Daughter

Chapter 41 – Jumper

"Firefly. What do you think?" Elda asked Sam. They were having breakfast in the SGC after seeing Jack and Gracie off that morning. The other pair was now on a commercial flight back to Washington.

Sam looked thoughtful. "Hmm. It's kind of meaningful. I like it."

"What about yours then? What will you call it?"

"I dunno. Was thinking of asking Colonel Sheppard for ideas. But we could just call it Puddle Jumper 1 if you're naming yours. That would be distinct enough."

"'Puddle Jumper' sounds so weird."

"But it works. Certainly better than 'Gate Ship,'" Sam said with derision.

Elda tilted her head. Then she pointed. "Now that? That makes more sense. It's a ship. That goes through the gate."

Sam looked at her like she was crazy. She chose not to bring up the fact that Rodney had once tried to make that same exact argument. That would be inviting comments she didn't need. Sam still thought 'puddle jumper' sounded so much cooler.

Elda just smiled back at her as she continued to eat.

"ColonelCarter. EldaMalDoran." They both looked up and smiled at Teal'c, who was suddenly looming over them. Elda inclined her head to him automatically. He reciprocated. "May I join you?"

"Of course, Teal'c," Sam said. "Pull up a chair."

"Of what are you speaking of?"

"Naming our shuttles," Elda supplied nonchalantly. "Sam pointed out that it would be confusing if we didn't."

"Especially if SG-1 and SG-3 end up running any joint operations," Sam added. At the moment, only pilots from SG-1 could control the SGC's shuttle. She had plans to rectify that today and make sure her daughter got authorized for it within its own system.

Teal'c nodded in agreement. "I presume you will have the exteriors labeled appropriately, then."

Elda looked at Sam. "Would we?"

"We should, if we want to tell them apart at first glance."

The younger blonde pursed her lips in thought. "Could my label be in Goa'uld?"

Sam shrugged. "Sure. Don't see why not. If random people from Earth can't even read it, they'll know it's not theirs to mess with."

Elda liked that. She wasn't sure she trusted anyone from Earth touching her ship. They could have their fun with the SGC's instead. "How do our little shuttles compare to the ones you say are on Atlantis?"

"Differences are like night and day. The base tech is different. The layout is different. Operations… everything. Technically the Zershan shuttles are bigger because they have more trunk space."

"Wonder if I'll ever see one someday."

Sam smiled at her. "Now that you're officially on an SG-team, there's a chance you might. We never know when one of us will get called to do something on Atlantis."

"You more than others, apparently," Elda said with a frown.

Her mother chuckled. "Yup."

"How is your friend Rodney, by the way? Have you spoken to him?"

Teal'c looked at Sam with interest.

She kept her expression neutral. "I haven't heard from anyone on Atlantis in a while, actually."

"Can't make a social call to say hello?" Elda asked curiously. "Isn't he a very good friend?"

Teal'c raised his brow at the Colonel. He smirked at her.

Sam coughed. "I don't know about good friend, Elda."

"Huh. Funny. He's all you ever talked about when…" Elda caught her mother's look. She grinned, rightly sensing that Sam was now uncomfortable. She decided to pivot the conversation to save her some grief. She figured she could ask someone else what history was behind this. "Oh wait, you've mentioned that other Colonel once or twice. Remind me what he's like?"

Teal'c deflated slightly, sensing Elda was not going to engage in entertaining mischief.

"Ahh. John is… a character." Sam quirked a smile. "He was technically my second-in-command while I was in charge there. Kind of funny. Really smart, too."

"I bet everyone on Atlantis has to be smart to go there."

"I won't disagree with that. Everyone on that base is extremely intelligent."

Elda smiled, knowing that her mother carried a reputation for being a genius. "You must have felt right at home."

Sam quirked her mouth wistfully. "I wasn't there long enough, but yeah, it was definitely refreshing to be surrounded by so many great minds."

"There will be additional opportunities for you to visit Atlantis again, ColonelCarter. Of that I have no doubt," Teal'c said encouragingly. Sam glanced at him thankfully.

"Has Daniel ever gone there?" Elda asked curiously.

"Oh yeah. Handful of times. It's his Disneyland."

Elda quirked a brow.

"It is a desirable location to visit," Teal'c translated.

