This is sort of a pre-fic for an upcoming story. It can be read as a stand alone, but it is a quick introduction to original characters.
"So you can't fight?" Brad asked Martouf.
Martouf sighed.
"Not even a little?"
"He never said he couldn't," Jacob defended, "so knock it off, or I'll let you test your theory." He knew George wouldn't agree, but at this point, even he was getting tired of it.
He's lucky he's dealing with Lantash instead of Malek, Selmak thought. You know, this wouldn't be an issue if we could just tell them that's he's military from another country.
What? From Canada? Jacob asked sarcastically. Tell me what Martouf knows about their military?
Brad was one of Cyrus's sons, and Cyrus had been a long time friend. Jacob hadn't agreed with him in various things, but the man had been there for decades. It was the only reason he tolerated the rudeness for as long as he did, but even Selmak was getting irritated at the sight of him. Having an irritated symbiote in your head was most unpleasant.
"Cyrus, stop with the little comments. The looks. You don't like whom my daughter married. Quite frankly, that is not your business. You don't like her friends. That is also not your business. You are being disrespectful, and your sons are picking up on your bad habits."
"Her friends don't command respect."
"Only because you refuse to see it."
Unfortunately, they lived near Mark, so visiting his son meant a chance encounter with Cyrus and his sons. It happened frequently.
His granddaughter, Malika, was old enough to say too much while not old enough to know better. Visits on the surface had to be kept short as a result. However, Jacob and Sam could visit longer with Mark if one of the Tok'ra, usually Martouf, took Malika out.
The other option is that Mark doesn't see Malika at all.
Jacob rubbed his temple. Cyrus is actually interfering with my family. Then he grinned slightly. He needs a version of you in his head to tell him to knock it off.
You didn't harass people as he does, but yes, that would help…as long as it isn't me.
Jacob smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling her cling a little harder. No. Not you.
~+~+~.
He left Mark's to visit George. As did Cyrus. They took the same plane even.
Jacob hesitated as he got to the door, feeling a vibration in his blood. Symbiotes.
"What's wrong?" Cyrus asked.
He has no idea what the Goa'uld are.
Maybe they are fellow Tok'ra, Selmak thought.
Without telling us?
George came to the door. Thankfully, he was clean. Jacob had been worried that a Goa'uld had taken him.
"George, you have company," Jacob informed.
George smiled. "I invited them over. You know them."
Selmak wiggled. It is Tok'ra.
"Martouf?" Cyrus asked, picking up on some of what they were saying.
"Not quite."
Jacob followed George to the living room. Holy Hannah!
Per'sus?
He's never been on Earth's surface.
Cyrus frowned slightly. He had no idea who he was looking at, but he immediately felt that the man commanded respect. Aside from the fact that the two standing near him were obvious bodyguards, there was just something about him.
Jacob was amused that Per'sus hadn't bothered with Earth clothing. The top brown tunic split at his waste, revealing a darker brown tunic underneath. Simple, yet dignified. Somehow, even on the surface, Per'sus made it work.
"Councilor Per'sus, this is General Cyrus Glenwood," George introduced. He didn't bother hiding Per'sus title because it would soon be obvious that he had one. Trying to hide that would make Cyrus more suspicious.
"It's nice to meet you." Cyrus put out his hand.
"I've been told you have been harassing some of my people." Per'sus's expression was calm and powerful, but the smallest glance to the outstretched hand made it clear that he was deliberately ignoring it.
Cyrus didn't reply, very surprised that this was about him. For the first time in years, he felt foolish as he slowly put his hand down.
"It ends now," he commanded.
"Yes…Councilor." Councilor of what?
"Very good." He made a slight nod to Jacob. "Jacob."
"I'm surprised to see you here."
"The situation needed my attention." He turned to George. "General Hammond."
"Councilor."
Per'sus left with the two bodyguards.
Jacob grinned. "That was…surprising."
Cyrus looked humiliated.
Outside, Robert approached the house, spotting the three departing Tok'ra.
"Hello there."
Per'sus stopped. "You would be General Forest."
"Ah. Man. You had the general part right. You are supposed to say-" He lowered his voice. "-'General Kenobi.'"
"I apologize for getting your name wrong," Per'sus replied, wondering if the deeper voice was supposed to be imitating the symbiote voice.
I don't think he knows about us, Einar thought.
"It's from a movie. Uh. I'm guessing you aren't a Star Wars fan."
"I do not know Star Wars."
"Oh. You gotta watch Star Wars. It's Star Wars!" He laughed.
"Teal'c likes it," Liandra said. She was one of the bodyguards.
Per'sus glanced to Liandra. "What is it?"
"A set of movies and television shows…games…books…"
"Like Star Trek?"
"You like Star Trek?" Robert asked.
"I have seen one episode. I found the character of Dax to be interesting, but I related more to Sisko. I too still mourn the loss of my mates."
