Chapter 9
- SG-1, you have a go. Godspeed.
On Hammond's words, the team turned to face the stargate and went up the ramp to get through the wormhole. They stepped out right after, used to the chill they felt, and went down the few stairs, finding Mahuntinso.
- May the day be grateful for you., he welcomed them.
- For you too, Mahuntinso. We're really pleased to see you again., Daniel answered, smiling.
- I am too, Daniel. Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c, Major Carter., the leader saluted them., Please follow me to the village.
He led the way through the dirt paths and they saw people working again in the fields, this time sowing.
- How was the harvest?, Daniel asked.
- We will have to be careful not to waste any of our yield., the alien sighed., but let's not dwell on this. We always succeed to eat a meal everyday and that's not so bad. So may I know why you came back? We don't have a lot here that could interest you.
- As far as I'm concerned, I'm interested in studying the other ruins and their link to your culture. Sam… er Major Carter would like to proceed to other analyses., the archaeologist explained.
- Of the soil?, Mahuntinso inquired, bewildered.
- Yes. Your soil contains particular substances and we'd like to know more about them and see their impact on your farming process. They could also be useful for us., she told him.
- Carter…, O'Neill called out to her and she fell back to be at his level.
- Can you tell me why he has the short version of the story and I had to stand the long one for one hour?, he asked her, raising an eyebrow., One long hour., he insisted.
- Yes sir, I can., she answered, her bright eyes sparkling petulantly.
He waited but she kept silence, simply walking along. Was she making fun of him?, he thought. He took a closer look at her and indeed found out she was.
- So please tell me why., he invited her, slightly snarling.
- That's because I know you can perfectly understand me and all that egghead talking, Sir., she just told him before walking faster to catch up with Daniel.
- I what?! Damn if I understand the whole thing. Is the sun already that hot?, O'Neill asked Teal'c.
- It is not, O'Neill, but we should move before it becomes so., the jaffa replied in an even tone.
- Sir, Mahuntinso says there are fields next to the ruins Daniel wants to explore seven kliks away from the village. So we don't have to split., Sam said as they caught up with the first group.
- If the location suits you…, he simply answered, shrugging.
He trusted her to act in the best way to achieve her work and, if he could have an eye on all his team at all time, it definitely suited him.
- I made prepare the room you had last time if you need it., Mahuntinso told them.
- Oh, that's really nice of you, Mahuntinso, but we would like to make the best of our time here so we'll probably set up a camp near the ruins. We only have thirty-six hours to visit and document the place and, if we can, the ruins further away. I'd also like to complete my research on the first site., Daniel explained, a little embarrassed.
- Do as you please. We may partake a meal before you leave if you have time., the leader offered.
- Yes, we can do so, can't we Jack?, the archaeologist told him, turning towards the colonel.
- If we manage to take you off of your rocks, Daniel., he said, smirking.
- We'll do so., Daniel affirmed, shooting a glare at his so-called friend.
- So I'll see you tomorrow evening. We'll prepare an early dinner., Mahuntinso told him., Have a good day.
On those words, he left them, indicating the direction they should follow to get to the ruins.
- Ok, kids, let's go. We have a nice little walk to do before our next stop., Jack ordered cheerily.
They fell in step with the FRED and stayed silent for a moment until they were far enough from the village where people could eavesdrop on them. They had nothing to hide from them but they were just cautious as usual.
- Do you still want my opinion on Charlie being a freaking rogue agent?, Daniel suddenly asked, casting a quick glance at his friend.
He knew the question would come up at one point and he preferred to be the one bringing it up rather than being on the receiving end of the questioning when he would not be prepared. He knew there would be doubts and questions.
- Yes. So you made up your mind?, Jack replied, keeping a blank face.
- She's clean. She's not the one you're looking for., the younger man affirmed.
- She's hiding something. I know she lied to us., Sam intervened.
Daniel looked down to the dirt path, thinking of the promise he made to Charlotte on Saturday, brushing the idea of breaking it for her sake but finally giving it up. He had a word and he would stick to it.
- She hides something and it's not the fact she's stealing artifacts., he told them.
- Daniel, why have I the feeling you know what she's hiding and you hide it from us?, Jack asked him.
- Because you're right. I know her secret and I promised her I would tell nobody. Don't!, Daniel called him out, seeing him ready to argue., Don't ask me to break my word. You have to trust me on that one, Jack. You all have to. I think you can trust me that if it was linked to your investigation, I would tell you but it is not. It's only a personal matter and I won't tell you more., he concluded.