Sam let out a breath of soft laughter. "Exactly."

"He's some sort of expert on the Ancients, right? The ones who built Atlantis?" Her older family members nodded. "You would think he would request to be transferred there with all the other smart people."

Sam grinned. "He did."

Elda seemed puzzled. "Then why…"

"Jack won't let him go."

"Why not?"

"Something about Earth needing him here in this galaxy." Sam grinned evilly. "It's been one of their long-running arguments that Jack always wins."

Elda laughed. "Really?"

"Yup. And now… he has Vala. So there's even more reason for him to stay on this side of the gate."

"Well, couldn't she just go with him?"

"There would need to be a very good reason for her to join him. She's been there before, too, but as part of SG-1. Whenever Daniel just goes by himself, there isn't much operational need for her to be there."

"Couldn't she pretend to be his assistant or something?" Elda had observed her adoptive mother 'assisting' in Daniel's office before. It usually consisted of a variety of tasks with no shortage of complaining and grumbling attached. But they did seem to work well enough together to keep the arrangement going. Elda suspected it was one of the ways they had grown so close to each other.

Sam smiled. "Command sees right through her. They know she'd just get distracted over there. And probably be distracting to all the personnel, especially the single men. Plus Daniel would be so in the zone, he would totally ignore her. It would only start a fight." Sam laughed, just imagining the chaos sending Vala to Atlantis would cause. As long as Sam didn't have to be there to manage that chaos, it would continue to be funny.

"ValaMalDoran is comfortable here. She would do well to remain on Earth and in this galaxy," Teal'c pointed out.

"Works for me," Elda agreed. "If both of you are here," she said, gesturing to Sam, "then I'm happy."

Her mother smiled.

Teal'c decided to change the subject now. "I will be visiting Tek'ron today. EldaMalDoran, do you have duties to attend to with SG-3?"

The young blonde lit up. "If I said no, could I go with you?"

Sam shook her head at her daughter good-naturedly. Teal'c inclined his head.

Elda grinned. "Then… no. No duties."

Sam regarded her dubiously. "You sure about that? Better check in with Reynolds first."

She pouted but agreed.

Reynolds quirked a smile at Elda in his office. She was seated across from him at his desk. "I was going to go over protocols with you today."

"Which protocols?"

"The ones that we expect everyone to follow out in the field. What we should each do in different situations."

"How long would that take?" Elda's eyes flitted toward the clock on the wall behind him.

"Why, got a hot date?"

She blinked. She sensed herself being teased. Elda never imagined it would have come from Reynolds, of all people. Crawford and Smith, definitely. But him? This was new. "If you mean wanting to go see a certain someone offworld," she said carefully, "then yes."

He laughed aloud.

Elda didn't expect that reaction either. She tilted her head and looked at him curiously.

Reynolds merely waved a hand at her. "Go ahead, Elda. I already heard in the locker room that Teal'c was going to see Ishta today. Figured you were going to ask to tag along with him."

She smiled now. "Wow. What about the protocols?"

"How about we say: don't do anything that Crawford and Smith tell you?"

Elda laughed. Then she promised Reynolds to return within the day to really go over those protocols when he wasn't drowning in paperwork on his desk. He wasn't ready to review anything right that second anyway.

She rushed out of the office, nearly knocking Mitchell over on her way. "Sorry, Cam!" she called behind her.

He walked in grimacing. "What's gotten into her?" he asked Reynolds.

His colleague shook his head in amusement. "Gave her permission to go offworld with Teal'c."

Cameron stopped short. "What?"

Reynolds looked up. "Problem, Colonel?"

"You know what she's going to do, right? Go straight to that boyfriend of hers."

"And?"

"And… are you really sure you should be enabling her?"

Reynolds sensed Mitchell's disapproval. "Mitchell, she's a Mal Doran. You told me yourself I should keep her on a long leash. Besides, boyfriend like that could be an advantage."

"An advantage?" Cameron was incredulous. "How?"

"He's high-ranking where he comes from, right? He's got clout. And if what I understand is true, he loves her to pieces. That means: if anything happens, we'll not only have the SGC backing us up, but a whole ton of Jaffa, too."

Mitchell stared at him. Carolyn had suggested something just like that last night.

