"The things we have tried to forget and put behind us would stir again, and that sense of fear, of furtive unrest, struggling at length to blind unreasoning panic, might in some manner unforeseen become a living companion." – Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca
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Jack was pissed.
He had burst into the room and had confronted Mac right away with the words: "What's going on that you're not telling me?" SAM had looked stunned but his father had only nodded before he told them about the assignment that Minister Henron had asked them to take on.
"He was really worried about his people, Jack. How could we not do it? Do you expect me to turn the other cheek while these people blow each other up with nuclear bombs? Come on, you know me better than that."
"I understand where you're coming from Mac, but is it any of our business?"
"It became our business when you agreed to help Thor."
"It's going to be dangerous," Jack said pointedly looking at SAM, echoing his twin's earlier thoughts. Mac had an advantage with the advance warning and time to think that he had taken before. Meanwhile, SAM bristled, realizing what the two were talking about. He was preparing for his 'I'm an adult' speech that he had already given his father and was about to interrupt when he heard his father reply.
"I know, and I'm not completely comfortable with it, but I'm confident in all of our abilities." Mac made it a point not to look at his son and instead captured his brother's gaze as if willing him to understand that they needed to show some faith in SAM.
Jack reluctantly nodded which relieved Mac. SAM just stood there with his jaw slack, momentarily speechless. He had thought that he would have to fight tooth and nail to be able to go with them. Mac moved away, their discussion over with an unspoken agreement, and began to gather some supplies for their trip. Jack turned to the young man and grinned at the expression on his face. The kid looks just like a guppy.
"Careful not to drool SAM," he snapped his mouth shut, "now, you might want to make sure that you have plenty of film and that camera of yours is in good shape…we might be needing it this trip. Pack only essentials, this is going to be fast and we need to be light. "
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"I shall provide transportation for you until we reach the outskirts of the city. I cannot proceed any further but until then the roads are mainly deserted so we shall not encounter any Tyreans. I cannot, however run the risk of being sighted within city limits; I am testing the boundaries by merely crossing over into Tyrean land."
"Thank you Goran, for everything. We appreciate your help." Mac said while shaking the Guard's hand. It was a shock to see him dressed in normal Tomacian 'street clothes' instead of his conspicuous purple uniform.
"Yeah, our feet thank you too. I'm glad we don't have to walk the entire way,"
"I thank you as well for your willingness to undertake this task. It does indeed mean a lot to me," he said with a deep bow, "From one warrior to three, I wish you luck."
All three men were so touched by Goran's sincerity and SAM didn't have the heart to correct him. He had never thought of himself as a 'warrior' per se. The three family members exited the vehicle, each grabbing their own pack and slinging it on while doing one last minute equipment check. With a final glance towards their new friend, they headed off into unknown territory, Jack taking point, with Mac bringing up the six. SAM was forced between them, deemed the navigator as consulted the map, given to them by Goran, he quietly directed Jack where to go. Tyrea's landscape had changed minimally to include shorter, yet steeper and rockier hills with many paths to choose from that cut between them and led to the Tyrean capitol of Menautos.
The hike there was silent, each occupied by his own thoughts and keeping a hushed eye out for any enemy movement.
Jack couldn't believe that he had actually agreed to go on this mission behind enemy lines with SAM along for the journey. He couldn't believe that Mac was letting him. Giving it some thought, though, he truly did understand, he just didn't want to. The kid- he couldn't help but call him that- wasn't a kid anymore, or so he had emphatically reminded him after Jack had let the moniker slip on their ride over here.
If he was Charlie, Jack would have never- no, SAM wasn't Charlie. Why was it so difficult to get that straight? His thoughts kept betraying him, constantly comparing his brother's son to his own. It was unfair, to both SAM and Charlie. Quit it O'Neill! Buck up and get it through your thick head, stop thinking about crap like that. You're on a mission; focus on the job.
Thought train abandoned, he tried to think of light little nothings in order to avoid such a deep topic that would in fact distract his concentration. Maybe something like hockey scores or that he needed to remember to get everyone a Christmas present.
