Yes. I know there are way too many kids. I've mentioned them the 22 names of them somewhere in chapter 10 (I think). I promise there's a purpose behind that...and sorry for the long wait since the last chapter. I had an end block.
Enjoy!
Happy New Year btw! 😊
M
Chapter 27 - Deals.
"According to Earth's information, Carneill Co originated from Ziron. How did you end up there?" Malcolm asked, getting them back on track.
"Jack had a backup plan."
"I always have backup plans," he smirked, and Sam rolled her eyes.
2036
"T, buddy," Jack said as soon as the Jaffa crossed the wormhole.
"Teal'c!" Sam smiled widely.
"Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter," he bowed his head slightly. Then he smiled. Sam hugged him tightly then.
"It's been too long," she said, her words muffled in his chest.
"Indeed, it was." Teal'c took a look around the small tribe, which was pulling boxes around. "I can see you both have been making the most of it," Sam blushed. Jack cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Children are always a joy, but is the woman who suffers the most by bringing them to life," Teal'c said, raising his eyebrow menacingly.
"Yeah… I guess so, but I swear that we didn't plan most of them. They were an accident; we used protection, I swear!" Jack said, all at once, not knowing for sure if his friend was joking or not. Jack knew how T felt about Sam. He confessed it to Jack when they returned from that infamous mission that took 60 years out of Teal'c life.
"Jack!" Sam blush deepened. "He was joking! Teal'c didn't need to know all of that; neither did the kids."
"Ah, well. It's already out there," he shrugged. "Anyway, T, remember that escape plan we did for when I was dumb enough not to start a relationship with Sam?"
"I believe you speak of the list of habitable planets to which you could run if Samantha aimed to kill you. When you finally decided to take your behind out of the sand, and tell her you loved her?" Sam giggled, and Jack rolled his eyes.
"It wasn't like that! I never had my butt in the sand!" Jack whined, "but yes, that will be the list, did you do that?"
"Yes, I have a list of habitable planets you can travel to."
"We have to move. They will be checking us in around 18 more minutes. Teal'c that list will be excellent," Sam said, with a huge smile while checking her watch.
"Then, we need to go to Chulak. Ry'ac has it hidden there. There are around 30 gate addresses," Teal'c said while pressing the address of Chulak.
"Wow, good job, buddy."
"I think the best course of action will be if we choose one planet, but we jump around to get there, to avoid any tracking they could come with."
"Indeed."
The gate came to life at that moment, and they made the kids cross over first while they moved the things around. Once in Chulak, while Teal'c went to find Rya'c and the addresses, Sam remembered the long-range position devices she developed the previous year. With the help of the older kids and Jack, the clan went through their boxes, checking for them, finding at least 5 or 6 devices.
2050
"A friend," Sam said, with a smile that only came from memories of an old-time, "had a list with 30 gate addresses which we could use. We picked Ziron, but we knew of the existence of some tech, which I helped develop. One that could be laying in the boxes we had with us then."
"We changed the boxes for old crates of the planet we ended up first. We took that time to check if there was anything that wasn't ours inside," Jack explained as if checking boxes over the fear of being followed was the typical thing to do.
"Are you implying you were being followed?"
"We are not implying. We know for sure we were tracked," Sam said
"How?"
"The year previous to our departure, there was a team under my direct command. This team created a long-range device that could be picked in a gate scan. I also included some changes in the gate call software that allowed us to get a list of the last gate addresses used by any gate."
"Therefore, knowing that, we had to be at least somewhat paranoid. That's how we came up with the moving around plan."
"But you said they could get the addresses from any gate. So, you could still be traced, couldn't you?"
"Yes. We had to find the perfect place to get to our destination. We asked around the markets, about trading planets."
"And we dialed in, the first thing I remember from that planet was the stench and the sand. It had a port vibe to it."
"As soon as we stepped over there, the wormhole closed behind us. We didn't have much time to check our kids or stuff, before the classic noise of the gate starting was heard."
"It was a scary experience. We thought we wouldn't make it before the wormhole engaged, you know? With the kids and the crates… but the inhabitants already had a plan set."
"When the second chevron was locked, there was nothing left near the gate 'splash zone', only Jack and I. They were so used to the rhythm of incoming and outgoing wormholes they had a crate moving crew."
"So we decided that the next jump from there would be 'home'"
"Ziron was heaven for us at that period of our lives. We didn't have much in the housing department; we did have nine kids in a range from 2 to 15 years old. Kids who just lost everything, including all sorts of connections with their six older brothers. But, Ziron proved that with our collective skills, everything would be right."
"Ziron was advanced enough that we found all the rough materials we needed for us to start a business. What we lacked when we first got there was the detail level we needed. Since, as you might know, creating computer parts can require a set of fine motor skills and knowledge."
