Disclaimer:
Stargate does not belong to me, nor do any of the images displayed. This fic was created by me for entertainment purposes.
NA 1: This is a translation from Spanish. Before, I used to upload the translation from Google Translate, but I found this one and it seems better to me. Please comment to let me know what you think.
NA 2: If anyone wants to help with corrections or translations and serve as an editor, please send me a private message. I am too busy to do it myself. Again, my apologies to everyone.
NA3: También he publicado el original en español, ya pueden leerlo.
Stargate O'Neill 3.
-So, can you feel the wind on your skin? -Jack asked suspiciously.
-"Yes, O'Neill, I can feel the wind around me, pressing against my skin as if I were submerged in water," replied Teal'c. "Shit," thought Jack.
-Well, that's good," said Jack.
-Have you made any progress? -asked Teal'c, and although his eyes were closed, Jack could imagine him raising an eyebrow inquisitively and somewhat mockingly.
-Not yet, but I'm about to," Jack lied. Who the hell was going to make progress in meditation in just two tries? This wasn't even a real meditation technique? He didn't even know a real meditation technique, he was just spinning what Teal'c said he was doing, to test a theory.
Teal'c and the other jaffa thought that they and the symbiote were not connected and had no influence on each other. But Jack, who knew the original story, knew this was not so.
The symbiote was linked to the jaffa's mind and even increased his loyalty to the goa'uld in some way. He also knew of an effective way Teal'c could communicate with his symbiote during his meditation rites, but that way of doing so left him at the mercy of the goa'uld's mind and deceptions.
Jack knew this was happening because his mind was practically unconscious and in a dream state at the time. So what Jack wanted to achieve was a meditative state where Teal'c had all his senses and his mind alert, to see what was going on.
The young Goa'uld could not control their hosts if they were conscious or it took a great deal of effort. If Teal'c could contact the symbiote's mind while in full use of his mental abilities, that would be interesting, and was the goal of this Jedi training he had begun the day before. He expected it would take a week minimum to get any results, but Teal'c had already made progress in just two days.
Jack, who had accompanied him, was still getting nowhere. The wind was as insubstantial as ever to him.
Jack opened one eye to look at the jaffa's expression, and the jaffa was smiling at his obvious lie.
-Teal'c, come to your senses and work harder. Being cocky is the way to the dark side," Jack chided. Besides, these are my first meditation lessons, it's only natural that it takes time," he added.
-Of course, O'Neill," Teal'c said.
-Teal'c, stop smiling," Jack ordered.
-Right away, O'Neill," Teal'c said. Jack decided to return to his meditation. Although he had made no progress the night before, perhaps out of boredom, annoyance, or because he had seriously tried to feel the wind around him for two hours, in a room where there was no breeze, and his brain was overheated, he had slept like a rock. For that reason alone, he was again taking his meditation seriously this time. It was a treatment for insomnia, and he had combined it with a couple of hours of gaming on his Play 1 console, which he bought with O'Neill's savings, along with some good games.
It was a wonderful feeling to have his own console. In his old life, he was poor as a field rat, and to play with a console, he had to go to a store, where they rented them by the hour. It was the wonder of living in Latin America, where buying a hundred-dollar console was an investment that meant consuming the savings of three months of hard work ...
Jack shook his head in his mind and returned to his meditation.
...
An hour later, Jack got up and Teal'c followed suit. They were in the gym, which Teal'c had chosen to do his exercises and keep fit, while waiting for the missions to begin.
Teal'c moved his right arm observing his hand in front of him.
-O'Neill, I think if I tried, I could feel the wind right now," Teal'c suggested. Jack squinted at him. This guy looked serious, but he was a troll, Jack was sure he was annoying him on purpose.
-Teal'c, do you see those lights? -Jack pointed to the ceiling where there were several tubes of fluorescent lights. Teal'c nodded, "Those lights give off a tiny amount of electromagnetic radiation, that is, light, perhaps millions of times less than that of the sun. Your new task in meditation will be to feel that light on your skin," Jack explained and turned to leave, leaving Teal'c with a dazed expression.
