MEMOIRS OF
MAJOR GENERAL JACK O'NEILL
(Re-activated)
1. La Haia
Chapter Five
By Arrietty
2008
Meadow wrenched my arms nearly pulling them out of their sockets. It was extremely painful so I let go of the reins and La Haia did the same. I knew it would be bad if we lost him, but really we couldn't hold on any longer. Mara stood quietly by while holding onto Homer and Marge's ropes. Meadow was a small cloud of kicked up sand in the distance. La Haia sat down with a thump and proceeded to cry. Mara immediately trotted over to comfort her and I once again rescued the dropped ropes. I didn't want to lose these horses; they were the whole reason why I went to that planet. My gaze wandered over to La Haia. An unusual feeling of the 'warm fuzzies' came over me towards these great beasts. They were the reason that I'd found Sam again.
'She must really love that horse.' I watched as Mara gently lifted the distraught La Haia to a standing position.
We needn't have worried because by evening Meadow came back to us, tired and extremely dusty. We didn't have enough water for everyone, so I was pleased he had returned. I didn't want to leave him here, even though we would have had to by the following day if he hadn't returned.
The next planet we would be travelling to would be Mongoon's. There was a small outpost set up near his farm of SGC personnel. It would take several days to get there, or I could wait out the seven days for the planned rendezvous and hand over the horses to the SG team. Deciding this was the least of my problems, I watched La Haia as she vigorously brushed Meadow's coat which was caked with dried sweat and sand. La Haia/Carter was a huge problem within itself without. . . I looked at Meadow; he stood quietly, energy spent from his fright. 'How on earth am I going to get him through the Stargate?'
I couldn't let the horse run free on the other side. There would be too many crops, fences, gates . . . people. And with La Haia still nervous of the Stargate she wouldn't be much help with Meadow, so it would have to be me. I'd go through first and then they would follow. I didn't want to run into La Haia and those two great horses on the other side.
Without wasting any more time, I instructed La Haia how to work the DHD. It was weird, telling Carter how to work something technical. But in the usual Carterish way, she picked it up quickly. Address clutched in her hand, with Mara standing patiently by holding the horses, Meadow and I made a hasty retreat quite a distance from the Stargate.
Hat firmly tucked inside my leather coat, I watched as the chevrons locked into place, the sun beat down on my bare head. Apart from a zat, all the weapons and stores were packed on Homer and Marge. The final chevron locked and the familiar kawoosh of the event horizon billowed out into the sunlight. Fortunately, Meadow seemed unaffected by it. I dug my heels in and clicked my tongue, Meadow was off. Exhilaration flowed through me as he built up speed, hooves kicking up the sand into a cloud behind me. Collecting him at the base of the steps, we clattered up the first steps and then with only four inches from the event horizon, Meadow planted his feet firmly on the ground and I carried on through the Stargate.
I'm absolutely positive I heard a giggle from behind me, and if I wasn't sure about that, I'm definitely sure of the uproarious laughter at the other end. The SG team was seven days early. Go figure.
Fortunately I wasn't injured, physically that is, my pride was a bit bent, but the rest seemed okay.
"General O'Neill!" Colonel Santos helped me to my feet. I glared at him and he backed off.
"You're early," I accused.
"Yes, well actually we are just changing the guard so to speak." I did a perfect mimic of Teal'c and raised one eyebrow. "SG-6 have just returned to the SGC, we are the replacements."
"Ah," I nodded. "Any of you know anything about hors . . ?"
The Stargate shut down behind me.
Spinning around on one spot I stared at the empty hole. Now all I could do is wait, hoping that La Haia understood the dial up sequence . . . 'what am I talking about? She's already dialled the 'gate, plus she's Carter for crying out loud.'
Even with the stern talk with myself, I still waited anxiously.
Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, the chevrons began to lock. The familiar kawoosh filled the space in front of the Stargate and SG-5 readied their P-90's. Too late, I remembered the fire bomb that might be flying through the Stargate.
"Don't shoot!"
White terrified eyes, flared nostrils and bared teeth came leaping through the Stargate. La Haia hanging on for dear life as Meadow petrified out of his wits landed in a cloud of dust before leaping over the surprised SG team.
"Stand down!" I yelled again.
