The next chapter – it was long so I've divided it into two – the 2nd have will come tomorrow. Thanks
The room and people around them dissolved slowly. Jack and Sam, still holding each other in wonder, finally looked up and, without surprise, saw that they were back in the alien room.
Strangely, the colors in the room were no longer swirling but instead, the walls were a solid white. It should have seemed normal, like a regular room, but somehow it still looked and felt wrong. Both gazed around them and realized that it was not yet as it should be. Things were not clear as yet – although the changing, and uncertainty was fading.
What did this all mean? Had Jack failed the test by putting their love before the good of the world? Would they be punished? Would they be sent back? The two officers, the two friends continued to stand close and to touch each other but they wondered what was in store for them.
"O'Neill", a voice as breathless as the wind came floating into the room. "Carter", the voice said again.
"What? What do you want? Where are you?"
"We are all here", the voice answered, "We are all around you."
"What's happening? What are we to do now? Did I fail? Is this the end?"
"No, O'Neill, you did not fail. Each choice you have made has brought you closer to your destiny".
"Okay – that is enough!" shouted Jack. "Stop with the mumbo jumbo. I'm sick of this. Tell me what this all means or I'm not going any further. I'm gonna plant my butt right here and Carter is going to stay right beside me until we get some answers. Ya hear? NOW!"
Carter couldn't help but give a soft giggle, even in the midst of this painful and bizarre adventure. Jack sounded just like a General should – talking to a bunch of raw recruits. Let's see if it gets the same results, she thought to herself.
Instantly, without any warning or fanfare, the surreal aliens began to 'fade in' to the room. Each alien they had seen or spoken to was there (interesting that she could recognize them when they were so, so formless!) along with others. They floated, for want of a better word, around the room.
"Okay, who's your spokesperson here?" asked Jack "Who's gonna tell us what the F#%! is going on?"
One of the aliens, it appeared to be female although it was difficult to tell, floated forward.
"You have a right to know O'Neill, as does your woman. We will tell you what we can, but know, please, that your test is not finished. There is one more that must be passed before your destiny is clear."
"Great – another one. I gotta tell you. I'm so tired of all this. Please, just tell me what you can."
Jack and Sam, both exhausted from all that had happened, both sat down on the floor. Jack sat with Sam leaning back against his chest and with his arms encircling her body. Yeah – this was the life!
"So … go for it. Tell us what you can."
Alien number 1 – or 'head sucking alien' as Jack referred to it, stepped forward. (Oh no, he thought – you just stay away from me!).
"I will not hurt you, O'Neill. I am sorry for the pain I caused. But, like birth, it was a necessary pain – to bring to life that which was in you.
"Okay, if that was like giving birth I am soooo glad I'm not a woman!"
"Jack!", Sam swatted him on the leg. "Stop it!"
All right – he was getting a little punchy here.
"Sorry – go ahead."
"Many of the Ancient Ones were wise – they developed abilities and knowledge which helped them as they lived in this universe. But there was much power in what they had. If not used wisely, it could become corrupted and be used to harm and to kill."
"Yeah – we've seen that – we are dealing with the Ori!"
"Yes, they are but one group who took the dark path. But for those who were strong, for those who were good, these abilities brought much joy – not only to themselves, but to those they loves and to their children."
"So, you're saying I have some of this talent, this gift – but I'd better be careful how I use it, is that right?"
"Yes – but we are not worried. Many of the trials you undertook showed us that you are good, that your mind and heart are strong."
"Although sometimes a little warped!" whispered Sam
This time Jack swatted her.
"So okay – what did these 'trials' tell you exactly?"
A second alien moved forward and began to speak.
"You were given the chance to get what is in your heart, to undo that which is a deep wound inside of you. You could have gone back to the family you lost – if you had chosen that all of this would have ceased to exist. Your reality would have been that one. That was your choice – and you turned away. You chose to move forward, to go towards the true world you had created out of the terrible pain of your life. You had taken something that could have destroyed your soul and turned it into something that meant good for many. When given the chance to undo all of that you chose instead to look forward, even if it meant giving up that which you lost."
Sam turned at these words and put her arms around Jack. She knew this must be painful for him to listen to – to again realize that he could have had Charlie and his life with him and Sara back. She grieved for this new loss.
But she should have known that Jack O'Neill was strong. He looked down at her and smiled gratefully, fully realizing what she was doing, what she was offering him.
"It's okay Sam. I have accepted the choice I made and I know it was the right one. Sara is fine now and one day I'll be with Charlie again. He isn't lost and nor am I any more."
"Fine – what else?"
"You yourself recognized the choice you needed to make when returned to the place of your capture. Knowing the pain you would suffer you still sacrificed yourself to save a young man. The choice this time was harder and therefore more important. The first time, you did not know what the consequence would be – you had hope that you would be saved. In the return, you knew what you would suffer and still you made the choice. For you, it is always about the other."
"Well, not always! When it comes to the Simpsons nobody better get in my way!"
Sam shook her head in wonder. Only Jack O'Neill could start joking with aliens when so much was in the balance. She knew it was his defense mechanism but, after all these years, it still amazed her.
Not surprisingly, the aliens remained silent at this. She wondered if they had a sense of humor – or if they understood Jack at all.
A smallish alien – one who had been in the background, came forward after Jack's quip. She 'floated' up to Jack and reached out to him. Although he moved his head a bit he didn't appear too worried. By now, he was getting to know the aliens pretty well and could tell when they didn't plan to harm him.
The little alien (as Sam called her) touched Jack on the side of the head and stayed, without moving, for a few minutes. All the while she was there Jack stood looking at her intently as if he were communicating with her.
Finally, she stepped (oozed?) back. Sam heard a strange noise coming from the alien. At first, she couldn't tell what it was. Then it hit her … the alien was 'laughing' – actually laughing!
"What did you do Jack O'Neill? What did you say to her?"
"Well, she asked me about humor – what it was, why I used it – so I showed her. I think she got it", he grinned.
Soon, the alien had floated to each of her companions and soon the entire room was filled with the very unusual sound of alien laughter. It was …. kind of creepy, thought Sam although Jack seemed to be enjoying it.
"What in the world did you do?"
"Uh – I kind of showed them bugs bunny and the roadrunner. I think they all feel real sorry for Wyle E. Coyote! They didn't like the roadrunner."
"So help me General. If I hear a single alien say "what's up Doc?" I'm gonna so hit you!", snickered Sam. What a day this had been!
After a few minutes of alien laughter, the room again became quiet. A new alien (this one looked like a professor she thought – very studious looking) moved towards the humans.
"We thank you O'Neill. It has been many ages since we have had this joy. This was not a test – but is something you have brought to us – and that you bring to many. Your ability to create laughter is a wonderful gift and one which will continue to serve you well. We are in your debt. We have only one request."
"What is it?"
"Will you please tell us of the adventures of Homer Simpson?"
"Yup, an alien after my own heart!"
Sorry folks – I know this isn't a great place to end but this is going to be a huge, long chapter so I'm dividing it up. More tomorrow.