Reynolds chuckled as he watched him process what he just said. Boy, this guy was slow.

Elda bowed low in the Hak'tyl governance hut.

Ishta warmly greeted, "Kal'ma, you have returned to us."

Teal'c joined his mate at her side.

The Hak'tyl leader no longer expected Elda to report to their settlement every time she arrived on Tek'ron. Ishta took no offense to this. She knew Meil'nor's son was Elda's primary concern these days. She even encouraged it. Their courtship fit perfectly into many of her long-term plans.

And thus, with Elda suddenly standing before her, Ishta's expression was inquisitive.

"I am due to greet our sisters, Den Mother," her young warrior explained.

"We naturally welcome you. How are you faring with your new human assignment?"

"I would say it's going well. We've only been on a few missions so far. But they have been successful."

"And are you being treated well?"

Elda smiled. "Yes," she said without hesitation. "Some of my teammates are like brothers to me now."

Ishta tilted her chin up at her with approval. "Then I congratulate you. I trust that you will continue with success. Go now; greet your sisters. Then see your mate in the other village. I am certain Meil'nor will also welcome you home."

Teal'c raised his brow interestedly over her last statement.

Elda grinned. She bowed then left the hut.

"Ishta," Teal'c prompted in Goa'uld. "I suspect more has transpired on this world than I am aware of."

"Of what do you speak, my love?" Ishta turned away to pour hot tea into two cups. She handed one to him.

"You say Meil'nor will welcome her home?"

Ishta regarded him with amusement. "She has been accepted into his tribe, Teal'c. She is not just Hak'tyl now. She is of Tek'ron."

"Does she still maintain a space here?" he asked curiously.

"No, my love. I sent her to live in the other village. It served our purposes. And it would seem the order strengthened her bond to young Jasuf." Ishta looked quite satisfied with herself for that, as if it was a great accomplishment.

Teal'c could see the sparkle in her eyes and the gears turning in her head. His burning curiosity was obvious.

She sipped her tea while watching him. "If you want to know more, you must earn it," she said with a challenge in her tone.

Teal'c set down his cup. He carefully extricated hers from her hands and set it next to his. Then he didn't hesitate to capture her mouth in a passionate kiss.

"Goru!" Elda called in the Hak'tyl square.

The Jaffa male turned at her voice. He smiled. "Lady Elda."

Next to him, Agean glanced curiously between them over the strange title. They all inclined their heads to each other in greeting. "Sister," she said, addressing her pleasantly. "How long will you be here with us?"

Elda shook her head. "Not very long. I have to return to Earth within the day. I'm simply here to say hello." She grinned at them both. "So? How is everything?" She waggled her brows at them.

Goru dropped his head briefly, almost shy now.

Agean answered for them, "We are well."

Elda's eyes twinkled. "And which hut is it that you occupy, dear Goru?" Her tone was laced with teasing curiosity. Her eyes darted to Agean's.

Her sister stared back with a look of aggravated affection. "The Ambassador has been given the accommodation near Nesa's."

Elda knew the one. "Ahh. Enough room for two." She gave her sister a pointed look. Agean was almost expressionless and clearly not interested in being teased. Elda hadn't had a chance to question her yet about this new arrangement. The day she found out, she had to leave Tek'ron before she could find her.

And she now realized that Agean was doing all the talking. It only entertained her more. She wondered how much torment Goru was missing out on by not remaining in his own village. Elda was more than certain his brothers were looking for him.

"How fare our brothers, Goru?"

His eyes smiled at her for referring to the guardsmen as her brothers, too. "I believe they are well, My Lady. I trust you will see some of them today."

She smiled and nodded. "No doubt it is strange living in a village full of women," she commented.

"It is different," he said diplomatically, "but not unpleasant."

Agean seemed to approve of that statement.

"Hmm. I wonder if any of the other guardsmen are seeking to become an 'ambassador,' too." Her brows raised suggestively as she said it. Agean nearly rolled her eyes.

Goru laughed.

Elda appeared next to Jasuf without a word. He looked down at her with surprise, not expecting to see her today. He turned back to the Jaffa he was delegating tasks to and finished giving orders. They bowed respectfully and dispersed.

Then he grabbed Elda to make her face him. He kissed her immediately. "You always surprise me."

