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 6
The next day after the Tollan's departure, Maybourne arrived at command with an order to take them away. Jack began to laugh.
-Colonel O'Neill, stay calm," said General Hammond, who was also laughing slyly. Colonel Maybourne, I'm afraid you're too late. The Tollan have decided to leave in the night. You can read the reports to confirm that," General Hammond explained. Maybourne's expression was artistic, going through various expressions of confusion until it ended in anger. Anger that he had to swallow, because there was no one to take it out on.
-"Colonel Maybourne, I will order my executive officers to prepare a room for you while you find out everything," General Hammond offered. Maybourne nodded, gritting his teeth.
...
-Sir, it seems that our president is a very impressionable person," Jack said thoughtfully after Maybourne's departure. In the original story, the Stargate project was a shambles and the results were poor, but he had corrected that, just so this sort of thing wouldn't happen.
-Colonel, I understand what you mean, believe me, I also feel used and discarded right now. I will get to the bottom of this," General Hammond said decisively. He was not the same general as in the original story either. He now had the backing of very productive facts for the country.
Jack supposed they would not ignore him, but he had another method he wished to try. Jack saluted and the general gave him permission to withdraw.
...
A few minutes later, Jack was at the door of Maybourne's room, opening it and walking in as if he were in his own house, to sit across from him. Maybourne didn't look very well and appeared to have torn the buttons on the collar of his shirt.
-Are fits of rage common with you? -Jack asked. Maybourne gritted his teeth, but it was more embarrassment than anger.
-Colonel O'Neill, my predecessor warned me about your sense of humor, so if you've made your joke, you're dismissed," Maybourne growled.
-"I guess you're right, your anger is a joke to me," Jack said, pointing to his neck again. But one I don't understand.
"The Stargate project will soon make this the most advanced country on the planet. The riches that the Stargate project is providing us are immense, and we have brought technologies that others can only dream of. In addition, we have already provided the NID with the Goa'ulds they so desperately wanted.
"So you'll excuse me if I don't get the joke here," Jack said with a narrowing of his eyes. Maybourne tensed and looked at the closed door.
-"Maybourne, don't be a cowardly piece of shit. Do you see him carrying any weapons? How do you think we would explain the disappearance of a valuable intelligence agent who has garnered the endorsement of the President of the United States of America himself? -Jack asked. Maybourne was silent. Unless the president isn't the reason you're here. Tell me, Maybourne, what has Kinsey offered you to betray your country? -Jack asked, simply throwing a bone and seeing what happened.
Maybourne was so surprised that he tensed for a full second.
-Kinsey? -Maybourne asked in all seriousness and innocence. He had to learn to lie like this bastard, Jack thought.
-So you were so surprised he knew that you let your guard down. Pathetic," Jack said with a sigh. So that's what it was. Kinsey got the signature, but you had to succeed in the mission for it to have value. Now that you've failed, you're up to your neck," said Jack with satisfaction that his preparations were successful and his enemies were weak.
-Maybourne, do you want me to tell you your future? -Jack asked. Maybourne scowled at him.
-Are you offering me a deal?" Maybourne asked hesitantly.
-You can take it any way you want. Do you want to know your future? -he asked again. Maybourne nodded, he must be in real trouble.
-In the future, the consequences of this failure will leave you in the hands of Kinsey, who will use you as his dog to infiltrate his people into the NID, without giving you shit in return other than patriotic words that you will have to repeat so as not to look like a complete asshole when we imprison you for stealing technology for Kinsey and his elite group. Upon being imprisoned, you will be forced to flee because you know your future can only be a grave.
"To flee, you will need to offer your services to the highest bidder and lick their feet so they won't turn you in for any trinket. You will go from being Kinsey's dog to the bitch of some foreign government that wants information from the Stargate. The most likely of these and the one you would consider safest would be Russia.
"Of course, if it was easy to fish you out when you were a dog, it will be easier to fish you out when you're a bitch. You will be charged with double treason and this time you will be sentenced to death. Kinsey won't even need to intervene to silence you. Even though you're competent, and even though you make shitty decisions, that competence will make it so you can escape. You'll probably manage to do someone important a favor, and to rid themselves of your stinking presence that could tarnish their reputation, they'll exile you to some distant planet.