...
That night Jack slept like a rock again, so he decided to make meditation a regular thing.
When he was having breakfast in the base's dining room, the alarms began to sound. Teal'c, Daniel and Carter, who were eating breakfast at the same table, tried to get up, but Jack told them to stay seated and continued eating normally.
-As Carter said yesterday, the iris will hold. As for those jaffa, I guess there are worse ways to die, we'll make Apophis pay for their deaths later," said Jack.
-Still, it's worrying," said Daniel. Are you sure it will stop at some point? -he asked.
-Daniel, in a couple of days, there will be no more attacks. We'd better concentrate on what Teal'c knows for the intelligence reports. We don't want to run into some Goa'uld artifact we don't know about," Jack said, looking at Teal'c. Teal'c, what kinds of weapons have you used as a jaffa? Only weapons that a small group of jaffa can use, not vehicles," Jack explained.
-Generally, a jaffa has two weapons at his disposal. The staff and the zatnik'tel. The zatnik'tel...
-Let's leave it to Zat," Jack interrupted and Teal'c nodded.
-The Zat is an energy weapon that fires a stun ray, but it will kill the target if used twice on it. If it is fired a third time, it will turn him into ashes," Teal'c explained, leaving Carter astonished, who tried to ask for more explanations, but Teal'c knew nothing of Goa'uld science, he only knew about the use of weapons.
Teal'c told them about the stun grenades, the naquadah bombs they used to bombard planets through the Stargate, the cannons mounted to destroy walls, and the jaffa warfare tactics, which were from the middle ages, forming ranks and attacking head-on in a sort of ritual battle.
-Teal'c, today will be your interview with military intelligence. Your new uniform is ready, don't forget to wear it. That will remind them that you are our ally and not a prisoner. You can also threaten to leave the planet if they get too heavy," Jack advised. Of course, I'll be there too," he added.
-Thank you, O'Neill. But I do not intend to leave this planet, I have sworn my allegiance to the Tau'ri cause, so it would be a lie to say such a thing," Teal'c argued. Jack sighed and shook his head.
-Teal'c, telling a lie sounds very ugly. You have to think of it as a possibility. An approach to options, different life paths. Like with the Schrödinger's cat experiment," Jack advised, as Daniel and Carter looked at him strangely.
-Schrödinger's cat? -Teal'c asked.
-A famous cat torturer on our planet," Jack explained and looked at Carter. Carter, explain the cat torturer Schrödinger's experiments to Teal'c, so that he understands what probability is all about," Jack ordered. Carter looked engaged as Teal'c looked at her waiting for her explanation.
-Well, I didn't really torture cats...
-Carter, focus, we are not interested in the cat torturer's life, just explain what his evil experiments consisted of," Jack ordered, leaving her in a doubly compromised position.
-Yes, sir," said Carter, grimacing, but beginning his account of how Schrödinger set up his Schrödinger's cat experiment.
...
-Captain Carter, I do not understand your point. Actually, according to what you say, the cat will already be dead, regardless of whether this Schrödinger proves it or not," Teal'c said. Carter seemed to get a headache.
-Teal'c, the point being made is not what happens or doesn't happen with the cat. The guy is bad to the bone, he didn't care about the cat's life. What this experiment is about is what you know and what you don't know because you can't see it," Jack explained, and Teal'c seemed to come to enlightenment.
-I understand, O'Neill," Teal'c said. Daniel and Sam looked concerned.
-I don't think... -Jack raised his hand to interrupt Daniel.
-Daniel, please don't interrupt, it's rude," Jack scolded and looked at Teal'c, who nodded again.
-If you interrupt Daniel Jackson's explanation, he cannot contradict your methods, so in theory, you have not been disproved and will be correct until proven otherwise, which, with you here, is impossible.