"I'm sorry to hear." He frowned slightly. "Widowed twice? That hurts."
"It was a group marriage."
"You had multiple wives?"
"Yes."
"Around here, that is generally frowned upon," Liandra said.
"I noticed they are limited in love."
"Limited?" Robert asked.
"One man. One of woman. When two of my people first visited the United States of America. They could not publicly hold hands."
"Holding hands is fine."
"They are men."
"Oh." He blushed slightly at the assumption.
"You are like Cyrus."
"Oh no. I don't… I'm not homophobic." He frowned. "My bad."
Jacob opened the door. "I thought I heard talking." He laughed. "Robert trapped you."
Robert grinned. "He's never seen Star Wars."
"I know. He didn't have television growing up. Sees no need for it now. Come in. Per'sus."
"I shall leave."
"It was nice meeting you." Robert was still blushing.
"It's been entertaining." Per'sus smirked slightly before leaving.
Robert went in. "He's very serious, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is."
~+~+~.
Per'sus went to a near forest where the tel'tak was hidden, then was trapped because a bunch of young people were nearby…playing loud music, scantly dressed, covered in tattoos, and acting completely irrational."
"What…are they doing?"
"Seeing how high they can jump from the cliff side, into the lake," answered his other bodyguard, Korra.
"That is extremely dangerous."
"I think it's deep enough to not be an issue," Pel replied. "Though they do appear to be intoxicated."
One of the young men noticed them, then sauntered over. "Woah…look at you lot."
Per'sus stepped away.
He laughed. "You're more uptight than my grandpa."
He edged closer, wondering if they could slip on to the ship without notice. The others seemed to take that as the three joining them, and one tossed something metallic towards Korra.
"Try this."
Korra caught it swiftly, then examined it. He recognized the structure as something that held Tau'ri drinks.
"I suspect it's alcohol," Liandra informed.
"I'm afraid we do not have the currency to pay you for any drinks," Per'sus informed.
The man shrugged. "Didn't ask for any."
"What are you all wearing?" A woman asked as she let herself drop into the lap of a young man. "You look like you walked out of the Renaissance Faire or something." While she seemed highly amused, her tone wasn't mocking.
"The what?"
"The Renaissance was a time period," Liandra replied, "approximately from about five hundred years ago. However, what we are wearing would not be appropriate for that time period."
The woman laughed. "People wear whatever at the fair."
The man she sat on reached into a cooler. "What will you have to drink?"
"I do not know the beverages of this area."
"You strike me as a seltzer man," the woman said as she grabbed one.
The other man laughed.
"Hey, that's what my grandma drinks," she said in offense and quickly moved off of him. She offered Per'sus the drink. "Pay him no mind. He's drunk."
Per'sus took the drink to be polite. "Thank you." He gestured permission to Korra, knowing that one drink would have no effect.
Korra looked at the can for a moment before figuring out how to open the thing. He smelled it carefully, then drank. His expression stilled.
He doesn't like that, Einar thought in amusement.
Korra passed it to Liandra as soon as possible while Per'sus opened the seltzer. It smelled, not good, but not nearly as foul as what Liandra now held. He drank carefully, then coughed.
"Per'sus?" Liandra asked in worry.
"It has bubbles."
"That's common in their beverages."
He retreated because Einar had somehow enjoyed the strange bubbles.
~+~+~.
They couldn't leave as long as the people remained. The strangers were friendly, though loud. Einar enjoyed something called a hot dog. He had cut it and the bun into bite-size pieces.
What is this meat? Per'sus thought in disgust.
Free, Einar pointed out.
True, he admitted.
Einar picked up some strange drink that someone had mixed and insisted that he try. He smelled it before taking a sip. It was a blend of sweet and sour. He waited a moment for Per'sus to analyze the sip.
That has more alcohol than the first drink.
It also tastes better.
Given the amount of sugar, that is not surprising.
Einar sat back. So alcohol and sugar?
Among other things, including some sort of citrus, but there are no other drugs. It is safe for you to consume.
Einar watched the young adults jumping into the lake. He realized that it was mostly men who were participating in that ridiculous contest.
Liandra and Korra were no longer right next to him, as they realized how strange that appeared. They also appeared quite popular with the others, though they still kept a careful watch over their councilor.
Einar noticed his drink was refilled…again. Except this time it was pinkish.
New flavor?
Einar tasted it, immediately recognizing that it was the same, but with added strawberries.
This is getting boring.
If I move, our guards have to follow us.
I don't think they'll mind getting away from the crowd.
Einar walked over to where some of the adults were taking turns with a bow.
This does not seem wise as they are drinking alcohol, Per'sus thought.
Einar observed for a moment. One man seemed to be in charge, and he knew what he was talking about. He also dismissed anyone too drunk though he was drinking himself. Einar put his drink down as he approached, trusting his guards to watch it.