"But by that time you'll have sunk so low that you'll feel like you're in paradise, you'll spend the last days of your life bragging about your shitty knowledge to four peasants from the Middle Ages, while rolling in the hay with two stinky peasant girls, and convincing yourself that you're cool and your life is the shit, because you call yourself "King Asshole III" or something like that.
"Tell me, Maybourne, do you like that future – are you passionate about the part where you're rolling around with the filthy, lice-ridden peasant girls? -Jack asked with derision. Maybourne gritted his teeth in fury and humiliation.
-No, I don't like it," Maibourne growled. Is there another future for me? -he asked earnestly, understanding that this was a negotiation.
-That's up to you, and whether you're willing to do your fucking job without forming rogue agents or stand behind us with a fucking dagger waiting to see if you can get a piece of meat out of it, like a miserable beggar. You want a worthwhile backup? Just do your job. You want to be the head of the NID? Just do your fucking job, simple as that," Jack explained.
-Colonel O'Neill, I think if I didn't think I was capable of doing my job, we wouldn't be talking right now. So tell me what you want and what my backup would be," said Maybourne.
-Kinsey's head and the businessmen behind him," said Jack.
-Kinsey is a senator, he's untouchable," said Maybourne calmly.
-Really, those are the words of the guy who planned to kidnap, torture and maybe kill a bunch of screaming tree-huggers? I thought you had more intelligence. Forget everything I said, looks like we don't have to worry so much after all, they're just a bunch of useless people," said Jack and got up to leave.
-Wait! -said Maybourne urgently before he got up.
-We can't touch him, and the president can't, but the people can. That's what you want, isn't it, for the people to demand his head? -Jack smiled. Done," said Maybourne. Jack nodded.
-"I'll go to General Hamon's office, he'll be your backup, but he's an honorable man and if you pull shit, he'll send you to jail without hesitation, even if he has to add a stain to his own record.
"Of course, if you do any shit, General Hamon will never find out because you'll already be in the ground and your record will be closed," Jack added, opening the door to leave.
-I thought you were an honorable man too," said Maybourne. Jack smiled.
-I am an honorable man with those who are honorable," Jack said and left.
…
Five minutes later, Jack knocked on General Hamon's door, and General Hamon told him to come in while he finished a conversation using the red phone. Jack saluted.
-Come in, Colonel O'Neill. Have a seat," said General Hamon, who seemed dissatisfied, but smiled at him.
-The President has told me that the Maybourne papers were a document error that will not be repeated, and Maybourne will be severely reprimanded," General Hamon explained.
-So the person behind Maybourne is a big shot, and he will suffer only a little political retaliation for his negligence. Perhaps the President will privately warn him not to do it again, and then offer him a glass of whiskey," said Jack.
-Colonel O'Neill..." General Hamon made a grimace that stopped his attempt to scold him. You are too perceptive," he concluded with a sigh. I'm afraid I've disappointed you, politics is not my thing," General Hamon apologized. Jack smiled.
-I think we both prefer it that way, General Hamon. And I don't think anyone on this base will ever be disappointed in you," Jack said sincerely. But you're right, you're terrible at politics. That's why I've made a deal with Maybourne," said Jack.
-Colonel, Maybourne is...
-A snake? -Jack asked, and General Hamon nodded. Jack shook his head, "You're wrong about him, but it's not your fault. The person currently using Maybourne against us believes that too. That person has seen what everyone sees in him: cunning, unbridled ambition, and an unhealthy interest in profit. These qualities he shares with his current employer and they were easy to identify in him.
"But that person is wrong. Maybourne is ambitious and constantly fixated on profits. What that person failed to see, however, is that Maybourne values his dignity almost as much as everything else. Of course, it was impossible for that person to see that in Maybourne because so far, Maybourne has had it all and no one has dragged him down. His dignity is intact," explained Jack. He also has honor," said Jack, raising his right hand and bringing his thumb and forefinger together to a centimeter apart. His honor measures exactly one centimeter compared to his ambition, which is a few inches taller than Maybourne himself.
"He also has loyalty, which is half his size. Don't expect too much from him, if he sees all is lost, he'll go for cover, but at least he won't try to stab you in the back, unless you try to sell him first," Jack explained.