She smiled up at him. "Are you complaining?" she teased.

"No," he responded with laughter. He hazarded a glance down to her thigh holster. "How is your weapon?"

Elda bared her teeth proudly. She waggled a finger at him. "You are a very sneaky Jaffa!"

He laughed again, pulling her along with him toward their hut. "Bier tells me you learned of the inscription inside the blaster."

"Yes, and it got us out of a situation. Thank you for that, by the way. I probably don't thank you enough, really." She squeezed his hand as they walked. Then she exclaimed, "I didn't think Jaffa would take apart someone's weapon!"

Jasuf only raised his brow at her as they reached the entrance to their hut. "Perhaps there is yet more for you to learn about Jaffa."

"Apparently."

The door screeched open and shut easily. Jasuf kissed her as he unzipped her winter jacket. She pulled his overcoat off of him, letting it fall wherever it pleased on the floor behind him. He relieved her of her weapons and set them on a table nearby. Soon their layers were abandoned next.

Jasuf ran his hands through her hair as he asked, "And what did you see in the message I left for you?"

She smiled greedily. "Your love and devotion to me. Enough to convince unfamiliar Jaffa that you find me worthy."

His hands began to roam, finding yet more clothing of hers to remove. "You have always been worthy, my love."

Elda hummed in satisfaction as her hands mirrored his. It wasn't much longer until no clothing stood between them. She made him sit on the bed and then climbed onto his lap. "And you," she said as she offered him a searing kiss, "will always have my heart. You've made sure of it."

He smiled into her mouth, hands instantly gripping her waist as they fell back together.

Hours later, they cuddled under the covers, completely sated. No one had come to bother them in the hut. The village understood that the heir apparent was not to be disturbed any time his mate returned home.

Jasuf stroked her left arm as he kissed her hair from behind her. His hand paused over something new. He looked down. "Were you injured?" he asked curiously.

"No," Elda said with confusion. She craned her neck to see what he was noticing. It was the small wound leftover from the procedure on the Hammond. "Oh that. They implanted a tracker there. So I can be beamed on and off the SGC's ships."

"That is remarkable." His hand reached to her other arm and felt for the object he already knew of. "It is different than this implant, correct?"

"Right. The other one is supposedly a contraceptive. Although I don't really see the point of having it."

"Hmm." They already had this conversation before. Both agreed that theirs wasn't the sort of union that would yield a child. They knew it early on and accepted it. It would be at least another century yet before Jasuf would be required to choose an heir. Jaffa lifespans were long. He had time to figure that out. "There is also no harm in its presence, however."

She hummed indifferently. Elda turned to face him. They spent the rest of their time together updating each other on news from both planets.

When she stepped through the gate to Earth, Elda expected to see marines at the bottom of the ramp. But instead, the pair before her consisted of an airman and an archaeologist. Neither looked very pleased.

The smile she had been wearing transformed into a look of caution. "What?"

"Really?" Daniel asked, voice dripping with disapproval.

Elda looked between him and Cameron. "What?" she repeated.

"You went to Tek'ron? Again?" the Colonel asked.

She rolled her eyes. Then she simply started walking out of the gate room. They followed. "Do you do this to Teal'c, too?" She noticed them share a look.

"Teal'c isn't here," Daniel declared.

"No," Elda said. "He's still in Ishta's bed."

Cameron scrunched his face at her. "Elda!"

She waved a hand at him dismissively. "I am back here, as ordered by my commanding officer. Teal'c is the one having fun right now on Tek'ron. I don't see what the problem is." They continued to follow her as she went in the direction of the commissary. She anticipated Crawford or Smith to be there. She'd rather be teased by marines than dealing with whatever these two uncles of hers had in mind.

Cameron hustled a little to keep up with her. "You are going to get knocked up."

Elda huffed. "I don't know what that means."

"He means: you might get pregnant," Daniel dutifully translated as quietly as possible. They passed random personnel, who were turning to look at them.

"What!" Elda stopped short in the corridor. She looked at them both with a new fire in her eyes. "I will not!" She put an index finger on each of their chests. "First of all, he is Jaffa. I am human. It won't happen," she declared with confidence. "And second… who do you two think you are! My father!?"