I waited, half an eye on the struggling woman trying to control a crazy horse and the other on the Stargate waiting for Mara to come through. With a small plopping sound, Mara leading the great horses followed calmly through the Stargate.
"Santos. The horses." I ordered, directing them towards Mara and the horses, while I jogged over to the panting fiend. La Haia leapt lightly onto the ground and moved around to Meadow's head. I watched as she calmed him down with her usual nose on nose trick. It always seemed to work, but only if she was calm as well. She'd mastered her fear of the Stargate. Once again, I was proud of Carter . . . no, La Haia I reminded myself.
"Colonel Carter!" The shout stopped me dead in my tracks. I didn't think any of the members of SG-5 knew Carter. A slightly built lieutenant ran past me, I grabbed her arm.
"Lieutenant Mantel," I hissed.
"Sir?"
"She doesn't remember who she is." I waited a second for it to penetrate. "Please, don't say anything to the others." She frowned. "Don't worry, it will go through the right authorities, I just need . . . she needs more time."
By now, La Haia had seen us talking and was watching thoughtfully. Lieutenant Mantel is a very astute young woman. She glanced over at La Haia, then back at me, gave a small smile and nodded. "I assume I will hear some good news when I return to the SGC, sir."
"That you will, Lieutenant that you will." I nodded in return, assuring her that the SGC will be notified.
She turned and walked back towards the large horses and the rest of her team. I followed.
I removed my pack and a few small bags off the horses, but left everything else on them. We wouldn't need everything and anyway, we couldn't carry it all.
"Colonel Santos, can you please get this letter through to General Hammond for me? Preferably sooner than later." I handed over a rather crumpled sealed envelope which had seen better days, but inside was a letter for Hammond, detailing what had happened regarding Carter and my reasons as to why she hadn't returned. "As you know, I don't have an IDC code, so . . . " I shrugged, he replied with a nod.
Homer and Marge quite happily followed Colonel Santos and his team. Without warning, La Haia leapt onto Santos' back. "Let them go!" she yelled.
Immediately, the colonel's team started to try and pull her off him. For the first time, I saw Homer and Marge react. Homer balked at the noise, stamping his great hooves on the ground, causing clouds of dust to mask the scene. Leaving Meadow with Mara, hoping that he would behave, I joined in.
"La Haia!" I pulled an airman off her back and then pulled her off the hapless colonel. She and I fell in a heap onto the dusty ground.
"Tzak, why do you betray me?" Her eyes accused me along with her words.
"La Haia, trust me." I still held her shoulders to the ground. "They will be all right." To my dismay her eyes filled with tears. I sat back onto my heels, releasing my hold on her. She didn't move. A lone tear rolled down into her hairline. "They're going to a man called Mongoon."
Her head shot up and stared at me with surprise, and then a smile slowly spread across her face. "He's been trying to buy Neeron's horses for years." I helped her up to a sitting position. "Jack, why?" she asked again, less accusation, but with more sorrow in her voice.
"This is the reason why I came to Neeron's planet, to buy these horses. You," I smiled softly at her. "Were just the icing on the cake." She smiled her lovely Carter 100 kilowatt smile in return. My heart beat sped up and I helped her to her feet. I looked over to see the colonel and his team busy calming the horses. "They will treat them right, La Haia." I spoke softly. Her eyes filled with tears again as she approached Marge.
"Santos," I called, jerking my head away from the horses. "Leave her for a bit will you?" He and his men complied.
After several minutes, La Haia came over and leaned in close to me, "Tzak, Marge will be foaling soon."
Surprised I looked at her closely. "Does Neeron know?"
She shook her head and smiled broadly. 'Man is he gonna be one annoyed trader.' Somehow the thought really filled me with a deep seated pleasure.
I was quite saddened to see the horses leave, but I knew they would be in good hands. Mongoon loved his animals and Earth would get access to the cache of weapons. That is if that was what was in there. Part of me wanted to go and find out myself, but I needed La Haia away from any the SGC personnel at the moment, she needed to remember in her own time. The word selfishness sped through my mind, but I damped it down and ignored it.
Tears were unashamedly running down La Haia's cheeks as she held onto Meadow's bridle. I reached out my hand, but didn't touch her. I wanted to hold her tight and tell her that it would be all right, but I was afraid of what would happen if I did.