-"Even if it's something they've already agreed on, like what he did with his current employer," said General Hamon thoughtfully.
-Sir, in that case it goes without saying that everyone is on their own side," Jack explained.
-Would you go for shelter if all else fails? -General Hamon asked.
-General, it's not good to walk away from reality. If all fails, you and I will be the first to die, we will never have a chance to take shelter. That option is only available to people like Maybourne, who work in the rear," said Jack, unable to keep from laughing. General Hamon also laughed in spite of himself.
-Colonel O'Neill, your sense of humor is too twisted," General Hamon chided, then sighed. What does Maybourne want? -General Hamon asked.
-To get out of this mess without a blemish on his record. We didn't mention anything, and this affair never happened. Then you support him with your heartfelt recommendations, he gains influence, and we get out of situations like the one we're in today, which make our stomachs churn and will give us an ulcer one of these days," explained Jack with real fear for his health.
The feeling he got from seeing Maybourne standing in front of him, carrying papers signed by a shitty politician selling them for a few coins, when he had been given tons of them to wallow in, gave him a massive feeling of dissatisfaction that he had never felt in his life. It was more disgust than dissatisfaction.
-Well, I'll withdraw the accusation about Maybourne. The matter will be forgotten, send him to my office for his recommendations," said General Hamon. Jack stood up.
-"Sir, I know your record will be tarnished beyond repair if Maybourne betrays us or does any shit. And I know you're doing this because you value your men and believe you owe me, even if you don't trust Maybourne," Jack said and saluted to leave.
-Colonel O'Neill, wait," ordered General Hamon. Jack paused, but did not turn around. Remember, Colonel O'Neill, I am your superior officer, not an innocent child who must be protected from the consequences of his actions. If I am capable of taking my merits, I am also capable of taking my demerits," said General Hamon. "Sir, you can take your demerits, but I will not let you take mine," Jack replied in his mind. If this plan failed, Maybourne and Kinsey would pay for it.
-"Colonel, even if you say so in your mind, it's still insubordination," said General Hamon, and Jack tensed before hurrying to leave. "Shit," Jack thought.
…
Two days after Maybourne was released from the base, there was a corruption scandal that hit every media outlet and newspaper in the country. Senator Kinsey was fined for drunk driving. Then they found drugs in his clothes, a prostitute in his car, an account in a tax haven, his wife cheating on him, selling military secrets, diverting funds, and a group of famous businessmen paying him bribes in exchange for government contracts.
One thing led to another, and for a week, every time a government agency was forced to investigate by public pressure, more shit fell on Senator Kinsey. So much shit fell on him that people began to suspect that the government itself wanted to get rid of him.
…
One day after Kinsey was so deep in shit that the authorities were forced to take him prisoner lest the good citizens lynch him, Maybourne arrived at SGC Command as an intelligence envoy to be closer to the command. The general welcomed him and Maybourne saluted to integrate into his new liaison job.
….
A few days later, they entered a world of dark clouds, with what looked like oval-shaped monoliths in the distance.
Jack didn't recognize any of the place and moved forward to explore, almost all of it was smooth rocks. There was a large clear space between the monoliths and the portal. Jack was preparing to give the order to move forward when a light flashed and a blast of Goa'uld plasma passed within several meters of him.
-Back to the portal! -Jack ordered and began firing and retreating, though the enemy was out of sight and the shots were coming from the monoliths. This had to be a Goa'uld world and those monoliths their defenses. It seemed that not everyone was as dumb as Apophis.
Jack backed off easily, the truth was that those shots were as accurate as one-eyed shots. It was likely that they didn't want to hit the dialing device. Still, it was a lot of shots and it was better not to risk it, so when Daniel finished dialing, they all ran towards the portal. First Daniel dialing, then Teal'c covering him, followed by Carter, and finally him as the leader.
Most of the time, Jack was grateful for the command post, especially when Daniel was trying to kill them all and he just had to hold him by the collar and order him to back off. But at times like this, being the leader fucking sucks, Jack thought as he darted to safety last.
…
-Shit! -Jack shrieked, feeling his whole body cold and a crippling pain coming from his leg. He didn't even have to open his eyes to know where he was and what mission this was. "God, what a pain. Where is my chakra to remove it," Jack shrieked in his mind, regretting, not for the first time, his mortal body, and cursing his useless cells that kept not working.