Cam and Daniel glanced at each other. They turned right back to her with a challenge in their expressions.

"Need I remind you that this relationship has the full approval of a certain General?" She made pointed eye contact with both of them. "Hmm?" Then she flipped her hair. "And anyway, as a representative of Earth, my regular visits to Tek'ron are only serving to strengthen the alliance between our two planets."

Elda whipped right around to keep walking, leaving Cam and Daniel stunned. They each opened their mouths, but no sound came out.

Vala sidled up next to them and tsked. "You boys have no idea what you're doing, do you?"

Cameron placed his hands on his hips. "How can you be so okay with this?" he asked her.

Vala looped her arms around both of theirs and made them keep walking. "Darling, she is a grown woman. She is allowed to make her own decisions." Then she looked at Daniel on her other side accusingly. "You let Cameron rope you into scolding Elda?"

"Hey, I am simply concerned for her well-being. As all of us are," Daniel responded.

Vala rolled her eyes. She led them to the commissary and had them stop just before the entrance. She peeked in, seeing that Elda already found a table with one of her marine friends. "As sweet as it is that the two of you want to play father figure while someone isn't here to do it himself… STOP. She knows full well that neither of you have any authority over her. All you're going to do is push her away."

"Princess," Cameron complained.

"Ack!" Vala held up a finger. "Not done yet. Now, she is my sister," she fibbed, considering the cover story they all sought to maintain in public, "and that means if anyone should care, it's me. The Jaffa are honorable people. And the one she has chosen seems to be as honorable as you can get." She waggled a finger at them. "Remember, Darlings, he was already in love with her by the time we met him. A Jaffa in love will treat his mate well. Just think of Teal'c!"

"This isn't some soap opera, Vala," Cam groused.

"No, it's not. It's a romance way better than any entertainment Earth could ever produce. And the best part? It's happening to someone we care about! Can't get any better than that. I, for one, would love to see where this goes." Now she placed an index finger on both of their chests, just as Elda had done earlier.

A few personnel stopped to stare. Cam and Daniel looked around uncomfortably, but Vala didn't care.

"As for you two, if you want children to be protective of, then go make your own!" Vala spun around and walked away. She didn't bother to enter the commissary, satisfied that Elda was safe with one of her marines and forgetting about what either of her uncles had to say.

"This is your fault," Daniel grumbled.

"Excuse me?" Cameron said with offense.

"Vala's right. Elda's grown."

"Still doesn't mean she's ready for what this world has in store for her," Cameron argued.

Daniel sighed. "I think you have it backwards, Cam. The world isn't ready for her." He grinned when his friend stammered. He clapped him on the back and went after Vala.

Cameron stared at his retreating form. If he wasn't so flabbergasted, he would call Daniel out on his sudden reversal just because his girlfriend had him wrapped around her little finger.

"Hi, Colonel," Crawford greeted as he was about to enter the commissary. He paused. "Something the matter?" The marine pretended to be completely oblivious to the scene SG-1 had just made in the hallway.

Mitchell's eye twitched. He then made eye contact with Crawford. "Tell me something, Corporal." The marine stepped closer. "What do you make of that Jaffa boyfriend of your teammate's?"

Crawford saw this as an opportunity to back up his friend. He overheard enough to guess what SG-1 was worried about. Outwardly, the marine shrugged. "He's cool. You know he loaded up Elda's ship with money and food before we all left for the space station?"

Mitchell tilted his head, unaware of that detail.

"He taught her the moves she used to win in fight club there, too, without breakin' a sweat. And I bet you know about that blaster he gave her. Got all of us out of a bind. He wasn't even there, but he helped us out."

Cameron raised his eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. And if he ever marries her? Shoot. She'll be like the princess of that planet." Crawford suddenly looked thoughtful, as if only realizing something now. His face dropped. "Aww, dammit." He shook his head at himself.

"What's the matter, Corporal?"

"Oh, it's nothing, sir. Just marine stuff." He pointed a thumb at the commissary. "I'm just gonna…" This wasn't a formal work conversation. He didn't really need to wait to be dismissed.

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead," Mitchell said, waving a hand. He shook his head as he walked away.

Crawford ventured in and found Elda and Smith right away. He didn't care what the two of them were talking about. He cut in immediately. "Smitty, we fucked up."