"Zironians proved us that, with not an enormous amount of investment and teaching, they could be ready in not more than two weeks. It was a real surprise. We were aiming at a period of at least a year or two before we could have something to show. However, six months after our arrival there, we had two sets of running computers and teaching courses in plates wiring and programming. Zironians youngsters are quick, smart, precise, and easy to teach."
"Well, I would have interested too. If my teachers looked like you," Jack winked at her, and she blushed.
"I only taught them how to create the parts. The kids, Copper, Eve, Claus, and Lucas. Even Irene and Salome were the ones doing most of the teaching While I was doing the testing of our results. By year two, that was around June of 2038, we had trained enough people, and the plant was moving without much intervention from us."
"Then, we then moved the family to Bertrand. That world was a couple of years more advanced than Ziron, and mounted there a production plant."
"You closed the plant in Ziron, then?" Malcolm asked.
"No, Copper and Eve reached 17 years old that year. Since their older siblings left the house at 16 to go to college, they decided they would stay at Ziron. They are in charge of that plant ever since."
"We stood another year in Bertrand, long enough for Claus and Lucas to reach their 17th birthday. We did some traveling in between with the younger ones in tow. Just mounting smaller plants, bringing people from Ziron and Bertrand over. By the 6th year or 2041, we had over fifteen plants installed around the galaxy, two more kids running along, and two on the way." Jack smiled proudly
"By 2041, when I was pregnant with Leon and Noel. I got sick. We just landed on a planet called Nalyd. The Nalydians quickly dialed another world, and that's how we found Axum."
"That's the world not far away from here," Malcolm stated
"Yes, in Axum, they healed me. We started the health branch of Carneill. Aila will be taking over that one, next year," Sam smiled meaningfully. "Anyway, while being down in bed rest, Jack had to take care of Aila, Lyle, and Pearl. People from Axum recommended him to take a trip to Amyntas, and all of them just returned in love with the planet."
"The doc's told Sam she should stay on bed rest in Axum, until the birth of the twins, and then, not too far away for at least two months after that. So while she got stuck for four months in Axum, she started the health branch from her new bed-office. I took a trip back to Amynthas and bought the hill we now call home." They both smiled. Malcolm nodded.
"Technologically in those five years, we surpassed Earth's tech highly. The materials we found on certain planets were more efficient for technology than most of the invented compounds existing on Earth."
"Sam's ability with crystal technology also helped enormously," Jack pointed out.
"And then we visited Dakara."
2041
"Samantha Carter, Jack O'Neill, welcome to Dakara," a tall Jaffa told them as soon as they stepped out of the gate."The council is expecting you."
The couple followed the Jaffa to the main chamber the council used to meet. The roundtable was full, and the room was packed with Jaffas, who wanted to participate too.
"Friends of the Tau'ri. We heard a long time ago about your demise, and we also heard about your uprise."
"We called you because we think we can come to an agreement that will be beneficial for both, Jaffas and you." The couple raised an eyebrow, not expecting that at all.
"We are free, but we also are too many. It's been difficult for some of our own to find ways to be useful to society and maintain themselves and their families accordingly."
"What are you proposing?" Sam asked.
"We think that jaffas hands will be capable of fulfilling your operational needs."
"So, you want us to hire your people, " Jack stated, the room nodded.
"Do any of the people in need of a job was on the scientific side of the Goa'uld work?"
"Jaffas did access the scientific side."
"I see," said Jack. "So whatcha say, Sam?"
"Right now, we cannot possibly take any Jaffa. The plants are all at full capacity, and they aren't trained." A collective disappointed sigh was heard. "However, you know we need at least another two plants. We both know they have some of the knowledge we seek."
"I don't think we understand."
"We have been searching for places to mount another two plants. Our spacecraft line is sold everywhere, and we are, as Sam said, working at full capacity in all our plants."
"Spacecraft?"
"Yup."
"We have been constructing two models, a family vessel based on the tel'tak and a transport ship based on motherships."
"Many of us know the inner workings of those ships. Perhaps we can come to an understanding after all."
"We never doubted about that," Sam grinned
2050
"Dakara was exactly what we needed. It was a win-win situation."
"Jaffa's needed jobs, and we needed both their work and their knowledge. With their help, we added a few improvements to our vessels. We added their knowledge to our books, and we managed to create two whole different lines."
"That's when Earth learned about us."
2041
"I'm sorry, kid, can you point me to the office?" a man said to him. He scanned the crew as he searched for his wife with the link. 'Humans. From Earth,' he shared his thought.
"Follow me," he said out loud to the team and walked away.
The crew formed by a Colonel, a Lieutenant, a Major and a Captain, found Jack when he was about to enter the plant. So, to his dismay, the walk to the office would be a relatively long one. But, at least he still had the link, and he could forewarn Sam about them.