"Ever shot a bow?" The bow owner asked.
"A few times," Einar replied as he looked over the bow.
"The first rule is to never dry fire-"
Einar hit center on a medium distant target, which was set over a hay bale.
"You know what you are doing."
"Shouldn't the first rule be to never aim it at people?"
"Well, that's kind of a given."
Einar smiled a bit as he picked up multiple arrows in his hand, aiming towards the furthest target. He fired in rapid session, hitting center each time.
"He's better than you," another laughed.
"I have studied since I was eight," Einar admitted with some pride.
The owner of the bow grinned, though his pride was a bit wounded. "I've only been doing this a few years."
Einar chuckled a bit as he picked up his drink again. He realized his head was buzzing, and he felt light and warm. Have we been drugged?
You are intoxicated, Per'sus thought with amusement.
Einar frowned slightly. You are supposed to be filtering.
How many of those drinks have you had?
"Are you alright?" Someone asked.
"Yes. I think I am done…how do you call it? Showing off?"
That amused the others, and he slipped away.
Just be careful. We might not be safe here.
Einar went to get more food to help.
Liandra approached as he stared at the food.
"I have no idea what half of this is," he admitted.
"Neither do I."
"You really aren't from around here," said the woman who had originally given him the Seltzer.
"No."
"It's mostly just chips and dip. Hot wings."
He frowned.
"It's spicy chicken pieces. Hot dogs and hamburgers. Macaroni salad. Potato salad."
He skipped the hot dog, but got everything else. Liandra did the same.
"You two…together?"
"She is my friend," Einar replied.
The woman laughed. "No, I mean…like..are you a couple?"
"No. My mate died many years ago."
"Oh. That sucks. I mean. I'm sorry. I'm a little drunk."
Einar cut his hot wings and hamburger into pieces so that he could use a fork.
The woman laughed. "Oh. I've… I've never seen anyone cut up a hot wing."
"How was I supposed to eat it?"
"It's finger food."
He frowned.
She picked up a wing with her fingers. "Like this. Then you eat."
"That would leave my fingers smeared in sauce."
She grinned. "You are very…tidy."
He noticed his drink had been refilled when he wasn't looking. He sniffed it, then gave it a taste test.
Still the same drink, Per'sus assured.
She sat by as he sat. "Where are you all from?"
"Canada."
She smiled. "Maybe a very isolated area of Canada."
He carefully picked up a frito with his fork, then ate it. She watched in amusement, suspecting that she would never be seeing this unusual man again. There was definite more to him than he was sharing.
"What's your, um, job," she asked.
"I am the leader of a community. What about you?" He grinned. "Military?"
"Air Force. A few of us are. Right now, we're on break. Sort of."
We may yet see her again, Per'sus thought as Einar drank.
That is doubtful. The Air Force is sent to many areas.
"You certainly hold your liquor," a man said, clearly impressed. "I'd be on the floor after a few of those."
"What is it?"
"Lemon drop, well, strawberry lemon drop Martin-style." He laughed. "I'm Martin. The, er, bartender." He laughed, clearly drunk.
"How many of those have you had," Vanessa asked Martin.
"Uh…"
She laughed.
Einar grinned a bit as he forked a piece of hot wing. It burned slightly, but not as much as he had expected. He would have preferred spicier.
~+~+~.
Late into the night the last of young adults fell asleep.
"No one to keep watch?" Liandra asked in amazement.
"They are trusting," Per'sus replied, a bit amused. After the first Tok'ra voyage on Earth's surface had ended with an attack, he had pictured much worse.
"Shall we go?" Korra asked. He had enjoyed the experience, but he was more than done.
"Yes." Per'sus lead the way to find their ship. They could feel it with ease, given the naquadah. They moved under the hovering ship.
Liandra activated the rings, then went to the controls.
"Did anyone notice anything?" Per'sus asked.
"No. They are still fast asleep."
Korra glanced over. "How is Einar doing?"
Per'sus did not appreciate the obvious amusement.
"Sorry. I meant, how is Councilor Einar doing?"
"He and I are both tired and plan to sleep."
"You might as well," Liandra said. "It'll be a while before we get home."
Per'sus left the room, going into the back.
Did you enjoy yourself? Einar asked.
That was unexpected, but yes. There were no beds, so he laid down on the floor with a pillow and a blanket. You know, I haven't had alcohol in…it must be over three hundred years.
You didn't drink. I did.
Alright, I admit, I did not absorb any of it, but I still enjoyed the experience of an intoxicated host.
Einar gave an internal grin. By now, Per'sus had sobered him.
Per'sus retreated. It's sort of like driving a vehicle where the controls don't quite work.
Einar laughed.
Per'sus wiggled as he laughed with him.
Goodnight, love.
Sleep well, beloved.