-Sir, take it easy, your leg is broken," Carter consoled.
-You're a prodigy, Carter. What made you come to that conclusion? -Jack exclaimed, as memories flashed back to the last time O'Neill had broken his bones. He had held on like a man, because he was a hero, but Jack was screaming like a pig, because he was just a Gamer and didn't plan to stop screaming, as he found it eased his pain…
Carter tried to give him an injection and Jack was quick to swat it away before the liquid entered his body. If they numbed him in this situation, they were in trouble.
-Sir, it's a sedative, it will relieve the pain," Carter explained, approaching again.
-Carter, step away! -Jack scolded. If you don't like to hear screaming, find your own cave," Jack scolded, annoyed. How could a man not be able to scream in peace in an icy abyss?
-Sir? -Carter asked, standing back in case he pushed her again.
-Screaming is my personal anesthetic. Don't waste your time with me, look for the dialing device. It should be near the portal, under the ice," Jack shouted.
-Sir, if I don't immobilize your leg, you could lose it," Carter explained. Shit, Jack thought. The sarcophagus couldn't regenerate legs. Although he should be able to repair it if it hadn't been amputated yet. Would he take that chance? What if...
Jack stopped screaming so quickly that the silence was overwhelming.
-Sir, are you all right? -Carter asked.
-Carter, it seems that meditation is a better anesthetic than screaming," said Jack. Now find that dialing device," Jack ordered, pointing to a pile of ice that looked more or less like the one he remembered...
Actually, he didn't remember shit other than O'Neill acting like a tough hero and Carter working to get them out of there. He didn't even know if the portal didn't work because they dialed Earth or because the dialing device was broken.
-Sir, we need to fix your leg," Carter insisted.
-Carter, I'm going to think you have some weird fetish for my leg. Forget about my leg! I'll fix it with the sarcophagus. Now start digging that marking device to get home," Jack chided. Carter thought for a few seconds and hurried to carry out his order.
Jack regretted not being a Jaffa and plunged as deep as possible into his meditation, overloading his other senses as much as possible to ignore the pain. Who said poisoned tree-hugger gifts weren't useful, he mocked in his mind. He already knew what Lya's gift to him was. He had proven it when he tried to teach his meditation technique to Daniel, and Daniel couldn't do it, but Teal'c could, entering kelno'reem in a matter of seconds.
What Lya gifted him with was an approach to meditation that the ancients did to ascend. That tree-hugger didn't know her trick would be exposed with him. Besides, Jack knew that no matter how much you meditated, if you didn't want to ascend, you just didn't do it. He didn't know if Lya knew this, but trying to get him to ascend was a dumb idea. Jack guessed she came up with it because she saw the ancient genes in him.
Lya's plan was silly, but right now her meditation technique came in handy.
-Carter, hit right, there's a crack underneath and..." Carter hit right, and the ice cracked exposing half the device. Well, now only half the job is left," said Jack. Consider that half my part," he added, and Carter laughed.
...
An hour later, Carter finished cleaning the device. As he recalled, that was a record time, because it may have been a couple of days into the original mission.
-Sir, I've never seen this symbol before, I think it's the point of origin," Carter said.
-What does the symbol look like? -Jack asked.
-Sir, it's a circle with what looks like a bar on top of it," said Carter. Jack had no idea about that circle, he was just trying to figure out how to ask it to mark a place other than Earth.
-Carter, go ahead," said Jack, and Carter began to mark, but in the end there were no results, even though he had marked three times.
Jack was pleased to see the portal light up, which meant the device was working, it just wasn't calling Earth.
-Carter, stop dialing Earth, try another address," Jack ordered.
-Sir? -Carter asked.
-Carter, having a functional leg doesn't give you license to disobey orders," growled Jack, shielding his rank to avoid awkward and complicated questions.
Carter grunted, but began dialing.
After a few seconds, the portal activated and Carter looked stunned.
-Where did he dial? -Jack asked.
-A… Chulak, sir," Carter confessed in embarrassment.
-Carter, just close that and let's forget this incident in the report. Dial another address and let's get out of here," Jack said calmly. He didn't dare ask what he was thinking when he dialed Chulak.
-Sir, I would never hurt you, it was just a moment of anger," Carter explained.