They both paused to look at him worriedly. They waited for him to settle into a chair at the table.

"What happened?" Elda asked.

Crawford looked right at Smith. "We shoulda named her Xena."

Smith gasped. He brought a palm up and smacked his forehead. "Damn, you're right!"

"What?" Elda said with confusion. "Who?"

"Do you even realize how perfect that woulda been?" Crawford complained with his fingers gripping the air in frustration.

"Goddammit, it was staring us right in the face, too," Smith griped.

Now they both turned to Elda, clearly disappointed with themselves. She scrunched her face at them. "What, what?"

Crawford sighed. "Yeah, Xena would have been way better than Baby Cakes."

Smith smacked his arm. "That's your fault. You jumped the gun."

"I was thinkin' on my feet, man!"

"Crawfy? What are you talking about?" Elda was beginning to get annoyed with being the topic of the conversation but left out of it at the same time.

He let out a breath and grabbed her hand. "I'm really sorry, Elda."

Smith grabbed her other hand. "We shoulda nicknamed you better than that. You deserve more."

"Way more."

She glanced between them, still waiting for them to explain.

The boys shared a look with each other, then gazed back at her forlornly. "Xena's this badass chick who rolls with Gods and kicks ass on TV," Crawford explained.

"Well, she used to," Smith clarified. "They cancelled it eventually. Or something."

"Yeah, but they still put on the reruns. I've seen 'em," Crawford argued.

Elda's face continued to regard them both with confused impatience.

Crawford now explained directly, "She was called Xena, Warrior Princess."

Their blonde companion rolled her eyes. "'Princess' is my sister's nickname. It's fine, guys." Elda didn't see what the big deal was. "We can just keep the one you gave me." By this point she had already accepted their pet name for her. She even responded to it without thinking.

Crawford let go of her hand and dropped his head onto his forearms on the table. "It woulda been perfect," he whined.

Smith patted his hair. "Don't worry, buddy. It'll be okay."

Elda found the scene before her so comical that she began to laugh. "You marines make no sense!"

Crawford lifted his head. "Dude, if she ever got married, she'd totally be a real princess, too." He seemed so disappointed.

"Damn," Smith agreed quietly.

"Married!?"

Crawford sat back up now. He gestured a hand at her. "Yeah, I was just telling Colonel Mitchell that."

"Excuse me?" Elda asked with surprise. Her eyes were drawn to the entrance to see if Cameron was there. She looked back at Crawford.

Smith pointed a finger. "Yeah, yeah, I see what you're sayin' man." He smacked Crawford's arm again. "But ay, you know, if they ever had kids… and one of 'em was a girl… she'd be a princess, too."

Elda's eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open.

Crawford's eyes lit up with realization and hope. "Smitty, you're a genius."

Smith pulled at his shirt collar proudly. "I know."

"Baby Cakes, I'm nicknaming your first-born daughter. I'm claiming the right. Right now," Crawford declared, lightly bringing his fist down to the table.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't you dare." She crossed her arms. "I already told you there are no princes in the Jaffa culture, so by extension, no princesses! And besides, Jaffa and humans don't have hybrid babies. I don't understand why that is so hard for everyone to understand!"

"Never say never, Baby," Smith warned.

"Ugh. They're so irritating," Elda complained to her mother as they headed toward the topside elevators. "How can you stand them?"

Sam fought a smile. She hit the call button when they reached the doors. "I think they mean well, Elda."

"You do realize they're trying to act like my father, right?" She crossed her arms as she frowned. "Wonder how he'd feel about that."

Her birth mother glanced around. No one was within listening range as they waited for the elevator car to arrive. She leaned in toward her daughter. "We'd have to ask him. But I almost think he won't really mind."

"What!?"

Sam shushed her. "Look, if you want, I'll talk to them. Get them to back off."

"Please," Elda begged. "It should be enough that my own father approves. Why should they have anything more to say about who I choose to be with?" She crossed her arms. "And they complained that I didn't tell them about Jasuf sooner. It's because I was afraid they'd act exactly like that!"

The elevator dinged and the doors opened wide. Sam and Elda stepped in, nodding at the other personnel who were already there.