For a few minutes, nobody spoke, silently processing this new piece of information and what it implied. Sam was left with her doubts. No matter what personal secret Charlotte had, it didn't explain the phone calls and the time she spent to get out of the base that night. Jack came to the conclusion that the lieutenant didn't have a boyfriend but maybe a girlfriend and maybe that was the reason she didn't want to talk about her love life. Even now, homosexuality was not always something well seen in the USAF. He could put his reservations on hold. Actually, he was willing to trust Daniel on that one. Even he could have an unbiased point of view on people and, as he had accepted to follow their plan during the team night, understanding their doubts, he was probably able to define if the lieutenant's secret was linked to their investigation or not.
- Why are you so sure about the fact that the secret she shared with you is not the only thing she's hiding?, Sam asked, suspicious.
- Why can't you take my word on it?, Daniel replied, surprised by his friend's behavior.
He had thought she would be the one who would not fuss about it, that he would have a hard time convincing Jack instead.
- I work closely with her, Daniel. I need to be sure and so far, I heard and saw too many things that are disturbing, that point to her as the mole., she explained fiercely.
- She's not. Sam, trust me. She is not the one who has stolen the artifacts and erased the files. All her reasons behind her not being it are more than enough to justify she is not. I believe her. It's even more than that. I know she tells me the truth.
- Wait… You asked her straight away?, Jack asked, disbelievingly.
- Yes, I did after she let me in on her secret… and I had very good reasons I can't tell you about without giving it away., Daniel asserted calmly.
- Was it before or after getting into her bed?, the colonel retorted slyly.
- Jack!, the younger man protested, glaring at him., I didn't sleep with her. I am not in love with her. I already told you so so stop being an ass about it. Just because you are not able to say her name out loud doesn't mean people who do are in love with her. I admire her, her courage and will to do her best but I don't have that kind of feelings for her.
That said, he stomped away, walking briskly past Teal'c who drove the FRED and putting some distance between them. He was angry at his friend, anxious about the way his relationship with Charlie could be seen on base and the impact it could have for her. Hell, was it not ironical that it was Jack that called him out on his supposed feelings for a woman when he himself looked the other way around when it all came to his relationship with Sam? He could have told him just that but he knew how sensitive the subject was for both of them…
- What do you think, Carter?, O'Neill asked his 2IC, seeing the wheels in her head spinning around.
- I think… nothing, sir., she just answered, shaking her head as if dismissing something.
- Nothing, Carter? Do I have to worry there?, he insisted, raising en eyebrow.
- I… I don't know what to think about the situation., she admitted.
- Do you think we can trust Danny-boy to have an objective point of view? Well, you know the guy…, he told her., Teal'c first maybe?, he suggested seeing her still thinking.
- I believe Daniel Jackson is able to distinguish true and false reasons. If he says Charlotte O'Neill is not guilty, then I believe him. We all have secrets we do not want to share with everyone., the jaffa answered, looking at each one of them.
They both refrained from squirming, knowing he was right.
- Well, I guess I will take her name off the list when we're back., Jack shrugged.
- You will?, Sam asked, her voice uncertain., but I thought…
- You do that a lot, Carter., he teased her before turning serious., I guess Daniel has a point. I might be… biased. So why not give her a chance…, he suggested.
He despised the idea his mind might have been clouded by her name and the wrong time she made her appearance at. Maybe in other conditions he wouldn't have been so elusive with her. Maybe he would have given her a chance as he had done with Carter. He couldn't go back in time but he could change his ways from now on.
- Teal'c, what do you think of concentrating on the other guys?, he asked him.
- I guess it would be a good idea, O'Neill. We are arriving., the jaffa stated, pointing to the ruins where they could see Daniel already in great contemplation of the place, roaming around, his hand protecting his eyes from the sun-rays.
- So Daniel… Does it live up to your expectations?, Jack asked him cheerfully.
- I can't wait to work on these. It's the same language as on the first ones but they are so… big. They are so many details and pictograms and… look… these are the remnants of an effigy… well, it doesn't seem Egyptian nor Greek or… I… I think it's African… which tallies with the language found on the ruins. If I found more objects, I should be able to point out exactly which tribe it can come from., he said excitedly.
- Ok, campers. Let's set up the camp first before everyone gets too excited to do it properly and then we'll let the kids play., O'Neill ordered them, easing his backpack on the ground.
In a few minutes, everything was set, the tents, the campfire, the sleeping bags. They even found a clear stream nearby to have some fresh water… As midday approached, they settled to eat first before beginning to work. Keeping an eye on their surroundings even if the place was deemed to be safe, Jack shut off Daniel's babbling about the different African tribes he knew of. He would have gladly let another team, one with scientists for example, handle this second visit to P9G-whatever. There was nothing of interest for him on this planet but, as Daniel pointed during the briefing, he was the only one with some knowledge about African cultures and Carter could perform the analyses the lieutenant… Charlotte had advised. So it was up to SG-1 to do it. It would be just a very long thirty-six hour trip, he grumbled indistinctly.
