Murphy's Physics
Murphy's Eleventh Law: "There is never time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over."
O'Neill let his breath escape him in a silent puff as the sound of the marching jaffa passed them and faded away. He couldn't hope that they'd forget about them for long, but at least now he had a bit more time to think.
Who the hell were these jaffa, anyway? He had seen different markings on their brows, black glyphs designed to indicate to which goa'uld the jaffa served. He hadn't recognized any of them, and had not had an opportunity to bring it up in polite conversation. He doubted that these jaffa were familiar with the concept of polite conversation.
And what in hell were they doing on Planet Murphy? The chance of coincidence was right out; one goa'uld al'Kesh was improbable enough... but two? Unless the first one had managed to get off a distress call, which could have brought reinforcements but might also have attracted unwanted attention from rival goa'ulds. The other option was that this al'Kesh was here at the same time they had arrived, but had remained cloaked and hidden while the other two fought it out. Sent by one of said rival goa'ulds, perhaps?
It was seeming less and less likely that So'len's little secret was a secret anymore.
O'Neill became aware then that his small companion who was sitting rigidly beside him. Tegan had not uttered a sound, remaining as still as a mouse when the hawk glides overhead. He did not tremble or cry, as one might expect a lad of his age to do. As the footsteps finally faded away completely, Jack heard the slightest escape of pent breath.
O'Neill resisted the urge to put his arm around the boy. He remembered what it meant to be small and frightened, but badly in need of dignity. He contented himself by leaning over until his arm touched the small shoulder.
"You know why those guys are always so grouchy? Their false gods won't let them wear any padded boxers under their armour. It is cold and it pinches; take my word for it. And it makes enough noise to wake the dead."
Tegan's whispered response was barely loud enough for Jack to hear, "Stealth is unnecessary when ends can be accomplished by terror. This is the way the Goa'uld have instructed their jaffa. To them it is preferable to appear to be able to conquer by pure strength. In their eyes such is more fitting behaviour for a god."
Jack peered through the darkness toward the boy. Such words did not seem right coming from the mouth of a child, yet the wisdom was undeniably sound. "Tegan," Jack said carefully, "How do you know that?"
A faint luminescence appeared, cupped in the boy's fingers; he had placed the device on his hand again, and was staring into its golden light. "I remember it."
Jack stared at him. Who was this boy, and how could he remember such things if he was not Blended? Questions without answers surged through his mind, but O'Neill remained quiet, giving them no voice. He needed to concentrate on what was required of him, which was to escape and regroup with the rest of SG-1. He and the kid had to get out of this cell.
"Hold that thing up, Tigger. Let me see if I can find a door." Tegan complied, the light growing stronger as he unshielded the device. Jack found grooves along one wall that seemed to indicate an opening. He prized and pushed on the panel, but it made no move. "I guess we're going to have to wait until they open it, and hope that there aren't too many to take at once." Jack pressed his ear against the wall, trying to hear if there was a guard outside. He heard nothing, but the walls were thick. "They want you alive, so you just stay in here when the door opens. If things go badly, at least you'll be alright. Get away while they're busy with me."
"Use this," Tegan said, and the took the device off of his hand, plunging them into darkness again. "If you focus your thoughts, you can use it as a weapon."
Jack took the thing, but laid it in the boys palm again. "I can't do it, Tigger. I don't have the mojo to use goa'uld technology."
"Mo-jo?--"
"Never mind, kid."
Tegan activated the thing again, lighting up his face. Jack could clearly see his bright eyes, regarding him with trust and determination. "I can help, Jack. When the jaffa come, I shall assist you. It may be that we shall both escape."
Jack grinned down at him. "No 'maybe's' about it, kid. As soon as they come back, we are so outta here."