But his mind had other ideas.
The traitor.
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SAM was currently fighting his own hand as it continually reached for the camera bag that was slung over his shoulder. After two days on an alien planet, you would think that he'd have been used to the idea, but no. It was an alien planet! And he wanted to document every little detail of it. But, he reluctantly stopped his hand once more as it made another attempt, trying to sneak past his mind, for the camera. He only had a couple rolls of film, not a lot by any standard, and he was saving it. Jack had asked him to bring it along, not that he would have left it behind anyway, in case they needed proof of a Tyrean plot. You truly just never knew when a camera might come in handy.
He checked the map once more and quietly sped up to stand side by side with his uncle.
"Jack, we should be almost there, from what the map says-"
"SAM, never trust a map that talks to you," He joked, unable to resist the temptation of teasing the young man.
"Funny," SAM rolled his eyes, and he had thought that his uncle had been funny-hah! "Anyway, according to the map, we should be almost there. Maybe just another quarter mile and we'll be coming up to the Northwest edge of Menautos." SAM finished as he began to roll up the map and store it in his pack.
"Good job SAM, thanks," he nodded to Mac for him to catch up to them but before he was able to do so, Jack lowered his voice, "You ever shot a gun before?"
SAM just sadly shook his head, remembering the passionate lecture his Dad had given him not too long ago. That had been a difficult day, he had wanted to give in to his vengeance, but his Dad had been able to get through to him and change his mind. He had, honestly, never been comfortable with guns, but he still knew how to use them. SAM murmured a muted "Yeah" barely loud enough for Jack to hear.
But Jack knew from his nephew's body language that though he would have preferred not to have anything to do with guns, he would use one if necessary.
"Okay, I put some extra clips in your pack, but the 9 mil is only for backup. You don't have to use it, the Zat is good enough, but just in case…"
"I got it."
"Thanks SAM," The younger man looked up to see the expression in his eyes. He knew, he understood, hell he was Mac's brother, of course he understood, "I really mean it." And he really did. SAM knew that if he never touched the gun at all, Jack would be happy, but it was a necessary evil. Jack just wanted him to be protected, have all his bases covered…just in case.
Just at that moment Mac reached the other two.
"So what's the plan?"
"Well, SAM here's map told him that we should reach the city pretty soon. A quarter of a mile."
"They've practically declared war, they're gonna have the main roads shut down with road block," Mac stated.
"Yeah, and not to mention, they'll have troops on patrol as well," SAM added.
Jack just nodded,
"Yeah, I figured. SAM on that magical map of yours did it show a possible advantageous entry point?"
"Yeah, in fact that's where I was leading you already. It seems as if the northwest side of the city is industrial, a lot of warehouses, which means a lot of roads and alleys. They can't possibly patrol every one. It's just a matter of sneaking in. Piece of cake."
"Okay, sounds reasonable. What do you think Mac? You capable of some major sneakage?" he asked with a grin.
"Of course! In fact, in my high school yearbook, they voted me the 'most likely to sneak around in enemy territory'. A little sneaking is what I do best!" Both brothers tired hard to contain their laughter, teasing SAM about his word choice.
He rolled his eyes before swatting both of them on the arm.
"Okay, okay, I can take a hint, let's get a move on,"
"Sneak on bro," Mac said, quickly moving out of SAM's reach.
"Sneaking," Jack answered, doing the same.
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Author's Note: I'm going to be going away for almost a month, and I won't have access to any computer; so, unfortunately it might be a little while before I can update again. I will still be writing while away (the old fashioned way: pen and paper), but I will have to transfer it to computer when I get back so ya'll can read it. Then I will be updating quite quickly, to make up for it ; )
But I want to thank all those who have been following this story and have been leaving me their feedback and reviews. It is much appreciated! And I hope this small lapse doesn't deter any of ya'll from continuing to enjoy my stories!
Thank you all kindly!