"It's like when you wouldn't let Captain Carter clear the name of the man known as Schrödinger, letting your version be the correct one," Teal'c explained, leaving Carter and Daniel somewhere between shocked and horrified.
-Teal'c, from now on don't follow Jack's advice," Daniel said seriously.
-Daniel, Carter, is there something wrong with what I said? -Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. Daniel and Carter looked at each other and then looked at him hesitantly. Jack smiled.
-Well, it's not that you're wrong...
-Thank you, that's all I wanted to know," Jack interrupted, and Daniel choked, unable to defend himself. Jack looked at Teal'c. Teal'c, the person interviewing you is an expert at pulling these little tricks. You can't talk truthfully with him, or he'll pull out the good things you know and have done and turn them into words he'll use against you.
"It's not personal, it's just his job, which means he won't see you as a human, but as something to take care of and profit from. That's why you shouldn't let him push you around or put words in your mouth. If he is rude and interrupts, don't get angry; do the same to him in his next sentence. Answer nonsense to his questions before he finishes asking them, interrupting him and giving them whatever meaning you feel like giving them.
"If you do that a couple of times, he'll understand that he'll either behave or he won't get anything from you," Jack explained, and Teal'c nodded.
...
-Sir, we're here to keep the peace," Carter explained after Jack blatantly asked for permission to enter Teal'c's interview.
-General, it is very necessary," insisted Daniel with an alarmed expression. General Hammond nodded and they all went inside.
In the briefing room, General Hammond occupied the head of the table, with the intelligence agent the military had sent and his secretary at his side. Jack knew that in the future, this intelligence agency would become known as the NID and, if he did not act to prevent it, it would also become a nest of terrorists when their bosses, who thought of the creation of the group as a business, were imprisoned.
-As I was saying...
-I was saying that you intend to treat me as a prisoner," added Teal'c, and Daniel and Carter grimaced, while Jack grinned like a proud master, General Hammond frowned, and Major Kennedy gritted his teeth.
-If you would let me talk...
-Please don't abstain for my sake," Teal'c interrupted, trolling Major Kennedy, who looked at General Hammond helplessly. General Hammond looked at him, slyly reprimanding him, then sighed.
-Major Kennedy, you have been warned before that this was only an interview. Teal'c is an ally, and his position on this base is as military attaché and military advisor. Please moderate your tone and speak politely, without double entendres or veiled insinuations," General Hammond advised in a neutral tone.
Major Kennedy gritted his teeth and focused his attention on his papers for a few seconds, then looked at Jack.
-Colonel O'Neill," said Kennedy and Jack nodded, "I understand it was you who negotiated Mr. Teal'c's current diplomatic status," Kennedy accused.
-Yes, I assumed that someone would come here to try to take him as a prisoner, and study him in some disreputable laboratory with unhygienic health practices, which would hinder, delay and render null and void any help he could give us. So I acted accordingly and offered him insurance against alien abduction," Jack explained. Kennedy nodded.
-He guessed! -He said accusingly, "You assumed a lot of things. I've read your previous reports, it seems you "guessed" correctly, that there were more Stargates, more Goa'ulds, more ships, and everything that is happening now, very... "rightly"," Kennedy accused. Jack looked at him in surprise.
-Are you admitting that you were planning to kidnap Teal'c to take him to a clandestine laboratory and use him for illegal experiments? -Jack asked. Kennedy tensed.
-That's not what I meant," Jack raised an eyebrow at him to continue. I meant almost entirely accurate," she excused herself without much coherence. Jack thought nothing of it and nodded.
-So you accuse me of having made a secret pact with Teal'c, to benefit the land? -Jack asked. Major Kennedy, before I showed up at this base a few days ago, I had no access to the gate. And if the Goa'ulds had already come to Earth, to make a strange deal with me, that somehow consists of benefiting us, and not bombing us back to prehistoric times? I really don't know what to tell you.
"I suppose the next thing you can do, is to accuse General Hammond of concealing information, but in that case, I advise you to get your retirement papers ready," said Jack politely. Kennedy looked alarmed and hastened to look at General Hammond.