Another chime sounded off on the base P.A. system. It had everyone in the elevator car looking up toward the ceiling automatically. "SG-3 report to the briefing room. SG-3."

Sam's hand shot out to stop the elevator doors from closing. She locked eyes with her daughter and tilted her head for her to go.

Elda's mouth opened briefly. "I guess duty calls?"

Sam smiled at her. "Godspeed, whatever it is."

Her daughter quirked a smile, sensing her mother's confidence in her. "Thanks." She rushed out.

Elda made it to the briefing room just as the rest of her team arrived. She joined the marines at the table, leaving Landry's spot open for him. She quirked her brow toward Crawford and Smith, who merely shrugged. She took that as a sign that they knew just as little as she did about why they were being summoned. Everyone was supposed to go home for the day.

Through the briefing room glass, the lights on the wall of the missile silo were flashing. It would seem a wormhole was active below.

Soon Landry hustled up the spiral staircase from the control room. The military personnel stood in deference. Elda followed, feeling obligated to do the same. The Jaffa had a similar custom in certain circumstances. She expected Landry to have them be seated, but he did no such thing. He barely stepped into the room. "SG-3, gear up. SG-12 is pinned down and needs an extraction by air. Miss Mal Doran, you are to pilot the SGC's shuttle. Deliver the marines to the ground, and they'll get SG-12 to the ship." Landry supplied them with more necessary details then hustled them along.

It was a lucky thing Sam had just authorized Elda as a pilot on the SGC-controlled puddle jumper. Otherwise she wouldn't have been able to use it, further delaying SG-3's rescue op. Going to Tek'ron to retrieve the Firefly was out of the question for time-sensitive missions like this. Elda realized she'd be better off parking her own shuttle near the Tek'ronian gate to save time. She might even need to authorize Jasuf as a pilot so he could move the ship for her in a pinch.

Within moments, SG-3 was through the gate. The SGC kept the outgoing wormhole active for as long as it could, to prevent anyone from locking up the gate on the other side. They were passing through well within the 38-minute time limit.

The ship flew over a well-armed regiment of Jaffa positioned near the offworld gate. Elda surmised they were loyal to some random Goa'uld still clinging to power. Freedom had not been as widely achieved in this time, unlike the year she came from. Colonel Reynolds occupied the co-pilot's seat, directing Elda where to go. Baker stood behind them, establishing radio contact with the pinned down team. They were cut off from the gate and only able to call for help when the SGC dialed in to find out why they had missed their check-in.

While the lead marines figured out where exactly SG-12 was, Elda was busy maneuvering the ship to avoid enemy fire. She tried to keep in mind that the gravity-pack was functioning. No one needed mag boots as she spun the ship in dizzying circles. But Crawford and Smith still held on tight to the hand-holds built into the storage console.

"We see you, SG-3!" a voice called over the radio. The man gave Baker more specific directions in their military lingo, which Reynolds translated into laymen's terms for Elda to follow.

The hatch opened mid-air as she quickly brought the ship down toward the ground. It was still landing as Baker, Crawford, and Smith jumped out, weapons drawn. Reynolds stayed behind to maintain an open line of communication and guard the opening.

Elda kept a weary eye on her heads-up displays, watching for the approach of enemy combatants. She could hear gunfire and shouts over the radio. Her hands hovered over the controls, waiting for the next order.

Minutes ticked by. She nervously thought of the Jaffa who were on this planet, unwittingly on the wrong side of the SGC today. She didn't want to hurt anyone, but she knew they wouldn't hesitate to kill any of them. Elda wondered if these Jaffa would ever see reason and rise up for freedom. Had they even heard of Teal'c or Meil'nor? Or did their Goa'uld master keep them ignorant and isolated from the rest of the galaxy, thereby guaranteeing that these Jaffa would never be inspired to emancipate themselves?

Would she ever be forced to convince loyalist Jaffa herself? They were all over the galaxy. Chances were high that she'd meet them in this new role of hers. Elda had never considered the possibility before now. This job seemed to be opening up horizons she had never even imagined. She'd have to talk with Jasuf about this. Maybe he'd have advice for her. She was able to change his mind once. But she wasn't exactly sure how.

