New times are rising. When approached by the future, accept it, embrace it, and try to fully understand it before approaching it fully. Understand that once you leave your comfortable place, you can never go back.
The warrior looked back in time to see the bluish puddle fade away. He then looked forward to see men in black standing back-to-back behind a tall man in a blue uniform who had grey hair. It reminded the warrior of his general back just a mere twelve days before.
⌠I▓m General Jack O▓Neill. Welcome to Stargate Command. We▓ll meet more fully after your examination,■ O▓Neill smiled, saluting the warrior, who followed slowly without understanding. A guard in green led the warrior through a maze of corridors and into a medical ward similar to that of Atlantis. They performed the same tests, and soon the warrior was led into a small cafeteria. General O▓Neill sat consuming a blue food that was strange to the warrior. ⌠Hungry?■ General O▓Neill asked, gesturing a card towards him. The warrior looked confused. ⌠You take this card to the lady right there and she▓ll help you get something to eat,■ O▓Neill explained.
⌠I▓m fine, General,■ the warrior whispered respectfully. General O▓Neill nodded, then looked past the warrior and gestured to someone. The warrior turned to see a man with a strange tool on his face.
⌠Daniel! I thought you were off-world!■ O▓Neill exclaimed, standing to shake Daniel▓s hand. Daniel shook his head in reply to O▓Neill, and then sat down. The warrior stared at his glasses.
⌠Oh, is this the man from Atlantis?■ Daniel asked. Both men nodded. The warrior then continued to stare at his glasses. ⌠Oh, I get what you▓re doing now. These are glasses. Without them, I can▓t see that well, but sometimes I wear lenses in my eye to help me see. I thought a few on Atlantis wore glasses.■
⌠The ones that I know have been on missions since he arrived, so they probably never met,■ General O▓Neill replied. ⌠He▓s not a talker, but he is an observer. I don▓t know why they sent him for the marines. Teal▓c is going to test his battle technique this afternoon, but I▓m not sure what he▓ll think. His culture was very primitive from the sound of it, Medieval almost,■ O▓Neill whispered. Daniel nodded and looked to the warrior.
⌠I hear that you considered being a runner,■ Daniel began. The warrior nodded, but said nothing. When he was on his home planet, it was disrespectful to speak without permission, even to ask for permission. General O▓Neill saw the warrior▓s eagerness to reply, but also his glances towards him.
⌠You may speak,■ General O▓Neill said quietly.
⌠Yes, I enjoyed those few days with Ronon, but I did nearly die. I▓m not sure why I wished to become a runner,■ the warrior replied. General O▓Neill and Daniel nodded.
⌠I▓ve yet to hear much about Ronon, but the early files say only good things. He is much like you, facing a new world. Are you prepared for what could await you outside of this base?■ Daniel questioned. General O▓Neill nodded to the warrior and he answered.
⌠Not really, General, but I know that it will be nothing like Atlantis or my home world due to the war going on here. I▓ve seen pictures from Dr. Weir, and all of them are worried. I wish to attempt to ease their fears,■ the warrior said quietly. General O▓Neill sent a quiet glance to Daniel, and then put his hands on the table.
⌠What you wish for cannot be achieved. The weapons you have experienced are far different from what we have here, and our customs are much different. You will be placed in SG-6 and sent off-world to see if other planets are suitable for life. In this exploration, you may find a planet much like your own, but you are only guaranteed one thing: danger. There are other enemies in this galaxy that are nothing like the Wraith. Most are less advanced, others are more advanced, but Dr. Jackson will help you learn of all of them, past and present and you will learn from Teal▓c battle techniques and the history of our galaxy▓s fallen enemy, the Goa▓uld. Your love of history will be fulfilled here, Sir. Dr. Jackson, I am releasing him to you. Help him find a name, will you? The file was left blank,■ General O▓Neill smiled.
Dr. Jackson smiled and led the warrior to the elevator. Inside, a tall man with a strange symbol on his forehead was waiting for them. The warrior studied him closely. The man looked back, equally curious. D. Jackson introduced them to each other, and Teal▓c put his left hand over his heart and bowed. The warrior followed slowly, and then stood upright fully. Teal▓c smiled to him.
