Colorado Springs, 1997
Jack's house was shrouded in semi-darkness, with only the rays of light emanating from the living room piercing the blackness of the night. On the roof, Jack was bent over his telescope, captivated by the infinite beauty of the universe. He watched the stars every night; it was the only thing that still made him think of her. He often wondered what had become of her, forbidding himself from speaking her name or attempting to contact her again.
The sound of a car parking in front of his house pulled him out of his contemplation. He turned, raising an eyebrow at the sight of an officer in uniform approaching him. Uninterested, he resumed his study through the telescope.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill?" the officer asked, observing with curiosity the almost scientific setup on the roof.
"Retired," Jack replied simply, without leaving his telescope.
The officer seemed a bit taken aback by Jack's abrupt response, but he continued nonetheless. "I am Major Samuels."
"Air Force?" Jack asked.
Samuels looked like he wanted to salute but refrained, as O'Neill still hadn't deigned to turn around. "Yes, that's correct, Colonel. I am the second in command."
"Want a good piece of advice, Major?" Jack asked. "Get yourself transferred to NASA, that's where the action is right now. All up there." Years had passed, yet he remained convinced he would eventually pay for having disobeyed a direct order.
The major nodded. "Sure. I have orders to bring you to General Hammond."
"Don't know him." "He replaced General West." Samuels paused. "He says it's important. It concerns the Stargate."
Jack finally took his eyes off the telescope and turned to the officer, a mix of suspicion and interest in his gaze. He considered Samuels' proposition for a moment, his thoughts wavering between the temptation to remain in his quiet corner and the ever-strong pull of adventure. He was quite happy to know it wasn't West contacting him; he wouldn't have been able to restrain himself from hitting him again.
After a moment of silence, he finally nodded and stood up. "Very well, Major."
Samuels' vehicle sped through the dark streets of the night, making its way toward the secret SGC base. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the narrow and winding path that led to the base.
As they approached the base, Major Samuels grew quieter, his face reflecting palpable tension. Jack, sitting next to him, watched the landscape pass by through the window. Inside the vehicle, the silence was almost oppressive, broken occasionally by the steady hum of the engine as they delved deeper under the mountain. The tunnel seemed endless, a suffocating darkness that enveloped the vehicle as it moved inexorably toward its destination. Finally, they emerged, reaching the outside of the base at last.
Major Samuels skillfully drove the vehicle toward the main entrance, where security guards awaited them to guide them inside.
Once in the elevator, Jack positioned himself at the back, leaning against the metal wall, reminiscing about what he had experienced in this same elevator a few years earlier. He watched the numbers descend to level -11. The doors opened, and they both stepped out, heading towards a soldier who handed Jack the register.
"We need to take a second elevator, Colonel; we're not there yet," Samuels indicated, inserting his card into the elevator reader.
"Yeah, I know," Jack said, glancing around quickly. "I've been here before."
A few moments later, Jack entered General Hammond's office, leaving the hustle and bustle of the SGC's main corridor behind. The office was spacious yet functional, with files stacked on the general's desk and screens displaying various strategic information.
"General Hammond, this is Colonel Jack O'Neill," Samuels announced.
"Retired," Jack stipulated once again.
General Hammond, seated behind his desk, looked up at Jack's arrival, his face bearing a serious yet welcoming expression.
"You're lucky. I'm only a few months away from retirement myself, starting to think about writing my memoirs," he said in a calm but authoritative voice. "Ever thought about putting your exploits into a book?"
Jack slipped his hands into his pockets, forgoing a military salute. "Oh, I'd love to. The thing that bothers me is having to eliminate everyone who reads it." He glanced at Samuels and continued. "Nah, I'm joking, General. Most of my missions were classified."
General Hammond folded his hands on the desk, his eyes scrutinizing Jack intently. "Yes, of course."
Jack kept his expression unperturbed, ready to hear more. "Major Samuels mentioned the Stargate."
George observed the colonel in front of him. "You'll see for yourself." He rose from his chair to leave the office. "Follow me."