A shot from a staff weapon impacted the forward port. Elda's hand instantly brought up the weapons array and programmed a target. Another shot flew into the ship through the hatch, making contact with the wall opposite from the opening.

"Colonel?"

"Steady, Elda. Those were stray shots," he said reassuringly. "They haven't seen us… yet." He kept his eyes trained on the forest beyond the open hatch, P-90 armed and ready.

A static-laden voice sounded off. "Colonel, we're headed your way!" Baker warned. Gun-fire could be heard in the background.

"Elda, dial the gate."

"On it." She reached over to enter the address for Earth. The system spit back an error message. "Gate's locked up!"

"Just peachy." Reynolds adjusted the grip on his weapon as his eyes scanned for their colleagues' approach. "Alright get ready to break atmo."

"What kind of resistance can we expect up in orbit?" Elda dutifully asked.

"Won't know 'til we get there."

The remainder of SG-3 rushed into the ship with SG-12 in tow. They were all breathing heavily. The smell of sweat invaded the vessel. Elda didn't see, but she could hear Reynolds firing his P-90 at foes in the distance. Her eyes caught the alert on her HUD about the hatch being closed behind her. Someone had hit the command on the wall.

They all heard staff weapons fire impact the now-closed door.

"Time to fly, Elda!" Reynolds ordered, settling back into the seat next to her.

The shuttle lifted up instantly. "Everyone strap in!" she announced as she commanded the ship to rise vertically. The gravity-pack and inertial dampeners were working, but those functions could easily be disabled if their ship was fired upon in just the right way. The last thing the pilot needed was for one of her passengers to go flying about the cabin uncontrolled. The compliant clicks of harnesses sounded off around her. The vessel sped upwards through the clouds.

The co-pilot's console chimed. The display in front of Reynolds flashed warnings. "Contacts," he declared. He tried to reach into the holographic images to manipulate them, but the system would not respond. He hadn't been added as crew to this vessel yet.

Elda didn't hesitate to reach over and command the other HUD herself. She kept one hand on her console to maintain control of the ship. The sensors were showing a Ha'tak in orbit, flanked by a couple of Al'kesh.

"Oh boy," Reynolds muttered quietly. "Got any tricks, Mal Doran?"

She smirked. "I know a few. Hang on," she said confidently. Elda didn't let the ship completely break atmosphere. She made it skim the outer layers of the planet instead, causing the forward port to glow bright red against the friction. The shuttle shook violently, further justifying her order to strap in.

The system chirped in alarm, warning them that hostile fire was being shot in their direction. Reynolds's eyes widened as he watched the display. It was tracking the weapons fire in real time, showing how it was headed straight for them.

Elda's hands flew over the controls more rapidly than before. The vessel instantly rotated several times around its own axis and dipped down slightly into the atmosphere of the planet. It left a cloud of distracting gasses spinning in its wake. Then it curved back up to continue skimming the upper layers. The passengers felt the ship lurch as the inertial dampeners struggled to keep up with what Elda was making it do.

The HUD showed that the weapons fire missed.

Reynolds cheered, "Whoo!" He clapped his hands forcefully.

By now the ship had traversed half the planet and was well on its other side. The enemy ships broke position to follow, but their overconfidence meant they had acted too slowly. Whoever was aboard those ships assumed their weapons would easily take care of the SGC's little vessel. They didn't know it had an expert pilot at the helm with experience in escaping situations just like this.

Before the Goa'uld-controlled vessels could do anything more, Elda was already opening a hyperspace window to suck their ship in, right out of the planet's gravitational grasp. The shuttle lurched again, hull screaming at the stress of this irregular entry. Elda paid it no mind. Her displays were showing her they still had full integrity.

The red hot glow of the forward port was instantaneously replaced by calm swirling blue. "Hyperspace entry," she said calmly and just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Reynolds let out a breath. "Tell me we're headed home."

"No. But we are heading to the nearest space gate. As long as there's no one blocking our way, we can use it to go straight back to base."

The Colonel smiled. "Perfect." He unhooked himself and stood up. He laid a hand on her shoulder. Elda glanced up at him curiously. "Nice flying." She smiled and nodded. Elda turned back to her console while Reynolds ventured into the back to check on everyone else.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed for the past couple chapters. I do see them and enjoy hearing your thoughts. See you in the next one.