-Carter, I don't hear anything. Is he dialing? -Jack asked.
-Yes, sir, I'm dialing," Carter mumbled.
-I hope it's not Chulak this time," said Jack.
-Maybe the Tartar," Carter muttered in an inaudible whisper, but he was amplifying all his senses and hearing was one of them.
-Carter, the Tartaro is a very hot place this time of year, better dial Abydos, it's cozier," said Jack. Carter blushed.
…
In the end, she didn't dial Abydos because when she managed to get him out of the portal, Jack met Lya's worried look. They were with the Nox.
-Carter, dial home quickly… -Lya touched her forehead and Jack lost consciousness.
….
Jack didn't know how long he slept, but he woke up in the SGC command infirmary. Jack sighed in relief, maybe it was a hallucination?
-I'm sorry I scared you earlier," Lya said next to him, and Jack held back a gasp.
-You didn't scare me, how could a tree-hugger scare me? -Jack lied. Of course he had been scared, he didn't know what she had done to his head. Though now he knew there was no danger and it might even be helpful to keep from crying like a baby. Still, he still felt afraid of her, who insisted that he was hurt. She could see his feelings and that was terrifying to him….
"What?", Jack asked himself, what stupid thing had he just thought? That had to be the most idiotic thing he had ever thought in all of his two lives. Jack cleared his throat, looking around.
-We're not on Earth, are we? -Jack asked. It was the same infirmary, but there wasn't a soul there.
-As perceptive as ever," said Lya. "You're dumb as a cabbage, your cheap copy wouldn't fool anyone," Jack thought, but didn't say so.
The illusion vanished and he was on a bed of straw in some hut in the middle of the forest. Jack sighed.
-What about Carter? -He asked, sitting up and checking his leg, which was now healthy.
-Playing with Atreyu," said Lya. Do you want to leave already? -she asked. Jack shook his head.
-I've been having some silly thoughts lately. I'm sorry," Jack apologized. He thought about offering her a gift for helping him the next time he visited the planet, but he didn't think it was appropriate, because Lya was married, or so he supposed. Perhaps Atreyu, the charming brat, was her son, though he suspected his supposed father Antacsus didn't like them much. He always sent Lya to deal with them. Jack also remembered that he was the most reserved of the four Nox they'd met so far.
-Lya, do you know what an Ascended is? -Jack asked. Lya looked at him in surprise. So she did know. Lya, thank you for what you've done for me, but I don't want to be an ascended. They're people with too many responsibilities, and I'm working hard to get rid of the ones I already have.
"Did you want to help me because of the Alteran genes in my body? -Jack asked. Again, surprise, but not a word. Jack sighed.
-"You know, there are still Alterans alive, though they're a long way from here. Maybe in a couple of years I'll bring them here and leave them lying around," Jack said with a grin. I've got their genes, but they're a bunch of guys with no personality. I don't think I'll bother talking to them much, so I'll just pick them up and throw them around," said Jack, gesturing to throw people around like randomly planted corn kernels. Lya finally laughed.
-You possess knowledge you shouldn't possess," said Lya.
-Believe me, that's good for everyone in this galaxy. Though if I fail, then it will be bad. Well, it's already bad now, so maybe they'll only find out on Earth," said Jack with a crooked smile.
-I should be going," said Lya.
Jack nodded, assuming she wanted to talk to the rest. Jack looked at the thatched hut; the Nox still wouldn't let them visit their floating city, nor make any mention of it. Jack became desperate and went outside to find a tree to lie down in.
Jack looked around, in case anyone wanted to talk to him, but there was no one in sight. So he decided to take a good night's sleep. He was only wearing his uniform, as usual, the Nox had hidden the weapons from view.
…
-Are you an ascended? Asked a somewhat high-pitched voice, interrupting his sleep.
Jack opened his eyes. Perhaps an hour or two had passed, by the advancing shadows of the tree where he was lying. That was a good sleep for him and he wasn't bothered by the interruption, though he was surprised to see a Nox he had never seen before.
It was a young Nox, more adolescent than young. Otherwise, she was a younger version of Lya, with softer features.
-No, I'm not an ascended," Jack said.
