Chapter 8 – A Chance Encounter

When Jack had talked to Pilot, they had agreed to plot a course through the Forbidden Zone to the Uncharted Territories that would take them to the outer rim of the galaxy. Jack did not know exactly where on the rim Earth was located, but it was on the outside edge of the Milky Way. Getting away from the center of the galaxy would only bring them closer to Earth or a Stargate.

Of course, several weeks into a very boring space trip made Jack really wish for hyperdrive. Every few days, Moya would orbit around a likely planet and pick up water and what supplies they could find. Native civilizations were few and far between. Food was also scarce. But the crew on the Moya had a pretty good system for testing potential foods for toxicity.

Moya had just started to slow down as it approached another star system when the internal alarm went off.

"Pilot, what's wrong?" Crichton asked alarmed.

"We are receiving a transmission. A ship is rapidly approaching and it is telling us to prepare to be boarded. Raiders," Pilot stated through the comm link.

"Arm up everyone," Aeryn stated. "Rygel, make yourself scarce. Zhaan stay out of the way." She led Crichton, Jack, D'Argo, and Chiana to the weapons storage locker. "They will likely come through the ship bay. Pilot, do we know how large the ship is?"

Pilot's voice came over their comm links, "It is an unknown vessel. It could carry at least two dozen personnel."

"I'll stay in the bay and get behind them," Jack said taking two pistols and dialing up the stun feature to kill.

"I'll hold the door to the rest of Moya," Aeryn stated. "The rest of you move around and take them out as quickly as possible."

When the ship came into the docking bay, Jack was surprised to see that it was a tel'tak. He maneuvered his position to ensure that he could see all who exited the ship, but they could not see him.

The Jaffa left the ship with staff their weapons charged. They saw the Moya crew and turned to face them, giving Jack their back.

"Surrender immediately," the lead Jaffa demanded.

Jack shot him in the back of the head. He took out two more before he had to duck behind the tel'tak. "Not likely. I can see Bocce dropped you like a hot potato. Should have joined the Free Jaffa like the real winners."

"Who dares?" one of the Jaffa yelled while firing his staff. He was hit in the leg and fell over.

Jack shot him in the arm, and he dropped his staff. He was now the last Jaffa remaining. Jack finally came out of cover. "O'Neill," the Jaffa gasped.

"I dare. You really should have joined the Free Jaffa. Now you just get to die. Even your false god is likely dead. Que sera, sera," Jack shot the Jaffa point blank in the head.

Next, he turned and entered the tel'tak, pistols ready. A few minutes later, he came out grinning.

"Okay, kids, we now have a hyperdrive and a map to all the Stargates," he turned to Aeryn. "Do you think you can make a copy of the navigation charts for Pilot. I'm sure that would make his job MUCH easier."

Aeryn was stunned. "I think so. I just have to look at the tech," she replied.

D'Argo approached, "You seemed to know these people."

"Sort of," Jack replied. "The Jaffa were genetically modified from human stock by the goa'uld. They were enslaved as a warrior race. When we met them, I convinced Teal'c to change sides. He has made it his goal to free his people from the goa'uld. They created the Free Jaffa Nation."

Chiana leaned down, "Why are their heads marked?"

Jack glanced down to see the mark of Ba'al on the forehead of the Jaffa, "It is the mark of their service to their goa'uld 'god'. In this case, Ba'al. Or as I like to call him, Bocce Ball. Teal'c always referred to those marks as slave marks."

Aeryn came back out of the tel'tak. "I just need a few things and I can copy the star charts," she stated with certainty.

"Excellent. Work out what you need with Pilot. As for the rest of you, who wants to go with me and who wants to stay with Moya?" Jack asked.

"I think it is something we all need to consider. We should retire to the dining hall after cleaning up the dead," D'Argo stated.

"Good point. Clean-up will be easy. Take their weapons. Now stand back," Jack had picked up a zat while he waited. Then he shot the body three times and it disintegrated. Then he turned to the next and the next.

D'Argo stood back shocked.

Jack shrugged, "One to stun, two to kill, three to disintegrate. Works through their armor, but not on the shielded ones." D'Argo just nodded.

Jack finished cleaning up the tel'tak and loading some supplies and bedding. He made sure that the staff weapons and a few zats were included in the weapons and the water tanks were full.

Then he went to the dining hall where the others were located. He saw Rygel and couldn't help himself, "Hey flying frog, I got a ship. No princess though. You'll just have to wait for your kiss."

"Humph, good riddance," Rygel stated off hand.

Jack glanced around and made sure that Zhaan and Chiana knew about his offer to leave if they wanted to go as well. Crichton and Aeryn had not returned from the data transfer yet. D'Argo finally came in next.

"I have considered your offer, Jack. I must decline," D'Argo said solemnly.

Jack gave him a sad smile, "It's alright. I am glad you considered it. Your help so far has been greatly appreciated. Thanks." Jack gave him a Jaffa salute and a head bow.

D'Argo considered it an honorable reply and returned his own regal nod.

Chiana had apparently been waiting for D'Argo to make a decision. She came forward and quietly said that she was going to stay with D'Argo. D'Argo smiled at her as Jack thanked her.

Zhaan was more regal in her refusal, but stated simply that she was needed here.

Rygel said he wouldn't go anywhere near Jack by choice.

Which left Crichton and Aeryn, who had all eyes on them as soon as they entered the dining hall.

"What?" Crichton asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

Aeryn laughed.

"No, they just all want to know if you have decided to go with me when I leave on the tel'tak," Jack stated.

"Oh," Crichton said. "Obviously, I am. My whole thing has been to get home to Earth from the start. Aeryn?"

"I…I think I will go with you," Aeryn said slowly. She sighed, "There is nothing left in the Peacekeepers for me. I want to be with you, John."

Crichton smiled widely, "Really?"

She smiled back, "Yes."

Jack gave them a private moment before he interrupted, "Excellent. Kids, go get your stuff and put it on the ship. Leave enough weapons for D'Argo and Chiana. Don't forget bedding. Jaffa smell."

With that he turned and headed for the tel'tak to start the next part of his adventure.

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