Andari.

Aris Boch led Jack out of the ship to the front and into a small circle on the ground. Once inside, a force field popped into place and Jack sighed while he waited. Being sold sucked. At that point Aris Boch but his pistol back in its holster on his hip.

"Porter," Boch called out to one of the aliens on the dock. "Go get the Dock Manager."

"Of Course, Sir" the handler stated quickly.

"It shouldn't be long now," Boch said easily.

"Great," Jack commented, sarcastically. "You know, I just love hanging out like this."

Boch chuckled, "The Andari aren't so bad. They need you alive to do your thing. It's a good gig."

"I had a good 'gig' as you put it. Kicking alien ass has been the highlight of my life. We pretty much got rid of the goa'uld. You're welcome, by the way," Jack stated with venom.

"Oh, thank you. I'm sure I just forgot that you took out my main source of income," Boch said with a chuckle.

"Bull shit, you hated them," Jack said.

"Yes, I did," Boch stated. "But I still need to live. Hence, the Andari."

"Joy," Jack said quietly.

Soon another Andari walked up to Boch. "Good afternoon, you asked for me?"

"Yes, please inform the Magistrate that I have brought the Tau'ri Human that he needs to activate his technology," Boch said calmly.

"At once," the Andari Dock Manager said and turned to a hand device. "Connect me to the Magistrate, immediately." After a short pause, "Magistrate, the Bounty Hunter has returned with the Tau'ri human you requested. We are at the Docks now….Of course, we will await your arrival." The Andari Dock Manager turned to Aris Boch, "The Magistrate will be with us shortly."

"Excellent," Boch replied.

Jack looked confused, "You actually understood all that?"

"Of course. Didn't you?" Boch said.

"Um…no. I speak a lot of languages, but not Andari," Jack stated calmly.

Boch frowned. "But you have been to many worlds where they don't speak any Tau'ri languages," he stated.

"True," Jack agreed. "Daniel called it the 'Gate Effect'. Something to do with going through a Stargate with a DHD attached. You said the Andari don't have a gate. So, no Gate Effect."

"Well, that means you will have to get translation nanites," Boch stated.

"No," Jack stated. "Not doing any nanites. Bad experiences all around with nanites."

Boch chuckled, "I don't think they are going to give you a choice. They understand you, but you don't understand them."

"You know," Jack said looking at Boch. "There are times I am absolutely sure you get a perverse pleasure out of this crap. If for no other reason than to see us suffer."

"You or them?" Boch asked with a grin.

"Both really," Jack said with a shake of his head.

A large hover car pulled up to the tel'tak with several Andari on board. Two Andari disembarked and stood before Aris Boch. The one that was more well dressed, Jack assumed was the Magistrate. "What have you brought us, Bounty Hunter?"

Boch motioned to Jack, "This is the Tau'ri Human I told you about. He can activate your devices."

"How do we know this?" the Andari Magistrate asked.

Boch pulled out the cube he had used with Jack earlier. "With this." He handed the cube to the second Andari.

The second Andari examined the cube closely. "It appears to bear the same marks as the other technology that we have."

"Very well," said the Magistrate, "Proceed."

Boch took the cube back from the second Andari and then unholstered his pistol. "Heads up," he said to Jack as he popped off the force field and tossed the cube.

Jack didn't have time to react to the drop of the field before the cube almost hit him. He caught it right as the field popped back into place.

Almost at the same time, the cube activated and stared to dance lights and sounds. Jack sighed and then began to toss the cube back and forth. The cube would stop in the air and start again once he caught it again. The overall effect was annoying the Andari. Jack found a little pleasure in that.

"Very well," the Magistrate said. "You have earned your fee." The Magistrate turned to the Andari on the hovercraft and they unloaded several boxes for Aris Boch to inspect.

"One last thing," Boch added before the Magistrate turned to leave. "Apparently, he will need translation nanites. He doesn't seem to understand the Andari language."

"How odd," the Magistrate said. "I was under the impression that he was talking to you."

"He was. Apparently, he understands me, but not the Andari. The translation type he has received didn't have Andari," Boch said simply. "I would also recommend stunning him until you get the translation nanites in place. He can be a real pain in the mitka."

"Yeah, and I'm on vacation, Boch. This is not how I planned on spending it," Jack said with force.

Boch smiled at Jack, "We might have a bit of history."

"Might? Might?" Jack asked. "I'll show you who's a pain in the mitka."

"I see your point, Bounty Hunter," the Magistrate said. "If you please, we will take him unconscious."

"Unconscious, it is," Boch said then shot Jack with his pistol. Jack dropped to the ground inside the force field. Boch dropped the field and let the Andari take away their prize.

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