Right after a good ration of MREs, the team split but only for a short distance. Teal'c followed Daniel in the ruins, helping him taking pictures while he dug in the dirt, the rocks and whatsoever he had to dig in and O'Neill went with Carter. They walked to the stream near which Sam began collecting samples in different flasks, some of them empty, some containing different chemical products, safe ones only.
- Is there a problem, Major?, he asked her as she frowned while looking at one particular chemical reaction.
- It bodes well, Sir., she answered thoughtfully., Sir, could you take some samples of water, please?, she asked him holding some tiny bottles out to him.
- I didn't remember we talked about that during the briefing., he replied, taking them nonetheless.
- We didn't. It's just… a wild guess., she explained and he knew she was assuming there could have a link between the results of previous analyses and the ones that had to be done with the samples they would bring back.
He didn't question any further and did as told, labeling the samples correctly, years of practice helping. He smirked lightly thinking that, years back, he wouldn't have believed if he had been told he would do something like that in the future. Yet, he was and without arguing… Maybe big blue eyes and bright smiles were enough reasons to do so…
- I'm done, Sir. We can go back to the camp. I will also take samples there to have different origins., she told him, packing all the flasks carefully before closing the box.
They lifted the box together, covering the distance in a few minutes only before putting it on the FRED. As O'Neill went to see Daniel and Teal'c, Sam secured it before joining them. When she arrived, Daniel was explaining everything he found during his dig and it must have been worth the trip as he was as excited as she saw him get whenever he found out something really relevant.
- Well, you know, Space Monkey, rocks are rocks so tune it down a little, will you., the colonel told him seeming completely impassible.
- Jack!, Daniel growled, frustrated by his shortsighted remark., You really don't understand?
- Daniel…, O'Neill answered feigning patience., This is a temple, well what is left of a temple… You found rocks… a lot of rocks… and some trinkets… or broken pieces of trinkets with weird drawings and…
- Writings! From an African tribe I have yet to identify but this is new… and huge… We never get that close from an African culture that was not Egyptian.
- Yes… Whatever this is, I know it will end the same way: you will ask for more time to study it but we only have thirty-six hours… Well only twenty-four left now and I won't ask Hammond to make it longer. So deal with it and don't even think about working overnight. That's a no-go.
- But Jack, aren't you a little curious? The Asgard created a viking-like planet, the Goa'uld mostly Egyptian-like ones…, the archaeologist argued.
- We also saw other kinds., Sam pointed, thinking of the planet where Teal'c had almost died drowning.
- Good point., Jack acquiesced, thankful.
- Yeah… no… You don't understand. I have the feeling this is different. I have the feeling these people, these buildings were build by another culture., the younger man told them, trying to make his point.
The three other members of the team stared at him for a minute, figuring out what he was implying before they shared a look at each other.
- We already met the Nox, the Asgards and the Goa'ulds. You think this could be Ancient or Furlings' doing?, Sam asked him.
- No… No, it's not. I remember what their writings looked like on the machine Ernest showed us and these ones aren't anything like them. This could be a brand new civilization that brought those people here., he told them, looking at each one of them alternately.
- From Earth?, Jack quipped, apparently doubtfully.
- Maybe… or another planet, which could explain why these people don't seam to relate to the origin of the writings., Daniel answered.
- Or maybe the civilization was already extinguished when these people were implanted here., Teal'c intervened.
Daniel felt disgruntled at his assumption. He hadn't dwell on that possibility, too enthralled by the fact they might have discovered another civilization that may help them in their fight against the Goa'uld.
- This is possible., Sam hazarded.
- Ok campers, this represents a lot of… things for today so let's call it a night and we… well no, you'll sleep on it., Jack put an end to the talk, gesturing towards the camp.
Daniel sighed out of frustration. The sun was getting low but he could still work a little, couldn't he? But he also knew for a fact that Jack wouldn't let him so he didn't even dare to ask and followed the group. He went in search of their MREs while Teal'c started up a fire and Sam got out the cutlery and bowls they would need.
- Did you find what you needed, Sam?, he asked her.
He had seen the box where her samples were secured and felt a little like a jerk for not asking her about her part of the mission.
- I did, Daniel. I even think this planet has a lot more to offer than what their inhabitants know of., she told him with a slight smile., But I won't tell them before I'm sure of it and able to determine how it would help them. I don't want to get their hopes too high and disappoint them later.