-General Hammond, please disregard those remarks, at no time did I ever think of such a thing," Major Kennedy assured fervently.
-Major Kennedy, Colonel O'Neill just made a comment, you don't have to take it seriously, it's part of his bizarre sense of humor.
"Now, if I recall correctly, you were here to interview our military attaché and military advisor in this conflict with the Goa'ulds, please stick to your duties, because we have work to do," said General Hammond with some annoyance in his voice.
-Major Kennedy, if you would speak honestly, I think we can get along better," Jack interjected, and everyone looked at him. It's not Teal'c you're interested in. Teal'c knows nothing about Goa'uld technology, but my team and I have been writing daily reports on everything he knows about the Goa'uld. I think it is the symbiote that interests him. You are his fan and you want to befriend him? -I'm not judging, I like the Goa'uld too," Jack said, being completely honest. I like their technology and I like their ships. I even think the design of the pyramids is unique. Did you know that Ra's ship had its own throne room?
"However, the reality is that the Goa'uld are a bunch of murderers and madmen. They see us as worse than trash and we are nothing more than their slaves, whose sole purpose is to serve them and nothing beyond that. They will not negotiate with you, not even a young and inexperienced goa'uld like a jaffa symbiote.
"If we were in a superior bargaining position and had the strength to wage a war they could not win, we could obtain a temporary peace agreement while they make plans to destroy us," Jack looked at Teal'c, who nodded to indicate agreement with his assessment.
-Such has been the fate of those who have agreed to peace with the Goa'uld," Teal'c said regretfully. Jack looked at the elder.
-Major Kenedy, I inform you that it is not difficult to get you some symbiotes to do your experiments, or waste your time trying to bargain for technology. But I also assure you that that will end with one of those bugs in your head, when for pure macabre pleasure you ask your superiors to give you their body in exchange for information," Jack said and looked at Teal'c.
-It is not difficult to obtain a symbiote. In the temples of Chulak there are many that are used for implantation, and there are adult goa'uld that are extracted from the jaffa when the time comes for them to be changed," Teal'c explained.
-That information is not in the reports," complained Major Kenedy.
-Major, Teal'c has only been on this base for two days, and reports don't write themselves," Jack replied. Getting back to the point, for the moment, you won't be able to get anything from the Goa'uld without paying a high price for it. That would be something we don't need and a risk to Earth's security," Jack explained.
-For the time being? -Major Kenedy asked with interest and impudence. Jack nodded without further ado.
-Major, when talking about the Goa'uld, we are dealing with science fiction technology. That means the technology to get the information we want out of them exists. Ra had similar technology. He could stun people into saying what he wanted to know, although I don't think it would work on the Goa'uld because they're tough guys," Jack said looking at Teal'c.
-The karaquest is capable of bending people's will. Few I have seen resist, but by using it, the Goa'uld can destroy the minds of their victims and be left without the information they seek, so they prefer to use methods such as torture or death," Teal'c explained.
-Death? -asked Major Kennedy.
-The sarcophagus can bring its victims back to life, so they torture them until they talk. Death is not an option, just another way to get what they want," Jack explained. Major Kennedy tensed, Jack supposed he was beginning to understand what kind of madmen he intended to negotiate with.
-So we wait until we get the technology to forcibly read their minds," said Major Kennedy, unconvinced.
-In my list of priorities, technology priorities come second. And among these, the second priority of technologies to obtain is just a mind reader," Jack confessed.
-Sir, what is your first technology priority? -Carter asked, unable to contain himself.
-Get me a decent computer," Jack said sincerely. Carter, have you seen the kind of prehistoric junk we use today? A dual-core is already state-of-the-art. Two teras is already a luxury memory," said Jack, shaking his head. Major Kennedy was stunned, and had no opinion.
-Do you think we can improve the power of our computers? -General Hammond cleared his throat to interrupt Captain Carter and prevent the interview from turning into a lecture on technology. Major Kennedy recovered with this intervention.