2031
"Dad!"
"Hello, son. How did you get in?"
"They gave me clearance, and as I've known about you and mom all my life . . ."
"Yeah of course. Take a load off."
"Have these chairs always been this uncomfortable?"
"Yup. Unless you can steal Aunt Janet's spinning one, which was always good to get. How's flight school going?"
"Frustrating."
"Why?"
"I am stuck in class, and yes, we do get to fly a bit, but only the really old 302's, I don't think I'll ever get to fly the 320's. They are cool . . . All the action is out there. Like you, Dad, you were in the thick of it."
"And look where it landed me."
"True. How much longer before you're up and about?"
"Another five weeks they say."
"Dad, I have a question."
"Fire away."
"What happened, what really happened to you and mom?"
"I don't know if you have clearance for the full details, but I'll give you the bare bones. Hang on while I switch this off . . ."
2008
After Santos and his men had left with the horses, we re-sorted our baggage. We would have to carry a lot of it ourselves now, as Meadow couldn't carry the bags as well as one of us.
This time La Haia was going to ride him through the gate. Last time wasn't a pleasant experience and I didn't want to end up with any broken bones, like my neck.
We were going to Ellatha.
This time, La Haia went through first with the horse and Mara and I followed. We stepped onto the stones and looked out onto the busy cobbled street. It was so good to be home. La Haia was waiting patiently with Meadow. A small crowd had already gathered around her, and she looked relieved to see us arrive.
"It's Jack!" A loud roar rose up from amongst the people, before they surged towards us. La Haia and Meadow were like a rock amidst the sea of people as they ran past her. I found myself pulled down from the steps and hands clapped me on my back and pulled my arms towards Alexander's and Mariam's home.
"Follow!" I yelled to La Haia and Mara, hoping they would hear me. There was no way I was going to stop this crowd from what they were doing.
It was quite a while before the crowds moved away from the house. One of the servants of the house took Meadow around to the stables. I assured La Haia that he would be okay. She didn't look convinced.
Eimon slapped me on my back as he gave me a hug. "It is good to see you, Jack."
Lisle came down the hallway with a small toddler in tow. "Lisle, how are you?" I hugged her. "And who is this? Mariam?" I exclaimed. She smiled shyly at me and ducked back behind Lisle's skirt.
"I thought I heard your voice, Jack." Mariam walked through a doorway; her smile was beaming as she leaned forward and gave me a hug.
"How are you all?" I asked. "Where's Alexander?"
"He's with a patient, come, you will need some food." Mariam gestured to us all to go through into a small sitting room.
Mara looked uncomfortable with the rich furnishings, I leaned over and took her arm and sat her down on one of the soft, comfortable chairs.
"Everyone, I wish you to meet La Haia and Mara, good friends of mine." I then introduced Mariam and her household to La Haia and Mara.
Food was brought in by Beatrice, who immediately dropped the tray of food onto the low table with a thump. Wine slopped over onto the tray. Without a thought to what she had done, she wrapped her ample arms around me and hugged me tight. "Jack it is so good to see you." And gave me another good squeeze for good measure. With a smile she sailed out of the room, not giving anyone else or the food a second thought.
I sat down on a low sofa, La Haia scooted up and sat really close beside me barely touching, but I could feel her arm and thigh through my clothing. "It's okay, they are my family," I assured her. She replied with a tentative smile.
Mariam filled me in on what had happened since I'd left them. Thankfully, nothing much had happened like big black armoured super soldiers or snakes in people's heads. All in all life had been really uneventful. 'Sweet.'
After our snack, everyone was shown to a room. I pulled Mariam aside. "Mara would like to work for you." I looked at her intently. She nodded slowly. "She's been treated terribly, a basic slave most of her life. She is special to La Haia, which makes her special to me. In fact in her own right she is special to me."
Mariam nodded again, "Don't worry, Jack. She will be cared for here."
"It is important that she works, she wants to work, be paid for what she does." I looked intently at Mariam.
"I understand, Jack. She will work, but she will also have a good life here. Beatrice needs help with the serving. Leave her to me." I nodded in reply.
For the first time in ages I slept peacefully all night. No bad dreams, no visitors in the night and no worries . . . for now. It was good.
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