⌠You are not familiar with our customs here,■ Teal▓c smirked. ⌠I will change that, under General O▓Neill▓s command. He will be your reporting officer until he tells you otherwise. Do you understand?■
⌠Yes Sir,■ the warrior replied strongly. He saw power in the eyes of this strange man. He wanted to obey his every order, just as General O▓Neill would want. The warrior followed the lead of Dr. Jackson and Teal▓c and they all entered a barren storeroom. Teal▓c stood beside a long table with numerous weapons covering the top. Dr. Jackson took one of the weapons and showed it to the warrior.
⌠We discovered this on P3X-741 when we excavated a minor temple. The Goa▓uld made this to shock and kill the symbiote inside them. Thanks to our actions, Jaffa like Teal▓c no longer are held within the binds of the symbiote, but a few like following the old ways, such as the Tok▓ra. They are rebel Jaffa who fought alongside us for freedom, and they remain as one of our strongest allies. The Goa▓uld, however, perished. Teal▓c will help you learn of the numerous holders of power within their ranks, but at a later time. We need to see how you fight. This is practice, not war. Do you understand?■
⌠Yes Sir,■ the warrior replied. ⌠I am to fight, but not harm. It is what I would do as a child, Sir.■
⌠Stand on the blue mats,■ Teal▓c motioned, throwing him two long pieces of wood built to mimic the weight and appearance of a sword. The two then fought, the warrior using acrobatics to combat every move, and both were soon deadlocked and panting, understanding each other▓s power like a father and son. The two then removed their weapons from the mats and bowed to each other as equals. They both looked up to see General O▓Neill and Dr. Jackson watching intently.
⌠You are better than I thought you would be,■ General O▓Neill murmured. ⌠Can you use a gun?■
⌠I do not understand, Sir,■ the warrior replied. General O▓Neill nodded and took a small pistol from his side. The warrior then nodded in recognition. ⌠Colonel Sheppard used one to defend himself, Sir. I understand, but no, I cannot use it effectively. I apologize,■ he bowed.
⌠Stand, Captain,■ O▓Neill commanded. The warrior obeyed. ⌠Do not apologize for what you cannot control. You have to learn and we intend to teach you. I haven▓t walked among these people for two years at the most, but I dropped numerous appointments just to meet you and welcome you to this planet. You are my equal, just in a different mindset, from a different galaxy, and knowing what simplicity is. We have never known that. We are spoiled, Captain. We do not understand, and that is why many like you falter. You are strong, so use that strength to show us what you can do with limited experience,■ O▓Neill said sternly, handing the warrior the handle of the gun. The warrior accepted it and aimed towards a bright orange target at the edge of the room. After learning how to remove the safety and to operate the gun functionally, the warrior fired. The target was brought to the warrior by Teal▓c. It was a perfect shot.
⌠Jack, should I tell Sam? She▓d be happy to hear that another one of your projects has gone well,■ Dr. Jackson questioned. General O▓Neill nodded and Daniel left the room. Teal▓c approached General O▓Neill and they left the warrior standing in front of the table.
⌠He is a natural, O▓Neill. Are you sure that he should remain here in SG-6?■ Teal▓c asked. O▓Neill thought about the question.
⌠He does belong in some regime somewhere, but look at him. He couldn▓t make it through basic without coming out. No one will understand,■ O▓Neill whispered. ⌠I need to talk with Carter. He might be good for SG-1.■
⌠Whatever you feel is right, O▓Neill,■ Teal▓c nodded in respect. The two then returned to the warrior, who was studying a zat gun carefully. ⌠Let me show you how this functions,■ Teal▓c offered. The warrior nodded and watched as Teal▓c aimed the weapon at O▓Neill.
⌠Why don▓t you let me do that?■ O▓Neill asked. Teal▓c nodded and handed O▓Neill the weapon. O▓Neill fired the weapon and electricity seemed to flow through Teal▓c, who hit the floor on his knees. O▓Neill lowered the weapon and placed it back on the table. ⌠One fire stuns them, the second one knocks them out, and the third vaporizes them. Do you understand ▒vaporize▓?■
⌠Yes, Sir,■ the warrior replied. ⌠They disappear. Is that correct Sir?■
⌠Good job,■ O▓Neill grinned. Teal▓c then stood up, sweating slightly from his fight with pain. The two men shook hands as an ⌠unexpected wormhole■ message was announced. The warrior was then forced to follow the men blindly up two flights of stairs. At the end of the blind pacing, the Stargate lay open. A video of the people of Atlantis rested on the screen, but it was not a friendly call. Something was wrong. The Wraith had found them and they were moving from the area for a new planet, one called Titan, the warrior▓s home world.