-What is your number one priority? -asked Major Kennedy.
-It is not that obvious. My priority is to get allies," he said, looking at Teal'c. "I'm not sure that's obvious. Major Kennedy, our technology can repel the Goa'uld in ground attacks. I daresay we could give them a beating just using a couple of tanks and a .50 machine gun. However, this does us no good if they bring a fleet to bombard us from planetary orbit.
"As far as getting technology to build our own fleet, that's acceptable and that's why it's my second priority. I am sure that in a few years we will already be building our own ships. If we don't get technology from other species, we can always turn to the Goa'uld. Their security sucks, we can steal from them at any time.
"However," Jack looked toward the wall, in the direction of where the warning alarms for unscheduled entry were sounding, which had been there for a minute now. I don't think the Goa'uld are willing to give us a few years, I don't even think they would consider giving us a year. That's why my priority is to get allies," he said, looking at Teal'c and then at Kennedy. Tell me, Major Kennedy, what do you think a Goa'uld would have demanded of you for telling him everything you know about the Goa'uld society, their troops, their weapons, their ships, how many soldiers they carry on them, all the weapons they can use, and some of their darker secrets?
"How soon do you think you could get that information on your own or what technologically advanced device could replace what we now know, just by having gained an ally willing to help us and who identifies with our cause?
"Even if we can only get them to give us a little more time, that would be a great contribution, and though it hurts my heart to say it, an ally who will give us time to get a computer that isn't an obsolete piece of junk is preferable," Jack admitted feeling an unfeigned ache in his Gamer heart. Major Kennedy looked thoughtful for a few seconds.
-Colonel, are you aware that we need the technology to justify the existence of this project that spends billions of dollars a year? -Major Kennedy asked. Jack nodded.
-Of course. Nothing is free in this world, Major Kennedy. That's why I've made sure that those interested in this project receive more benefits in these few days than they will receive from any other project in their entire lives," Jack looked at Carter. Carter, explain to Major Kennedy what naquadah is, what its technological uses are, military potential, estimated value in comparison to similar things on earth, and how many tons we will be receiving from it per month from a few days from now," said Jack. Carter nodded.
-You see, sir, from what we know so far, naquadah is an unknown element. It can be used as a superconductor at room temperature? -Carter explained the known and potential uses of naquadah and its value relative to plutonium, fossil fuels or carbon, calculating that a small amount of this material could exceed gold in value in multiple folds.
-You see, Major, soon they will have to allocate us more budget and increase our salaries, because we have just made this country very, very rich," said Jack. They even gave me a medal for that," he added. General Hammond smiled.
-Colonel O'Neill, your medal was for merit, not for getting money," he corrected. As for the budget, the president understands the importance of this project, and as long as we give reasonable explanations, we can request resources without all the red tape," General Hammond boasted.
-You mean they gave us a blank check? -Jack asked. Sir, did I mention before that Daniel suffers from allergies and needs a private room and full equipment? Carter also suffers from some kind of insomnia, and that's why he won't lend me his computer at night. It would be nice to get him another computer. Teal'c also just arrived from another planet, and needs a good home. As for me, with a small yacht...
-Colonel O'Neill, I believe Major Kennedy has concluded his interview," interrupted General Hammond, who had been trying for a few seconds to interrupt his demands without resorting to words, but since he ignored him, he had to speak. Jack looked at the Major reluctantly.
The Major hastened to excuse himself as he took his leave.
-Sir...
-Colonel O'Neill, your day off is over, and there are already missions planned for your team and Major Cowasky's, if the Goa'uld will leave us alone long enough to dial in," said General Hammond. Now get back to your duties, and I'll be calling you shortly," said General Hammond as he fled the briefing room.
-Our government is a bunch of ingrates," Jack complained.
-Jack, what do you want a computer for? -asked Daniel.
-I don't want a computer, I want an advanced computer. I want a spaceship, computer version," explained Jack so that this heretic would not continue saying blasphemous nonsense, like saying "computer", as if he was talking about the junk they worked with.