-Were you an ascended before? -asked the girl, coming three steps closer and smiling at him. So his conversation with Lya had been extended. The Nox thought he was an ascended because of his knowledge. Jack yawned enjoying the pout the girl made at his refusal to answer.
-We know there are ascended, and we know they don't descend to our plane unless there are important things to do," the girl stated with pride in her superior knowledge. Jack laughed.
-You're dumb as a cabbage," he said sincerely. Most of them return to the material plane for their own impure desires. I know one who saw a beautiful woman, and the next day he was standing on her doorstep. Looks like the heat was too much," said Jack, shaking his head. To his surprise, the girl smiled.
-Well, I must admit that the guy was already touched. He wasn't what we would say a good example of an ascended man, but in the end he did the right thing, and that made him go back and try to do something good for that woman and her people, sacrificing himself for them," said Jack and the girl smiled with satisfaction. But he failed miserably and ended up in a mental institution with a miserable fate," Jack concluded. The girl looked at him in surprise.
-It's not pretty, is it? -Jack asked, raising an eyebrow, and the girl pouted accusingly, but took a step closer and sat down with a determined expression.
-Sometimes good intentions don't achieve good results," she said wisely.
-No, good intentions "never" achieve good results without good plans behind them," Jack chided. That's why ascended people fail, they're dumb as cabbages," said Jack with a smile. The girl put on a solemn expression, "Don't you believe me? Well, I'll tell you that there was an Alterran who was a black sheep to his own kind. The guy kept making up dangerous things, one after another.
"Then he ascended and found out about shady things from the past that remained uncorrected today and could put our galaxy at great risk. But the other ascended ones prevented him from doing anything drastic, because it was forbidden to interfere, whether for good or ill.
"The guy was never obedient before he was promoted and he was never obedient after he was promoted. He was, as they say in my world, a black sheep. He meant well, though…" Jack looked at Nox who was looking at him expectantly, waiting for the rest of his story. Well, for me they were good intentions, for you they surely were not. But it's my story and I decide, so you'll have to believe me," said Jack and the girl laughed and nodded for him to continue. As they descended, he did some cheating and returned to Terra, which at the time was a medieval planet.
"That was his first foolishness, I suspect he was also affected by a moment of horniness, that alone could have affected his judgement," Jack sentenced. Then his traps were discovered and the ascended breathed down his neck. He kept doing foolishness after foolishness and ended up badly hurt, alone and at the mercy of the Ascended, because he had broken the rules in so many different ways that they could take care of him at any time," concluded Jack. His intentions were good, both for the Ascended and for the galaxy, but his plans were a disaster and he ended up in a disaster.
"He was a prodigy, but he was dumb as a cabbage, so he failed," said Jack. The girl seemed unaffected. "Yeah, she's got straw on her head, just like all the Nox," thought Jack.
-Hey, what's your name? -Jack asked. This girl had come right up to question him.
-My name is Lira," said the girl. Jack had no impression of her. In the original story, the Nox were never direct allies of the humans.
-Lira, how long was I asleep before? -Jack asked.
-In your time, about eighteen hours," said Lira. If she remembered correctly, the gate had a malfunction due to the power surge that caused an overload and sent them to Antarctica. But she didn't remember how long it was down. Still, a day was more than enough time to fix a glitch, everything should be online by now.
-Lira, do me a favor and find Carter. It's time to go home, we're supposed to be lost…" Jack grimaced. When he got back, Carter would surely pound him with her questions until he answered how he realized they were on Earth. Jack looked at the Nox.
"Lira, you see, I broke my leg earlier and it was a horrible ordeal, so I rushed and didn't bother to follow my well-planned plan to make it all go smoothly, and now Carter is going to ask a lot of uncomfortable questions. Do the Nox have any memory erasure devices? -He asked, and the Nox girl looked at him accusingly, "Don't look at me like that, you don't know how terrible Carter can be. She never shuts up, she could spend days after me, demanding a reasonable explanation to resolve her doubts. My theory is that her brain is hounding her for answers," Jack explained sincerely. Lira laughed and disappeared.
-Hey, this isn't a joke! -Jack chided, at her lack of seriousness in dealing with a serious subject.
…
-Lya, please," said Jack, after waiting a few seconds. Lya appeared in front of him. Jack was still lying down and did not get up. Somehow, the trees of the Nox forest were as comfortable as a big armchair.