- I hope you're right. I can't believe that they will have hardly enough food to live the year to come when we can watch all the fields they work on. We have to improve the yielding of their lands.
- We'll do what we can, Daniel. The analyses we'll do are for us and for them. We can't do anything without knowing what the properties of their soil are. You remember what we said the last time, how it was strange they had no animals?, she asked him.
- Yeah, I remember that., he let her know, concentrating on what she said.
- Well, I think they do not have any kind of animals here, neither big nor small. No chicken, no dog…, she explained.
- That's a shame., Jack cut her, proving her he was listening even if he didn't look like doing it.
- Yes, it is, Sir., she smiled, knowing how fond of dogs he was., no big but no small. I didn't see any ant, worm, fly or anything else here.
Even if it was getting pretty dark, Daniel squinted, thinking.
- I didn't notice but you're right. I didn't find any bug while I was digging. I always find some under rocks or under the earth I dig in., he confirmed.
- See… We have to understand what the soil is made of to see if we may introduce the normal wildlife we know of on Earth that is helpful. It would be a simple and low-cost way of improving their yielding. Maybe our fertilizers won't work here or maybe we have to adapt the quantity. There are so many things that we could do to help them but we have to be careful because of the specificity of this planet. What is good for us could be harmful for them. We could imbalance their whole environment if we act recklessly., she said calmly.
- I guess it's good for all of us that we have the time to do it. We're in no rush to save this planet from near doom and can act properly even if the situation is harsh., Daniel pointed out.
- Yeah. I will just have to be careful not to let the file being buried under more urgent issues., Sam sighed.
- Let Charlie help you. She already did it, no?
- She did. She's the one who found out about the particularity that called for more analyses., she admitted begrudgingly.
- Sam… she is trustworthy. You have my word on it., he told her seeing her reluctance when speaking of her assistant.
She looked at him, not wanting to hurt him but unwilling to look the other way when it came to Charlie probably being the mole.
- Daniel, how can you explain that one evening, she left the lab twenty minutes before me, checked out right after at the first check point and was right behind me when I checked out out of the base topside?, she asked him, trying to make him understand her doubts.
He thought about her assumptions on the basis of what he knew now, making his best to try to ease Sam's worries without telling too much.
- Well, I can't see anything of interest in between the two check points., he pointed out, leaving the military daycare and the accounting/human resources department aside.
- She could have met someone from the first levels to pass on information or stolen items., she insisted.
- She did not. Sam, if you're so sure about it, why did you leave her alone in your lab while we're gone?, he argued with her.
- I… I didn't have the choice. How could I justify locking her out otherwise?, she shrugged.
- You could have sent her to Area 51 for meetings or telling her to take another office while you were off-world but you didn't., he pointed out.
- I didn't want to give her reasons to be suspicious., she countered.
- You don't have to. She's clean. Even Jack admitted it, didn't you?, he called his friend out.
- I have no reason to doubt you., O'Neill told him., And let's drop the matter till we get back. Carter, you take first watch., he ordered., Teal'c second, Daniel the fourth. Try not to be too grumpy when I wake you up., he joked.
They put their stuff away and Sam took her position to guard their camp while the others had rest. The night went smoothly and they all got up feeling relaxed and rested. Daniel was hurrying them to get ready to go to the ruins and make the most of the day. He was really hoping to be able to see the last ruins but they were three kliks further away, which made it a ten-klik walk back to the village and a three one from there to the stargate. It would be hard to do everything so they had to hurry up.
- Easy, Danny-boy. We put everything away and we go see your rocks., Jack told him, understanding his excitement.
They were almost done when their radioes crackled to life.
- Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond., they heard.
Daniel mumbled, feeling their trip was about to being cut short.
- We have received word from the Tok'ra. You have to come back immediately., he ordered them.
- Roger, Sir. We finish packing and come back ASAP. Do you know what they want, Sir?, O'Neill asked him, casting a glance at his 2IC and seeing the anxiousness in her eyes even if she kept her cool otherwise.
- They wouldn't tell., the general snorted.
- How surprised am I…, O'Neill quipped., We're on our way, Sir. O'Neill out. Well, you heard the man. Carter, secure the FRED. Daniel, sorry. Another time maybe. Teal'c and you should go ahead and explain everything to Mahuntinso, excuse us for missing the little shindig tonight. We'll depart in… ten minutes, I'd say., he told them, Carter nodding her agreement.
Everyone did as told and, two hours later, they went through the gate, a little anxious about the following encounter with the Tok'ra.