-What would you use something like that for? -asked Daniel. Carter was also attentive to his answer.
-One day I'm going to need it," said Jack.
In his plan to get technology for Earth without relying on the heroic actions of the original O'Neill, because he was just a useless bum, and in his first steps as O'Neill, he had already managed to kill a large number of people, which meant that as a hero he sucked, was to try to get a computer whose minimum specifications had to be at the level of the Goa'uld to allow him to interact with them without the need for mice or keyboards, which would waste too much valuable time.
If old junk like the ones on this base were used, Earth would be lost. Carter and Daniel seemed disappointed that he was hiding his plans.
-How urgent is it to get one? -asked Teal'c, to whom he had said he knew some things about the future, and knew he was telling the truth.
Jack thought. The computer was part of the first step in his salvation plan. And he needed it before the second step in his salvation plan, which should be more than a year in the future. This was just a calculation, because he thought he remembered that this event that would become his second step occurred after Daniel returned to Abydos and, if he remembered correctly, that was a year after the beginning of the series. So, if things didn't change too much, he would have a year to get a computer, which was the part he couldn't miss. He had other plans in this first step, but its absence would not hurt his original plan. If he missed the computer, he would be screwed.
-I think I have a year," said Jack. Don't worry, Teal'c, we'll find one in that time. If we get cornered, we'll just steal a Goa'uld ship and be done with it. -Teal'c nodded seriously, while Carter and Daniel looked at them with concern.
-What I need now is to study Goa'uld. I need to learn at least the basics in a year. Do you think it's possible? -Jack asked Teal'c and Daniel.
-It is possible," Teal'c said.
-Why do you want to learn Goa'uld? -Daniel asked dejectedly. Jack looked at him as if he were stupid.
-How am I going to use my new Goa'uld computer if I don't know Goa'uld? -Jack asked, rolling his eyes. Daniel grimaced several times, thinking he was still being annoying.
-That would be useful," said Carter, and Jack could almost see his brain sparking, thinking of the possibilities.
-Carter, you can learn Goa'uld, but don't think you're going to keep my Goa'uld computer," said Jack. The first one is mine, and the second one you can keep," he added when Carter looked disappointed. Carter was quick to nod.
-We can't keep the things we "bring" through the Stargate," Daniel said seriously. It's not a store," he added.
-Daniel, the word you're looking for is steal. And yes, we can keep them, if we say they are being used at the base and send information about it. Isn't that right, Carter? -asked Jack. Carter nodded in agreement.
-If they need to be studied, we can keep them here," Carter said. Ever since Teal'c had told them that Goa'uld ships were thought driven, she had been anxious to get an interface.
...
A few hours later, Major Kenedy left the base without making any further attempts to take Teal'c prisoner. Jack hoped that his actions would hold out an olive branch to the NID, so that they would understand what their priorities were, and not go so crazy in the future. If it didn't work, then it would be a race to see who could get to the top of the wall first and then position themselves to throw rocks at the other.
The problem with that plan was that he was alone and these guys were a gang. If he acted carelessly, they could make him disappear.
That meant that if he had to attack, he had to attack first and leave no trace. That would be difficult. So difficult that it made him wonder if it wouldn't be better to eliminate Maybourne... "Stop thinking crazy thoughts!", Jack chided himself. Ending up in a prison was the last thing he needed right now.
He needed to meditate so he could sleep and get rid of the desperation that drove him to impatience and stupid mistakes. He was not a hero, but he had a plan in which he did not need to be a hero. So everything would be fine, he just needed patience and not to act recklessly, no matter the situation or the pressure he felt. For that he needed to boggle his brain with nonsense like trying to feel the air around him.
He could also choke on liquor, but he was on duty and that was part of the stupid ideas. So to meditate, Jack thought, heading for the gym where Teal'c was probably already. Tomorrow he might have his first mission and he wondered if it would be one from the original series or one where nothing important happened to be narrated.