-Lya, when my team arrived on this planet, the Nox made a plan. For Daniel, they sent the tree-hugging old man, who gives cryptic answers and sneaky warnings. It suits him fine, I'm not complaining. For Carter, the somewhat geeky brainiac, they sent a kid you wouldn't consider asking questions of and with whom you could entertain yourself. For Teal, they sent you. I guess it's to teach him kindness and goodness.
"Lastly, me. I was the leader, and that's why they brought in Antacsus, to counter my supposed leadership character, but my laziness and vagueness ruined their perfect, seamless plans.
"In the end, they didn't know what to do with me and sent you. First you were nice and then you scared me by talking nonsense. In the end, you concluded that we are not compatible.
"That's fine, I understand. My charisma is limited, not everyone can like me," Jack said and then looked menacingly at Lya. Lya, why is the person you selected to talk to me now a teenager who laughs at any joke? -Jack asked in a solemn tone.
-We think she will suit your personality better... Young man. Understanding is very important to us, and as you mentioned earlier, we've had some impasses with you," Lya admitted cheekily.
Jack stood up and straightened his clothes, looking at Carter who was approaching with the teenage girl whom the Nox considered as mature as he was and on the same level as him.
-Sir...
-Carter, please, questions for later," Jack said dejectedly, looking at Carter's apprehensive expression, the same one she wore when she was anxious for answers and went into geek mode, unable to shut her mouth. Carter, we're leaving," said Jack and pointed in a random direction. Then he looked at Lira.
-I want you to know that, as of this moment, we are officially at odds again," Jack said and Lira laughed. Jack sighed, "Carter, go ahead," Jack ordered helplessly.
-Actually, the door is on the other side," said Lira.
-You know, we already know that the Nox can move the door to either side without any problem," Jack accused.
-I'm young and dumb as a cabbage, I can't do those things," said the girl insisting on pointing in the opposite direction, with a slight smile.
Carter looked at him first, then at the girl and finally frowned. After a few seconds, his prodigy brain came to a conclusion.
-Carter, if you utter those words, you may be exposed to friendly fire in the next Goa'uld attack," Jack said calmly. Lira smiled. It seemed that everything was a joke to her. As Carter bit his tongue to keep from explaining his brilliant conclusions, Jack sighed and walked in the direction the Nox girl pointed.
...
They reached the portal without inconvenience, and Lira activated it with a wave of her hand to make it clear that she was trolling him earlier. Jack didn't know how to deal with her and walked helplessly toward the portal.
-Sir, I understand that sentiment," Carter said accusingly. Lira smiled and said goodbye. Jack replied with a standard salute and a serene face. Carter laughed and sent his codes.
As they stepped through the portal, an army of soldiers awaited them and General Hamon was surprised, but smiling at their safe return.
-Sir, I didn't tell you before, but this place is really cramped," Jack said, looking at the crowded people. He pointed back. We should drill back there and make a tunnel, and some warehouses to put some tanks in, so this place can be properly defended," said Jack. He didn't see any use for it and didn't remember if it was necessary, but they had a lot of money and they had to spend it on something. The general looked at their weapons that must have arrived before them.
-Were they with the Nox? -General Hamon asked.
-Sir, the Nox have assigned you a new...
-Carter, please," Jack said, "General, my relationship with the Nox has reverted to one of enmity. I want you to send them a formal complaint about their treatment of me," Jack complained. Of course, that's after thanking them for the medical treatment," said Jack pointing to his leg with the torn pant sleeve. He didn't want them to think they were ungrateful, just to understand that they were at odds because of his attitude.
-I'll see what can be done, Colonel O'Neill," said General Hamon, ignoring him and turning to Carter. Sam, what happened? -General Hamon asked. Carter looked hesitant.
-Sir, when we entered the gate, we were behind Teal'c and Daniel, but we exited at a different destination. After what happened, I believe we were ejected to another portal on Earth. I have been thinking about how to locate it and I believe that if we study the seismic reports at the time of the incident, we will be able to triangulate its position," Carter explained. General Hamon, Daniel and Teal'c looked surprised.
-Another portal on Earth," Daniel said.
-Okay, Colonel O'Neill, Sam, in my office," General Hamon said.