"Who are you looking for?" Jack asked.
"The owners. This is the fourth planet we were sent to."
"Ah, a couple of cycles later, and you would have missed them then."
"Are they never at one place at all?" a young lieutenant sighed.
"They used to. Now, they move around plenty. They do have a home somewhere," Sam answered, joining the group. "We haven't seen many Tau'ri around anymore? Is something wrong?"
"You have seen Tau'ri's?" The major asked. "This is the first time we get to this location."
"You aren't the only Tau'ri's around the galaxy," Jack snorted, and Sam chuckled.
"Yeah, we kind of are," the Lieutenant stated, sharing a glance with his teammates.
"Really? Are no more SG teams available? Or is it too expensive to keep the gate operational and quiet nowadays?" Jack said, opening the door to the conference room.
"Who are you?" the Colonel in charge said, pointing their guns at them. Jack smirked
"Go ahead and fire," he said. Sam rolled her eyes.
"He is one of the people you are looking for, and you can drop your guns and zats. This plant structure disables them," Sam grinned as she sat on a chair at the end of the table. "I wouldn't even try the knives, Colonel."
"I'll ask again, who the hell are you?"
"Sam Carter," she said, pointing to herself. "And Jack O'Neill, also known as the owners."
"Now, we did introduce ourselves. Would you finally tell us what are you doing here? Or do we need to take you down and put you in a cell before you do that?" Jack asked, resting on the back of Sam's chair.
"Aren't you extremely young to be the Owners?"
"Aren't you extremely annoying to be Colonel?" Jack said, and Sam snorted. "Thinking it through, nope, you aren't. Let's put something straight Colonel, whatever you are doing here; you came to us, we owe you nothing. So expect nothing in return," he said, using all the military bravado he could muster.
"Now that we make ourselves clear, what does Earth wants with Careill," Sam said.
"We were sent here to make a deal about vessels and tech."
"They don't even know who they are dealing with, aren't they?" Sam huffed. "We don't have anything to offer you. We, however, will hear what you have to offer us."
2050
"In a political visit to the Jaffa's, they learned about Careill. Faithful to their words, the Jaffa did not tell them that we were Careill owners, but they gave them some addresses to help them find us."
"In that period, we were doing some plant checks, so they had to do some jumps to get to find us."
"What were they looking for?"
"Well, they wanted a couple of spacecraft for military purposes. They were having issues with making more than one by year."
"We agreed to sell them some in exchange for letting us sell non-military spacecraft and setting a transport company."
"And yet, you didn't return to Earth."
"Oh no, that's still in the forbidden part of the agreement. They can't use our manufactured vessels to attack civilizations. We can't return to Earth. Our kids can come and go as they seem fit."
"It was quite a good deal," Jack added, and Sam nodded in agreement.
"I don't get it, why would you get a deal like that? You got the good side of the deal, they wanted your stuff and not the other way around. In my mind, that tells me, I would be asking for everything I ever wanted."
"And we did that," Jack replied, exchanging glances with his wife.
"We grew up there. We know how it is to live there, to love there, to have a family there. We had what everyone wants at the end: we were happy there," Sam smiled.
"Then they threw us out, and we had only one regret."
"Our children would never be able to grow there. They would never know."
"So, that was our deal."
"Them. Their happiness, the ability to come and go to Earth as they please. The power to decide if they want to live here or if they want to claim their human condition and get their rightful place in human civilization."
"Are you telling me you haven't set foot on Earth since the day that you were thrown out?"
"Yes."
"And even when given a chance to get the permission to return, you didn't ask for it?"
"Indeed."
"Remarkable, isn't it?" A soft voice said behind them
"Irene."
"I don't know many people who would strike a deal that will allow their kids to choose but wouldn't give themselves a better chance too. Do you, Malcolm?" He denied with his head, "See, I come and go to Earth every time I can. There's so much there to see, and then there's nothing much at all. You know? Buildings are impressive, but Tollans' buildings are amazing. The food is fantastic, but the Zironian food is to die for. I guess that they know this... They know that given a chance, there are better places out there. But more importantly, they got to experience Earth as it most when they could."
"Mom, for instance, moved a lot as a kid. Dad, he grew up in a stable family. They both went through dark phases. They both went under military training; they both succeeded. They traveled. They will be forever remembered in history books. I don't know many people that managed all that either. However, they did all of it for others. Maybe some of it was done for themselves, some for each other, but most of it, it was for their families, their colleagues, even for the permission to be together at last, and later, they were kicked out… and then if you sit and analyze their story, you will understand why they don't need to return to Earth."
"Why?" Malcolm asked Sam, and Jack shrugged
"Because, here they are finally free to be who they always wanted to be, to be what they always wanted to be"
"And what's that."
"Just Sam and Jack. Just mom and dad, " Irene grinned beautifully.